For someone who is a professed foodie, having game meat a few days in a row in the outback could prove excessive even for the most adventurous.
Rabbit meat is by far the most acceptable unconventional meat for the dinner table. Foremost, bunnies were propagating too rapidly and caused severe damages and costs to farmers. Moreover, rabbit is quite well known in French and European cuisine. Putting rabbit in stew or pie helps to mask indications of its origins.
Kangaroo meat, though, available in certain Australian fine dining and speciality stores, has not gained a wide following. Greens recommend eating more roo meat, and less beef, to safe the environment. Moreover, kangaroo meat is lean and therefore healthier than most red meats. Though it was eaten during drought and famine in the days of the early settlement, kangaroo has not gained widespread popularity despite the industry's attempt to market it aggressively in recent years.
Crocodile meat tastes like a blend between fish and chicken. Like roo, croc meat is touted for health benefits. Croc will be a boost to Australian exports as there is high demand by Chinese restaurants. Interestingly, croc meat is said to be a cure for asthma in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We should keep some for Australian asthma sufferers and East Asian tourists visiting the outback.
Recipes for cooking crocodile meat :
Emu is available wild or from the farms. It looks and tastes more like beef with a tinge of gamey feel though it is a bird. It is regarded as exotic meat by US, Swiss and Asian consumers who took the bite of advertising on its low fat content and high standards of preparation.
Venison is more palatable although I hear protests from bambi lovers. Deer farms in Western Australia and Victoria are doing a roaring trade serving up venison teriyaki on hot plate to curious visitors and tourists as well as exporting them overseas.
My only aversion is for camel meat. Why would anyone want to eat a feral animal that Arabs don't particularly like except special use of the hump for emergencies, and the Jews are forbidden to eat camel meat according to the Torah. Do not believe those who tell you to be adventurous and try camel burgers. Don't be tempted or you'll regret. It's very pungent to the state of revulsion.
A less common meat is the horse. I know it may sound alien or even cruel to most Australians, there is apparently a small market officially legalised since last year. It has been a popular item on the menu in France which has created some controversy over animal rights in the US.
In case some who fuss over the cute dumbo jumbo, I must warn that in some parts of Asia, it is acceptable to use elephant meat as substitute for domesticated farm animals for making sausages to increase profit margin.
I have taken a break and gone vegetarian for a day.
No comments:
Post a Comment