Something’s Squirrelly in the UK
January 8th, 2009
My feeling on squirrels, growing up in New York City, can be aptly summed up by Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City: “You can’t be friends with a squirrel! A squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit.” Now squirrel, though I know it is eaten in the U.S., has not made my “meat checklist” — it brings to mind poor families with no other choices. And Mike Huckabee. *shudder*
But now I hear via the New York Times that “a new meat is gracing the British table: squirrel … many feel that eating squirrel is a way to do something good for the environment while enjoying a unique gastronomical experience. ” Not only are people eating it up, there is a “war raging in Squirreltown!” Squirrel Nutkins! It seems the vicious gray squirrels are like the Wal-Mart of the animal kingdom, and where ever they put up shop, they crowd out and kill the lovable local red squirrels. So now British people everywhere are adding rodent to their list of meats to eat.
I’m not sure if I’ll really get to ordering and cooking a squirrel, but I am going to add it to the meat checklist. Has anyone ever eaten squirrel? If so, how was it?
Bonus trivia for this post: Etymology of ‘Squirrelly’ comes from a squirrel’s diet of nuts!
January 8th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Never had squirrel. But I’m certainly up for an adventure! Let me know if you hear of a place that serves. Or we can just go hunting in Central Park one of these days and put it on the grill
January 8th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I’d sooner order a squirrel via mail than take my prey with a side of NYC disease. Mmmmmm tastes like rabies.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:41 am
New York Magazine was all over squirrels months before the Times! Sure, they were joking, but they tell you how you can 1) trap one and 2) cook it. Weekend plans!