Bizarre and Disturbing but True - Eating Ortolans
October 26th 2006 12:02
The Ortolan Bunting is a small bird found throughout Europe and Asia. It is most famous in France where it plays an infamous and clandestine part in French cuisine.
It is a delicacy to eat the Ortolan.
It is also highly illegal.
Preparing the Ortolan for consumption
- You poke it's eyes out and put it in a small cage. Alternatively, you put it in a small and dark box where it cannot see.
- Force-feed it oats and grain and similar foodstuffs until it has fattened to around four times it's original size.
- Drown it in Armagnac (a French Cognac/Brandy).
- Pluck it and roast it whole.
Eating the Ortolan
- You place a napkin or cloth over your head. This is to hide the cruelty of eating the Ortolan from God. It also traps in the aroma and flavour of the bird.
- Put the whole bird in your mouth, leaving only the beak protruding.
- Bite down, severing the bird from it's beak (which you discard).
- Chew. Bone, guts and all. You will most likely cut your mouth, but this is part of the sinful and exquisite experience of eating this poor little bird.
- It should take around fifteen minutes to chew.
The French President François Mitterrand was said to have served Ortolan to his guests at his last meal on New Year's Eve, 1995. He knew, at this stage, he was soon to die of cancer. He served the illegal delicacy to around 30 guests, and ate two whole birds himself (something unheard of - it is considered gluttenous enough to consume just one!) It was the last food he would consume, he died just 8 days later. Now that's what I call a last meal!
François Mitterrand - Chortlin' an Ortolan
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