Ortolan? A little bird that's eaten whole

[rj144]

So, I was watching Billions tonight and they had this scene where they ate this little tiny bird whole called an Ortolan. I've never heard of it before. So, I decided to see if it was real and, if it is, what it was. So, it is real. Here's the bird alive:

They catch them, keep them in the dark, so they think it's dark and gorge themselves. Then, they drown them in French brandy to kill and marinate them. They are then cooked and eaten whole (sometimes minus their head):

They are also eaten while putting a towel over your head:

Super weird, but it's a super rare delicacy. More can be found here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodand...ances-cruellest-food-be-back-on-the-menu.html

Anyone ever heard of this before this thread?

 

[FierceRedBelt]

News to me.

 

[BisexualMMA]

Bunch of weirdos.

 

[MadSquabbles500]

So, I was watching Billions tonight and they had this scene where they ate this little tiny bird whole called an Ortolan. I've never heard of it before. So, I decided to see if it was real and, if it is, what it was. So, it is real. Here's the bird alive:

They catch them, keep them in the dark, so they think it's dark and gorge themselves. Then, they drown them in French brandy to kill and marinate them. They are then cooked and eaten whole (sometimes minus their head):

They are also eaten while putting a towel over your head:

Super weird, but it's a super rare delicacy. More can be found here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodand...ances-cruellest-food-be-back-on-the-menu.html

Anyone ever heard of this before this thread?

I believe the latest COD game references this. When Rouseau goes undercover and meets up with that German Commander, he starts ranting about the food, and mention a dish where this bird is drowned alive in some kind of wine.

That is animal cruelty. They must cease and desist this practice.

 

[SFMMA]

My uncle claims to have eaten it, which I assume is true because he’s a prick who ate at Lutece once a week until it closed. He ate canard à la rouennaise in like 2016 and preened about it for months like an asshole.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

american dad did an episode on it -- pretty funny

 

[JSN]

French people eat frogs and snails and shit too. They're weird.

 

[God_Emperor_Of_Mankind]

Hannibal also had an episode dedicated to the Ortolan. Apparently they eat it while being covered so the gods cannot see them or something

 

[chickenluver]

Apparently they eat it while being covered so the gods cannot see them or something

That's what the people who are against it say to attempt to shame those who have eaten it. I think the real reason is because you're supposed to eat the bird in one bite, so they cover their face to avoid embarrassment because it looks disgusting when you eat one.

 

[loyalyolayal]

Damn asians.

 

[DaleBoca]

Damn Amish...

 

[Kardashians]

French people eat frogs and snails and shit too. They're weird.

A girl at the church was telling me she ate snail pasta s:

 

[SmilinDesperado]

The French only seem to be tough around small animals

 

[SmilinDesperado]

A girl at the church was telling me she ate snail pasta s:

Snails are actually not bad

 

[BisexualMMA]

That's what the people who are against it say to attempt to shame those who have eaten it. I think the real reason is because you're supposed to eat the bird in one bite, so they cover their face to avoid embarrassment because it looks disgusting when you eat one.

It's actually to make the people think it's night so they gorge themselves and put on weight.

 

[ghoul]

I just watched an ord episode of Brooklyn99 where Boyle talked about this. Like last night. Never heard about it before.
No thanks though, it’s too much for me.

 

[Andy Capp]

A girl at the church was telling me she ate snail pasta s:

Escargot is delicious. If you can eat cooked oysters or clams you can eat escargot.

 

[loyalyolayal]

The French only seem to be tough around small animals

And then everyone gets butthurt when the japanese gets their hands on them marine mammals.

 

[Sycho Sid]

 

[DeepCover]

I saw this last night on Billions also. I love that show. The other detail they mentioned is that they get the birds to gorge themselves on grapes, adding to the flavor of the bird once cooked and eaten.

I’m just not a fan of eating bones. That doesn’t seem like something i’d want to end up in my digestive system. I’m also not sure i’d want the texture of bone while i’m chewing the good parts, chomping down on a bird skull and whatnot. Anthony Bourdain mentioned tasting blood in his mouth caused by chewing the small bones of the Ortolan. All that has to make its way through your system. No thanks.