[Sca-cooks] More venison stuff

[Dan Phelps]

Was asked:

> Would it taste like leather though? Do deer eat acorns? Pigs do eat
> acorns, and I've seen a number of period sources and referances to
> feeding pigs on acorns, even today. The ham from pigs that were
> specifically fattened on acorns didn't taste like leather. Maybe this
> varies from animal to animal? Perhaps the original interest in
> feeding pigs on acorns comes from being able to feed the pigs on
> something that wasn't eaten by humans so it would therefor be
> cheap. rather than the resulting taste. The acorns also appear in fall,
> which was just before many of the pigs were slaughtered. It's probably
> better to fatten up an animal just before slaughter.

Depends on the acorns, check the Flori- and, if I recall correctly, you will
find an extensive discussion which regards "sweet acorns" in Europe and the
feeding of same to hogs in Spain.  They reportedly taste a bit like
chestnuts.

Daniel Raoul