Off beaten track food stories... (was Re: [Sca-cooks] Entertaining stories for Lainie)

[Gorgeous Muiredach]

>Does anyone have fun or disgusting food stories?

Well...  A couple of stories that happened to me when I was in Africa (Mali
and Senegal, respectively)

I was about 15, and living in Senegal with my dad, but we were travelling
in Mali with some friends of his.  We were in some remote areas and going
back to the village where one of the friends came from.  They planned on a
feast (not SCA type feast) to honor the return of the "prodigal son" and
his white friends.  Asking what was on the menu, we get the enthusiastic
answer that:
"Tonight we're eating cousin"...  Puzzled, my dad asked, and they explain
to us that we're going to have roast monkey for dinner...  Somewhat sick
sense of humour, calling them cousin, then going forward and eating
them!  Ha!
In any case, at the gathering place for food, I caught a glimpse of said
beast on its spit, and it was rather freakish, as it looked
like...  well...  a baby...
And wouldn't you know it, the best part is apparently the palm of the hand,
tasty and tender and all.  And they give the best parts to the guest of
honor...  And so I get a hand in my plate, that looks like a teenie human
hand.  And I'm *so* glad I don't get squeamish too easily.  I'll admit that
I do not remember quite what it tastes like.

Then, still in Africa, we were travelling along the Senegal river, to the
North of Senegal.  We were rather hungry, so stopped at a "boui-boui",
which is rather a bit of a hole in the wall.  We figured, it's along the
river, it should be good on fish.  And so we order fish, and the matron
tell us that she does have fish, but that it "wasn't caught
yesterday".  Undounted, we order.  it gets there and is somewhat, actually
rather, smelly and stinky.  My dad says it's rotten.  His (Senegalese)
friend takes a bite, and agrees.

Then reaches out for the pili-pili, which is the hot chili sauce/paste,
spreads it on the fish, and eat the darn thing!

Ok, nuff for now :-)


Gorgeous Muiredach the Odd
Shire of Forth Castle
Meridies
mka
Nicolas Steenhout
"You must deal with me as I think of myself" J. Hockenberry