For many this phrase might conjure images of pets or seeing certain fauna in the wild. Some in the air, land or water. Dense jungles perhaps or a fancy safari on the continent.
I am referring to the animals on a plate. I was not born a carnivore. Far from it. Growing up in a middle class household in Bombay (now Mumbai) we were not much of food explorers or critics. We just ate it as a requirement couple times a day and moved on. As a child I could discern a dish that my mom made versus an aunt's twist on the same. I spent equal parts surviving in a day care as I did at home so the day care lady had her own take on what constituted food. All of the above was 100% non animal meat based diet.
Then I got to meet a friend couple of my dads. This family had their roots in the coastal part of the state and were fans of seafood. I got introduced to my first prawn and fish on a plate at their place. Then came another friend who brought a pink slender meat tube which we cooked on a skillet. These were the pork sausages produced by a local Farm Coop. I was hooked.
An entire portfolio of food was now opened to me. Taste, texture and the feeling of happiness on consuming said protein was on a new scale. While to this day I enjoy vegetarian cuisine I can say that I am an equal fan of edible items that once had parents. I enjoy most of the meat cooked in either a sauce, or on a grill, minced or filet and some seafood in raw form too. Fresher the better. Like the one time we ate it in a Tokyo seafood market hours after it went from swimming in the local sea to a bowl in our hand. To all those creatures I thank you.
I will try to remember what species I have had the pleasure of consuming the last couple decades (when I really ramped my exploration of the animal kingdom).
Chicken
Duck
Ostrich
Frog
Snake
Alligator
Cow
Pig
Lamb
Goat
Deer
Bison
Tuna
Cod
Salmon
Perch
Walleye
Turbot
Pomfret/Pompano
Rockfish
Crawfish/Crayfish (from fresh water)
Shrimp
Lobster
Langustine (salt water small lobster)
Eel
Sea Urchin
Snails
Cuttlefish
No camel, insects or other avian species other than those listed. I do believe insects will constitute a major development in the developed world's appreciation of efficient protein in the days to come.
I am referring to the animals on a plate. I was not born a carnivore. Far from it. Growing up in a middle class household in Bombay (now Mumbai) we were not much of food explorers or critics. We just ate it as a requirement couple times a day and moved on. As a child I could discern a dish that my mom made versus an aunt's twist on the same. I spent equal parts surviving in a day care as I did at home so the day care lady had her own take on what constituted food. All of the above was 100% non animal meat based diet.
Then I got to meet a friend couple of my dads. This family had their roots in the coastal part of the state and were fans of seafood. I got introduced to my first prawn and fish on a plate at their place. Then came another friend who brought a pink slender meat tube which we cooked on a skillet. These were the pork sausages produced by a local Farm Coop. I was hooked.
An entire portfolio of food was now opened to me. Taste, texture and the feeling of happiness on consuming said protein was on a new scale. While to this day I enjoy vegetarian cuisine I can say that I am an equal fan of edible items that once had parents. I enjoy most of the meat cooked in either a sauce, or on a grill, minced or filet and some seafood in raw form too. Fresher the better. Like the one time we ate it in a Tokyo seafood market hours after it went from swimming in the local sea to a bowl in our hand. To all those creatures I thank you.
I will try to remember what species I have had the pleasure of consuming the last couple decades (when I really ramped my exploration of the animal kingdom).
Chicken
Duck
Ostrich
Frog
Snake
Alligator
Cow
Pig
Lamb
Goat
Deer
Bison
Tuna
Cod
Salmon
Perch
Walleye
Turbot
Pomfret/Pompano
Rockfish
Crawfish/Crayfish (from fresh water)
Shrimp
Lobster
Langustine (salt water small lobster)
Eel
Sea Urchin
Snails
Cuttlefish
No camel, insects or other avian species other than those listed. I do believe insects will constitute a major development in the developed world's appreciation of efficient protein in the days to come.
Comments
Post a Comment