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Filed under: Lunch, Dinner, South America, Food Oddities, Meat

Many years ago my fellow blogger Jonathan and I drove to the Bronx to sample the renowned Peruvian delicacy, cuy, or guinea pig as we call it here in the States. Soon after we were seated the waiter brought over the frozen critter, which was butterflied and sealed in a package bearing the red-and-white Peruvian flag. Shortly thereafter he brought out the finished product. The poor little rodent had been deep-fried and surrounded with some diced potatoes. I say “poor” not out of sympathy for the critter, but rather because I feel that it deserved to be prepared in a tastier fashion.

Which brings me to the subject of this post: the town of Churin’s second annual cuy festival took place earlier this week. There were plates of fried, grilled and baked cuy. There was even cuy au vin. Each of these preparations was a mere $7, about a third of what Jonathan and I paid. I think I’d be partial to the roast variety, the fried one we ate wasn’t so hot. The event also featured a cuy cookoff and a best-dressed contest where the rodents were decked in traditional Andean garb. In case you’re wondering, even I find that last event somewhat disturbing.
[via Neatorama]

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Filed under: Candy, Barbecuing, Spirit of Summer, America, Meat

What’s an old-school mint have to do make itself stand out from the ever-growing ranks of breath-freshening products crowding convenience store shelves? Well, it could engage in a wacky marketing campaign, or it could do something to help out its customers. Mentos seems to have done both by hiring Trevor the intern. Like most summer interns, his job is to help out everyone everywhere with everything, no matter how trivial.

Trevor, a 19-year-old student at the University of Cincinnati, started his Mentos gig this week and is ensconced in parent company Perfetti Van Melle USA’s Erlanger, Ky., headquarters. Looking through his schedule for yesterday, there are a few things that fall squarely into the trivial category: “MOONWALK PLZ,” “read me a fariytale,” and “crank call my sister.” The most serious task on the list, “write a resignation letter.” Which brings to mind the obvious question is Mentos serious?

Trevor’s bio mentions that he’s from Owensboro, Ky., “the BBQ capital of the world.” While I wouldn’t go that far, it is most certainly the capital of mutton and lamb barbecue. Since that’s the case, I thought I’d have him overnight me some ‘cue. I couldn’t get the forms on the “Give me work” page to cooperate, so I left my man Trevor a voicemail last night. Let’s see if he comes through.

Update: Well, despite my East Coast elitist skepticism it turns out that Trevor is in fact a real person. And why not, I’m quite sure there have been stranger internships. He left me a voicemail this morning saying “I don’t make nearly enough money to be sending things out.” What an earnest young man, he actually thought I wanted him to spend his own cash to send me some Owensboro ‘cue. He did, however, tell me that his favorites are Moonlight and Old Hickory. Shortly after I got the message, I called him back and told him that I wanted Mentos to foot the bill as a way to promote their product and the fine smoked mutton and lamb of Owensboro. I also mentioned that I’ve eaten ‘cue in the Carolinas, Kansas City and Tennessee and participated in numerous barbecue competitions. Trevor told me that he’d look it into with the higher-ups at Mentos. Who knows, maybe they can send me succulent mutton in time for July 4.

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Ralph F. Stayer was the founder of a Wisconsin sausage company that helped popularize bratwurst in the United States….

Mr. Evans turned a 12-stool restaurant into a nationwide chain and food empire with the help of his homemade sausage….

Filed under: Snacks, British Isles, Food Oddities, Meat

It’s been a while since I’ve gone to a market that has such weird-flavored U.K. chips as roast chicken. Lately my attention has been focused on U.S. chips that are made with beef, and taste of it. Roast chicken chips, or crisps as they call them on the other side of the pond, taste more like poultry seasoning than actual poultry. I was slightly surprised to learn that the U.K.’s tastes in savory snacks has transcended chicken and now includes Walkers Lamb & Mint Flavour Crisps.

To tell the truth, I feel a bit scooped by the folks over at Taquitos. I can’t wait until this strange new chip makes it to the States. The Taquitos crew characterized this latest oddity from Walker’s as both meaty and minty. Unlike the various brands of roast chicken flavor crisps I tasted, these babies are made with actual meat. Lamb powder, to be specific. The mint, on the other hand, tasted less than natural, according to the Taquitos team.
[via Tastespotting]

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Frog Sashimi is a dish served fresh. It is fun to eat, and good for the complexion.

Filed under: Business, Stores & Shopping, Meat, Health & Medical

And no, this isn’t connected to the massive recall announced recently by United Food Group. This is a whole new possible E. coli contamination. Weeeeeeeee!

Tyson Fresh Meats has recalled 40,000 pounds of ground beef that was shipped to Wal-Mart stores in 12 states. The states include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. There have been reports of illness, but test results came back positive.

This is happening so much now that I should probably put this under our “Trend” category.

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Is kibbe — freshly ground lamb, bulgur, onions and spices — meant to be eaten raw or cooked? A compromise leads to a revelation….

A culinary counterrevolution may be in progress, as more restaurants in New York abandon small plates of light fare in favor of heaping platters of sinfully fatty meats….

A meat supplier has expanded a ground beef recall to include about 5.7 million pounds of fresh and frozen meat because they may be contaminated with E. coli….