Tastes Like Chicken

Now that Al's jaw is unwired, he's back baby! He's been able to eat pizza, burgers, steak--with the exception of a huge hoagie, he can pretty much handle everything, so...I decided to take it one step further. Let him try something REALLY unique.

So, anyway, when I found out about DC's 1st Annual Unique and Unusual Food and Wine Festival, I thought...sure, why not? I bought Al and I tix-and we went on 10/25 (which happened to be our 3 year wedding anniversary, so it was perfect!)

Over the course of my life, my travels have me to some pretty interesting places, and I've been brave enough to try some pretty exotic foods (no, I'm not a vegetarian, and yes, you may want to skip this blog if you are.). My motto is that I will try anything once with a few exceptions to the rule. So far I've had kangaroo, crocodile, haggis (sheep's stomach), squid guts, sea anenome, goose liver, pigeon (squab), escargot, goya (bitter melon), octopus, caviar, buffalo, oxtail, shad roe, cow's tongue and who knows what else.

I was pretty open-minded going into this. I think I tried almost everything-and why not?

So, for the night, we feasted on:


Rattlesnake Gumbo with Sassafras Scented Rice
Pink Peppercorn and Wattleseed Crusted Ostrich Leg Roast with Diablo Hollandaise
Veal Kidney with a Dijon Mustard Sauce - 100 King Restaurant
Hindbeh Bil Zayt (sautéed Dandelion Leaves in olive oil with garlic, parsley, and caramelized onions)
Nut Crusted Sweetbreads with Pomegranate Syrup
Buckwheat Blini with American Caviar and Crème Fraiche
Jerk Frog Legs with Jamaican Spices
Barolo Braised Veal Cheek with Shropshire" Orange" Blue
"Bacon and Eggs": House Cured Berkshire Pork Belly with Fried Quails Egg
Terrine de Tête de Veau
Boudin Rouge, Black Mission Fig and Goat Cheese Strudel
Stuffed Squash Blossoms, Braised Pigs Feet,
Crostini of Beef Tongue
Llama Slider with Bleu Cheese and Rosemary Red Onion Jam
Grilled Cayman Tail (crocodile) with Smoked Tomato and Basil Butter
Olive Oil Braised Octopus with Cici (garbanzos) and Lemony Vinaigrette
Crostata di Formaggi. Erborinato di Pecora Cheese Tartlet: cave aged raw sheep's milk cheese with natural bluing. Robiola La Rossa Cheese Tartlet: Cow and sheep mixed milk cheese wrapped in cherry leaves that are macerated in grappa
Beef Bone Marrow and Liver Parfait
Veal Kidney in the Style of Peking