Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fresh and wild: pigeon; The small game birds can make a great alternative to turkey at Christmas
The Times Online ^ | December 7, 2008 | Catherine Brown

Posted on 12/08/2008 3:28:29 AM PST by Daffynition

Pigeons were such a regular source of winter protein in Mrs Beeton’s time that she gives details in her famous Book of Household Management of the 12 best types to eat. For a tender young bird, rub well with butter and either roast whole or split open down the back and broil (grill) — then baste often. Tough old birds went into a pie.

For Beeton (1836-1865), pigeons were mostly reared in dovecots. Today, most pigeons are wild woodpigeons, shot as a small game bird. They make good eating, their powerful breast muscles providing the most meaty part.

It’s tempting to fillet this out for a stir-fry and put the remainder of the carcass into a gamey stock pot. But hang on, says Mark Hix, in British Seasonal Food, why not avoid the big bird Christmas hassle and make your roast of small game birds?

They take less than half an hour and it’s more fun discovering the different flavours, making the whole process into a bit of a ceremony, accompanied by bread sauce and game chips (crisps).

[snip]

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Food; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

1 posted on 12/08/2008 3:28:29 AM PST by Daffynition
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

I suppose if you have a Tetnaus shot handy, and lots of pesonal fortification, you could eat a pigeon. If you catch one of these birds in Sescatuan, it might be ok to eat, if your near a major metro area, You’d be retarded to think it’s ok to eat one of these “rats with wings”.

But hey I’m not a doctor, go for it.


2 posted on 12/08/2008 3:41:29 AM PST by ChetNavVet (Build It, and they won't come!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

WOW! That is the size of a turkey! LOL.

Are pigeons Kosher?


3 posted on 12/08/2008 3:49:55 AM PST by tuckrdout (~ 'Daily example is the most subtle of poisons.' ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Especially when they are all stuffed together inside a big ole turkey. Yummmmm


4 posted on 12/08/2008 3:53:23 AM PST by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

I guess it’s better than Sweet-Potato-Possum Casserole.


5 posted on 12/08/2008 3:55:32 AM PST by ebiskit (South Park Republican ( I see Red People ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition
Wiki:

The largest recorded nested bird roast is 17 birds, attributed to a royal feast in France in the early 19th century (originally called a Rôti Sans Pareil, or "Roast without equal") - a bustard stuffed with a turkey, a goose, a pheasant, a chicken, a duck, a guinea fowl, a teal, a woodcock, a partridge, a plover, a lapwing, a quail, a thrush, a lark, an Ortolan Bunting and a Garden Warbler. The final bird is small enough that it can be stuffed with a single olive; it also suggests that, unlike modern multi-bird roasts, there was no stuffing or other packing placed in between the birds. This dish probably could not be legally recreated in the modern era as many of the listed birds are now protected species.

6 posted on 12/08/2008 3:55:32 AM PST by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

That picture was shot in Europe. Notice the Blue Tit (no giggles, please!) next to that enormous pigeon. Judging from it’s extra-large size and bloated demeanor, it may be a Soviet-era bird. Might be good eatin’, though.


7 posted on 12/08/2008 3:57:10 AM PST by seatrout (I wouldn't know most "American Idol" winners if I tripped over them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Eat a winged rat for Christmas? No thank you, we’re not Zimbabwe ... yet.


8 posted on 12/08/2008 4:05:03 AM PST by NonValueAdded (once you get to really know people, there are always better reasons than [race] for despising them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Is that bird even capable of lifting off??


9 posted on 12/08/2008 4:13:43 AM PST by dubie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ChetNavVet
But hey I’m not a doctor, go for it.

I am, though. The only danger in eating them would be from heavy metal poisoning. If they're from metro areas, they've probably been fed a lot of bread and grain by the elderly. Seagulls are rats with wings.
10 posted on 12/08/2008 4:18:23 AM PST by aruanan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NonValueAdded
Eat a winged rat for Christmas? No thank you, we’re not Zimbabwe

Pigeons are eaten throughout the world, in some countries being a delicacy, but thay are the "street" pigeons you see in the US, they're raised in coops and cages.

11 posted on 12/08/2008 4:23:21 AM PST by Joiseydude (Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Joiseydude
but thay are the "street" pigeons you see in the US

They are not the "street" pigeons you see in the US

12 posted on 12/08/2008 4:24:59 AM PST by Joiseydude (Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

If you have had Squab you have had pigeon!


13 posted on 12/08/2008 4:32:28 AM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joiseydude
I've been eating Pigeons for years, I prefer them over Dove. The Milo fields where I hunt are close to town and always have ton's of Pigeons, we always take a few. Not only that, but the Eurasian Collard Dove have almost taken over this country. Those can be hunted at any time, with no limit restrictions.
14 posted on 12/08/2008 4:39:39 AM PST by Dusty Road
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Dusty Road

we used to shoot the birds off the cotton gin water tower in the late 70’s, our neighbor would grill em up for us- good eats!
homemade rice pudding for dessert.


15 posted on 12/08/2008 5:47:20 AM PST by herewego (obama- the best prez terrorrists $ can buy. - Got .45?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

My husband remembers getting squab from the silos on his great-grandpa’s farm so he could have them for breakfast. YUCK!

We smoked a duck and a deer ham for Thanksgiving. I love that! More like a traditional meal IMO.


16 posted on 12/08/2008 5:54:08 AM PST by sevinufnine (Sevin - "If we do not fight when we know we can win, we'll have to fight when we know we will lose")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: sevinufnine

Uh...so his great-grandfather could eat them by the way...my husband was just a kid and thought it was pretty nasty to eat thost things. Great-grandpa also liked hog brains. He lived to be 99 yrs old!


17 posted on 12/08/2008 5:55:29 AM PST by sevinufnine (Sevin - "If we do not fight when we know we can win, we'll have to fight when we know we will lose")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition
Why not seagulls?
18 posted on 12/08/2008 6:01:13 AM PST by Eye of Unk (Americans should lead America, its the right way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dusty Road
Eurasian collared dove. European Collared Dove
19 posted on 12/08/2008 6:09:31 AM PST by seatrout (I wouldn't know most "American Idol" winners if I tripped over them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ChetNavVet

20 posted on 12/08/2008 1:03:50 PM PST by Daffynition ("Beauty is in the sty of the beholder." ~ Joe 6-pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson