Do you have problem if food is presented as a whole animal?

Kevinlad · 06-08-2014, 09:43

I wonder why some people have problems in seeing the original animal shape on the dish. I went to a Spanish restaurant and had grilled sea bass which the whole fish with head and tail was on the dish. My friend said it was disgusting. I know he is not the only one. Some people found eating octopus frightening but I found them very tasty.
And some countries even have the head of chicken on the dish and I don't have problem with that. Surely people who don't like that knowing they are actually eating an animal?

Pumping Iron · 06-08-2014, 10:08

Not in the slightest. I like whole fish as I enjoy the cheek meat (my family like the eyes), I also love fish head curry. People in the UK are to disassociated with their meat. I have met British folk who refuse to eat meat off the bone as they find it gross and it makes them squeamish.

Shrike · 06-08-2014, 10:57

I think that because we were the first to industrialise, we've (in general) been the most dis-associated from meat production. I've long had a suspicion that supermarkets don't like to sell offal as it reminds people they are eating animals, and of course we've seen people kicking up a fuss over traditional butchers' displays.
I had a whole roast rabbit in spain (admittedly without the head) - can't see that being popular in the UK where you struggle to find rabbit on sale at all!
I'm not phazed by heads on fish, though I've often found the meat around the head to taste a bit unpleasant.

The rabbit was delicious btw - try it if you see it!

pearlsandplums · 06-08-2014, 11:10

I think meat packages in supermarkets should have photos of the animal on them. If you cant accept that an animal had to die for you to have the meat, then you shouldnt be eating it.

Jambo_c · 06-08-2014, 11:11

Not at all. I'll quite happily have a whole fish on my plate or any animal, it wouldn't bother me at all (although you'd need a big plate for a whole cow). I'm happy to pluck/skin animals and chop them up too. I've a mate who goes shooting so he occasionally brings me rabbit, pigeon etc Sometimes he's butchered it, sometimes not. He even had some squirrel the other week, I was going to try some but I didn't get his message until late and missed out.

It annoys me slightly when people are all squeamish about meat, those people who are happy to eat chicken for example but won't eat rabbit because it's cute just need to get a grip.

malpasc · 06-08-2014, 11:58

It doesn't bother me at all.

People should realise where their food comes from.

barbeler · 06-08-2014, 12:26

I prefer my Quorns to be presented as fillets. They have hairy ears and I hate to see their little eyes staring up at me from the plate.

Apple22over7 · 06-08-2014, 12:36

It's never bothered me, in fact on a school trip once we were at a restaurant for an evening meal. I ordered trout, as the restaurant was yards away from a trout farm and so it would be incredibly fresh.

It came out as a full fish, head & tail in tact. I expected this and had eaten trout in such a way before (I'd never seen trout served without, to be honest). However, several girls were horrified, two or three refused to eat their dinner if I didn't move to a different table on my own, and one swore she would be vegetarian for the rest of her life. I ignored it all and thoroughly enjoyed my dinner!

I made a habit after that of purposefully ordering things that were odd or a bit "squicky" - I had escargots the next evening, and later on in the trip I had a blue steak. I also had to sit at the teacher's end of the table, away from the hysterical girls because apparently my food choices were too disturbing.

Shrike · 06-08-2014, 12:54

Apple's post reminded me of a works outing where a lot of the women were quite put out that I'd ordered jugged hare

Also I had a girlfriend who would happily tuck into chicken, but refused to eat duck as it was "little quack quacks"
So its not just young girls who can be quite silly about different meats.

JulesF · 06-08-2014, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbeler

I prefer my Quorns to be presented as fillets. They have hairy ears and I hate to see their little eyes staring up at me from the plate.

I have no issue whatsoever with food presented like this. In fact, with fish especially, I prefer it. I don't really understand meat-eaters having a problem with this. Some people even have a problem with joints of meat that are served on the bone, which I find rather bizarre. Don't they ever have a roast chicken?

I also don't get the squeamishness about eating rabbit, which is healthy and delicious. I get that people keep them as pets, but the wild (or even farmed) rabbits that we eat are entirely different from fluffy pet bunnies.

walterwhite · 06-08-2014, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulesF

I have no issue whatsoever with food presented like this. In fact, with fish especially, I prefer it. I don't really understand meat-eaters having a problem with this. Some people even have a problem with joints of meat that are served on the bone, which I find rather bizarre. Don't they ever have a roast chicken?

I also don't get the squeamishness about eating rabbit, which is healthy and delicious. I get that people keep them as pets, but the wild (or even farmed) rabbits that we eat are entirely different from fluffy pet bunnies.

I have an issue with bones, God knows why. I eat anything but put a bone in it and it puts me right off.

JulesF · 06-08-2014, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterwhite

I have an issue with bones, God knows why. I eat anything but put a bone in it and it puts me right off.

I love gnawing on a spare rib or chicken wing!

We all have our food issues though. I'm a bit weird about certain textures. Mushrooms, for example - love the taste of them, but the texture makes me gag.

venusinflares · 06-08-2014, 17:41

I have no problem with it whatsoever, fish, shellfish, meat on the bone, suckling pig - bring it all on!

We have a problem with rabbits here and we have a trap in the garden. Unfortunately they've all been too small to eat but as soon as we get a decent sized one it's neck will be wrung and it'll be prepared for the pot!

I like food that makes others squirm, apart from oysters - they make me squirm

luckylila · 06-08-2014, 18:03

No problem with the 'yuck' factor, but I don't like any food I have to fiddle with!

I don't like having to pick the edible part away from an inedible part. This includes fish bones, shellfish shells etc, but even vegetables - roasted tomatoes on the vine, unpitted olives etc.

barbeler · 11-08-2014, 10:10

I would have thought that a whole bullock on a plate would be rather inconvenient, especially if everyone on the same table had ordered the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulesF

I also don't get the squeamishness about eating rabbit, which is healthy and delicious. I get that people keep them as pets, but the wild (or even farmed) rabbits that we eat are entirely different from fluffy pet bunnies.

I hate to disillusion you, but the rabbits farmed for food are absolutely identical to those sold as pets – usually white ones.

Pumping Iron · 11-08-2014, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckylila

No problem with the 'yuck' factor, but I don't like any food I have to fiddle with!

I don't like having to pick the edible part away from an inedible part. This includes fish bones, shellfish shells etc, but even vegetables - roasted tomatoes on the vine, unpitted olives etc.

I am the opposite, I love playing with my food! Nothing better than eating a fresh crab or deshelling whole prawns.

stud u like · 11-08-2014, 10:48

The psychology of food. I love whole fish and octopus.

Welsh-lad · 11-08-2014, 11:06

Seeing as I skin and gut rabbits when I get a brace from my dad, and I used to pluck and dress chickens with mum (when we did poultry for the Christmas trade), I think the answer is no!

Toby LaRhone · 11-08-2014, 12:48

I was in Quito many years ago and ordered roast guinea pig.
It arrived spatchcocked and fully intact - head and teeth in a macabre grin, paws and claws outstretched.
I was in a tour party and only two of us out of about 16 ordered it.
The rest just voiced their horror and some moved seats

Sansa_Snow · 11-08-2014, 12:59

Yeah I am really fussy about meats and fish so would not like them on my plate with heads and feet etc. I dont eat chicken skin or the dark meat and remove bits of fat from my ham and bacon.

LostFool · 11-08-2014, 13:07

I'm a big meat eater and will try anything - but I don't like my meat to look like an animal. That means no heads, eyes, tails etc.

JulesF · 11-08-2014, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbeler

I would have thought that a whole bullock on a plate would be rather inconvenient, especially if everyone on the same table had ordered the same.

I hate to disillusion you, but the rabbits farmed for food are absolutely identical to those sold as pets – usually white ones.

Never fear, I'm not in the slightest bit disillusioned. I prefer wild, but will happily eat any bunny wunny that is presented to me.

Teddybleads · 11-08-2014, 15:51

Always had a lot of whole fish growing up so that's no issue. Meat in the bone in general is fine except very small birds like Squab which i find a bit fiddley and not worth the hassle.

One think I don't like is finding shot still in game. I've found this particularly bad in France.

misha06 · 11-08-2014, 20:57

No problem at all,

I think the most icky looking thing we have cooked was lambs hearts, they look, well like a heart, something out of a medical encyclopedia. But they are well tasty - stuffed with onions, herbs, etc.

The landlord of our local offered us a brace of partridge, shot that day. The boy scout in me kicked in and I did the business on them - from dead birds to something you would find in the supermarket in about an hour.

Again, well tasty

If I wasn't a bit weird about guns (I don't even like holding them, even an air rifle) I would love to complete the cycle from capture to plate

Lisa.J · 12-08-2014, 15:43

I dont enjoy eating meat/fish presented in as the whole animal tbh, I don't even enjoy eating anything on the bone.

Its not anything to do with being squeamish or not knowing where my food has come from I just prefer not to eat it like that.. I've no problem with others doing so, I'd never get put off my one of my friends ordering a whole fish in a restaurant for example but its just not for me.

06-08-2014, 09:43	#1
Kevinlad Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Posts: 313	Do you have problem if food is presented as a whole animal? I wonder why some people have problems in seeing the original animal shape on the dish. I went to a Spanish restaurant and had grilled sea bass which the whole fish with head and tail was on the dish. My friend said it was disgusting. I know he is not the only one. Some people found eating octopus frightening but I found them very tasty. And some countries even have the head of chicken on the dish and I don't have problem with that. Surely people who don't like that knowing they are actually eating an animal?

06-08-2014, 10:08	#2
Pumping Iron Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 22,988	Not in the slightest. I like whole fish as I enjoy the cheek meat (my family like the eyes), I also love fish head curry. People in the UK are to disassociated with their meat. I have met British folk who refuse to eat meat off the bone as they find it gross and it makes them squeamish.

06-08-2014, 10:57	#3
Shrike Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 11,480	I think that because we were the first to industrialise, we've (in general) been the most dis-associated from meat production. I've long had a suspicion that supermarkets don't like to sell offal as it reminds people they are eating animals, and of course we've seen people kicking up a fuss over traditional butchers' displays. I had a whole roast rabbit in spain (admittedly without the head) - can't see that being popular in the UK where you struggle to find rabbit on sale at all! I'm not phazed by heads on fish, though I've often found the meat around the head to taste a bit unpleasant. The rabbit was delicious btw - try it if you see it!

06-08-2014, 11:10	#4
pearlsandplums Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,490	I think meat packages in supermarkets should have photos of the animal on them. If you cant accept that an animal had to die for you to have the meat, then you shouldnt be eating it.

06-08-2014, 11:11	#5
Jambo_c Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3,721	Not at all. I'll quite happily have a whole fish on my plate or any animal, it wouldn't bother me at all (although you'd need a big plate for a whole cow). I'm happy to pluck/skin animals and chop them up too. I've a mate who goes shooting so he occasionally brings me rabbit, pigeon etc Sometimes he's butchered it, sometimes not. He even had some squirrel the other week, I was going to try some but I didn't get his message until late and missed out. It annoys me slightly when people are all squeamish about meat, those people who are happy to eat chicken for example but won't eat rabbit because it's cute just need to get a grip.

06-08-2014, 11:58	#6
malpasc Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 6,350	It doesn't bother me at all. People should realise where their food comes from.

06-08-2014, 12:26	#7
barbeler Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11,705	I prefer my Quorns to be presented as fillets. They have hairy ears and I hate to see their little eyes staring up at me from the plate.

06-08-2014, 12:36	#8
Apple22over7 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Around and about Posts: 689	It's never bothered me, in fact on a school trip once we were at a restaurant for an evening meal. I ordered trout, as the restaurant was yards away from a trout farm and so it would be incredibly fresh. It came out as a full fish, head & tail in tact. I expected this and had eaten trout in such a way before (I'd never seen trout served without, to be honest). However, several girls were horrified, two or three refused to eat their dinner if I didn't move to a different table on my own, and one swore she would be vegetarian for the rest of her life. I ignored it all and thoroughly enjoyed my dinner! I made a habit after that of purposefully ordering things that were odd or a bit "squicky" - I had escargots the next evening, and later on in the trip I had a blue steak. I also had to sit at the teacher's end of the table, away from the hysterical girls because apparently my food choices were too disturbing.

06-08-2014, 12:54	#9
Shrike Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 11,480	Apple's post reminded me of a works outing where a lot of the women were quite put out that I'd ordered jugged hare Also I had a girlfriend who would happily tuck into chicken, but refused to eat duck as it was "little quack quacks" So its not just young girls who can be quite silly about different meats.

06-08-2014, 13:07	#10
JulesF Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5,103	Quote: Originally Posted by barbeler I prefer my Quorns to be presented as fillets. They have hairy ears and I hate to see their little eyes staring up at me from the plate. I have no issue whatsoever with food presented like this. In fact, with fish especially, I prefer it. I don't really understand meat-eaters having a problem with this. Some people even have a problem with joints of meat that are served on the bone, which I find rather bizarre. Don't they ever have a roast chicken? I also don't get the squeamishness about eating rabbit, which is healthy and delicious. I get that people keep them as pets, but the wild (or even farmed) rabbits that we eat are entirely different from fluffy pet bunnies.

06-08-2014, 13:11	#11
walterwhite Forum Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 21,729	Quote: Originally Posted by JulesF I have no issue whatsoever with food presented like this. In fact, with fish especially, I prefer it. I don't really understand meat-eaters having a problem with this. Some people even have a problem with joints of meat that are served on the bone, which I find rather bizarre. Don't they ever have a roast chicken? I also don't get the squeamishness about eating rabbit, which is healthy and delicious. I get that people keep them as pets, but the wild (or even farmed) rabbits that we eat are entirely different from fluffy pet bunnies. I have an issue with bones, God knows why. I eat anything but put a bone in it and it puts me right off.

06-08-2014, 13:45	#12
JulesF Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5,103	Quote: Originally Posted by walterwhite I have an issue with bones, God knows why. I eat anything but put a bone in it and it puts me right off. I love gnawing on a spare rib or chicken wing! We all have our food issues though. I'm a bit weird about certain textures. Mushrooms, for example - love the taste of them, but the texture makes me gag.

06-08-2014, 17:41	#13
venusinflares Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Leeds Posts: 2,876	I have no problem with it whatsoever, fish, shellfish, meat on the bone, suckling pig - bring it all on! We have a problem with rabbits here and we have a trap in the garden. Unfortunately they've all been too small to eat but as soon as we get a decent sized one it's neck will be wrung and it'll be prepared for the pot! I like food that makes others squirm, apart from oysters - they make me squirm

06-08-2014, 18:03	#14
luckylila Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3,551	No problem with the 'yuck' factor, but I don't like any food I have to fiddle with! I don't like having to pick the edible part away from an inedible part. This includes fish bones, shellfish shells etc, but even vegetables - roasted tomatoes on the vine, unpitted olives etc.

11-08-2014, 10:10	#15
barbeler Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11,705	I would have thought that a whole bullock on a plate would be rather inconvenient, especially if everyone on the same table had ordered the same. Quote: Originally Posted by JulesF I also don't get the squeamishness about eating rabbit, which is healthy and delicious. I get that people keep them as pets, but the wild (or even farmed) rabbits that we eat are entirely different from fluffy pet bunnies. I hate to disillusion you, but the rabbits farmed for food are absolutely identical to those sold as pets – usually white ones.

11-08-2014, 10:43	#16
Pumping Iron Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 22,988	Quote: Originally Posted by luckylila No problem with the 'yuck' factor, but I don't like any food I have to fiddle with! I don't like having to pick the edible part away from an inedible part. This includes fish bones, shellfish shells etc, but even vegetables - roasted tomatoes on the vine, unpitted olives etc. I am the opposite, I love playing with my food! Nothing better than eating a fresh crab or deshelling whole prawns.

11-08-2014, 10:48	#17
stud u like Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street Posts: 40,105	The psychology of food. I love whole fish and octopus.

11-08-2014, 11:06	#18
Welsh-lad Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mid Wales / Canolbarth Cymru Posts: 37,555	Seeing as I skin and gut rabbits when I get a brace from my dad, and I used to pluck and dress chickens with mum (when we did poultry for the Christmas trade), I think the answer is no!

11-08-2014, 12:48	#19
Toby LaRhone Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9,227	I was in Quito many years ago and ordered roast guinea pig. It arrived spatchcocked and fully intact - head and teeth in a macabre grin, paws and claws outstretched. I was in a tour party and only two of us out of about 16 ordered it. The rest just voiced their horror and some moved seats

11-08-2014, 12:59	#20
Sansa_Snow Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 1,191	Yeah I am really fussy about meats and fish so would not like them on my plate with heads and feet etc. I dont eat chicken skin or the dark meat and remove bits of fat from my ham and bacon.

11-08-2014, 13:07	#21
LostFool Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 59,737	I'm a big meat eater and will try anything - but I don't like my meat to look like an animal. That means no heads, eyes, tails etc.

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Do you have problem if food is presented as a whole animal?

11-08-2014, 13:58	#22
JulesF Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5,103	Quote: Originally Posted by barbeler I would have thought that a whole bullock on a plate would be rather inconvenient, especially if everyone on the same table had ordered the same. I hate to disillusion you, but the rabbits farmed for food are absolutely identical to those sold as pets – usually white ones. Never fear, I'm not in the slightest bit disillusioned. I prefer wild, but will happily eat any bunny wunny that is presented to me.

11-08-2014, 15:51	#23
Teddybleads Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 6,118	Always had a lot of whole fish growing up so that's no issue. Meat in the bone in general is fine except very small birds like Squab which i find a bit fiddley and not worth the hassle. One think I don't like is finding shot still in game. I've found this particularly bad in France.

11-08-2014, 20:57	#24
misha06 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 3,180	No problem at all, I think the most icky looking thing we have cooked was lambs hearts, they look, well like a heart, something out of a medical encyclopedia. But they are well tasty - stuffed with onions, herbs, etc. The landlord of our local offered us a brace of partridge, shot that day. The boy scout in me kicked in and I did the business on them - from dead birds to something you would find in the supermarket in about an hour. Again, well tasty If I wasn't a bit weird about guns (I don't even like holding them, even an air rifle) I would love to complete the cycle from capture to plate

12-08-2014, 15:43	#25
Lisa.J Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,901	I dont enjoy eating meat/fish presented in as the whole animal tbh, I don't even enjoy eating anything on the bone. Its not anything to do with being squeamish or not knowing where my food has come from I just prefer not to eat it like that.. I've no problem with others doing so, I'd never get put off my one of my friends ordering a whole fish in a restaurant for example but its just not for me.