Friday, October 24, 2008

Sheep Head: it's what's for dinner!

-Or, at least it was last night.

This isn't such an uncommon thing in Morocco, so I'm really just being a sill American here, but I will describe my experience anyway.

I came home from class last night and took off my wet clothes (rain rain rain). I was then invited by my host mom to sit down. As I do so she turns around with something wrapped. In one swift motion she takes off the wrapper and a head falls out onto the plate, and then splits in half along it's cut. It's my night!

The brain was divided equally among us. Then a jaw bone was given to the youngest (who then says in darija "My teeth, my teeth!" and pops out the incisors...he's really adorable). The meat was ripped from bone (there isn't a whole lot), and the skull was set aside. Unfortunately, the brain was left under a pile of my meat, so I'm not sure if I actually ate some brain or not. I made a promise to myself that I would draw the line at brain, so much for that!

All in all, a little gamey (lamb), but not at all bad. I was nervous about the experience (mostly the brain). I surprised myself, and maybe confused my host mom at the end of the meal by smiling unexpectedly. I had done it! (I couldn't really explain this to anyone without looking silly).

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting! A few rat hairs... maybe a leo lionheart hair... and it's like my cooking!!

Lisa said...

Kyle- exactly!

PanTostada said...

How cool is it that we had the "eating brain" talk at dinner after the City Museum and here you are experiencing it!

Loda said...

A monkey's brains, though popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington D. C.

(or Morocco apparently, since you ate lamb's)

I will refrain here from telling you all the things you DON'T want to know about consuming nervous tissue on your behalf and Raich's request... all I can say is WOW

Lisa said...

Raichel- Yes...very cool...or just plan strange.

Loda- Sheeps brains are popular in Moroccan cuisine, particularly for their big holiday (we know the story of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son, and then at the last minute God sends a sheep instead? It's celebrating that), they eat the whole sheep!

I already know the horror stories of what can happen to you by consuming nervous tissue. I will try to limit my consumption as best as I can. Eef!