Ortolan is a small songbird that is found in Europe. It is a protected species in many countries due to declining numbers. However, in France, there was a long tradition of capturing, force-feeding and drowning ortolans in Armagnac to produce a dish considered the height of gourmandise.
The fuck is wrong with the French
And it’s done traditionally to wear a towel over your head as you eat the entire bird, bones at and all, in one bite…
…to hide from God, who knows what you did.
I’m not joking.
They used a napkin, not an actual towel. The French word for napkin is serviette, which is also the word for towel.
Fuckin eh. Is that worse than foie gras? I don’t even know.
Well ortolan was typically eaten with a napkin covering one’s head, to hide one’s shame from God for eating it.
Rightly so.
Yes. Fois gras involves force-feeding but not drowning.
Best food though