A little while back, I read the book “Hannibal Rising”; which is all about the formative years of Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lector. At one point a teenage Hannibal is getting some culinary lessons from a French Chef. The Chef says that the cheeks of an animal are a delicacy. When you are carving one is supposed to be presented to the lady of the house and the other to the guest of honour.
Now for a while I wondered if this idea was, perhaps, made up by Thomas Harris. After all we butchered our own animals when I was growing up on the farm and I had never heard of such a thing. However, just the other day I attended a wine and food festival. At one of the booths they had beef cheeks. I tried one and found it to be very tasty and surprisingly tender.
Thus, I have been inspired to create a new dish for The Redneck Bar & Grill. A 48-hr. sous-vide beaver cheek with garlic infused puree of root vegetables and a pink-peppercorn demi-glace. Watch for it on the new menu.
hey Ernie,
I’ve eaten brains and tongue, but never cheek. Let me know when it’s actually available on the Redneck Bar menu and maybe I’ll stop by. Just make sure I’m getting FACE cheek and not the OTHER-END-OF-THE-ANIMAL cheek.
~ Steve, the redneck trade show displays guru
Uh, thanks, but I think I’ll skip the beaver cheeks, even if they are prepared sous-vide (someone’s been watching “Top Chef”!)
Also, why don’t they call them “cow cheeks”? Doesn’t sound quite so appetizing, eh? Not that “beef cheeks” is much better.
Wow, that’s interesting, I’ve never heard of eating cheeks either but if you think about it the cheeks are probably the softest piece of meat on an animal’s body so this kind of makes sense. I don’t know about beaver cheeks, but I’d be interested in trying some beef cheeks if I ever came across them.
thats sound gr8 dish to have…thanks buddy
hi can you please explain the dishes that you prepare regularly and its ingredients since i am a pure vegetarian .
you made me hungry while reading your article!
In the early days of America people used all parts of the animal to feed their family. But, these days we have become much more selective in what sections of the cow, pig, or what ever we are willing to eat. The extra pieces of the animal are usually sent to the major food companies so they can produce products like “Spam” (Stuff Posing As Meat) or Potted Meat, just to name a few. We have become soft in our thinking in this country. Just my two cents….
Hey, if you’re eating beaver then you have to experiment!
The cheek of a fish is often ignored, but on many fish it is like the “tenderloin”, the most delicate part of the fish
Hmm interesting.. so did you get any reviews for the new menu? Beaver cheek with garlic. Please let me know.
Yipee.. beaver with demi glace sauce is mouthwatering. LOL.. Please share your recipe dude..
I am a pure vegetarian so i can’t think about it. your post and your ideas can be good for those people who are taking these stuffs. Anyways keep sharing some interesting topics.
It is amazing just how much of the animal that we waste that people did not used or do not do in other countries. While some foods sound questionable it is fun trying new things.
I’ll pass on that, Ill stick with the other edible parts.
I’ve been a fan of exotic food such as animal brains, tongue, and bugs but I haven’t tasted any dishes such as animal cheeks. I’ll be back for your recipe, hope you post it soon.
I too wants to taste your food.If it taste well then I order more for my family and kids.
Exotic food is not for the faint of heart but if you try it you will be surprise of the taste.
Mmm…sounds tasty! Let us know how it goes.
Hey, that deserves to be cooked outdoors around a campfire.
that’s really a wonderful ,i am getting water in my mouth,feeling so hungry
I m veggie, so i shall skip this recipe, lolz but will surely wait for any other veggie recipe, i loved your last recipe too, thanks for sharing it.
If you want a side of canned possum to go with that, Let me know. I can hook ya’ up.
Very imaginative. Will you be mentioning on the menue that the dish was inspired by Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lector?
Nope – can’t do it – ain’t gonna go there – there is no way I’m trying cheeks. Seriously, how does one go about getting enough cheek from one animal to even do anything with?
I couldn’t handle this. What will you call your new dish, beaver cheeks as you mention? Another commenter is right though, early on, people did not waste animals as we do today
I’m looking forward to seeing new dishes on the menu.
o man this is nice: ma mother use to cooks cheeks, they were so delicious that at the first time i did not know what i was eating but when i got to know i did not belive it.
That’s cheeky!
Wow if you think about it, that delicacy has a thick face or cheek lol. Very cheeky!
since you have picked this dish from Hannibal, so is this a French dish ? nice reviews, i think people have really liked it.
I have watched that movie named “Hannibal”, it was really very disgusting because they the showing that one man is eating his own brain. I know it was a good movie but those things make a wrong impact on our society. Anyways keep it up and keep sharing.
I have read for the first time that cheeks can also be eaten up, wow, great, but i think this is Italian food right ? since it comes from ‘Hannibal’ !
I too wants to enjoy your food.After reading your post I think it is really delicious and Yummy.
I wants to taste your food.I hope it would be tasty and delicious too.
Wow, It is very interesting. I’ve never heard of eating cheeks either but if you think about it the cheeks are probably the softest piece of meat on an animal’s body so this kind of makes sense.Great work. bye.
I’m sort of like you, in that I grew up having tasted just about ever animal that walks the woods or swims the streams, but I have never heard of eating the cheeks!? Really!? Tender huh?…
What other cut of meat would you compare it to?
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I just scarfed on some beef cabeza tacos. YUUUUUUUUM!!
Andrew@Promotional Sports Bags´s last blog ..Promo Coffee Mugs
Cow cheeks? I think I’ll pass. The name alone makes me think of the cheeks that aren’t found on the face, if you know what I mean
Ive never eaten the cheeks of animals but I’d assume they are quite tough…Why is it that the strangest parts of animals always end up being delicacy’s..?
Jo @ Caterpillar Costume´s last blog ..About Us
Actually it’s very helpful for making health. It can easily improve our health, also beer can use in your diet.
If we want to achieve better health guys you should use beer in couple of day with eating. Definitely it will affect on your body.
I went to the wine and food festival in my home town (in New Zealand) recently and they had a range of the craziest food ever. They didnt have cheeks but they did have ears and hooves…
Ruth @ Ghost Halloween Costume´s last blog ..About Us
This is not good I felt my stomach rumbling while reading your post. But your article is cool and very useful. I’m a little bit confused to the “pink-peppercorn demi-glace” .. It’s pink! Lol
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Your Q of the day lead me to imagine Hank stickin his head into the kitchen and asking, “Hey good lookin, whatcha ya got cookin?” to which he is quickly served up some spicy ‘jambalaya’. Then john fogerty comes out to recommend the ‘rhubarb pie’. Is it lunch time yet?
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