Donkeys on the beach at Scarborough. Donkey rides are a common feature on British beaches. These donkeys were photographed while they were taking a break and eating from nose bags. Also on the beach is a small amusement park (left) and the lifeboat station (right) http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/192382. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We think we’ve got it bad?
I just read a report in the Mail & Guardian that South Africans are eating ‘beef’ which is really goat, donkey and water buffalo.
Professor Louw Hoffman makes an excellent point:
There’s nothing wrong with eating donkey meat if you like eating donkey meat. It’s not more or less unhealthy than any other species. It boils down to the fact that you want to know what you’re eating.
Although, to be honest, if I’m eating donkey, I don’t think I do want to know what I’m eating.
I found this comment surprising:
The department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has pointed out that eating unconventional species such as donkey, goat and water buffalo may seem unthinkable to many South Africans but it does not pose an automatic health risk.
What surprised me is that eating unconventional species is ‘unthinkable to many South Africans.’ This in a country which has a wonderful restaurant called The Train (in Midrand), where I have eaten elephant, shark, crocodile, giraffe and warthog. They also serve water buffalo; but they don’t call it ‘beef’. They call it ‘water buffalo’.
If you are ever in Midrand, you should visit The Train. It’s less than R40 a head. That’s about £3! Or $4.50.
But be warned: they don’t have a children’s menu. Someone ate all the donkeys.
The Laughing Housewife 
I have thoroughly enjoyed goat stew, fruit bat curry and octopus salad. But I agree, it’s good to know what you’re eating.
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Delicious post, TB; and that’s no bull.
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😀 😀 😀
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I’ve also eaten at The Train, many years ago, and other restaurants which serve many different kinds of meat. I think when I return to SA in a couple of weeks time, that I’ll steer clear of sausages and salami, which I’m not keen on anyway. I do like to know what I’m paying for. 🙂
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That’s it, exactly – it’s the fraud that is the real problem.
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Maybe Ronseal should move into food.
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Nothing wrong with eating weird food if you know you’re eating it. It’s when nobody tells you and you think you’re eating beef that it becomes creepy. Sort of like the horsemeat thing. Creepy, just creepy.
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Yes, and the chain is so complicated, who knows how old it is, or where it’s come from?
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for some reason, the first thing that comes to mind……Horse Nuggets. I have no idea why.
I would think it would be much easier to do crocodile ones??
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Maybe…first, catch your crocodile…
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You are right, one wants to know, for the most part, what one is eating. I went to a restaurant and purposely shared the hunter’s menu with my hubby and we had ostrich, elk, moose, buffalo and bear. I didn’t care for the bear, too gamey. On the other hand my hubby and I had the tasting menu at a sushi restaurant and the waiter announced everything we were tasting, I could have done without the info. Ignorance was bliss in that situation. 🙂
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I’ll bet! 🙂
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I wonder what else we’re going to find out that we’ve been eating and didn’t know?
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That thought is terrifying.
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I eat only beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. Nothing exotic like elephant or crocodile! No thanks!
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So far as you know… 🙂
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No thanks. I’ll pass.
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I will pass on that restaurant, thank you
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The Train sounds like an interesting restaurant! 🙂
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It is. It gets its name from the two converted train carriages in which they serve the food. There is – or was; it’s about twenty years since I was there – a huge marquee at the back, to accommodate bigger parties.
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Not an “automatic” risk? What is it, then — a slow-motion risk? Or manually operated? Ah, well.
What it boils down to is that what’s in the pot actuall is not. So here’s a handkerchief for ya!
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Hmm, I’m glad I only eat chicken…
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I love trying different meats: in Australia I tried kangaroo and croc, and in Africa I have had impala and other small antelopes!
And in the UK the South African restaurant near Chester is well worth a try,
http://www.jabula-restaurant.co.uk/ Have you tried it?
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I have! Some years ago now; we were treated by a nephew. It’s yummy.
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I ate black pudding not knowing what it was – yuck
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Yuck indeed! Terrible stuff 😦
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The problem is that horses and donkeys are injected with medicines which are not good for human consumption. If they are specifically marked for slaughter then it would be safer for humans.
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That’s true, of course.
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