Cool hat right?I don't know what happened. I went a year and a half at the CIA fabricating all sorts of meats, poultry and seafood without flinching and not until now am I growing a weak stomach. I actually had to push away the peanut M&M's I was snacking on when I started this post. (probably a good thing)
It all started back in Brest when I had to clean an entire case of crabs. I remember them climbing onto my cutting board almost catching my hand as they were snatched up to be tossed into the boiling water. Then cleaning them I was mortified dealing with their eyes and all the hair (yes, hair) and the goop. You'd think I had never seen a crab before in my life.
I thought it would be a phase but since then it hasn't been much easier. Apparently it's that time of year when the crustaceans of the sea are pregnant so most of the lobsters and langostines we're receiving are full of eggs like the lobster pictured here. Even after the arms were cut off its tail was convulsing with all the eggs falling off in chunks. Eww.
It goes beyond crabs and lobsters. I'm cutting off dozens of duck heads and feet and gutting them too. The other day Gina and I were doing it together and she asked if I had felt that "tube thing with the ripples." "You mean it's throat?" I asked. "Ya, you know that's the quacker right?" All I could do was laugh...and then got grossed out.
Pigeons are another favorite at the restaurant and they're what I'm fabricating in this awful picture. Who knew pigeons bled that much? The first time I did this I forgot gloves and the whole time kept picturing myself in a horror film. Then, that night as I went to sleep, I contemplated becoming a vegetarian.
I'm hoping I get over this since it's just no good. There's no reason for my behavior. It's not even that I feel sorry for the creatures, it's just the living and then dying that I have to deal with and all the blood and mess. I want to be like Julia Child and embrace every aspect of it...am I just dreaming? Is it a gene that I lack? I suppose time will tell...
It all started back in Brest when I had to clean an entire case of crabs. I remember them climbing onto my cutting board almost catching my hand as they were snatched up to be tossed into the boiling water. Then cleaning them I was mortified dealing with their eyes and all the hair (yes, hair) and the goop. You'd think I had never seen a crab before in my life.
I thought it would be a phase but since then it hasn't been much easier. Apparently it's that time of year when the crustaceans of the sea are pregnant so most of the lobsters and langostines we're receiving are full of eggs like the lobster pictured here. Even after the arms were cut off its tail was convulsing with all the eggs falling off in chunks. Eww.
It goes beyond crabs and lobsters. I'm cutting off dozens of duck heads and feet and gutting them too. The other day Gina and I were doing it together and she asked if I had felt that "tube thing with the ripples." "You mean it's throat?" I asked. "Ya, you know that's the quacker right?" All I could do was laugh...and then got grossed out.
Pigeons are another favorite at the restaurant and they're what I'm fabricating in this awful picture. Who knew pigeons bled that much? The first time I did this I forgot gloves and the whole time kept picturing myself in a horror film. Then, that night as I went to sleep, I contemplated becoming a vegetarian.
I'm hoping I get over this since it's just no good. There's no reason for my behavior. It's not even that I feel sorry for the creatures, it's just the living and then dying that I have to deal with and all the blood and mess. I want to be like Julia Child and embrace every aspect of it...am I just dreaming? Is it a gene that I lack? I suppose time will tell...
Pigeons
Is this an inappropriate picture?
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6 comments:
Van,
I totally feel you - they are constantly bringing in whole pigs, and goats ...whole - feet heads and all! In big white ice chests I tell ya I will never feel the same about those big white igloo ice chests - the same ones used for days at the lake
Sometimes, I am not expecting it and there will be a whole bucket of pig heads in the walkin and it just catches you off guard with the snouts an wobbly ears and the eyes! I guess at school you would see one maybe whole and then when you see a whole parade of them it's a little different and let me tell you the ugliest thing I have seen is probs a whole monk fish it is ugly!
love ya lis
At least they don't talk back. If they did, can you imagine the comments... "put my leg back on", "you are disturbing the nursery," "he has better taste than I do, go get him" etc. What fun!
I've never considered myself a queasy person, but wow! your descriptions accompanied by pictures made me feel marginally sick. I can't even imagine actually having to touch that stuff! You are a stronger woman than I am Ness :)
Disgrossting. Straight up. But you're cute.
LOL...."at least they don't talk back!!" is a great line;-)
Hey- it"s a necessary part of the biz(not glamorous!) that builds character and 'hopefully' confidence. You're doing great, and keep the blog+pics coming(yes, even the bloody gross ones!) i am enjoying it over a nice cup of tea!! love you>>>>>dad
..."at least they don't talk back!!" is a great line;-)
Hey- it"s a necessary part of the biz(not glamorous!) that builds character and 'hopefully' confidence. You're doing great, and keep the blog+pics coming(yes, even the bloody gross ones!) i am enjoying it over a nice cup of tea!! love.....dad
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