Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-11-17
THE HUMAN APPETITE.
Subject which, Though Old, VIII
Never Lose Its Interest

WoihSh Ouhs says tue LOuaou OntuTIuv
Rcntew. Who can say, for example.
What mostarda might become If its
fruits were treated with little more
care and personal consideration before
they were placed in the mustard? AS
1t is. there is hint of a new favor
about it which human ingenuity has
not hitherto brought fully out. Ripe
grapes picked in vinegar. though
their merits are well known in South
ern Russia, have never received d ne
recognition in England. But these are
delicacies rather than food. The ffsh-
ermen all along the coast from Gaeta
TO Naples have various ways of cook
ing fish which are unknown in the
great hotels. Many of them are in
teresting, and might be attractive, but
for the predominating favor of garlic.
Fresh sardines, crisply fried In oil, are
quite admirable eating, but the fisber--
men have discovered a more excellent
way OF dealing with them. They place
them in shallow tin. embed them ia
bread crumbs add few savory herbs,
pour little good olive oil. squeeze a
lemon or two over them, and then
bake them over q sharp fire. The re-
suit is unexpected but not disagreeable.
In some towns and villages of North
ern Italy small birds are treated with
the same appreciatiEe kindness. They
are roasted on spit before a sharp
fire, and then laid ia pickle for day
or two and served cold. OF course it
it is wicked to kill little birds, but the
man who sends such dish away when
he is hungry. and it is the only animal
food that can be procured, must be
gifted either with conscience that is
extremely sensitive or a palate that is
rather dull.
No one will suggest that there is any
thing common or unclean in such food
as has been mentioned; it does not
even border on improperly, but may
be freely enjoyed by men of all sects
and nations. AS soon as one turns to
unusual materials, national prejudice
asserts itself, and the ground becomes
unsafe. In central and q considerable
part of northern Germany the man
who eats rabbit becomes a social out
cast; in England many respectable cit
liens indulge shamelessly In this mild
form of dissipation. The Neapolitan
poor are not as q rule dainty, but
while delighting in sea-urchin, they
look down with scorn upon the Gala
brese. because they eat sea.slugs.
which. if properly cooked are not very
nasty. Nay. even in our own country
there was time when persons seoffed
at frogs; now most Englishmen who
have been to Paris know that, if pro-
perly treated. they add a new zest to
dinner if not to life. The old preiu-
dice against snails still continues. yet
there are at least two edible kinds
which are worthy of all respect. They
must be kept and fed Clearly, prefer
ably on vine leaves for some time, be-
fore being used, but when this has
been done both sorts add a peculiar
and agreeable favor to several clear
soups. and one of them when boiled,
chopped small and allowed to COOL
greatly improves any green salad. Do
not let the hasty reader imagine that
they have any resemblance to the COM
mon. we dare not say familiar, peri
Wrinkle, for nobody with any sense of
sef-respect could ever become familiar
with so coarse creature. The edible
land-snails are-at least, in gastron-
omic respects-the aristocracy of their
race. ssSss
Hedgehog is good, at least for
change, and il used to be well cooked
in q small tavern in the Ghetto of
Rome. to which artists frequently re-
sorted when their spirits were high
and their funds low. According to an
aged South Italian sportsman, they
should be killed in the woods and inn
mediately skinned, and then be allowed
TO hang for q few hours. and, after
being trussed with their own quilts. be
roasted before sharp fire. The stuff,
ing should be made of their own fat.
finely chopped with bread crumbs and
such seasoning as suits the cook taste.
OF course no one with 8 sense of de-
cency would think of eating hedge
hog which had been employed for
months in hunting black beetles In a
cellar and was only slaughtered be-
cause he showed signs of failing
strength. Snakes are difficult ques-
ton. The force of civilization is against
them in every way, though in q few
Italian towns they are considered del
icacies. and those who have eaten of
them declare that they are superior to
66lss rs hucl dLe ACos EtCu au0 udN0 u
more delicate flavor. One would not
like to give an opinion without some
practical experience, and no one can
be expected to travel in the neighbour
hood of Genoa in the early autumn for
the mere purpose of eating stewed
serpent
Many other animals occupy CHM
ilarly dubious position. Jays and
crows are said to make excellent soup.
even when they are well stricken in
years, though their flesh is otherwise
worthless. But why do we accept the
calf and reject the foalP Why do we re-
gard bears paws as dainty and roast
ed cat as a crimeP Tastes, of course.
differ; but this is not q matter of taste.
but imagination. There are persons who
cannot eat duck and green peas. and
there are others who are unfortun ate
enough to find no charms in oysters
or csviare--they are to be pitied. not
blamed.
Different Now.
She had been reading of the lates,