Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-27
CULINARY ODDITIES.
Curious Dishes That Cooks Prepare in Dis
tant Lands.

Curious Dishes That Cooks Prepare in Dis.
tant Lands.
Cookery, though universal, is byno means
the same the world over, and study of the
culinary department of the various nations
is decidedly interesting, says the Philadel-
phia Times Our own table would present
to the Dyab as curious a spectacle as his
feast would be to Us, and we would never
accustom our tastes to the bill of fare which
the Celestials daily consults.
: Shark-fns dried are sold IN every Chinese
meat shop. They are the fins of the white
shark, and the best bring nearly four dol
lars pound. When raw this eatable re-
sembles whalebone, but boiling reduces 1t
to glutinous substance which the Celestial
considers delicacy. Rich Cinnamon revel
in dishes Of bird-nest soup. which is luxury
the poor can not enjoy. The material be-
fore cooking resembles gravel more than
any thing else vegetable, and tastes a little
like gum arabic. The birds form 1t by
masticating a sort of seaweed, and the nest
when finished is transparent and dlssolves
readily. Cinnamon obtain this luxury
from Java and Will never learn that they
could get the se2weed itself and make their
own bird-nest soup at cost infnitestimal
compared to the cost Of the article they I'M
port
The Samoans have adish called "palolo,'
which rises from the bottom Of the sea 20
the surface II is composed Of countless
thousands of worms allied to the Nereid
family. They vary in length from an inch
TO yard and exhibit every conceivable col
or as they wriggle and twist on the waves
Whole villages Of Samoans go out in boats
to collect this native dainty and the feast
that follows is one of the great festivities.
"Palolo " is wrapped in bread fruit leaves
and cooked il ovens. 1t makes its appear
ance from the sea so regularly that the in
haoitants Of the FIJI group call October and
November little and great Paiolo, it being
first seen during the trst-naE1ed month, but
reaches its plentltude in November.
Among the African tribes the Bakalai are
fond Of dish which they srvle njavi 1t IL
neither fowl, fish nor beast, but is prepared
from the seeds OF the NAV. which Is one Of
the largest trees OF the country. No Amer
can would accept second invitation 20
dine on njavi, the favor OF which Is said 10
resemble that OF scorched lard. Tie Baka-
lai even do not set high value CT this dish.
They are great rnest-eaters and for ssrsges
are the cleaaliest Of cooks
Ostrich eggs form one of tie staple arti-
cies Of Bushmaa diet de is not particular
how they are served, and the age Of the egg
is seldom questioned Roasted in the Ares
Of tie kraa., or eaten rsg, As they oftea are,
they never get below being dainty 20 TIE
diner The bird Itself "a eaten az .weIl a.
its produce. and some parts CT 1t are SAID
By travellers &c forE dish &. &c be set 10
fore q King Ee&de IN his Savage Afrfcz''
SAYS that q Busau.sn car enjoy s1y thing,
from roasted elephant foot 20 gralled ser
rent, which latter IS one Of the queer dishes
among them
Speaking of elephants foot takes Is nat
uraliy To tie Kafars, where tins dish 10 the
croxniag triREspa 0f their bsI of fare
Night Is the time generslly selected ty the
KAear for the ez augment Of tbs prime Irr-
pry Other portions Of TIE ess7hsnt are
eaten with great gas.o, but the feet are g.
fseEaei the aess0acies Of she fes<a 4 cola
Is dug II TIE g-oza6 and . Ere made ca tbs
bottom I. 10 allowed 20 burn down 70
heap OF Goals, which are scssped cot By tee
cncsA Whea Esse ever has been freed Of
enbers the foo. Is roIlee into II and covered
with twlvs and green leaves After this
the bet ena6ers are replaced snE q rox-ng
Gre ssa-:adoTs- the bead. Il I'll. E2an>s