A question I am often asked in Japan is if I have eaten horse meat. I know for many people in America, they may feel dumbfounded by this question because horses are animals we ride, some race and an animal that many bond with like a family member, like dogs and cats.
It’s also important to note that the three slaughterhouses in America that did work with horse meat were closed down in 2007 and the horses intended for slaughter, can only be sold and shipped to other countries.
But as many of you know, other countries are different on their perspective of what is legal to eat in their countries and for horses, their meat are served at markets.
I often hear that horse meat has more protein and less fat and tastes like a mix between beef and venison and a little sweeter.
It’s important to note that I rarely eat regular red meat and aside from ground beef, steaks and occasional venison (only when a friend makes jerky), other than that, I’ve not felt a need to stray towards trying other meats.
It’s just not my thing. I’m not sure if I brought this up on my blog before, but for some people, they may be shocked to know that I rarely eat pork. Reason being, is that I was taken to a pig slaughterhouse by my grandfather when I was a child (not knowing what to expect) and saw a pig killed and it’s blood kept in a bucket. The pig became lechon and the blood, what was used for a Filipino dish called dinuguan.
Throughout my childhood, I was told that dinuguan was “chocolate meat” and when I found out it was cooked pigs blood, it made me sick. Also, with the intestines, my grandmother made me use it to stuff sausages for longaniza. I could tell you right now, that smell, even though I haven’t smelled it since I was seven or eight, I can still smell in my mind. Needless to say, it has pushed me away from eating pork for many years with the exception of bacon (for some odd reason, I just don’t think of pigs when I have eaten bacon). And only in the last decade, I started eating pulled pork (for sandwiches) and pork chops (if fried).
My brother, he’s tried everything and all types of animals. For me, I just know growing up that I’ve been tricked to eating a lot of things (I think that’s part of growing up Asian and relatives knowing you may not eat it, so they tell you it’s something else or just wait for you to eat it and tell you afterward), so I’m often hesitant.
But while others may enjoy eating horse meat, I never have (to my knowledge, I haven’t) and I don’t intend to.
I’m not the type to tell people don’t eat that… So, if you go to another country and are open to trying their cuisine, even if it includes animals that you would never eat and are willing to try it, enjoy yourself!
I’m quite fine with eating my veggie burger. 🙂
