I just watched Gigi which I enjoy seeing now and again. There is one 
segment where her aunt is teaching her to eat Ortolans. I knew, from the movie it was a little bird, but I decided to Google it. It is a member of the bunting family and a songbird and is apparently making a comeback. The British paper, The Daily Telegraph, calls it France’s cruellest food. I must admit it seems a very odd thing to eat, it is so small there can’t be much on it to enjoy although it is shown in the movie as being eaten bones and all. However, I remember in Spain that they serve small birds as part of their Tapas. I can’t remember what they were, sparrows or something, I am not sure, so what is so unique about Ortolans being eaten. They are a very expensive item on a restaurant menu, some places charging as much as £50 for the dish, a pretty hefty price for one little bird. The birds decreased drastically a few years ago but have made a comeback and now they are beginning to serve them again. How very sad. Quail and woodcock are eaten too and although small, they aren’t as tiny as the Ortolan which can be held in one hand. Apparently the reason they call it cruel is because of the way the birds are trapped, then fattened up and finally drowned in Armagnac which has the benefit of marinating the bird at the same time. As the article says, maybe not as cruel as putting a live lobster into a pot of boiling water, but nevertheless still very cruel.
I love smoked salmon and these little hors d’oeuvres from Kraft really appealed to me. It says 12 servings, I think I would be wanting more than 2.
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12 servings
![Jo_thumb[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GHWLwx-muGfgq64MmeH0E02uH0xeu4ApkQKTr8-GKa9xC87S-imXO8scIHoTN18MDVX9hBCezX4_IrPICP1Rl-RWpD08dxQJVxc755jag1N-1u9gXDgRiTlsv94lcjAMVwdx_fyJfy4/?imgmax=800 "Jo_thumb[2]")
segment where her aunt is teaching her to eat Ortolans. I knew, from the movie it was a little bird, but I decided to Google it. It is a member of the bunting family and a songbird and is apparently making a comeback. The British paper, The Daily Telegraph, calls it France’s cruellest food. I must admit it seems a very odd thing to eat, it is so small there can’t be much on it to enjoy although it is shown in the movie as being eaten bones and all. However, I remember in Spain that they serve small birds as part of their Tapas. I can’t remember what they were, sparrows or something, I am not sure, so what is so unique about Ortolans being eaten. They are a very expensive item on a restaurant menu, some places charging as much as £50 for the dish, a pretty hefty price for one little bird. The birds decreased drastically a few years ago but have made a comeback and now they are beginning to serve them again. How very sad. Quail and woodcock are eaten too and although small, they aren’t as tiny as the Ortolan which can be held in one hand. Apparently the reason they call it cruel is because of the way the birds are trapped, then fattened up and finally drowned in Armagnac which has the benefit of marinating the bird at the same time. As the article says, maybe not as cruel as putting a live lobster into a pot of boiling water, but nevertheless still very cruel.I love smoked salmon and these little hors d’oeuvres from Kraft really appealed to me. It says 12 servings, I think I would be wanting more than 2.
Smoked Salmon Chips
12 servings
What You Need
1/2 cup (1/2 of 8-oz. tub) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese Spread
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh chives
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill
1-1/2 tsp. milk
1/2 tsp. orange zest
24 kettle-cooked ridged potato chips
1 pkg. (4 oz.) thinly sliced smoked salmon, cut into 24 strips
Make It
MIX first 5 ingredients until blended.
ARRANGE chips in single layer on platter. Roll each salmon strip into cone shape; place 1 on each chip.
TOP with cream cheese mixture.
Make Ahead
For best flavour, prepare cream cheese mixture ahead of time. Refrigerate up to 24 hours before using as directed.
Variation
Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and baked potato chips.
![Jo_thumb[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj1ALL5bfaGRzd1a5eUH-qGpJkMiO0tZXH13netsQehF5xg8RWQglv8LYpcI2ilxgt0mUm7p-dfH_9GYNOvJYeiY0nJIgvfEUQULb_S6Ur4pP6wlX91m_lgq8-k3_TA8KLWt7gTjSh6c/s1600-h/Jo_thumb24.png "Jo_thumb[2]"){kind=small}
Hi Jo - the eating of small birds is something that has occurred over the centuries - an essential centuries ago .. the trouble is we go overboard in this day and age and the population of those particular birds can't keep up - another species on its way to extinction. They were creative preparers of food in ancient, or not so ancient times ...
ReplyDeleteSmoke salmon I love .. but I definitely need more than two - and they'd need to be eaten quickly before the Kettle chips got soggy .. cheers Hilary
Yes, I know. You should see what the article says about ortolans and Romans. It is still sad to eat a little song bird but.....
DeleteI never thought of that.
Hi Jo. Having owned three tropical birds I rescued, eating them would not appeal. I think chicken and turkey are enough for me. Certainly salmon is always welcome. Have a very pleasant weekend,
ReplyDeleteI have never eaten the small game birds in England, not from choice but more from lack of opportunity. They are 'managed' though which does help. Loved smoked salmon.
DeleteThat's wicked sad. :( Poor little bird. I think fois gras is also a very cruel food too. And I hate how lobsters are cooked too and I live in the land of the lobster. Russell thought I was joking when i told him to tell me b/f he puts them in the pot so that I could leave the house and then was surprised when I yelled at him and flew out the door when he put them in w/o warning me first. He said no one had ever made such a request before.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about foie gras JoJo, but I'm afraid it wouldn't stop me eating it. I have cooked a lobster myself and didn't like the process but I enjoyed the end product. I think that's quite funny about you and Russell.
DeleteI would think one bite and it's gone.
ReplyDeleteNot quite, but watching it on film, it really doesn't seem worth bothering with and I certainly wouldn't pay £50 which is around $100.
DeleteHi Jo,
ReplyDeleteI could not even contemplate eating such a small bird. The price would put me off, no matter what type of bird.
The only way I can stomach salmon is smoked.
A pleasant weekend to you.
Gary
Thought you'd be stuffing them down at that price, LOL.
DeleteAnd you lived in BC and don't eat fresh salmon? You do surprise me. I love it smoked as well of course.
Many years ago I went with my parents to a French Restaurant for Christmas dinner and was served quail. I couldn't bring myself to eat off those tiny little bones. I don't feel guilty eating fish for some reason.
ReplyDeleteNever had the opportunity but I think I would eat quail. Had fish, haddock, for supper tonight.
DeleteLove the idea of using kettle chips (crisps) as a base for hors d'oeuvres - guess you could use Pringles also - do you have those in Canada?
ReplyDeleteThey'd work with pate and halved cherry tomatoes, or any number of other toppings wouldn't they?
Yup, we do have Pringles and I agree, they would work too.
DeleteI agree with your suggestions too. Although I particularly like smoked salmon.
Smoke salmon chips, 12 would not be enough for even one of us. We all have big mouths and larger stomachs. I wouldn't eat births either. Virgins, villagers, and people who bother me I fry while still alive, but not little births or lobsters.
ReplyDeletethat was meant to be birDs. My typos getting worse this season.
DeleteNo I don't suppose they would be enough for all of you in a million years. I didn't even think of dragons when posting this recipe. I didn't know dragons didn't eat birds though and as for lobsters, my favourite food.
Delete