Frogs’ Legs
Last night at dinner in Mauguio, the aperitif included ravioli réunionnaises, and frogs’ legs:
Although anglo-saxon stereotypes would hold that French people eat cuisses de grenouille (and equally slimy escargots) all the time, this simply isn’t true. A particular speciality of the lyonnais, frogs legs aren’t something that appears on the table very often. However it was inevitable that they would cross my plate at some point while I am living in France.
The verdict – sautéed in oil with herbs and vegetables and possibly some gros sel, frogs legs taste of very little at all. The texture of the flesh is very similar to scallops, and they’re full of little thighbones. They aren’t unpleasant, but I’m not going to rush out and buy some myself to cook for lunch…
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Another benefit of French colonialism: the Vietnamese do *much* better with frogs’ legs than the French do themselves.
It’s also arguable that the bánh mi is a higher and better use of the baguette than the French approach to le sandwiche. Which is probably why there aren’t any Vietnamese bánh mi stands here.
I wouldn’t past the Vietnamese to do most kinds of food better than the French. An extraordinary culinary tradition.
I’m imagining that the Vietnamese word “Bánh mì” originates from the French “pain de mie”, but I can’t find the reference on the web. Perhaps it’s one of the few positive legacies of colonial occupation in Indochina beyond a few railway tracks and some Marguerite Duras novels?
Les gnous et les couleuvres ne se discutent pas…
By the way, Richard the raviolis réunionais are originally Asian (many Asians emigrated to the Reunion Island) and are called “bouchons”.
Oh mon Dieu! When I was a kid, I used to go with my brother and shoot frogs in the stream behind the summer house with a pellet gun, so that my mother would prepare fresh frogs’ legs for dinner!
Haven’t had that since ages. Always thought they tasted like chicken…
Some memories you brought back, Richard!
Jean Francois
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