Puffin

I mentioned how a region plays an important factor in a culture or country's cuisine a few posts back and this week's post definitely shows this concept. For me, when I think of puffins I think of cute little fluffy birds that live near cold oceans or can be found in zoos. In Iceland, puffins are cooked and served just like chicken. It is such a surprise for me to hear about people eating puffins because they are an uncommon animal to see in California, unlike other birds that are cooked and typically served such as chicken or duck. It seems that puffins are a typical menu item and are typically served grilled or smoked. The little puffins are usually skinned, soaked in saltwater, milk, or ale, browned in fat and then smoked or grilled. Reading a few descriptions of the taste of puffin, I found that a majority of people say that smoked puffin taste like beef jerky with a distinct fish flavor and that its texture is close to duck but softer. People also eat the hearts of puffins, however they are eaten raw. I never would have guessed that people ate puffins but after thinking about it, it seems logical because puffins are a common animal in areas such as Iceland. Definitely very interesting.

Casu marzu

Casu marzu is a Sardinian cheese that may look "normal" from far away but taking a closer look reveals live insect larvae living inside. Mainly found in Sardinia, Italy, casu marzu is a traditional food with a recipe that has been used for thousands of years. This sheep milk cheese contains live larvae of the cheese fly to help go beyond fermenting the cheese which improves its taste and texture. The cheese fly lays its larvae in pecorino, the sheep milk cheese before larvae is added, so the acid from the digestive action of the larvae will break down the cheese fats in a decomposition stage and cause the cheese to become soft.
As strange as it already may seem, casu marzu is only safe to eat while the larvae are still alive. Once the larvae are dead, the cheese is considered toxic. While people eat the cheese while the larvae are alive, the larvae itself is not consumed because a larvae in one's digestive track can lead to harmful results in the intestine.
I don't think I could ever manage trying this cheese knowing that larvae was used to help it decompose. However, it would be interesting and very, very bizarre to see this cheese and the process it goes through in person.