Road Kill

Posted by:

Bob Bowles

photo gallery :

Blind Pig

Have you ever eaten a rat? How about a beaver or snapping turtle? Many of you may remember the “Spirits on the River” restaurant near the Asheville municipal golf course that served all kinds of indigenous (or not) reptiles and other odd animals. On this evening, we did indeed relish “hard to find in your grocery store” mammals and reptiles, and all from local sources!

Do you know the term “Blind Pig”? I didn’t! It references a Speakeasy, one of those illegal places that served alcohol during Prohibition. It has now taken on an upscale meaning in the culinary world. There is a Blind Pig group in Asheville and they have started their culinary journey with an outstanding dinner and social gathering! Many foodie friends were gathered at Ron Ainspan’s place, a beautiful late 1800s manor on a 100-acre farm preserve, atop a gentle rise in the Riceville community. In addition to founding Mountain Food Products, Ron has started a new project to turn this beautiful enclave into an educational farm and retreat center.

Our destiny this evening was to appreciate the culinary skill of Drew Maykuth and Elliott Moss from The Admiral restaurant in West Asheville. They prepared a wild (foraged) dinner of not-your-typical game (sometimes referred to as “road kill”). By this term, I am simply referring to animals you might find in the wild or in a local lake, such as snapping turtle or nutria (also called coypu; large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodents, originally native to subtropical and temperate South America), or beaver (not the TV series)! There was also duck, oysters from Hunters Island, NC, and wild boar. When was the last time you have eaten any of these?

The food was excellent, the wines and spirits that everyone brought were liberally shared and appreciated, but the best part of the meal for me was the conversations and “reckoning relationships.” They were delicious!

Music, great people and friends, wonderful food, animated conversations, hugs and kisses, the cool night air as we dined on the porch, sharing… so much more to add, but I think you get the picture!

Check out the menu, but better yet; check out the next Blind Pig event, on September 9^th. I have my tickets – see you there!

Oyster with Moonshine Mignonette, Peach, Cucumber, and Cilantro

Striped Bass En Escabeche Tomato, Green Beans, Corn, and Basil

Nutria & Duck with Jambalaya, and Farro Verde

Snapping Turtle with Anson Mill Grits, Oyster Mushroom, and Bacon

Beaver with San Marzano Tomato, Gnocchi (these were wonderful!), Basil, and Peccorino Romano

Wild Boar, BBQ Sauce, Corn, Pickles, Watermelon, and White Bread

Presented by Maykuth & Moss - The Admiral

“Reckoning Relationships” – an old sociological term meaning “I think I know you – do you know so and so?”

http://blindpigofasheville.com/

http://theadmiralnc.com/

http://www.asapconnections.org/special/research/Case%20studies/MtnFood.htm