Comments on: Special Blend with Barbara Beall

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 20:15:19 +0000

Here’s a great video of carbuncles being drained. It’s reminiscent of the Ortolan fat running down your throat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hTewkmFv6I

You’re welcome.

By: purrdence

purrdence — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:32:18 +0000

Thanks for mentioning me and Cap. Made my day. 🙂

By: Amanda M

Amanda M — Fri, 29 May 2015 19:49:07 +0000

Obligatory:

Note to self: don’t listen before food. ^_^

By: Michael Churchill

Michael Churchill — Fri, 29 May 2015 00:38:48 +0000

I remember you guys talking about poisonous frogs on an earlier podcast, and that reminded me of one of the funniest documentaries I’ve ever seen about the Australian Cane Toad. My AP Environmental Sciences teacher showed us this in class in my senior year, and when ever I go back to my highschool she and I still frequently debate whether or not the movie was intended to be hilarious or whether it was just the fact that Australians are like, fuckin’ nuts, man. Anyway, here’s the link to part one. It’s a slow build up, but just watch all of it and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Cane Toads: An Unnatural History

By: HimAgain

HimAgain — Wed, 27 May 2015 17:28:13 +0000

In reply to mj.

Yeah the Ortolan is prepared and served in season two of Hannibal with the little bird being placed in a jar and the liquor being slowly drizzled over it filling the vessel
(oooh now there’s a horrible way to die slow drowning like in the Cell. That gets my vote though like Derek said above that bear thing will stay with me Forever!)
Strangely the bird looks more bemused than terrified.
http://www.canalplus.fr/c-series/c-hannibal/pid6224-hannibal-videos.html?vid=1069746
Hannibal also agrees with MJ above stating that the meal was considered so decadent that one covers ones face to avoid the sight of god.

By: Gwen

Gwen — Wed, 27 May 2015 10:18:57 +0000

Your OR story reminds me of something that happened to me years ago. I was chatting with a nurse friend and she asked me to help change her patient’s dressing. I had free time and agreed. She neglected to tell me her patient had wet gangrene–a smell like no other. We had isolation gowns and masks on, and she reached over and placed a cotton ball soaked in peppermint oil, but didn’t offer any to me or make a mention that I might need it. As I held the arm for her while she removed the dressing, the smell hit me. I began cussing her as she started apologizing to me, telling me she’d thought I knew about the gangrene. Of course I could not just drop the arm and run out, I was stuck for about 20 minutes holding that damned arm while she worked as fast as possible as I tried mightily to prevent the dry heaves from becoming vomit in my mask. The entire lower arm was gangrened due to IV drug abuse. The patient was on a ventilator in the ICU, and yes, she eventually died.

By: Charles Insandiego

Charles Insandiego — Wed, 27 May 2015 04:59:10 +0000

Beautiful Freudian slip in the aussie shark attack story: “parricide beach” for “paradise beach”. LOL.

By: Another Tom

Another Tom — Wed, 27 May 2015 02:46:38 +0000

In reply to mj. From what I've read eating the Ortolan involves committing the sin of Gluttony, of the taking too much pleasure in eating variety. So it's not just a Food callback but a Gluttony callback as well. The cloth over the head is supposed to help protect the identity of the sinner.

By: Brenton

Brenton — Tue, 26 May 2015 23:50:47 +0000

In reply to Peter Hornsby.

Here’s the excerpt:

http://cookingwithlittlebuddy.com/ortolans-anthony-bourdain-and-larousse-gastronomique/

Also, doesn’t mention blinding, just keeping them in the dark – presumably because they eat at night so if they think it’s always night they’ll keep eating and eating.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 26 May 2015 20:47:07 +0000

In reply to mj. I was thinking it sounded familiar too, as well as someone suggesting making a nice jacket out of them. I can't imagine I heard that somewhere else. Perhaps it was in another follow up.