Mystery meat

[Dave the Cook]

Thanks for joining us, Mr. Cutlets.

On the front page of your wesbsite, you're holding what appears to be a freshly butchered animal. What is it? Where did it come from? Did you name it?

I realize that's three questions, but they're all easy.

[Mister_Cutlets]

Dave,

The answer to that question may well lower your opinion of me, but that is a Canadian Goose that my friend found walking around stunned alongside the Garden State Parkway. On its winged migration from the north, it must have gotten clipped by somebody, and my friend finished the poor thing off. My expression in that picture is one of an almost unseemly glee at the unexpected treat. I did not give it a name, but I did scald it, pluck it, and slow roast it over charcoal with constant careful basting. Alas, it was a tough, spindly thing under all those feathers, and wasn't worth the effort. I should have just gone to KFC. But I've always believed that serendipity makes the best sauce, even for roadkill.

Yrs,

Mr. Cutlets

[Fat Guy]

A brief follow-up, Mr. Cutlets:

Would you like to take the opportunity now to retroactively name your bird? I believe the citizens of eGullet would like to know what name you would have given to this fallen fellow, had you done so at the time.

[Mister_Cutlets]

I would have named the goose "shoobie," because

he was on a day trip to South Jersey.

Mr. C