Monkey Brain

[cabrales]

I am quite skeptical about live monkey brain indications as well.  However:

-- The Independent (London), June 11, 2001 (Interview with Anthony Bourdain: Living On a Knife Edge): "One last question, then. Anything you wouldn't  eat,  Anthony [bourdain]? *Well, he could have tried live monkey brains  in Asia.* But? 'I didn't want to look at the little monkey's face as they were popping his skull and getting his brains out.'"

The live-monkey-skull-clamped-in-the-center-of-the-table-while-diners-scoop-the-brains-out film is called 'Faces of death' and has been soundly shown to be a hoax. . . . Or maybe not...

One recent discussion on the board related to food items that are still alive when presented to the diners.  I'd appreciate it if you could discuss whether you could have actually sampled live monkey brain during your tour, and provide other information on that potential food item.  

[bourdain]

I was dubious about the legendary Live Monkey Brain. Did it exist prior to Faces of Death..and later Indiana Jones? Was it a jungle version of the urban legend? Did enterprising cooks in the Golden Triangle and elsewhere create the "dish" in response to inquiries from credulous backpackers and toursists? Is it food? Or some creepy male-bonding "medicinal" thing (meaning alternative Viagra)? Sad to say. it does exist--and has for some time, I am authoratatively assured as recently as two days ago in Singapore--at a Chinese "herbal" restaurant (specializing in turtle fat, scorpions, and curative food) and previously in Vietnam, Cambodia and elsewhere. No WAY am I gonna eat that. That's where I draw the line. First,  have no expectation that such a thing could possibly taste good. Second, however hypocritical or squeamish of me--I simply cannot abide a hurt monkey's face, its screams of pain in the name of food or novelty or experience. Had a humble rice farmer come at me a with a steaming plate of puppy heads, or cat-kebabs--as might well have happened-- the choice between overcoming my Western, pet-owning, pet loving reticence and horror and offending my host would be a very, very difficult one. I'd probably choke down a few bites--as I like to be a good guest--but I wouldn't like doing it--even if tasty. I sure as hell wouldn't order any in a restaurant. I am very glad the circumstance has not arisen--and I went out of my way to not find myself in a position where either cat or dog would be offered. (though I saw caged dogs in Can Tho at a kill-to-order restaurant.) Hypocritical? Yes. No way on monkey brain.. I tend to lose my appetite around torture.

[=Mark]

To possibly solidify your reticence to sample live monkey brains, raw flesh from primates can carry parasites and diseases that are readily transferred to humans.  This is one of the more compelling reasons to avoid it.