I had always assumed that the reason most people liken exotic or less common meats like aligator or rabbit to chicken is because chicken is a bland meat and, in many cases so are the others. Joe Staton of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard has another theory. He says that many meats taste the same for evolutionary reasons, namely that there are common flavors among tetrapods, four-legged animals with toes. If lots of different animals taste like chicken, it's because, according to Staton, they all share a common ancestral beast. For some reason, avians are tetrapods too, I believe. From a biological standpoint, I really can't tell how valid his theory is. Nevertheless, Staton has a good sense of humor and a neat little chart--both of which go a long way.Tastes like tetrapod
I had always assumed that the reason most people liken exotic or less common meats like aligator or rabbit to chicken is because chicken is a bland meat and, in many cases so are the others. Joe Staton of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard has another theory. He says that many meats taste the same for evolutionary reasons, namely that there are common flavors among tetrapods, four-legged animals with toes. If lots of different animals taste like chicken, it's because, according to Staton, they all share a common ancestral beast. For some reason, avians are tetrapods too, I believe. From a biological standpoint, I really can't tell how valid his theory is. Nevertheless, Staton has a good sense of humor and a neat little chart--both of which go a long way.Comments [4]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
212-02-2005 @ 4:04AM
Kelley Ritchey said...
OK, good, I thought it was just me who feels obligated to ask anyone who devours an exotic meat if it tastes like chicken. Maybe this is heriditary as well.
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