294449 Wed Oct 15 19:07:39 -0700 2003 20 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1614862 I noticed this article on exotic Chinese products. I wonder what bear's paws taste like, and where they might be available in North America (at restaurants)? http://www.flavorandfortune.com/dataaccess/article.cfm?ID=78 Wed Oct 15 19:07:39 -0700 2003 0 cabrales 1 1614863 In a similar vein, my wife's Vietnamese manicurist mentioned that she was going to surprise her husband for his birthday with a meal of cat's paws at their favorite Vietnamese place here in L.A. I wonder what *those* taste like. Wed Oct 15 19:17:20 -0700 2003 1614862 0 TomSwift 2 1614870 Bears paws are unethical, but cat's paws... So many cats, so few recipes. Wed Oct 15 20:11:05 -0700 2003 1614863 0 StriperGuy 3 1614903 humor aside, if what cabrales said above is true, the "cat paws" come from civet cats, which I believe were implicated as a likely source of the SARS virus. It would seem to me that this particular exotic meat (like african "bush meat") is not a particularly healthy or prudent choice, and that there might be some risks in indulging in the chinese exotic meats, fascinating though they may be. Thu Oct 16 09:11:52 -0700 2003 1614870 0 jen kalb 2 1614878 Kitty litter. Wed Oct 15 21:08:57 -0700 2003 1614863 0 Cristina 1 1614865 They taste like poaching, the source for almost all bear paws available worldwide. Specifically, they taste like poaching from British Columbia's national forests. Wed Oct 15 19:25:21 -0700 2003 1614862 0 JudiAU 2 1614867 Also from Siberia. Not just bear paws, but some internal organs mostly for medicinal purposes. Wed Oct 15 19:42:09 -0700 2003 1614865 0 Peter 2 1614893 Thank you, very well put. Thu Oct 16 00:43:06 -0700 2003 1614865 0 ciaolette 2 1614895 This is a food discussion. Let's keep the politics out of it, eh? Thu Oct 16 01:16:20 -0700 2003 1614865 0 Gary Soup 3 1614937 Now, now. I didn't rebuke her for her interest, condemn her morals, insult her, or make a political statement. The facts are that most bear paws are sourced illegally through poaching and I think that is relevant to someone considering ordering them. Thu Oct 16 12:56:44 -0700 2003 1614895 0 JudiAU 4 1615206 "most bear paws are sourced illegally through poaching " I suggest you check out the post above by Irwin Koval, who knows a heck of a lot more about these things than do you or I. I don't think Cabrales was asking for your POV. Sun Oct 19 01:20:54 -0700 2003 1614937 0 Gary Soup 3 1615238 Food is political. Sun Oct 19 19:33:21 -0700 2003 1614895 0 2chez mike 2 1614945 Agreed on the international trade in wild species. Black bears in some areas are becoming nuisance animals, like deer and geese. New Jersey is having its first hunt in decades this December (according to the nytimes - I think it is northern Jersey). If you're near an area with a hunt maybe you can find out who the hunters are. One way to do it is hang around the registration stations. It is illegal to buy or sell wild animals harvested legally or illegally, but you may get someone to give you some. Thu Oct 16 13:07:56 -0700 2003 1614865 0 muD 1 1614868 I also saw it featured in a fictional movie on dueling chefs preparing a Han Dynasty 3-day Imperial Feast. This movie is hard to follow because of the language, but the close-ups of the preparations of dishes are quite interesting. One of the main dishes in this feast was a bear paw. http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60025264&trkid=73 Wed Oct 15 19:52:20 -0700 2003 1614862 0 cabrales 1 1614882 Haven't had any, but paws during the winter season are reputed to be better due to a higher fat content -- bears store up fat for hybernation. Wed Oct 15 21:48:18 -0700 2003 1614862 0 Limster 1 1614887 I would guess they taste like any other "finger food". (I'm sorry!) Wed Oct 15 22:43:58 -0700 2003 1614862 0 Jim H. 1 1614897 Bears Paw's are legaly sold thru licenced Game Farms, operated in various parts of the world including the united States. The largest suppliers are from Siberia. They are mostly sold preserved or dry. The Cat's Paw's are from a "Civet Cat" raised or wild from Asia or China. It's generally prepared fresh, but it's also sold dried. It's Musk Gland's are very expensive for perfume mfg. This isn't appearently in the cat family, more closely releated to the fox. They were quite common on rural areas of Hong Kong, looked something like Racoons from the distance. I've eaten. "Bear Paw's" years ago at a Han Banquet, but thought they tasted sinewey, vaguely gamey only found out what it was after I'd sampled it. Wasn't impressed. Irwin Thu Oct 16 02:42:32 -0700 2003 1614862 0 Irwin Koval 2 1614911 Hmm -- You ate a Han banquet -- an authentic one? I'd really like to do that. Where did you have yours? I wonder if bear's paws are a required part of a Han banquet, which I am in the process of researching. The film I linked to made it sound like bear's claws are a requisite part of a Han banquet. Also, do you know of any restaurants that can prepare bear's paw? I would imagine some sort of lengthy braising (akin to the typical preparation for dried abalone) might be appropriate. Thu Oct 16 10:19:59 -0700 2003 1614897 0 cabrales 3 1614944 It's gotta be the front paws, BTW... Link: http://www.china.org.cn/english/imperial/26140.htm Thu Oct 16 13:06:04 -0700 2003 1614911 0 Gary Soup 4 1614960 Gelatinous, with respect to certain bear's paws? I guess it would be gamier and meatier than a pied de cochon, but perhaps with some of that gelatinous material. :0 On my list to sample sometime in my life, although I would want it prepared exquisitely and therefore will have to take a while to pursue some restaurant possibilities. Thu Oct 16 14:13:51 -0700 2003 1614944 0 cabrales 3 1615029 Cabrales: If you'd like more information about this topic: Please scrool down the ,"Not About Food", Board back to 09/18/2003 under the topic" Discrimination In An Italian Restaurant: Weeding Out Undesireables". That was posted by JoeH. Somehow this thread wound up by getting into Han Banquets somewhere in the middle of the thread, that took off on a life of it's own. Only for Fun and Food on Chowhound. I'm not very successful in posting URL's so you'll need to scrool. Irwin Thu Oct 16 21:57:40 -0700 2003 1614911 0 Irwin Koval