Mongoose: Why isn't it what's for dinner? [moved from Hawaii]

[emu48]

Mongooses are everywhere. I've seen one jump into the open window of a car parked at Sandy Beach and attack a boxed pizza sitting on the backseat. While two people sat in the front seats. (Yeah, they freaked.)

So what's the deal here ... doesn't anybody eat mongooses in Hawaii? Why not?

[Joebob]

This recipe might be adaptable: http://www.chow.com/food-news/62148/h...

[KaimukiMan]

yah, per my earlier response (10/18)..... but squirrels are rather picky about what they eat. they may scrounge, but they don't scavenge. a mongoose will eat damn near anything. i'm guessing the meat isn't exactly tasty (ie deer is tasty, bear not so much.... i know i know, hogs eat everything also....)

[Bill Hunt]

Now, you have never encountered the squirrels in the High Sonoran Desert (AZ in my case). They WILL eat everything, including the fabric of my upper deck furniture!

My late step-father-in-law was a big fan of squirrel. He'd blast 'em with a 12-gauge with birdshot, and then make a stew. I'd pick buckshot out for the entire meal. Should have dragged a magnet through that stew - unless he did not use steel shot... Give me an opakapaka any day!

Hunt

[Veggo]

Bill, save your magnet in the High Sonoran, steel shot is used only around waterways and wetlands. And my alpine squirrels in the Sangre de Cristos could outrun a rocket launcher.

[Bill Hunt]

Well, this was in the Louisiana swamp, but not sure how "enviro-conscious" he was?

Hunt

[Veggo]

Louisiana swamp? Well, he raised up a son who could eat up his weight in groceries...

[Bill Hunt]

Or - wait for it - nutria! Tastes a lot like mongoose.

Hunt

[KaimukiMan]

so basically he was making stew out of lead infused meat.... that could possibly... oh never mind.

[EWSflash]

Cured me of eating dove, that and it tastes like liver,

[Bill Hunt]

Yeah, there are a few dishes, that I have been "cured" of eating: dove, pigeon, squirrel, and maybe mongoose... ? Otherwise, most critters are fair game.

Hunt

[KaimukiMan]

I'm wondering if they even eat them in their native habitats. I googled mongoose recipes, and came up empty (except for world of warcraft references.)

[EWSflash]

The mongoose is a very sure way to make sure there are no snakes in your hood.

[Bill Hunt]

Yes, after seeing "Snakes on a Plane," I started traveling with a mongoose in my carry-on luggage. Suppose that I could eat the little bugger, if we survived a crash on a Pacific atoll, and could not catch enough fish to survive, but I do not want to think about it.

Hunt

[EWSflash]

Smart man.

[Bill Hunt]

I'm thinking that one might pair a mongoose with a mynah bird - sort of a real stretch on "surf-n-turf."

Hunt

[Bellachefa]

How bout slow cooked crock pot rooster riki tiki? Beats gigging frogs!

[KaimukiMan]

I guess if you are into squirrel you could do mongoose as well. I'd be kinda worried about trichinosis, etc, those cute little varmints eat anything and everything, don't imagine they would be good eating, and pretty tough to boot.

[mamachef]

I'd rather eat Nutria than Mongoose, I think. :-)

[Jazzaloha]

Obviously you're not a fan of Riki-Tiki-Tavi.

[Veggo]

mongoose at your door, no more, no more.

[Joebob]

Do you have a recipe?...and a trap?...and a cobra?