Free range lion burgers

http://www.whas11.com/news/Mesa-restaur ... 68909.html

A Mesa restaurant is cooking up a whole lot of controversy because of its lion burgers.

Turns out it's actually farmed in Illinois and it's about as humane a farm as can be," Selogie said. "It's free range, the lions are not in cages, they're not hunted, they're not shot, and it does nothing to dwindle the population in Africa.

After reading over the article, I have no problem with it.

Sounds like a perfect menu item for "Whoo-Wok-Kittay-Kat"

This could be added to the what Louisville needs thread. Is there a place that serves a good selection of "wild" game?

Ya know, there's a whole line of aboriginal theology that dictates 'if you eat an animal, you are infused by that animal's essence.'

All the reason I need, personally.

Yet, the same thought also gave rise to the concept of cannibalism (in one form.) By eating the person, you absorb all of thier life experiences. The other thought was one of annhialation- by eating the person- you destroy them.

Either is neither (here nor there.) I just thought it was kinda funny story, lmao...

I've also read about the "bush" meat craze in larger cities - wild game is smuggled in from Africa - everything from monkey to gazelle apparently, and immigrants from Africa, as well as US citizens, are paying major mega bucks to get it. Of course it's sold in the open markets over there

Not for me - I'm not a vegan by any means, just not that into eating something just to say "I did it".

I've also read about the "bush" meat craze in larger cities - wild game is smuggled in from Africa - everything from monkey to gazelle apparently, and immigrants from Africa, as well as US citizens, are paying major mega bucks to get it. Of course it's sold in the open markets over there

Not for me - I'm not a vegan by any means, just not that into eating something just to say "I did it".

I feel ya...

Don't get me wrong- I'd never spend money or effort to support black market game efforts- especially with regards to endangered or borderline species and the like. Just, if it was given to me on a plate, I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. I wouldn't consider myself a trophy-hunting foodie, either, just that some of these uncommon experiences do add a certain depth to one's life-experiences (and make for one helluva story to tell the grandkids.) You don't necessarilly seek these experiences out, they just kind of drop in your lap, serendipitously. For me, it's about being open to new experiences, so to speak.

Palpitating cobra-heart, anyone?

I find it humorous that someone can serve lion but we can't sell/serve horse. We're truly missing out on some very delicious meats because of stupid laws. Pigeon is absolutely amazing.

I imagine it boils down to whether or not a person feels comfortable eating Black Beauty Mid-Rare with a Loaded potato.

I find it humorous that someone can serve lion but we can't sell/serve horse. We're truly missing out on some very delicious meats because of stupid laws. Pigeon is absolutely amazing.

That would make for an interesting race at Churchill, loser is dinner.

As an almost vegetarian..... can't quite give up the bacon.....I find this a little disturbing. It always amuses me when people say "I've never had lamb, don't think I want to try it." I say, "Well you eat deer don't you?" Lamb is very common in England, but I never see it in the Supermarkets here. Why is that?

[Robin Garr]

As an almost vegetarian..... can't quite give up the bacon.....I find this a little disturbing. It always amuses me when people say "I've never had lamb, don't think I want to try it." I say, "Well you eat deer don't you?" Lamb is very common in England, but I never see it in the Supermarkets here. Why is that?

Alison, I can't speak for Southern Indiana, but lamb is fairly easy to find at markets in Louisville. Kroger generally has it. Whole Foods and Doll's. You can usually find a few lamb producers at the farmers' markets, particularly St. Matthews. Western Kentucky is lamb-producing country, and they actually use mutton as barbecue meat down there. So yes, we eat it and it's available, but perhaps not as commonplace as beef, pork or chicken.

If my memory serves me-- Zepher Cove had a good variety of different "game" on their menu.

A new twist.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/23/smallbu ... /index.htm
So where's this supposed African lion farm in Illinois?

Well, here's one clue: When the meat arrived at Il Vinaio on Tuesday evening, Selogie said it came in packaging with the name "Czimer's Game & Sea Foods."

Czimer isn't a free-range farm. It's a butcher shop located just outside of Chicago in Homer Glen, Ill.


You can snag it in shoulder roast, steak, tenderloin or burger form -- or, for a bargain, try the ribs at $10 a pound.

So where does Richard Czimer, the company's owner, get these lions?

The meat is the byproduct of a skinning operation owned by another man. He declined to name that gentleman.

"This man buys and sells animals for the skin, and when I need something and he has ability to get it, I will bargain for the meat. It's a byproduct," he said.

And where does that mystery man get the lions? "I wouldn't have any idea," said Czimer, who operates a small retail store in addition to his wholesale business. "He has his sources, and I do not infringe on his business, just as he does not infringe on mine." He's willing to take a hands-off approach: "Do you question where chickens come from when you go to Brown's Chicken or Boston Market?" he asked.

Czimer's exotic-meat dealings have landed him in hot water before. Back in 2003, Chicago newspapers covered his conviction and six-month prison sentence for selling meat from federally protected tigers and leopards. Czimer admitted to purchasing the carcasses of 16 tigers, four lions, two mountain lions and one liger -- a tiger-lion hybrid -- which were skinned, butchered and sold as "lion meat," for a profit of more than $38,000.

See there? It's bush meat - I betcha! That just makes me sick!!! And they said they're not endagering the population in Africa - yeah, right. I bet a little more investigating would show quite the opposite