Comments on: Ostrich with Brandy, Cream and Wild Mushrooms http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/ I'll get a better name soon, I promise Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:52:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Vanessa http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-911 Wed, 31 Jan 2007 03:40:14 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-911 That looks really good. That looks really good.

]]> by: Jeanne http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-904 Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:14:13 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-904 Mmmm, ostrich! I find ostrich delicious but quite rich. Every time I have an ostrich steak back home in South Africa I feel that I don't need to eat again for a few days! Your recipe sounds rather heavenly - I'll have a trawl through my South African recipe books and see if I can come up with more inspiration for you. I've also had the ostrich burgers from Gamston Wood - delicious! As for "real wild ostriches" - there aren't exactly loads of these in South Africa either. Because the birds are so valuable (skin, feathers and meat all fetch good prices) there is a huge ostrich farming industry, traditionally centred on Oudtshoorn. YOu do get wild ostriches in some of the game parks but nobody that goes game hunting hunts ostriches these days. But still, I agree that the meat is "gamey" and sweet. As for all those who feel sorry for ostriches, hey, people eat lamb and let me assure you that lambs are a LOT cuter and more defenceless! Ostriches are big and potentially scary birds that have the alarming (but generally harmless) habut of pecking at anything shiny on your person when you approach them - sunglasses, jewellery, buttons, you name it. Quite disconcerting! The danger comes when an ostrich feels threatened as they can easily outrun you and their kick is powerful enough to kill a man. And remember, his brain is the size of a small satsuma so there's no reasoning with him ;-) Seriously though, do bear in mind that Britain is NOT an ostrich's natural habitat and the climate does not agree with them. They have no preen gland and their feathers are not waterproof (why would they need to be in their native semi-desert?) and if it rains their feathers become sodden leading to disease or possibly death. And because of the fairly large investment needed to start farming with ostriches, there are indications that factory farming techniques to maximise growth and profits are creeping into the industry. Mmmm, ostrich! I find ostrich delicious but quite rich. Every time I have an ostrich steak back home in South Africa I feel that I don’t need to eat again for a few days! Your recipe sounds rather heavenly - I’ll have a trawl through my South African recipe books and see if I can come up with more inspiration for you. I’ve also had the ostrich burgers from Gamston Wood - delicious!

As for “real wild ostriches” - there aren’t exactly loads of these in South Africa either. Because the birds are so valuable (skin, feathers and meat all fetch good prices) there is a huge ostrich farming industry, traditionally centred on Oudtshoorn. YOu do get wild ostriches in some of the game parks but nobody that goes game hunting hunts ostriches these days. But still, I agree that the meat is “gamey” and sweet. As for all those who feel sorry for ostriches, hey, people eat lamb and let me assure you that lambs are a LOT cuter and more defenceless! Ostriches are big and potentially scary birds that have the alarming (but generally harmless) habut of pecking at anything shiny on your person when you approach them - sunglasses, jewellery, buttons, you name it. Quite disconcerting! The danger comes when an ostrich feels threatened as they can easily outrun you and their kick is powerful enough to kill a man. And remember, his brain is the size of a small satsuma so there’s no reasoning with him ;-)

Seriously though, do bear in mind that Britain is NOT an ostrich’s natural habitat and the climate does not agree with them. They have no preen gland and their feathers are not waterproof (why would they need to be in their native semi-desert?) and if it rains their feathers become sodden leading to disease or possibly death. And because of the fairly large investment needed to start farming with ostriches, there are indications that factory farming techniques to maximise growth and profits are creeping into the industry.

]]> by: Trig http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-899 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:29:07 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-899 If you are having trouble finding recipes on the web, try searching in the food blogs using a tailored search engine from Google Co-op. If you want the code for this, email me and I'll send it to you (it takes too long to publish as you have to change all the tag brackets to ascii codes!). Test the one on my blog to see if it's any use to use. It was produced by Elise of Simply Recipes. If you are having trouble finding recipes on the web, try searching in the food blogs using a tailored search engine from Google Co-op. If you want the code for this, email me and I’ll send it to you (it takes too long to publish as you have to change all the tag brackets to ascii codes!). Test the one on my blog to see if it’s any use to use. It was produced by Elise of Simply Recipes.

]]> by: Freya Erickson http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-898 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:14:39 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-898 Ostrich are brutes! I've been pecked by one! I still think they're cute though. But, that's not to say I wouldn't feast upon one either! I love how you make such unusual dishes! The Ostrich steak looks like something we must try! Ostrich are brutes! I’ve been pecked by one! I still think they’re cute though. But, that’s not to say I wouldn’t feast upon one either!
I love how you make such unusual dishes! The Ostrich steak looks like something we must try!

]]> by: ros http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-894 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:17:50 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-894 Amanda, I think this ostrich technically isn't game because is was raised here. http://www.ruralbiz.net/case2.php?ID=7 It still tastes very gamey though, probably because the birds get to run around a lot and I think they make an effort to give them a 'natural diet.' I'mnot sure if there's any difference between proper wild ostrich meat and these ostriches. Trig, I'm going to try being more adventurous when cooking ostrich. But I do get scared about ruining it just bcause its so expensive. I already found out that sage and onion doesn't suit it all that well. Margaret, surely you can't feel sorry for the ostriches- they're ugly brutes and quite vicious from what I hear! Amanda, I think this ostrich technically isn’t game because is was raised here.

http://www.ruralbiz.net/case2.php?ID=7

It still tastes very gamey though, probably because the birds get to run around a lot and I think they make an effort to give them a ‘natural diet.’ I’mnot sure if there’s any difference between proper wild ostrich meat and these ostriches.

Trig, I’m going to try being more adventurous when cooking ostrich. But I do get scared about ruining it just bcause its so expensive. I already found out that sage and onion doesn’t suit it all that well.

Margaret, surely you can’t feel sorry for the ostriches- they’re ugly brutes and quite vicious from what I hear!

]]> by: Margaret http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-893 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:47:55 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-893 I don't think I am adventurous enough - I seem to struggle with the thoughts of eating ostrich. I like venison but then I struggle with thinking about poor old Rudolph! The same goes with eating Bunnykins - oh dear!! Anyway, the ostrich does look very good I have to say. I don’t think I am adventurous enough - I seem to struggle with the thoughts of eating ostrich. I like venison but then I struggle with thinking about poor old Rudolph! The same goes with eating Bunnykins - oh dear!! Anyway, the ostrich does look very good I have to say.

]]> by: Trig http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-889 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:38:30 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-889 I cooked ostrich steaks and ostrich burgers from Borough Market before Christmas and both meals went down really well. I'll be paying a return visit soon to buy some more ostrich meat from the Gamston Wood Farm stall, so maybe we will meet up there. Don't be scared to use a strong complementary flavour with ostrich - you won't drown it, just enhance it. I cooked ostrich steaks and ostrich burgers from Borough Market before Christmas and both meals went down really well. I’ll be paying a return visit soon to buy some more ostrich meat from the Gamston Wood Farm stall, so maybe we will meet up there. Don’t be scared to use a strong complementary flavour with ostrich - you won’t drown it, just enhance it.

]]> by: amanda http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-888 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:36:37 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/01/28/ostrich-with-brandy-cream-and-wild-mushrooms/#comment-888 mmm! this looks awesome ros! and right up my alley! game meat, heavy cream... liquor! i wish i could get my hands on some ostrich more easily around here :-( as it is i just have to salivate over all the game you whip up! mmm! this looks awesome ros! and right up my alley! game meat, heavy cream… liquor! i wish i could get my hands on some ostrich more easily around here :-( as it is i just have to salivate over all the game you whip up!

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