You Can't Eat That! Can You? Trivia Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall cooked up a storm, receiving nine complaints regarding his show 'TV Dinners', broadcast on Channel 4 in 1998. He fried part of new mum, Rosie Clear, with shallots and garlic and made a pat�, which was served to Rosie plus her family and friends. What part did he fry?

Answer: Placenta

Hugh-Fearnley Whittingstall cooked the placenta, which had been frozen for about six weeks, following the birth of Rosie Clear's daughter. He turned two thirds of it into a pat�. The remaining third, he flamb�ed in brandy. Father of the baby, Lee Clear, had some 14 helpings of the placenta. Placenta eating is known as 'placentophagia' and is practised in several countries.

There are numerous cultures who bury the placenta. In Hawaii, for example, the placenta is thought to be part of the newborn child.

A tree or shrub is planted at the site of the burial, so it can grow with the child. Rod Stewart and his wife, Penny Lancaster, had the placenta of their son, Alistair, buried together with a walnut tree.

2. In 1885, Englishman Vincent M. Holt published a pamphlet entitled "Why Not Eat Insects?". In this, he lists certain menus, one of which includes 'Fried Soles with Woodlouse Sauce'. What is the term for insect eating?

Answer: Entomophagy

Heston Blumanthal referred to this book in his Channel 4 programme "Heston's Victorian Feast". The book also includes other insect delights, such as 'Moths on Toast' and 'Cauliflowers Garnished with Caterpillars'. Vincent Holt described the taste of woodlouse as a 'superior shrimp'. 'Myrmecophagy' is eating ants, 'xerophagy' is being made to eat bread and water as a means of punishment, and 'autophagy' can be a term for eating oneself.

3. Now I personally would find this dish rather 'offal' and certainly couldn't eat it. The traditional dish, "pig's fry", consists of the heart, sweetbreads, liver and what other organ of a pig?

Answer: Lungs

In the south of England, "Pig's Fry", with similar ingredients, is known as haslet, which is still eaten in England today. The dish known as 'faggots' can also be made with pig's fry. Faggots are rather like meatballs and it is a traditional recipe, which is made up of the left overs of a pig, including the offal.

4. In the heart of the Lake District, The Famous Wild Boar hotel, at Crook near Windermere, offer free 'nibbles': 'Sciurus carolinensis' Peking style. What is the actual animal that is in this snack, one of which was called 'Nutkins' in a Beatrix Potter story?

Answer: Squirrel

The Famous Wild Boar hotel offered the free Peking duck style squirrel wraps to customers dining in the restaurant. The grey squirrels had been caught in the hotel grounds. A London restaurant, St John's, also has squirrel on the menu. Squirrel meat is likened to the taste of rabbit.

5. Arthur Boyt, from Davidstow, Cornwall, has penned recipes on how to cook roadkill. He has eaten many animals which he has found dead in the road, including a Labrador dog, weasels, cats, rats and stated that his favourite is a 'badger sandwich'.

Answer: True

In 2006, Arthur Boyt hit the headlines of several newspapers in the UK. In an article in The Guardian newspaper, dated 31st January 2006, he admitted that he had once eaten a Labrador dog, which he had found dead in the road without a collar. He likened the taste of the dog to lamb. Mr Boyt stated that the most unusual thing he had eaten was the greater horseshoe bat, which he said tasted like chicken.

The article concludes with Mr Boyt's recipe for 'Hedgehog spaghetti carbonara'.

6. M Manze is the name of the oldest 'Pie and Mash' shop in London, it was established under this name in 1902. There are numerous 'Pie and Mash' shops in London. What other dish are they famous for serving?

Answer: Jellied eels

A traditional dish from the East End of London is jellied eels. M Manze is also known as an 'Eel pie and Mash House'. Eel pie consists of diced eel, with stock made from the heads and tails. Eel became popular in London in the 18th century, as the River Thames was flowing with eels and was considered a cheap, nutritious meal. Jellied eels can be eaten either hot or cold.

7. Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is well known for his alternative recipes. The menu in his restaurant, 'The Fat Duck', features his creation 'Snail Porridge'. In his TV show "Heston's Medieval Feast", what did he bake in a pie, rather like a verse from a nursery rhyme of old?

Answer: Twenty four blackbirds

During the course of "Heston's Medieval Feast", he made a huge pie crust, which he sat on top of an equally large pie dish. The lid was lifted and the live blackbirds were placed in one by one. His celebrity guests were somewhat shocked when the blackbirds flew out of the dish.

The blackbirds obviously weren't eaten, but the starter - which was fruit disguised as various meats, including bulls testicles, in the shape of plums - was.

8. Fergus Drennan, a professional forager, presented a programme on BBC Three called 'Roadkill Caf�'. He describes himself as a vegetarian, stating that he eats roadkill, including foxes and hedgehogs, as "it's fair game". At the height of summer, Fergus states that roadkill should not exceed how many days after meeting its maker?

Answer: One day

With regard to eating roadkill in the summer months, Fergus Drennan advises that roadkill should not be eaten if it is more than a day old, as with the heat it can go off. Fergus is the proprietor of 'Wildman Wild Food', and he provides foraged produce such as wild mushrooms to restaurants, including The Ivy. He also runs foraging courses.

9. In days of old in Wiltshire, a traditional recipe called 'Devizes Pie', included the ingredients "Some slices of cold calf's head, a few slices of cold lamb, three hard boiled eggs, and some of the calf's brains and tongue".

Answer: True

I'm 'speechless' at this recipe! In the book 'Country Recipes Of Old England', by Helen Edden, the ingredients listed in the question form part of a traditional recipe for Devizes pie. The modern day approach to making the pie is by using any cold left over meats. Other ingredients of the pie include, spices, cayenne pepper and gravy.

10. We English are renowned for loving a full cooked breakfast. I usually give the black pudding a miss, as it consists of the blood of either cows or pigs. Sheep's and which other animal's blood can be used for black pudding?

Answer: Goat

Traditionally cow and pig blood is used in black pudding. It has been known for some recipes to contain both sheep and goat blood. White pudding does not contain blood, but it is a type of sausage and it part of a traditional Irish breakfast.

Source: Author demurechicky

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Leau before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Accepting a challenge from themonarch, prompted me to rustle up 'some servings with a difference', which either are or have been eaten in England. Please note, this quiz is not for the squeamish! Good luck!

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