A 'Disgust-ion' of Foods
Things have been a bit slow at work lately and we've all been looking for ways to fill the time once we've caught up on everything possibly work related. A couple of the ladies were talking about food the other day and the topic of Blood Sausage (or Blood Pudding) came up. I leaped into the conversation with material I gathered at the only commercial reference site (fortunately, a good one) we can access through the server blocks. For my own amusement I also looked up haggis and learned the following:
Since many countries' food safety laws outlaw some of the ingredients in haggis (for example, United States law forbids the sale of any animal's lungs for human consumption), expatriate Scots and Scots descendants overseas have been known to engage in haggis smuggling to obtain true Scottish haggis.
Haggis is an amusing subject for many people. Those who ask a Scotsman for information about it will rarely get a straight answer. A common "answer" to the question "What is a haggis?" often goes along the following lines. "A haggis is a small four-legged Scottish Highland creature, which has the limbs on one side shorter than the other side. This means that it is well adapted to run around the hills at a steady altitude, without either ascending or descending. However a haggis can easily be caught by running around the hill in the opposite direction." (see wild haggis) Surprisingly the humorous myth is believed by many tourists, thus they are shocked - and possibly disappointed - to hear the truth.
Haggis is also used in a sport called haggis hurling, involving throwing a haggis as far as possible. (source)
Now as with as much of an Anglophile as I claim to be, I have to admit that I don't fancy the food. Haggis, Blood Sausage, and even a traditional full 'cooked breakfast' are quite to my liking. However, I do get peckish for some 'Spotted Richard' now and again if I forget it includes suet. I really must learn to cook.
