Wednesday 3 September 2008

I ate a sheeps brain!

Sorry forgot to mention this in my last post. It happened in Tehran and is apparently a special treat. Kind of like McDonalds in the UK. I was "treated" to it by my hosts in Tehran after climbing up the mountain overlooking the city. I have pictures from the mountain and of the sheep head! You can decide which is the better picture.

So I ate its brain, tongue, cheeks and eyes.... ok, I gave the eyes I miss! I don't like my food to stare at me as I eat it. Mike, I have revenge for you trying to force me to eat fish. I am going to make you eat sheep brains and keep on saying "whats wrong? Why dont you like it? Everyone likes sheep brains!
Whats wrong with you?" and see how you like it! I watched them cook it, they kinda boil the whole head and then scoop out the eyes and brain, pull the tongue out and peel the cheeks off. They serve it on a plate as is. If I had any misconceptions about what a boiled brain looks like they are all well and truly gone!

Its hard to describe the taste of brain so I will save that till last, the texture is something really quite special. I think I went for a piece of the left lobe and my spoon went through it like a knife through butter. The outside was kinda brown, like lightly cooked mince, the inside was still very pink and brain like. I tried a small bit at first obviously and it seemed ok, it wasn't really big enough to require chewing. The second bit was a bigger and... well it was like chewing on soggy bread. I was very nearly sick. It tasted like.. you know the smell of sheep in a farmyard? Well it tasted like that, only stronger. I wonder if my brain tastes like I smell? Hope I never find out!

Tongue was the nicest part, I am sure there's a joke there somewhere. The cheek tasted a bit like the brain only slimier and brought me even closer to being sick. I think I can honestly say that was the weirdest thing I have ever eaten and something I will never forget. Oh and the reason for describing it in such detail? If I had to eat it you can at least think about it and when I turn up at the Sully Inn with a bunch of sheep heads in a bag you'll know what to expect!

Might as well update you on my position while I am here. I am in Shiraz now in the South of the country after a two day ride from Tehran on boring motorways to catchup with the others. Got a puncture just outside Esfahan which took two hours to fix with the "help" of some locals. It would have been easier to do it by myself but people insist on helping and the wheel went on twice without all the correct parts in place. 7000 miles and one puncture isn't bad though but I am now without a spare innertube so another puncture will be a disaster. Cant get one until I reach Pakistan in 2 weeks. Insh'Allah. I stopped in Esfahan for one night and missed all the sights there because I thought I needed to catch up. We are staying in Shiraz for 2 more nights before making our way to Yazd via Persopolis. Going to get back on some mountain roads and give the bike a good workout, try to get the edges off my rear wheel. I am down to about 2mm of chicken strips. The weather here is incredibly hot. Think we had a 40 the other day. I got completely dehydrated and spent the day with an awesome headache. Thought I had been drinking enough water but you don't realise your sweating because it drys instantly.

And now the internet connection has gone down so I cant post this. YAY!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sheeps brain! Thanks for the blow by blow account of the tasting, I'm off for lunch, well maybe not now, suddenly I'm not that hungry!!
We're all following your blog with great interest, keep 'em coming.
It's pouring here so enjoy the sun, be careful over Ramadan!
ENJOY!!
Pete

Andy said...

Are you going to stop at sheeps' brain, or does Barry need to start getting worried?!

o said...

Hey Pete. I'm sure you can stomach it. Sure you have eaten worse in your time! Ramadan isnt really observed here but as travellers (and non-muslims of course) we are exempt. Just try to avoid smoking/drinking in the street.

Plenty of restraunts open with curtains in the windows so you can eat no problem.

Andy. Bad news about Barry I am afraid. He got kidnapped about three days ago so he has far more to be worried about than me eating him. He got stolen from my bike outside the hotel :-(

catherine said...

That is so grosse!! sheeps brain! Not ever telling katy she will never speak to you again!! Glad your having a good time, Hope to see you at christmas!!

love
catherine
xxxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Sheep's brain Eh? And I hope you remember all the moaning and complaining you did when I tried to make you eat cauliflower cheese!!! Puts it all into perspective don't you think? Mum XXX

Anonymous said...

sheep's brain is delicious. basically all you people moaning about it are operating from ignorance. why should a brain taste worse than a leg?

o said...

Anonymous, it doesn't taste worse or better, it tastes different. If someone likes something or not is entirely upto their previous experience in food and.... if they like it or not.

Taste is a personal thing and no one can say this tastes good or this tastes bad. They can only say "I like the taste of this, you should try it"

I'm sure I could find many foods I like that you wouldn't and vice versa.

 
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