Horse meat tartare
Late last year, when an unexpected visit to Verona, Italy, led to an equally unexpected discovery that horse meat was a specialty, my curious nature got the better of me, and I HAD to try it. So, for lunch, my 3 friends and I ventured into a local restaurant in search of horse meat. My friends had the lunch set menu with 2 courses, while I went for the a la carte both for the greater choice and the more manageable portion of food. What did I order? Something extreme enough for our server to ask at least twice whether I knew what it was that I ordered: horse meat tartare. Yup. I went for the most extreme of extremes. :-P
Bistecca (well-done)
The verdict was that horse meat was less chewy and less strong in flavour as compared to beef; and it was well-received by all. Now I understand why so many people enjoy it.
But, you may still be wondering what raw horse meat tastes like. Well, with tartare, the flavour comes mainly from the added sauces/ingredients rather than the meat itself as raw meat is essentially tasteless. Texturally, it was quite chewy since it's not cooked. Rest assured, nothing happened afterwards, although I was quite stuffed from all the uncooked meat that my poor stomach/intestines had to digest!
Most of these horses come from across the border in the US, ex race horses, trail riding horses, sick, diseased and old horses. And young perfectly fine horses as well.
Loaded up with veterinary drugs, these horses are taken off the race track, shipped to auction. They may get injected with more drugs just to get them to walk without falling in the auction ring. Drugs that are known carcinogens and banned from being put into other livestock for human consumption. Banned.
The horses get purchased by buyers who have them loaded onto trucks,they cross the border into Canada where they are slaughtered.. still full of drugs and shipped overseas to happy horsemeat consumers in Europe!
What a deal.. fine dining on meat that was never fit for human consumption! Horses are not bred in the US to be consumed. They are working animals, they get all kinds of dewormers, bug sprays, steriods.
There are some serious loopholes in the system that allow this to happen. How does this meat that is processed in Canada 'unfit' for human consumption get allowed into Europe for your plate?
How is it that right from the states and until it leaves Canada.. everybody is making a buck on these horses? The meat shows up in Italy, France.. or wherever and your local butcher gets it, sells it and you guys eat it thinking its lean and healthy.
Something for you to think about as you eat horsemeat that is loaded with banned drugs.
This meat is not fit for a dog.
This meat could never be sold here in Canada or back in the US due to the banned substances.
Yes, horses not fit for work may need to be disposed of due to people not being able to afford a vet to euthanize them... disposing and rendering is one thing, but to sell the meat off these carcasses is something most of us over here in North America cannot fathom.
Who is ultimately responsible for this tainted meat entering your country?
Check out this link:
http://www.flyingfilly.com/drugs_in_horsemeat.htm