Whale Meat Again*
This post is prompted by a comment left in reaction to my post of last Friday on whaling wherein one of my regulars scoffed at the description of my family eating whale meat and concluded "I must be making that shit up".Above you will note my wife, youngest daughter and younger son kicking it "old school" eating raw beluga whale skin - muktuk - off cardboard on the floor. There are two condiments involved: salt and soya sauce. After a small piece has been cut off with an ulu (traditional women's knife) the fat is trimmed and the back side of the skin scored to make it easier to chew. Then it's up to you: salt, soya sauce, or both.
Myself, having grown up in the south, I cannot force myself to participate in this delicacy, having all sorts of notions about higher lifeforms swimming freely in the briny blue. And I'm not the only one affected this way: my border Yuri cannot even watch muktuk being eaten. Instead, he retires to a corner of another room and appears to channel the spirit of the dead leviathan, assuring it that its flesh will be cherished by my family and that its death is all part of some bigger scheme of things. He's such as sentimental old fool.
This picture was taken two days ago, and this scene will be repeated a few more times before the sea freezes over in November/December.
* Apologies to Vera Lynn
posted by nanuk at 12:17 PM Permafrost
16 Comments:
haha, that's awesome. Way to "keep it real"! Yo. Homie.
I'm heading up to Churchill to see the whales in a few weeks, I think I shall refrain from eating them though.
D: thanks, eh? Isn't it also polar bear season in Churchill right now? Anyways, have fun there and be sure to blog. We need more input from the top third of the globe.
"Whale meat again"
Mwa ha ha ha ha! Well, I liked it.
I don't know if I could eat muktuk either. Will probably never get the chance to find out. I've so far managed to avoid seal. But moose and caribou? That's good eatin'!
Apologies to any vegetarians. reading this.
I've got an Ulu but there be no whales in these waters. During the "Eskimo Olympics" in Fairbanks they had a muktuk eating competition. I would have liked to try some, but not in front of a huge crowd.
Hmm...I wonder who left that comment?!
Well, more power to 'em. They look like they're getting down and dirty with it and really enjoying themselves. I don't think I could eat raw whale meat but then again I do eat Sushi so perhaps I've already tried it!
Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above, and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.
Baby beluga, baby Beluga, is the water warm?
Is your mama home with you, so happy.
Way down yonder where the dolphins play,
Where they dive and splash all day,
The waves roll in and the waves roll out,
See the water squirting out of your spout.
Baby beluga, baby Beluga, sing your little song,
Sing for all your friends, we like to hear you.
When it's dark, you're home and fed,
Curl up snug in your water bed.
Moon is shining and the stars are out,
Good night, little whale, goodnight.
Baby beluga, baby Beluga, with tomorrow's sun,
Another day's begun, you'll soon be waking.
Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.
You're just a little white whale on the go.
Baby Beluga by Raffi was one of Sonnyboy's favorites. It's what I think of when I see the word "beluga". Oh, and yes, I'm a vegetarian.
WoD: You're wise to avoid seal meat - imagine beef liver which tastes like fish. Yuck!!!
TPK: I was playing with the title "The other other white meat" for this post, but thought the better of it. Do you use your ulu in your culinary pursuits?
Blair Witch: Gotcha! My family would like to send a Care package of whale meat to Savannah for your family, but I suspect we'd never be able to get it over the border - some silly little regulation concerning the trade of exotic animals.
Fairscape: I'm very much against the whale hunt, but I would like to declare open season on Raffi!
Alas no bears. They don't come out till Sept/Oct. Just whale frollicking on this visit, and I intend to have lots of photos. :)
n
I heard Raffi tastes just like chicken.
I might be nasty but I'm not a witch (look at what you wrote, lol).
Beef liver that tastes like fish? That's a crime against fish!
If you embark on a Raffi hunt, I'm coming, too. That man's voice puts me over the edge. Is it just me or is he always just slightly off key? Fortunately, my kids preferred Sharon, Lois and Bram.
Well, with all due respect: thanks for the pic and the explanation. I think I'll retire into that corner now with Yuri...
I've eaten bear, but never beluga... I prefer my meat well cooked... :)
D: Looking forward to those pics.
Fairscape: LOL
Blair Bitch: I guess my Freudian slip is showing.
WoD: A big skinnamarink to you, my dear.
Dutch Bitch: But just think of the cruel inhumane harvest of all those edams. I hear they are now considered endangered.
Merlinprincesse: Me too. I did once have sauteed muktuk fried in small strips life french fries, but I had to drown them in ketchup.
What a lovely family photo. You lucky man.
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