Pass the guinea pig please
Peruvians have enjoyed eating roasted, fried and stewed guinea pigs for centuries. Now, they are trying to market the guinea pig as a low-cost alternative for Christmas dinner. Dan Grech reports.
Fried guinea pig (and potatoes). (Courtesy of The Register -- www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/24/fotw/)
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Scott Jagow: Finally, it's a different breed of animal in Peru than the cute furry pet we have here in the states. Guinea pigs are bigger there and they're a big delicacy. And they're featured at many a holiday party. From the Americas Desk at WLRN, Marketplace's Dan Grech reports.
Dan Grech: Guinea pigs have been a staple in Peru for at least 15 centuries. They can be fried, roasted and stewed, and are often served with vegetables. In one town, the main cathedral even shows a painting of the Last Supper with Christ and his disciples dining on guinea pigs.
Peru is now trying to market guinea pig, known as cuy, as a low-cost alternative for Christmas dinner. Three bucks worth can feed a family of eight. This week officials presented a live guinea pig dressed as Santa along with eight cooked comrades by his side.
Dennis Jett is a former U.S. ambassador to Peru. He says Peruvians will have a major hurdle in selling the average American on guinea pig.
Dennis Jett:Overcoming the image of some nice little furry creature that belongs in a cage somewhere, as opposed to in a stew pot.
So how does a guinea pig taste? It's white meat is often compared to, you guessed it, chicken.
I'm Dan Grech for Marketplace.
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From CA, 12/22/2008
That "town" is Cuzco, as well known as Lima, and much nearer Machu Picchu. The replica of the "Last Supper" was painted with local dishes on the table as part of the Church's conversion campaign.
When your culture includes 100s of years of raising and eating an animal -- cuy or chicken or whatever -- it's not a pet, it's an animal.
I loved Wilbur in "Charlotte's Web" but I still eat ham and bacon.
12/20/2008
This world is too big. Guinea pigs are native from Peru (along with alpacas, llamas, potatoes, and ugly hairless dogs). It is a farm animal, not a pet. They are cute and furry, but so are sheeps and rabbits. There are many cute animals around. Chicken, turkey, cow, are very cute as well. btw, i must disagree that cuy taste like chicken. It is a lot more like rabbit.
From Cosby, TN, 12/20/2008
How could anyone eat such an adorable pet? These animals are intelligent and gentle!We have 7 that we rescued from bad situations and I would just drop dead if anyone suggested eating one of these little Lovies! Guinea Pigs are our friends, not our food. Besides, there couldn't be much meat on one of the little darlings.What do these evil people do, murder and pepare one poor piggie per hungry guest?How Awful!
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