ottawa foodies

Ok I think I have a really off the wall thread idea today. I'm sitting on my deck right now watching three big squirrells in the trees out back. Now like all foodies I'm looking at them and thinking fried or grilled. Any ideas? One of the few meats I haven't tried yet. Found lots of recipes online but looking for feedback from people who have tried it.

Rats with fluffy tails. This might help.
www.tv-links.eu

smoker guy - i'd probably eat one from your back yard - IIRC you live in a rural area. I'd love to try squirrel too but would never eat one from my own back yard

Zymurgist- Is that Nimby-ism??? LOL!

I would eat one from my backyard since my lovely neighbors feed them regularly.

Man that NIMBY comment is classic! There was an article in the paper a few years back on how squirrel was making a comeback in the UK. Even had recipes. When tree planting many years ago we had 3 guys from mainland China with us. They were keen to eat anything fresh and local we were able to 'catch'. I ate things I never thought I would and it was delicious they way they prepared it! I would frown on any North American method on cooking them.

Well since it evidently needs explaining - here in the city there is no telling what those damned things have been eating. Squirrels in this neighbourhood are probably toxic. No thanks.

No. It didn't need explaining, Zymurgist.

Hey zym these little varmints have been eating the COB mix ( corn oats barley ) out of my deer feeders for the last few months. I figure now they might even taste a little farm raised. Went for a stroll last night and noticed a few different ones farther down the road , might have enough soon for a complete meal. Found a good recipe as well for brined and grilled I'll keep you updated on how they turn out.

Here is my previous entry, from over 4 years ago, on eating squirrel :

ottawafoodies.com

I ate them once when I was younger and we were at our hunt camp. They actually tasted quite good, as far as I can remember. I find we have these strange notions of what you should and shouldn't eat in North America...people in England are starting to eat them as there are so many of them. I watched an episode of The F Word a few years ago and one of the staff went out with a local hunter and they shot and ate a few of them.

When I read this thread I remembered an article advising never to eat the squirrel's brain:

www.nytimes.com

I don't eat brains period blubarry. This weekend a buddy from manitoulin island brought me down some. Get ready for this. Raccoon jerky. I got to say it was pretty good. I've always gone out of my way to try most critters from these parts but raccoon never crossed my mind. My dog tends to leave one in front yard every week so there is definitely no shortage out this way. Well time to go hunting.
Cheers

Do the black ones taste any different from the grey?

...I would think the red ones are too boney...

Grey and Black Squirrels are in fact the same species: Black Squirrels. The grey ones are just light morph Black Squirrels.

Red Squirrels, however, are a different species.

Three reds soaking as I type this. Hopefully will grill up a afternoon snack tomorrow.

I would guess they will be pretty lean so you might want to consider barding them

Hey smoker guy.....got 2 raccoons in the past 2 days in a live trap. I will save the next one for you :)

Jian Gomeshi interviewed someone on Q last Friday that eats squirrels. Here is the podcast for your listening pleasure: www.cbc.ca

My mother in law was eliminating squirrels on their farm but unfortunately they were thinned out enough by the time I'd gotten there that none came up the week I was there. THough NS squirrels are really tiny so not sure they'd be worth it.

sliders maybe?

Hey guys, the squirrels I cooked up this summer were pretty small and really there wasn't much left of them ( note to self ,use a smaller gun next time ) also they were pretty gamey. Caught an episode of Anthony bourdain no reservations last week he was in the Ozarks sampling all kinds of local cuisine. I thought he was going to pass on the squirrel and possum but he dug in like the trooper he is and loved it. I guess there will be another shot ( pardon the pun ) at these critters yet. I will definitely post some pics next time. They looked pretty funny on the grill actually.
Cheers SG