lunch at my in-laws’

mmmn, lunch
lunch

Mmn, ca vous donne envie?

This is the un-cooked version.  I just couldn’t resist.  It’s a dish called ‘Andouillette‘.

I’ve got to say that this is one of the only dishes I can’t get myself to enjoy.  Don’t get me wrong, I have been raised well and have of course done the right thing and tried it.  I have tried it many times in fact – each time trying to savour the flavour as much as those around me (not much pressure here – it’s a Frenchie family favourite).  But I’m sorry, everytime I do, I get a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ flavour.  Actually no, I’m lying.  I know what I taste – and it’s a taste I wouldn’t normally associate with fine cuisine.   Getting me?  Sorry, but it does.  You should smell the fumes when these babies are smoking in the pan.  I thought tripe in Mum and Dad’s pressure cooker was bad.

The first time I ate Andouillette the je-ne-sais-quoi flavour lingered in my mouth well into the following morning (I had brushed my teeth three times).  I was horrified and complained to Benji about the disturbingly bad taste.  “Well, it is half made of shit,” was his answer.

Am I making your mouth water by now?  Look it up and see what’s in it.  It’s a delicacy that, in it’s ‘purest’ (and by this I mean ‘smellier’ version) form, you don’t find often, if ever, outside of France.   Strange.

As I don’t tend to serve this at home, my mother-in-law likes to get some in preparation for her boy’s arrival.  They all laugh at me as they’re tucking into it with dollops of mustard, wondering how on earth I can’t adore this dish.  I can only sit there and make cheap comments on the dish’s obvious aesthetic merits and delightfully heady aromas.  “My poor son!” my mother-in-law consoles… “At least here at your mother’s you can enjoy Andouillette!”

mmmn, andouillette
mmmn, Andouillette

Hungry?

22 thoughts on “lunch at my in-laws’

  • I love andouillettes!!! But then I’m French so that might me the reason.
    My partner who is Dutch love them too… But I’ve never told her what’s inside 🙂
    Applying the same technique for fritons, rillettes, tripes and other delicacies …

    I suppose trust and honesty are the base of a good relationship 😉
    (I’m not completely evil though. She knows it’s something funky, and she knows not knowing is best!)

    • I love the idea of calling such delicacies ‘funky’ Marilyne! – you could almost get me in with that.
      My dad used to serve up crumbed lamb brains and tell me it was a meat pattie (like a hamburger). The minute I chewed into the white squish I knew he was lying!
      I’m glad to hear you enjoy Andouillette – I would love to think I could, but I still can’t get my nose and tastebuds around that taste.

      • Mm … crumbed lamb brain ? OK… not sure I would try those!
        (Just checked funky in the dictionary and so yes funky in all meanings of the word)
        By the way, thanks for your blog – I love the way you see the Minervois… Great for when I’m homesick!!

  • One time driving back from Switzerland with the kids we only had a few francs left when we stopped to feed them at a services. We ordered what we thought were sausages and chips. It was Andouillette. Needless to say the kids ate the chips……….

  • Kat,
    Does that mean you won’t be cooking it for us when we pop in to see you in September?
    Shame! (or lucky result!)
    Kev

      • I don’t think we should deprive Benji’s Mum of cooking her son his favourite dish so I/we will have to wait until the next time we visit.
        Ps – I hope you’ve had a very happy birthday!!!

  • That just looks all wrong, so can’t imagine the taste would be great. And kat your the adventurous one when it comes to the palette!

  • It’s funny. I love andouillettes…it’s so good but my wife (who is american) thinks exactly like you. Who cares ? It’s more for us 😉

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