Take him to Faidley's at the Lexington Market on the day before (they're closed on Sundays) and get him some oysters and a beer. While he's slurping down some oysters slip away and purchase one of the frozen muskrats that they have for sale.

This way he can ponder over how to prepare it and it will be more of an experience. Believe me...I just got done making turtle soup from a whole adult snapping turtle - it wasn't from Faidley's (can't reveal my source), but it was one of "those" experiences that I will never forget!

head down to the shore and find somewhere that serves muskrat.

I wonder if you might be able to recommend a place to eat that would satiate my dad's peculiar tastes.

Minnesota.

Does anyone know of a place that serves muskrat? I've never seen it on a menu, but yesterday for the first time I saw soft shell clams at restaurant on the eastern shore. A one word review for those: gritty.

I have never been, and I've never heard anyone say they loved it, but Serbian Crown in DC serves lion, emu, antelope, boar, and sometimes bear.

http://www.serbiancrown.com/

The muskrat sounds intriguing, however I can't envision any of us prepping and cooking it. I like the sound of turtle soup - any idea where that might be served?

Silas

Turns out, during the weekend before Father's Day, there's a Beast Feast in Frederick.

(It would frighten you to know how I know this)

Scaloppini of Lion, Marinated Wild Boar, Venison St. Hubert w/ Marsala Sauce, Boneless Rabbit, Antelope w/ Wild Mushrooms, Smoked Eel and Russian Beluga Caviar... now that sounds wonderful. The only location I see for the Serbian Crown is Great Falls, VA., but this is certainly a possibility.

Would that such colorful fare was available locally.

Thank you, Jon.

I think that they call muskrats "marsh rabbit" to make it sound a *little* better.

Eve, you can't leave it at that! We're a full service blog, and I think we are short on our fear quotient for the week.

Serbian Crown - best thing i've read on this blog since the historical top 10!

Thanks Jon

The Half Moon Restaurant in Kennett Square (PA) might be just what your Dad would enjoy. They have an excellent menu that pretty much covers all the bases but their specialties include wild game. Today's specials feature ostrich, llama, wild boar - and Maryland soft shell crabs! The Half Moon is located close to Longwood Gardens and is definitely worth the drive.

http://www.halfmoonrestaurant.com

The Half Moon looks like another great choice, and a bit closer, too.

I thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I'm excited about some of the possibilities- I can't wait to see dad's reaction. You've given me much food for thought (pun intended).

i think either legal spirit's or the restaurant at the tidewater inn (both in easton) serves turtle soup.

there was a little greasy spoon in salisbury that had muskrat on the menu. it was called "the little acorn" i think.

give me the turtle soup and make it snappy!

I went to college at Salisbury, and when driving through the town of Oxford there were a lot of signs promoting local Muskrat dinners at various chuches and such. Also there is/was a fishing store right before the Bay Bridge that had recipe books for muskrat and other creatures.

Who knew the creatures could read, let alone cook?

Ah yes, BankStreet! Those eastern shore critters are very advanced. Looking back now, think I had a couple as classmates at Salisbury.

That anonymous was me, sorry.

Silas,
Looks like the Half Moon Restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Oops! I missed that. Dang! Even my pedestrian palate was aroused.

You think I can talk them into going Saturday? We'll see.

I worked on the Shore for like 3 years and never saw signs advertising muskrat as food.

Is this something new?

I wonder if armadillo is any good, I've been seeing a lot of them lately, mostly roadkill though.

I've been to Half Moon probably a half dozen times. It's a nice place with a good beer selection. They have a really good mushroom (it is Kennett Square after all) cranberry and gorganzola starter.

Didn't one of the contestants for "Miss Something-Or-Other" skin a muskrat as her talent demonstration?

I'm not about to eat the scallopini of lion and ruin my chances of getting to Narnia.

FL Rob, My understanding is that muskrat is a church dinner (fundraiser) meal. I've been told that fishmen hunt (trap?) them during the winter months.

I think we've discussed this before, but armadillos are rumored to carry leprosy.....

Eve,
I forgot about the leprosy thing.

Armadillos are carriers of the bubonic plague. A friend of a friend's daughter went to grad school in New Mexico in the early 80s, caught the Yersinia pestis (plague) bacteria from an armadillo, and died. Four other people died in that outbreak.

Cleatus, I thought the fleas that infested Black Rats were the carrier of the plague?

Lisa, you're thinking of the Great Plague of 15-or 16-whatever the year was, aren't you?

Sorry, that should have been "Lissa"

Back to the Serbian Crown. Where do they get the lion to scallopini? Is there a deal with the Zoo? Or is your dinner apt to have spent its formative years jumping through circus hoops? What part of the lion gets scallopin'd? Is there a time when lions are in season (no, I'm not referring to their mating habits)? After all, the Serbian suckling pig is listed as "Winter only." Maybe I'd better stick with the "Molard Duck."

Well, there were several waves of bubonic plague in the 15th century (or was it 16th? After my period). But, yes, Dahlink, I'm thinking of the Black Death.

I always thought lions were an endangered species, or otherwise forbidden from being on a menu.

Maybe the meat is real lean, like chicken or bison.

As I just finished my last entry, Cash Cab was on and the question was "What 15th century disease continues to afflict prairie dogs today?"

The contestant answered correctly - the Black Plague.

Go figure.

It is flea bourne, Lissa. The fleas infest the rodents and the armadillii.
I guess any animal that can carry and get bit by a flea is in the game--including, unfortuately, us.
But for some reason, it's the dry, hot southwest that's got the spate of cases nowadays.

Huh, just never thought of armadillos having fleas, Cleatus. What is the point of having scaly things if they don't keep off the fleas?

I used to travel a lot to Inner Mexico on business and while in Mexico City, you could always find insects on the menu, such as grasshopper and grubs. Apparently this was not uncommon, and this was also at higher-end hotel restaurants as well. Good luck.