DELAWARE

DELAWARE

WHAT IS IT?

IN SOME PARTS OF DELAWARE, BLOWING WINTER WINDS MEAN MUSKRAT ON DINNER PLATES. OVER THE YEARS, SOME RESTAURANTS HAVE EVEN HAD IT ON THE MENU. DELAWAREONLINE/THE NEWS JOURNAL FOOD WRITER PATRICIA TALORICO HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE ROASTED RODENTS FOR YEARS, ONCE WRITING, “THE FUNKY-TASTING MEAT IS CERTAINLY NOT A UNIVERSALLY LOVED DELICACY. I’VE TRIED MUSKRAT ― TWICE (IN THE INTEREST OF CULINARY JOURNALISTIC PURSUITS) ― AT THE OLD WAGON WHEEL IN SMYRNA, AND, WELL, LET’S JUST SAY, I’LL GLADLY OFFER MY SHARE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT.”

WHAT THEY SAID: “ONE LOCAL RESTAURANT THAT STILL OFFERS THIS TASTE OF LOCAL HISTORY IS THE SOUTHERN GRILL IN ELLENDALE, SUSSEX COUNTY. IT’S ON THE MENU EVERY WINTER DURING MUSKRAT HUNTING SEASON. YOU CAN GET IT HEAD ON OR HEAD OFF, BOILED, FRIED OR BARBECUED AND SERVED WITH OR WITHOUT GRAVY.”