Watch out for those squirrels....

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:00:00 GMT

Sometimes I get the strangest of phone calls. Earlier this year one of my customers phoned me up and asked if I wanted to go to a food tasting at one of their hotels. There was a slight pause and then it was explained that in fact the food was cooked squirrel and the event was a TV programme being made for Channel 4.

As I like to do my bit for conservation I enquired if the squirrel in question was red or grey and after being re-assured that it was grey, I decided to attend. At the time a good friend was over from USA, for the sake of friendship lets just call her Sue. I thought that Sue might like to come along and see what was going on. Now Sue declared that she would like to see what was going on, but there was no way would she take part or go anywhere near the cooked "tree rat" as she described it.

We got there and sure enough a group of people had started to arrive, the lighting was set up and a very tall bloke with a large camera was at the ready. Whilst I was chatting to a couple of other friends who were also invited, I beckoned Sue over to join us. Mistake number one (by Sue). Around came the camera crew asking people what they thought about eating squirrel. Of course Sue said, no way....

Anyway the squirrel duly came out, paraded around on a plate and those who wished a taste did so. It was ok, heavily disguised with a sauce and inside a wrap. Phew thought Sue, I avoided that one. But no, the producers were smarter than that. Out comes the chef Thomasina Miers with new plate full of samples, she makes a bee line straight for me and Sue. The big bloke with the camera bears down on us and Sue is asked by Thomasina what she thinks. I havn't tasted them Sue says. Mistake number 2. Under the glare of the camera spotlight, Sue was just too polite to refuse and declare tree rats indedible, so she tasted some. Mistake number 3. She nearly gags trying to eat this small mouthful and finally loses it. Sue starts to hit me for bringing her here and "forcing her" to eat this disgusting.....Hmmm.... seems like it might make good telly if they keep it in.

I started laughing as we were leaving and laughed all the way home in the car with Sue, who was strangely quiet, and I had another particularly big bout of giggles as we passed a B+B called "Squirrel Haven" on the way home.

I for one will be watching the programme which goes out next Tuesday on Channel 4.

Channel 4 October 16th at 8:30pm
Channel 4 Plus 1October 16th at 9:30pm

Martin

Martins thoughts...

Watch out for those squirrels....