Hilldodger
Guru
- Location
- sunny Leicester
This is on AOL at the moment.
If you've ever watched Ready Steady Cook then you'll know that the most unusual ingredient to fall out of the mystery plastic bag is fennel.
But in Italy, one celebrity chef has caused something of a stir on the country's very own version of the cookery show.
Beppe Bigazzi, 77, a top Italian food writer, has been suspended indefinitely from La Prova del Cuoco, for recommending viewers try the "succulent dish" of stewed cat.
Bigazzi claims that cat casserole is a famous and popular dish in his home region of Valdarno, Tuscany.
But horrified viewers of the midday broadcast flooded the switchboard with complaints.
"I've eaten it myself and it's a lot better than many other animals," Beppe happily declared. "Better than chicken, rabbit or pigeon."
Presenter Elise Isoardi tried in vain to steer Bigazzi away from the controversial subject but even the show's producers were unable to bring forth an apology from Beppe.
Francesa Martini, Deputy Health Minister for Italy, said that it was "absolutely unheard of for a public service broadcaster to tell people how delicious cats are to eat," and called for the producers to be investigated for incitement to mistreat animals.
Yesterday Bigazzi insisted that he had been misunderstood and that it was all a joke, but then ruined it by adding: "Mind you, I wasn't joking all that much.
"In the 1930s and 1940, when I was a boy, people certainly did eat cat in the countryside around Arezzo."
Should anyone wish to sample the delicacy, Bigazzi advises the meat should be "soaked in spring water for three days" before stewing.
If you've ever watched Ready Steady Cook then you'll know that the most unusual ingredient to fall out of the mystery plastic bag is fennel.
But in Italy, one celebrity chef has caused something of a stir on the country's very own version of the cookery show.
Beppe Bigazzi, 77, a top Italian food writer, has been suspended indefinitely from La Prova del Cuoco, for recommending viewers try the "succulent dish" of stewed cat.
Bigazzi claims that cat casserole is a famous and popular dish in his home region of Valdarno, Tuscany.
But horrified viewers of the midday broadcast flooded the switchboard with complaints.
"I've eaten it myself and it's a lot better than many other animals," Beppe happily declared. "Better than chicken, rabbit or pigeon."
Presenter Elise Isoardi tried in vain to steer Bigazzi away from the controversial subject but even the show's producers were unable to bring forth an apology from Beppe.
Francesa Martini, Deputy Health Minister for Italy, said that it was "absolutely unheard of for a public service broadcaster to tell people how delicious cats are to eat," and called for the producers to be investigated for incitement to mistreat animals.
Yesterday Bigazzi insisted that he had been misunderstood and that it was all a joke, but then ruined it by adding: "Mind you, I wasn't joking all that much.
"In the 1930s and 1940, when I was a boy, people certainly did eat cat in the countryside around Arezzo."
Should anyone wish to sample the delicacy, Bigazzi advises the meat should be "soaked in spring water for three days" before stewing.
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