I Ate Flying Squirrel

I couldn't believe my eyes. What was that creature our friends were preparing for our dinner? Squirrel? That's not a squirrel. This is a squirrel.

Photo license free from Unsplash

See that adorable little tree rat? That's the only kind of squirrel I've ever seen in real life.

But we were in Laos for a month. I knew S.E. Asia would be great. I knew we would be exposed to an entirely different culture to the one we are used to here in the United States, or even Western Europe where I spent much of my childhood.

My husband was more familiar with the climate and cultures of rural S.E. Asia as he spent time in Korea in the army. He made a point of traveling around the countryside with a local Mamasan. She spoke a little English. He would take her with him all over the place to visit her family. Places she might not have been able to go were it not for his army credentials.

My mom, who was not with us on this trip, also had a lot of experience. She was raised in the Philippines on Manila.

This was my first time.

I was so excited to discover the culture and the food. Especially the food. I love food. I have eaten foods of all kinds from all over the world, but never in the country of origin. I was fascinated with all of the preparation going into this meal.

Previously, we had eaten lizard. Lizard isn't that unusual to me. It is akin to aligator, in my mind. Or snake, maybe.

This meal, though. This one was amazing!

I just had to show you again.

I am 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 meters). I'm not tall by American standards. What I'm holding in the photo is the skin of the squirrel. I read up on flying squirrels and found out this. The animal I am holding up is called a red giant flying squirrel.

The Red Giant Flying Squirrel ranges at least from northern parts of India and Nepal, through parts of southern China, Myanmar and Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo. In Singapore it may be locally extinct, having not been reported since 1986.

- Ecology Asia

The meat was delicious and served with rice and vegetables harvested from the jungle growth surrounding the family's home where we stayed.

Flying squirrel may not have been the strangest food I've ever eaten, but it is right up there with the most exotic. Many Americans think I'm a weirdo for eating and enjoying foods from other cultures. But, meat is meat is meat. People here at home freak out a little when I describe the insects I've eaten. But they eat shrimp. Aren't shrimp just water insects?

What is the most exotic food you've ever eaten? Where did you find it? How did it taste?

Google's definition of EXOTIC

I hope to travel to more countries. I would love to taste dishes from every country and every culture in the world.

Does your country have a local delicacy? What is it? Can I have the recipe? You know where to put your comments!