Sakuraniku

     Ever go into a high class restaurant that serves a cuisine unfamiliar to you and scan the menu?  I must admit that some of the names are confusing and at times even intimidating.  I've learned over the years that escargot is just plain garden snails, calamari is only squid and red drum is actually a fish.

     But if you're ever in an Asian restaurant that is serving sakuraniku, don't run, gallop out of the establishment.  That's just a fancy word for horse sashimi, a kind of sushi.  Horse meat,  while being repulsive to many in the Western world, is a regular part of the diet of millions of people, particularly in Central Asia.  It is high in protein, Vitamin B12 and zinc and is low in cholesterol.  It is said to be very tender with a sweet taste and is also high in iron content.  And it appears to be catching on in other parts of the globe.  Residents of some sections of Europe and South America also include horse meat in their diet.  It can even be found in butcher shops in the UK, Australia, Ireland and English-speaking Canada.  In fact, the top 8 countries that sell horse meat consume 4.7 million horses a year.

     There are currently no US slaughterhouses that butcher horses for human consumption.  But it may be only a matter of time before you see Seabiscut Burgers on the menu in your favorite restaurant!