Ultimate Meat Guide: Where to Try Great Exotics
Exotic meat: Columbus has it in spades. Let one of the city's meat-lovin' chefs prepare something new for dinner tonight.
1.Venison
Unlike some other critters, venison (aka the funkier red meat) is most available in the fall and winter, when it'll be served in restaurants in sausage, steak and roast form, all of them delicious.
2.Goat
Love lamb? Step up to goat. Tandoori Grill's Goat Korma ($12) arrives bathed in a savory, spicy sauce. Sop up every last drop with the restaurant's excellent naan.tandoorigrill.biz
3.Wild boar
Try this amped-up version of pork in Bareburger's Hog Wild burger ($10.70), which pairs a wild boar patty with bold accouterments: pimento cheese, a fried egg, chickpea onions and pickled green tomatoes.bareburger.com
4.Kangaroo
The host at DeNovo, where kangaroo has been a menu mainstay from the start, tells us it's milder than venison, with a texture similar to sirloin steak. Try it in the Kangaroo Au Poivre ($15).denovobistro.com
5.Bison
Grass-fed beef lovers might have a tough time discerning bison from their protein of choice. For a great compare-contrast, head to Ted's Montana Grill and order the Delicious Duo ($9), two 3-ounce burgers, one bison and one beef, served side by side.tedsmontanagrill.com
6.Elk
It's lean, flavorful and can often be used in place of beef. Order an elk burger with fixins of your choice at Kitchen Little, the prepared-foods arm of North Market Poultry and Game.northmarket.com
7.Rabbit
For this tender, mild game meat, we turn to Refectory chef Richard Blondin, whose ever-changing menu recently included Slow Braised Rabbit Feuillete (a puff pastry treatment) with white wine, mushroom and mustard, for $15.refectory.com
8.Alpaca
Blondin (he's an expert with game meats) employs alpaca regularly in a pate or terrine starter. The flavor is sweet and mild, though haters uncharitably refer to its essence as "cat food."refectory.com
9.Frog
Does not taste like chicken! More like mild fish. G. Michael's Bistro has been serving fried frog legs ($9) accompanied by broiled baby bok choy, ginger-mustard aioli and spicy pickled pepper jam.gmichaelsbistroandbar.com