Has anyone here eaten hedgehog before?

[Sarahtatty]

I have a friend that is into exotic cooking since going to college after 5 kids and really wants to make it in the culinary world. and so i've became her guinea pig whenever she comes up with a new dish which is several times a week.
I've had many things from fried chilli locusts to various stews involving small mammals.
She now wants to cook hedgehog and im not sure i can do this as i've always associated hedgehogs as verminous creatures and because of this have reservations on eating it but as she's my friend i feel i have to.
How palateable is hedgehog and what would you say it tasted of?

[Barmaid]

I'm going to start calling you Mrs Lovett, McFluff!!!!

[NoMercy]

You lot will have Heston crying into his snail porridge.

[rowanwitch]

You can tell it is friday can't you... its like entering an episode of the twilight zone on here today

[seadogg]

We had a hedgehog which came to feed, not, not, a bowl of milk.
My intellectual friend called him Luther because he had a Diet of Wurms.
I'll get me coat.

[rowanwitch]

very intellectual seadogg...like it

[nextqueen]

lol!i was going to say, dont let her cook any guinea pigs! i remember eating hedgehog flavoured crisps when i was little, wonder who made them, golden n wonder maybe? anyway i remember them tasting smoky and beefy at the same time if that helps.

[mccfluff]

mmmmm cat pie, think i'll try it. i'll go let murph out to hunt, there's a tabby on other side of the canal she's been eyeing up

[rowanwitch]

My sister had a cat like that...we got a bit worried when she tried to terrorize a rottweiller

[scrummyyummy]

As many of you have said, hedgehogs are on the decline. I would NEVER eat a hedgehog! They are great for ridding gardens of slugs and bugs. We actually have a little hedgehog house which we put food for the hedgies to fatten up over winter. Hubby installed a mini camera inside and it was fascinating seeing them feed. They are so cute! You can buy hedgehog food from pet shops and they love chicken catfood (but not fish ones).

[tenrec]

Has anyone here eaten hedgehog before?

Before What?

[DTCwordfan]

Yes - In China. A bit sharp...

No seriously, I have, a peppery taste to the meat, not quite as intense as pork as it probably has lower fat in the meat...

Had both the meat and a soup......and its not bad. Was in Guangzhou on a floating restaurant in the Pearl River and the alternative was Water-Rat - so the Hedgehog was a compromise

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.telegraph....hedgehog-recipes.html

for those cooks amongst you who fancy a go......