Rocky Mountain oysters
|
|
Rocky Mountain oysters is a name given to a calf or bull testicles when they are served as food. They are usually peeled, coated in flour, pepper and salt, then fried. It is a well-known novelty dish in parts of the American West where cattle ranching is prevalent. The name is derived from the Rocky Mountains. They are also sometimes known as "Mountain Oysters" or "Prairie Oysters." In Oklahoma, they are sometimes referred to as "Lamb Fries" or "Calf Fries," and are called "huevos de toro" (bull's eggs) in Central and South America.
The dish is most commonly found served at festivals, such as the ones in Montana, or at certain eating establishments and bars that specialize it. One such establishment, Bruce's Bar in Severance, Colorado, is regionally famous as a location that serves the dish and attracts visitors from all around northern Colorado, despite its location in a small town on the Great Plains. They are also served at the Old Mill in Cedar City, Utah [1] (http://deependdining.blogspot.com/2004/09/rocky-mountain-oysters-old-mill-cedar.html) Lamb Fries are also on the menu at some old time Oklahoma restuarants such as Cattlemen's Steakhouse, located in Oklahoma City's Stockyard City area.
Consumption of the dish is often meant as a lighthearted test of one's bravado, especially for men, given the inherent implications of castration and the threat of the loss of male virility. This is especially true for consumption by individuals of a group, where failing to consume the dish after a mutual dare is taken as a humorous indication of cowardice. Consumption is often undertaken with copious amounts of beer.