with their heads tucked underneath their wings

[ppfuf]

So, about this feast/class I'm trying to put together for collegium. Yesterday, bonacorsi pointed out that in 1480 small birds such as chickens would have been served at table with their heads and feet on. I skimmed through the tiny number of pictures I have where plates of birds are visible on the table, and while feet might be an un-resolvable question, they do seem to have their heads. In one picture, the birds are "sitting up" in the bowl almost like they were placed to resemble a nest. Now I'm wondering, if I tried to serve headed and footed birds at the collegium feast/class would it be too scary? I don't want the feast/class to be too modern, but we're already planning a few things that might be (cumulatively) too weird, even for a willing audience.

Has anybody out there ever been unexpectedly served a bird that still looked like a bird? If yes, what was your first reaction? Did you eat it (eventually)?

Comments

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

I checked, and I am subscibed to West group.
Can you think of any improvements on the way the answers are worded that I should change? I fear I didn't think it all the way through last night.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

One always finds shortcomings in one's quizzes, the minute after clicking "submit."

I think if you gave them fewer options, it might give more useful info. Such as:

At the feast, your table is served a well-roasted and fully prepared chicken, but the head and feet are still on (fully sanitized.) Do you:

* Eat the parts of the chicken you normally do (or none, if you're vegetarian).
* Feel ill and don't eat any normal parts of the chicken.
* Fell very ill and have to leave the table.