Turducken, 87

Unfamiliar to those outside the United States, Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to history, heritage, giving thanks and giving back.  The historical premise surrounding Thanksgiving is a heated debate over the decimation of North American indigenous populations and the colonization of North American. Coming together at end of harvest season, the these two contrasting parties purportedly had one glorious meal. Today this idea of coming together unites those less fortunate with those able to give, as well as diverse families and friends. Besides watching the Macy's Day Parade, Westminster Dog Show, and American football, overeating is the most honored tradition.

The idea of stuffing food is nothing new, in 1807 the Almanach des Gourmands, gastronomist Grimod de La Reynière presents his rôti sans pareil ("roast without equal") which was a turkey, a goose, a pheasant, a chicken, a duck, a guinea fowl, a teal, a woodcock, a partridge, a plover, a lapwing, a quail, a teal, a woodcock, a partridge, a plover, a lapwing, a quail, a thrush, a lark, an ortolan bunting and a garden warbler. Although most of these animals are seemingly unknown or extinct, modern societies equivalent is the Turducken. 


Engastrastic is the act of stuffing meat into meat. Obviously this is a chicken stuffed in a duck, stuffed in a turkey.  Although mentioned in 1994 in the New York Times, It's a Bird, It's a Bird, It's a Bird. The turducken became popular when former American football player and commentator John Madden unveiled and carved the turducken 2001. It was also promoted on Fox Sports by awarding  winning Thanksgiving Bowl football teams with a Turducken. The term "Bring Back the Turducken" was coined which resonates as a fixation of the past. With this revelry of the past, we can only reflect on our meat eating paleo neanderthal lineage which has moved into our cholesterol loving society. Fixated with one holiday dedicated to overeating and overdrinking, one can only wonder if it is real. Give thanks one duck, one chicken, and one turkey, one drink, and one fight with the family.