Chicken Heads!!!

Okay, here is a great picture of what they put before me for dinner while I was in China.  First of all let me say, I am a master with chop sticks after a week.  I may be a few pounds heavier due to a couple of days of the chop stick learning curve, but take my word for it, when you eat like I do and miss out on a few meals due to eating utensils...  you learn quickly.  I can now eat rice, salad and vegetables with chops sticks.  Well, back to this dinner.  As you can see, they liked to present the entire meal.  Yes, feet and all.  I was okay with most of this chicken.  Except for that large thing in the middle of the plate.  Well, here is a close up for those of you who are wondering what it is...

Yes, that is in fact the chicken's head.  I thought it was sad enough that they left the legs/feet intact as they brought this poor bird out for consumption.  But to prop its head up and place it on the plate was a bit much.  Another interesting fact.  Most of the tables have large lazy susans in the middle to spin the food around the table.  Funny when you have 10 people all reaching for different foods and spinning the tables at different times.  Anyway, I had to spin this table away constantly as everyone thought it was funny to spin the table so that this chicken was staring at me the whole meal.  As if I didn't feel bad enough, now I have a dead chicken head making me feel guilty.  

Now the worst part.  They tell me that we should draw straws as to who gets the head.  The woman next to me goes on about how it was her grandmother's favorite part.  I tell her that in her memory, I would be happy to give up my chance at this wonderful prize and forfeit my place in this most prestigous betting pool.  Unfortunately, as the guest of honor, I end up getting nominated before chance can take hold, and I am given the head.  I was already starting to cry a little and wondering how you are supposed to chew the skull and beak.  They explain to me quickly what the brains will taste like and how to avoid those, oh so sharp pieces of bone and cartiledge.  Well, for you doubters, here is the last image I saw prior to blacking out...

Yes, I have eaten some crazy stuff.  Yes, this was the worst.  Yes, I am still sick thinking back to it.  No, I will never do it again.  And, finally, Yes, it tasted like chicken.