Mushroom hunt unearths dumped guinea pigs during foraging and cookery school
Caroline Davey is used to finding interesting things in the countryside in her role as the owner of a foraging and cookery school.
But she had a bit of a surprise when she took her children and some of their friends on a wild mushroom hunt one morning and came across an unusual species in a Cornish wood – a group of guinea pigs. Ms Davey, who runs the Fat Hen wild food foraging and cooking school in West Cornwall, is now caring for the five furry creatures at St. Buryan, near Penzance along with her children Rosie, 9 and Ella, 6.
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Jacca Smart-Knight, Rosie Smart-knight Jed Davey and Ella Davey with Caroline Davey of Fat Hen
"We were just at the end of the woods, with our baskets full of slippery jacks, ceps and yellow brittle gills and Molly the dog started sniffing in the hedge," she said. "Our sharp-eyed friend Rosie spotted some creatures scuttling together. We weren't sure if they were rats or ferrets but on closer inspection they were a family of five guinea pigs. They looked like they had been recently dumped as there was a pile of fresh straw next to them."
The guinea pigs have been aptly-named Beefsteak, Cep, Pine, Fly Agaric and Lucky.
Ms Davey added: "It was lucky that we managed to find them when we did because literally five minutes later three pit bull terriers tore past us. These guinea pigs were facing certain death in those woods as, being totally domesticated, they wouldn't have been able to fend for themselves."
6 Comments
by Wyllieboy, Pendeen
Friday, October 08 2010, 2:47PM
“No in Lima you get them kebebed”
by Bilbo Baggins, The Lizard
Friday, October 08 2010, 1:58PM
“And you've tried that recipe have you, or are you just adept with Google?”
by Wyllieboy, Pendeen
Friday, October 08 2010, 9:18AM
“How fortuitous for a foraging cookery school to find some of these tasty little critters, I suggest that they try this recipe.
one clean guinea pig
onion
ground chili pepper and ground red chili pepper (both very spicy)
cooking oil
parsley
oregano
mint
huaycatay (an herb that tastes and smells like a blend of black mint and marigold)
walnuts
salt
butter.
The recipe, obviously not one for the beginning cook, instructs you to open the guinea pig ventrally, then to salt and drain it. After salting and draining, remove the organs and intestines, but do not wash the cuy anymore. Parboil the innards separately, then pierce them and dress them with onion, chili pepper, and oil. In another container, prepare a finely chopped mixture of the parsley, mint, oregano, huaycatay, walnuts, and salt. Combine the mixture with the cooked organs and intestines and stuff all that back into the body cavity of the guinea pig. Coat the guinea pig with butter and ground red pepper. Place the critter in a roasting pan and cook it in the oven until it¿s done. Yum.”
by Will, Nqy
Thursday, October 07 2010, 4:23PM
“Isn't the big story here that three pit bull terriers are running loose in woods where children are playing?”
by Bilbo Baggins, The Lizard
Thursday, October 07 2010, 3:29PM
“Abandon animals if you must, but the least any one with an ounce of humanity is to ensure they are safe, an anonymous phone call tipping a rescue off to their where abouts is all it takes.
I suspect the person who left them has young children and is person, what a wonderful roll model to them you must be if you are reading you should give your self a good talking to and ponder on the message you give to youngsters.”
by TimV, Pz
Thursday, October 07 2010, 2:10PM
“So there is a god after all!”