Dining on Iguana for Lunch
By Chuck
A Different Lunch
One of the joys of travel is new discoveries. While I like trying new foods, especially those made with chocolate, I do take the plunge occasionally and try something really exotic.
While strolling along the main street of Coxen Hole on the Island of Roatan in Honduras looking for a place to eat recently my wife spied a sign on some restaurants offering iguana on their menus. After some coxing she finally talked me into trying it.
So, we began looking for a place to try Iguana.
My father used to talk about rattle snake being on the menus of some restaurants in San Antonio, Texas when he was briefly stationed there at Ft. Sam Houston before being shipped overseas in World War II.
I also remembered seeing in some western movie a Mexican or Indian kid coming to the rescue of the hero when he was stranded in the desert. For dinner the kid caught a couple of iguanas and cooked them on a spit over the campfire for dinner.
Also, among the many exotic pets that my oldest son used to bring home was an iguana. We didn't have it for long as David soon lost interest in it and gave it to a friend. I never thought of eating it.
I have on occasion, threatened to send our chihuahua, Chika when she misbehaves, to a friend who claims his Mexican ancestors used to eat chihuahuas.
But, I have never really considered eating a pet.
Bar & Grill On The Spot Restaurant
Lunch at the Bar & Grill on the Spot
However, to twist the old saying a bit, When in Honduras do as the Hondurans do (or at least as the Roatan Islanders do), I decided on impulse to go along with my wife's suggestion for lunch.
Proceeding down the street we found a little place called Bar & Grill On The Spot. It was a small place with two tables inside and what looked like a walk-up takeout window outside.
But they had iguana and it was actually less expensive than some of their sea food items. Which probably made sense since they would have to buy the seafood from local fishermen but could just go out into the backyard and catch an iquana.
The price for the iguana meal was U.S. $10 per plate plus beverage. Not knowing what to expect, we decided to order just one plate with two forks and two soft drinks.
It was actually a rather hearty meal with the plate consisting of a healthy serving of beans and rice, and equal amount of stewed iguana and a fried banana (it was a banana and not a platain - I asked the cook and she said it was just a common banana). The banana was very dry and I didn't care much for it.
Hub 2 for 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge
It Was Actually a Tasty Lunch
The beans and rice were as good as any I have had other places and the iguana was tasty. Actually, the iguana had the same taste and texture as chicken.
The problem, other than the idea that I was eating a lizard, was that it was full of small bones. The best way I can describe it would be eating a turkey neck that has been cut into three or four places, boiled or stewed until the meat was falling off the bones and then serving it up bones and all.
We ate the entire meal and found it to be a satisfying and filling lunch. Having said that, I have no desire to consume any more lizard type creatures.
However, I can't say that I swore off all reptiles as a few days later at another stop on the same trip my wife decided we should try some turtle. But that is another story.
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Links to Some of My Other Hubs
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My father was a veteran of the Pacific Campaign with the U.S. Army in World War II. When we were young he use to tell us stories about his adventures while in the Army. After getting drafted he was first... - What Makes Komodo Dragons Deadly? Is It True Komodo Dragons Can Develop From Unfertilized Egg Cells?
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January 24, 2010 In addition to helping humans in need, charity also includes helping animals as well. Obviously humans come first but, in wealthier societies like ours, we can also afford to help... - Komodo Dragons - Giant Lizards of Indonesia
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Cruising is a major segment of the tourism industry and a popular way to vacation. Unlike other means of transportation, where the vehicle is simply a means to get to one's destination, on a cruise, the...
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Chika's Link to Darlene Sabella's Latest Hubs
At the left are the latest Hubs by fellow Hubber and fellow 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenger Darlene Sabella.
If it hadn't been for Darleen's challenge we would not be involved in this writing frenzy to produce thirty Hubs in thirty days.
So we salute her and encourage you to check out some of her offerings in this challenge.
As I explained in my Hub about this project I also would not have been forced to hire my dog, Chika, to assist me in this project.
Links to Darlene Sabella's Recent Hubs
- Goodbye My Hubber Family, Google Has disabled my Account
This has been another week full of Lemons, on Monday I looked at my blog and all my ads were missing, so I came to check my account at Hub-pages. - 14 months ago
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- Slow Cooker Verses Crock Pot; Hey This Saves Energy People
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- The Greatest 10 Pop Singers, 100 Most Viewed Video's and Best International Pop: 2010
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- Blackberry Farm; A Very Cool Vacation, Spend A Week or Week-End
Blackberry Farm in located in Tennessee, and in 1940 Mrs, Florida Lasier of Chicago saw a wild blackberry bramble while exploring the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, and Blackberry Farm was born. - 15 months ago
Coxen Hole - City of Coxen Hole, on the Island of Roatan off the Coast of Honduras
Comments
You're brave. I love to eat and will try some new things, but not snakes or lizards or anything exotic.
Interesting hub. I once tried corn fed rat and it too tasted like chicken. maybe it was the barbcue sauce that helped.
haha, tastes like chicken! I don't think I could eat that, but good for you!
Great hub, but, seriously, my friend, ugh!
I've had Iguana a few years ago, and suprisingly, it was really good.
Great story - you are braver than me, but the photos looked okay - sometimes it is better not to know perhaps
Real great little story, but sorry--I DON'T think you'd catch me eating iguana. I'm not as adventurous as you when it comes to food!
Now if I hadn't seen it on the plate I might have considered it. That didn't look appetizing. It sounds like it was good, but I'd have to eat it blindfolded. Thanks for the virtual trip with you to Honduras. See you again soon.
ladylux - the iguana did look like mashed up fish.
I am working on the turtle Hub and should have it finished and posted in the next few days.
As to the "Monkey LaLa" mentioned in one of the photos that was on the drink menu hanging on the wall. Given the price and the fact that the three similarly priced drinks below it were alcoholic beverages, I am assuming that "Monkey LaLa" is just the name of a beverage containing some type of fruit juice and most likely rum which is a popular beverage in Honduras.
I loved the pictures. I must say you are most the dare devil. I'm a vegan and since a small child just could not eat meat.... I was weak in the stomach and yet still enjoyed the trip with you and your adoring wife. Thanks and I look forward to reading more.
Looks kinda like mashed up fish. You're adventurous to try a whole plate of it. And yes, I too want to know about the turtle. Does Monkey LaLa actually involve something that came out of a monkey?
You're brave. And why is it almost all exotic meats taste like chicken?
man, u r brave. i don't know if i could eat iguana, my cousin had one for years as a pet...but hey, to each their own...interesting hub, by the way. fun to read.
I can't wait to read about the turtle!
I'm not sure I would be as adventurous, however I did enjoy frogs' legs and snails while living in Europe. I enjoyed the hub and always learn something different from your writing. Thank you.
Your photos made me feel I was there. Thanks. I think the only way I would eat iguana is if I didn't know I was eating iguana. I feel the same way about frogs' legs which I have eaten (unknowingly) and they, too, tasted like chicken.
I say I would have to be starving and void of twinkies in my suitcase to have indulged as you have. You survived and who knows may be healthier as a result:)
Your life is more interesting than mine. Thank you for sharing your amazing travel adventures on the Island of Roatan with us.
You should be on the Food Channel. That was a fun read with great original photos.
Good hub. I don't think I could have eating the iguana. I have eaten rattle snake but I didn't know it until after I tried it. That was a little job my brother-in-law played on me. It was tough but it didn't taste too bad. You write very interesting hubs.
I loved reading your article. When I was reading the first part I was thinking to myself I wonder if it tasted like chicken. It was so funny when I got near the end of your story and you said it tasted like chicken. This was a really great hub. I also loved the pictures.
Okay okay, I didn't need to see it in the plate, LOL, great hub my friend, poor baby, I'm talking about the lizard not you. HA, Thanks for the memories and keep writing...
spiderspun 2 years ago
I really never thought they ate iguana. You can eat most anything I guess. My iguanas are strong and huge, but I wouldn't think they'd have much meat on em. Your juicy description of how the meat is like a turkey neck meat was great. I enjoyed this read a lot.
thanks