RMOs

Today I went with my friend, Trina, to do an errand up in the mountains near Atlantic City. (And no, it was not Atlantic City, NJ where Donald Trump has his big casino). We went to her family's cabin about 170 miles from Casper.

While there, we were invited to lunch at a very, very old restaurant called The Mercantile in Atlantic City. The city was founded as a mining camp following the 1867 gold rush in the region. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Atlantic City Mercantile building is a major part of this small Wyoming town’s history. This general store originally catered to miners scouring stream beds for gold around Atlantic City. Through the years, the building has been occupied by a cafe, a boarding house, several saloons, and even a gas station. Since 1994, the Atlantic City Mercantile has been bar, steakhouse and small museum. It is more commonly known as the "Merc" and has seen its share of gold miners, perhaps an outlaw or two, and certainly some ruffians. When you step through the doors you see tin ceilings, a massive back bar, an assortment of mismatched oak tables and chairs and all kinds of very, very old memorabilia and feel as though you've walked directly into the old West.
When seated in the restaurant, I opened up the menu and there it was. It was something I'd only heard about, but had never tried. According to people out here, anything that walks, swims, crawls, or flies can be eaten. It just takes an open mind, a willing stomach and a sense of adventure. And, I had all three and there was a bathroom close by if things didn't go well. There are some people who will eat anything and today I became one of those people. I actually ate some Rocky Mountain oysters - also known as prairie oysters, Montana tendergroins, cowboy caviar, swinging beef and calf fires - true Western delicacies.

What are Rocky Mountain oysters? (see pic. 1). They are that part of the bull that is removed in his youth so that he may thereby grow meatier and behave less masculine. When the calves are branded, the testicles are cut off and thrown in a bucket of water. They are then peeled, washed, rolled in flour and pepper and fried in a pan. They are considered to be quite a delicacy. Like other organ meats, testicles may be cooked in a variety of ways – deep-fried whole, cut into broad, thin slices, or marinated. At roundups in the old West, cowboys and ranch hands tossed the meat on a hot iron stove. When the calf fries exploded, they were done.

Why eat Rocky Mountain oysters one might ask? People eat bull and calf testicles so beef cattle can grow big and strong and meaty. So, by eating this gift full of healthy hormones, we can help ensure that McDonalds and Taco Bell will always have a steady stream of meaty beefy products which they sell at their drive-thru's world wide. Think of all the millions of people you could be helping! I will never again eat ground beef at another drive-thru without thinking of my contribution. Maybe I should even recieve a discount on my order!

Not everyone in the world is as fortunate as we are in being able to eat Rocky Mountain Oysters and children should be reminded that somewhere in China poor children have nothing else to eat but rice.
(Pic. 1) I've even heard it told to me that when the time comes for the bull and his buddies to part ways, some people just rip them off with their teeth!!! OMG!!! Ouchy wha wha. It's true. One of the girls who works in my office said that's the way her father-in-law does it every year. This gives new meaning to "Hanging Around" the ranch.
These are the "oysters" or as they were labeled on the menu...Bulls Balls. I was expected round things when delivered on the table. However, mine were cooked in the traditional cooking method of being pounded flat, dusted with flour, salt and pepper and then deep-fried in oil. Trina took this picture of me with her telephone just as I was taking my very first bite of this western delicacy. It tasted like chicken gizzards to me so they didn't taste bad at all. In fact, I ate three of them. Yum, Yum!!