Fish Heads or Brains?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325348)
Rockingham, Australia
December 7, 2016 7:22am CST
@youless has just posted asking if the reader would eat fish heads. Apparently fish heads can be fried or made into a soup. There is a mix of responses and it made me wonder about the things we eat without turning a hair and those that might make us really turn up our noses.
I have friends who don't eat what they term 'spare parts' or offal - things such as brains, liver, heart, sweetbreads, etc. I grew up on a farm and one of the foods I love is brains but Vince was a 'townie' and doesn't eat some of things that appeal to me. When he went to Nepal the first thing I did was buy a set of brains. I had them for my dinner and thoroughly enjoyed them.
I've asked @youless if he likes sheep brains but he hasn't replied yet. How about you? Would you eat fish heads – or brains?
I don't have a photo of either so I've put up some lovely grapes.
41 people like this
47 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
I would probably not eat either one of those by I do love beef tongue and blood pudding.
4 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
7 Dec 16
i jest can't wrap my head 'round the thought 'f eatin' such :( makes me 
jest thinkin' 'bout eatin' either.
i'm glad though that'cha got the opportunity to fetch yerself some brains though, since that's somethin' ya enjoy dinin' 'pon.
jest thinkin' 'bout eatin' either.
i'm glad though that'cha got the opportunity to fetch yerself some brains though, since that's somethin' ya enjoy dinin' 'pon.4 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
7 Dec 16
@JudyEv i reckon so though i confess to goin' to be hungry quite a few times growin' 'p coz i jest couldn't eat what t'was'n the table :(
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx I could never get pearl barley to go down for some reason. Would eat the soup all round but leave the barley.
3 people like this
@much2say (53909)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Dec 16
I'd eat grapes! 
Actually I grew up eating some fish heads (very small ones), so technically I have eaten fish brains, right?
Otherwise I don't think I'm really into other kinds of brains. I think of my mother who loves crab, not particularly the legs but the main body part which she always called "crab brains".
Actually I grew up eating some fish heads (very small ones), so technically I have eaten fish brains, right?
Otherwise I don't think I'm really into other kinds of brains. I think of my mother who loves crab, not particularly the legs but the main body part which she always called "crab brains".3 people like this
. I hope eating brains makes us smarter 
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Dec 16
I like liver and kidneys but I don't like the idea (or the supposed texture) of brains, lights and certainly not tripe. However, I really love haggis (which is made of oatmeal, herbs, spices and the liver, lights and, for all I know, the brains of sheep). I also quite enjoyed the French white sausages, rillettes.
The moral of this is that, as long as the texture is altered and the meat suitably spiced, I am really quite happy eating such things and believe that they are good and healthy fare.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
8 Dec 16
@JudyEv They used to say that every part of a pig had it's use except its squeal! I suppose that may be true today, though many people wouldn't dream of eating any offal except the liver (and many don't eat that unless it's made into liver sausage). The 'lights' are, of course, the lungs (in case anyone was wondering) and, any parts of an animal which humans won't eat probably now go into pet food or are processed into fertilizer, though even bone meal is now considered suspect!
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
I love grapes and when I got a couple of boxes from my neighbor I ate only grapes for 3 days. 
On occasion I will eat anything at least once, except for blood but prefer eating fruits and vegetables rather than something that has a mother.
On occasion I will eat anything at least once, except for blood but prefer eating fruits and vegetables rather than something that has a mother.2 people like this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
@1hopefulman Sometimes there is a token 'pressing the grapes' here but mostly it's done in bare feet. I hope they wash them first! :)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130067)
• India
7 Dec 16
It's a long time since I have eaten any of these things as I have stopped eating red meats. But certain fish heads do taste good. I do not mind eating chicken liver.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130067)
• India
7 Dec 16
@JudyEv We used to regularly consume all of what you have mentioned and they are great to taste. We even ate the intestines of sheep.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
@allknowing I have an idea the intestines are part of Scottish haggis but I'm not sure.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
7 Dec 16
Except if it is very small fishes, or if they are converted to a sauce or a fumet, I do not eat fish heads, but my cat has a different taste.
I like a lot chicken livers, but I am not a fan of brain, and it is not a food that I buy, but I have eaten veal brain a few times.
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I like a lot chicken livers, but I am not a fan of brain, and it is not a food that I buy, but I have eaten veal brain a few times.2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36391)
• Toccoa, Georgia
8 Dec 16
I would never eat any of those things. It disgusts me to think about them.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36391)
• Toccoa, Georgia
8 Dec 16
@JudyEv I realize that. I am just glad I don't live in a country or culture where it is a staple food. If I did live in one of those cultures, I would defiantly be a Vegetarian.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
@LeaPea2417 I might have quite a bit of trouble living in some countries. I can see myself becoming vegetarian too! :)
1 person likes this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
8 Dec 16
@JudyEv - Ms Judy - My father did not like to eat either nicely broiled fish (any kind) or baked spiced beef tongue (any cow language 
) His kids, me being one of them, like fish, like tongue, and think that broiled shark steak with some lemon and butter atop it is some sort of transport to heaven while a person is still living.
Brains ? Not so much, mainly because I have never eaten any knowingly and because they are mainly constructed of cholesterol. -Gus-
) His kids, me being one of them, like fish, like tongue, and think that broiled shark steak with some lemon and butter atop it is some sort of transport to heaven while a person is still living.
Brains ? Not so much, mainly because I have never eaten any knowingly and because they are mainly constructed of cholesterol. -Gus-2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Dec 16
I wouldn't try either, honestly.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
@teamfreak16 Well then, exploring caves that have never been explored before - what do they call that? I'm sure it has a strange sort of name.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Dec 16
@JudyEv - I wouldn't do either of those. I have an insane fear of heights.
2 people like this
@princemaxp (2027)
• Bhubaneshwar, India
7 Dec 16
I used to love fish head....but now I have to start a vegetarian life....
2 people like this
@princemaxp (2027)
• Bhubaneshwar, India
8 Dec 16
@JudyEv The girl I love is a vegetarian and I can't eat non-veg infront of her.....so for her I have already turned into vegetarian...
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
@princemaxp That is a very big sacrifice to make. You must love her very much. Do you have a steak sometimes if you are on your own? :)
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
8 Dec 16
No I won't eat a fish's head or lamb's brain. May be fish's eye could be a deterrent.
I have not ever tried eating brain of lamb, so I have no idea how it would taste.
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I have not ever tried eating brain of lamb, so I have no idea how it would taste.2 people like this
@youless (112100)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Dec 16
I just replied to you when I checked the notifications here. You know I can not be online all the time
And actually we mainly eat the meat from the fish head rather than its "brain". As the fish brain can be very tiny, I even doubt whether it is available
As to the brains, here we will eat the pig's brain but that's all. We don't eat other animal's brains. I don't know why. Perhaps this is our diet habit as well as westerns don't enjoy eating the spare parts.
As I replied to you, I don't mind trying the sheep's brain although it is a challenge for me. Since the sheep will have a strong smell. But I still will try it when I travel there. It will be boring to have Chinese food when I travel abroad, isn't it?
And actually we mainly eat the meat from the fish head rather than its "brain". As the fish brain can be very tiny, I even doubt whether it is available
As to the brains, here we will eat the pig's brain but that's all. We don't eat other animal's brains. I don't know why. Perhaps this is our diet habit as well as westerns don't enjoy eating the spare parts.
As I replied to you, I don't mind trying the sheep's brain although it is a challenge for me. Since the sheep will have a strong smell. But I still will try it when I travel there. It will be boring to have Chinese food when I travel abroad, isn't it?2 people like this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Dec 16
I should have made my title 'Fish Heads or Sheep Brains'. I didn't really mean fish brains but I can see how people would have thought that. It is nice to try other dishes when you travel to a different country but I rarely see brains being offered in a menu here.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169617)
• United States
7 Dec 16
Highly unlikely for both. I would probably only eat them if I didn't know what they were.
2 people like this
Fried frog legs! Mmmm!
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Dec 16
when broke I will eat anything that is affordable, and people who dont never had too. lol. but if I had a choice, I'd pass on both!
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Dec 16
@JudyEv there are some foods I am like that with, like beets.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29234)
• Eugene, Oregon
8 Dec 16
Well... Anne tells me that she ate brains in Turkey when she lived there, "sort of like cottage cheese with lettuce around it." "Cold?" I said. Yes. She ate sweetbreads as well, part of a mixed grill in the mountains of Turkey while on the road to Ankara. She did avoid the tripe soup though.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29234)
• Eugene, Oregon
8 Dec 16
@JudyEv Not in the US. That is something I would never try.
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@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
I cooked mine and let them get cold as well. They are nice and firm then, not squishy. Some towns and cities have tripe clubs don't they? I think maybe mostly in the UK. Once a month or whatever the members go to a different eating place and have tripe.
2 people like this
