“What’s that?”

“I’m not sure, but it tastes like chicken.”

How often have you heard that? No matter what something may be, it always seems to taste like chicken. This especially is so whenever the conversation turns toward any exotic fare.

For example, one of our friends recently sampled alligator at a local eating establishment. What did it taste like?

“Chicken.”

Another individual I know agreed that alligator tastes like chicken, “only chewier.”

When the conversations turns on the hub of exotic or unusual food, the subject of eating snake tends to arise. I haven’t sampled that particular bit of reptilian fare. There’s just something about dining on a creature that slithers …

It seems the type of snake doesn’t matter because folks usually say it tastes like, you guessed it, chicken.

“Greasy chicken,” was the comment I heard the other day.

OK. There’s nothing wrong with alligator and snake tasting like chicken, but it seems to me any other unusual meat that is offered is said to taste like chicken.

“Here, try this fried parrot.”

“What does it taste like?

“Chicken.”

“Take a bit of this stewed sloth.

“What does it taste like?”

“Chicken.”

You see what I mean?

If it’s not your typical, farm-raised, protein-laden, run-of-the-mill meat, those urging others to sample it insist it tastes like chicken.

I wonder what the first person who tried chicken compared it with when serving it to guests at the dinner table for the first time?

“What is this stuff?”

“It’s called chicken.”

“What’s a chicken?”

“You know, it’s a bird that scratches around the barnyard, eats gravel and whatever else it finds on the ground and lays eggs.

“I’m not eating that.”

“Oh, it’s good. Go ahead and try it.”

“Not me.”

“Really, go ahead. It tastes like, uh … well, it’s sort of like …Hmmmmmmm, it’s got a flavor similar to …”

“What does it taste like?”

“Well, it’s hard to describe. It’s not like cow or lamb or fish, but some of it’s white like fish.”

“So this strange bird tastes like fish?”

“Not exactly.”

“Does it taste like pork chops?”

“No, it doesn’t taste like pork chops.”

“How about ham?”

“No, it doesn’t taste like ham, either.”

“Look, I’m not eating this if you don’t know what it tastes like.”

“It’s really not that bad, especially with all these herbs and spices.”

“Well, what do they taste like?

“Herbs and spices.”

“Right. Look, just pass me some of those vegetables and a little of that fruit, and you keep the bird. Say, what’s that over there?”

“These? They’re frog legs.”

“What do they taste like?”

“Oh, they taste like chicken.”