How to cook whale meat

Note that you aren't really supposed to try this. I just found it and thought it was interesting.

1917-These recipes were prepared by Miss Winifred Baker, teacher of Domestic Science in Victoria, B.C. schools, and are sufficient for a family of five. Many of these recipes are being used by chefs in hotels along the Pacific coast.

Whale Steak
    Whale steak cut 1/2 inch thick. Dip for a minute in hot water containing one tablespoonful of soda to the quart of water.
    Grease the wires of a broiler or a frying pan, and allow the pan to become quite hot. Put the steak in, and sear quickly on both sides. Reduce heat slightly, cook for about 3 minutes, and allow to brown well. Remove to a hot platter, sprinkle with salt and pepper, dot with butter, add a few drops of sauce. Garnish with parsley and serve at once.

Pot Roast of Whale
    Four pounds whale meat cut in a square or oblong.
    Dip in warm soda water for five minutes. Drain thoroughly, and sear well on all sides in a hot greased frying pan. Put the meat in a large saucepan. Drop in a small cheesecloth containing 1 teaspoonful pickling spice, 1/2 bay leaf, 3 sprigs boiling water. Simmer slowly for 4 1/2 hours. If roasting more than 3 to 4 pounds meat, cut in two parts so that it will not take so long to cook.
    Serve with Brown Onion or Tomato Parsley Sauce.

Braised Whale Roast
    3 1/2-4 lbs. whale meat, treated with soda water, drained and seared in the same manner as the Pot Roast.
    Dot the surface well with butter or pieces of beef fat. Put in a covered meat pan with a small cheesecloth bag containing 1/2 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoonful pickling spice, 3 sprigs parsley, 1 sliced onion; and hot water to the depth of 1 inch. Cook very slowly in a moderate oven for about 15 minutes, gradually allowing the water to lessen.
    Serve with Brown Onion or Tomato Parsley Sauce.

Source 'Short Skirts Cause Quakes' from Topper Books, 1991

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