The Forbidden Tiny French Delicacy

The ortolan bunting is a small songbird that was once a prestigious French delicacy served in a bizarre ritual. Diners would cover their heads with large napkins to hide their consumption from God while eating the bird in a single, crunching bite.

This controversial dish required drowning the bird in Armagnac before roasting it whole. Because the bird was traditionally eaten bone and all, the linen napkin was meant to trap the intense aromas and hide the act from divine judgment. Today, the practice is strictly illegal due to conservation efforts aimed at protecting the species. It remains one of the most infamous examples of historical culinary extravagance.