Understanding the meat is just the beginning.

It’s not every day you get to feed llamas and alpacas, run from an ostrich, or drink milk straight from a goat. Yet, these activities prepare you for an epic gastronomic adventure of a lifetime.

To embark on this journey, you must first appreciate the animal husbandry and love a farmer pours into raising animals for food. My experience on an exotic meat farm has shown me that farmers might love their animals more than anyone else. Witnessing this firsthand has given my friends and me the trust to try almost anything Anshu offers. His character and beliefs about game meat foster a new understanding and respect for the sacrifices made for our culinary indulgence.

Periodically, a group of friends and I drive two hours to Perris, CA, to visit Anshu Pathak, owner of Exotic Meat Markets. Anshu is a captivating individual with strong morals and a down-to-earth personality. He deeply loves his animals and respects their sacrifice. Eating with Anshu requires an open mind and a willingness to finish everything on your plate.

Many animals are bred and raised on Anshu’s farm, where he oversees their care from birth to packaging. He raises llamas, alpacas, goats, ostriches, turkeys, geese, and more. For animals he doesn’t raise, he visits their farms to ensure ethical practices. Anshu is one of the most honest, humble, and passionate people I know, with a genuine love for the meats he sells and the animals that provide them.

On this trip, we focused on lion meat, alongside delicious beaver tacos and cuy. Lion meat is pale and majestic, expanding in your mouth like the king of the jungle roaring over his domain. It has a chewy texture and a clean flavor, with a hint of pronounced fat. Lion meat is unique, offering a buttery burst of flavor when cooked in butter.

Experiencing different meats in familiar dishes like tacos, burgers, and hot dogs has opened my mind to new culinary possibilities.

Exotic meats are just as acceptable as socially-accepted ones. While the thought of eating some might be squeamish, that shouldn’t prevent anyone from expanding their culinary horizons. I know I dislike oysters because they’ve made me nauseous every time I’ve tried them. But I also know I love lion meat, beaver tacos, curried goat, and other exotic treats because I’ve tried them. Try exotic meat before judging it – you might surprise yourself.