Hakuna Matata: The Simba Combo

[Pakman3000]

By Annalyn Censky, staff reporter

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A small Arizona restaurant found itself at the center of a nationwide backlash that included a bomb threat after it announced plans to offer lion burgers this week as part of a World Cup promotion.

But following the supply chain back to the mom-and-pop butcher that processed the alleged lion meat turns up an even more bizarre tale.

The story started when Cameron Selogie, owner of Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa, Ariz., bought about 10 pounds of so-called African lion meat, planning to mix it with ground beef to make burgers honoring the FIFA World Cup's South African location. Selogie sent an e-mail newsletter to his restaurant's patrons advertising the special.

That newsletter -- which was the sole publicity Selogie had planned -- exploded into a media blitz when one of the e-mail recipients turned out to be an animal activist.

She spread word to a local TV station, and the news has since circled the globe, even garnering a brief write-up in the online version of London's Daily Telegraph.

Lion burgers are an attention-grabbing idea, but it raises the question: How, exactly, does an Arizona restaurant manage to get its hands on African lion meat?

Welcome to the mysterious world of back-alley exotic meat purveyance.

Selogie said he bought the meat through a Phoenix distributor, Gourmet Imports-Wild Game -- a one-man operation owned by Rick Worrilow. Selogie says he did his research, and was told that the meat came from a free-range farm in Illinois that is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, Worrilow, who essentially serves as a middleman between farms, meat processors and restaurants, also said the meat came from a completely legal plant in Illinois. And even though he didn't know the name of that plant, Worrilow said he was confident that the meat was inspected by federal regulators.

So where's this supposed African lion farm in Illinois?

Well, here's one clue: When the meat arrived at Il Vinaio on Tuesday evening, Selogie said it came in packaging with the name "Czimer's Game & Sea Foods."

Czimer isn't a free-range farm. It's a butcher shop located just outside of Chicago in Homer Glen, Ill.

Lions, ligers and bears ...
Czimer's website advertises standard wild game: pheasants, quail, ducks, venison, buffalo and so on. But then, sprinkled through the product list, some wilder offerings pop up. Like llama leg roasts. Or camel cutlets.

And African lion meat. You can snag it in shoulder roast, steak, tenderloin or burger form -- or, for a bargain, try the ribs at $10 a pound.

So where does Richard Czimer, the company's owner, get these lions?

The meat is the byproduct of a skinning operation owned by another man, Czimer said in an interview with CNNMoney.com. He declined to name that gentleman.

"This man buys and sells animals for the skin, and when I need something and he has ability to get it, I will bargain for the meat. It's a byproduct," he said.

And where does that mystery man get the lions? "I wouldn't have any idea," said Czimer, who operates a small retail store in addition to his wholesale business. "He has his sources, and I do not infringe on his business, just as he does not infringe on mine."

He's willing to take a hands-off approach: "Do you question where chickens come from when you go to Brown's Chicken or Boston Market?" he asked.

Czimer's exotic-meat dealings have landed him in hot water before. Back in 2003, Chicago newspapers covered his conviction and six-month prison sentence for selling meat from federally protected tigers and leopards. Czimer admitted to purchasing the carcasses of 16 tigers, four lions, two mountain lions and one liger -- a tiger-lion hybrid -- which were skinned, butchered and sold as "lion meat," for a profit of more than $38,000.

His supply chain may be murky, but like the Arizona restaurateur and the meat salesman, he expressed total certainty that his lion meat is USDA-approved and thoroughly inspected by regulators before it reaches his processing plant.

But here's a twist: The USDA says it doesn't inspect lions bred for meat. That's the job of the Food and Drug Administration.

Is it legal to eat lions? Yes, according to the FDA's communications team. The African lion isn't currently a federally protected endangered species and it qualifies as a game meat, FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said in an e-mail.

While the African lion is not considered endangered by U.S. regulators, it is classified as "threatened" by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, an international protection agreement.

As for Czimer, his shop is officially registered with the FDA and has been inspected by state regulators, Heardon said.

Meanwhile, back in Arizona, Selogie is taking the protests in stride. He plans to have bins of ice water outside for picketers who brave Arizona's 100-degree heat to protest as he serves up the burgers on Wednesday and Thursday night.

"I do feel bad that people are so concerned about this. But for most people, this is the king of the jungle and that's the only reason they can give me for their concern," he said. "We're not doing anything to endanger the species."

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/23/smallbu ... htm?hpt=T2

[River_Rat_459]

I guess it's up to my journalistic instincts to ask the tough question: How does it taste? And can I get mine with a Foster's to wash it down?

[tracker_usmc]

I would definitely try it!

[Guest]

I would definitely try it!

Me to....sounds good to me. I bet it tastes like chicken!!!!!

[David_3033]

MMmmmm I want one now and I never had an urge to eat lion before until I saw that article. I tried frog legs and they were ok, alligator is pretty good but a little chewy.

[squidfamily1]

alligator rocks man, the chewy is a plus. my only concern would be: how fresh can that lion meat be? it's being shipped from Africa via chicago right?

[Amiable Horde]

i've never been much of a burger type of guy, but what the hell the opprotunity to say.. "yeah, i've eaten the king of the jungle." really who could pass that up?

[DaddyDietrich]

Yum Yum Yum, that sounds good to. is there like a cook book on how to properly cook lion, tigers, and bears oh my. Wouldn't Dorothy Gale be so happy. Maybe Golden Coral can serve some lion, tigers, and bears on Saturdays or Sundays and call it Game Night at the Coral. Sounds great. I want to order some lion meat right now.....
Holy Crap look at this menu...

Phone Orders:
Orders are taken Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9am to 5pm for Shipping. Mondays and Tuesdays, primarily. Minimum orders are $50.00 of frozen products. Payment by Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Weeks with holidays in them have no shipping. One day service is highly recommended. Each order is custom assembled and packaged to meet your individual packaging requirements.

OVEN READY GAME BIRDS

PHEASANTS
while 2 to 4 lbs 6.25 lb.
Deboned Breasts 16.95 lb.
Legs, Drumsticks and Thighs – 6 per pkg 2.98 lb.
Wings .89 lb.
Ground Meat 8.95 lb.

QUAIL
While, 6 per pkg 9.75 pkg.
Case of 12 packs (72 birds) 102.00 cs.

WILD TURKEYS
Sizes 6 to 8 lbs Seasonal

GUINEA HENS
Sizes 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 lb 5.25 lb.
Legs, Drumsticks and Thighs ...6 per pkg 2.95 lb.

MUSCOVY DUCKS
Whole Hens, sizes 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 lb. 4.95 lb.
Whole Drakes, aizes 7 to 8 lbs. 4.75 lb.
Deboned Breasts, 1-1/2 to 2 lb. Avg. 11.95 lb.
Legs, Drumsticks and Thighs 6 per pkg 3.45 lb.
Livers 6.95

SQUABS
15. 6o 16 oz 12.50 ea.

POUSSIN
15 to 16 oz 7.29 ea.

DOMESTIC GEESE
Whil, aizes 8 to 14 lbs 4.25 lb.
Legs 3.75 lb.
Deboned Breast 11.95 lb.
Liver 9.95 lb.

DOMESTIC DUCKS
Whole 2.98 lb.
Legs 2.98 lb.
Deboned Breasts, 1-1/2 to 2 lbs avg 9.98 lb.

FREE RANGE CHICKENS
Rocky, Jr. (fryers) sizes 4 to 5 lbs. 2.98 lb.
Rosie, certified organic (fryers) 4 to 5 lbs 3.98 lb.

ROCK CORNISH HENS
19 oz. Size 3.98 ea.

PARTRIGE Seasonal

Prices Subject to Market Change

LARGE GAME ANIMALS

VENISION
Leg Roasts, bone n, sizes vary 9.75 lb.
Shoulder Roast, Boneless 7.95 lb.
Double Loin (Saddle) 14.95 lb.
Tenderloins 22.50 lb.
Deboned Loin (Backstrap) 19.95 lb.
Steaks, Center cuts...Leg or Loin 4.95 lb.
Stew Meat, boneless. 8.95 lb.
Ribs 4.98 lb.
Burgers 1/3 lb. Size 6.95 lb.

BLACK BEAR
Leg Roasts, bone in 15.95 lb.
Loin Roasts, bone in 18.95 lb.
Boneless Rolled. 19.95 lb.
Steaks, center cuts. 18.95 lb.
Tenderloins 22.50.lb.
Stew Meat, Boneless 12.95 lb.
Ribs 6.98 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb. Size. 9.95 lb.

ELK
Leg Roasts, bone in..sizes vary 12.95 lb.
Loin Roasts, bone in..sizes vary 14.95 lb.
Deboned Loin 18.95 lb.
Steaks, center cuts 14.95 lb.
Stew Meat, boneless 8.95 lb.
Tenderloins 22.50 lb.
Ribs 4.98 lb.
Burgers 1/3 lb. Size 6.95 lb.

BUFFALO, American Bison
Leg Roasts, boneless..sizes vary 8.95 lb.
Shoulder Roasts, boneless..sizes vary 6.95 lb.
Sirloin Steaks, boneless 14.95 lb.
Ribeye Steaks, boneless 19.95 lb.
New York Strip Steaks, boneless 19.95.lb.
Tenderloins, whole or cut 25.95 lb.
Stew Meat, boneless 8.95 lb.
Tongues 4.69 lb.
Short Ribs 5.95 lb.
Back Ribs 4.98 lb.
Fries 4.59 lb.
Ox Tails 4.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb. Size 6.95 lb.
All Animals are Subject to Seasonal Availability
and Prices are Subject to Market Changes

AFRICAN LION
Leg Roast 15.95 lb.
Loin Roast 19.95 lb.
Shoulder Roast 19.95 lb.
Steaks 19.95 lb.
Tender Loins 24.95 lb.
Ribs 9.98 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb. Size 9.95 lb.

ANTELOPE
Leg Roasts, bone in – sizes vary 12.95 lb.
Should Roasts, boneless 12.95 lb.
Loin Roasts / Steaks 18.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb. Size 6.95 lb.

OSTRICH
Roasts, boneless 18.95 lb.
Steaks, boneless 18.95 lb.
Stew Meat, boneless 10.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 8.95 lb.

CARIBOU
Roasts 13.95 lb.
Steaks, Center cut 15.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 8.95 lb.

CAMEL
Roasts, boneless – sizes vary 18.95 lb.
Cutlets 19.95 lb.
Tenderloins 24.50 lb.
Stew Meat, boneless 14.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 9.95 lb.

LLAMA
Leg Roasts, bone in – sizes vary 12.95 lb.
Steaks, venter cuts 14.95 lb.
Tenderloins 22.50 lb.
Stew Meat, boneless 10.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 9.95 lb.

KANGAROO
Roasts, Boneless 8.95 lb.
Loin, boneless 10.95 lb.
Steaks 9.95 lb.
Tails 3.98 lb
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 7.95 lb.

All Animals are Subject to Seasonal Availability
and Prices are Subject to Market Changes

YAK
Leg Roasts, boneless 10.95 lb.
Shoulder Roasts, boneless 8.95 lb.
Steaks, Center Cuts 24.95 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 8.95 lb.

RATTLESNAKE
Skinless 27.50 lb.

ALLIGATOR
Boneless White Meat Fillets or Cubed Meat 12.95 lb.
Ribs 9.95 lb.
Tenderloins 14.95 lb.

WILD BOAR
Leg Roasts, bone in - sizes vary 8.95 lb.
Shoulder Roasts, boneless – sizes vary 8.95 lb.
Steaks & Chops 8.95 lb.
Tenderloins 15.95 lb.
Ribs 4.49 lb.
Burgers, 1/3 lb size 6.95 lb.

GOAT
Leg Roast 5.95 lb.
Shoulder Roast 4.95 lb.
Chops / Steaks 8.95 lb.
Burgers 6.95 lb.

SMALL GAME

RABBITS
While Fryers 3.95 lb.
Hind Legs 5.95 lb.
Ground Meat 8.95 lb.

RACCOONS
While, Skinless 2.25 lb.
Ground Meat 8.95 lb.

BEAVER
Leg Sections 8.95 lb.
Ground Meat 9.95 lb.

SNAPPING TURTLE
Semi-boneless, 3lb pks 8.95 lb.
Boneless 11.95 lb.

SOFT SHELL TURTLE
Semi-boneless, 3 lb pks 7.95 lb.

EUROPEAN HARE 8.95 lb.

SMOKED MEAT SPECIALTIES
Goose Breasts, Boneless 16.50 lb.
Goose Legs 4.95 lb.
Pheasant, While 7.95 lb.
Pheasant, Breast 17.95 lb.
Pheasant, Legs .95 ea
Duck, While 7.29 lb.
Duck, Breast 14.95 lb.
Duck, Leg 3.98 lb.
Pork Bacon 4.98 lb.
Buffalo Bacon 4.98 lb.
Wild Boar Bacon 4.98 lb.
Bear Bacon 5.98 lb.

DRIED GAME MEAT PRODUCTS

SLIM JIMS JERKY
Antelope
Bear
Buffalo
Camel
Elk
Pheasant
Rabbit
Yak
Wild Boar
Venison
Kangaroo

DOMESTIC MEAT PRODUCTS
SAUSAGES AVAILABLE
Bologna
Veal Backwurst
Veal Bratwurst
Göteborg
Hot Dogs (thin skin seiner)
Hungarian (fresh or smoked)
Italian
Jeternice (plain or w/blood)
Kiska
Kandjager
Liver Sausage
Mattwurst (holsteiner or smear)
Polish (fresh or smoked)
Thuringer

FISH AND SEA FOODS
These quality seafoods are frozen at the point of origin and kept that way to insure their highest quality. Prices for these products are not printed due to frequent changes, call for current prices.

FRESH WATERS
Catfish – Crappie – Sunfish – Smelt – Tilapia – Trout – Walleye – Yellow Lake Perch – White Lake Perch – Canadian Whitefish

SALT WATERS
Cod – Finnerhaddie – Flounder – Grouper – Haddock – Halibut – Lutfish – Tuna – Sole – Mahi Mahi – Monkfish – Octopus – Salmon – Ornge Roughy – Orea Dory – Red Snapper – Shark _ Squid – Scallops – Swordfish 0 Turbot – Whitefish, Alaskan – Marlin – Moonfish (Opah)

SHELLFISH
Rock Lobster Tails – Rock Lobster Meat – King Crab Legs – Snow Crab Legs – Mussels – Snow Crab Meat – Conch – Oysters – Crawfish – Shrimp – Langastinos - Prawns

HORS D'OEURVES
Breaded Oysters – Breaded Shrimp – Breaded Scallops – Devil Crabs – Escargot – Soft Shell Crabs – Stuffed Clams

[DaddyDietrich]

9 KANGAROO Burgers, 1/3 lb size @7.95 lb. = 23.85
2 AFRICAN LION Steaks @19.95 lb. = 39.90
9 AFRICAN LION Burgers, 1/3 lb. Size @9.95 lb. = 29.85
1 BUFFALO, American Bison New York Strip Steak, boneless 19.95.lb. = 19.95
9 ANTELOPE Burgers, 1/3 lb. Size @6.95 lb. = 20.85
SHIPPING = 15.00
SALES TAX(.08%) = 11.95



TOTAL: Being able to eat animals you see on THE DISCOVER CHANNEL or THE ANIMAL PLANET........Priceless.

[Guest]

Damn...all that Game meat makes me hungry. Game meat is the best!!!