"What is that INCREDIBLE aroma?"



"It's…ummm…bacon. I was cooking it for a quiche."



"Oh my Luna, what IS it? It smells heavenly."



"It's the carefully cured, seasoned meat from the belly of a pig. Usually from a pig. There's other things that are made into bacon or bacon-like foods, but pork is the usual one."



"Oh. So, it's…meat."



"Yeah. Humans are omnivores. We evolved to eat pretty much anything we can find. There's humans who only eat plant-based foods out of preference, or who avoid meat from higher animals, but that's usually a cultural quirk or personal choice. Unless it's outright toxic or poisonous, or flat-out inedible, then in theory, we're probably equipped to use it for food."



"Yeah, I've read about your dietary habits. In some parts of your world, ponies are on the menu."



"Not really. They're horses, and they're about as much like you ponies as chimpanzees are like us."



"And chimps are sometimes eaten."



"True, but not by me."



"Have you ever eaten po—err, horse?"



"This isn't going to make it weird between us, is it, Sparks?"



"No, no, I'm asking out of scientific curiosity. And besides, as you pointed out, Earth horses aren't much like us. So…have you?"



"Okay, full disclosure? Yes. Once. I was in a restaurant in Toronto with some friends and it was on the menu. So I ordered it out of curiosity."



"And…what did it taste like?"



"A bit like venison, or a sweeter kind of beef. Very slightly gamey, it's a sort of taste you don't associate with domestically-raised meat animals that tells you it had a very different sort diet and life. It was tender, strong-flavored, and it paired well with red wine and a mushroom risotto."



"So you liked it, then?"



"It was okay, I guess. I didn't mind it and I thought it tasted good. But since I grew up around horses, there was always this nagging feeling I was doing something wrong. I can't really explain it. I haven't ever felt an urge to revisit the experience, if you're wondering."



"There's still ponies that think you're going to start chowing down on random ponies at the drop of a hat. I think I'll just keep that bit of data between us."



"You COULD tell them that an old human maxim goes, 'Food that talks isn't food.' Hell, it got a laugh out of Applebloom."



"So…have you ever eaten chimpanzee?"



"Umm…no, I can't say I have. I never lived in a place where chimp was available, or culturally accepted, and besides…no. Just…no That actually squicks me out, just a little."



"Too close to human?"



"That's part of it, I think. I think I'd eat insects long before chimp became acceptable."



"So anyway, back to the bacon, here. Pigs aren't sapient, even in your world, right?"



"Nope. They're pretty smart, as far as animals go, but they're still basically just animals that do animal things. We have laws against mistreating animals, and we're supposed to raise them ethically, but we still eat them."



"Huh. So…being that ponies are technically omnivores, too, and out of pure scientific curiosity, I would like to try an experiment."



"You want a piece of bacon."



"Yes, please. In the interest of cultural unity, I would like to sample a piece of your bacon."



"Not that I mind, didn't you get to eat meat when you went through the mirror portal?"



"Yes, technically, but…I was human then, so I'm wondering how the change in biology affects my sense of taste."



"Then go right ahead."



munching horse noises "Sooooo…what do you think?"



"Hmmm…it's slightly chewy, crunchy, overpoweringly rich. It's salty and sweet and savory, in turns. A bit of a sweet, smoky flavor underneath everything else."



"It's smoked with applewood. I'm pretty sure that's what you're tasting."



"I'm not sure Applejack would approve."



"But…what about you?"



"It's not bad, actually."



"If you're interested, hang around and I'll have a quiche ready in a bit. You can taste how it goes with egg, caramelized onion and four kinds of cheese."



"Ooooh…"



"Caesar salad, some white wine .."



"Now you're just guilding the lily. Oh…question.."



"Yes?"



"How hard would it be to get chimpanzee meat here?"



"You're kidding, right?"



"Yes. Mostly?"