Brains were once a popular breakfast food in the Southern US, but concerns about mad cow disease now restrict beef and calf brains. While no longer common in the US and Western Europe, brains remain a delicacy in the Middle East. Historically, brains were enjoyed by Roman emperors and prepared in various dishes worldwide, though public opinion is now divided on the cognitive effects of eating calf brains.

1. In recent years both beef and calf brains have become off limits due
to the threat of BSE ((bovine spongiform encephalopathy) otherwise
known as Mad Cow Disease.
A breakfast of scrambled
eggs and brains was once
popular in the Southern
U.S.
Brains are a Middle
Eastern delicacy.
Brain Salad: sliced calf
brain marinated in lemon
juice, olive oil and
seasonings, served cold.
Lamb and veal brains are
most common, but pigs
brains are rarely used.
Some people believe that
eating calf brain will
enhance intelligence while
others believe that
because a calf is an
ignorant animal, eating its
brain will have the reverse
effect.
Heliogabalus was a Roman emperor (204-222 AD) who was known
for his culinary excesses. For one banquet he had 600 ostrich
brains prepared.
BRAINS AS FOOD

2. A story is told that the cook to Wilhelm the king of Prussia served
donkey's brains à la diplomate to Napoleon III after his defeat and
capture at Sedan.
There is a recipe in the earliest surviving cookbook by the
Roman Apicius for brains with rose petals.
The world eating competition for cow brains is held by Takeru
Kobayashi, 17.7 pounds in 15 minutes.