What is 404? And Why Does Anyone Eat It, For God's Sake?

Quiz question:** What is the similarity between a Calabar restaurant and a South Korean one?

Answer: Your food barks when it is not properly cooked.

Okay, jokes aside: say you have touched down for the Calabar Carnival and are looking to try some of the native delicacy, might I interest you in a steaming dish of 404? It is no myth - although it might be surprising for a befuddled, horrified and totally scandalized first-time visitor - that the Calabar people love their dogs, and they love them well.

Let us take a break to admire this cute puppy:

Why would anyone ever eat a dog? OMG!

Why would anyone ever eat chicken? Or fish? Or, for that matter, edible worms...?

I don't know, man. Humans are so weird. If it is there, there will be somebody to eat it.

I'm looking to start a fulfilling dog-eating career. How do I begin?

Before you begin, take a look at this guy:

...and this fella here: Do you still want to eat dog meat? Yes?

Oh.
Wow. Okay.

Word on the street is that you can woo a woman with dog meat (the actual mechanics is what I am unsure of. It might be acceptable practice to wave a violently struggling, whining dog, in the face of your lover while promising her some lovely canine stew in return for her ring finger.)

There is an interesting story here about a first-timer's adventures into dog-meat consumption. Read and be on your way.

But first, look at this last photo:

Still hell-bent on eating a dog?

Wow!

Fun dog-meat fact: A truck carrying a truckload of dogs once flipped over in Ikot Effanga Mkpa, Calabar, and the residents, instead of helping the hurt driver, 'gleefully' helped themselves to some of that edible puppy.

Do you insist on tasting dog meat? Well, then. I can help you here. Book a hotel in Calabar and be on your way.

Bon appetit!