Final answer:
Osso Buco is an Italian dish featuring tender, slow-cooked veal shanks with marrow-rich bones, making temperature requests unnecessary due to its universally tender and thoroughly cooked nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osso Buco is a traditional Italian dish that consists of braised veal shanks, cooked slow and low until the meat is tender enough to fall off the bone. This cooking method makes the meat incredibly tender and allows the marrow in the bone to imbue the dish with additional flavor. The term "Osso Buco" actually means "bone with a hole" in Italian, which refers to the marrow hole at the center of the cross-cut veal shank.
Unlike steaks or other cuts of meat that might be served rare or medium-rare, we do not ask for a temperature when serving Osso Buco. The reason is that this dish is slow-cooked through braising, a technique that involves cooking at low temperatures for an extended period, ensuring the meat is thoroughly cooked and tender. Additionally, the nature of the cut and cooking method means there is no variability in doneness akin to steak; the end goal is always a fork-tender consistency.
The line from the poet Billy Collins highlights the tender texture of the meat, likening it to the "leg of an angel who has lived a purely airborne existence." This emphasizes the delicate and soft quality of Osso Buco which is achieved without concern for varying temperatures.