Add to that the fact that kidneys, being the organ that produces urine, have a tendency to smell or taste a little bit like, you know, pee.
Grilled kidney for breakfast is the ultimate power move and Fleming knew exactly what he was doing putting it on Bond's tray. Most people run from offal but a perfectly seared lamb kidney on hot buttered toast with English mustard changes everything. What is the weirdest thing you have eaten before noon?
I'm a fan of a good dish of liver with mash potatoes but I think I draw the line at kidneys. Blech.
Kidneys are weird. I skip them too. What makes liver shine?
Cooked right it tastes really good with gravy and mash potatoes. But that's the key, poorly cooked liver tends to be a nightmare many people have as a kid and then they never touch it as an adult. It also used to cost a lot less than a steak the same size in beef.
One in Europe I tried it simply pan-fried with olive oil, potatoes, salt, and freshly picked rosemary. Simply and quickly cook, I remember the meat being really tender. The taste is what tricks me, I may just not be used to it.
That's the right way to cook it. My grandmother would always prepare it that way, then make a gravy and serve it with mash potatoes and the gravy on the potatoes. The liver would be served with a slice of lemon to give it a zing. It had a full but dry taste to it, unlike beef which, if cooked medium, is juicier.