Well, in your case, the preparation and the consumption in cold or hot state can have negative or positive effects. On my side, I had also some "negative" experiences - lol.
Maybe that you heard about the German "Eisbein" or "Schweinshaxe" (in France the "jambonneau"), which are hearty winter dishes, served warm, with Sauerkraut and potatoes, etc. They should not have the consistency of rubber.
I think that I would'nt even have tried it - lol. What I tried once at the buffet on the ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki was a kind of light fish mousse, probably smoked herring, and this preparation was delicious with bread or toasts (neither insipid, "fishy" nor too heavily spiced, just the perfectly "rounded" aroma). So, every country or region has its culinary highlights and some less tasty dishes.
