Mom used to boil the tongue, then take a knife and rub the blade over it to scrape the skin off. Then she sliced it. I'll never forget the day that a freind of my sisters was over for dinner, rather last minute, and mom knew that beef tongue was hardly something to serve to a young teen who most likely would be grossed out by the thought. But that was what was planned for dinner, and we all liked it. She sliced it very thin, and we sat down and chowed down, all sworn to secrecy. Sis' friend raved about the great flavor and how tender it was. When Mom told her what she'd eaten, she turned an interesting shade of green and left the room!
I'm not sure why organ meats are percieved as being somehow worse than eating muscle meat. I mean, I don't like kidneys, can't get past the fact that they smell like what they are. Heart is rather tough. I LOVE liver, and bemoan the day that liver went from being something healthy to something I shouldn't eat. Tongue is super, very tender, and a beefy flavor to beat the band. I love it with horseradish gravy. Not fond of tripe; but this is probably more due to appearances than flavor. I've tried, and will try again, I'm sure. I loved it when on the road we saw a sign over a little mom&pop place that said, "Menudo: Breakfast of Champions!"