Chew on This: You Aren't Eating Enough Bugs (Sauteed Cockroach? Yummy)

AOL News ^ | 7/12/2010 | David moye

[James C. Bennett]

Shrimp, lobsters, clams and oysters are enough.

[kelly4c]

No. Uhuh. They are creepy crawlies. Don’t like them in my house. Don’t need them in my belly. When we run out of chickens, cows and beans I’ll Think about it. Then again there is always cake:)

[James C. Bennett]

This Italian delicacy might be a ‘good’ starter, LOL!

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Casu Marzu:

 

Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider to be decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly, Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down the cheese’s fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called “lagrima”, from the Sardinian for “tears”) seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as transparent, white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

Appearance and taste Yaroslav Trofimov, writing in the August 23, 2000 edition of The Wall Street Journal, describes the cheese as “a viscous, pungent goo that burns the tongue and can affect other parts of the body”. Susan Herrmann Loomis reports an encounter (in a 2002 Bon Appétit article):

“He grabbed a piece of pane carasau, the traditional flatbread of Sardinia, rinsed it quickly under water to soften it and went to a large glass jar on a side table. He opened the jar, scooped out a mound of what looked like thick cream, and folded the bread around it. …When he was finished I asked what he had eaten, and he got up to show me. Inside the jar was pecorino, busy with small, white worms. I’d heard about this cheese, but this was the first time I’d gotten so close. … A friend of his … said, ‘It’s formaggio marcio [literally, “rotten cheese”], cheese with worms. It’s a delicacy. It’s the most beautiful gift you can give a Sardinian shepherd.’”

The cheese is typically consumed with Sardinian bread (pane carasau) and Cannonau, a strong red wine. 

[JRandomFreeper]

Andrew Zimmern.

As a food service professional, I say with some sort of clue that Andrew is a flake. A nut. Not carrying a full deck. Shriven on sense. Despairing of discretion. Loony. (insert Daffy Duck screw+ball picture here).

I will try anything, but there is a damn good reason that humanity doesn't rely on insects directly (bees excluded) for food. About 40K years of reasons.

Beef, goats, sheep, wheat and apples were more desireable to hundreds of generations than cockroaches.

Rant off /maybe. What a maroon.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

rinsed it quickly under water to soften it

Well, there you go. Real bread doesn't have to be FRIGGING RINSED! Mexicans have flat bread (tortillas) that is perfectly pliable a week after cooking.

/johnny

[ReluctantDragon]

Don’t forget, it was rinsed and softened before being smothered in maggot-infested rotten cheese. I’ll stick with the grasshoppers and sangria. Or maybe Ripple.

[Global2010]

Almost three decades later I STILL have nightmares about my first low rent apt and all the roaches.

Then there was a young man in KV’s WChair classroom that had them crawling out of his chair.

I almost DIED, felt so sad for the guy.
KV did not stay in that program long due to it was the wrong program for him.

Moved out of Cali 20plus years ago and have never seen a roach since.

And no fleas.

Hadn’t even seen earwigs up here untill just a few years ago. Probably migrated.

Much rather deal with huge seagull wet poop falling from overhead in flights.

[JoeProBono]

[Global2010]

Speaking of eating shows.

I have a new favorite tv show.
Andrew Bordain Noooo Reservations.

I watch it every chance I get.
He is really manly looking.
Speaks straight up, nice voice and visits places I will never see in this life.

Way far out places.

He was showing how the locals make Palm Wine and it reminded me of my one summer in PI deep south “nipa palm wine” and viniger.

I have nipa palm viniger in the cupboard.

He did a great episode with Ted Nugent.

I like when Bordain goes to the jungle cause he only wheres shorts.

[dfwgator]

Slimy, yet satisfying.

[kallisti]

Is this part of the health care plan?

[tiki]

LOL, my grandaughter bought a candy bar and was doing something else while she opened and started eating it, then she looked down and saw that there were maggots on the candy and she was afraid she might have swallowed some of them, she tried to make herself throw up, she couldn’t but she was really grossed out. She thinks it is funny now but at the time she was freaking out.

[uglybiker]

...but because insects are not being raised commercially except as pet food or fish bait...

Instead of putting the grubs on your plate, you can put 'em on a hook and catch a mess of panfish.

Much better nutritional return on your investment.

Of course, this Zimmer-dude will still b*tch because I don't eat the heads, guts or scales.

[kelly4c]

Ugh thanks for the nausea James lol

That is about the grossest thing. Ever. Even grosser than the placenta he ate straight out of the raw egg in the orient on one of his shows. It’s consumed there as an “aphrodisiac.”

[CaptainPhilFan]

Ok, look, I’m not saying this isn’t gross, but ‘in case of emergency’, along with lead investments and home gardens, it would be good to know which proteins crawling on 6 or more legs are edible. For the last few months I’ve been imagining catching, skinning and eating squirrels and other rodents. Andrew is a weird guy, but in case of emergency, he would know what critter bugs will get you through the winter, or through the food shortage. Luckily, I live an old house with no shortage of critters or bugs. Or lead.

I’m also learning about wild herbs and weeds for medicinal and dining purposes. I want to make damn sure I’m around to send at least a few ‘enemies of America’ to their final reward.

[James C. Bennett]

There are versions of the British SAS survival handbooks that you might find useful.

I get your point entirely. It’s wise to be prepared for any eventuality.

[CaptainPhilFan]

Thanks for the info! That handbook may beat once-a-week survival lessons! :)

[James C. Bennett]

The SAS is the best in that regard.

Even the US S.E.A.L and Marine survival techniques were derived from the SAS manual.

[piasa]

Is this part of the health care plan?

When communists take over, history shows that famine is sure to follow.