fried bugs as a nutritious and tasty snack!

[ECooper]

Last month I was in Bangkok, Thailand to attend CITES CoP 16. One free afternoon (my only free afternoon) I took the skytrain out to the Chatuchak (weekend) market—the biggest weekend market in the world. This market is incredible: it is HUGE (according to Wikipedia it covers over 35 acres and contains more than 5,000 stalls); it’s CROWDED. It’s a vast labyrinth of stalls, tiny shops and carts selling absolutely everything. It’s chaotic, confusing and utterly fascinating. I spent a couple of hours going through the live animals and tropical fish area.

The afternoon I was there the temperature was 35°C (95°F) and 100% humidity (or so it felt) and in the market there wasn’t a breath of air. After a couple hours I was absolutely dying—I desperately needed air conditioning, a shower and a gallon of water to drink. When I exited the market I came across a cheerful vendor who was selling a variety of fried insects as tasty snacks! I took the opportunity to take a few photos for my blog before I dashed back to the hotel to cool off...

Below is a nice photo of the vendor and a couple of examples of what he had to offer.

Cheers,
EC
www.macrocritters.wordpress.com


vender close copyright ernie cooper 2013_filtered by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

grasshoppers 3 copyright ernie cooper 2013_filtered sm by ernie.cooper, on Flickr


pupae copyright ernie cooper 2013_filtered sm by ernie.cooper, on Flickr

 

[Brie]

ive tried a variety of preparations of bugs.. And they were all good... honey and chile, garlic and butter, unknown spices.. They really are tasty and I love the crunch..

 

[mylesG]

im sure had i been raised with insects as part of my diet id be more open to the idea but just can get past the creamy/puss filling many of the chubbier buggers contain.

very nice photos tho

 

[amphirion]

a cheap, sustainable, and available source of protein. 2 thumbs up!

 

[SubRosa]

Frying really ruins the taste of some bugs. For example that piquant twang you get when you first bite into a cricket is completely obliterated by cooking.

 

[Maiden]

Eeeeee .. Why not LOL

I will NEVER eat that kind of thing !!!!!

 

[hcarlton]

Fried grasshoppers, dipped in chocolate.... anyone ever had chocolate covered almonds? A bit like that, only crunchier.

 

[mylesG]

what covered in chocolate isnt good or at least half decent?

 

[fdfederation]

Who needs shrimp, crab, and lobster?

 

[kulamauiman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6GimGZz6a8

 

[ECooper]

I have eaten mealworms, grasshoppers and ant eggs. I’m not so sure about eating those pupae. LOL. But he was also offering huge (3-4") fried giant water bugs and deep-fried fledgling birds (I have a couple of photos on my blog)—now those were intimidating!!

EC
www.macrocritters.wordpress.com