I came to a BBQ not too long ago.  When I comfortably sat down in the living room, I saw a bowl full of roasted/grilled crickets, *gasp* looked away, and felt like my eyes were violated.  Did I eat it?

 

Cricket snacks and other insects are some Asian treats as well as other cultures.  The friend who got it, is Cambodian, made a trip to Boston, MA, to obtain fresh large crickets at an Asian store.  It was washed, prepared and if I recall, grilled, and legs/wings kept on.  I think most of it was edible except the wings?  I can't remember.. maybe I didn't want to remember.

My non-Asian friend, a "Bizarre Foods" fanatic, wants to try everything, so he was more than willing to try it.  Me on the other hand, am petrified of insects, so no, I did not try it and I don't think I ever will.  They moved into the kitchen and I was so petrified that I couldn't even sit or stand next to it.  It took me an hour or two before I sat down at the table to talk to friends.

In the kitchen, as several people munched and crunched on these crispy crickets.  I asked "What does it taste like?  Chicken?"  My friend kept thinking as he munched and said, "Not quite...  it's hard to describe."  If I recall, people said that it tasted nutty, sort of like eating popcorn.  Then my curious friend continued to eat one after another and started picking his teeth.  "Hmm.. the legs get stuck between my teeth."  As he struggled to get legs out of his teeth, he proceeded to talk to others about all the other insects he tried and wants to try.  He said that he ate termites before and that it tasted lemony.

I'm open minded and have absolutely nothing against insect eaters, (my family ate insects in their country).  It's just one of those things that I wouldn't try.  There's this chef I heard who wants to save the environment/world by cooking insects instead animal meat, and I totally respect that but it's just not for me.  As mortified as I was, I snapped some pictures with my cell... just so I can write about it here. :P