Bug eaters

So the other day we went out to dinner at a fancy restaurant at the Santa Monica Airport and there were bugs on the plate!



It was okay, though, because we had ordered crickets and ants as appetizers. (They also serve worms and another insect I can't remember.) The crickets weren't bad, fried and sprinkled in miniature fries. I thought the plump little jumpers were like pumpkin seeds--crispy chell and softer insides, all splintering in your mouth and sometimes getting stuck between your teeth.


No, I don't typically eat animals, but this was a special occasion. Also, I figure I swallow gnats when I go running and find ants in soup that's made from homegrown veggies, so it's not that big of a departure for my stomach. Also, it doesn't line the pockets of the agribusiness industry or sit at the top of the food chain, so its impact on people and the environment is minimal, too.

The last time I ate a bug on purpose was when we did the Korean canned silkworm snacks article for GR18. I had one in the name of journalism, and it was nasty. The funny thing was that even though Eric, Angelyn, and I gagged down the bugs, Eric's dog Hanako refused!



But back to dinner, everything was good, including Eric's birthday dessert. Everyone was stuffed, so I got extra helpings!