Food Frenzy: Of Termites, Snails, Snakes and Frogs Legs…

“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside” Mark Twain

Stuffed Porcupine

This is about food and not the pretty foods we salivate over but foods that demand a strong stomach and an acquired taste... Have you ever tasted snake meat? What about roasted termites? And goats brains? Well … I have. Welcome aboard.

The first thought that entered my mind when I read today’s Tell The Truth Thursday prompt below was “Oh no, it’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmer!” I don’t know about you, but I don’t enjoy watching that show; even though I am drawn to it and watch it religiously anyway. Why? Because, it makes me queasy watching Andrew shoveling forkfuls of white Ants, Dung Beetles and whatever other scary foods he discovers on his journeys around the world. I’ve tried a few thing but nothing like Andrew.



What is the grossest thing you've eaten OR what do you eat that other people would think is gross?

Interestingly, Andrew has an upcoming show on October 25th about his snake meat adventures in Vietnam. I hope to dvr the show and watch it when my gag reflex and churning stomach calm down. I might still eat a few new things on a dare, but I definitely cannot compete with dear Andrew. Join me below for some more photos and my adventure with foods that others might consider gross.

Fresh Frogs

Squirrel Heads

Redhead Riter’s prompt got me thinking about some of the foods I tried as a young adventurous girl back in my father’s village. It’s funny that I am now vegetarian but back in the day, I was as curious as the next person and when a bolder cousin dared me to try something new; albeit odd, I went for it. Yeah, I actually enjoyed eating snails and roasted termites. Flying termites are seasonal and gathered by lamp light in basins of water and then roasted with salt in large clay pots. Goats’ brains are made into a very popular and tasty dish with other ingredients that could be equally barf-worthy to people unfamiliar with the dish. As for frogs’ legs, the French still eat them and they aren’t bad at all. 

Mini Recipe - Fried Flying Termites
Gather them by lamp or candle light
Start a woodburning fire outside
Dig up your metal or clay wok
Add rock salt to the mix and roast till crispy. Bon Appétit

I’m not sure why I bothered to try snake meat other than because I was eager to prove a point. I don’t like snakes and whenever I would come across even a garden variety on our farm, I would run off. One of my male cousins, Chuks, found a garden snake one day and killed it. Before you knew it, kids gathered, a small wood fire was started, and the bloody thing roasted to an oily, crispy treat. Pieces were handed out and when I refused, another cousin dared me to eat it and not wimp out. I tried it. The Snake was oily and I barfed.

Snails

Goat Intestines

I am no Andrew Zimmer but I can understand how foods are appreciated and tastes for certain foods are acquired by people around the world. For instance, I love hot peppery foods and can handle some pretty hot stuff.  Another person may love raw meats and fish or other delicacies unique to their culture; even drinking sour milk is an acquired taste and while it makes one person wonder why, it makes another smile.

What makes Andrew’s adventures disturbing to watch is the way the camera pans right and then at close up as he shoves another fried worm down his throat, rolls his eyes and smacks his lips. Excuse me, at least Anthony Bourdain shows sufficient disgust when he eats something off the chart; that way we, the audience, can commiserate as his grimaces and barfs off camera. Andrew will have none of that. He goes for the gold, and eats anything no matter what or where.

The foods I showcased and the ones I’ve tried are considered delicacies. Hey, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. What have you eaten that might make me barf?


PHOTO CREDITS:
All Photos of Bizarre Foods via the Travel Channel

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank