In Asia and Africa and even Central and South America, insects are part of many people’s diet. Not so in the West. However, as the world population grows, perhaps more of us will end up eating insects. This book is fascinating, and yet almost disgusting! The idea that insects might not just be edible, but may actually be appetising, is a bit hard to stomach. But I’m old enough and “true-blue” enough to have grown up when olives, or anchovies, or even squid weren’t on most people’s menus! But I love and eat them all now! So it probably won’t be me, but perhaps a new generation will lust for some of the recipes in this book.You can start with a pre-dinner drink – how about a Hornet Highball? Made with whisky, soda and a small amount of the liquor of the giant hornet, it sounds like it could really get you into trouble! If you like Mexican, perhaps you could follow it with a Bee Larvae Taco. It’s not Mexican street food, it’s quite a complicated recipe, but you’d sure impress or disgust your friends if you served that at a dinner party. This is a book that a real foodie will enjoy, because as well as the confronting recipes, there’s lots of very interesting discussion about the whole idea of eating insects. And, as you’d expect of Phaidon, the photography is stunning – literally!
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