Crickets (Meng?) - A Culinary report

[dane48]

Inspired by Jaime's Rat-race, I to have a culinary experience to share. But not in same league as the highly eloquant afore mentioned honorable member.

After 8 hours at the back of up a pick-up, quite brushed and dusty I arrived somewhere behind Thebsatit, Chaiyaphum, the very first thing I was offered was a Sing (not to bad after eating al that dust) and a snack.I quickly recognized the snack to be Crickets. Polite as I am, I took one and ate it whole - big mistake - you can chew on that forever. Well the whole party was having a laugh, so at least good for something. I was thought how to remove wings, and bite it from behind, spitting the head out - much better - in fact, a pleasant variation to the boring peanuts servered everywhere else - and very recommendable.

I did manage to see how they catch the noise-maker. A simple trap with UV-light, a white clothe and a bucket of water, but not sure how they are prepared - I think they are fried in a little oil and garlic - just a guess. I was also told, that December is season for Crickets, and that they bring 200 Bath/kg. on the market in BKK

Happy hunting

[richard]

When I first came to Thailand I lived for a while in Bangkok

Woke up one morning in my hotel to find my girlfriend and her friend eating bugs the size of a standard mobile phone. Turned over and thought to myself 'what am I doing here?'

Now it's an everyday part of my diet especially when up north east. Rat is also one of my favourites especially the ones that have fed off rice and sugarcane

Would love see a display in Tescos in the UK and watch the shoppers faces as they cruise by

[Jim]

Woke up one morning in my hotel to find my girlfriend and her friend ... Turned over and thought to myself 'what am I doing here?'

I think you answered your own question Richard.

[bozzman101]

have had a go at the crickets not sober at the time in question
where deep fried very hard bit like eating broken glass but when it came to eating a mengda water bug no way when ex gf bit into it juice squirted out think i sobered up
quickly
think ill stick to the tamer thai foods

[richard]

Try another one

Small fish, not cooked, not dead but swimming around in a bowl

One handful of sticky rice, a chillie dip and a little fish stuck in middle

Down in one and make sure you'r near the toilet!!!!

[richard]

ps

I've often been told that I have a farang stomach and shoudn't take the risk of north east village food but to be honest I feel better on it than farang food. It's a question of moderation. (I await the feed back about me being moderate!!!!)

[DawnHRD]

Try another one

Small fish, not cooked, not dead but swimming around in a bowl

One handful of sticky rice, a chillie dip and a little fish stuck in middle

Down in one and make sure you'r near the toilet!!!!

Can you explain why anyone would eat that, Richard? Not a criticism, a genuine question.

Some of the things eaten in Isaan, I can see, come from poverty & availability; insects, rat (& the one I have a big problem with) dog etc. But why eat a creature that is still alive? That seems to be just a novelty for the eater or to prove their machismo or something. Is there a reason?

[STEVE G]

I agree with you on that one Dawn, I’ve actually developed a taste for small fried crickets as a bar snack, and I’ve experimented with most Issan food, but I would draw the line at live fish!

[PeteC]

Prepare yourselves for this Korean speciality. It called live Noctchi (sp). It's really not alive per say. They cut the tenticles off live, small squid or octopus and serve them on a plate, raw. The nerves/muscles in these things keeps them going for hours. When you try to pick them up with your chop sticks, they actually suction cup onto them. Many a Korean has died because they put too many in their mouth at once and they suction cup to the throat, chocking you.

If you think boiled squid tastes bland, these things are simply like chewing large rubber bands.

If you tap the plate they're on an hour or more after they are served, you still start them wriggling again. They react to being dipped in hot sauce as well. This is just another one of those 'sex power' foods for men, so I am told. Pete

[richard]

Dawn and Steve G

You probably know about Issan than me so i do know why and given up wondering why

Superstion is high in their thinking though and of course virility factor is a core theme

Two other factors I've experienced spring to mind. Thai women in the village will not eat beef, the men do, It is supposed to make Thai women ill Also Turtles must be cooked and eaten by men. Thai women become barren if they are anyway involved in the cooking or eating

Yet to find the local witchdoctor to explain all this to me