Episode 78: Eating Insects

Before you call this video gross, or trendy, or sensationalist… watch it. David Gracer, an entomophagy (bug eating) expert gives a pretty good case for making wider use of bugs.  He’s eating them to save the planet, not to make a buck.  And of course I eat like 12 varieties… enjoy.

  • Fillyfilm

    Really insightful, David’s nonchalance and wisdom is pretty inspiring. I loved the part at the end “Spiders I leave them alone, they’re colleagues” Awesome. Where was this filmed?

    • http://twitter.com/kaleandcola Mirra Fine

      Thanks. We were in Providence, RI. 

  • Joshua Karther

    I am wondering, are there any types of insects that are not recommended not only on taste but from poison?

    • Anonymous

      Yes, there are plenty of poisonous bugs out there. Generally non-camouflaged bugs are more likely to be poisonous.

  • Will Gibney

    Have been waiting for this episode for a while, ever since I saw the pictures up on Facebook. I was not disappointed. I laughed out loud at Daniel’s reaction to eating the first one. It’s not such a crazy idea to eat bugs since a lot of the world does it already and it’s actually a “sustainable” food source.

    I’ve wanted to try bugs for a while, but while NYC has a lot of bugs, not a lot of places serve them, nor would I want to pluck them off the subway floor…

    Loved this week’s episode. Thanks to both of you for doing this incredible trip.

  • Marie

    Who knew I could turn my basement cricket infestation into a “popcorn like snack?!” I’m all for sustainability, but I think I would go vegetarian before I resorted to eating insects. David certainly does make a good case for eating insects, but I’m not ready for that. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this episode.

  • http://twitter.com/ericberget Eric Berget

    Great episode. But I’m pretty sure that’s literally, Rob Lowe from Parks and Recreation. 

    • Anonymous

      I know, it’s unbelievable.

  • http://www.chuckeats.com/ ChuckEats

    maybe it’s the weird eating but i think this is popular b/c this guy’s a great character (and i mean that in a good way!)  love the walking stick / lobster comparison

    • Anonymous

      thanks Chuck – yes, he is pretty awesome.  So much good energy and intelligence. 

  • Mmaza

    He offers market price . lol Is there a bug market out there? I just googled it . YES there is. 

    • Anonymous

      david’s website is one place for it: http://www.smallstockfoods.com/

  • Flood

    Protein. Protein. Protein. The conventions he is trying to defuse about eating bugs, is no different than the social conditioning surrounding the protein myth. Bug, cows, fish, chicken…humans do not need animal protein to live. In fact, animal protein is a proven killer. Read the China Study–the most comprehensive dietary study conducted to date, and discover the facts. We simply don’t need to kill animals to survive. If you just like the taste of them, that’s another matter, but don’t justify it in the name of protein because it’s simply not true.

    • Vickie Taylor

      I would “like” this 100 times if I could. Humans do not need nearly the amount of protein we’ve been brainwashed to believe we do. Courtesy of the FDA as backed by the beef industry, of course.

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  • Dana

    While each and every Perennial Plate has been a delight, this one, I think, is amongst the best. [episode 12: Wild edibles, comes in as a close second, in my experience]. Africans and Asians have known the nutritive value of insects for, oh, I don’t know, several dozen thousand years or so? …

    I do wonder a bit about the modern insecticide issue, though; how saturated those critters might be with agricultural chemicals. — that said, insects are probably no more tainted than anything else most of us eat.

    Bravo David Klein and Mirra Fine [first prize] for this unforgettable series, accumulating wonder upon wonder. I understand that you’ve been subjected to all kinds of challenges in the course of your adventures but, you know, there are also many discoveries to be made in Europe, Asia and Africa, too : )

    I hope that, after a good long, merited rest, you’ll consider expanding your series. That would be globalization of the best kind.

  • Dave Gracer

    Thanks to everyone for the comments; they mean a lot to me.
    For the record, I am in a position to fill small order of frozen insects.  I can also travel to hold events such as insect tastings [and I've got a collection of about two dozen varieties of honey from around the world, so there's always 'insect vomit' if you don't want to eat insects].
    The only thing is…. I’m not actually a great cook.  At all.  Therefore partnership with people who know what they’re doing would be excellent.

  • http://twitter.com/kevinkossowan Kevin Kossowan

    What a character. So you totally loved them. 
    2nding the love for the comparison between the insect and lobster. Logic is awesome.

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