We’re stupid us lot. Humans. Bound by convention, by the norm of tradition — as much as we like to think each generation breaks moulds, we instinctively do what we’ve always done … quietly going about the habitual protocols of our own respective societies. Also stupid: eating things we think are cute (pigs, for example), whilst baulking at the very suggestion of chowing down on something that repels us (insects, Justin Bieber).
Pals Shami Radia and Neil Whippey, aka Grub, have seen through the bullshit — taking inspiration from the fact that an awful lot of us humans have no problem ingesting creepy crawlies, and calling out the western world for thinking that a bit odd. I have to admit, opening a pack of their ‘chilli and lime roasted crickets’ and emptying them out onto a plate was … well, a bit odd. The beady eyes of the little fellas who make all that noise in the trees of tropical climes. It was not the friendly smile of Jiminy Cricket. But eating cute things is stupid, I made that point before. IN. I’ve got a handful of insects in my mouth. And I’m not being sick.
In fact, they’re good. Like a ‘nutty shrimp’ they say. Yeah, they’re not far off. They’re good. And they’re good FOR YOU, too: crickets are high in protein, calcium and iron, and they require much less resources to produce … SO much less than the frankly shameful resources used in producing beef.
And there’s more (Tweet me if you get that one) … these guys — along with their chef Seb Holmes — have got a Kickstarter on the go to produce a nutritious bar, based on their cricket flour, but adding organic dark chocolate, mango, desiccated coconut, pumpkin seeds, and honey into the mix. It’s incredibly good, and a bold move for a shift from stupidity that western culture needs to make. Get on board and make a change.
