Man ill after gorging on sauteed cicadas

[Taverner]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A man who cooked and ate nearly 30 cicadas sought medical treatment after suffering a strong allergic reaction to the sauteed insects.

The man showed up at a Bloomington clinic Thursday covered from head-to-toe in hives, and sheepishly told a doctor he'd caught and ate the cicadas after sauteing them in butter with crushed garlic and basil.

"He said they didn't taste too bad, but his wife didn't care for the aroma," said Dr. Al Ripani, the doctor who treated the man at Promptcare East.

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Read all the juicy details at: http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/146839-2920-103.html

[bluestateguy]

1. A Darwin Award candidate

Fool.

[Eye and Monkey]

12. I've had them deep-fried in China, stir-fried in Africa. Think 'crawfish'.

In China, they are a delicacy. I don't think people usually eat 30 of them, though. More an appetizer.

In some parts of Africa, some folks gorge on cicadas and huge grasshoppers seasonally. I had alot of fun in the markets, sitting on low stools and sharing fresh batches with various and sundry folks.

Perhaps I'm doomed to extinction. But I don't think that eating cicadas, grasshoppers, or crawdads is necessaily a sign of that.

[soothsayer]

2. Ick, our local tv news had a cicada cooker

I gagged watching her make cicada scrambled eggs. uck, still makes me wretch!

[flowomo]

3. Now hold on! Many people love those little critters.....(yum)

Most Australians are also probably unaware that the cicada can make a very tasty meal. Dr Moulds said many peoples around the world regularly eat cicadas, usually as an addition to their regular diet.

"They are quite good eating and taste quite pleasant," said Dr Moulds who sampled his first roasted cicada during a field trip in Papua New Guinea.

[flowomo]

4. http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/February2001/

[Philostopher]

6. I have heard it said ...

and I suppose it's a legitimate point, 'you eat lobster and crab, don't you? The differences between them are minimal.'

To which I seem to remember saying, 'lobsters don't crawl up out of my yard, fly around and get in my hair.'

I realize it's primarily cultural, the reasons we eat some things and don't eat others. I don't care, though. I'm not eating anything that looks like that, lives in my yard and flies into my hair -- voluntarily, anyway.

[MercutioATC]

8. I WISH lobsters crawled up out of my yard...

hell, I wouldn't even care if they got in my hair.

Luckily, I do have a great seafood store around the corner. Not quite the same, but beggars can't be choosers.

[VolcanoJen]

5. Penne a la Cicada, brought to you by the crappiest newspaper on earth.

The Cincinnati Enquirer, aka CicadaManiaCentral.



http://www.cinweekly.com/content/2004/05/05/0505culinarycool_cicada.asp

[Redleg]

11. It is the crappiest newspaper on earth.

It is so unashamedly right-wing it makes me friggin' sick.

[Spinzonner]

7. Anyone come out with a Cicada Cook Book ?

Although selling it only every 17 years doesnt sound too profitable.

And what would you call it ?

[salin]

9. ewwwwwww

there were several hundred cicadas in our gardens this week - can't imagine looking at those ugly buggers and thinking.... mmmmmmmm... dinner.

[AspenRose]

10. Amateur...

if he were Emeril (who I don't really like) he would have cooked them up in a mirepoix....