Eat A Bug

Yes, you are reading that title right.  Eat A Bug.  I'm all about eating weird, adventurous and out right odd things.  I'm no Andrew Zimmern (meaning I would never eat a cow's freshly extracted placenta that is still laying on a manure filled ground), but when traveling I do try to eat what the locals eat.

In Beijing the streets come alive after 5PM with an assortment of weird and odd delicacies.  The Night Market is home to freshly cooked dumplings, noodles, candied fruits, and bugs!

 

In addition to selling bugs they also sell sheep penis, snakes, starfishes, sea horses, and balls (of a few different animals).  I wasn't interested in all that other stuff, I wanted to try a bug!  Umm...and by chance did you notice how long the sheep penis is?  Just sayin.'

Truthfully, I always get a tad bit nervous eating street food even in my own country. So the first night I went to the market I played it safe (a.k.a. chickening the f*** out) and got some hot steamy dumplings instead.  I knew I would be back, so it gave me some time to ask people around about the best bug choice (if one even exist).

My friend Steph was also interested in trying some bugs, and we were told that the Scorpions were probably our best bet.  She was extremely nervous, but braved it out and bought a stick with two scorpions on it.  The cook deep fried it (not alive) for a few seconds before handing it to her.  The arrangement was that if I tried one she would try one, but I insisted that she go first.....

Then it was my turn, and without hesitation I put it in my mouth.  Crunch.  Hmm...it taste like a chip (or "crisps" as some of you people call it)!  Not bad at all!  In fact, Steph said the scorpion was the tastiest thing she had in all of China!

Date Accomplished:  March 5th, 2012