UNUSUAL FOOD

Fernanda Cejudo Hernández

 Escamoles
I saved the most unusual until last: ant larvae, or as it is often lovingly described, insect
caviar. The larvae are harvested from the maguey plant and are sold at a price deserving of
its caviar-like description. If the thought of what it is bothers you, since they look pretty
similar, just imagine you have pine nuts wrapped in your tortilla.
 Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers, or chapulines, are not common throughout all of Mexico, but in the Oaxaca
region, they are a staple. The grasshoppers are fried or baked and coated in spicy
seasonings. Usually, they are used as a topping for basically any entrée, but you can also
buy them by the bag and eat them for a snack.
Chicken’s feet – East Asia, Caribbean, South America
and South Africa

Considering how many places it’s eaten, perhaps it’s unfair to deem this weird. Still, it’s
made mostly of skin making it a little gelatinous in texture. They’re pretty tasty when
flavoured properly, but the bones get on your nerves after a while.
 Tuna eyeball – Japan
Although it sounds nasty, apparently it’s rather tame, tasting pretty similar to squid or
octopus.