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Eat-a-bug Cookbook: 33 ways to cook grasshoppers, ants, water bugs, spiders, centipedes, and their kin
The Essentials of Bug Cookery…From Soup to Gnats
“Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup!” Or wait…maybe it’s a katydid, a silkworm, or a tasty young bee. Anything’s possible at the Eat-A-Bug Cafe, otherwise known as the kitchen of naturalist David George Gordon, entomological epicure extraordinaire.
Gordon has gone to the ends of the earth, to his backyard, and under the refrigerator to find culinary inspiration, and now, after years of experimentation with entomophagy (that’s bug-eating, for those of you in the cheap seats), he presents the results with relish…or at least a light cream sauce.
Now you too can tantalize and terrify your family and friends with Gordon’s one-of-a-kind recipes, including Really Hoppin’ John (grasshoppers add that little extra kick), Pest-O (common garden weevils get their comeuppance in a delicate basil sauce) and Fried Green Tomato Hornworm (the Whistle Stop Cafe was never like this!)
Anecdotes, insights and culinary tips (such as the right wine to serve with scorpions) make this truly a book like no other. Follow the detailed instructions, and your guests will ask for seconds, just like folks at David’s notorious cooking demos. Open your culinary horizons. Buy this book. Eat a bug.
“Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup!” Or wait…maybe it’s a katydid, a silkworm, or a tasty young bee. Anything’s possible at the Eat-A-Bug Cafe, otherwise known as the kitchen of naturalist David George Gordon, entomological epicure extraordinaire.
Gordon has gone to the ends of the earth, to his backyard, and under the refrigerator to find culinary inspiration, and now, after years of experimentation with entomophagy (that’s bug-eating, for those of you in the cheap seats), he presents the results with relish…or at least a light cream sauce.
Now you too can tantalize and terrify your family and friends with Gordon’s one-of-a-kind recipes, including Really Hoppin’ John (grasshoppers add that little extra kick), Pest-O (common garden weevils get their comeuppance in a delicate basil sauce) and Fried Green Tomato Hornworm (the Whistle Stop Cafe was never like this!)
Anecdotes, insights and culinary tips (such as the right wine to serve with scorpions) make this truly a book like no other. Follow the detailed instructions, and your guests will ask for seconds, just like folks at David’s notorious cooking demos. Open your culinary horizons. Buy this book. Eat a bug.
128 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 7, 2024
Well and most certainly considering that insects are very much eaten in almost every corner of the world and often even as a major part of many people's diets (except of course seemingly in Europe, the United States and Canada), I really do have major issues understanding why the only longer review on Goodreads labels David George Gordon's The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook as being and I quote utter crap. Because in my humble opinion, the reviewer does not really ever give any legitimate and academically sound reasons for such an assessment, except that he obviously considers it a bit of a stretch for David George Gordon to assume that potential insect cookers and consumers will be going out foraging outside (and in their domiciles) for bugs to cook, bake etc. but then rather weirdly fails to point out that The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook actually presents a pretty decent list of addresses where one can purchase insects and/or insect parts for consumption and for cookery.
And indeed, not only are the featured factual details on entomophagy (on eating insects) which David George Gordon presents in the introduction to The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook informative, educational, well researched and naturally humorous without the author having to resort to gross-out dramatics (and yes, I also very much do appreciate that there is an included bibliography with suggestions for further reading, as well as the already mentioned above addresses listing places where one can purchase insects for cooking purposes for The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook, and not to mention that I as someone with graduate degrees in German literature am also totally left smiling at the samosa with cockroaches recipe being called by David George Gordon Gregor Samsa's Samosa with its obvious and delightful allusion to Franz Kafka's novella Die Verwandlung), the featured recipes in The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook all seem to be pretty easy to prepare and with in fact the most unusual ingredients often only being the insects, the diverse and different bugs (and with my only mild annoyance being the absence of colour with regard to the presented visuals and that The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook also has not photographs of the end products, of the prepared insect infused foods).
But would I actually consider preparing any of the presented insect recipes of The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook? And yes, being an adventuresome eater, I probably would. However, my partner is not only a very picky eater, he is also really easily grossed and creeped out by insects, so no, I will therefore not be making any of the recipes featured in The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook, as I really do not think it would be in any way even remotely acceptable for me to either make or eat anything containing insects as a main ingredient if this would or might disgust and perhaps even sicken my significant other.
Oh and by the way, there also seems to be a revised edition of the The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook (but since I have not read it, I of course do not know what if anything David George Gordon has changed).
And indeed, not only are the featured factual details on entomophagy (on eating insects) which David George Gordon presents in the introduction to The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook informative, educational, well researched and naturally humorous without the author having to resort to gross-out dramatics (and yes, I also very much do appreciate that there is an included bibliography with suggestions for further reading, as well as the already mentioned above addresses listing places where one can purchase insects for cooking purposes for The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook, and not to mention that I as someone with graduate degrees in German literature am also totally left smiling at the samosa with cockroaches recipe being called by David George Gordon Gregor Samsa's Samosa with its obvious and delightful allusion to Franz Kafka's novella Die Verwandlung), the featured recipes in The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook all seem to be pretty easy to prepare and with in fact the most unusual ingredients often only being the insects, the diverse and different bugs (and with my only mild annoyance being the absence of colour with regard to the presented visuals and that The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook also has not photographs of the end products, of the prepared insect infused foods).
But would I actually consider preparing any of the presented insect recipes of The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook? And yes, being an adventuresome eater, I probably would. However, my partner is not only a very picky eater, he is also really easily grossed and creeped out by insects, so no, I will therefore not be making any of the recipes featured in The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook, as I really do not think it would be in any way even remotely acceptable for me to either make or eat anything containing insects as a main ingredient if this would or might disgust and perhaps even sicken my significant other.
Oh and by the way, there also seems to be a revised edition of the The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook (but since I have not read it, I of course do not know what if anything David George Gordon has changed).
May 11, 2017
This book is fun, but utter crap.
I think the big mistake is that the person writing books is passionate about using bugs for food but utter crap at writing recipes.
I would love to see this author re-write it with a host of celebrity cooks and have them write the recipes so that they won't be crap. Also, more instruction on the best way to prepare some of the insects. Since many of us have not cooked bugs before, it's a bit of a stretch of seeing us just going out and finding the bugs to cook.
Entertainment-Wise, it's a good book. As long as you don't take it seriously as a cookbook. I recommend it for interest value on your cookbook shelf. Other than that, forget the cooking part.
I'm reminded of back in the 70's when everyone started eating Tofu. Then 20-30 years later people taught everyone how to actually cook it so it's edible.
I think the big mistake is that the person writing books is passionate about using bugs for food but utter crap at writing recipes.
I would love to see this author re-write it with a host of celebrity cooks and have them write the recipes so that they won't be crap. Also, more instruction on the best way to prepare some of the insects. Since many of us have not cooked bugs before, it's a bit of a stretch of seeing us just going out and finding the bugs to cook.
Entertainment-Wise, it's a good book. As long as you don't take it seriously as a cookbook. I recommend it for interest value on your cookbook shelf. Other than that, forget the cooking part.
I'm reminded of back in the 70's when everyone started eating Tofu. Then 20-30 years later people taught everyone how to actually cook it so it's edible.
July 16, 2009
This book points out that Americans find bug eating repulsive, yet most cultures of the world incorporate entophagy (bug eating) into their cuisine. This book is an accessible way to consider maybe possibly making mealworm spaghetti or mango grasshopper chutney.
All I'm saying is, if you ever come over to my house for dinner, and I'm trying really hard to stifle a mischievous grin, you might be eating something I read about in this book.
All I'm saying is, if you ever come over to my house for dinner, and I'm trying really hard to stifle a mischievous grin, you might be eating something I read about in this book.
October 15, 2013
The Eat A Bug Cookbook by David G Gordon is exactly what you'd expect. It's a cookbook filled with recipes of bugs. I will never try any of these recipes, but if I was in the mood for a bug recipe, this is the book I'd use to find the perfect one. Now, I'm not planning on eating bugs anytime soon, but I thought I'd read this incase there were some fun Halloween ideas.
October 25, 2007
I learned that it's difficult to find insects for sale that seem chemical-free. The recipes look pretty good--plan to try some out soon.
August 22, 2009
This is a funny and useful book!
Haven't tried the recipes yet but they do sound tempting...strangely enough.
Haven't tried the recipes yet but they do sound tempting...strangely enough.
February 3, 2012
Another good book to leave out when you're having a dinner party :)
February 15, 2013
Fun read, and it must might motivate you to try eating bugs, yourself!
Want to read
June 7, 2013As seen in The Green Life.
January 5, 2016
5 out of 5 bugs eaten.
10 out of 10 would eat again.
David George Gordon does a good job of cooking bugs.
Would definitely go over to his house for dinner if invited.
10 out of 10 would eat again.
David George Gordon does a good job of cooking bugs.
Would definitely go over to his house for dinner if invited.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews