London has its first restaurant where only insects are eaten. ‘Euronews Culture’ lined up to try their interesting menu.
Bright yellow sign in the heart of Finsbury Park in north London yummy insectA restaurant for insect lovers shines: young and energetic, undoubtedly more reminiscent of a showy butterfly than a tough moth.
Yum Bug was created by two 30-year-old friends, Leo Taylor and Aaron Thomas, in the space that was used as an interesting pop-up in 2018. His plan was to show: ” edible insectscan help create a healthier, more sustainable food system“Does not contain meat from conventional farmed animals.
It is impossible not to be impressed by the numbers. Insect farming produces far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional animal husbandry, while producing approximately 50% more protein than beef.
Foods of the future with image problems
Insects can be grown vertically in stacked containers to optimize space and increase yield; They are very effective at converting plant by-products into proteins and They produce 80 times less methane and 8 to 12 times less ammonia than cattle.
Its environmental and sustainable credentials are undeniable, but could this be possible? Superfoods with image problems Winning over the average diner?
Yum Bug is an intimate restaurant that seats up to 20 people. The minimalist industrial aesthetic in black and chocolate brown creates an understated backdrop for the real star of the show. Menu based on crickets.
Host Donal MacAuley welcomes me and His passion and knowledge of crickets impresses me.. He gently guides me through the menu, highlighting the different shapes the crickets take. Roasted whole in Bombay mix, chopped in roasted vegetable salad, powdered in caramel baklava.
Those who eat for Yum Bug time and space to ask questions, Process the responses and combat any feelings of disgust before you make the leap.
I tried the most “disgusting” dishes on the menu
Yum Bug serves small plates and recommends three. I wanted to try a combination of: The most “crispy” and popular dishes your letter.
When the first meal comes, some Honey Roasted Whole Cricket Stew and Spicy Roasted Cricket Bombay MixDonal saw my look and got to work: “Diners often confuse crickets with grasshoppers and expect to see large, slender insects,” he said. You are right.
Who knew that edible crickets were only slightly larger than a grain of oily rice? Donal walked me through what to expect when I tried the bugs for the first time. “It is crispy on the outside but softer on the inside.like puff pastry”.
Brown honey-roasted crickets had a nutty aroma, and their little bodies sparkled with honey as I approached. I fought disgust for a momentbefore putting five of them in my mouth.
Donal was right again, they are crunchy and sweet and the crunchiness gives way to crunchiness. a smoky and nutty tasteIt’s the perfect accompaniment to a cold glass of wine or beer.
Southern Fried BBQ Taco with Rainbow Salad looks amazing. The crickets turned into ‘breast’ pieces. I noticed the flavor: just the right amount of spiciness. Its texture is soft and tender, insect parts can easily be mistaken for chicken.
Yum Bug’s crispy brown beer cheese crickets are made with chopped crickets. They look like a traditional croquette from the outside and have a delicious, creamy cheese flavor on the inside..
ADVERTThe novelty of eating insects has worn off and all that’s left is great food.
Creamy lemon dessert completed the meal. Caramelized crickets, coconut biscuits and a pinch of roasted whole crickets to ensure a satisfying crunch.
My newfound indifference to the possibility of eating insects allowed me to relax completely. I enjoyed the sour sweetness of the lemon and the smoky swirl of the cricket. an unforgettable combination.
Across the restaurant, Donal was chatting with Chef Samir. I swear I saw a glint of quiet satisfaction on his face as he dug into my cricket bowls.
we started together a culinary journey, and he had a new bug lover to add to his list.
ADVERTyummy insect It is open from Wednesday to Saturday.
