I didn't intend to read it. I had lots to do when I saw the article come across my news feed. But there's something about the idea of eating bugs that makes it difficult to look away. Even more so when you combine them with wine.
Which is what the UK reporter Adam Lechmere did, with the help of the buyer for UK's large wine retailer Laithwaites, Beth Willard. Beth helped Adam pair wines with Cricket Pad Thai, Mealworm Tacos, Grasshoppers on Toast and Frangipane of Pear, Cinnamon and Queen Weaver Ants.
Fair warning - the images are a bit off-putting. Despite their drought resistance, near zero CO2 footprint (relative to our preferred protein sources) and overall abundance, the little critters are so unappealing that I fear the food marketers, powerful as they are, may have many years of hard rock mining ahead before they can convince Western populations to include bugs in our diets. With the possible exception of the painfully hip, of course, who will outrace each other to be at the tip of the next foodie trend. They can take my baton and head to the front of the pack, with my blessing.
For more information on Adam's investigative journalism, read the full story here or copy paste this - http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2015/01/matching-wine-with-bugs-yes-bugs.
And, as we're short of Laithwaites around these parts, I'm always pleased to help with your next wine selection, whether your tastes run toward the adventuresome or the more traditional. Peruse and plunder my portfolio here.
Dave Chambers
Dave@DaveTheWineMerchant.com