Sweet sweet Philippines

SWEET SWEET PHILIPPINES

I still remember when I was a little boy, watching a TV show in which a Korean lady tried to make and sell a very famous snack in Philippines called "Taho", which is loved by almost all Filipino citizens. I really liked that 'cause it is somehow like "Taopho" in Vietnam, the country I'm now living, studying and working in. Since then, I've been interested in Filipino street foods and I discovered that many of them are full of charming colors and sweetness.

Let's see what we can order on the street in the country:

Taho, my first sweet impression 

Source: www.philippinecountry.com
                                 

Colourful halo-halo (how can we resist this?) 

Source: www.philippinecountry.com

Mais con Yelo

Source: www.philippinecountry.com

Binatog, where scents combine

Source: www.philippinecountry.com

Romantic iskrambol

Source: www.philippinecountry.com

And "dirty ice-cream" (Don't be afraid of that weird name!)

Source: hopepoh.wordspress.com

It's seem that Philippines is an ideal country for people who enjoy being with their friends and lovers. Just let the colours and sweetness sweeten your marry time with them!

Reference:

Popular and Famous Street Foods in the Philippines. (2008).

http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_street_foods.html

HAZARDS of eating BUGS

Insects must be highly nutritious, that's the reason why they are in the recommendation list of the UN as potential human's long-term foods. But it is not said that you can freely take any kinds of bugs you like. That is to say, eating bugs is really a double-edged sword. 

1) Possibilities of allergy (1):

Fried bee larvae

Source: www.reddit.com

We're not gonna mention people who natively get sick when eating bugs, but some kinds of bugs are really causes of allergy. They are often bee larvae, silk worms and caterpillars. Eaters might have stomach ache, queasiness, swelling or itchiness when their bodies react too strongly against foods from those insects. 

2) Risks of being poisoned (2):

A cicada 

Source: www.printon.edu

Fried cicadae are described to be as tasty as just like grasshoppers, but that various cases of food poisoning after eating these bugs have been recorded will make you backward. Besides cicadae, scorpions, crickets and coconut larvae can also poison eaters. The thing is, bugs are not always basically toxic, but some kinds of fungus that develop on them is the answer. Moreover, poisons can also be found in wrongly cooked or raw insects. 

3) Parasite hazards (3):

Worms inside a grasshopper

Source: chimcanhviet.vn

Some of you may be vomitting on seeing the pic above! Parasites are actually found in a variety of insects like grasshoppers, mantises and cockroaches. But here comes the good news, those parasites can kill their insect hosts; however, they do not harm human body. In other words, the only thing that makes you scared is their disgusting images. 

In order not to have to see the doctors after eating bugs, it is advisable that you have your meals well-prepared and well-cooked. Foods from insects have much more advantages than hazards, it's not by accident that the UN encourages people to have insects in their meals. 

References: 

(1) Anthes, E. (2014). Lovely grub: are insects the future of food? Mosaic Science.

http://mosaicscience.com/story/eating-insects

(2) Two men die after eating poisonous insects. (2011). Tuoi Tre.

http://news.com.vn/society/facts/33475-two-men-die-after-eating-poisonous-insects-.html?fontstyle=f-smaller

(3) Watson, L. (2014). 'Like a scene from Alien': Giant parasite worm which had been living inside praying mantis jumps out after its 'host' is killed by insect spray. Daily Mail.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2635197/Like-scene-Alien-Giant-parasite-worm-living-inside-praying-mantis-jumps-host-killed-insect-spray.html

Fried Tarantulas in Cambodia

Among plentiful dishes made of bugs, deep fried tarantula has been regarded as Cambodian delicacy. It must be enjoyable to see how the neat-handed cook turns those creepy eight-leg creatures into irrefusable bites of food.

First of all, tarantulas are defanged in order that poison and sharpness are removed:

Source: www.youtube.com

Washing is the next preparation step:

Source: www.youtube.com

After being drained, tarantulas are carefully mixed with black pepper and chicken soup powder:

Source: www.youtube.com

Then, have the tarantulas deep fried in about 3 minutes:

Source: michaelfairchild.com

Tarantulas can be casually sold in the market just like this:

Source: www.hospitalitymarketplace.co.za

Of course, those little guys can be well-presented just like luxurious dishes in formal restaurants:

Source: www.foodspotting.com

Bon appétit!

Source: www.goingbybikes.com

Different eaters may have different feeling about this snack. Some might have an unpleasant experience, whereas others find it as tasty as crabs with soft and white fresh together with sweet and crunchy feelings. Why don't you have a try and tell what your answer is? Again or never again?

References: 

Cyrex686. (2010, 5 7). Eating Tarantulas in Cambodia. You Tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZkhpRfqsI0 

CAMBODIA-INSECT KINGDOM

European folk may regard their cuisine as the most advanced in the world. They might be right, but I don’t think they are up-to-date. As you may know, insect eating is highly stimulated by the United Nations since the future global food security seems unpredictable and a huge content of nutrient is found in those bugs (1). For that reason, I suppose the Cambodians, who have been eating insects for centuries, make us outmoded eaters.

Source:www.nicksuniverse.net

Cambodia is not the only country in which people take insects as in Thailand and Vietnam, we can also easily find those special dishes (2), (3). However, from the angle of “daily” foods, the 16-million-citizen country should be called the “Kingdom of Insects”.

     Source:www.nicksuniverse.net 
                                                    

In the past, on account of the poverty, the Cambodians had to digest insects (4). Gradually, eating bugs becomes a habit and a cultural identity of them (5). Tourists spending their wonderful time in the Kingdom of Insects may come across abundant stalls where the creatures that they are afraid of are sold with visually and olfactorily attractive displays. Let’s see!                                                                                                 

Bugs are customarily grilled, fried or roasted after being mixed with seasonings (6).

Source: threeland.com

 Fried crickets

   Source: thediplomat.com
                                                                                                                                                       Roasted grasshopper and diving beetles
Source: www.travelfish.org

Deep fried cockroaches

   Source: www.mindjunker.com

  Chubby coconut larvae

Source: outoftownblog.com

   We also have other bugs like tarantulas
Source: www.flickr.com

Alive bugs look rather disturbing but after seeing them well-cooked you may not be able to resist the temptation to have a crispy, greasy and savory bite!

Source: www.cambodiatravelforum.net

References:

(1) UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger. (2013). BBC News World.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-22508439

(2) White, A. (2013). Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market. Bucke.List.Journey.

http://bucketlistjourney.net/2013/06/eating-insects-at-chiang-mais-sunday-night-market/
(3) Quy, D. (2014). Eating insects in Hanoi. Talk Vietnam.

http://www.talkvietnam.com/2014/03/eating-insects-in-hanoi/

(4) Green, R. (2011). Biting Back: Cambodia's Taste for Insects. Adventurocity.

http://www.adventurocity.com/articles/cambodia/119-skuon

(5) Quigley, J. (2013). Cricket Casserole? Cambodia’s Baked Insects Gain Popularity in the West. The Diplomat.

http://thediplomat.com/2013/12/cricket-casserole-cambodias-baked-insects-gain-popularity-in-the-west/

(6) Deep-fried insect snacks. (n.d.). Best Cambodia Tours.

http://www.bestcambodiatours.com/cambodia-travel-guide/Deep-fried-insect-snacks.html