Spider as food

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Just found this article on MSNBC:

Some bravery as a side dish
Forget liver: Here are 7 foods that truly require a fearless stomach

It was Jeffrey Steingarten, author of "The Man Who Ate Everything," who most recently insisted that we should embrace the universe of foodstuffs around us. You've heard variations on this spiel: Try everything once because (this part gets repeated in your most motherly tone) if you don't try it, you won't know if you like it.

Those principles are fine for Brussels sprouts and sweetbreads. But seeing as it's the time of year when grossing people out gets semi-official sanctioning from a semi-official holiday, now is the moment to consider foods that push the envelope of edibility.

We're not talking about haunted-house, peeled-grapes-as-eyeballs gross. We're talking about food that can churn your stomach without the aid of a blindfold.

and

7) Spiders. Entomologists might disagree, but the practice of eating insects doesn't seem nearly so bad as it sounds at first.  

But the line has to be drawn somewhere, and arachnids seem to be a good place to draw it.  Spider-eating is practiced in a number of places, but Cambodia seems to be the place where it has drawn the most attention, thanks to a practice of eating meaty finger-sized tarantulas known in Khmer as a-ping. For about a dime per arachnid, you can get a cheap, ample meal of the critters fried up with salt, pepper and perhaps a bit of garlic. (Keep in mind that a full restaurant entree can be found in Phnom Penh for under $2.)

And of course, there's pic as well. Look at the size of the spider.




Also found some interesting pics here.





The question is how does spider actually taste? Anyone have ever tried spider before? I haven't tried it myself, but since Chelicerates and Crustaceans belong to the same phylum (Arthropoda, ,that is), then I guess spider should taste quite similar to crab or lobster, shouldn't it?

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

omfg this looks grose haha but it may be very healthy on the otherside, I dunno about the poison of these creatures heh, These Tarantula's look alot like the Bird Eating Spider from Australia, these are highly venomous, I suppose the venom wears off when these things I cooked haha.

I do wonder what they tast like but on the other side I may not want to know rofl

[Geraldine Dundon]

I've never tried one and never will..I didn't even know that it can be eaten.

[heartyanxious]

I will never eat spiders I mean look at its hairy legs

[heartyanxious]

"The taste has been described as bland, "rather like a cross between chicken and cod", with a contrast in texture from a crispy exterior to a soft centre. The legs contain little flesh, while the head and body have "a delicate white meat inside". There are certainly those who might not enjoy the abdomen, however, as it contains a brown paste consisting of organs, possibly eggs, and excrement. Some call it a delicacy while others recommend not eating it." - Wikipedia

[heartyanxious]

Some tribes in Africa eat them. Tarantulas, I think. They believe that eating spiders make them stronger.

[Geraldine Dundon]

I couldn't imagine myself eating a spider even it is a fried one but according to others its taste is like a cross between chicken and cod.

[heartyanxious]

what the hell! this is the most gross food i've ever seen.

[Geraldine Dundon]

Yeah, that's the best word - gross!

[heartyanxious]

Originally posted by Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman

Just found this article on MSNBC:

Some bravery as a side dish
Forget liver: Here are 7 foods that truly require a fearless stomach

It was Jeffrey Steingarten, author of "The Man Who Ate Everything," who most recently insisted that we should embrace the universe of foodstuffs around us. You've heard variations on this spiel: Try everything once because (this part gets repeated in
your most motherly tone) if you don't try it, you won't know if you like it.

Those principles are fine for Brussels sprouts and sweetbreads. But seeing as it's the time of year when grossing people out gets semi-official sanctioning from a semi-official holiday, now is the moment to consider foods that push the envelope of edibility.

We're not talking about haunted-house, peeled-grapes-as-eyeballs gross. We're talking about food that can churn your stomach without the aid of a blindfold.

and

7) Spiders. Entomologists might disagree, but the practice of eating insects doesn't seem nearly so bad as it sounds at first.  

But the line has to be drawn somewhere, and arachnids seem to be a good place to draw it.  Spider-eating is practiced in a number of places, but Cambodia seems to be the place where it has drawn the most attention, thanks to a practice of eating meaty finger-sized tarantulas known in Khmer as a-ping. For about a dime per arachnid, you can get a cheap, ample meal of the critters fried up with salt, pepper and perhaps a bit of garlic. (Keep in mind that a full restaurant entree can be found in Phnom Penh for under $2.)

And of course, there's pic as well. Look at the size of the spider.




Also found some interesting pics here.





The question is how does spider actually taste? Anyone have ever tried spider before? I haven't tried it myself, but since Chelicerates and Crustaceans belong to the same phylum (Arthropoda, ,that is), then I guess spider should taste quite similar to crab or lobster, shouldn't it?

Not everyone thinks the way you do but, some of the countries embrace your belief and eats exotic food. Spiders? haven't tried it though. Hahaha

[Geraldine Dundon]

BTW, I think this "delicacy" is available in Thailand. Im not sure though with spiders, but crickets and bugs are being sold there too.