July 21, 2011

"They ate them like Doritos... I had to actually ban the cricket eating at a certain point because I was afraid they’d get sick from too many."

Says Angelina Jolie, who gave her children crickets to eat in Cambodia, because "I thought, I wanted them to understand culturally, I didn’t want them to be turned off by something that was their culture."

67 comments:

edutcher said...

Usually one would say, "This is why actors should not be allowed to breed", but, apparently, allowing them to adopt is a bad idea, as well.

Joaquin said...

I've eaten fried crickets. They're actually good!

Moose said...

She going to teach them how to french kiss each other?

You're on a roll today, Ann.

Michael said...

Chapolines (sic?)! A favorite dish in Oaxaca and one I highly recommend trying if ever you are down that way.

traditionalguy said...

I take it that crickets are much like locusts.

I say eat them before they our food supply.

The oldest war on earth must be man vs insects.

Death to fleas, mosquitoes and flies. And locusts too.

ndspinelli said...

They ate Jiminy??? Well, at least it's a good source of protein. But, they can't call it, "The Other White Meat."

Ignorance is Bliss said...

I didn’t want them to be turned off by something that was their culture

They are your children. Their culture is based on where and how you choose to raise them. It is not based on their race.


That aside, my daughter ate a cricket once, after a kid's nature tv show host commented on how they were edible. Not a fried one in a take-out box, just one she found in the yard, eaten live.

MadisonMan said...

But how was the Presentation?

Superdad said...

I'm all for it. There is a lot of stuff we should eat that we don't. Insects, cats, dogs and horses jump to mind.

Michael said...

The Mexicans saute them in a peppery oil. Crispy and tasty.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The crickets are fine, as long as they are not served in mason jars ;)

BigFire said...

I was told that deep fried locus wing tasted like potato chips. You still get the grease, but instead of carbohydrate, you're eating fried protein.

Mel said...

Probably sick of the usual fare at the Jolie/Pitt household. (made by the full time cook, no doubt)

Anonymous said...

Do they taste like peas?

Because Obama said we have to eat peas-

and Asian Carp....

traditionalguy said...

I believe that all those cricket legs and exoskeletons would aggravate diverticulitis.

What's next, chocolate covered ants and rattlesnake fillets?

Jeff with one 'f' said...

Ignorance is Bliss FTW!

policraticus said...

I applaud her introduction of crickets and I assume other unusual and interesting food, to her children. Crickets taste pretty good if they are cooked well. But, you have to wonder in what meaningful way Angelina's children will actually be culturally Cambodian? How much of Cambodian culture will really be their culture? Cambodian culture does not generally include private jets to Cannes every spring. Cricket eating does not an South East Asian make. I've eaten haggis all my life, I am no more Scottish than Brad Pitt. Haggis, and mushy peas, and kilt wearing and bitter blood feuds lasting for generations are parts of my heritage, but not part of my culture. I am probably picking nits here over shades of meaning that don't necessarily translate in interviews. Picking nits is part of my culture, however.

Curious George said...

I'll bet Cambodians would eat Doritos like crickets. Especially the SPicy nacho ones.

Paco Wové said...

Crickets sauteed in garlic, mmmmmm.

Legs do get caught between the teeth though.


WV: crided. Really!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MayBee said...

I hope she doesn't teach Maddox (Cambodia) and Pax (Vietnam) to hate each other because it's part of their cultures.

Sprezzatura said...

I think that she's likable in this (Louis Vuitton?!) video.

I don't care if she believes that eating crickets is somehow beneficial for her kids.

Triangle Man said...

I hope she doesn't teach Maddox (Cambodia) and Pax (Vietnam) to hate each other because it's part of their cultures.

She does, but it's only once a year during cultural appreciation day.

Lincolntf said...

Let them eat crickets..

Lincolntf said...

"Hey! What did I tell you two about playing "Death March" in the house? Get to your rooms!!"



wv: convers

Brand of sneakers you buy from some guy in a van?

Anonymous said...

Haggis, and mushy peas, and kilt wearing and bitter blood feuds lasting for generations are parts of my heritage, but not part of my culture. I am probably picking nits here over shades of meaning that don't necessarily translate in interviews. Picking nits is part of my culture, however.

This. All of it.

Christopher in MA said...

What's for dessert? Crunchy frog? Anthrax ripple?

Anonymous said...

She does, but it's only once a year during cultural appreciation day.

Actually, twice a year of you include Festivus.

Col Mustard said...

Was once treated to a dinner buffet by Thai military officers. Some things in the serving line were identifiable, some not.

One of the things I picked resembled a strip of bacon or jerky - only skinnier. As I got around to eating it, I realized my hosts were keeping an eye on me. One began to grin, then another - next thing you knew they were laughing their asses off.

One of them finally managed to say, "You the first American we see eat a worm." Wasn't bad, really. In an attempt to have the last laugh, I went back and got a couple more.

A few icy Singhas make anything go down pretty easy.

Irene said...

Precious.

Ron said...

mmmm....Cool Ranch Crickets....mmmmm

chuckR said...

Would Zagat object to the crickets being whole instead of filleted?

Sal said...

I'm sure she meant "heritage." She's hot, so cut her some slack.

LordSomber said...

There was an Entomology Fair here that had a cricket-spitting contest.
Kids loved it.

traditionalguy said...

Crickets sushi would be hard to present correctly. Many would hop away before the waiter got the plate out to the table.

Freeman Hunt said...

Protein!

Freeman Hunt said...

I bet kids would be healthier if we got them hooked on crunchy crickets instead of chips.

Clyde said...

*shudder*

I'm not that effin' hungry. Maybe if I was starving and my ribs were sticking out through my skin, I'd think about it, if there was no real food available.

Lincolntf said...

If all I had was a cricket, I'd use it as bait to catch something edible.

Revenant said...

I've heard many insects are quite tasty, but it still squicks me out.

SteveR said...

I don't know if "understand culturally" makes sense. Experience culture perhaps.

Titus said...

I am always like that when in another country.

For example, while in India, every Indian I met I told I loved the Bollywood movie Monsoon Wedding

While in Nepal, I told them the Dali Lama is my hero.

And while in France I told them I love croissants.

It lets the people from the country know you "get" their country and you are one with them in their struggles.

I am kind like that.

In Wisconsin, I tell them they have excellent sweet corn. I leave out the morbidly obese part because that would be rude.

Titus said...

When in Calcutta I was whistling the song, "One Night In Calcutta" while walking the streets.

I believe it really made an impact on the locals to hear that coming from a whitey.

Fred4Pres said...

I ate termites in Tanzania. They were okay sauted in a little ghee. They tated nutty with a pleasant crunch. I call them land shrimp.

Titus said...

Also, in India while walking by a Bull eating trash, I would say the Hale Mary and Halle Barry.

Because the cow and bull are all holy in shit.

Beth said...

I have had a cricket omelet, and crickets in a little fried dumpling, both at the Insect Museum. They were tasty.

Methadras said...

People who eat insects aren't very bright. Oh hence the rest of the 9th world and look how they are.

Beth said...

We took the 9-year-old nephew to the Insect Museum and thought he'd be elated to eat bugs in their little Bug Bistro. He was not. He sort of cried a little. I felt like a big bully.

DADvocate said...

Stuff like this always bugs me.

Crickets are probably a lot healthier than Doritos. How much should she limit eating them? What's the ecological impact to eating crickets are opposed beef and pork? She might want to encourage this behavior.

ricpic said...

Dipping sauce?

Hoosier Daddy said...

"..., I didn’t want them to be turned off by something that was their culture,"..."

Pretty sure their culture at this point has been formulated by living a top 1% California celebrity lifestyle.

Maroon.

ricpic said...

You're a regular ambassador of good will, Titus.

gerry said...

MMmmm. Roasted criskets.

Best part: "You have to cook them alive like you do a lobster."

I always felt sorry for lobsters. They do have nervous systems. They are tasty with butter, though.

Titus said...

Thanks Ricpic.

I really try and I believe it is so important to set a good example to other less desired people and countries.

It is saying to them, hey, this obviously superior and white American, thinks we are ok.

It really is a win win all around.

They feel good about themselves and I, in turn, have done a good deed, and have done my part to help the impoverished people of the world.

Anonymous said...

One of the adventures of traveling is the opportunity to try new foods.

I've had kangaroo, reindeer, alligator, rattlesnake, alpaca, guinea pig, etc.

Of course, after a while you need to come home to eat normal food.

Joaquin said...

"Of course, after a while you need to come home to eat normal food"

Yeah, like a double-beef Whopper!

galdosiana said...

Fried crickets don't taste too bad. When I was in Cambodia, there was always a group of people in the local market eating various types of fried bugs. One woman ate them out of a large bowl with her grandchildren the way we eat popcorn.

Of course, the tourists always flocked to the largest, scariest-looking bugs and dare each other to eat them. Two people in our group ate some humongous fried tarantulas after downing a couple Tiger beers. That was quite a show...

Shanna said...

I've had kangaroo, reindeer, alligator, rattlesnake, alpaca, guinea pig, etc.

Of course, after a while you need to come home to eat normal food.


There is nothing abnormal about gator! I did not, however, care for rattlesnake.

MayBee said...

Ok, on this thread Titus is cracking me up.

virgil xenophon said...

Creole alligator sauce piquante....yummmm! A GREAT Creole dish! My blushing bride scratch cook of 38 years from Opelousas, La. (Home of Jim Bowie, btw) makes an absolutely superb dish! (among others)

virgil xenophon said...

What's the matter Shanna? Don't be squeamish. Rattlesnake tastes just like chicken.--sort of. :)

Henry said...

The alligator / squid combo plate at Harbor Seafood in Kenner, LA is fantastic. I have to say though that on my second visit I just went for the squid.

Shanna said...

Rattlesnake tastes just like chicken.--sort of. :)

That is a lie. I tried and it tastes nothing like chicken! Yuck.

Unknown said...

Fry up crickets or grasshoppers in peanut oil. Very good. Be sure to keep them for two days first to clear gut.

Unknown said...

Paco Wové --

"Legs do get caught between the teeth though."

Break a hind leg off first. Auto-toothpick.

Blue@9 said...

Cambodians also cook with cannabis. Wonder if Jolie will introduce her kids to that part of the culture.

Kirk Parker said...

tradguy,

Don't say "ants" in jest--I've never eaten crickets or locusts, but if they're only half a good as termites, they're wonderful!


Fred,

Fried/parched dry, they're much more like bacon bits.