TV star Ferne McCann launches a new range of edible insects at Chiquito, the UK’s biggest Mexican restaurant.
The TV personality who famously ate a live spider on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here joined more the two billion people worldwide who already eat insects to supplement their diet.
The popular Mexican restaurant Chiquito has launched FREE edible insects with every pint or standard bottle of Corona and Brooklyn Naranjito. The two flavour options – Chilli & Lime and Peri-Peri crickets – will also be available to be purchased separately for 99p, and come in a 12g pack when it hits Chiquito next Wednesday.
The crunchy roasted crickets can be eaten alone, sprinkled on top of the food or are a great pairing with beer or tequila and available while stocks last.
Ferne, 29, who currently stars in her own TV show called Ferne McCann First Time Mum, tried the bugs with a beer and tequila!
Ferne said: “I was so pleased to be invited to this partnership. Despite loving my time in the jungle, I can say for certain that being in a Chiquito and having roasted crickets with a side of beer was by far a much more enjoyable experience – I even got creative and sprinkled some on my nachos! I’m also delighted to get one of their Amigo black cards, so I will definitely be coming back to try some more of their delicious food.”
Ferne added: “I’m now reliving my dreams of being on I’m A Celebrity eating crickets and they go so well with tequila!”
Chiquito Managing Director, Angelo Gabrilatsou, said: “We pride ourselves on being the brand that brings the best of Mexican flavours and culture to the UK. Through our food and environment, we always allow our guests to be as adventurous as they want with a range of dishes that go from mainstream to more authentic.
Bringing edible bugs felt like a natural next step into driving that real Mexican experience, allowing our guests to be a little more daring.”
Edible bugs have been part of the diet of many cultures around the world throughout history. They were an important source of protein for Mexico’s pre-Columbian peoples, and a variety of species continue to be consumed by many to this day.
Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is practiced by the inhabitants of many states in central and southern Mexico, including those in parts of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, Campeche, Puebla, and others.
Some experts estimate that up to 500 different bug species are used as a food source in Mexico and they are now creating a buzz in the UK.
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says she likes hers ‘with a beer’ and Barclays bank claims they could be as popular as sushi. They may not be on your lunch menu just yet, but more than two billion people around the world already supplement their diet with insects, and crickets, mealworms and other creepy crawlies.
Their appeal is that they are environmentally friendly, because they take up fewer natural resources than rearing livestock, and are also a healthy alternative to meat.
For example, 100g of crickets contains 121 calories, 12.9g of protein, 5.5g of fat. This, says the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, compares favourably with meat, as while 100g of ground beef has more protein, it is also much higher in fat.
A study last month from Teramo University in Italy found silkworms have twice the level of antioxidants — chemicals that protect our cells from damage and ageing — as olive oil. Crickets, meanwhile, pack almost as much of an antioxidant punch as fresh orange juice.
All of which might help explain why Barclays predicts the global market for edible insects could be worth almost £6.5 billion by 2030.