Fried grasshoppers do not taste just like chicken. I attended a private tasting event at the new location of
Rhong Tiam Garden thrown by chef owner
Andy Yang in the Lower East Side. In a glance, it just looks like a takeout counter, but towards the back there is a door mounted with a fake payphone. Once you input the magic password, the door swings open to a warm little enclosed backgarden that resembled a greenhouse with painted Thai murals.
The
fried grasshoppers, seasoned with salt and pepper, had the table tittering(or twittering?) Now, I like to keep an open palate when it comes my plate, and I'll try everything once. I don't know what is the proper form in eating a grasshopper, so I just grabbed one and bit a leg(limb?!) off. Crunch, munch, crunch. It didn't taste like chicken. It didn't taste like something out of the Men in Black movie oozing goo, either. It tasted like the garden version of a crawfish, crisp, light and grassy. Its not just a novelty item, but its also packed with protein and "clean," since grasshoppers eat mostly grass. Also, grasshoppers could be a sustainable meat source since they are so plentiful and cheap.
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| Fried Grasshoppers: they really do look like cockroaches in the camera flash, ugh |
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| Alligator satay skewers with peanut sauce |
I stuffed the entire bug into my mouth and crunched loudly, much to the horror of my friend, who stuck to the usual
beef pad see euw, Thai basil fried rice and a
poached egg with ground chicken or pork. There was also
alligator satay skewers, which tasted a bit like chicken, but with a fishy flavor and still lean.
The
crispy pork ears were fried ribbons of pork cartilage and they were tasty. They'd be a good bar snack. For drinks, there was this watermelon drink that was served with all the fuss of nitrogen smoke. The fresh watermelon was a refreshing match to the saltiness of the Thai street food.
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Crispy pig ears with chili lime
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If that's a taste of authentic street Thai food, then I want more. Everything tastes good fried, especially buzzed!
