Maggot cheese?

[Canice]

I just finished listening to Massimo Marcone on Fresh Air. He wrote a book about odd, exotic delicacies including Casu Marzu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_Marzu) a cheese intentionally infested with maggots. As if that weren't unappealing enough, he said you can hear it moving around in its container, because the maggots are so active. So active, in fact, that they jump onto to eager diner as he eats the cheese. Yow! Anyone else hear of this Sardinian treat?

[lindrusso]

Canice! I'm just getting ready to make dinner!!!!! EWWWWW!!!!!

Never heard of it (and was happy in my ignorance ;) ) and never, ever want to see it, either.

[Angelina]

I've heard of it, but I think its production is being hampered by rules and regulations about hygiene and stuff like that. Never mind that people ate it for centuries and nobody got sick from it. :rolleyes:

That said, there is NO way on Earth you could ever get me to eat that. And I am pretty adventurous. :eek:

Angela

[MrsReber]

I heard of it! I was reading "The Gold Coast" for the second time. The mafia don eats the stuff in the book. Ick!

[Canice]

Thought we'd see you here, Angelina! ;)

I dunno, I liked this tidbit: * Risk of enteric myiasis: intestinal larval infection. Piophila casei larvae can pass through the stomach alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and take up residency for some period of time in the intestines, where they can cause serious lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea.

The cheese is illegal. Marcone said he thought it was more a question of PR for the Italian cheese industry than anything else.

[Robyn1007]

Thought we'd see you here, Angelina! ;)

I dunno, I liked this tidbit: * Risk of enteric myiasis: intestinal larval infection. Piophila casei larvae can pass through the stomach alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and take up residency for some period of time in the intestines, where they can cause serious lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea.



Yummy! ;) :eek:

[TKay]

Good golly! I think I'll pass. :eek:

[SheRa]

that's a "delicacy" that i'll leave for other people to eat. eeew!!

[slknight]

I'd never heard of it either and I really wish I still hadn't! :eek:

This line from Wikipedia scares me: "When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese." :eek: :eek: :eek:

[___Rhianna___]

I really don't want to hear my food moving around or have it jumping at me. I like to try to new things, but I think I'll pass on that one.

[Canice]

If you'd like to hear more (and you know you would) you can listen here (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11847227).

[wallycat]

Remind me of this thread the next time someone posts "things you know you will never eat" or "what are you never willing to try" threads...:D :D :D

[ADM]

The very sight of a wiggling maggot triggers my gag reflex! Even just reading about Doctors using maggots to cleanse infection from open wounds, as recently as the 1930's, does the same thing.

[KimE]

Not in a million years...:eek:

I should show this to my friend who is a really pickey eater and see if she will complain about "hot dogs" again.:rolleyes:

Kim

[DmOrtega]

When I hear stories like this I often wonder what makes someone try this in the first place and why would they continue eating it? I could see if one is starving and this is the only food around but why does it then become a delicacy especially when there are some serious side effects?

[Angelina]

The very sight of a wiggling maggot triggers my gag reflex! Even just reading about Doctors using maggots to cleanse infection from open wounds, as recently as the 1930's, does the same thing.

Actually this treatment is becoming more popular again today. If you can get over the ick factor, it's supposed to be really good at keeping a wound clean and preventing infection.

Angela

[aggie94]

When I hear stories like this I often wonder what makes someone try this in the first place and why would they continue eating it?

I've wondered that before too. Like the first time I had to buy "red fermented tofu" at the Asian market for a pork recipe (that has come to be one of our favorites). Who decided that tofu would taste good fermented? Did someone just walk into their garage one day and find a jar of red tofu that had been fermenting for months and decide, rather than throwing it away, that it might go well in a pork dish?? :eek:

Bizarre.

[DmOrtega]

Actually this treatment is becoming more popular again today. If you can get over the ick factor, it's supposed to be really good at keeping a wound clean and preventing infection.

Angela

I don't think that I could sit still while worms were moving around under a bandage, on me. It's just to creepy crawly to even think about.

[DmOrtega]

I've wondered that before too. Like the first time I had to buy "red fermented tofu" at the Asian market for a pork recipe (that has come to be one of our favorites). Who decided that tofu would taste good fermented? Did someone just walk into their garage one day and find a jar of red tofu that had been fermenting for months and decide, rather than throwing it away, that it might go well in a pork dish?? :eek:

Bizarre.

Could it be that people were sitting on a forum discussing ways to use the leftovers?

[Canice]

Actually this treatment is becoming more popular again today. If you can get over the ick factor, it's supposed to be really good at keeping a wound clean and preventing infection.

Angela

I really, really, REALLY wish I hadn't gotten to thinking about this. I couldn't help myself, and started doing a little reading. Which included a VERY graphic, full-color photo. I think I'm scarred for life. :eek:

[tennisashoe]

When I hear stories like this I often wonder what makes someone try this in the first place and why would they continue eating it? I could see if one is starving and this is the only food around but why does it then become a delicacy especially when there are some serious side effects?

Like the Tony Bourdain episode where he tried bird's nest soup and ended up sicker than a dog? I had to chew up a couple of Tums before I could go to sleep that night. Who the heck thought solidified bird spit would be good in soup??

[honeygirl1971]

I just finished listening to Massimo Marcone on Fresh Air. He wrote a book about odd, exotic delicacies including Casu Marzu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_Marzu) a cheese intentionally infested with maggots. As if that weren't unappealing enough, he said you can hear it moving around in its container, because the maggots are so active. So active, in fact, that they jump onto to eager diner as he eats the cheese.


That.Is.SO.Gross. And I thought the French ate some weird stuff...:eek:

[KristiB]

I think even Bourdain would say no to this so called cheese.

Ever see the Namibia episode of his show where he ate seared unwashed warthog anus?

[Jazzmatazz49]

If you ate maggot cheese and then went swimming in the Amazon and got penis fish, you'd really be a wormy person, wouldn't you.:p

[Mpenny1001]

Ever see the Namibia episode of his show where he ate seared unwashed warthog anus?


Oh, heavens. I am speechless. Why on earth would you leave it unwashed??? And searing? Certainly a nice braise would be more appropriate.:p

[KristiB]

Oh, heavens. I am speechless. Why on earth would you leave it unwashed??? And searing? Certainly a nice braise would be more appropriate.:p

He was eating with Bushmen and they considered it a delicacy.

No running water to wash food. Or pots and pans. All food went directly on the coals for a minute or two.

[tennisashoe]

I think even Bourdain would say no to this so called cheese.

Ever see the Namibia episode of his show where he ate seared unwashed warthog anus?

Plehhhhhhhhh.

Sounds similar to the description DH used the first time he ate calamari.:D

That was before and probably contributed to becoming a veg-head.

[Canice]

He said it reminded him of feces-crusted anus roasted on coal ash?? :eek:

[GingerPow]

If you ate maggot cheese and then went swimming in the Amazon and got penis fish, you'd really be a wormy person, wouldn't you.:p
Well now, that is something to ponder on a warm summer night...:D