Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Mornings With Gina Birch

Florida Is 5th Best State To Try Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine

Author Gina Birch

The Sunshine State ranks high (and low) on many lists. But some are more esteemed than others. Take for instance this one. Florida is 5th best state to try edible insects and wildlife cuisine. Who knew?

So that cucaracha (cockroach) crawling up your wall…eewwwww. Maybe not that one. However, there is a farm in LaBelle that specializes in producing high-quality insects. The cockroach is one of them. I’m not sure what makes a quality cucaracha. Perhaps it dines on filet mignon and lobster tail rather than decaying garbage.

By the way, the name of the farm is Ovipost. They also produce high-quality crickets and superworms that are all meant for consumption.

Additional Places To Find Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine

We’re told by health and nutrition experts that we unwittingly consume lots of bugs. Pieces of them (whole ones too) are in our produce and other foods. But some people not only intentionally eat them, they also call them a delicacy.

Don’t want to cook insects in your own kitchen but are cricket curious? Head to KoKo in Coconut Grove. This chic, modern Mexican restaurant has an entire section on the menu labeled “Los Insectos”. The options include creepy crawlies like Chicatana ants, grasshoppers, agave worms, and ant eggs.

Bugs like these are said to be a great source of sustainable protein.

Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine Stats

Florida’s buggy stats come from LawnStarter. They were looking to explore the growing trend of foraging for food and harvesting edible species. Including bugs.

To come up with the rankings they considered things like climate, number of edible species available, number of restaurants serving insects, and Google searches. In addition, they looked at regulatory policies on roadkill. Yes, those regulations do exist. I just threw up a little.

Points were awarded in each category to determine the rankings. California wins the #1 spot for edible insects. 21 restaurants in the state are serving the creepy crawly cuisine. Click here for complete details. Here is how Florida stacked up.

Number of invasive edible species: 19- Rank: 1
Number of animals legal to hunt: 9- Rank: 32
Food establishments serving insects: 2- Rank: 7
Google search interest: 710- Rank: 3

Why Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine

The next big question is not only “why?” but also what goes with this food? What is the best bug dipping sauce. Sauce makes everything better, especially if it is battered. A garlic aioli? Dark chocolate?

Ranch Dressing won an informal poll of co-workers. It goes with almost everything from carrot sticks to chicken wings. Then there is the Publix Buffalo Chicken Sauce. The perfect blend of tang and heat. It was top choice of another friend.

Publix Popcorn chicken dipping sauce a suggestion for Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine.
Joe Winner
Florida Is 5th Best State To Try Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine. What would you dip your cockroach into before eating? Perhaps this Buffalo Chicken sauce from Publix.

Where To Find Edible Insects And Wildlife Cuisine

Don’t want to experiment with cooking insects in your own kitchen but are cricket curious? Head to KoKo in Coconut Grove. This chic, modern Mexican restaurant has an entire section on the menu labeled “Los Insectos”. It has several options like Chicatana ants, grasshoppers, agave worms, and ant eggs.

Bugs like these are said to be a great source of sustainable protein.

Gina Birch brings the sunshine to Sunny 106.3 every weekday morning from 6-10. She has worked in radio, television and print in Southwest Florida for nearly 30 years. During that time, she has become an advocate for numerous charities including those that support animals, children, women and wellness. In addition, she has written for numerous local, regional and national publications about food, wine and travel. Those are her longtime passions...along with shoes.

Favorite Florida Pit Stop: Biggest BBQ Sandwich Found In Bartow

When you are taking a road trip into and out of Southwest Florida, it can take a minute. Not just because of traffic but because we are so far south. It’s inevitable that you’ll need to stop for some kind of refueling. Next time you need a good pit stop for sustenance, check out the biggest BBQ sandwich found in Bartow.

It’s at a restaurant called Boney Mac’s BBQ and it is my latest discovery for Favorite Florida Pit Stops. Favorite Florida Pit Stops is a culinary and travel series. It primarily features mom and pop restaurants along well traveled roads to and from Southwest Florida.

This is one of those places that you can smell before you see on Highway 17 and Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd. in Bartow. You likely whiz right by if 17 is the route you take to Orlando and other Central Florida locations.

About The Biggest BBQ Sandwich Found In Bartow

Boney Mac’s is old school. The smoker is in the parking lot facing the highway. The interior is wide open and orders are taken at a small counter. Beware, it also has tempting, homemade desserts linted up. The selections change daily.

The rest of the menu is full of southern and soulful favorites like collard greens, lima beans, fried okra, mac-n-cheese and more. Smoked meats include chicken, ribs and pork which all come in a variety of ways.

I ordered what I thought was a simple rib sandwich. I could not pick it up. The rib meat didn’t even come close to fitting between the two pieces of white bread it came with and I wasn’t mad about it at all. The amount of meat was enough to feed three people.

The BBQ sauce on the side was sweet and tangy mustard base. Best part was the value. The sandwich was only $11. If you are trying to feed a bunch of people and not break the bank, this is your stop. Everything I had was delicious too.

There is another great stop for BBQ lovers on Highway 17. It’s about 20 minutes south of Boney Mac’s. Click here to find more about Smokin’ Joes.

Here Are Photos Of The Biggest BBQ Sandwich Found In Bartow

Sign Up For The Sunny Side-Up Newsletter

Your connection to the music and entertainment news you want and, the community information you need, plus exclusive games and contests.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Gina Birch
Category:
Tags:
,,

More Trending Locally

Load More