Saturday 26 March 2016

28. Fierce Food: The Intrepid Diner's Guide to the Unusual, Exotic, and Downright Bizarre by Christa Weil


BOOK REVIEW: Fierce Food: The Intrepid Diner’s Guide to the Unusual, Exotic, and Downright Bizarre by Christa Weil

Malaysians are reknown the world over for their love of food and dining. At any time of the day we eat, eat and eat! With a vast array of foods from around the world on our plate here in Malaysia, we have a well-developed palate. But just how far can our palates go? A plate of fried water bugs perhaps, or maybe a cheese notorious for its maggots as it is its sulphuric taste? Thinking twice? You might just have a nibble of these dishes once you delve into this book.

An alphabetical survey of the world’s most extraordinary edibles, Fierce Food describes what these foods are, where they’re consumed, and how they’re captured or foraged. For example, Casu Marzu, a rotting Italian cheese with “guests” (you guessed it, maggots!).

Readers also learn how the foods are traditionally served and eaten, and, best of all, what they taste like, because if you can’t actually bring yourself to down Filipino embryonic duck eggs, reading about it is the next best thing.


Fierce Food is a fascinating exploration of global cultures that definitively proves the old adage, “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Now if you will excuse me, I just loved the fried cicadas. They’re absolutely fabulous!

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