Eating Invasive

Eating Invasive

What’s the newest fad on the food movement scene? Why eating invasive of course. That’s eating invasive species to be exact, and more and more upscale restaurants are adding invasive species as a menu choice. Here in the Pacific Northwest and many other areas around the country feral pigs have become a major problem and finding ways to control them has been difficult to say the least. And it’s that way with dozens of other invasive critters nationwide. So some folks have decided if you can’t beat them, eat them. In 2012 the Oregon based Institute for Applied Ecology launched its first “Eradication by Mastication” event - an invasive species cook-off. It would be an understatement to say that it was a huge success. This year IAE’s Invasive Species Cook-off is August 25th. So just what is featured at an invasive cook-off? Well, feral pig for starters, then let me see - IAE’s guest chef Matt Bennett’s list includes bull frog, sorrel, and dandelions to name a few. And I’m sure there will be plenty more interesting invasive cuisine to try out. Of course, at such an event I have to wonder how many times do you hear, “Yum, tastes like chicken!”  

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