- SpaceX set to launch mission to return stranded astronauts
- Storm Helene kills 44, threatens more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Boeing strike grinds on as latest talks fail to reach agreement
- Iran 'news' sites, hackers target Trump ahead of US election
- US ports brace for potential dockworkers strike
- Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60
- US hurricane deaths rise to 44, fears of more 'catastrophic' flooding
- Global stocks mostly rise, cheering Beijing stimulus
- Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
- Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast
- Argentina judge orders dictionary to delete pejorative definition of 'Jewish'
- Global stocks rise on rate hopes, Beijing stimulus
- S.African woman turns 118, among the oldest in the world
- UK clears $4 bn AI partnership between Amazon, Anthropic
- Barca fans barred from Champions League away game over racist banner
- Chinese stocks extend surge, Europe higher on Beijing stimulus
- Pope says Church must 'seek forgiveness' for child sexual abuse
- China caps week of 'bazooka' stimulus for ailing economy with rate cut
- Cuts, cash, credit: China bids to jumpstart flagging economy
- France's debt weighs heavier ahead of budget debate
- Iran treads carefully, backing Hezbollah while avoiding war
- Return to sender: waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
- 'Broken' news industry faces uncertain future
- On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues
- Taken from mother by nuns, victim seeks answers as pope visits Belgium
- China cuts amount banks hold in reserve to boost lending
- Hong Kong, Shanghai extend surge as China optimism boosts markets
- Vietnam president reiterates support for Cuba during official visit
- Drought reduces Amazon River in Colombia by as much as 90%: report
- Stay or go? Pacific Islanders face climate's grim choice
- Florida bracing for 'unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene
- Poverty rises to over 52 percent in Milei's Argentina
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala Harris
- Champagne houses abuzz over English sparkling wine
- Macron, Trudeau pledge to work for 'decarbonized' economies
- Hurricanes, storms, typhoons... Is September wetter than usual?
- China stimulus, tech optimism boost stock markets
- 'Unsurvivable' Hurricane Helene races towards Florida
- Macron meets Trudeau in Canada as both face political setbacks
- South Korea surges in UN innovation index
- Chloe's see-through look may not be for Kamala
- Floods threaten Niger's historic 'gateway to the desert'
- China economy hopes boost global equities
- Ubisoft shares sink after 'Assassin's Creed' delay
- German economy to shrink again in 2024: think tanks
- Hong Kong's New World Development replaces CEO Adrian Cheng
- Swiss central bank cuts rate again amid strong franc worries
- Germany's BASF to focus on 'core units' in major overhaul
- China admits economy facing new 'problems', vows to fix property sector
- Stock markets boosted by China hopes, tech rally
Thai pop-up wins fans with crunchless cricket burgers
There's no crunch or crackle, but crickets are on the menu at one Bangkok pop-up serving fusion bug burgers, demonstrating the latest way to incorporate the protein-rich meat into food -- direct from Thailand's farms.
Already catching headlines as a meat alternative, the edible insect market is expected to grow into a billion-dollar global industry in the coming years with many adopting creepy-crawlies into their diets as a result of climate damage.
Thailand's Bounce Burger is the newest cricket kid on the block with its cricket-beef burgers, sausages, cricket balls and even power bars and cookies.
"Crickets don't have to be on street vendor's stalls that are served only with soy sauce," said Poopipat Thiapairat, co-owner of Bounce Burger Restaurant.
"They can be burgers, bakery, soft cookies or even paprika seasoning used to flavour french fries -- these are all possible."
- Image makeover -
Crickets are a source of protein, as well as containing a host of beneficial vitamins, and are among the most commonly eaten insects by humans globally.
Despite this, Poopipat admitted the spindly arthropods were in need of an image makeover as they were "not really consumer-friendly".
"If we open a restaurant and serve cricket-based food that doesn't look like crickets then the consumers might be more open to trying," he said.
"The problem with crickets is that they get stuck in your throat," he said, explaining his firm removes the "hard" parts of the insect -- like the wings and legs -- leaving the fleshy body.
"It's the same concept as beef or pork where we don't eat the bones."
While Thais have long eaten bugs as a tasty snack, Pawan Thedthong -- nibbling on a bug at a Bangkok fried stall -- acknowledged others might be put off.
"You can see foreigners walking past and they wouldn't dare try the insects," the 24-year-old said.
"If they are processed into something more appealing then people could eat them more."
- Less moo, more chirp -
Among the biggest appeals of cricket farming is that its environmental impact is far less than rearing cows or pigs.
One 2017 study suggested chicken production in Thailand was responsible for 89 percent more carbon emissions than insect industries.
While some parts of the world are only now discovering the benefits, Thailand already has thousands of insect farms.
Many of those farms cater to animal feed needs, but some are now focused on edible insects for humans -- such as Bricket R&D Cricket Farm, established in 2019.
On the outskirts of Bangkok, the farm supplies 160 kilograms (353 pounds) of crickets monthly direct to the Bounce kitchens.
The process is carefully controlled, with the insects chilled to sleep, washed, and then harvested for meal prep, explained managing director Thanaphum Muang-Ieam.
While for the burgers the crickets are laid on topfor sweeter items the Bounce chefs use a powder taken from the insects and baked into the goods -- from power-bars to biscuits.
As for the customers?
"The taste is good. The sauce blends over the smell of the crickets," 53-year-old customer Anut Sottthibandhu commented as he munched.
"I don't feel like there are insects in my burger," he added with a grin.
X.Wong--CPN