Bad news for those planning a culinary pilgrimage to SF: Grasshopper tacos are no more

[KamaAina]

And just to add insult to injury, so is the fried tarantula. :(

I mean, seriously, first they came for our Happy Meals, and now our bugs?!

http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2011/06/08/la-oaxaquena-banned-from-selling-grasshopper-tacos-and-fried-tarantula/?tsp=1

In short, the health department said that La Oaxaquena could no longer sell its grasshopper tacos, because the insects — imported from Mexico — don’t come from an FDA-approved source.

Owner Harry Persaud tells Scoop that the ban actually happened about two months ago, and that it also put the kibosh on La Oaxaquena’s fried tarantula tortas.

“The City is worried people will get sick,” he says, pointing out that no one has gotten sick in the two-and-a-half years the exotic treats have been on the menu.

Persaud says it’s not a substantial loss in revenue, though the unique menu items definitely helped lure out-of-state visitors who wouldn’t otherwise head to La Oaxaquena. Also, he’s sent the tacos to different universities who want to do something clever for their biology department dinner or something like that. The City suggested he raise his own grasshoppers, so he’s flirting with that idea.

All is not lost, however: a mere 45 miles to the southeast, the new Grasshopper Capital of the World is -- San Jose!

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2011/06/no_more_grasshoppers_at_la_oax.php

A grasshopper fan? Not to fear. SFoodie has snacked on toasty, crunchy chapulines in Oaxacan restaurants up and down the Pacific coast. In fact, you can drive down to San Jose, where Mexcal and El Tule still list them on the menu. At least until ABC-watching health inspectors down there start making their rounds.



The first one of you meatballs who asks "What mixed drink goes with that?" gets a hearty :spank: .