During Arthropodium, chef Joseph Yoon of Brooklyn Bugs teamed up with UNL’s Food Innovation Center and Metro Community College’s Institute of Culinary Arts to host a Bugeater canapé party featuring appetizers incorporating edible insects. Here, MCC students help serve food at the Aug. 19 reception.
Yoon’s philosophy is that overcoming the psychological barrier to eating insects requires exceptional flavor, texture and gastronomy. Pictured here is cricket and black ant avocado toast.
Cricket honey-nut nougat bonbons were featured at the Bugeater canapé party.
Chef Joseph Yoon of Brooklyn Bugs poses with UNL CAREMI leaders (L-R) Nicole Sexton, Eileen Hebets and Angie Pannier.
Chef Joseph Yoon of Brooklyn Bugs poses with Arthropodium organizers and guests (L-R) Eileen Hebets, Angie Pannier, Jennifer Angus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marlene Zuk of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Nicole Sexton.
Arthropodium also featured the opening of “Jennifer Angus: Like a Moth to the Flame,” an immersive art installation at the Great Plains Art Museum. Angus uses insects to create art that inspires wonder and curiosity and calls attention to insects’ crucial ecological role. Pictured is a scene from the exhibit.
Angus uses insects to create patterns mimicking textiles and wallpaper, with the idea of drawing people into what appears to be an interior or domestic space. Angus hopes that when viewers realize the true contents of the arrangements, they will consider insects in a new light.
The “dinner party” scene from the exhibit highlights humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Predator and prey share a meal in a moment of civility and coexistence, opening the door for viewers to consider what would happen if humans viewed animals and the natural world as fellow participants at the table.
