ottawa foodies

As an ecologist, I am focussed on the challenges behind invasive alien species. Things from the Snakehead and Asian Carp, to the Green Crab. I am curious on finding solutions of a culinary kind.

1) Are there any restauraunts which you know of where invasives are intentionally on the menu?

2) Do you know of any recipies for invasives?

3) Anyone interested in participating in creating an invasives cookbook?

That's a really cool topic. Here's a neat article about how the Brits are trying to deal with the invasive mitten crabs... www.theecologist.org

I'm in for 3! Very good idea, in fact!

Me too, provided I don't have to snack on starlings and House Sparrows.

OT, but when I hear invasive cuisine, I can't help but think of things that the census would suggest that Canadians eat.

(www.canada.com)

Are yappy little dogs considered invasive?

(please say 'yes', please say 'yes')

Tempting to say yes Zymurgist, but alas...

So, thinking I might start up something google-ish to try to assemble the necessary recepies. Perhaps I could comb through Food.com for some starters.

Hmm, plenty to think about.

Hi Jagash:

The concept is indeed interesting, but problematic:

Eat up the invasive species so they go away?

or...

Create a market for them which continues to drive out the original inhabitants of the ecological niche?

(The Snakehead probably got here because Chinese immigrants wanted to eat them...)

Farm raised wild boar is readily available in many restaurants...perhaps a market could be created for feral boars caught from the wild?

The species are here, and abundant. The only proven way for humans to get rid of a species is by labeling them as tasty. So long as it is promoted as a "invasive cuisine" rather then "everyone eat snakehead", I think that could avoid creating a farming situation.

If we are good enough at containment that the status-quo was sustainable, I would agree with you. Currently though, we are loosing the war and eating the highly abundant species seems the only way to go.

Earwigs?