Ohio's Pizza Bandit is going viral thanks to an insect pizza that was created with "blanched and sautéed locally foraged cicadas." The Spicy Thai Cicada Pie was made with a hand-tossed pizza crust that contains classic ingredients like mozzarella, provolone, mushroom, cabbage, green onion, cilantro, plus mango, miso hoisin sriracha sauce and cicada wings.
Online, Pizza Bandit held a live tasting panel for the pizza, revealing that the insect-topped pizza had a real crunch and that it could be paired with an IPA or lager. Although there are plenty of insect-infused creations that are being introduced to North America, this one was revealed as a stunt to drive up interest in other pizza creations from Pizza Bandit.
Spicy Insect Pizzas
The Pizza Bandit's Spicy Thai Cicada Pie Features "Locally Foraged Cicadas"
Trend Themes
1. Insect-based Foods - The rise of insect-based foods as a sustainable and protein-rich alternative to traditional meat and dairy products.
2. Exotic Pizza Toppings - The trend of using unconventional pizza toppings, such as insects, to create unique and adventurous flavor profiles that appeal to consumers.
3. Live Tasting Events - The growing popularity of live tasting events, which offer consumers a unique and interactive way to experience new food products and flavors.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Insect-based foods and exotic pizza toppings are disrupting the food and beverage industry by changing consumers' expectations of what is considered a 'normal' or desirable food product.
2. Marketing and Advertising - Stunts like Pizza Bandit's Spicy Thai Cicada Pie are disrupting the marketing and advertising industry by using unconventional and attention-grabbing tactics to generate buzz and drive sales.
3. Sustainability - Insect-based foods are disrupting industries related to sustainability and agriculture by providing a more environmentally friendly and resource-efficient alternative to traditional animal protein sources.