Diners enjoy zebra, crocodile and locusts at Norfolk pub
Regulars at the White Hart in Swaffham, Mark Lovell and Emma Simpson trying out the exotic meat menu. Pic: Archant
It sounded more like a bushtucker trial off ITV's 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here when people faced eating crocodile, kangaroo, zebra and locusts.
But the exotic meat night at the White Hart in Swaffham went down a treat with ostrich burgers, frog's legs and snails also on the menu.
But the camel was off - so wild boar was offered instead.
Last night's meat feast, the idea of manager Kurt Oliver, was a sell-out and the pub is now planning a Caribbean festival night of street food in a fortnight.
Mr Oliver said: "Our exotic meat night quickly sold out with bookings being taken from across the region from adventurous adults and families alike all set to take their taste buds on an adventure in the first of our food-based theme nights.
"The chefs began preparing for the seven course meal early and we showed off their culinary skills more than with our usual menu. We had to substitute wild boar for the camel though, as we couldn't get any from our suppliers.
"The response to the event has been great and it's been great fun meeting new suppliers and testing our current ones to supply that something a little bit special.
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"We have already had requests to run this theme night again soon and we should be putting another one on towards the end of the summer."
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The £27.95 a head feast used meat from a sustainable source. It began with tempura-battered frog's legs and snails followed by freshwater crocodile, specially farmed in South Africa, pan fried, and served on a bed of noodles. This was followed by zebra steak, also from South Africa on the pub's signature sweet potato fries.
An ostrich burger was next and then German wild boar with beetroot and balsamic sauerkraut with kangaroo on carrot mash completing the main dishes. A 'surprise' dessert followed which was salted caramel ice cream with locusts and crickets.
Among the diners were regulars Mark Lovell and Emma Simpson. Emma, a trainee paramedic, said: "We've really enjoyed it, I've eaten everything but the hardest thing were the insects on the ice-cream, that did feel like abushtucker trial." Fiance Mark said: "I liked the wild boar best and for me, the only thing I didn't eat was the ice-cream as I don't like salted caramel.
Business writer Caroline Culot went along to try it out. "I liked the ostrich burger the best. I tried a locust and it was very chewy and a bit like eating grass."