Priya Kapoor is a 32-year-old food blogger from Manchester. For the past ten years, she has made it her mission to try the most unusual foods on earth — and write about every single one of them. Her blog, 'Eat Brave', has attracted hundreds of thousands of readers, and she has already written over 400 posts.
So what has she eaten? The list is remarkable. She has tried fried crickets in a street market in Bangkok — 'crunchy, salty, honestly delicious,' she says. In Mexico City, she has eaten ant eggs, a local delicacy served with soft tortillas. She has tasted century eggs in China, fermented shark in Iceland, and braised cow's tongue in Argentina. 'I have never refused a food challenge,' she says proudly. 'That's my one rule.'
Why does she do it? It is not about showing off. 'I have always believed that food is a window into a culture,' she explains. 'When I eat what local people eat, I understand something about their history, their land, and their daily life. Curiosity has taken me further than any plane ticket.'
She is also honest about what she has found difficult. 'The texture of fermented shark is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have eaten it twice now, and I still find it hard. I won't be going back for a third time.' There are also foods she hasn't tried yet — including live octopus in South Korea, which she says still makes her nervous. 'I haven't tried it yet, but I haven't given up either.'
Her advice for readers who want to be braver with food? 'Courage is a muscle. You have to train it. Start small — try one new ingredient a week. You will surprise yourself.'
She has already used insect flour in her own baking, sells it on her website, and has given talks at food festivals across Europe. The world, it seems, has only made her hungrier.