If you live in Cayuga County, you’ll have two chances to bug out next month.
Wells College’s Center for Sustainability and the Environment and Cayuga Community College have partnered to host presentations by Chef Joseph Yoon, the founder of Brooklyn Bugs and known for creating meals featuring edible insects.
Bug Out! Cooking with Insects will explore Yoon’s journey into the word of cooking with bugs and the sustainable and economic benefits of insect agriculture.
Yoon will be at Wells on May 1st at 7:00p and CCC on the 2nd at 12:30p. Both events are free and open to the public.
Also on the 2nd, Cayuga’s Culinary Institute will hold two 10-course tastings featuring Yoon’s creations. Registration is required for this event and can be completed by calling Cayuga’s Office of Community Education and Workforce Development at 315-294-8841.
Yoon is a Chef Advocate for the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Culinary Advisor to the Methuselah Foundation in support of NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge, and was the Culinary Director for the 2022 Insects to Feed the World Conference.
“The idea of eating insects sparks the curiosity for literally 100 percent of people I speak with, but what I also love to share beyond the food is the tremendous potential of insect agriculture to cultivate innovative ideas to address food security, mitigate climate change, and create resilient solutions beneficial to our health, food systems, and planet. We’re honored to collaborate with Wells College and Cayuga Community College to share and brainstorm on creative solutions through the prism of great hope and optimism driven by great purpose, science, kindness, and gastronomy,” Yoon said.
“Chef Yoon’s pioneering approach to sustainability and food security is as unique and timely as it is important. His thought-provoking culinary presentation is an opportunity to learn about the role we can each play in solving these problems in today’s society,” said Marian Brown, Director of the Wells Center for Sustainability and the Environment. “Wells is delighted to partner with Cayuga to highlight this important emerging sustainability topic of diversifying our food sources.”
“Cayuga is excited to partner with Wells College to feature renowned Chef Joseph Yoon at our Auburn Campus and our state-of-the-art Culinary Institute this spring. His innovative culinary approach and long-standing commitment to sustainability promise to offer attendees delicious plates while also providing food for thought as they explore their role in supporting our environment,” said Dr. Keiko Kimura, Cayuga’s Vice President for Workforce Development and Partnerships.
