Bacon Cheddar Crickets, Anyone? Fair Exhibitor Appeals To Unusual Foodie Tastes

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to Freedom Fest as the New Jersey State Fair. It is not the same entity. The New Jersey State Fair name is the registered trademark of the New Jersey State Fair, Sussex Farm and Horse Show, which is scheduled for Aug. 5-15 in Augusta, N.J. Click here for information.

Allentown, NJ -- Chocolate-covered ants have been around for ages. But have you ever had a sour cream and onion cricket? How about a cheddar cheese worm?

If those sound like delicacies, or if you're simply the kind of person who's willing to taste almost anything, you are in luck: a company that specializes in pest control will be serving up bugs at the Freedom Fest fair on Saturday.

The company, Ehrlich, focuses most of its energy on eradicating pests in its customers' homes and businesses. But in 2011 Rentokil -- the company that owns Ehrlich -- created its "Pestaurant," which serves not only to raise pest awareness, but "to motivate participants to be more adventurous with their food as well as promoting the tremendous health benefits of an insect rich diet already enjoyed by billions across the world," the company says on its website.

"Entomophagy (eating insects) is encouraged and promoted by the United Nations as a viable source of food. Introducing insects into your diet provides you with high levels of protein, zinc and calcium," the company website says. Cricket can have up to 25 grams of protein per 100 grams, the website notes, and insects are also extremely low in fat and rich in vitamins.

The Pestaurant at Freedom Fest will serve items such as bacon cheddar crickets, barbecue worms, and for every bug eaten, the company will donate to LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs), up to $500, it said in a news release.

In addition to the pop-up Pestaurants, the company has a cookbook with techniques for preparing buggy dishes and will even offer up suggestions for the proper wine to pair with your bug of choice.

For those who really dare (or who've had enough wine!) there also will be bug-eating contests at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with prizes for the winners, the company says.

FreedomFest is being held at the Horse Park of New Jersey, 626 Route 524, Allentown, now through Sunday.

Tickets to the fair are $15 and include free parking and free unlimited carnival rides. Children 36 inches tall or smaller get in free. There's a petting farm, racing pigs and musical entertainment.

The fair hours are Thursday, 5 p.m.. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

Plastic cups of bug treats await the adventurous at a Pestaurant in Boston in 2015. Photo courtesy of Erlich's Pestaurant Facebook page