Just to clarify it, I refer to the Sardinian cheese known as Casu Marzu or ” maggoty cheese” as we call it . Here is how Casu Marzu is made : the sheep’s milk cheese has been made by Sardinian locals for thousands of years in the style of a pecorino. After it’s made, it’s placed outdoors with a hole cut in the top, through which “cheese flies” enter to lay eggs. The eggs become larvae that devour the cheese, decomposing the fats through digestion and excreting the remains. Not only would you be eating live maggots, but also their excretions.

We tried it years ago at a friends’ party. This was very much presented as a rare delicacy as few people bother making it and it is difficult to get such a cheese these days. Everybody’s eyes were on us as they wanted to see how the “foreigners” would fare. The maggots were actuall tiny but we could see them jumping  which I found rather amazingly delightful for such minuscule creatures. . I certainly had some of that wiggly cheese  & I remember its creamy texture (gooey bugs, miam miam !!) but also how strong it was. So I fared well & impressed our friends by having some twice. Malcolm liked it too because of its strong flavour even though he didn’t like the idea of eating maggots first.

So conclusion for me : “Had it been milder, I would have eaten some more !!”

Conclusion for Malcolm : “Had it been less maggoty, I would have eaten some more !!”

Still… fear not, you are very unlikely to see some, let alone eat some 😉

If you would like more info : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu

On the ” OMG, never try this” camp : read this : http://mentalfloss.com/article/20523/casu-marzu-maggot-cheese-mediterranean and http://www.cracked.com/article_14979_the-6-most-terrifying-foods-in-world.html

And in the middle of the road section, there is this article: http://www.seriouseats.com/2013/01/casu-marzu-cheese-maggot-maggots-italian-what-it-tastes-like-illegal.html

For the aficionado’ s view, speak to any locals when you stay at ours 😉

Things could be worse though, you could be eating sheep’ eyes or gnaw on lamb’ feet cooked in sweet and sour sauce. Believe me, I’ ve seen it with my own eyes !!