Are you a big fan of cheese? So am I. But I know I’m not trying this Sardinian delicacy any time soon. Check out the following fragment of Wikipedia’s Casu Marzu page.

Casu marzu (also called casu modde or formaggio marcio) is a cheese found in Sardinia, Italy, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu marzu is Sardinian for “rotten cheese.”

Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider to be decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly, Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down the cheese’s fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called “lagrima”) seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as transparent, white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches), prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

Larvae jumping from the cheese into your eye? Are you kidding me? And people eat this stuff? Wow.

P.S. My dad also noticed how the name of the cheese kind of sounds like our last name. Good stuff.