Chef Failatu Abdul-Razak, the Ghanaian chef who attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, has lamented over how people mock and undermine the cooking and eating of toads.
She said during her cook-a-thon, people were making a mockery of her because she garnished toads, a situation she said can jeopardise the rich culture of Ghana.
According to her, people eat meat like pork, snakes, and dogs, and nobody complains so if someone also eats frog the person should also be protected. Adding that Ghanaians.
“At a point after the cook-a-thon, people were making a mockery of me because I garnished toads. People eat meats like pork, snakes, and dogs, and nobody complains. Why is it a problem if someone eats frogs? You see, we must try to accept people and their indigenous lifestyles. We are trying to protect Ghana, eat Ghana, where Ghana eats Ghana.” She said.
Speaking on United Television showbiz monitored by Elvisanokyenews.com, Chef Faila called on Ghanaians to give a bit of respect to the food.
She said it should be called a toad not a frog.
“It boils down to the fact that let us respect people devoid of their cultural foods. We don’t even call it a frog. Call it a toad! It gives it a little bit of respect,” she fumed.
She also indicates that countries like China also eat toads and they protect their indigenous cultures, foods and other things that attract tourists to their country.
“The Chinese garnish toads and eat. Yet when you get the opportunity to go to China to learn, you are happy. But they protect their indigenous cultures, foods and other things that attract tourists to their country,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian journalist and former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu constituency in the Northern Region, Ras Mubarak has said frogs are edible and very delicious.
“Yes we eat frogs in Kumbungu. And we are not alone in the world. The French, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Italians, Thai, Greek, South Africans, some Americans in the South, Cambodians, Indonesians and a host of others in Asia, and Europe.” He wrote on his Facebook.
“While other countries even export it, those of us from Kumbungu have rather been coy about our love for frog meat.
They are proven to be rich in minerals like protein, vitamin A & Potassium. There are about 7,500 species of frogs. Before you start catching frogs in your backyard for the pot, I must caution you and make the point forcefully. not every frog is edible – some frogs are poisonous.”
“And for those that are edible, in places like the US, Turkey, France and Indonesia, they eat only the legs. They are as tasty as chicken wings.” He said.
“For those of us from Kumbungu, the time has come for us to begin to sell the idea that our frogs are not only delicious, but can be eaten by non-natives of kumbungu.”
