José Andrés Really Wants To Cook The Sandworm From Dune
Director Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two" has taken the world by storm, and people can't stop talking about the formidable sandworm featured in the film. Conceived by author Frank Herbert, sandworms are massive animals that live on planet Arrakis and serve as religious symbols to the Fremen due to the role sandworms played in the creation of a drug known as the Spice. To José Andrés, acclaimed chef, and originator of a research center devoted to studying food and climate change, sandworms look like a delicious meal.
In a hilarious TikTok clip, chef Andrés expressed dismay that no one on Arrakis thought to trim "a little fillet of the worm" and throw it "on the grill." While Andrés acknowledges that sandworms are a "semi-sacred thing," he can't help but wonder just how tasty a sandworm steak might be. The chef also ponders what "all the animals in Star Wars" might taste like, which led one commenter to ask, "Do you think José Andrés wants to eat Jar Jar Binks?" Based on the video, it appears that Andrés would love to include sandworms in his selection of all-time favorite tapas.
Sandworms have a real-life counterpart
Like all the best science fiction, Frank Herbert's sandworms have a basis in reality. Sandworms have some similarities to nematodes, which are tiny worms that exist all over the planet. While sandworms are quite a bit larger than nematodes (measuring roughly the length of four football fields, whereas nematodes can't often be seen by the naked eye), both are invertebrates, and both use toothlike protuberances known as denticles to prey on other creatures. As for whether you can — or should — eat nematodes, that answer is decidedly no. A parasitic type of nematode found in tropical climates is associated with serious health effects, such as elephantiasis.
As for other types of worms, many varieties are considered safe for consumption. In fact, the consumption of worms and other insects is common in many cultures and may have been in practice since the dawn of humankind. When it comes to taste, author and edible insect enthusiast Daniella Martin claimed that earthworms taste "distractingly earthy" when speaking with NPR. She also said that the flavor is likely to vary depending on what a worm or other insect eats. While José Andrés is unlikely to make his dream of eating a sandworm steak a reality, keep in mind that fine dining establishments like Noma have featured insects on their menus in the past.