Wow. I’m so incredibly grateful and humbled to be invited to Live with Kelly and Mark for the fourth time. What a beautiful experience for me personally, but what’s even more special is how NORMAL Kelly and Mark made eating insect cuisine. It truly helps to change public perception when people can see their curiosity, enthusiasm and willingness to eat NINE different insect dishes we prepared.
A big special thanks to Michael Gelman, to all the producers who’ve been so supportive over the years - Ed Connolly, Laurie Ciaffaglione, David Mullen - and to Live’s culinary queen who has been invaluable behind the scenes for each of my appearances - Marie Haycox. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Kelly, Mark, and the whole team for making me truly feel like I’m a part of the Live Family.
It’s also heartwarming to share how genuine Kelly and Mark are in real life—their care and friendliness and what you hope of celebrities when the cameras turn off are as authentic as can be.
Special thanks to the Live crew for welcoming my mom and her friends as VIPs; a truly special and memorable experience for all of them.
Thanks to Jessica Ann Vaughn (who I met at the Agriculture, Food, Human Value Society Conference earlier this spring) for joining me backstage and being a part of my squad.
If you’re wondering where I got my insects, thanks to my incredibly supportive sponsors - Entomo Farms for the crickets and cricket powder, and to Entosense for the mealworms, black ants, grasshoppers, and scorpions. As stated in the program, I foraged for the cicadas myself in Springfield, IL this spring. My customized and embroidered chef coat was courtesy of Chef Works.
I was first invited on Live to promote the Smithsonian Channel’s Bug Bites back in 2018 and want to thank and acknowledge them for making the initial introduction.
Gosh, if you’re still with me, you are part of a dramatic and profound metamorphosis in my life. My seven year anniversary of Brooklyn Bugs is over Labor Day weekend, and it has been an honor and privilege for me to share my growth, work, and life with you. With deep heartfelt gratitude and big love, xox Joseph
Line cook at The Pearl Beauty beach
2moHelo there is vacancy for chef