BURGER CHAIN ADDING CRICKETS TO MILKSHAKES

On July 1, the Wayback Burger chain will debut an Oreo mud pie cricket protein milkshake made with Peruvian chocolate-flavored cricket powder as part of a limited-time offering of two protein-packed shakes. The bug-infused shake originally began as an April’s Fool’s joke this year to generate buzz (* or “chirps”, as it were). But the response was so positive when Wayback tested the item briefly on Long Island that the chain decided to actually add it to the menu for a limited time. “We had it for two hours. There were people lined up to try it,” said John Eucalitto, president of Wayback Burgers. The powder itself is not strong tasting, says Eucalitto, adding he thinks the shake tastes “great.” The biggest challenge of adding the insect to the menu? That would be battling consumer perception, Eucalitto says. “People think maybe we’re grinding up crickets in the back room,” he said. The insects are all farm raised domestically.
* And that ain’t easy. Just try branding a cricket.
* The hard part about running a cricket ranch is driving the herd to market.
* Once you’re up there on your horse, it’s hard to see the crickets.
* Luckily, you can hear them.
* I’ve eaten at places that have been doing this for years, not intentionally.
* They were lined up for this? Maybe they heard the phrase Peruvian powder and got the wrong idea.
* At least McDonald’s finally figured it out. You want more business? Skip the crickets and salads and stuff and make the burgers bigger.
* That’s a coincidence. I suggested we go to Wayback for lunch and I HEARD crickets.
* Is anyone else turned off by the phrase “bug-infused”?
* I think Wayback Burgers means they’ve lost their way and they should get back to burgers.
* Or you want to stand way back in case the guy next to you vomits.