Where in the world would I eat fried rat

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A.� Fried rat in garlic is considered a delcious starter in Latin America, Asia and parts of Africa. Many cultures choose foods which would bring horror to Westerners. Earthworm pie, for instance, is considered a delectable dish in China and Australia. It's also a healthy dish as worms are 80 per cent protein.

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Q.� Where's the strangest place for food

A.� A new book by Jerry Hopkins, Bush Meat, Bats and Butterflies: An Epicurean Adventure Around The World, is a guide to some of the weirdest foodstuffs on the planet.

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Deep-fried bull's testicles are served in Mexico, live shrimp sushi is popular in Hawaii, mice are usually cooked over an open fire in Thailand, pig stomach soup is on the menu in Singapore, you might be offered minced water buffalo and yak butter tea in Nepal, or 'five penis wine' in China and boiled blood from a variety of animals in Vietnam.

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In the Philippines, they snack on 'balut', the embryo of a duck sucked straight from its shell. Chewing the little beak and feathers is supposed to make men virile.

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In China, deep-fried chicken's feet and fried locusts are served as hors-d'oeuvres, while in Thailand, roadside cafes serve barbecued snake washed down with a glass of snake's blood. Even reindeer steaks are on the menu in northern countries.

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Q.� Is it true Koreans eat dog meat

A.� Dogs in Korea are prized as a delicacy. It's an ancient tradition which the Koreans are very proud of. French actress-turned-animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot has criticised the Koreans for their menu, but the citizens of Korea, which will host the World Cup finals later this year, say the issue of dog meat is a matter of national pride.

In Korea, residents are horrified at the thought of eating snails and horse meat, considered staple dishes in Bardot's France.

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Katharine MacColl