While you might have seen those fried beetles in Bangkok being used as a photo opportunity for some inebriated Australian sailors, you probably didn't think that anyone who wasn't drunk and giddy would try to ingest them.

Andrew Zimmern has eaten them and worse. He appeared neither drunk nor Australian nor a sailor. He's also ingested his share of wormed, fried or still wiggling, and other foods which seem unnatural to western tastes. But, to certain people, a necessary source of protein

While some might call Andrew's Travel Channel show, Bizarre Foods, an unavoidable step in the development of reality TV, one could also say that this is a program about adventure. One way to find adventure is with your feet. Another way is with your taste buds.

Sure, Andrew plays up the "I can't believe he's eating that," factor. I'm sure that's what the network tells him to do. But beyond that, the show is actually quite informative. Not necessarily in the sense that viewers learn about new foods. Zimmern introduces a whole new take on adventure travel. What's most exciting about this new kind of journey is that it is accessible to everyone with a little bit of courage. No special skills required.