Chefs are being urged to consider putting insects on their menus, to help change perceptions about what's fit to eat.
Among those leading the charge is contemporary artist Cat Jones, who has created an art installation called Insecta Delecta.
"In a large kind of sense, they're seen as dirty and as pests," Ms Jones said.
"It's kind of a big leap to make an order for it to become a common foodstuff."
Ms Jones engaged chef Soon Lee Low to create a menu giving the six-legged creatures some gourmet flair.
"My food it looks sexy. I make it look sexy so people will at least try to eat the insects," Mr Low said.
"And it's an upcoming thing; many Michelin-star restaurants are cooking with insects nowadays, branching into different flavours and profile, and insects are actually very tasty."
Growing world urged to consider insect diet
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO), insects are more efficient than regular farm animals when it comes to converting food to protein.
UNFAO said crickets produced the same amount of protein as cattle, on one-sixth of the feed.
"Besides, they emit less greenhouse gases and ammonia than conventional livestock, and insects can be grown on organic waste," the UNFAO's website says.
"Therefore, insects are a potential source for conventional production [mini-livestock] of protein, either for direct human consumption, or indirectly in recomposed foods."
Arts crowd keen to explore
Understandably, eating insects is unusual to the Australian palate.
Cat Jones was commissioned by arts organisation The Wired Lab to present the creations at its open day at Muttama in southern NSW.
Those who took part said it was a culinary avenue they wanted to spend more time exploring.
"I had everything and seconds for a few servings, and my son had almost everything. And he barely eats vegetables," Sydney man Paul Timbrell said.
"Might take a bit of getting used to. But it was alright," local diner Steven Hall said.
Sydney diner Ro Murray said: "They were reminiscent of other flavours, like nuts or plants".
