View 2 slides

We Thought They Were Chia Seeds… Then They Started Moving on Our Salad

It was supposed to be the perfect night out—trendy restaurant, glowing cocktails, and a long-awaited table in the city’s newest hot spot. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as we caught up over drinks, laughing and soaking in the ambiance. When the waiter finally placed the salads before us, they looked picture-perfect: crisp greens, pear slices, and what seemed to be a dusting of stylish chia seeds. We leaned closer, admiring every detail, until something shifted on the plate. That’s when my stomach turned, because those tiny black specks weren’t what they seemed…

It was supposed to be one of those nights you remember for all the right reasons. A new restaurant had just opened downtown, the kind of place that seemed to pop up overnight, boasting exposed brick walls, flickering Edison bulbs, and a waitlist that stretched for weeks. My friend and I finally scored a table, eager to see what all the hype was about.

The cocktails arrived first—mine garnished with a sprig of rosemary, hers with a curl of orange peel so perfect it looked Photoshopped. We clinked glasses, laughed about our week, and waited for the appetizers. When the waiter finally placed the salads in front of us, we admired them like art: fresh greens, pear slices, and a scatter of what looked like trendy chia seeds dusting the plate.

But then came the moment that turned my stomach.

As I reached for my fork, my friend froze. Her hand hovered midair, her face draining of color. “Look closely,” she whispered. I followed her gaze to the specks on the lettuce. At first, they seemed harmless, just part of the garnish. But then—God help me—I saw them shift. Tiny black dots, wriggling, alive.