Foreigners vs balut: Who wins?

[Terpe]

Part 1



Filipinos love to eat. There is no doubt about it. But we can't remember any other time where Filipino food has been this controversial.

The conversation about food exploded after a Norwegian tourist in the Philippines published a blog about how she was expecting delicious Filipino food, but instead got a sloppy excuse for it. She said she would "rather go hungry."

Some netizens posted several responses, saying she probably didn't do her research properly. Others supported her, while several others were just completely outraged.

Now that the fire is starting to subside, let's look at the lighter side of Filipino food. Or in this case, how amusing it could be to watch someone, anyone – foreign or even a Filipino "slashie" – eat a very popular Filipino food for the first time: balut.

For those who are not familiar with it, balut is regarded as an exotic delicacy by Filipinos and other Asians, and one of the most feared by those who've never eaten a partially matured duck egg.

The egg is believed to be a source of strength and virility, but that isn't enough to convince those with weaker stomachs to swallow the bird peering out from the eggshell, the first thing you see when you crack it open.

So let's stop being so angry at foreigners for one second and let's have a good laugh, yeah?

Here are the funniest or most interesting reactions we've found:

Many Americans learned about balut through popular US TV show Fear Factor. While the fear may seem silly to us, the gagging sounds made by the host show just how strange they find our balut.



Popular food show host Anthony Bourdain eats balut, described as "duck fetus," in the YouTube caption of the video. We give him points for not making any faces afterwards.



Would you pay your foreign friends to eat balut? These girls were paid to eat it.

[Terpe]

Part 2

How many baluts can you eat? And how fast? Here's a video of a balut-eating contest in New York

[video=youtube;9d91hTG6x9Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBLiVAOOuyg&feature=player_embedded

Here's a compilation of hilarious reactions to people seeing the balut (or bal-loot as they would say it in the video). Be ready for spitting and gagging action



American reality show Hell's Kitchen apparently made balut a punishment for a losing team. Punishment? Most here would consider it a reward! Well, this punishment got the losing team crying. Watch.



Source:-
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balik...s-eating-balut

[stevewool]

i just know i could not eat one , no matter what

[les_taxi]

No way, give me a bowl of Halo, halo instead

[Slip]

Lol, the disscussions myself and Harlene have had about balut......... I will win, I am not going to try it!

[gWaPito]

I made a promise to my wife, the day we leave for England I will eat balut. I did it...at the farewell party. It wasnt that bad after all

[Arthur Little]

BALUT versus THAT OTHER PHILIPPINE DELICACY

Now ... ... only a daft galoot,
Would bravely sample balut
But if you've ever tried
Fish that is pre~dried,
You'll know very well
How it stinks like hell!

Especially when it's cookin',
You really must keep lookin'
At the sole of your shoe,
To make sure that you
Hopefully, with a bit of luck,
Haven't stood on dog muck!

[Steve.r]

I think it is the fear of knowing what you are eating. I have eaten balut fa few times, and even though I can say it is not a favorite, I can tell people that I eat it. The taste (when eaten whole) is only like a stronger tasting omelette to me. My wife was delighted to show me the first time how to eat it and enjoyed pulling the little duck out to show me before eating it. She loves them and can eat several in one sitting. My little son like it too.

[cherrieclifford]

I can still remember my husbands reaction when I ate balut in front of him. He swore he will not even try it once. Its like he pity the chicken fetus as how he call it. But then one day maybe out of his curiosity and eagerness to experience it, he said to me that he will try. There it goes, he said it tasted good. Good job for my hubby.

[cherrieclifford]

BALUT versus THAT OTHER PHILIPPINE DELICACY

Now ... ... only a daft galoot,
Would bravely sample balut
But if you've ever tried
Fish that is pre~dried,
You'll know very well
How it stinks like hell!

Especially when it's cookin',
You really must keep lookin'
At the sole of your shoe,
To make sure that you
Hopefully, with a bit of luck,
Haven't stood on dog muck!

Exact description as of my husband Alan. LOL. It's the dried fish he hates the most. Whenever we're in the shop he will stay away from the dried fish section. My mom will only cook dried fish when Alan is not around so he will not be able to smell it.

Filipinos love it though - specially when its paired with fresh slices of tomatoes. Yummmmmy. For sure my co-pinoys that are there beside you in UK are missing this kind of stuff.

[Michael Parnham]

I couldn't eat Balut or any Filipino food, sorry!

[cherrieclifford]

I couldn't eat Balut or any Filipino food, sorry!

Sir Michael, even adobo??

[bigmac]

Balut--no way--don't even want to think about it

Live shrimps---is that a wind-up ?

Adobo--I'm ok with that.

[Steve.r]

I think you are missing out on so much by not eating local foods.

[Michael Parnham]

Sir Michael, even adobo??

No Cherrie, it's the thought of sweet and savoury together that puts me off. When I was at school, one of the boys used to try to get me to taste one of his cheese and jam sandwiches, I never did try one it was just the thought of cheese and jam mixed together.

[cherrieclifford]

No Cherrie, it's the thought of sweet and savoury together that puts me off. When I was at school, one of the boys used to try to get me to taste one of his cheese and jam sandwiches, I never did try one it was just the thought of cheese and jam mixed together.

Ok, Sir Michael. We all have different taste preference anyways and some are adventurous when it comes to food and some are not.

[Longweekend]

I can manage Bicol Express....

[London_Manila]

I never was into eating abortions of any sort including ducks

How does the beak and feathers taste anyway ?

[Terpe]

How does the beak and feathers taste anyway ?

Bit like chicken

[Jaice]

Have had and enjoyed Balut among so many other street food from vendors and home cooked Pinoy meals. The first time I tried Balut I ate the white wall on the side and after chewing it for a few seconds I started gagging then threw up, my companions and the vendors were in hysterics but I laughed it off and actually enjoyed the rest of it, the actual bird part is nice but to this day I don't know what that white bit on the side is. I had duckling and chick.

[Ako Si Jamie]

I was at the Birmingham Barrio Fiesta last month and there was this putrid smell coming from one of the food stalls. I take it was dried fish.

Smelt like feet.

[Abigail]

I love Balut! And I also like chickens feet if they are done right

[Arthur Little]

BALUT versus THAT OTHER PHILIPPINE DELICACY

Now ... ... only a daft galoot,
Would bravely sample balut
But if you've ever tried
Fish that is pre~dried,
You'll know very well
How it stinks like hell!

Especially when it's cookin',
You really must keep lookin'
At the sole of your shoe,
To make sure that you
Hopefully, with a bit of luck,
Haven't stood on dog muck!

Apart from my poetical effort, ... I had to"bail oot" (or should I say "chicken out?") of this thread since I've yet to sample the aforementioned delicacy!

[Arthur Little]

I was at the Birmingham Barrio Fiesta last month and there was this putrid smell coming from one of the food stalls. I take it was dried fish.

Smelt like feet.

Oh , Jamie ... sweaty feet are postively more fragrant than dried fish ...

[cheekee]

I love so many filipino foods but I don't think I could ever eat balut.

There's always a guy on a BMX near the hotel I stay at in Cebu and it always makes me giggle when I hear him call "Balut". It's the way he says it.

[Slip]

I am talking to Harlene on skype and she is laughing her head off at my expressions while watching her eat balut.

It just looks so wrong, it doesn't help the close up she is showing me of the inside!

[ajisgod2012]

Eaten it, liked it and will eat again!

[Michael Parnham]

Eaten it, liked it and will eat again!

[primdale]

balut is not for me, I prefer palaka.

[the_Sherwinat0r]

balut is good