BAG BLOG BREAK: On Fear Factor Backtrack- A Philippine “Delicacy”!

Here’s a question I’d like to ask you– is there any particular food you don’t eat or won’t ever eat? (P.S. Warning you all before you read further, this post can be a bit too much to stomach, if you know what I mean. So if you have a weak stomach, skip reading this post, please!)

When I was about 6 years old, I had my first taste of what is known as BALUT in the Philippines. Balut (pronounced bah-loot). It’s a 20 something day- old boiled “fertilized” duck egg with an embryo (there is hardly any other way I can describe this without sounding… disgusting, I know, I know. Save the violent reaction please).

Balut is considered a part of the Philippine food culture. One way or another, the average Filipino on the street in the Philippines has had balut. I remember the “soup” inside the balut tasted good back when I was about 12 or 13 (which was probably the last time I recall having eaten it without feeling nauseated). What I didn’t really know back then was, I was sipping duck egg amniotic fluid! Back then too, I’d even take out the whole duck embryo from its shell before I’d put it back in my mouth to eat!!!  I think everything changed when I knew more about balut. There must’ve been fascination at that time that I still enjoyed eating it, just leaving the white part of the egg which was rather hard and I imagine difficult to digest *hehehe TMI*. 

Suffice to stay I abstained from eating balut again.

Anyway yesterday my friend gave me 2 baluts (they are apparently being sold at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall food bazaar at the ground floor for Php 15 a pop). I thought I’d give it another shot. This time, I am documenting the balut in photos as I peeled off the egg shell.  So, warning, graphic photos!!! 😀 *Again, please, save the violent reactions. I want to show this because there are still a lot of people out here who have never heard of or seen a balut 🙂 This is an informational food post. So I hope somehow you can allow me to do this*

So there’s the Duck Egg aka Balut. It’s larger than a chicken egg (obvs!) 

Peeled off the shell on the bottom. My birthday boy of a husband is holding the balut so I can take the shot. 

 Ok this is going to start getting really gross. I don’t like seeing feathers on food! 🙁

Fear Factor Food # 1! 

(Click for larger image only if you won’t be disturbed by the image)

(Click for larger image only if you won’t be disturbed by the image)

I’m actually afraid of that large vein– the more I stare at this photo, the more scared I get. Umbilical cord? *shudders*

Ok, this is what makes balut, a balut!  (If you must gag, run to the toilet now. If not, stare on)

(Click for larger image only if you won’t be disturbed by the image)

(I had to make the duckling photo small. It was disturbing but I felt I needed to post it so people will know what balut is– without posting this is like posting a photo of a scrambled egg without the egg yolk middle and still calling it a scrambled egg. Feel free to click on the photo if you want to see the larger image)

I swear, I have never stared at a duckling this long in my entire life. And I still keep staring. And thinking to myself how I was actually able to eat this when I was younger! There is NO way I can eat this now! I can’t help but feel nauseated at the thought I’d have to eat this whole if I were a contestant at Fear Factor! *I have no idea how those contestants were able to do it– I’d have thrown up right there and then!! Umm I’d rather throw up and embarrass myself than actually swallow this– yes, yes I’m a wus!!*

Some Many people still love Balut. I know people who still love eating this, but they’d never take out the embryo the way I did, nor would they take photos of it or stare at it for a long period of time. Am I trying to dissuade people from eating Balut? Well, I’d be a hypocrite if I said yes. After all, I eat duck too. But not this small! Not an embryo 🙁 Boohoo 🙁

So, would you eat Balut still after seeing the photos above? Or if you’ve never tried it, are you willing to try it now, knowing what it actually is? 

HAPPY WEEKEND!! Now you have been “baptized” into the Philippine food culture (that’s just for starters :D)

P.S. #2: Sorry if I grossed you all out 🙁 hehehe.. no, seriously. Apologies if I did! 😀

x
FormerBalutEater