A balut is a fertilized duck (or chicken) egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell.
Popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack, balut are mostly sold by street vendors in the regions where they are available. It is commonly sold as streetfood in the Philippines. They are common, everyday food in some other countries in Southeast Asia, such as in Laos (where it is called Khai Luk), Cambodia (Pong tea khon in Cambodian), and Vietnam (Trứng vịt lộn or Hột vịt lộn in Vietnamese). They are often served with beer.
The Filipino and Malay word balut (balot) means “wrapped” – depending on pronunciation. Source: wikipedia
As a Filipino born and raised in America I could honestly say that some of my heritage has fallen through the cracks. Though it’s a natural occurrence that I soak up more culture from the country I was raised in than the country my forefathers are from, I always strive to hold on to as much culture that originates from the motherland. I believe holding on to tradition (especially Filipino traditions) keeps my dirty American greed at bay and my humility level higher than Woodstock 1969. When I find myself complaining that I’m too broke to buy the newest, dumbass Apple product, I quickly remind myself of my fellow Filipino brethren who are struggling just to put food on the table. Again, washing that dirty ass American greed off me bloody hands.
Case in point: I ate balut for the first time this weekend.
My honest opinion: I wanted to throw up. I could feel the hair of the embryo and when I bit down I crushed the bird’s baby beak.
In retrospect: I’m glad I did it. Big ups to the motherland! **BUCK, BUCK, BUCK!!!**
SO, ANYBODY EAT ANYTHING INTERESTING FROM THEIR MOTHERLAND????
![[del.icio.us]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png "Balut Egg")
![[Digg]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png "Balut Egg")
![[Facebook]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png "Balut Egg")
![[Google]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png "Balut Egg")
![[MySpace]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png "Balut Egg")
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png "Balut Egg")
![[Technorati]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png "Balut Egg")
![[Twitter]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png "Balut Egg")
![[Windows Live]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png "Balut Egg")
![[Yahoo!]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png "Balut Egg")
![[Email]](http://www.ramendays.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png "Balut Egg")
7 responses so far ↓
1 Megan // Feb 9, 2010 at 3:40 pm
One time I picked fried baby octopus at a Chinese buffet. I cut into it and found the only cooked part was the bread coating. The inside was completely raw. The suckers hadn’t even been removed.
2 diligent diletante // Feb 9, 2010 at 8:51 pm
My friend’s dad used to scare me with those. He would say “look..its donald duck…quack quack!’
3 Caleb // Feb 9, 2010 at 10:48 pm
DD - haha that ain’t right.
4 caninecologne // Feb 10, 2010 at 2:08 am
all right man! you did it!!!!! YOu know Filipinos could totally win on Fear Factor!
i’m Filipina but I wouldn’t even eat a balut!!!! i’ll eat “chocolate meat” though! ha ha!
5 Caleb // Feb 10, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Chocolate meat all day!! I haven’t had any dinuguan awhile cause I don’t know how to make it. I can’t trust myself with blood and pork. I’m afraid I might just be handing out plates of sickness if I tried. I’ll leave the dinuguan up to my grandma.
6 caninecologne // Feb 10, 2010 at 11:35 pm
yeah, i remember that episode. white people are such pussies. anyone from a third world country would win on fear factor. that shit isn’t nasty to them. that’s FOOD!!!
there is a funny parody shirt of ‘chocolate meat’. i forgot who made it but it was a pinoy company…instead of a ‘hershey’ on the candy bar wrapper, it said, ‘chocolate meat’. i’d totally wear that.
7 Caleb // Feb 11, 2010 at 6:47 pm
We need to make a superhuman that melds these two together. With the food taking ability of a Filipino and the extreme mentally of a white person. And we’ll call that person a “Whilipino”.
Whilipino Pride!! WHAT WHAT!!
Leave a Comment