DUCK EMBRYO ANY TAKERS?

If you check out the list of the 15 most repulsive foods in the world, you might be surprised to see among the list is a duck embryo, locally known in the Philippines as Balut second to Indonesia´s poop coffee. (http://www.greendaily.com/gallery/top-15-most-disgusting-foods-on-record/)

The repugnant idea of savoring a duck embryo contained in its eggshell can make a person puke right infront of you so here´s the caveat: make sure you give yourself a few distance away from a person who you´re talking to about this subject matter or you´ll get what you never expected.)

But let me tell you that there´s more to this disgusting stuff than what is inside the shell.In the Philippines, duck embryo is a native delicacy that is already classified as an exotic food gourmet and currently being manufactured for world export market. I know what you´re thinking that who in the right frame of mind would try that outside Asia?

Duck embryos popularly known as Balut are widely sold by street vendors specifically at night when they´re mostly picked as the most appetizing midnight snack that blends well with a local beer. Huh? I know that´s going to be your reaction while reading that part. Now, you can lower down your eyebrows first and let me tell you who would nod their heads once they get a balut offer. These are those who love Manila´s night life, musical entertainers strolling down the street in the middle of the night after gigs, pajama party goers who need a break from their all night gossip marathon, beer lovers engaged in a drinking spree and those who just simply crave for something to devour before hitting the sack. Balut eaters are all types of people from all walks of life in the Philippines. Its exotic taste is just simply hard to resist and endearing to a lot of Filipinos.

How is this native delicacy basically eaten? Since it is best served when it´s warm, first you crack the top part of the egg open and sip the warm soup inside then add pinch of salt or vinegar laced with hot peppers whatever suits your tastes. Then peel off the eggs to so you can gobble down the inside part of the egg. Note that I didn´t intentionally mention the term duck embryo so as not to turn you off (at least not just yet.) If you are squeamish about staring at the image of baby Donald duck (like me), just look away from what you´re eating. In other words, don´t stare at the duck embryo! And just enjoy and remember the delectable taste in your mouth. And you will see that one duck embryo will not be enough. Don´t worry, mother duck will not mind if you will definitely ask for one more.

For some frequent travelers, eating exotic native delicacies could either make them like the country or outright abhor this part of its culture. Whether you experience an ox penis, grilled spiders and rats in Cambodia, bee larva and caterpillar fungus in China, rats in Cambodia, snake blood in Java Indonesia, worms in Taipei, fried lizards in Thailand, grasshopper tacos in Mexico, these foods as gross as they may look (but not necessarily taste) hold a great value to the country´s culture. When being offered with native specialties in any Asian country, you don´t have to be a Bizarre Food TV host, Andrew Zimmern copy cat- a guy with a stomach made of steel who is known to jump right into any food blurting out a famous line : When it tastes good, eat it You are not expected to utter nasty comments either how nauseating they are to your taste as it may sound offensive to the locals ( though most of Asian people will just shrug their shoulders or laugh it off about snooty comments from foreigners.) As a guest in an exotic country, it would be polite to look interested in the country´s native foods or at least pretend that you are even if you are not ballsy enough to try them.

When eating Philippine´s duck embryo, ask around locals more information about it. How it´s being cooked, the best way it is served and the business side of selling the exotic gourmet.This way, Filipinos would appreciate you as their guest as you have embraced a part of their Philippine culture. On hindsight, your curiosity with duck embryo may eventually make you get convinced to try one. But in any case you are able to muster a stronger stomach to try one, my advice-never ever offer a duck embryo on your first date.

Hope that makes sense.