Anyone for Balut? (Duck Fetus)

I do not mean to offend anyone by writing this blog. I just have to express myself about how disgusting I find this delicatessen to be. Someone that I had met recently said that in all fairness to the Balut, eating a fetus is just like eating roe (fish eggs) which we find in California Maki or other kinds of Japanese dishes. But there's nothing cute about these duck fetus and I just cannot fathom the texture it may have inside the mouth. Imagine the feathers, feet, beak!!! (eeeuuuwww!)

It is full of protein and iron which is why it is said that Filipino men usually eat one or two of these before engaging in love making. It is supposed to give him the strength and lust to last for hours. That's fine with me as long as the guy eats it (hihi). It is also very high in cholesterol so some feel pain on the back of his neck after consuming more than one fetus.

Basically, BALUT is a fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Here in the Philippines, the fetus is usually 17 days old before it is boiled and kept warm under a blanket ready to be devoured by beer drinkers but mind you, one can find this aphrodisiac in a 5 star hotel but of course, served in a more appetizing manner.

Now believe it or not, here in the Philippines almost every single person has eaten a Balut at least once in his life. Some even eat as many as 4 or 5 in one session of beer drinking spree.

I once asked an American friend, Justin Smith, to eat one of these and it took him about 7 minutes to finish it because he found it difficult to chew and swallow the baby duck. But according to Justin, it doesn't taste so bad. Looking at the photos now, guess I have to take his word for it and leave it at that.

Thanks but NO THANKS!!!