Tag Archives: balut

POPE ASKS FOR BALUT FOR FIRST DINNER IN THE PHILIPPINES

January 15, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – It is no secret that Pope Francis, since being chosen leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has chosen a life of simplicity, giving up the papal limousine in favor of an old, used Fiat and opting to live in an apartment in the Vatican where he dines with other clergy and seminarians.

Continuing this simple living, the Pope tonight refused the Kobe beef served for his first dinner at the Apostolic Nunciature where he will be staying during his Manila visit.

Instead, he asked for a piece of balut, that lowly but delicious boiled duck embryo peddled in the streets of the metropolis and a favorite food of poor people.

“I came here in solidarity with the poor and disadvantaged, so I want to eat as they eat,” the Pope said in Latin.

The pope apparently liked it so much, he asked for a second serving.

Viva il Papa! Long Live the Balut!

Food, Law Enforcement, Local News

PRICE OF BALUT IN CALIFORNIA TO INCREASE 100%

January 1, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Sacramento, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Balut-loving Filipinos and others are in for some bad news effective January 1, 2015. Balut prices will increase 100%.

Balut is a duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell. It is commonly sold as street food in the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is widely available at Asian supermarkets in California and other states in the U.S.

The culprit in the price hike is California’s Proposition 2, or the Standards for Confining Farm Animals, which was passed by voters in 2008 and which takes into effect January 1, 2015.

Proposition 2 created a new state statute that prohibits the confinement of farm animals -especially chicken and duck – in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.

Duck raisers in California had to expand their farms and cages to comply with the new law, costing them an arm and a leg, and then some, to maintain their business.

“We have no choice but increase our balut prices in order to recover our additional investments,” said one duck raiser and balut supplier.

So balut lovers should be prepared to pay an average price of $6 per egg beginning in 2015. In Philippine pesos, that’s P260!

Festivals, Food, Human Interest, International, Politics, Religion, The Media

AQUINO STARTS A NEW PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL EASTER TRADITION: BALUT HUNT

April 16, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines – In the U.S., the First Family will host the 136th annual White House Easter Egg Roll on April 21 which is expected to draw 30,000 people to the South Lawn of the presidential residence. Those in luck will be able to take home keepsake eggs in bold colors stamped with the signatures of President and Mrs. Barack Obama.

In the Philippines, President Noynoy Aquino, in his bid to bring Malacañang Palace (the presidential residence) closer to the people, has announced the first ever “balut hunt” this coming Easter Sunday. He hopes to make this an annual tradition even among his presidential successors. This new tradition, cooked up by Aquino’s brilliant press office staff, will feature a hunt for red, white, blue and yellow- painted balut with Aquino’s thumb print on them, hidden in the unkempt lawn of the palace. Those are the colors of the Philippine flag. The event will be open to a maximum of 1,000 children of families who must pay a registration fee of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (in excess of $2,000) per attendee.

The deadline for registration has been set for April 18, Good Friday. No checks or credit cards accepted. Cash only.

Balut is a Filipino delicacy of boiled duck embryo (see photo).