food

Street Food Manila Edition: Eating Balut

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I’m going to warn you, this video may not be for the faint-hearted. Especially those of you who love animals.

Have you ever seen that episode of Fear Factor where the contestants have to eat an almost developed duck egg? Well, in the Philippines, it’s called Balut, and it’s common street food, even sold in 7-Eleven for a mere 15 Philippine pesos ($0.34)!

The thought of eating an almost formed chick will put many people off, but it excited me because this was something I knew I HAD to try. One of my principles of being a foodie is having an open mind and the courage to try things. I was so determined to try balut that I went almost immediately after I checked in to my hostel.

We had some difficulty finding it at first, but after visiting multiple street vendors, we finally found a man pushing his bicycle cart filled with roasted peanuts and boiled baby ducklings.

So, what did I think? You can probably tell from my expression in the video… Honestly, I had some hesitation when I was peeling the shell open, but it’s one of those experiences where you just have to close your eyes… and slurp it. It wouldn’t even come out at first, so I had to loosen the embryo with my finger, heh.

I don’t know if I would willingly eat another one because I can’t get over the crunchiness of the beak? Maybe it’s cartilage or bone? Don’t think I really want to know, haha… But hey, now I can say I’ve tried it, survived, and even enjoyed the yolky part. Food is part of the cultural experience, and I definitely think I checked the “Explore Filipino Culture” box after that mouthful.

Tomato Watermelon Salad Recipe

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I had lunch at Sitka & Spruce (Capitol Hill, Seattle) one weekend where I ordered a wonderfully fresh tomato watermelon salad. I fell in love with it instantly and decided to recreate it on my own. It’s a lovely summer salad because it has a great combination of refreshing ingredients, and the watermelon has a meaty texture so it works great as a quick lunch or dinner option! I’m always a fan of quick and easy meals.

Ingredients Makes 2-3 servings

  • Small watermelon*
  • 2 tomatoes*
  • 1 1/2 cups feta cheese
  • 3 sprigs of fresh mint leaves
  • 2 sprigs of fresh basil leaves
  • Fresh ground pepper
  • Salt to taste

Directions 

  1. Chop watermelon into bite-size pieces
  2. Chop tomatoes into bite-size pieces
  3. Mix watermelon, tomatoes, basil, and mint together
  4. Serve with LOTS of fresh ground pepper and feta cheese (add salt to taste)

*To add more color to the dish, use some heirloom tomatoes or yellow watermelon.

I also love this dish for dinner parties because it can be prepped and chilled the night before. And all you have to do is garnish with feta and pepper before serving. Your guests will not expect watermelon in their first course… totally more exciting than a green salad!

Mandarin Cucumber Couscous Salad Recipe

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Waking up to dark mornings again is a reminder that winter in Seattle is coming, so I decided to make a summer salad and cherish whatever afternoon sunshine that is left. I initially had this salad at a work event and adopted it at home. This is a fresh salad that will brighten your taste buds for sure… and it’s super easy!

Makes 3-4 servings

  • 1 cup dried couscous
  • 1 1/4 cup of water
  • 1/2 of a medium red onion, minced
  • 1 can/1 cup of mandarin oranges, minced
  • 1/2 cucumber, minced
  • 1/4 cup of cilantro, chopped (add more if desired!)

Directions

  1. Add the dried couscous to 1 1/4 cup boiling water. Cook until fluffy and set aside to cool.
  2. Mix the onion, mandarin oranges, cucumber, cilantro, and couscous.
  3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

That’s it! 3 easy steps, and so delicious! Eat it with some protein or veggies and you’ve got yourself a quick meal.

King Crab in Juneau, Alaska

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Crab Shack Combo (King Crab Leg, Crab Cakes and Crab Bisque) @ Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau, AK

A friend took me on a day trip to Juneau, and it is such a beautiful place. Our first stop was Tracy’s King Crab Shack, and for $38 (tax included!), I had fresh king crab legs the size of my head and the best crab bisque I’ve ever had in my life! Not to mention 4 crab cakes on the side too… what a deal!

More to come on my trip to Alaska!