Penoy and Balot

[Izobel]

My mom and my siblings really love to eat penoy.

As for myself, I only like penoy. As it's "safer" to eat it, morally speaking. Balut on the other hand, well, I don't really like it. Not just for it's bad health rep, but it kind of makes me feel like I'm eating a life that should've been born. Yes, I'm vegetarian and slowly taking steps to becoming vegan, but that's just me.

Who among you here likes to eat it as well? Which do you prefer, penoy or balut? Why? What are your views on these exotic food in our country?

[Corzhens]

I was born and raised with the orientation that balut is a healthy food. When I was young, I remember my father calling the balut vendor and the vendor would stay in front of our gate for quite a time because there are many of us in the house who would be eating balut. Although I usually have 1 piece only, my brothers are voracious eaters of balut. I don't care much for penoy because it is simply boiled duck egg. Balut is has the yellow part which is really good to the taste. With the small chick inside? I eat it without looking, hahahaaah. Balut is still here but I have noticed that vendors are getting few and far between. Maybe it is the changing of times when people have changing taste. And not only balut but some other native foods are also vanishing now.

[missbookworm]

My mom really loves eating balut. As for me though, I couldn't totally tolerate it. I have only eaten balut once in my life, and I don't think I would ever try it again. To answer your question, I would definitely pick penoy over balut.

[Izobel]

So it's like saying, for the love of balut, I'll dare eat it, but without looking. How do you eat it @Corzhens? I mean, you must be feeling it inside your mouth, I mean the chick, right? How are you feeling while eating it? Oh I can't really imagine myself doing it.

@missbookworm haha yes, you shouldn't try eat balut ever. Let's leave it to them.

As for them, balut and penoy vendors becoming fewer and fewer as years go by, maybe it's somehow because those food stalls in the LRT, MRT and in malls are incorporating balut and penoy in their set of finger food menu. Sometimes I think, they may be good for the economy, having them displayed in these public places but it kind of takes away the essence of these delicacies to be called street foods..

[MrsS]

I used to eat balut when I was younger because I was not aware that it was a developing duck that was inside. Until my cousin pointed out to me the beak, feathers, and other parts of a duck embryo, I swore not to eat it even though it tasted good to me. So from that day onwards, I have never eaten a balut. But the penoy, I like it especially when I eat it with vinegar that's a bit spicy and garlicky. But I do not really crave for it. I just eat it when it is available.