Balut

My first and likely last balut, five years ago!

I used to run several Meetup dining groups. One was Adventurous Eating, where we would put aside our fear of “strange” or unfamiliar foods and just take a leap of faith. At least then I could say I’d tried it even if I didn’t like it.

Balut was one of them. It was not easy, knowing what it was, and seeing it for what it was. What it is is a fertilized bird egg that has incubated 14 to 21 days that is boiled or steamed and eaten in the shell. The ones we had were much younger than what is usually served (8 days, I think). It tasted like chicken broth, but I had to close my eyes.I wasn’t too keen on the texture, either.

I know people who love it. I know there are foods that used to come out of necessity and are now either popular street foods or delicacies. I would never disparage someone else’s food. Some people would categorize such foods as “bizarre.” There’s nothing bizarre about them. They’re unfamiliar, and therefore to me it’s an adventure. That’s it.

So, reader, I am asking for your food stories. What types of foods are strange to you that you wouldn’t eat?

As always, please keep it civil and relevant. I promise I will refrain from commenting on your experience, but I might be curious enough to ask questions to better understand your story.