( Third Week of April 2024) – Island Life Perks: Grilled Balut and a Sunset Spectacle
Speaking of treats, the transition to island life has already brought some delightful surprises. When 5 in the afternoon ticks in, I usually head straight home after work. But this time, things were different. I snagged a ride with my sister and her family, and guess what? They stopped by the baywalk! This is where the real treat came in – grilled balut! There was a whole trend of grilled balut a while back, and even though I’m a little late to the party, this was actually my first time trying it. (HEHE! 😅) For those unfamiliar, it’s a fertilized duck egg, a local delicacy (that might sound intimidating at first.) This one was cooked differently from the regular boiled balut. It was cooked over charcoal, which gave it a smoky smell and a bit of crisp on the outside. (But I think it’s likely boiled first then grilled! LOL correct me if I’m wrong HAHA! 😅) The vendor cracked the top open of the egg then smothered it with a scoop of delicious spicy garlic sauce. However, I was a bit sad that it wasn’t hot – for me, eating balut is much better when it’s hot (” because good soup – good soup chef kiss 🤌” haha! 😅). Nevertheless, the flavor was garlicky spicy delicious, especially with a dash of vinegar, salt, and chili. I ended up ordering two! Another surprise? Apparently, plastic spoons are the go-to utensil for eating balut here in Bantayan Island, which I found surprisingly convenient.
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The Wanderlust Keeper 