Balut in the Tampa Bay area

[Little T.]

Does anyone know where to find it?

[andy huse]

alright, Little T, are you just putting us on here? how about posting a picture of you eating that stuff?

[Little T.]

Nope, not my style :-)

[andy huse]

it was worth a try....

[Little T.]

I should add . . . Preferably prepared and served at a restaurant.

[CFishman]

I think I have met my match, Little T. You will have to report back about how your experiment goes. Regina's was recommended to me awhile back but I haven't been able to get over there. Being one of the few (only?) Filipino places around, it might be worth checking out.

http://www.examiner.com/philippines-h...

[Little T.]

Yep, I have heard Regina's is pretty good.

I'll be sure to report back if I can bring myself to do it . . .

[Mild Bill]

Darn, I wish we didn't miss Phil-Fest 2011 in April!
That would have been a good get together... Regina's looks interesting too!

I love all the crazy stuff, but I always thought Balut is where I draw the line...

That's why I will do it...

Little T, let me know when you find some and I'll meet you there...
We'll suck out those fetus's's's like a couple Honey Badgers, and get it on video...

And then of course the ceremonial chewing of 20 pieces of Bubblicious!

[Little T.]

I'll let you know . . . There will have to be a lot of San Miguel involved :-)

[kempshark]

I think you might have a hard time finding them served in a restaurant. You'll probably have to buy them at a market. I've never been over to the Philippines, but my friend was over there a couple of years ago and said none of the restaurants served them. You had to buy them from the street vendors. Yes, he ate them and said they were good. I still can't bring myself to actually try one.

[ospreycove]

For those still wondering about Balut and what it looks like see link below
http://www.whatisbalut.com/what-is-ba...

[Mild Bill]

Yeah, after reading the article. and after careful consideration------ nevermind... ;-)

[askdrtodd]

haha I wonder if someone would make me a balomelet?

[Little T.]

hehehehe . . . A southwestern balomelet

[askdrtodd]

or like a crab balenedict

[kempshark]

I know you can get them at Dong A Market at 2600 30th Ave North in St. Petersburg. They also have them at Dong A 2 Market at 8730 49th St North. I believe Cho Lon at 5944 34th St North also carries Balut, but I know I've seen them at the other two places. All of these places are in Pinellas County. I'm not familiar with the asian markets in Tampa, so I don't know which ones might carry it. I think almost every asian market in Pinellas County carries it.

Personally I haven't been able to get past the visuals and actually get one in my mouth, but my wife's relatives (from Laos) eat them.

[Old E.]

I thought Oceanic carried them.

[askdrtodd]

Probably. Would be surprised if they didn't. What's the other huge asian market?

[askdrtodd]

Man, those wikipedia pictures sure were appetizing...

[TampaPete]

Why!!!!!!?

[twyst]

I couldn't ever bring myself to try it either, but who knows, maybe its delicious.

[Mytah]

TampaPete made me lol.

[rhnault]

I wish I had not googled it. I remember seeing Anthony Bourdain completely skeeved by it as well.

[Manderley]

i did google it, and i'm sorry i did. i can't get those awful photos out of my head. arrrrrgghhhhh

[Little T.]

You eat eggs for breakfast / lunch / and or dinner, no? Do you eat chicken and dine on Peking duck?

[sunshine842]

most folks make a point of removing bones, feet, etc. Not too many people popping a Perdue chicken down whole.

[askdrtodd]

this isn't like "sushi" vs "cooked fish", this is more "mutated fetus" vs. "yummy creamy egg yolk". I mean it's apples and (mutant) oranges haha

[rhnault]

Exactly how I feel!

[Manderley]

this is not eggs or chicken or peking duck. this looks like something that belongs in a jar in the laboratory of a mad scientist.

[Manderley]

i might if i knew what the heck it was.