Morally Dubious Cuisine? Really!

I was visiting the Boondocks today and saw his post regarding an article that describes Philippine cuisine as disgusting and morally dubious. Seeing as the author seemed to have gone out of her way to seek out unusual delicacies, definitely not mainstream Filipino cuisine, I agree with Bill's quandary about 'morally dubious' description.

Some of the food the author sampled:

Day 1: Skewer of one-day-old chicks
Day 2: Balut
Day 3: Ube jam
Day 4: Dog meat
Day 5: Betelnut
Day 6: Pinikpikan
Day 7: Crickets

Looking at the list, it should have been labeled as extreme cuisine or curious cuisine rather than titling it Culinary Curiosities: The Philippines' challenging cuisine. It implies that this selection is somehow typical of Philippines' cuisine.

I am confused as to why she threw in Ube Jam in this company. Is it a 'which item does not belong' test? Because this definitely sticks out like a sore thumb. I had to laugh at her comment that "The ube jam was sweet, but the consistency was strangely starchy." Hmmmm... maybe because ube is a starch?

Also, if you want to get technical; Betelnut, I don't think should be on the list for 'cuisine'. That would be just like calling chewing tobacco an appetizer.

As for the rest, sure, call them disgusting if you like. It is a matter of taste after all. I've tasted some of the other items on the list. And just like any type of cooking, depending on whose cooking it, they can be downright delicious. It's just a matter of what you're used to. Like Bill said, some people think tomatoes are disgusting.





Visit our new blogs:
Amoores.com
Cooked from the Heart - our new food blog
Our New Backyard - garden & photo blog
Found Not Lost - about all the things we 'find' worth talking about