The annual Balut (A.K.A trứng vịt lộn) Eating Contest just took place in New York City where contestants were tasked with eating as many of the duck fetuses as possible in a 5-minute window.
The year’s contest, sponsored by local restaurants, was won by Wayne Algenio, who claimed his third straight victory. Alegino was able to consume an impressive 40(!) eggs after eating 18 and 37 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Trứng vịt lộn is a common street food in Asian countries such as Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and China due to its high nutritional value. Similar to durian, it is a polarizing dish – you either love it or hate it.
There are, however some subtle differences in the way that these countries serve the dish - in the Philippines, eggs are incubated for no more than 17 days to keep the inside soft and featherless (these were the variety in the Balut competition). However, Vietnamese allow the process to continue for an additional 2 days, permitting for the formation of bones and feathers.
How many trứng vịt lộn do you think you could down in 5 minutes? My score? 0.
