In the rich history of the Philippines, various unique flavors of Filipino cuisine have been formed. The terms mix-match, mashed-up, culinary fusion are often used to describe Filipino dishes or cuisine. And also because of the extensive experience of the Philippines, we can say that Filipino cuisine is a fusion of different flavors around the world.
Filipino food is filled with flavor, color and delicious aroma. The unique blend of sweet, sour and salty condiments is unique. It lets every taste soak into the ingredients of any cuisine, a unique blend of flavors and results in a pleasant taste of food. Filipino dishes are very colorful, accompanied by vegetables, seafood, meat and more.
Derived from a rich history of culture and mixed flavors, aromas and colors of different styles of cooking and serving make up Filipino cuisine. Let's find out if a unique method of serving Filipino food is the Boodle fight.
What is boodle fight?
This Filipino tradition originated in the Philippine military where a high pile of food was served in the middle of a long table in a hall. Here the hungry soldiers are waiting. They are willing to eat with only their hands. It is a group of soldiers of different ranks and status in life but willing to eat with only their hands. The "hand" symbolizes fellowship, brotherhood and military equality. The "fight" in the name refers to the quick action of seizing (in a friendly way of course) the dish served before it was taken by another soldier, especially if it was the last piece and you really enjoyed it, you will deal really. Remember that it is delivered to hungry men so if you are slow you will definitely run out of food.
Today, the boodle fight is gradually becoming known in different parts of the world and everyone is happily sharing their boodle fight experience through their youtube sharing. Many of the participants are foreigners and first time to experience a boodle fight.
What to expect?
In a Boodle Fight different types of food are served on a clean banana leaf. The banana leaves will be laid out on a long table, depending on how much to eat as well as the length of the table. Rice, which is most important to Filipinos, is neatly lined up in the middle of a banana leaf and is surrounded by a variety of dishes. At both ends there is the same arrangement of the dish. No spoons or forks can be found on the table, only delicious and tasty dishes are there and only hands will be used for food. And since only using hands, it is important to wash well before eating. It is forbidden to be shy or shy in Boodle Fight if you do not go home hungry. Hehehe.
Usually in this traditional cuisine of the Filipinos, the dishes served are dry dishes (dry food), there are also other dishes with sauce but these are only a few. They mostly prepare grilled foods, grilled fish, meat or poultry and even vegetables. Often, especially if the group is on a beach or river the theme of the food is seafood, it will be accompanied by a variety of seafood, shrimp, crabs, fish, mussels, and seaweeds such as ar-arosep or green caviar or sea grapes in English.
It is also accompanied by other vegetables such as okra, tomato, eggplant and they also add salted eggs. Like a complete meal it also has fruits like pineapple and mango. Other themes have a pig lechon in the middle and salo-saong pi-pira-pirsauin it until exhausted if they can.
In a boodle fight you will find at least 15 different types of food and sometimes it will take 25 more, which will sometimes be served at the table for the group to share. The cook hopes that it will consume everything so when it comes to the boodle, just eat until you are full, as long as there is still space inside the stomach to taste all the dishes.
While eating at a Boodle fight everyone will be busy eating, busy tasting every dish served. Laughter and storytelling will not be lost, especially among friends. And for sure when the food is about to run out you will hear "that's mine" "oh, let's split, I like that ei". It was fun to eat in a boodle fight and as I write this it goes back to the past and mejo long time also that I have not experienced a boodle fight, especially and we are in the middle of the pandemic.
