Boodle fight - traditional culinary fight
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Boodle fight. Traditional Filipino feast

We have only presented you bibinka from Filipino cuisine so far… Today it’s time for the Boodle fight! It will be short, but nevertheless tasty!

Traditional feast

Boodle fight, also known as Kamayan, it’s a traditional Filipino way of eating with bare hands. This is thought to have originated from the Philippine military, where soldiers are gathered around a long table so they can grab food and eat as much as they can before others can grab them, hence the name “fight”.

The word ‘kamayan’, on the other hand, is derived from the Tagalog language and simply means doing something with the hand. This is how Filipinos ate their meals in pre-colonial times. Unlike many Asian countries, chopsticks were not very popular in the Philippines. Today, of course, you can eat with cutlery, but also try the traditional ‘kamayan’ way. Use your fingers to feel the grains of rice, the fat of roast pork, the texture of vegetables and the stickiness of Filipino desserts. Boodle fight is a culinary adventure!

On banana leaves

A meal is served on top of a table lined with banana leaves, and diners usually eat bare hands while standing. Although the selection of Filipino dishes is entirely of your choice, the rice takes on a central role as the significant component along with the addition of sawsawan (various sauces served especially with grilled dishes) or condiments to complete the dining experience. In classic kamayan feasts, the served foods are dry and finger-friendly like grilled or fried (pork, grilled fish, shrimps, crabs, and scallops). 

No to the rules

Today, boodle fight is less of a fight and more of a way to share food while spending time together. Remember – in boodle fights, there are no rules set as to how it is done; you can freely eat however you want, just make sure to devour all the food with your bare hands! Enjoy!


Author: Kristine Fariolen (USC Student)

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