Different parts of the world have different customs and cultures, different favorite foods and delicacies. But it’s hilarious how one food can be so delicious for one culture but completely gross for another!
That’s exactly what netizens are saying about the ‘balut’ of the Philippines and the roasted lizard rice bowls in Vietnam…
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
If you’re traveling to Vietnam, you’ll surely want to taste the local delicacies. Vietnam spring rolls and the rice noodle dish ‘pho’ are popular options, but did you know that the locals also have another favorite delicacy that the most adventurous travelers might want to try: roasted lizard rice bowl.
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
“Netizens can’t accept that the Vietnamese use roasted lizards to make such bizarre food like the ‘Lizard rice bowl’. Whoever has a lot of lizards at home, maybe you’ll earn heaps if you sell them to Vietnam!” one of the local blogs joked.
In case you’re wondering, the dish actually makes use of common house lizards – yes, the exact same lizards that you can find at home!
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
The house lizards are most likely bred in a farm. When they reach the right size, they are cooked in an oven for traders to later sell in the market. You can actually buy a bag of dried lizards to bring back to your hotel room; though you are unlikely to be allowed to take them to your home country. Perhaps you can just cook the lizards at home if you’re craving for this dish?
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
Several netizens are joking that they might start a lizard farm business from the lizards they have at home. And if you’re from Vietnam, that’s actually a good idea! But since most netizens are grossed out by this, errrr, popular Vietnamese delicacy, you probably won’t be earning anything if you well in your home country.
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
Photo credit: Viral Cham / Facebook
What is a Delicacy?
A delicacy is a type of food that is considered to be highly desirable or popular within a certain culture. The label is used irrespective of local preferences, as long as the food is typically popular throughout a certain region.
The delicacy of one place might not be appealing to other cultures.