A Boodle fight is a traditional Filipino way of eating food off a banana leaf using your hands.
🍢 What is inside a Boodle Fight? 🍢
Typically, it can include grilled dishes such as seafood, pork, chicken, and beef.
That doesn’t exclude fried dishes though. It is also paired with vegetables and rice or noodles.
A great boodle fight can have a variety of dishes, which makes it a great experience.
🤜🏽 I don't feel comfortable eating with my hands. Can I still eat with utensils? 🤛🏽
Sure you can! No one said that you cannot. If you ask, a Filipino will be more than happy to serve you utensils
but you will be missing out on the experience. Filipinos love to eat food. The rest of the world
has their own way of eating food. Filipinos grew up using our hands and this culture has been passed down
through generations; rich or poor and young and old. Everyone knows how to do it.
If you’re still asking “why?” The answer is, “mas nagiging masarap ang pagkain” (the food tastes better).
“Kamay” is the Tagalog word for hands, and so the Tagalog name for Boodle Fight is “Kamayan.”
As always, make sure your nails are cut, or cleaned all the way through. We encourage healthy eating!!
❓ How do you eat with your hands? ❓
1. Gather up the rice in a small mound.
Using your dominant hand, gather up the rice into a small mound.
Use your fingers to shape the rice and ulam
(any vegetable or meat served with rice).
Typically your index finger and thumb.
2. Squeeze in, then press down.
Using the same hand you used in step 1, squeeze your fingers together (yes, all 5 fingers) and press down on
the mound of rice you’ve gathered.
It may look like a little mountain/hill. This makes it easier for you to
do the next step.
(Optional) Put a bite-size portion of whatever your ulam is underneath the rice.
3. Scoop/Lift and push.
Scoop or lift your hand as soon as you’ve pressed down on the rice mound and bring it to your mouth.
All that’s left is for you to open your mouth and push the food in with your thumb.
You can do this effectively if you’ll make sure that your fingers are close to your lower teeth and your thumb close to the top front teeth.
4. Voila!
Eating with your hands gets easier and hopefully the food becomes tastier to you.
🇵🇭 Sounds fun! Where can I try this? 🇵🇭
If you have funds and time, I encourage you to fly to the Philippines where you can fully immerse yourself
in the experience. Currently, Boodle Fights are not as common in the US but there are some restaurants who
do have them available on certain days. It may be easier to find a place who can create the experience for
you for your first time. Research your area and you may find one near you! Otherwise, feel free to send us
your email and we can send you a guide on how to make your own Boodle Fight!
