|
Monday, July 31, 2006
Boodle fight
By Stephen Capillas
THERE are few meals so disconcerting in its openness and yet so comfortable in its setting than the so-called "boodle fight" frequently found among military and police gatherings here in various parts of the country.
One such "boodle fight" was held in last Thursday's groundbreaking of the future housing site and future regional headquarters of the regional PNP-10 office spearheaded by Regional PNP-10 Director Florante Baguio and attended by PNP Deputy Director General Isidro Lapeña at Upper Gusa, this city.
In lieu of the usual catered lunch, the regional PNP hierarchy decided that a "boodle fight" was more appropriate and the guests, especially local media are only too happy to oblige.
Besides dispensing with niceties, eaters in "boodle fights" need only to wash hands and join others in digging in, "bayanihan" style so to speak.
Really, table manners are for prissy, aristocratic types better suited in first class restaurants. For those who pride themselves in being kinaw-boy (cowboy), a boodle fight can be considered a Real Man's Meal.
The former President Joseph Estrada and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were once photographed participating in "boodle fights" as a sign of solidarity and oneness with the troops and the police officers of the country.
Basically, a "boodle fight" consists of one very long table spread covered with a long line of steaming white rice mixed in with pancit (rice noodles with a mixture of vegetables and meat), sardines, pork bits and chicken pieces on top of banana leaves.
What makes it a fight is that partakers -- all people, both top ranked officials and lowly soldiers and cops -- line up on opposite sides of the table and simply dig in with their hands and gobble everything within their line of sight, specifically the food on the table spread.
But as boodle fight participants especially the soldiers know only too well from experience, there are little "landmines" placed in the food in the form of small chili peppers that if noticed, can scorch the mouths of eaters and give them heartburn.
Former President Estrada was one such "victim" and being the President of course he got his trusty bottle of cold mineral water on standby to cool off his taste buds. Arroyo wasn't so unfortunate, perhaps a skill which could partly explain why she manages to avoid the "hotseat" every now and then.
In any case, one needs only to wash their hands thoroughly or bring a bottle of alcohol/hand sanitizer if he or she is conscious of germs. But for those game enough or man enough, a "boodle fight" is one's ticket for an adventurous meal, cowboy style.
(July 31, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
