For very obvious reasons, most of my foreign friends, mostly Americans and few Europeans, do not like bagoong and dried fish. While Filipinos consider bagoong and dried fish to be heavenly delectable, there are many eating mortals in the planet who just dislike the food and, instead, would prefer pizzas, burgers, and pastas.
Why? Here are reasons I gathered, which include, but not limited to, the following:
1. They despise the taste of dried fish.
Salty. The fish is prepared by soaking it in brine solution and then sun dried for hours!
2. They could die by a mere smell of dried fish being fried.
Stinky, and the stinky smell sticks to anything close by, especially your clothes.
3. Bagoong is salty (just like dried fish).
Whether it is fish bagoong (fermented anchovies + salt) or shrimp bagoong (fermented shrimp + salt), oversalting and undersalting always has effect on the quality of fermentation.
4. They only eat healthy food (opps, this contradicts to their love for fastfood!)
Is eating bagoong good for the health? A study shows that the traditional fish/shrimp paste condiment, or bagoong, of the Philippines contains the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. In its analysis, it was found that among the samples of bagoong, shrimp paste has the highest omega-3 content. Read the study here.
5. Dried fish is dirty!
It always depends on the manner of how the fish was prepared. Dried salted fish is not dirty!
6. Bagoong smells like a dead mouse.
Yes, bagoong has an extremely pungent smell, and that what makes it uniquely attractive to Filipinos.
7. Dried fish is only for the third-world country.
Wrong. Dried salted fish can be found in other parts of the world too.
8. YUCKY!
9. They want to die with McDonalds in their stomach!
According to Eric Schlosser, a journalist who wrote “Fast Food Nation”, every single day, a quarter of the U.S. population eat burgers, fries, and sodas at fast-food chains. Right, who needs dried fish in a fast food restaurant?
10. It is a cheap food.
So what if bagoong is cheap? It enhances the flavor of dishes, such as my favorite pinakbet. It goes well with green mangoes too.
What can you say, you, Filipino dried-fish-eating reader?
Image SOURCE.
Filipinos have extremely limited tastes and are naturally herd animals, like sheep. It makes little difference where you go in the Philippines, everyone is eating exactly the same thing and if you even suggest they change anything (hey, put a little flour in that Tinola to thicken it up) you can see the insecurity and fear in their eyes.
Americans are not like that. Sure, most eat fast food, but that’s because Americans have less time for cooking than Filipinos. Among Americans, you’ll find lots of groups each with a totally difference diet from any other. Just as there are American vegans, there are Americans who love beef, Americans who love spicy food, and Americans who love stinky food. Personally, I love bagoong, but then I also love spicy hot bell peppers and limberger cheese.
You can say Americans like this or don’t like that, because American don’t suffer the limitations that Filipinos impose upon themselves.
I’m a Filipino but never had Bagging and dried fish in my whole life. The smell is disgusting and the taste is awful. Sadly my daughter likes it, when she prepares it her white husband and I goes hiding because of the nasty smell LOL. I can’t find anything good about it. Coming from the Philippines the Customs official always ask if I brought those smelly food. Luckily I don’t eat them hence no need to worry, but most Filipinos will smuggle bringing in those stinky bagging/dried fish.
I wish that my ex husband had married a Filipina that eats bagoong and suffer the consequence of the disgusting smell. I heard once from a white person made a comment about Filipinos that loves to eat rotten food, dog meat, patis, my response was short. Oh not not all Filipinos like those food.
Oh well, it’s cultural to love those food.
I have done some research into the benefits of fermented foods. I assumed that bagoong probably has some special qualities which would qualify it as a superfood.
I have been eating it ever since.
I’m a Filipino but I don’t like eating bagoong. However, I enjoy eating dried fish. :)
@rick: Thanks for catching that! ..already corrected it!
6. Bagoong smells like a dead mice. (you mean mouse)
@JesieJourney: When I was in Europe I was asked by my “white” mates if I had the intention to kill them with the stinky smell of dried fish in the corridor.
I felt guilty after that incident, that I stopped frying and eat the dried fish a little bit uncooked. LOL.
@ladyaha: I have encountered few Americans who actually eat bagoong! I was surprised!
LOL, my husband doesn’t eat the dried stuff but good thing that he learns to eat fresh fish and shrimps. He’s a potato and chips eater.
I like fried anchovies but my husband said it is so nasty. The whole house stinks.
My husband is a big white guy from Missouri. He loves bagoong, I’ve seen him eat it straight out the jar. He’s one of a rare few though. My family has given him the honorary Filipino certificate! haha!