BananaQ Balut in Chicago? Attn: Bar Owners and Bar Patrons

BananaQ is inviting bar owners / managers and the media to come to Wild Pug on April 21, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m. to taste the Balut, and see if it can be offered by the bars and nightspots. This is a private event, but good for the public to know. Some food bloggers are invited. We hope that the owners of LTHForum can respond and be there as well. If you feel you want to be there, let us know. (You have to eat a balut, and not be allergic to duck).

Balut is the duck egg with the chick inside, it's slow-cooked, and has been made infamous by Fear Factor. Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain have also featured it in their shows.

BananaQ is hoping that Chicago becomes the first city to offer it in the bars outside of Asia.

Please go to http://www.bananaq.com for more information.

Hi,

Many of us have already eaten balut, what makes your balut unique?

Regards,

According to their website, the balut is free (I'm assuming the OP isn't going to respond, but I hope they do) I don't think they realized they just opened up this private event to the 6,000+ posters here on LTH, many of whom are interested in balut - I know I am.

I read through their website, and I gotta say, I'm left scratching my head. I can't for the life of me figure out exactly what their goal/business plan is. If their goal is to try to make money by selling balut to bars, then it's odd how negative their website is about the idea in some places: "If you know of another way to get attention and publicity that just might be better than Balut, let us know", "IF the Balut idea fizzles out..."

The line that struck me as the weirdest is on the Bar Owners page: "BananaQ does not really directly suggest selling BananaQ Balut. We suggest for you to have a 'gimmick' or a way to attract more business."

Their marketing angle is also an interesting one, like this bit found halfway down the front page: "Groups of friends or coworkers can come to a bar to witness a friend or colleague eat a Balut as part of an initiation, dare or punishment for losing a bet."

My theory is in line with the line from the bottom of the front page, under "Whose Idea Was This?": "Blame Val. He's the perpetrator. He's also an artist and a writer, and has other ideas up his sleeve." I personally think the media notice he they keep referring to is not really for the bars, but for themselves, to bring some media spotlight (and investors' dollars) to his "other ideas". Of course, this could just be the cynic in me talking.

Whatever the case, I'm all for people running with their small business ideas & sincerely hope they succeed...but I would strongly urge them to consider getting some professional assistance with both their website & their overall business plan.

That said, I'll take my initiation/hazing/bet-loss-payment in the form of some sort of vile shot (Malörquilaschlagermeister?)...you ain't gonna get me to eat balut