American Pinoy Food

Bungled my balut ($2), the Filipino street food that's more than an egg, but not quite yet a duck; while worrying open that thick shell, I spilled a fair amount of the liquid inside. The small remaining portion that I could identify as the white was very firm, almost tough; the yolk and the "off color" portions were more yielding — imagine a liver custard — with a gamey and still faintly eggy flavor.

On a previous occasion, at the Jersey City store, the purple yam/jackfruit variety of this refrigerated EngBeeTin brand "hopia combi," (160 g.; $1.59) was reminiscent of chilled newtons. Lucia brand banana brittle (pinasugbo; 150 g.; $1.19) consisted of banana and sesame seeds bound with cane sugar, glucose, and honey, then wrapped in little paper cones that were tough to remove entirely. Candy buttons, anyone?

American Pinoy Food
530 Newark Ave., Jersey City
201-798-0032
At the Philippine Independence Parade and Street Fair