Corleen, Beshy, TBK, Ronnie and Jake with our Boodle Fight
I was first introduced to a Boodle Fight in Palawan when my good friends Marz and Ray prepared one when I was staying in Sibaltan a few years back. So when I left Bapco and was transitioning to being a retiree in the Philippines it was on my list to try. Then we saw a company advertising Boodle fights and with COV 19 preventing dine in they offered to deliver it to your house and set it all up. We decided to try it one Friday ( 18 June 2021) and I contacted the company online on Facebook. It was so easy to arrange. They messaged me within an hour and I selected our menu, date and time on an online reservation form, sent them my location through what's app ( how did I ever live without a mobile) and they checked a few details and confirmed the booking. 
Here you see the Boodle fight construction starting with Banana leaves and rice
On the day the guys turned up as agreed at 10.30 am with trolley loads of food, a table, a supply of plastic gloves and two bottles of coke for the 5 of us. Sadly my Kuya Coco had to work but we saved him some! They very quickly set up the Boodle fight and worked quietly and efficiently and artistically to arrange all the seafood on the table.
Two types of rice are used to add colour and then the vegetables are added
One of my personal favourites when interacting with a supplier is the personal touch. The owner of the catering company was touched by my story ( retiring to the Philippines and wanting to say goodbye to my Pinoy friends with a Traditional Pinoy feast) and so she came around to say farewell and wish me luck. I think I can count on one hand how often that happens. Off the top of my head - the Gulf hotel, Chennai Panicker Travel, Tony Roma, Microtel Puerto Princessa, Pooches' Kitchen , LVF and The Frying Scotsman- are all places where the Owner/ Manager , will always take the time to come and chat with their Suki ( Regular Customers). To me as a single man who travels and eats out alone extensively that is so important.
After the Boodle fight, Beshy, TBK, Ronnie and Jake with the Father's day cake
Finally everything was ready and Corleen and Beshy arrived ( late as usual) with a Father's day cake on behalf of all the Pinoys I look after here in Bahrain. I was very touched and they all sang "Happy Father's day " to me and we had some lovely pictures taken by Corleen.
Within minutes of starting my lovely Pinoy friends took and uploaded pictures of the Boodle Fight ( thanks guys) and posted it to our "Friday Gang" group on Facebook. Later we also found a video and pictures of the set up on the Facebook page of the caterers... Tata Ed’s Hangout by New Cabalen Bahrain together with their thanks for selecting them and wishing me luck for my retirement. Another nice touch and a great way of marketing their business.
Corleen, Beshy, Tatay, Ronnie and Jake in the official Tata Ed Photo!
If you have not heard of a Boodle Fight before I am sure Mr. G will allow me a little well referenced quote from the nice people at Wikipedia:
"A boodle fight, in the context of Filipino culture, is the military practice of eating a meal. Sources indicate that the term "boodle" is American military slang for contraband sweets such as cake, candy and ice cream. A "boodle fight" is a party in which boodle fare is served. The term may have been derived from "kit and caboodle"; caboodle is further derived from boodle or booty.
A boodle fight is a meal that dispenses with cutlery and dishes.[8] Diners instead practice kamayan, Filipino for "eating with the hands".[9] The food is placed on top of a long banana leaf-lined trestle table and in the true military practice, diners do not sit in chairs but instead stand shoulder to shoulder in a line on both sides of the table.
A senior officer or enlisted personnel then utters the traditional command for the boodle fight to begin:
There are no set rules about dishes that may be served in a boodle fight. Common dishes include:
- Dry dishes: Fried dried fishes (tuyo, danggit, and pusit)
- Breakfast meats: Tocino, longaniza, and tapa
- Charcoal-grilled meats: Fish, chicken, and pork
- Fruits: Pineapple, mango, and papaya, which are served to balance the salty and oily viands
- Vegetable salads and pickled vegetables: Itlog na maaalat, talong, okra, and atchara
- Deep-fried items: Lumpia, fried fish, and fried chicken
- Rice and noodles"
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boodle_fight ( accessed 19.6.21)
Interesting stuff! But now back to the story of our "Friday Gang" Boodle fight:
It's a culinary work of art
Regular readers will know that I hate Mobiles and the social media and the way they have taken over our lives. They are banned in my flat and when the Friday gang meets ( apart from Photos and Tik Tok!) that way everyone gets to talk about their week and meet new Kabayan and find out about each other.
Our Friday Gang started off as a Gang of 3 , Corleen , Jake and I and then Beshy joined us last week for Adobo, and Ronnie joined this week . Next time we meet I hope Jesus can join us ( a new Phillipino who just arrived in Bahrain) as its a great way for my Pinoy friends to make new contacts.
Tatay and his boys
So the great thing about a boodle fight is that everyone stands, moves around to find their favourite food, talks to each other, and wears gloves so cannot use their phones!!
Finally two other great things about a Boodle fight is that there is a lot of different foods to try ( you select from one of 7 menus with Tata Ed's for example) and each person chooses what they want. Then at the end you just rollup the shells and leftover food ( well my guys all took a goody box home there was so much) in the Banana leaves and plastic sheet underneath and dispose of it responsibly.
Thanks to the Friday gang who cleared away all the rubbish, swept and mopped the floor, cleaned the Table and took it to reception to be collected by Tata Ed , and washed up the tea cups and bowls after we all had cake . What a bunch of angels you are! Mahal Kita anaks!
After the Boodle Fight we all had Earl Grey Tea and Fathers day cake!
I am sure some of you are wondering about the menu and pricing so here you go:
We had Seafood Pride, Package 7, 23 Bd for 5- 7 people
For those of you not in Bahrain that's 2,959.63 Philippine peso or 44.18 Pound sterling. That include two litre Bottles of Coca Cola and all the delivery and set up.
If you want your own Boodle Fight in Bahrain then the contact details for Tata Ed’s Hangout by New Cabalen Bahrain are:
CATERING TAKEAWAY DELIVERY
We’ve got you covered. We set-up and deliver all over Bahrain.
Call us now! 35486908 or 33270353
They look forward to welcoming you for dine-in as soon as authorities determine that it is safe to do so.
Dakal pung Salamat!
Their Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/NewCabalenManama
So after some great Friday's - The British Kabayan's Manok and Baboy Adobo, The Frying Scotsman Roast dinners and The Boodle fight we are gonna chill out and relax next Friday ...
Until the next time , when I will tell you more about my journey to becoming truly Phillipino, Stay safe, Ingat Palagi and Kita kits
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Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
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