In South East Asia using hands to eat is a common method for people to eat, and it’s no different with the Filipinos.
There’s a Filipino word “Kamayan” which translates to mean “with hands” and its commonly used to describe this method of eating the meal with.
I have Singaporean heritage, so through my parents I’m pretty familiar with the art of eating a rice meal without utensils but just with my fingers.
It was fun indeed to experience Boodle Fight here at HomeCooked Filipino Bistro in Ormiston, Auckland - a meal where we shared a feast over a banana leaf-lined table filled with signature Pinoy dishes.
For Filipinos, eating with their hands has been the traditional way of eating long before they were colonized by the Spanish which introduced utensils like forks, spoons, and knives.
It started as a military meal in mess halls where men and women from the military would gather around a table and “fight” using their fingers for a share of the delicacies.
The battle is to eat as much food as you can before the next person, and this was basically how the name “fight” came about.
These days, a Boodle Fight is more about sharing a meal with family and friends.
The meal we had was the top of the range “HomeCooked’s Best” edition.
This came with:
Beef Kare-Kare: Tender beef brisket simmered in a rich, creamy peanut sauce, served with eggplant, green beans, and bok choy.
Crispy Pata: Twice-cooked pork hock (1.3kg), slow-cooked with herbs and aromatics until tender, then deep-fried to golden.
Pinaputok na Tilapia: Whole seasoned tilapia baked with fresh vegetables like okra, tomatoes, green beans, and eggplant.
Grilled Liempo: Juicy pork belly marinated in our signature HomeCooked sauce, grilled to smoky perfection.
Chicken Inasal: Succulent lemongrass-marinated chicken, grilled with our signature HomeCooked sauce.
Steamed Vegetables: A mix of freshly steamed seasonal greens.
Salted Egg: A savory Filipino classic that pairs beautifully with every dish.
Atchara: Sweet and tangy pickled vegetables to balance the rich flavours.
Rice: Unlimited steamed fluffy white rice.
HomeCooked Dips & Sauces
Seasonal Fruit
Lemon Iced Tea: Two pitchers of refreshing iced tea to quench your thirst.
The price for this feast is $520, which would easily feed eight people and possibly still leave you with some leftovers to take away.
There are cheaper and more basic options too on HomeCooked’s menu.
What we’ve learned is that there’s no right or wrong way to have a Boodle fight feast - the only “rule” is that it has to be spread over a banana leaf and enjoyed by having it with your fingers.
If you want to experience Boodle Fight, Chow Luck Club will be having a Christmas edition of Boodle Fight on Friday 20 December 2025. Get your ticket for just $25 by texting +64274830668 or email: bee@chowluckclub.com
Eat! Boodle Fight at
HomeCooked Filipino Cafe Bistro
64 Ormiston Road, East Tāmaki
Bookings are essential: 09 218 9200
