Idol winner David Cook to eat balut… twice

MANILA, Philippines - American Idol season 7 winner David Cook isn't afraid of a little fertilized duck egg. In fact, he might eat it not just once, but twice. Cook, who is visiting Manila for a one-night only concert with fellow Idol alum David Archuleta on Saturday, won’t retreat on a dare to eat the Filipino delicacy balut. "I will try anything twice," Cook said Friday morning (Manila time) in Magic 89.9's radio show. Balut, a fertilized duck egg, is common in Southeast Asia and is considered as a potent Filipino aphrodisiac. [See: Aphrodisiac search: Trying to get hot in the city]. It has been featured in reality shows Fear Factor and Survivor, where it is considered a staple dare-food for contestants. In case Cook decides to chow on a balut (or two) on Saturday, he would join the ranks of jazz singer/actor Harry Connick Jr. and American band Switchfoot who ate balut on stage during their Manila concerts. [See: Harry Connick Jr. eating balut and Switchfoot eating balut] But to make sure he wasn’t just pulling their leg, radio DJ Grace Lee asked the 26-year-old Oklahoma-native if he could stomach eating the 18-day old fetal duck egg. "Why not? I’ll give it a shot," Cook replied. The two Davids are in Manila for a concert at the SM Mall of Asia on May 16. Archuleta had been actively promoting the concert in radio, TV and even mall shows in Manila. On Thursday, he visited GMA Network where local singers serenaded him. But it was the 18-year-old teen Idol who was wowed by Filipino singers. "I feel dumb going after all those singers," Archuleta said. [See: Archuleta as awed by fans as they are of him] - Mark Joseph H. Ubalde, GMANews.TV