Food Ventures in Pampanga - "Food and Festivals" by Vergel Paule

If there’s something very special that I can recall about living in Pampanga, it has got to be its fiestas.  Aside from having the experience being called upon by my aunties from another house by merely just yelling (I think most of them do have this shortcut habit of calling you out even from across the several houses) and having to smell the fresh scent of rice straw in the morning, the year round festivities is one thing I could never forget.  

Looking at the list of monthly festivals in Pampanga, it turns out that the area has a combined total of more than 50 scattered throughout the whole province.  Major festivals which attract a huge crowd of local and foreign visitors include, among others, are:

Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival – held annually in Omni Aviation Complex inside Clark Freeport Zone.  It features multicolored hot air balloons from around the globe, it is the biggest aviation sports event in the Philippines.( http://www.pampangatalents.com/Pampanga_Festivals.htm)

Giant Lantern Festival – The City of San Fernando is known to be the Christmas Capital of the Philippines. Seven barangays from City of San Fernando are participating in the contest of the giant lantern competition. 20 feet diameter lanterns with thousands of dancing lights are being judge and display every Saturday before Christmas. (http://www.pampangatalents.com/Pampanga_Festivals.htm)

Pyestang Tugak – Pyestang Tugak or Frog Festival which started in 2003 in City of San Fernando.  Its aim is to preserve the Kapampangan culture and to promote the Pampanga’s unique frog cuisine. (http://www.pampangatalents.com/Pampanga_Festivals.htm) 

The Sisig Sour-Sucking Festival - In December, Angeles City celebrates their love for sour things by preparing sisig, which is when half ripened fruits or meats are dipped in salt and vinegar for sour consummation. While sisig is prepared all year, there is a special festival for it in December called the Sisig Festival. Chefs from all over the world come to compete in the sisig cooking contest. The contest is so famous that even fast food chains have won the contest with their great entrees. If you like sour food, this is a festival not to be missed. (http://www.exoticphilippines.info/2013/09/2-top-festivals-in-pampanga-philippines.html)

As always, along with most of these major festivals, never will I forget the food that comes with these celebrations.  I could recall going house to house within our neighbourhood in Lubao and finding the same visual presentation of food despite its variety; the adobo, menudo and caldereta all look almost visually the same.You’ll just be surprised to find out the dish you’re eating only after you have it. But despite all this, I’d never stop eating the same food served over and over from each and every relative we visited.    

This Kapampangan richness of cultural passion for festivities and love for food truly deserves the recognition of being the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines”.  And so, whenever you’re within the province, here’s 3 of never to forget to eat dishes I have personally enjoyed that is uniquely Kapampangan:

1. Sisig 

– a dish composed of different parts of a pig’s head sometimes mixed with chicken and port liver, sisig can now be seen and served in most Filipino specialty restaurants anywhere in the Philippines.  

The following restaurants which serve renowned and original Kapampangan sisig versions and their respective locations:

a. Aling Lucing’s – known to be the original “modern day sisig” and the reason why Angeles was declared “Sisig Capital of the Philippines.

b. Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy – known have the crunchier sisig as the recipe entails the deep fry of the their sisig before having it served on a sizzling plate.

2. Buro – is a Philippine condiments which can serve as a side condiment usually together with steamed vegtables and/ or fried fish.

3. Murcon – a stuffed meat roll similar to the embutido, the Kapampangan murcon has chorizo, carrots, hardboiled egg and queso de bola.

Sources:

Pampanga Festivals / Celebrations
Giant Lantern Festival - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
San Fernando, Pampanga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pampanga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Filled Bowl and a Filled Palate: Finding National Identity through Food and Horror Vacui | The Daily Opium
2 Top Festivals In Pampanga Philippines - Exotic Philippines
When in Pampanga, Eat! (10 Dishes You Should Try) | Clark Is It | Clarkisit.com
Department of Tourism - The Philippines Ultimate Travel Guide for Tourist
Christmas Capital of the Philippines Fiesta: Giant Lantern Festival Tour 2013 | Culture Shock PH
PAMPANGA FEASTS AND FESTIVALS, PHILIPPINES (Official Website of PhilTravelcenter.com - Pampanga, Philippines)
Colorful Festivals in Pampanga | Travel to the Philippines
Kapampangan cuisine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Google Image Result for http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6wv9yqQJc1qc2tlzo1_500.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcyO40DskopEpcxUeKeQbb5np5WTVruZTv70my8OAe76Yk6OVldiwEAFv_IWGaiU0arVOL2sAO-1VtMtVELM7UX2nAADuvF8y1T-2Z0va3eYNQkHfpToTfoPeU9Q60hS3AXeyMH0TjCA/s1600/1.jpg
Google Image Result for http://static.flickr.com/49/107599782_83114f8565.jpg'
Philippine condiments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buro with mustard leaves and eggplant - Philippine condiments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://panlasangpinoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Morcon.jpg
Google Image Result for http://www.boylogrorecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Mitsadong-Pilipino.jpg

Food Ventures in Kalibo by Tetchie Cruz

I believe this is one of the most sought after places in the Philippines, because of “Boracay”.  The town of Kalibo is the capital of the province of Aklan, one of the four provinces comprising the island of Panay, the sixth largest island in the Philippines.  

      

But you know guys, there is one thing more exciting in this city – the “food”.  Its local dishes called Aklanon is really something you should not missed when you get there. 


Saylo Cuisine ~ A good place to dine in if you feel like tasting authentic local dishes when visiting Kalibo. It is also a more “upscale” place in the city. The place is good and the ambiance is nice.

Saylo is a Visayan term which means "to welcome" or "to invite to come in". It is also a term which means "to transfer" .  

Added to eyecatching idea is the MENU made of local materals …

Now the food, for local dishes in Aklan or Kalibo specialities, they have a special category on their menu.

Don’t forget to try one of their bestsellers, here it is the ….

Chicken Binakoel (Php290) or binakol is a sweet soup of native chicken cooked inside inside a bamboo bud. The sweet flavor comes from the coconut juice.

It was very good, so we were asking for more,  but that means we have to order another one.  Chicken binakoel takes a long time to cook because they told us it will take around 45 minutes. Well its worth waiting for this so tasteful soup…


Linapay

 Another one is Linapay (Php70)  - this is pounded freshwater shrimp locally known as “ueang” and gawud – young coconut meat,  wrapped in taro leaves, then cooked in coconut milk. I’m maybe bias because I love food in coconut milk. The freshwater shrimp was very fresh. If you want it spicy, slice in peppers and that’s it. 


DESERTS – Aklano have also many delicacies; among their local desert, I find these two so sweet…


Inday-Inday

This is a simple dessert made from sticky rice flour (malagkit) cooked in hot water, just like the palitaw and topped with bucayo, gelatinous coconut meat simmered in water, muscovado sugar and coconut milk. 
Its a beautiful play of texture and taste, blandness of the sticky rice flour patty and the sweetness of the topping.


LATIK

This native delicacy is another play of texture and taste like Suman, cooked glutinous rice, which is bland is topped with grated coconut and latik, watery caramelized sugar, then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. 

Unlike the traditional suman which is elongated, this one is just around three inches long and bite sized. these are also sold in the local markets or at the pasalubong center of Kalibo airport.



Sources/references:
• http://langyaw.com/2014/06/03/6-aklanon-food-try/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaz/8398801102/
• www.ourawesomeplanet.com/.../kalibo-saylo-cuisine-the-best-in-kalibo.htm...
• www.valcaulin.com/article/saylo-cuisine-where-to-eat-in-kalibo/4346
• http://stolenwanders.blogspot.com/2013/05/aklanon-dishes-at-saylo-cuisine.html

Food Ventures in Iloilo City by Rowena Dabuet

The word “Iloilo City” came from the shape of the city, cut by the river which looks like the shape of a nose, “Irong-Irong”, nose-like, later became Iloilo. Other accounts point the origin of the name to a fish.

Area Code: 33

Land Area: 78.34 square kilometers

Population: 442,511 (projected SEP 2010)

Population Density: 5,649 persons per square kilometer (Updated as of 2011 projection)

Number of Households: 85,518 (2007 Census)

Lingua franca: Filipino, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, English

A year ago, I was fortunate to visit Iloilo City as part of my job.   First thing I noticed is the warmth of Ilonggo’s and their sweet accent that made me feel “at home.”

And of course, one thing that Filipino’s love to do…eating!  Since Ilonggo are famous for the La Paz Batchoy, this is the first food we tasted.

La Paz Batchoy

This is probably the most famous Ilonggo dish in the national scene which was started in the late 1930’s before World War II broke out. La Paz batchoy is a noodle dish with pork innards, liver and heart served with hot broth and topped with crunchy chicharon, garlic, onion leaves with soy sauce and powdered pepper used to adjust the flavour according to one’s taste.

Well, after tasting the dish, I may agree that they should be really famous for this because chowing down the steaming broth of La Paz Batchoy will surely stimulate and liven up your senses.

If you want to have a taste of this famous dish of Ilonggo, I suggest some of the restaurants who have a very good La Paz Batchoy in town.

Deco’s 

Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City, Iloilo

Ted’s 

Benigno Aquino Ave, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

(033) 320 1945

    

Netong's Original Special La Paz Batchoy

La Paz Public Market

If you are looking for the La Paz Batchoy that will cook right before your eyes, Netong’s is the place to be! 

You will not find it hard to reach this place since this resto is quite popular in the vicinity.  There's only one Netong's and it is inside the La Paz Public Market. 

Pancit Molo  

Another famous Ilonggo dish named after a well-known district in Iloilo City, the Molo district is “Pancit Molo.” 

It is an adaptation of Chinese wanton soup which is composed of a mixture of ground pork wrapped in molo wrapper, shredded chicken meat and shrimps topped with some minced green onions and lots of toasted garlic.

Where to go?

Tita Paz House of Pancit Molo

Avancena St., So. Fundidor

Molo, Iloilo City

Tel: (+6333) 335-0624

KBL or Kadyos Baboy Langka 



KBL or kadyos baboy langka is a ubiquitous Ilonggo dish found in most households and restaurants in Iloilo and beyond. 

The basic recipe calls for the baboy (pork) usually the pata (hocks) to be broiled. Then together with the langka and kadyos beans, they are boiled until the last two ingredients are cooked - the langka is easy to bite, the kadyos is soft and the baboy 

The greens usually kamote tops or in this case malunggay leaves, adds color, texture and more nutrients to the "health conscious". In my case, when KBL is served at home, this calls bigger than usual serving of rice. 

This dish has been my favorite since I was kid.  My grandparents usually cooked this every time we have occasions.  The best dish ever!

PASALUBONG TIME!

Finally, time to go home…when I reached at Iloilo International Airport and started to unload my things, I can’t believe that I already consumed 15 kg just for pasalubong…

The famous place to indulge your money for pasalubong?...”Biscocho Haus”…

Iloilo’s iconic pasalubong shop, Biscocho Haus, has been around since 1975.

Website: http://www.iloilo.net.ph/biscocho-haus-home-ilonggo-delicacies/

For almost about four decades, Biscocho Haus has been the favorite pasalubong shop of Ilonggo delicacies.

Biscocho Haus was started by Dr. Carlos L. Guadarrama and wife Therese J. Guadarrama. Their specialty and very first product was biscocho, thus the name of their shop. 

Due to the growing demand of their tasty treats, they have come up with new products which were first made in their family kitchens.

Bañadas are toasted bread dipped in white sugar icing. 

       Boat tarts are filled with special caramel 

                 

Barquiron are tiny barquillos sticks stuffed with polvoron.

Butterscotch is a small chewy square that contain sugar, eggs, flour, and butter topped with cashew nuts.

Biscocho - derived from the Latin phrase word ‘bis coctus’ which means “twice baked.” It is a popular delicacy in Iloilo City refers to baked bread topped with butter and sugar, or garlic, in some cases.

Other Pasalubong Shop:

Tinukib Pasalubong Center

Website: http://tinukib.com/best-pasalubong-from-iloilo/ 

Locations : Taytay sa Kauswagan, Incorporated, National Highway, Pavia

Aside delicacies like butterscotch, biscocho, pinasugbo (fried bananas), barquillos (wafer rolls, Hablon and pina products are popular, especially for the ladies. Intricately woven by different communities in Iloilo

Other popular items for domestic and tourists are mugs, key chains, native bags, and nito items.

If you’re shopping on a tight budget and you’re looking for something to give your friends, relatives and loved ones… just visit the Tinukib Pasalubong Center and you may find something worth your budget.

Sources:

http://www.iloilocity.gov.ph/foods.php

http://myphilippinelife.com/dining-in-iloilo/

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/326350/newstv/angpinaka/top-10-yummiest-restaurants-in-iloilo

http://www.exploreiloilo.com/guide/dinagyang-festival/

http://www.exploreiloilo.com/guide/iloilo-churches/

http://flavoursofiloilo.blogspot.com/2014/05/kadyos-baboy-kag-langka-with-malunggay.html

http://www.choosephilippines.com/specials/products/1415/biscocho-haus/

http://tinukib.com/best-pasalubong-from-iloilo/

http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Restaurant_Review-g298466-d1636226-Reviews-Deco_s-Iloilo_City_Iloilo_Province_Panay_Island_Visayas.html

Food Ventures in Roxas City by Melissa Matienzo

Known as “The Seafood Capital of the Philippines” and the booming marine agriculture of Capiz . You will surely enjoy a variety of FRESH seafood like prawns, king crabs, catfish and a lot more which can be cooked in a variety of ways YOUR CHOICE!
         

Here are just some of the famous delicacies that they have which you must try:

1. Uga or Dried Fish

Trying to preserve their catch from the sea. One of their  famous pasalubongs. 

  

2. Barquiron or Barquillos

The so called big rolls made of pure eggs is so good!


3. Seafood

Of course we can’t miss their fresh seafood. It’s actually where you can find real Dampa ( a row of restaurants that cook fresh seafood) than the ones we see here in Manila because of its location (seaside!). Just to name a few, you can try out my suggestions:

• Aling Bebing’s Seafood Plaza 
• Roxas City’s Dampa Seafood Plaza 

Sources:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/303157/newstv/motorcyclediaries/culture-cuisine-and-capiz-inside-roxas-city-capiz

http://isiah-johnson-capiz-delicacies.blogspot.com/2011/12/capiz-delicacies.html

Food Ventures in Iligan City by Melissa Matienzo

The city where we can find the so called majestic waterfalls of Iligan like Maria Christina and Tinago falls. 
    
Don’t miss to try out these famous delicacies:

1. Cheding’s Peanuts

They have been in the business for decades and is well known for its famous delicacies.
• 25-A Sabayle St., Iligan City
+63 (63) 221-5164 


2. Sukang Pinakurat

This famous vinegar can now be seen all over the country and is being exported in some countries. It’s the most in demand padala to Filipinos abroad.  


3. Cherry & Michele’s Silvanas

This frozen and crunchy silvanas is a must try. 

• G/F Roque Bldg., Cabili Ave cor Aguinaldo StIligan City, Lanao Del Norte
• (063) 221-2751



Sources:
http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2011/10/the-best-of-iligan.html
http://www.munchpunch.com/cherry-michelles-cakes-pastries-cabili/menu
http://chedings.com/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Iligan