Pampanga: A Taste Of the World (2 of 3)

From unpretentious, in-your-face sisig care of Aling Lucing's, we proceed to have lunch and coffee in cozy C. On a similar food trip to Pampanga, I remember a friend saying that before Yellow Cab's Dear Darla Pizza, there was C's panizza. We got a plate of Stefano Panizza, for a hefty P555.00, but I tell you, it is worth it. First they served bread (which was on the house), which you have to dip in olive oil with basil leaves chopped into tiny, tiny, tiny pieces.







(Ronna and Anie, here goes!)
Then came the Stefano Panizza, with plain cheese, parmesan, garlic and fresh rosemary which you stuff with green things that look a lot like pechay and togue hahaha (they're arugula and alfalfa sprouts). Initially, we didn't know what the greens are for, but of course, Jeremy Bourdain knew how to eat the Panizza properly (:p). It was amazing that Chef Chris Locher who owns the place was there to greet all of the guests.





We also had fun reading the messages written on plates by famous guests, and we were wondering why we did not get one. (Sikat ka, teh? I particularly liked this one, by Ryan Cayabyab.



Then on to Mexico! Kidding!

It would have been nice if our next stop, Zapata's, which boasts of Mexican food was actually in Mexico, Pampanga, but it is not. And we had a bit of a difficulty finding the place. We made a turn somewhere and thought that Zapata's was the place were many parked vehicles were, but it turned out to be just a vulcanizing shop. Kaya naman pala,Zapata's transferred to another location farther away from C.



Their doors seemed to come straight from a cowboy movie. The place was cute and Anie immediately found these cute costumes which we all wore.



We ordered nachos and virgin margarita and daiquiri, if only to keep the waitresses from throwing us out, after our photoshoot with their costumes on.



Virgin Daiquiri.

By now, we were so full we can't bear to think about food anymore, but to keep our integrity intact, we have to go on.

On the the next stop, Razons'.###

Next Stop: Pampanga (1st of 3)

Google "Pampanga" and "food" and you'll surely have more hits than when you google "Bulacan" and "food." If only for this reason, we thought our food trip in Pampanga would be more exciting, the food choices more diverse, the cuisine more dynamic.

So one sleepy Saturday, Jeremy, Anie, and I met up for another food trip, this time, in neighboring Pampanga. We fetched Ronna from Guiguinto and by 10:30, we were still on the road looking for our first stop, Susie's Cuisine. It was a bit difficult to find. I was so hungry that I kidded, "eh kung mag-drive thru na lang kaya tayo?" After a few wrong turns, we finally found it. Susie's!

We were the only patrons. Susie's Cuisine is famous for their Tibok-Tibok, a native delicacy with a consistency resembling that of maja blanca, and made with carabao's milk and topped with latik, but because we were so hungry, we had to order something more filling. Jeremy, Anie and I tried their palabok while Ronna got puto and dinuguan.






The palabok definitely looks tempting. It is actually delicious, except for the not-so-crunchy chicharon toppings, but their Tibok-Tibok (P20 per slice) is heavenly, and if only for that, we forgave them for everything else.



Pasalubong

Wow Kasuy

Next stop, the Sisig Queen, Aling Lucing's! It was unfortunate that the sisig queen, Lucia Cunanan, died in 2008, we would have wanted to interview her. I am sure Anthony Bourdain would have wanted to see her, too. Bourdain sampled Pampanga's most famous food, sisig, when he was in the Philippines early this year.

Cute signage

Jeremy Bourdain meets Anthony Bourdain meets Aling Lucing

Foodies cum photographers Jeremy and Anie

I heart Sisig
I liked their sisig, the meat is soft and juicy, not crunchy, as other adaptations tend to be. It was presented simply, no embellishments like eggs or mayonnaise that alter the taste of sisig. I wonder what Anthony Bourdain had to say about this dish.###

Coming up: A Taste of The World: Italy and Mexico in Pampanga