Food and Faith: A Culinary Excursion to Pampanga from the perspective of a molecular gastronomist

TOUR  ITINERARY 

Saturday, May 29, 2010

6:30 AM            Assembly time at Market! Market!

7:00 AM            Departure from Market! Market!  Other pick up points:  EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, SM North parking under the Skydome.

8:30 AM            Breakfast at Atsing Lilian’s Cocina in Parian, Mexico

Lilian Borromeo, granddaughter of Kapampangan poet Monico Mercado (Jose Rizal’s second cousin), prepares a heavy breakfast consisting of tidtad (dinuguan), pisto (rebuelto), galantina, kilayin, tsokolate king batirul, duat at gatas damulag, tejadang kamatis; she will give a demo on how to make sanikulas biscuits. 

10:00 AM            Visit San Luis Gonzaga Church

Formerly named Cabagsac (“proliferation of bats”), the town of San Luis is known as Huk Supremo Luis Taruc’s hometown and site of a rare three-tower church built in the early 1800s by the Augustinians.

11:00 AM           Visit Bacolor Church

Bacolor was the capital of  the Philippines during the British occupation 1762-64. The popular TV series May Bukas Pa was shot on location in this church, half buried by lahar from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991. Don’t expect to see Santino though.

12:00 NN         Visit Betis Church

 Acclaimed as the “Sistine Chapel of Pampanga” the Betis Church is a testament of the world-class artisan skills of the Kapampangans,

1:00 PM            Lunch at Andy Alviz’ Farm in Sta. Rita, Pampanga

Andy Alviz is the director of the famous ArtiSta. Rita singing group, a recipient of NCCA’s Alab ng Haraya Award; rustic setting for lunch that consists of Kapampangan-style asado, bringhi, sisig, grilled fish and if still available, duman, for which the town is known.

                       

3:00 PM            Visit Sta. Rita Church and Heritage Houses around Patio

Built in 1839 by Augustinian friar Francisco Royo, the old church is surrounded by colonial houses, including those used for such film classics as Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang and Tanging Yaman.

4:00 PM            Visit Ocampo’s turrones de kasuy factory

Sta. Rita is known for its unique delicacies turrones de kasuy (similar to Spanish nougats), yemas and sans rival, using a Dominican recipe that dates back to the 1940s

3:30 PM            Merienda at Gosioco Mansion

Snacks of sherbet, borquillos, etc. in the town’s oldest house, the Gosioco Mansion.

4:30 PM            Visit Santiago de Galicia Church in Betis

Called the Sistine Chapel of Pampanga; parish of controversial Pampanga gubernatorial candidate Fr. Ed Panililio.

5:00 PM            Visit San Guillermo Church in Bacolor

Half-buried in lahar caused by the Pinatubo eruption.  Bacolor was the capital of the Philippines during the British Occupation in 1762-64.

Wyatt Belmonte, DVM,  is a Negrense who has adopted Pampanga as his second province. His work as a veterinarian  has given him a familiarity with the roads of the province which  oftentimes  lead him to discover food haunts and personalities beyond the well-beaten tourist routes.  He  maintains a blog Wyatt’s  Kitchen (www.wyattbelmonte.blogspot.com) where he sometimes describes the science behind flavours, as everything that comes in contact with the human tongue ultimately yields to the laws of chemistry.  He  is an active member of the Kuliat Foundation which seeks to preserve and promote the heritage of Angeles City.  He travels with his kitchen knives  and a violin, which easily get him into trouble and quickly out of them.

To secure a seat, make sure you make a deposit of P3,000 per pax to the account of Richard Burgos,  BDO CA # 2068010109, keeping the deposit slip as proof of payment.  Call or text Richard at 09285082004 or email him at burgosrp2003@yahoo.com.  Tour reservations close on May 25.