OUR AWESOME PLANET

Villa Cafe Kapampangan Resto by Chef Sau & Chef Jam

Chef Sau and Chef Jam have finally opened a Kapampangan resto serving heirloom recipes from their families. It is aptly named "Villa" because of the old villages in Angeles -- Villa Gloria and Angela -- where they grew up.

All the dishes we ordered were rich in taste, plated well, and had that signature Kapampangan quality. Looks-wise and taste-wise, this is the kind of Filipino food that can please an international audience.

Pampanga, the Culinary Center of the Philippines

Top 5 Food Trip Destinations in and around Manila (2 of 5)
by Anton Diaz, Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Published in San Miguel Great Food Club Newsletter (November-December 2009). 
(Please register in MyGreatFood.com if you want to become a member of San Miguel's Great Food Club)

 2. Pampanga, the Culinary Center of the Philippines

A Pampanga food trip is always good for a full day without the need to go on overnight because it is now one hour away and very accessible via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). A trip to the culinary capital is not complete without trying the best restaurants there.

Most people would go on a convoy or meet up at the last Caltex along Edsa before turning into NLEX. Others prefer to meet at the Total Gasoline Station, which is the last station before the San Fernando Exit.

Here is a good tip: Start with the best of San Fernando’s restaurants, then travel along MacArthur Highway to Angeles City’s foodie places. You can already exit Pampanga through the Angeles City NLEX Entrance going back to Manila.

Santo Entierro Procession: Good Friday Traditions of San Fernando, Pampanga

Kapampangans are proud of the 6pm Santo Entierro (meaning Holy Burial) Procession in San Fernando. The Crucifixions in Brgy San Pedro Cutud finish around 3pm. People would then have a late lunch or merienda and rest before the 6pm procession in the San Fernando Cathedral.

Here is a photo essay of one of the solemn and well-attended traditions in San Fernando, Pampanga...

Cutud Crucifixions: Good Friday Traditions of San Fernando, Pampanga

Spanky once said to us that we need to experience the Cutud Crucifixions before we can be certified as adopted Kapampangans. Our family went to San Fernando, Pampanga on Good Friday to see the 50+-year old solemn tradition of crucifixions in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga.

Here is our photo essay about a unique experience only in the Philippines...

Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!

If you love Mcdonalds' McFlurry or Jollibee's Sundae, you will definitely love Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt. It is a much healthier dessert alternative because it is Yogurt instead of Ice Cream. It is non-fat, low calories, with vitamin c, with calcium and live lactobacilli! I can't wait for the first franchise to open in Manila.

Thanks to Spanx for this Korean dessert discovery in Angeles, Pampanga.
Cold Spoon serves the best frozen yogurt! by Ivan Henares
The Best Little FROZEN YOGURT Shop in the Philippines by Spanx

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

Ultimate Kapampangan Tour 2: Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

We are overwhelmed with the response from the tour and we got 35 reservations to date for the day tour. We are waiting for the payment to confirm their reservation. Also, we are opening up the overnight option so that you can witness the night glow of the balloons. At most, we would only accept 30 people maximum (for both day tour and overnight) because we want to continue to have quality interactions among the people joining the tour.

Well, not quite Manila but STILL close….

Really, another way to pump up your boring weekend and get your spirits soaring as we conquer the high and mighty in Pampanga! Gawk at the giant hot-air balloons at 12th Annual Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta while poking around Pampanga’s culinary secrets. Lounge away in a rustic, relaxing farm retreat while feasting over a sumptuous Kapampangan spread by one the country’s most artistic restaurateurs. A feast for the body, mind and soul!

Tour Experience:

12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Abe’s Farm* Nurture’s Spa*

*This tour leaves Makati at 3 a.m. (yes 3:00 AM!) and includes front-ticket seats to the 12th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, an authentic American Soldier’s breakfast at the VFW Outpost, an optional five-hour hike up Mt. Arayat and a soothing massage at Nurture’s Spa.

Date: February 10, 2008, Sunday

Time: 3:00 am - 4:00 pm (yes, 3:00 AM!) Times are approximate.

Tour Cost: P4,800.00/head (includes -transfers, meals, tour, massage and others)

SPLURGE!

Go the extra mile…start a step ahead, spend an overnight stay and catch the spectacular ‘Night Glow” (think GIANT light bulbs floating in the sky) . Dine at one of the most acclaimed Italian restaurants this side of the Pacific. And to top it off, a one-of-kind walking tour as we bare it all and take down one of the country’s most famous Red-Light districts!

Tour Experience

*Balloon Fiesta ‘Night Glow’* C Italian Dining* Clark Red and Light District* 12th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Abe’s Farm* Nurture’s Spa Pampanga

Date: February 9-10, 2008, Sunday

Time: February 09 at 3:00pm - February 10 at 4:00 pm

Tour Cost: P8,888.00/head (includes -transfers, hotels, meals, tour, massage, the works!)

This ADVENTURE tour is co-organized by:

Our Awesome Planet

Manila Boy

Ivan About Town

Old Manila Walks.

Up, Up and Away!!! Huffing, Puffing and Pumping in Pampanga

After our first successful Ultimate Kapampangan Tour, we decided to create another Pampanga Tour experience on Feb 10, 2008, Sunday. This is the day tour package and we are finalizing an extended package for people who wants to stay overnight in Angeles on February 9. Let us know if you want to stay overnight instead of leaving as early as 3am in Manila. We are only targeting to get a maximum of 15 participants which is about the right size for a coaster including the four of us.

Up, Up and a Away!!!
Huffing, Puffing and Pumping in Pampanga
Sunday, February 10, 2008 | 3:00 am - 4:00 pn| Tour cost P4,800 (all in plus surprises)

by Our Awesome Planet, Ivan About Town, Old Manila Walks and Manila Boy.

Tour Description:
Really, another way to pump up your boring weekend and get your spirits soaring as we conquer the high and mighty in Pampanga! Gawk at the giant hot-air balloons at 12^th annual Philippine Balloon Fiesta! Conquer and hike over the mystic and majestic Mount Arayat! Finally, we’ll rest our weary feet over a sumptuous Kapampangan feast by one the country’s most artistic restaurateurs, Larry J. Cruz of Cafe' Adriatico & Abe in Serendra, while soothing the afternoon away a rustic, relaxing retreat! A feast for the body, mind and soul.

Tour Experience:
11th Philippine Balloon Fiesta* VFW Outpost * Mount Arayat* Abe’s Farm* Nurture Spa Pampanga

Date: February 10, 2008, Sunday
Time: 3am - 4pm
Tour Cost: P4,800/ Person (All inclusive - transportation, meals, tour, massage, plus surprises)

For Reservations/ Payment details: Please email anton@diaz.ph.

Lunch with Claude Tayag and Among Ed (12.30pm to 4.30pm)

Related Posts:
Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung - The Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga
a Memorable Ultimate Kapampangan Show-Off (7.30am-12.30nn)
Lunch with Claude Tayag and Among Ed (12.30pm to 4.30pm)
Ligligan Parul - Pampanga's Giant Lantern Festival (4.30pm to 12.30mn)

Kapampangans are proud of their food. I was privileged to give the introduction to Claude Tayag's Bale Dutung which I regarded as the Best Kapampangan Restaurant in Pampanga. Unlike any other tour, we would like to take our time to enjoy the place. We spent 4 hours slow authentic Kapampangan lunch with Claude & Maryann Tayag.

And just recently, Pampanga is also in the news because of the first governor priest of Pampanga, Among Ed. We invited him to join us because it would be his first time to have lunch @ Bale Dutung and we would like to meet him personally. Also, we offered our help to promote Pampanga as the next tourist destination even better than Tagaytay. Among Ed said that he needs to survive the storm first before he focus on tourism in Pampanga. In the recent 436th anniversary of Pampanga last December 11, not a single one among the Provincial board members, the 21 city/ municipal mayors, and the basketball coach/ vice governor, attended the official celebration. (see ISOLATED, But not ALONE by Manila Boy)