PAMPANGA: Must Eat Dishes at Everybody's Cafe

PAMPANGA: Must Eat Dishes at Everybody's Cafe

If you happen to pass by Pampanga on your way to destinations north of the Philippines, and wish to make a food stop at a Kapampangan restaurant, Everybody's Cafe is a very good choice. They serve homemade Kapampangan cuisine turo-turo or fast food style.

MUST EAT DISHES AT EVERYBODY'S CAFE

MURCON OR MORCON KAPAMPANGAN

"Morcon Kapampangan or Murcon is different from the morcon we commonly know. The usual morcon if made from wide and thin slice of marinated beef filled with sliced boiled eggs, sausages or hotdog and rolled up to form a cylinder, tied up with thick thread and then simmered until cooked. The Kapampangan version of morcon is made from ground pork and beef, chorizo, onions, raisins, eggs, grated cheese and wrapped in pig’s caul fat. it is then steamed or simmered until cooked. This morcon look very similar to embotido and after it is sliced, the drippings from the steamer will be poured with the oil. The morcon is best when submerged on it’s own fat." (source: Panlasang Pinoy Meat Recipes)

KALDERETANG KAMBING

"Kaldereteng kambing is basically goat meat stew in tomato sauce added with cheese and liver spread. Preparing the goat meat is very different from other red meat like beef or pork because you have to remove or eliminate the gamey or musky odor and flavor of the meat. There are different ways also to prepare the goat meat and some use vinegar and spices but the recipe I have use sherry to remove the musky odor and a more flavorful dish. If you can’t get sherry, you can use dry white wine as as substitute." (source: Panlasang Pinoy Meat Recipes)

SIZZLING SISIG

"Pork Sisig is a popular appetizer that originated from the culinary capital of the Philippines : Pampanga. This delicious dish can also be categorized as a main dish. Pork Sisig was invented by the late Lucia Cunanan. She is popularly know as Aling Lucing – the sisig queen. Originally, pork sisig is composed of chopped pigs face (snout included) and ears with a generous amounts of chicken liver." (source: Panlasang Pinoy) 

FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS...

ADOBONG KAMARU (350 pesos per plate)

These are mole crickets found in the ricefields of Pampanga.
They are sauteed in garlic and onion, then tomatoes are added then simmered in vinegar.

The kamaru is crunchy and creamy.

This is a mole cricket.

(Photo from dreamstime.com)

Chanced upon some workers preparing the Kamaru (mole crickets)

They remove the wings and legs before cooking it.
According to Everybody's cafe facebook post, the restaurant consumes 1600 kilos of crickets per year. 

OTHER UNUSUAL DISHES TO TRY:

1. Adobong Batute (stuffed frogs)
2. Tapang Kalabaw or Pindang Damulag (carabao meat jerky)

Note: These dishes were not available when we ate there.

AVERAGE COST OF MEAL: 1500 PESOS FOR 2 PERSONS

THE DINING AREA

We arrived at Everybody's Cafe around 12:30 PM on a Saturday and the place is full.
However, turnover of diner is fast because it's usually a pit stop. So you won't wait long for a table.

FOOD IS PRESENTED TURO TURO STYLE

Fried Itik, Pork Asado, Tidtad, Kare Kare

Kilain, Kalderetang Kambing, Bulalo

Lagat Hito, Mixed Vegetables

PASALUBONG/SOUVENIRS YOU CAN BUY AT THIS RESTAURANT

1. Taba ng Talangka made by Everybody's Cafe

Check out my post: Where to find the best taba ng talangka (crab roe/fat)

2. Other famous Pampanga food products 

Nathaniel's Buko Pandan Salad, Ocampo's Sanzrival, Sylvannas
Probinsyano by Everybody's Cafe: Ube Halaya, Benito's Barbecue

HOW TO GET THERE:

Across a Shell gas station

PARKING:

The only available parking in front of the restaurant is good for 8 cars.
Street parking available.
Double parking is allowed. The parking attendant will inform you when a car is leaving.
(Photos courtesy of google maps)

(Photo courtesy of google maps)

HOW TO CONTACT THEM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/everybodyscafepampanga/

PAMPANGA: Where to Find the Best Taba ng Talangka (Crab Roe/Fat)

PAMPANGA: Where to Find the Best Taba ng Talangka (Crab Roe/Fat)

WHAT IS TABA NG TALANGKA (Crab Roe)?

Taba ng Talangka literally means fat of small crabs. It is Filipino delicacy composed of crab roe or eggs. It is the Filipino version of caviar.

This is pure "taba ng talangka" with no extenders.

The "taba ng talangka" (crab roe) is a sought after Filipino delicacy and also one of the best "pasalubong" (souvenir) to bring home from the Philippines. There are several groceries and department stores in Manila selling this product but I found that the best that I've tasted come from Everybody's Cafe in Pampanga. It is similar to the homemade "taba ng talangka" that a family friend used to bring home from Pampanga when I was a child. It's authentic and cooked the way the old folks do it.

The "taba ng talangka" of Everybody's Cafe is packed in 2 sizes.
The price of the large bottle on the left is 500 pesos.
The price of the smaller bottle on the right is 400 pesos

You can find it stored in the refrigerator
beside the food counter of the restaurant.

HOW TO GO TO EVERYBODY'S CAFE

My tip: If you're going all the way to Pampanga to buy Taba ng Talangka, make it a food trip and eat lunch at Everybody's cafe to sample authentic Kapampangan cuisine.

MANILA ALTERNATIVE TO EVERYBODY'S CAFE  TABA NG TALANGKA

If you find going to Pampanga too far to buy Everybody Cafe's Taba ng Talangka, Claude Tayag's Taba ng Talangka is a good alternative. You can find it in leading supermarkets in Metro Manila.

Price: 325 pesos

PAMPANGA: Where to buy Kapampangan Tamales

PAMPANGA: Where to buy Kapampangan Tamales

What is the Kapampangan Tamales?

The Kapampangan Tamales is a Filipino dish originating from the province of Pampanga. It is made of ground rice, peanut and coconut milk cooked into a paste and then wrapped with meat, usually chicken and egg, in banana leaves then boiled.

This is a totally different dish from the Mexican tamales both in flavor and ingredients. The only similarity is the way it's cooked. The ingredients are wrapped in banana leaves and boiled in water.

Where to buy the Kapampangan Tamales?

Residents of  Pampanga usually have regular suppliers in markets or from home industries. For tourists like us, here are three places I discovered where you can find a regular supply. 


RAZON'S OF GUAGUA RESTAURANT

MEGA CALTEX STATION at the North Luzon Expressway, Southbound Lane, after the San Fernando Exit

It's not Razon's restaurant who's selling the tamales. A vendor was allowed to put up a small stall/desk inside the restaurant and sell the tamales.

My tip: Be there from 11:00 AM onwards. The vendor arrives at 11:00 AM

View City of Sn Fernando in a larger map

PRICE: 70 pesos per tamales (if you're one of the first buyers, they give it at 50 pesos per piece as "buena mano" price for good luck)

SUSIE'S CUISINE
MacArthur Highway, San Fernando City

This is the branch where we bought our tamales. I'm not sure if other branches sell tamales too.

View City of Sn Fernando in a larger map

PRICE: 70 pesos per tamales 

SAN GUILLERMO PARISH CHURCH

There's an ambulant vendor in front of the gates of the Church who's selling tamales. We found her  there when we arrived around 1130 AM on a Sunday, but left before we finished visiting and exploring the Church. So we weren't able to buy tamales from her. Perhaps she sells the tamales when there's Mass.

View City of Sn Fernando in a larger map

My tip: 

To me, the Kapampangan Tamales sold by the vendor inside Razon's of Guagua restaurant at Mega Caltex Station, NLEX tastes much better than the tamales sold by Susie's cuisine. This is not to say tamales sold by Susie's cuisine tastes bad. Susie's tamales tasted good too. I just prefer the tamales sold inside Razon's because it's less salty and more flavorful.