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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
1 comments:
This is interesting, I really love kapampangan foods. Two thumbs up for this post. Thanks!
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