SKD Academy: Just Wanna Have Fun Bulacan and Pampanga Culinary Tour

SKD ACADEMY GROUP PHOTO OF CULINARY TOUR 2014 --- SKD ACADEMY # 1

November 22,2014 the day we held our culinary tour. It was 3:30 am at Somethin' Fishy, the place we held our assembly, our registration and also had our breakfast buffet.

( The Registration/Attendance at Somethin' Fishy )

( Photo Credit to Somethin' Fishy )

Somethin' Fishy is open 24/7, it is popular place at Eastwood because many people come to relax and drink alcoholic beverages, they also offer buffet during midnight to morning buffet, lunch and seafood buffet. They are also popular for their seafood dishes. Here are some of the foods served during our breakfast buffet:

I got dizzy on what food to choose during the buffet because I really want to taste them all but I have to prepare some space for my tummy during the trip, I don't want my tummy to get upset because it will be humiliating if something happens.

( My plate consists of Beef Tapa, Beef Macaroni, Chopsuey, Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet, & Pork Siomai )

After having that delicious and yummy breakfast buffet, We headed to our next destination the "Lugaw ni Abel" somewhere in Malolos, Bulacan,

 ( Lugaw with Mata at Utak ng Baka )

We arrived there around 8:00 - 8:30 AM and had our lugaw with mata and utak ng baka, and tokwa. "Lugaw ni Abel" is really famous because of their lugaw with ox/cow's eyes, heart, brain, intestines and tongue. The name Abel was derived from Isabel, the daughter of the owner. They started their business in 1988 and that time they only served plain lugaw,  eventually they decided to improve their lugaw by adding ox/cow's eyes, heart, brain, intestines and tongue. And also they're famous because of their special suka.

  Their Menus

After tasting the famous lugaw at Lugaw ni Abel, We headed next to our third destination in Sta. Rita Pampanga. Upon arriving at our destination, we went inside the home of  Ocampo-Lansang delicacies, the owner and maker of the delicious turrones de casoy and sansrival. Sir Ramon Ocampo told us the history how he started the business. He said that is started during 1920's, that a Dominican Sister taught Mrs. Felisa Lansang how to make the turrones de casoy and the sansrival. From then on they started a small business at their house. We also learned how to make turrones de casoy and sansrival.

Turrones de Casoy is a cashew nougat wrapped in rice paper
(Credit to Ocampo Lansang Delicacies)

( Turrones De Casoy's Preparation )

( Sansrival's Waffer )

( Sansrival's Preparation ) 

Sansrival
(Credit to Ocampo Lansang Delicacies)



Then we headed to the next house to watch & learn how to make a Barquillos and Patko. The Patko is the local version of crepe, the batter is made from dayap, egg, rice flour, sugar and carabao's milk and had a shredded coconut filling and then wrapped in banana leaves. The Barquillos is a rolled biscuit, the batter is made from rice flour, egg yolks and sugar.

The Barquillos

Barquillos Making

The Patko

Patko's Making

After making and tasting the sweet delicacies we're ready to have our lunch at Apag Marangle. The Apag Marangle is a kapampangan word that means "Hapag sa Bukid", and is located at Pampanga Olongapo-Gapan Road Sta. Barbara, Bacolor, Pampanga. We also had our challenge there; the challenge is to eat silkworms. It was my first time to see and eat silkworms, it was not so appealing to eat but when I tasted the silkworm it's just like eating a peanut. The president of our school told us that in Korea and other countries they eat it fresh and it's just like popcorn for them.

( Sauteed Spicy Silkworm with Kimchi and Pureed Spices By Chef Bernard Lomibao )

Apag Marangle serves food that can be found in farm/bukid like Betute (Stuffed Frog). Sauteed Camaru (Crickets), Adobong Pugo, Adobong Puti (Chicken), Burong Hipon and Pendang Damulag (Tocinong Kalabaw). 

For their dessert, they served Tamales and Tibuk-Tibuk (Maja Blanca). For their drinks they have Buko Pandan Juice, one of their best seller. They also have soups like Sinigang sa Bayabas and Suam Mais (Corn Soup).

Adobong Pugo

Pendang Damulag ( Tocinong Kalabaw )

Sauteed Camaru

Sinigang sa Bayabas and Suam Mais

Eating exotic dishes for the first time is new for me, this will served as a great experience for me so I can be ready for the next time I'm going to eat another exotic dish.


After having my 1st exotic dish, it's time to have some sweet dessert like Halo-Halo at Kabigting's Halo-Halo. Their Halo-Halo has only 3 ingredients: Halayang Beans. Pastillas made from carabao's milk, and Cream of Corn. In order for you to enjoy their Halo-Halo you must mix the ingredients very well because if not your Halo-Halo won't have that sweet and yummy taste.

Kabigting's Halo-Halo




After finishing my yummy Halo-Halo, it's time to relax during this the President of our school Sir Mel Obispo decided to have a raffle event for us students. Sadly, our class didn't get some of the prizes, so we waited for the next raffle at our last destination.

For our second to the last destination of the trip is the Bale Dutung, it is owned by the famous Kapampangan Chef, Mr. Claude Tayag. Upon entering I was amazed because of the interiors and furniture's that I saw at Bale Dutung they were all made of wood and some are antiques. During Chef Tayag's speech he gave us some advice and lessons on how to become a good chef. 

Picture with Chef Tayag and SKD Classmates

The Tamales and Hot Choco prepared by Chef Claude Tayag

 The Tamales is a dish that we learned from Mexicans, it is made of masa (starchy corn based dough) which is steamed or boiled in a banana leaf. The Hot Choco is made from the chocolate tablea, carabao's milk and peanut butter and served with pinipig.

  After having the combination of tamales and hot choco, we say our farewell and gratitude to Chef Tayag for giving us the opportunity to meet him and taste his cooking.

The last destination of our trip the Partyland Restaurant and Partyplace Bar in San Fernando, Pampanga.

My plate at Partyland Restaurant and Partyplace Bar in San Fernando, Pampanga

The food at Partyland is tastier than Somethin' Fishy.  

Live Band at Partyland Restaurant and Partyplace Bar


The party will not be complete without a live band. We partied, we drink, and we had so much fun especially when the band started singing Sayang na Sayang by Aegies then goes around asking someone to sing the chorus part that has a high note, some reached the high note but some didn't reached it.

The prize I got at the raffle

Finally, i won something during the raffle, but I wish that it was Mastery of Sauces or Japanese Lifestyle scholarship.
 

I had so much fun during the culinary tour, I get to go to different places in Pampanga and Bulacan, even though it was so tiring it was all worth it. I meet new friends, and bonded with my classmates. And I will always cherished and remember every experiences during this Culinary Tour.