Curang-Curangan FEAST!

Tweet

Pin It

Receiving invitations to cover events still never fails to 'jolt' me even with the number of invites I have already encountered.  Especially when it's an invitation related to my being a wannabe 'FOODIE' (yes, even with an impending allergy attack, I still said YES and happily ate ALL that there is to offer).  The Event that I was referring to was a one organized by HRM and Tourism students of Systems Plus in Miranda, here in Pampanga.

The event was dubbed as 'Curang-Curangan: Rediscovering Capampangan Cuisine'.  Just seeing the use of the traditional 'c' in place of the more modern-tagalized versions of 'k' made me think that this is an event I should not let pass.  So a few days before the event, I received my special invitation to visit the event as a resident blogger.  Thanks again to Sir Mike of (HARP) and Jonathan (Systems Plus faculty). Above shows my invitation (I really love the perks of blogging).

The event's main guest of honor was no less than CHEF LILIAN BORROMEO, a very popular Traditional Capampangan cuisine chef who has been featured in a lot of TV shows (including one of my favorite but now defunct Secrets of the Master).  Also invited were Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky Vega (a strong supporter of culture and the youth) and members of Angeles City Tourism Office (ACTO).  The students actually adopted their menu from the entries in Chef Borromeo's cook book, and having accessed the back-stage kitchen, I was sure they would not disappoint her (ehe assuming me,,,,)

 

So, what's in the menu?  Here's a shot of the menu with the nice table design and some appetizers given while waiting for the program to start ---- boiled peanuts!

The starters covered:

Sabong Banging Nasi -- which was literally translated as soup from the burnt bottom part of cooked rice.  This one really intrigued me.  It only shows how creative Capampangan's are and how nothing goes to waste.

Lagat Mustasa --- Sauteed Mustard leaves.

Paksing Demonyo --- Vegetables cooked in vinegar and sugar. Chef Borromeo shared the story behind the weird name.  Yes, the story really involved the devil.

  

Binulung Manuk --- bulung in Capampangan is 'leaves' and manuk, is well, chicken (not sure though if dissecting the title would justify it's meaning ehe). This was a sort of a one-dish-meal with chicken cooked in stock, vegetables and Kamias (a natural sour tasting fruit).

Bobotong Asan --- boboto in Capampangan is the Mexican Tamale version.  Asan is fish and/or viand.  This was a milkfish topped with kamias, mustasa and was very flavorful.

Asadung Matua --- is well, the famous filipino asado (a tomato-based dish with liver paste), but i think the name use of 'matua' which means old, refers to the old-ways of cooking it.  And man, the liver flavor was very good.

and the rest of the offerings I will showcase a little later.  I was also privileged to have been given the 'kitchen access' so I was able to see the food line-up even before they were served.  Here are some of those shots.

Desserts line-up ehe... I had to go to this side first

Sabong Banging Nasi ---- a proof of Capampangan ingenuity

The smell was breath-taking

Gotta love the 'height' ehe.. plating 101

Salabat, anyone???

simmering feasts....

Ingredients galore!

With a smile like that, who wouldn't be delighted???

Wonder how the venue was designed?  Here are shots of the place as well as some of the program proper.

Even give-aways === pasty baskets...

cookie design molds...

Nice fire effect...

Chef Lilian Borromeo being presented with Certificate of Appreciation

Vice Mayor Vicky Vega sharing her thoughts

 

 

 

 

And of course there was the food...

 

 

 

 

 

Over-all the event was good.  There were minor glitches in the program but nothing too serious.  The food was great and truly worth the trip.  It was an evening well spent and I hope this can start to really flicker the interest of people particularly the younger generation to revive the good old Capampangan dishes.  Danupan naku (I am hungry).