What happens when a bunch of foodies band together and troop to a place where food is an important aspect of its culture? Food trip, no less!

On Good Friday, the ‘orphans’ drove north to San Fernando, Pampanga, to visit relatives and take part in the annual Good Friday Procession where the family’s hundred year-old Mater Dolorosa was one of the most important figures.

We arrived in Pampanga quite early so we decided to take a ‘detour’ to Clark for an unscheduled brunch stop. Initially, Papa Mark wanted to take us to C’s Italian Dining, where during a previous trip, we were thrown out of because we did not have reservations! It just wasn’t our luck at all – this time, the place was closed! Instead, we drove further down and went to Zapata’s, a quaint Mexican restaurant also located along Don Juico Avenue, on the perimeter road outside Clark Special Economic Zone.

ZAPATA’S CANTINA MEXICANA

I have in the past wandered in and out of different cafés around this area but somehow missed this particular venue that is one of the last remaining authentic Mexican themed restaurant in the country.

Zapata’s exterior is unassuming with pseudo-Mexican architectural detailing and a bilingual sign on the heavy, arched wooden doors. The moment you enter, you are suddenly transported to a different world. Its interior is abound with a colourful mélange of Mexican decor and memorabilia honouring Mexican Gral. Emiliano Zapata, a medeiro [sharecropper] and horse trainer, then a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution which broke out in 1910.

Zapata’s menu features a variety of appetizing soups, enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, fajitas and other mouthwatering Mexican fare, ranging from Php65.00 to Php250.00.

For starters, we opted for their delectable Quesadillas [above] – lightly grilled flour tortillas filled with cheese, onions and jalapenos, served with tomato salsa and sour cream. It was such a delightful choice that we kept on ordering for more! Zapata’s Irish Nachos [below] is a mound of French fries [real potato wedges!] with cheese sauce and chili con carne. Chili con carne? Well, we forgot that it was Good Friday!

For the mains, their Tacos Baja [Fish Tacos] was a winner! It consisted of grilled fresh Dorado in a light beer batter and served with cabbage slaw, salsa and wrapped in a fresh corn tortilla. It comes plated with Mexican rice and beans which will make you swear you are in Rosarita according to someone in the group! The Burritos were kinda heavy with two meaty cheese and bean burritos wrapped in fresh, soft flour tortillas.

Zapata’s Cantina Mexicana
480 Don Juico Avenue, Clarkview, Angeles City
Tel. [045] 8920859

PATCO | BUKO CREPE ROLL

On the way to San Fernando, we stopped at the [closed!] Sunset Garden Caffe for coffee and desserts. Craving for something sweet, we drove further and settled for St. Paul Food Mart and Snack Center [next to an also closed Susie’s] in San Fernando City itself. Here, I indulged myself and devoured a truly Capampangan delicacy – the patco! By simply looking at it, Patco is a cross between a spring roll [because of the way it is prepared] and a crepe. But it is more of a crepe, I’d say! Or a crepe and buko roll?!

Anyway, this delicacy consists of freshly grated buko [young coconut] meat with a crepe that is made out of flour and milk. It has a delightful zesty taste coming from real dayap zest infused in the crepe mixture. The result is a refreshing dessert that will make you crave for more! Well, I finished five rolls in no time! Patco, as I found later from cabalen Karen, originally started around the Sta. Rita, Guaga and Betis areas. Now, patco is almost a standard and can be found almost everywhere in Pampanga.

HENSON-HIZON RESIDENCE

We finally arrived in our destination, the circa 1880 and National Historial Institute [NHI]-declared Henzon-Hizon House along V. Tiomico Street [with full tummies] only to find out that more food awaited us!

While elders and members of the Dayrit and Panlilio families dressed up the image of the century-old Mater Dolorosa, I surveyed the buffet that featured a spread of popular dishes like stuffed crabs, shrimp balls, tortang talong, pinakbet, pesang tilapia and various desserts like native kakanins.

Over a bowl of sampelut [ginataan], I had a chance meeting with award-winning travel blogger Ivan Henares who is also related to the Dayrit orphans.

LAZATIN RESIDENCE

After the afternoon prayers, we moved to yet another NHI-declared historic house in the area – the Lazatin Residence, this time for more merienda! The Lazatin Residence along A. Consunji Street features an American colonial architecture prevalent during its construction in the 1920’s and is one of the best preserved historic houses on the strip. It is maintained by Anita Carmen Lazatin of the famous Essel Bakery.

Here, we were treated to a scrumptious merienda which included specially-made treats that can be had only on special occasions like fiestas and during the Holy Week when the residence opens to relatives and friends. Let’s have a closer look, folks . . . They’re really yummy and mouthwatering creations!

A sandwich that looks like a cake?! Indeed, this ‘club’ sandwich looks like a cake at first glance, but once sliced it reveals layers of white bread, shrimp pâté, cheddar cheese spread, and chopped eggs in mayo under a layer of cream cheese icing.

For years, I’ve always had my Pimiento sandwich made of layered white bread with pimiento spread. This one’s unique as the bread is rolled and sliced into thin bite-sized pieces that can be easily plopped into the mouth.

A merienda won’t be complete without sweet endings, naturally. Here, a chocolate pie and tiramisu cake vie for attention. I couldn’t decide, so I had them both and finished off my merienda with a refreshing scoop of Buko-Lychee Sherbet that is at the same time a perfect cooler for the summer heat!

After that sumptuous merienda, we walked the decorated caroza of the Mater Dolorosa to the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando City.

At the Henson-Hizon Residence for dinner, already feeling bloated, I contented myself with the exotic pako [fiddlehead fern] salad.

Back in Manila and at Sebastian Chua’s [Star Paper] place with its own Brunswick-fitted billiards hall, we were treated to loads of Yellow Cab pizzas as we played ball with other guests.

That night I went to bed feeling like a bloated Hoggypot!