Pampanga Eats: Matam-ih Restaurant in Clark

Something serendipitous happened last Sunday.  I was supposed to go to Manila to visit my Ninong and Ninang (our godparents in our wedding who are such a lovely and loving couple!) but guess what?! They were in Clark (which was a 30 minute drive from our home) for the weekend!  Talk about perfect timing!

So I was going to meet them in a restaurant which sounded like (because I wasn't sure, haha!) "Watami" (though there is really a Watami restaurant in Makati, haha) in Clark.  After a few turns and U-turns (and a Ninong who stood by the road to give me an easier time finding the place!)  I finally got to the place!  It sits on a lot by the main road of Clark (along M.A. Roxas Highway).  It is ironic how friends from Manila are the ones who told me about this place!  Wait, but I have an excuse!  I've been gone for a year and the place just opened last August 2014.  (Heehee)  

The name of the restaurant is. . . MATAM-IH!  And it serves Kapampangan food!  (But it does sound Japanese right?  Haha!)

Matam-ih means "delicious" in the Aeta (pronounced as Eye-ta) dialect.  The Aeta are an ethnic tribal minority group who live in Central Luzon.  The restaurant actually employs members of this tribe.  I've read in some articles online that one of the reasons why the owners (the Rodriguez family of Capas, Tarlac, led by Mayor Antonio Rodriguez Jr. and his son Antonio "Third" Rodriguez III) put up this restaurant was to give them source of livelihood.  A big population of this tribe can be found in Tarlac.  I love how the owners kept this ethnic group in mind as they conceptualized the restaurant. 

MATAM-IH is an open air restaurant with a pavilion-like structure. 

The restaurant also has air-conditioned rooms like the one pictured below which is good for 16 guests and requires a minimum consumption fee of Php 4,000.  The fee includes 3 hours use of the room. 

There is also a bigger one (good for 60 guests) with a minimum consumption fee of Php 10,000.

Our sumptuous lunch consists of . . . . 

Fried Hito with Mustasa and Buro (Fermented Rice with fish)

Inihaw na Liempo - loved this!
Wish it came with sawsawan (dipping sauce) made of vinegar and garlic, heehee

Begukan Babi (Pork Binagoongan) - 
It is also good, it has a nice balance of sweetness and saltiness

I am not sure if this is Pinakbet or just mixed vegetables, haha!  I like how the vegetables were cooked, they weren't mushy.

Adobong Pusit (Loved this! My top pick, reminds me of home)

We (meaning 6 adults! haha!) also had Sinigang and Laing (which was also good!).  I wasn't able to take a photo of the other food because we were busy catching up!

We also got a chance to talk to one of the owners.  She was so nice and pleasant and she even gave us free dessert!

By the way, I'm not saying everything is good because we had free dessert. . . but because we really enjoyed our lunch!  (Thank you again Ninong D and Ninang A for the nice lunch!)  

Manggang Atin Inangit

This dessert was delicious!  It is made up of sticky rice cooked in coconut milk, topped with vanilla ice cream, chunks of yellow mangoes and I forgot what the brown topping actually is.  I asked what it was.  But it is sweet, like caramelized brown sugar, I think.

When you dine in this place, you will also be serenaded (singing and chanting) by this group.  Kindly watch and give them some of your precious time and hope you spare some tip for them too.  It is not easy performing in front of a group! 

They ended their performance with funny pick-up lines for each of one of us in the group like this one:

Q: Ma'm, google ka ba?

Bakit?

A: Kasi lahat ng hinahanap ni Sir, nakita niya sa iyo!

Haha!  

I love this place because food and service is good!

When you are in Clark and you are craving for some local and Kapampangan food, please visit Matam-ih Restaurant and I hope you enjoy their food as much as we did.  

I know for sure, I'll be back before I leave for LA! 

MATAM-IH Restaurant

Lot 1-D, M.A. Roxas Highway, 

E. Jacinto St.,

Clark Freeport Zone

Pampanga

For more details, please visit their FB page.

My Favorite Pancake place!

And it's not IHOP =)

I've always loved pancakes!  There is just something about them that is so comforting (or is it because of the butter and syrup? haha!)

One day, I was craving for some pancakes.  I could have made some but I wanted to eat pancakes that are not from a box.  We didn't go to IHOP because I was disappointed with their pancakes the last time we went there.  But I will go back to IHOP for their Big Steak Omelette!

What is my favorite pancake place?  It is The Original Pancake House!  (I got to know about this place through Yelp, my go-to resource for foodie places in LA)

So what was for breakfast?

I've mentioned in an earlier post, I have been craving for blueberries so I ordered some blueberry waffles!

I was expecting the waffle to be thick (which I usually like).  But after taking a bite, I didn't mind at all!  =)

You know you're enjoying your food when you don't care if you have a messy plate, haha!

The kids had Chocolate Chip Pancake --- I prefer their pancakes over IHOP's.

Half order - 3 pcs

Do you know what makes their waffles and pancakes really good?  It's their homemade whipped butter! I don't put butter in my waffles and pancakes but this is so good that I slathered my waffle with it!  I like that it doesn't taste too buttery.  It's like butter/cream, well, something like it. Haha!  (Wish I was a food blogger to give you a better description, haha!) 

And another reason why we go back to this place is because of Hubby's fave . . . the Homemade Corned Beef Hash!  It comes with two eggs and their famous Potato Pancakes.

A very satisfying and filling meal!

Writing this post made me crave for the blueberry waffle. . . . again!  Or perhaps I should try their signature Apple pancake or Dutch Baby.  Whatever it is, we will definitely be going back!

For more details (menu and location) about The Original Pancake House, please visit their website.

Glad about Gavino's

I've seen a friend's Instagram post about Gavino's Donuts and got curious about these flower-shaped Japanese doughnuts.  (What is a Japanese doughnut??)    Truth be told, I haven't seen any branch of Gavino's. . . not until we saw their booth in SM Clark yesterday!  

I wanted to try the doughnuts but changed my mind when I saw these yummy looking sweet treats called Mochi Balls.  But before I bought them, I had to make sure that they are doughnuts and NOT the sticky, chewy Mochi balls (made of glutinous rice) that we know, haha!  (Fact: I don't like eating food which has that kind of consistency, so yes, don't eat tikoy too)   

There is a good number of variety for the balls (like Peanut Butter and Jelly, Black Forest, there's even a Red Velvet!)  but I got these . . . 

Top Row (Left to Right) - Cream, Hazelnut, Venetian
Bottom Row (Left to Right) - Choco Lava, Almondo and Choco Lava (again! I just had to buy 2 of those, haha!) 

After the first bite, the first thing you would notice is the chewiness of the dough and I think this is what sets it apart from the other doughnut treats in the market.  I read in some blogs that in making these doughnuts, an ingredient which is used in making Mochis is also used in making the dough of the doughnuts.  That's what makes these treats chewy like mochi!  (chewy like Mochi, chewy like Mochi, chewy like Mochi. . .this can be a good tongue twister, haha!)    

Almondo - recommended by their staff - has a Bavarian cream which is not too sweet

For the Hazelnut ball, I wish it had a more intense Hazelnut taste (okay, I was hoping it would be like Nutella, haha!)  And my most favorite among the bunch. . . CHOCO  LAVAAA!!! Enough said, I'll let the photo below speak for itself! =)

After trying Gavino's Mochi Balls, all I can say is, I should have bought a box of their doughnuts too, haha! 

To know more about Gavino's Japanese Doughnuts (and their branches), please visit their website and FB page. =)

Happy Weekend! =)

A Starbucks Kind of Day!

I never go to Starbucks twice in a day!

Except last week when I was at the mall and had to wait for the Princess who was still having her Playtime.

I had a rare treat at Starbucks . . .

Some Me-time (yes, even if it was just for 15-mins), my Frap, my thoughts (lots of them actually!) and I had the whole place by myself (something that doesn't come often!).

Later that day, my Sister and I had to do an errand and went to Starbucks for some snacks.  She didn't feel like having a sandwich but I just had to have mine!  I just love Starbucks' Grilled Ham and Three Cheese Sandwich.  So I forced asked her to just try it and she did. . . .and we had to order another one, haha!  

Looooveee!  =)

This sandwich has two of my favorite cheeses, Mozzarrela and Emmenthal (placed on top of the sandwich) which gives the sandwich some gooey goodness as it is heated.  By the way, just in case you're wondering what's the third cheese in this sandwich, it's Cheddar.  I also like the garlicky flavor that you get in each bite.  I thought it was pesto but it isn't.  

If you haven't tried this sandwich, you should!  I hope you like it as much as I do =)  (Another Starbucks treat you should try is their Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushrooms sandwich)

Another Happy Tummy, Happy Mommy moment for me! =)

An Easy Bean Sprouts Recipe

Do you like bean sprouts? (I do!)

If you do, here is a fast, simple and healthy vegetable dish which you can try at home.

If you don't, here is a fast, simple and healthy vegetable dish you can try at home! (Haha!)  

Kidding aside, you might want to try this recipe and give bean sprouts a chance. =)

Somebody else cooked this for lunch yesterday.  But I liked it so much (I can eat it as it is, even without rice) that I thought of sharing this simple recipe with you.

* Sorry, I don't have measurement for the ingredients =)

Ingredients:
Squid (or any seafood/meat you like)
Butter (I know, I said it's a healthy dish, but a little bit of butter won't hurt, haha)
Garlic
Onion
Oyster Sauce
Bell Pepper, chopped
Cabbage, shredded
Carrots, julienned
Bean Sprouts
A little bit of water
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Boil the squid until it becomes tender. (We minimize our salt intake at home so no salt was added to it.)  Cut the squid to bite size pieces and set it aside.
2. Blanch the bean sprouts and set them aside.
3. Saute garlic and onion in butter.  Add the oyster sauce and  a little bit of water.  Simmer for a few minutes.
5. Add the squid and all the vegetables.
6. Stir fry everything and add salt and pepper, if needed.

And that's it!

So simple, fast and yummy =)

Happy Cooking!

Food Post: à La crème

It's another food post!

What's so nice about having a balikbayan (a term we use  for Filipinos who live overseas and who come back to Philippines for a visit/vacation) is you get to go on a food trip without feeling guilty, hahaha!  Because as a good host, you want your guests to try the local food/local dining spots!

We brought our cousin who is visiting from Canada in à La crème, a local bistro/coffee and cake shop.  Its extensive menu offers a variety of comfort food, some of which are shown below.

My most favorite items in their menu:

The Chicken Quesadilla

Such a beautiful and colorful plate! =)

I hope they would always make their quesadillas this way,
where they don't scrimp on the ingredients.

And my most favorite of all. . . the good, the bad. . .and the deadly. . . 

Prawn and Aligue (Crab Fat) Pasta!  

Warning:  For health reasons, to minimize the chance of getting an elevated blood pressure due to the cholesterol brought about by the cream and crab fat in this pasta, an order of this heavenly plate . .  MUST BE SHARED!  Haha!  

If you are a big group, an order of their Appetizer Basket is good for sharing too =)

The basket has Onion Rings, Mozzarella Sticks, Buffalo Wings and Potato chips
with 3 dips on the side (Marinara, Thousand Island and Aioli I think)

Other items we had were the Beef Salpicao . . . 

I was looking for a more intense garlic flavor

My cousin ordered a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich . . .  It was okay, it wasn't bad but it wasn't the traditional Cheesesteak that I know.  I wish they served it in a French bread.

Goes without saying that we were so full that we didn't have room for dessert. . .  but we had some during our first visit, heehee. . . where we only ordered dessert).

For dessert, à La crème is known for their Ube Cake, a must-try!

I know, I should have taken a better photo of the cake, haha!

We also got a crepe . . . Mango Loco! . . . which I loved but my cousin found the crepe to be "eggy".

Actually there are no bad crepes for me, haha!    

Just in case you are in Pampanga (where Food Tripping is one of the things you've got to do) and would like to try à La crème, they have branches at: 

Stall 1 & 2 Alcon Bldg.
(Near AUF),
MacArthur Hi-Way,
Angeles City
(045)888.2303

CTH Bldg.,
MacArthur Hi-Way, Dolores,
City of San Fernando
(045) 861.0829
(045) 961.7264 

Nepo Center

Cluster III-B The Quad @ NEPO

Plaridel St., Angeles City

FB Page

Now, I'm hungry! Haha!

Rediscovering Italianni's

I can't remember the last time I ate at Italianni's.  What I was sure of was the meal I had was just okay.  But I got a pleasant surprise a couple of weeks ago when we had to go to Italianni's for lunch!

A cousin from Canada (the last time she visited Philippines was 10 years ago I think) is back home and we actually wanted to bring her to C' Italian Dining so she can try their famous panizza!  However, the restaurant which sits on the Petron lot in Clark was closed! Gaaahhh!!!  (And there goes our panizza!  Boo!)  

Not wanting to give up on my cousin's Italian craving, the closest restaurant I can think of was Italianni's where we had a hearty and yummy lunch!

We had . . .

Sicilian Chicken Salad - I love that it has yellow mangoes and grapes in it!  I couldn't make out the dressing, haha!  It is like a Caesar's Salad. . .with honey mustard? Haha!  Whatever it was, we liked it.

Spinach and Artichoke Formaggio - Cheessee!!! Nuff said!

Truffle Fries with Honey Mustard Dip

A creamy pesto pasta!  I forgot the name =)

We also had a pizza which I wasn't able to take a picture of. . . because we were already busy eating, heehe.

If you ask me how our day went, there's only one word to describe it. .. CARBO LOADING! Haha!

We were all so happy about our lunch that we thought not being able to eat in C was a blessing in disguise =)  I am glad we were able to rediscover Italianni's!

We just didn't rediscover the place. . .if there's one thing that came out great was that all of us have rediscovered our relationship as cousins =).

By the way, if you are a fan of the restaurants under Bistro Group (Friday's, Italianni's, Village Tavern, Krazy Garlik, Flapjacks to name a few), I suggest you avail of their Bistro Group Premier Card (annual fee of Php 2,500) because you get a 20% discount in your total bill (and 30% every Mondays I think) and the card comes with vouchers and freebies!

If you are interested to get one, you may just ask your server (in any of the Bistro Group Restaurants) about it .

Breakfast of the Chomps

I have a new fave (a new find) breakfast food! =)

Pampanga's Best Chomps - Breakfast Sausages!

They're really good, not salty and tiny (as compared to the regular-sized ones)!   It makes you feel a little less guilty about eating a lot, haha!  While they may be tiny, they are tasty.  Best when eaten hot!

We also love their Boom Boom Hotdogs (I think only Filipinos would have red hotdogs!).  I even saw a pack of Pampanga's Best Hungarian Sausages, something that I have yet to try.

Yes, I am a hotdog lover, I'll choose it over a hamburger (unless that burger is that of Five Guys, haha!).  

For more details about Pampanga's Best products (and their distributors), please visit their website.

Quick and Easy Recipe: Chicken Ala King

It was leftovers for lunch today so as a treat, I thought of preparing a nice merienda (snacks) this afternoon for the family.

Chicken Ala King is one dish that they like since I started cooking it when I was still in High School.  It was one of the earliest recipes I've learned from my Cooking class =).

For this recipe, I've listed down the the ingredients but I don't have the measurements (does that make me a good cook or a bad one? Haha!)

Here you go. . . .

Ingredients:
Chicken breast, boiled and chopped roughly
1 to 1 1/2 can of Cream of Mushroom (depending on the amount of chicken you used)
Red Onion, chopped
Bell pepper, chopped
Button Mushrooms, Chopped
Whole Kernel Corn
Salt and pepper to taste
Butter
Evaporated milk and water, if needed

Cooking Instructions:
1. Boil the chicken breast, add a little bit of salt.
2. Saute onion in butter until translucent.
3. Add bell pepper and button mushrooms.  Stir fry for a minute.
4. Add chopped chicken breast.
5. Add the Cream of mushroom.  If the consistency becomes too thick, add a little bit of evaporated milk and water until you reach your desired consistency.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Mix everything and simmer in low heat for a few minutes.
6. Add the whole kernel corn =)  If you love corn (like me!), feel free to add 1 whole can.  Heehee.

How to serve it?
You may serve it as an open-faced sandwich, or just eat it with toasted bread like we did.  If I had the time and energy (Haha!), I would have made some mashed potatoes, spread it on top of the chicken mixture and bake it =)

Hope you like it as much as we do!

Bon Appetit!

Meet The Flour Girl

Well, I haven't really met her, haha!  I just had a taste some of her goodies during a visit to Rockwell's Baker's Dozen Fair (again!).  The Flour Girl's stall has mouthwatering cupcakes (with flavors like Choco-Nutella, Salted Caramel Mocha, Speculoos, Purple Yam and Pistachio with Strawberry Frosting, to name a few).  But what I wanted to try were these. . . 

 Her Brookies (left) and Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookies (right)

They caught my attention (and my taste buds' too, thanks to the free taste, heehee) and fell in love with the Brookies, haha!  How can you not fall for something that has BOTH a Brownie and a Cookie?!  These sweet treats are soft, moist and chewy. . . Heaven in a bite! 

Can you find the Hidden Mickey? =)

For more details about The Flour Girl and what they offer, please visit their FB page =)

Hope you had a beautiful and sweet day!

Goodnight =)

My Dose of Vit C

I'm prone to cough and colds so my Mom always tells me to take Vitamin C.

Well, I am following her advice, I found my kind of Vitamin C . . . 

And it is wrapped in Dark Chocolate, hahaha!

I actually prefer the Acai Berry but this Pomegranate is good too.  It's a good dessert because it removes the "umay" or "suya" factor that you might get from your meal.  You get to taste the goodness of dark chocolate followed by the tartness of the fruit.  What I like about this brand is, the fruit doesn't overpower the chocolate.  They blend really well.

Oh and it makes eating chocolates less sinful . . . a little bit healtiher, haha!

Sweets from Susie's

Believe it or not, you can actually enjoy a whole (Old-Fashioned) chocolate cake for only Php 250.00 (close to US$6)!  

Thing is, you have to come here to our province or to any branch of Susie's Cuisine surrounding our province.  They have branches in Tarlac and one in Bataan.   I don't think they have a branch in Manila yet.   

Susie's Cuisine is a local place that is known for their Pancit Palabok (Pancit Luglug as we call it) and Mochi (a Kapampangan kakanin made of beans wrapped in sticky rice and drizzled in coconut milk). Through the years, it has widened its array of offering that it has become a foodie's haven.  It doesn't only offer these local specialties (they make good Baked Mac and Lasagna too) but MORE!  It has become a favorite pit stop to get pasalubong (gifts) too.   

This chocolate cake is a personal fave.  I know there are fancier and yummier cakes but for the price and for the quality of the cake you get (it's chocolatey good and moist), this cake is a sure winner!  My friends from Manila liked the cake too that they bought some as pasalubong to their families =)

If you happen to go to Pampanga, please drop by Susie's Cuisine and go on a food trip! =)  And include this cake (just one of the many pasalubong you can buy  in Susie's) in your list =)

For more details, please go to their FB page. 

Got this list of branches from Ang Sarap's blog

BRANCHES 

Rizal Extension corner Sandra St., Angeles City
Tel. No.: (045) 887 - 2479

McArthur Highway,Dau (Pineda Bldg. near Marina Arcade)
Tel. No.: (045) 892-4919

IG Grown Plaza,Burgos St.,Guagua PampangaTel. No.: (045) 900-1062

Sto. Domingo 1, Capas Tarlac
Tel. No.: (045) 615-0960

ACC Bldg., McArthur Highway,Apalit PampangaTel. No.: (045) 302-9182

La Maja Rica, McArthur Highway, Ligtasan, Tarlac City
Tel. No.: (045) 611-2150

Mother Teresa Calcutta,Sakop, Brgy. Maimpis, City of San Fernado Pampanga
Tel. No.: (045) 455-5935

Northwalk 2, City of San Fernando Pampanga
Tel. No.: (045) 889-8723

Marquee Place, G/F Pulung Cacutud, Angeles City
Tel. No.: (045) 841-4046

Don Manuel Banzon St., Balanga City Bataan
Tel. No.: 0906-657-905

Mc Arthur Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando Pampanga.
Tel. No.: (045) 861 - 2480

Ground Floor Kiosk, SM Clark, Angeles City

Loving Spectrum

One of my most favorite hotel buffets is that of Spectrum's in Fairmont Hotel.  The main reason being. . . I love their dessert spread (I have a sweet tooth). . . ALL of it!  It is probably the only hotel buffet where I loved all the dessert selection.  And this is the reason (well dessert spread for me and suckling pig for Hubby, haha!) why we went back just a week after a couple of good friends treated us for dinner (Thank you again M&M!).

Spectrum's buffet spread is not as extensive as the other hotels but I'm happy and satisfied with what they offer. 

They have the standard food stations found in hotel buffets:  Salad Bar (they make a really gooood Caesar Salad dressing!), Bread, Cheese and Cold Cuts Station, Seafood, Chinese Roastings (Suckling Pig and Peking Duck), Dimsum and Noodles, Pizza and Pasta (we loved their Pasta), Carving Station.  There is enough (more than enough actually) to eat.  We didn't even get to try the Main Dishes since we were already happy with the few things that we love!  

Love these wraps!

Roast Beef was okay

The reason why Hubby was a Happy Camper!  

And this is the reasons why I was, Haha!

I love everything in this plate!  
If you ask me which tops my list, it would be the Mango Panna Cotta
and the freshly-baked Choco Chip cookie!

And MORE!

My most favorite was the Chocolate Brownie

They even have Taho

Here's something  we don't see often in a dessert spread . . .Honeycomb!  I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to try it.  Hubby did and I asked him how it was. . . he said it was sweet, chewy and  has an "earthy flavor" (whatever that means!  Haha!)

I asked him to try the Mascarpone Cheese with Honey too

He liked it. . . better with Halayang Ube!  Haha!  (Huney, you make me laugh even when you talk about food!)

Let me end this post with a note to Hubby. . . .

Dearest Hun, 

You're my "Honey" and I'll be your "Ube". . . 

Hahaha!

  

(Okay, let's stop this cheesiness!)

I wish I had more pictures to share but as they say. . . "the soul is willing but the flesh is weak"!  Haha! It was so weak. . . we were hungry that I have to put my camera down so we can enjoy the buffet goodness. =) 

Oh and I have to say, all the restaurant's staff were superb which made our dining experience extra special.

If you want to read a more detailed review about Spectrum by food bloggers, here are some links:

Jin Loves to Eat

Purple Doll

Our Awesome Planet (on the Sunday Brunch)