A family friend suggested that we try their family favorite shawarma so he brought us to Nepo Mall in Angeles City Pampanga and led us to a stall named Passport Foods.

Crowds seem to gather to buy from it.  Customers come and go non-stop.  They have only 3 food items: Beef Lebanon Shawarma w/ cheese, Chicken Lebanon Shawarma w/ cheese and Samosa.  We wanted to try everything but only the Beef Lebanon Shawarma is available.


We watched as the staff prepared our Beef Lebanon Shawarma.  Instead of rolling the shawarma with the meat inside, they cut the pita and use the pockets to place the ingredients.

♥ Beef Lebanon Shawarma (59 php)

So here it is!  Indeed, the Beef Lebanon Shawarma is good.  It is distinct in taste I guess because of their special sauce.  The meat is chunky and seasoned enough. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Passport Foods Lebanon Shawarma is an interesting shawarma to try for shawarma fans out there.  If you're in Pampanga, check it out!

If there's one place which was highly recommended everywhere (in publications, online blogs, online reviews sites, tv shows) to have Authentic Kapampangan Cuisine,  it would be Everybody's Cafe.

Thus, we squeezed it into out itinerary.

We arrived there around 9 pm and we were practically the only customers of this popular place.

It looks like a carinderia (even with flies).  Just with a better table set up since there is a table cloth.

The dishes are displayed like in a carinderia or turo-turo style canteen.

They have no menu and the set-up was like this so we had the impression that the food would be affordable.  We ordered the ♥ Morcon (360 php) for take out.  I think that is the their most impressive dish.

Unlike me, it is the family's first time to try the Kapampangan exotic dishes.

Food

Camaro (Mole Cricket) (220 php)

I was really excited to let the family try the Camaro.  I've had a pleasant experience with the camaro by Ikabud, Bistro Remedios and during the Marquee Mall's Big Bite!  Unfortunate, this one is not as good.  =( I felt bad that the family had to try this not-so-crispy, bland and greasy version at such an expensive price too!

Kalderetang Kambing (300 php)

The Kalderetang Kambing is delicious with a little spiciness to it.  It was tender enough but the serving was small and had lots of bones so  felt that the pricing is not justified.

Betute

I forgot how much the Betute was but I'm pretty sure it was also every expensive as it was priced per piece.  Compared to the Camaro, this is much better.  But, I still didn't like it's oiliness.  I suggest you try Cely's Carinderia and Abe's instead.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Out of all the place we dined at in Pampanga, this is the most expensive and disappointing one.  Trying Everybody's Cafe was a huge mistake!

The family has never tried going out for Banh Mi before so I really insisted on including Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwich Eatery among our Pampanga City food stops.

Parking slot is limited to around three vehicles.  But, you can park along the street.

The interior is simple but it had an interesting appeal to it.

You can sense it is casual but very clean.

On top of each table are these two sauces.

Rolls

♥ Fresh Spring Rolls (120 php)

For starters, we had the Fresh Spring Rolls.  These are really good!  I'm convinced that this is one of the best we've had.  

Bahn Mi Saigon

♥ BBQ Pork (130 php)

The family is generally not a fan of submarine sandwiches but they really like the BBQ Pork.  The buns were soft and light.  The meat is flavorful enough to bring life to the sandwich.

♥ Chicken (120 php)

We also loved the Chicken.  The key factor is the chicken meat which is so soft and moist.

Specialties

Ca Phe Sua Da (85 php) and Milk Tea (85 php)

We had high expectations for the Ca Phe Sua Da which is the Vietnamese coffee.  But, it turned out to be too sweet for our preference.  We even liked the Milk Tea more which is also sweet.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
The family still isn't into Banh Mi but Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwich Eatery was a pleasant first experience for us.

If you're a foodie, then you certainly have come across Bale Datung by Chef Claude Tayag.  Many have traveled all the way to the outskirts of Angeles Pampanga just to try the Filipino culinary ingenuity it offers.  Dining here is strictly by reservation for lunch time except perhaps if you're Anthony Bourdain. 



Bale Datung means House of Wood. And, that is what you'll expect when you walk-in.




 
Wooden totems, artifacts, furnitures and fixtures add an ethnic vibe to the wooden house itself.


There's a wooden staircase that leads to the second floor.


There's a simply veranda overseeing the garden-front.

Food



We tried the Lechon Menu (1,800 php/head) which represents lechon eaten in 5 ways.
 

♥ Ensaladang Pako

We start with the Ensaladang Pako which is a fiddlehead fern salad.  This is a refreshing starter that's perfect for awakening the taste buds.

Balat ng Lechon at Liver Sauce

The Balat ng Lechon at Liver Sauce is simply sinfully good!  This is the starting point of our savory endeavor.


Lechon Tortilla

Crispy Roast Pork Flakes

The ingredients were served before us.  Chef Claude Tayag's wife Mary Ann taught us how to make the Lechon Tortilla.

♥ Lechon Tortilla

So here's mine...

♥ Lechon Tortilla

Deliciously savory and crunchy!

Sinigang na Lechon
You can add as much vegetables as you want.

♥ Sinigang na Lechon

I've tried Sinigang na Corned Beef before.  This Sinigang na Lechon is an equal rival to that.  One slurp and you'll feel the rich savory wonders of the lechon!

Lechon Sisig

Pig's Brain (Optional)

♥ Lechon Sisig

Freshly cooked Lechon Sisig with pig liver and liver sauce.  Winner!

 

♥ Kare-Kareng Dagat

Hands down the Kare-Kareng Dagat is one of the best kare-kare I've encountered in this lifetime.  The key is the freshness and quality of the seafood ingredients!

♥ Paradiso

The Paradiso is like a local version of creme brulee.  It is a egg yolk in water buffalo/carabao milk topped with balls of yellow and purple yam and coconut (macapuno).

♥ Kapeng Sinaunang Panahon

I love the presentation as well as the flavors of the Kapeng Sinaunang Panahon.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Dining at Bale Datung is definitely a luxurious and a long one (around 3 hours).  Pampanga is one of my favorite food destinations.  I've tried a lot in the area but none of them offers a similar experience to this.  I loved everything that we was served and I really enjoyed this dining experience.  You can bring some wine since they don't charge any corkage for that.