One of the famous tourist stops for authentic kapampangan cuisine in Angeles City is Binulo Restaurant.  It has been featured in several publications and TV shows.  Binulo means "bamboo" so I was excited to try their bamboo-cooked dishes.



It had a simple interior with a traditional Filipino home vibe.  It had wooden tables and chairs with scenic paintings on its walls.

Food

Appetizers

♥ Sisig (280 php)

The Sisig is a sizzlign round plateful of onions, pig cheeks, ear and liver.  It was delicious!

Shrimp Okoy 4 pcs. (175 php)

The Shrimp Okoy was perfectly crunchy which you can tell by the golden brown color.  The shrimp was tender within too.


Salads and Relishes

Paco Salad (175 php)

The Paco Salad has the pako fern, peanuts, shrimp and tomatoes.  This is a very light, refreshing and healthy dish.

Kare-Kare (485 php)

The Kare-Kare was very tasty with peanut essence and it was even enhanced by the bagoong. This is so good that some of my companions even poured the sauce over their rice.

♥ Crispy Binagoongan (310 php)

The Crispy Binagoongan justly deserves a perfect score for its crunchiness.  This dish was sensational!


Seafood

♥ Binukadkad na Hito (Butterflied Catfish) (295 php)

I've mentioned being a fan of catfish.  This Binukadkad na Hito was finished by your trully.  It was so good, I only left the head part.  The buro was not as sour as others I've tried. 


Binulo Specialties

♥ Pangat na Ulang (378 php)

The Pangat na Ulang was my favorite for the night.  The natural sweet flavors of the ulang and the mildly sour broth blended well together.  

Rice

♥ Binulong Nasi (150 php)

The Binulong Nasi had an interesting presentation as the rice was wrapped in leaves and served in a bamboo reed.

♥ Binulong Nasi (150 php)

The Binulong Nasi has a nice smokey and fragrant flavor.

Drinks

Fresh Fruit Shakes

♥ Buko Pandan Shake (85 php)

The Buko Pandan Shake is similar to the bottle buko milk shake with tiny buko bits.  But, this had pandan essence to make it even better.

Other Metro Angeles Food Tour (#MAFT2014) Posts
Abe's Farm
Angeles Fried Chicken 
Cottage Kitchen Cafe
Historic Camalig Restaurant
La Rose Noire (factory visit) 
Mother's Cake House
Prism Lounge
Sab Bistro
Salt Restaurant (Breakfast Buffet)
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
When looking for authentic kapampangan cuisine, Binulo Restaurant is one of the top options.  Although the dishes are a bit pricey, your money is well spent because of the fine ingredients and quality dishes they offer.  Being a place frequently visited by tourists, I expected the staff to be more accommodating though.

So far I've loved my every encounter with Capampangan Cuisine and I'm yearning to try more of them.  Thus when I was invited to Pinac by fellow blogger Animetric, I instantly accepted. 

After all, it's actually my first time to encounter Capampangan Cuisine from Candaba Pampanga.

Given it's exquisite and sophisticated native Candaba Pampanga vibe, I had the impression that it's a fine dining restaurant with intimidating prices.  But upon glancing at the menu, I was proven wrong.  I also noticed that big groups are dining there.

Lunch Specials at Pinac

Lengua Con Setas (255 php)

The Lengua Con Setas is braised ox tongue, sliced button mushrooms, roasted garlic and shredded parsley in a creamy sauce hinted with red wine.  It is served with garlic rice, pan roasted buttered carrots and string beans creamy.  I'm an avid fan of lengua dishes.  This rendition does not disappoint as every bit of the ox tongue was tender and delightful to chew.  The flavor especially on the salty side is a bit strong so it's a great partner with the sidings and garlic rice.

Beef Salpicao (265 php)

The Beef Salpicao is stated to be beef tenderloin cubes in buttered Worcestershire sauce.  Some of the beef bits were tough to chew.  Perhaps people in Candaba Pampanga enjoy bold flavors since the sauce of this is even more powerful than the Lengua Con Setas.  It is also  served with garlic rice, pan roasted buttered carrots and string beans creamy. 

Ensalada

Fried Quesong Puti Ensalada (145 php)

The Fried Quesong Puti Ensalada has fried quesong puti which looked like croquettes on top of the mixed greens, sliced tomatoes and cucumber.  It is served with a bagoong vinaigrette.  Even for a veggie and salad like me, I found this dish quite dull.  I only wanted to eat the fried quesong puti and leave everything behind.

Pampagana 

Lumpiang Ubod Taquitos (185 php)

The Lumpiang Ubod Taquitos is juliened palm of heart, shrimp, shitake mushroom, beans on a bed of fried wontons.  It had a very flavorful peanut sauce which made me feel like I was munching on crunchy peanut butter.  I loved it because I'm a crunchy peanut butter addict.  I spoon and eat those plain or put them everywhere I can put them even on bananas. =p  But to give a fair and objective feedback, I can't help but feel that this is subordinate to Oriang's Lumpiang Hubad in Pastry Cups.

♥ Crispy Hito Balls, Mustasa at Buro (235 php)

The Crispy Hito Balls, Mustasa at Buro is my favorite among the dishes we tried.  To eat it, slice the Crispy Hito Balls into half and then place it on the Mustasa with some Buro (fermented fish).  It is also served with bagoong vinaigrette but I prefer to eat this without that so I can taste the Buro more.  I love Buro!  I usually have a jar of it snuggled in the fridge.

♥ Baked Oysters with Crispy Kangkong (235 php)

The Baked Oysters with Crispy Kangkong is a great choice.  The baked oysters are large in size, cheesy and succulent.  The crispy kangkong is deliciously crispy too.

Asan (Fish)

Adobong Hito Sa Alagaw (185 php)

This is my first time to encounter catfish cooked like the Adobong Hito Sa Alagaw.  I found the sauce to be too salty.  As a big fan of catfish, I'm quite saddened by this because I can barely appreciate the distinct taste of the catfish itself.  I can still recall the days when we would buy fresh live catfish which will be netted out of an aquarium every time we would go to Rustan's Supermarket.  But, now its very rare to encounter one.

Pista

♥ Pinac's Crispy Pata (645 php)

Pinac's Crispy Pata is one of the best pork knuckle or crispy pata I've tried.  It's said to be poached for 6 hours then fried.  The skin is so crispy and the meat is so soft and tender!  It is served with their Atsarang Capampangan.  It is a pickled eggplant, ampalaya and kangkong which had a tangy and sweet tones that successfully masked the bitterish flavor of the amplaya.

Smoked Tadyang with Yellow Mango Chutney (625 php)

The Smoked Tadyang with Yellow Mango Chutney is a 750 grams of smoked beef ribs on a bed of yellow mango and corn salsa.  For the price, this huge chunk is a bargain!  I found the flavor to be intensely sweet eat it with the salsa and rice.  My companions who are fond of sweets enjoyed it.  It was soft but not the fall of the bone type. 

Mayumi

Suman Mangga at Tsokolate (140 php)

The Suman Mangga at Tsokolate is aesthetically appealing.  Unfortunately, the slightly crunchy and chewy fried suman, sticky coconut jam-textured tsokolate and sliced ripe mango failed to complement one another and appease my tastebuds. 

♥ Brazo De Mais at Salabat (185 php)

I'm not much of a braso mercedes or meringue fan but I liked the Brazo De Mais at Salabat.  The soft meringue is filled with creamy custard with corn bits.  It was served with a lightly sweetened Salabat or ginger tea.  The two seem to complement each other well. 

♥ Brazo De Mais (185 php)

The custard filling was creamy with a slight graininess like pastillas or yema.  It was fun to chew with the bits of corn.

♥ Dulce De Leche Cheesecake (195 php)

Everyone loved the Dulce De Leche Cheesecake.   It had a whipped cream laced with caramel on top then a sweet custard or yema-like cheeesecake and crust on the bottom.  Is it me or is it very similar to Forget Me Not's Dulce De Leche Cheesecake?

Drinks

Cold

Kamias Calamansi Shake (85 php) and ♥ Cucumber Mint Dalandan (85 php)

The Kamias Calamansi Shake is sweet and fizzy.  I liked the Cucumber Mint Dalandan because of its cool minty flavor that matches the refreshing dalandan zest well.

Other Reviews at UP Town Center
Cafe Shibuya
Casa Verde
Dulcelin Gourmet
Ginza Bairin
Lucca Bakery
Tokyo Tonteki

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking for a presentable place to dine for Candaba Pampanga dishes, try Pinac Heirloom Capampangan Cuisine especially if you enjoy flavorful dishes.  Their selections are affordable and portions are great for sharing.

Being adventurous by nature, I usually go for foreign cuisine to try something new.  Yet, there are some days when I yearn for familiar Filipino dishes that are close to or even better than those we have at home.   Thus, one random night, I tried 1521 Fifteen Twenty-One to rediscover Filipino Cuisine at Burgos Circle Forbes Town Center.

It had a creative logo wherein the 1521 appears like a cup between a spoon and fork.  I presume it is named after one of the most important year in Philippine history where Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines.



Upon entering, I felt like being in an old Spanish home.  It had wood furnished fixtures with elegant wood carvings.  The paintings on its walls reflect the culture and history of the Philippines.  It occupies two floors so we were led to the upper floor which had more tables. 

Each dark wooden table has dinner wares set up with a vase and candle light.  I find the table setting appropriate as it adds charm to the nostalgic air that the place exudes. 

Food
Glancing at the menu, I can't help but smile at the creative play of words in the names of the dishes.  I thought it was an excellent display of how fun-loving Filipinos are.  As I read the menu, I tried to unboggle and figure out what it purports to be.  I'm not easy to catch up on those stuff so maybe you can help me out.

Mga Pamutat o Pamukaw-Gana (Our Appetizer)

♥ Dinamitang Keso (160 php)

The Dinamitang Keso has a double meaning.  It could be mean dynamite cheese or clothed cheese.  It is the classic cheese sticks with green chili.  What makes this special is their mango-wasabi dip that's sweet and sour with a subtle spicy kick.  As a cheese lover, I found this to be irresistible!

♥ Swak na Swak Chicharon Bulaklak (225 php)

I've always enjoyed the normal fried chicharon bulaklak because I prsonally prefer pork intestines over pork skin.  The Swak na Swak Chicharon Bulaklak which is an upgraded version with its rich taste and served with kamias and sinamak dip makes it a really "swak na swak" appetizer.

Pinalutik na Inantala (280 php)

 The Pinalutik na Inantala is huge chunks of super crunchy pork crackling from Nueva Ecija served with greens and three dip choices: Burong Tilapia, Sinamak and Pickled Kamias.  I loved the unique taste of buro so I devoured this with the Burong Tilapia.
 
Ensaladang Pampaseksi o Pampagana (Our Signature Fresh Salads)

♥ Ka-Musta-Cat Salad (235 php)

The Ka-Musta-Cat Salad is not your usual salad.  It has shredded mustasa leaves, sliced kamias, diced tomatoes and onions, catfish bits, green mango strips, cilantro with their special Thai-inspired dressing.  My dining companions had nothing but raves and compliments over this salad. 

Pork Entrees

Bonggang Bonggang Binagoongan (295 php)

I expect a binagoongan to be dominantly salty and that's it.  But the Bonggang Bonggang Binagoongan had a savory shrimp paste countered with the tanginess of the green mango strips.  The pork is very crunchy too.  I could here the crackles popping from my mouth as I bit this to pieces.

Vegetable Entrees

Talong Mo Kay Tulfo (280 php)

The Talong Mo Kay Tulfo is our semi-healthy dish for the night.  I say its partially healthy because its tortang talong (eggplant cooked with egg) filled with sisig bits.  The addition of the sisig works because it adds chewiness and flavor. 

Beef Entrees

♥ Potchero ni Tangkeko (450 php) with Talong Ranger (40 php)

The Potchero ni Tangkeko has definitely lived up to its promise by bearing the chef's name on it.  The humongous slowly-cooked beef chunks in a pool of rich tomato sauce was so heavenly that this platter was quickly emptied.  This was suggested to be paired with the Talong Ranger.  As suggested, the mashed eggplant with fresh garlic in local vinegrette dressing brings forth a nice refreshing interval for the palate.


Seafood Entrees

Busog na Bangus (335 php)

The Busog na Bangus which meant stuffed bangus was not presented as I expected.  Well, unless it was so stuffed that it exloded and unleased all the ingredients: tomato, onions, green chillies and salted egg.  I appreciate the mixture of textures and flavors though especially with the taste yolk of the salted egg.  Yum!


Kanin-Get it!

Ifugao Steamed Rice (155 php/Salo-Salo)

I'm glad to know that the Ifugao Steamed Rice is the same with our very own Manila steamed rice at home. =p On a more serious note, next time, I'll just add for the Bagoong Rice or Garlic Rice.


Sweetika (Our signature desserts)

1521 Leche Flan (285 php/salo-salo)

Looks can be deceaving as the 1521 Leche Flan had a really smooth and creamy texture that massages the tongue in every spoonful.  On some parts, it has lemon rind shavings that counters the sweetness of caramel.
 

Nilasing na Saging (85 php)

The Nilasing na Saging is banana and preserved jackfruit flambe'd and served in sweet rum-mixed caramel sauce.  This is good but I don't think its best to order this with the 1521 Leche Flan because they're a bit similar.


Mga Pampalamig

Kinadkad na Melon (Pitcher) (169 php)

For refreshments, the Kinadkad na Melon is served in a pitcher and is good for up to 4 persons.

Mga Pampainit

Kapeng Kapow (75 php)

Nothing but a hot cup of Kapeng Kapow to end the meal.  For tea lovers, they have Taragon Tea too.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
1521 Fifteen Twenty-One is an excellent place to rediscover Filipino cuisine.  It's the kind place where you can bring your foreigner friends or relatives from abroad to appreciate Filipino dishes for the first time or again.  Although it comes with their own twist, the way they use our local ingredients really reflects the Filipino heritage as their dishes captivates our taste preference.  It feels like luto ni lola (grandmother's cooking) for every diner.  The atmosphere is so cozy and homey yet elegant in its classic aged way too.

Ensaladang Ampalya at Paku (Bittermelon & Edible Fern Salad) by The Culinarium

Manggang Bubut, Kamatis (Green Mango & Tomato Salad) by The Culinarium

Paksing Demonyu by The Culinarium

The Paksing Demonyu is their version of paksiw but I don't know why it is called demonyu (demon) though, it is heavenly!