Flavors of Pampanga: Fiddlehead Fern, Freshwater Prawns and Sisig at Binulo Restaurant

No trip to Pampanga will be complete without savoring the local cuisine. Renowned as one of the country's culinary regions, Pampanga up north offers a wide variety of flavors unique to the province. A stop at Binulo Restaurant inside the Clark Freeport Zone offers a proper introduction to Capampangan cuisine...

Named after the indigenous method of cooking by the local aeta tribes using fresh bamboo, Binulo Restaurant serves comforting homestyle and authentic Capampangan dishes. A day after a grand celebration by AirAsia at Midori Hotel & Casino (for more on AirAsia's grand celebration as the World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the tenth straight year by Skytrax, see my post on my other travel blog, #WeAreAllChampions: AirAsia Remains The World's Best Low-Cost Airline For The Tenth Consecutive Year), a hearty lunch at Binulo Restaurant before the drive home was included in the itinerary and what a feast...

Tease your palate with the clean, fresh and vibrant flavors of Binulo Restaurant's Paco Salad (P 240), a refreshing starter with local fiddlehead fern, succulent shrimps and salted duck eggs. Drizzled with a creamy and garlicky dressing, the seemingly contrasting notes of tart tomatoes, salted duck eggs and mildly sweet fiddlehead fern come together perfectly. 

In between bites, cool down with the soothing Buko Pandan Shake (P 90) and have another bite of the local salad. The staff then served one of the restaurant's specialties straight from a bamboo stem (for more on Binulo Restaurant, see my earlier post, Flavors of Pampanga: Mangan Tamu Queni at Binulo Restaurant...)...

...the Pangat na Ulang (P 575), a seasonal local dish with plump freshwater prawns (or ulang) and vegetables in a tart and sour broth enriched with tomatoes and ginger. The succulent prawns deliver a subtle and delicate sweetness balanced by the bold flavors of the broth. Simmered inside the bamboo stem over a low fire, the dish has a fragrant aroma from the bamboo adding to the rich flavors of the dish.

Pair your dish with the Binulong Nasi (P 180), fragrant sticky rice steamed inside a bamboo reed and wrapped in banana leaves for a truly local Capampangan experience.

The classic Sisig (P260), a popular Capampangan dish made with chopped pig's ears, liver and onions served in a sizzling hot metal plate, is one of those mandatory dishes that has to be part of any meal at Binulo Restaurant.The textural contrast and savory richness of the dish makes this an all-time favorite. There are many colorful stories on the origins of sisig tracing its humble beginnings back to the railroad tracks of Angeles, and Binulo Restaurant preserves this uniquely Capampangan dish with its own tasty version.

The Stuffed Sizzling Pusit (P 450) completes our savory feast with tender squid draped in thick and mildly sweet sauce topped with vegetables and served on a hot sizzling plate. It's a dish that reflects various influences, made richer with that signature Capampangan touch.

But save room for Binulo Restaurant's signature desserts. Indulge in the decadent duo of Suman with Mango Ice Cream (P 220), the traditional pairing of sticky rice rolls with fresh mango slices topped with Mango Ice Cream...

...and the creamy Tibuk-Tibuk (P 190), the Capampangan delicacy made with fresh carabao's milk also locally known as Maja Blanca. Pair this with a freshly brewed cup of coffee and you've just experienced the proverbial tip of the iceberg with so much more to discover and experience in Pampanga's rich culinary heritage and diversity. 

Binulo Restaurant is located at 6410-6413 MA Roxas Highway, Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles, Pampanga.

Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.