lemi
Chui is very passionate about food. He does extensive research about each dish’s history and it’s inspiring to see that he has so much passion for what he does. As he said, every bite tells a story. It didn’t make sense to me until we went on this food tour.
Lemi recognized The Chui Show as a great avenue to promote local hidden gems. Carl Chuidian, the host and producer of the online series, gives honest reviews of small businesses and he makes sure the food is highlighted in the best way possible.
I’ve always known that Pampanga has some of the best Filipino food in the country, but I’ve never tried authentic Kapampangan dishes. Luckily, I was asked to tag along to help film Lemi’s collaboration with The Chui Show. Through the Pampanga Food Tour series, I experienced the local cuisine while getting to know Chui as well.
Sisig is one of my favorite Filipino dishes. It’s a very unique dish, propelled to fame by the Kapampangan version with broiled and grilled pig ears, jowl, and brain served on a sizzling plate. These days, there are more “mainstream” recipes but this particular version from Angeles City in Pampanga remains to be some sort of trailblazer.
I got to try the best of the best, the top 3 Sisig dishes in the province. It was fascinating! What sparked my interest the most was the variety of flavors. Each restaurant had a different way of cooking the dish which for me, showed the diversity of Filipino cuisine.
We also tried other Kapampangan specialties that I’ve never heard about before. We even tried dishes cooked inside large bamboo stalks!
Participating in the filming of the Pampanga Food Tour series was a wonderful experience. Not only did I get to taste local Kapampangan dishes, but I also got to discover other local favorites. What’s even more interesting is that a lot of the establishments we went to had cultural significance in the city. For a non-foodie like myself, this experience has definitely influenced me to become one!
Going on a trip to an unfamiliar location is quite a challenge. One of the struggles we encountered was that we weren’t able to try delicacies from all the restaurants because a) their specialties were already sold out when we got there or b) some of the dishes were seasonal such as frogs and crickets.
If you’re planning to go on a food trip around the country, especially outside of Metro Manila, it would be best to do some research first. Take note of store hours, read reviews, and check availability of the dishes. It would also be better to call the establishments, if possible. My biggest advice? Talk to locals as they know best—the best of the best, in this case.
To watch the entire series, visit The Chui Show on Facebook!
@papschui is a wanderer and foodie whose quest is to find the best food place in the Philippines!
Follow @papschui on Lemi for more recommendations.