Continued from Pampanga Country: Cooking Scenes 2
10AM: from home backyard to open kitchen, to wedding reception! 
refreshment area
1033AM: Buffet spread awaits. Typical fiesta fare of asado, menudo, embutido, rellenong bangus, chopsuey, chicken barbecue, paired with atsara (tangy-sweet pickled papaya, right)
barrio essentials: handy insect repeller
Back of the house: Big batya of steamed rice (left), in serving portions (right). And unlike this wedding, guests (invited or not) get to eat even before the church wedding!
1050AM: While the wedding ceremony goes on at the nearby church, more barrio folk arrive straight to the reception to start an early lunch.
Last minute cooking: Missing the lechon, but found lechong kawali (deep fried pork skin and fat) instead. Couldn’t get closer — too hot!
Pinoy mode of transport: the jeepney (left); owner type jeep (right)
Dress code: from house casual, semi-”formal” to come-as-you-are.
A well-guarded set for the bridal entourage. I see one dish in there that’s not on the other table, and I really like it! (below)
The most supple slices of lengua (ox tongue) in creamy mushroom and corn sauce. Mmmmm.
Hidden elsewhere: Hunky pork leg pre-pata tim.
1202PM: With the summer sun at its brightest and temperatures at a scorching 34 degrees Celsius, wedding guests pour in.
1235PM: The wedding couple arrives. Kids scramble to pick up coins tossed for good luck.
The wedding entourage sits down for the meal.
Country eating extravaganza!
1246PM: Battery runs out. I momentarily leave the scene.
138PM: I return to find all the chairs standing upside down on the now bare tables. Where did everyone go? The bride crosses the backyard, looking comfy in her pam-bahay sleeveless top and shorts, and happy to be out of the stuffy wedding dress. The whole place is deserted; nothing left but the lingering smell of leftover food.
5 Comments to “Pampanga Country: Eating Scenes”
July 12, 2008
ati where are all the people taking the sumptuous dishes as take away or “pabaon”? *wink
July 12, 2008
ateng lyn, haha. isa kang tunay na kabalen! i didn’t include the usual M.O. of take-away or pabaon (both for guests and the helpers) and the bit where some of the stash of food in plastic bags mysteriously disappeared
atin pero i didn’t catch any of them hihi.
January 28, 2009
I am from Pampanga and I just love reading your blog. You have greatly captured the scenes in an authentic Kapampangan handaan. Too bad you miss the pabalot scenes of mostly the relatives and kapitbahay.
January 28, 2009
arlene, i’m happy to welcome another cabalen to this site. i’m glad too that you enjoyed this little handaan “show”
yes that would have been very exciting to see! dacal a salamat queng pagbisita.
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