A gastronomic trip of northern Luzon

By Lourdes Florian Hernandez, Contributor

10/26/2008

One might say that the easiest way to Northern Luzon’s heart is through one’s stomach.

This we found out on a delicious weekend jaunt that took us through Pangasinan and then Baguio City. Athough some out-of-town trips are highlighted by man-made and natural wonders or attractions, this one can be measured by how many dishes were served and the number of hearty burps (apparent or otherwise) that came afterward.

The organizers went all out to whet the guests’ appetites. To start with, foodie films were shown throughout the bus ride, which an equally entertaining host with rapid-fire speech fondly referred to as “the bus.” Of course, “the bus” was only the vehicle to transport the guests in Carnation and Appetite magazine’s Family Food Trip.

The trip commenced on a Friday, and brought the group to Dagupan in Pangasinan, where milkfish reigns supreme. At the Lennox Hotel in Dagupan City, a fabulous ethnic dance number by the Dagupan Dance Troupe, one of the well-known cultural dance groups in the province, welcomed our group. The grand lunch buffet that followed showcased the province’s main fare, the milkfish, cooked with Carnation milk and in different variations. Among these variations were malunggay cream soup, alibawang (alimango and bawang) spaghetti with white sauce and coco rice pilaf and steamed bangus in cream sauce. Although some were tired and weary after the long drive that started from Manila, the food was too good to resist.

After that, we were Baguio-bound. It was rainy, foggy and cold up there, so food was farthest from our minds. Baguio, however, drew us out with its unique charms. The city tour courtesy of Southwest Travel Corp. the next day brought the group for a photo shoot with the Mansion House in the background, with a stop at the Good Shepherd Convent to buy goodies. A short trip to the Baguio market sated the shopping hunger among the women in the group.

Of course, there was food again. At the Manor Hotel, the group relished the dinner prepared by renowned Chef Billy King, whose secrets in his recipes are as elusive as he is. King prepared Boston-style seafood chowder, beef wellington with mushroom sauce, Malaysian goat curry, mushroom brown rice risotto and fruit and crepe flambé, among others.

Gracing the dinner were brand manager of Carnation Mayan Salapantan and some key people from the Mega publishing group, such as advertising director Cathy Romero-Salas, associate publisher CK dela Cruz, and Appetite’s associate editor Annie Nisce, who represented editor-in-chief and Mega publishing group’s vice president for editorial and production Lorraine Belmonte.

The following day, chef King made himself scarce again although he prepared an appetizing lunch. It consisted of sliced tuna ceviche with coconut milk flavored with tanglad, assorted quiche (sisig and buffalo cheese), creamy monggo soup, marinated fried whole fish, baked chicken pastel, assorted seafood in tanglad coconut sauce, pork menudo with Carnation milk, beef adobo cannelloni and bringhe rice. Just desserts came in form of crème brulee, brazo de mercedes and apple jalousie with French cream.

Sunday was, of course, the grand finale of the food trip, with a two-hour Grand Handaan at the Burnham Park. Due to the rain, the venue was transferred to the stage itself instead of in the park.

It was a blessing in disguise as the event became more intimate with the guests from Manila and the locals able to mingle and exchange pleasantries. Apart from the delegates from Manila, 10 Baguio-based winning families via a radio promotion and the Baguio society were also present during the festivities.

Everybody had a feast, enjoying dishes from Vigan, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Benguet, Pampanga and Bulacan. Each province was given one booth decorated accordingly.

DJ Hilary of K-Lite hosted the Grand Handaan as local reggae band PowerPuff Corn provided live music (including an old Cocojam tune entitled “Lakambini”). The guests ate to their heart’s content and took part in some family-centric parlor games and activities in which some members of the media gamely participated.

Beyond the food, the Filipino tradition of family bonding was emphasized — the family that eats together, stays together. It was a gastronomic trip that will be remembered for a long time to come.

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