A milestone in culinary publishing will soon be achieved with the publication of a cookbook that finally showcases traditional dishes in the so-called culinary capital of the Philippines, the province of Pampanga.
“Atching Lillian’s Heirloom Recipes: Romancing the Past through Traditional Calutung Capampangan” features the family heirloom recipes of Lillian Mercado-Lising Borromeo, noted culinary expert from Mexico town.
The book, published by The Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS), will be launched on Wednesday, December 7 at the Café Juan, Holy Angel University.
According to Joel Mallari, CKS researcher and the book’s editor, the publication is a milestone because it is the first Kapampangan cookbook about little-known folk dishes found in the countryside instead of the usual colonial-inspired dishes that Kapampangans have become known for.
The book introduces traditional dishes like “lagat tucud-banua,” “sabo bulung bonifacio,” “bangus sasmuan,” “zarzuela ning malat,” “bulanglang itu,” “sabo banging nasi,” “bobotung asan,” “talunan manuc,” “paksing demonyu,” “sabo tacsyapu na,” “tinolang tugak,” “kapeng gugulisak,” and many more.
CKS Director Robby Tantingco said the book also contains recipes of the favorite dishes of Kapampangan poet-politician Don Monico Mercado and revolutionary hero Gen. Maximino Hizon, who are among Lillian Borromeo’s forebears.
“The Center collaborated with Atching Lillian because her unique recipes represent a cultural heritage that is fast disappearing,” Tantingco said. “Kapampangan cooking reveals what kind of people we are and what experiences we went through in the past. This is a book not only for every Kapampangan but also for every non-Kapampangan who has tried our cuisine and fallen in love with it.”
For inquiries, contact Myra Lopez at 0920 425 8711 or email kapampangancenter@gmail.com.
