The Bale Dutung Experience

From El Nido, let’s travel to Pampanga where my friends and I had a leisurely three hour lunch at Bale Dutung.

Bale Dutung (Old House) is the private residence of popular chef/writer/artist Claude Tayag and his wife Mary Ann. On weekends, they open their doors to the public who are eager to sample the best of Filipino and Kapampangan cuisine.

The open area of Bale Dutung highlights the charm of provincial living. Life is more laidback in the province and the calming and peaceful scenery certainly encouraged guests to leave all worries behind while partaking in the Bale Dutung experience.

A Perfect Place for A Massage

Sweet Innocence

Calming Scenery

The Charm of Provincial Living

Eclectic 

Awards and Articles

There are three menu options (Kapampangan, 5 Ways Lechon, and Anthony Bourdain) at Bale Dutung and we, of course, couldn’t resist the sinful lechon spread. 

Ideally, lunch starts at 12 noon but Mary Ann was gracious enough to wait for latecomers. The meal was conducted at the couple's shed so wearing light, comfortable clothing is advised.

Everyone Settling In

Lunch started with Mary Ann asking everyone to gather at the center table where fresh dalandan juice with muscovado was served. She then explained that Bale Dutung, more than a buffet experience, is actually a degustation in 10 parts. 10 being an overwhelming number, she promised to pace everyone so that we will be able to try all the courses. She also requested guests to first try the food served as it is, without any condiments, because it is how the chef wanted us to taste the food.

Welcoming Guests

All Ears

After Mary Ann's brief introduction, we headed back to our table to eat!

Salabat and Water for Drinks

Frozen Towel for the Heat

Balo-balo, Talangka, and Pesto Spread

Paired with crackers, the dips were the perfect start for what was to come!

Ensaladang Pako

To be fair, pako is an interesting vegetable but I don't think I'll ever appreciate my greens. At least this salad had a quail egg.

Piniritong Lumpiang Ubod sa Claude 9 Oriental Sauce

Fresh vegetables complimented by Claude's very own oriental sauce. I put a liberal amount of chili sauce for that extra kick.

Inasal na Manok at Claude 9 Talangka Rice

Average chicken but the talangka rice was divine. I wanted more.

Talangka Sushi

This didn't leave a mark for we only had one sushi each.

 Balo-Balo Sushi

The lettuce wrap neutralized the saltiness of the fermented shrimps.

With the appetizers out of the way, it was time to indulge in a 5-way lechon feast!

Get Your Own Veggie Station

Additional Elements for the Sinigang

1st Way: Sinigang na Lechon

We were instructed to put bagoong (shrimp paste) and soy sauce in our sinigang broth for a sour and salty contrast. It was my first time to eat sinigang with bagoong and I'm not sure if it made a difference. 

Carving the Skin

2nd Way: Balat ng Lechon at Liver Sauce

Nothing special here and Mary Ann was the first to admit this.

D.I.Y. Tortilla

3rd Way: Lechon Tortilla

I thought I was not going to enjoy this wrap but it turned out to be one of my favorites. The pairing of the crunchy pork flakes with different sauces and toppings (kimchi included) is a stroke of genius. Truth be told, I managed two wraps. 

Heating the Sisig

To Each His Own Sisig

4th Way: Lechon Sisig

I enjoyed choosing what items I wanted to mix with my sisig. The pork brain certainly made the texture of my sisig extra creamy.

5th Way: Inihaw na Tadyang na Lechon at Ensaladang Talong

They saved the best for last as this piece of meat was very tender and flavorful. I couldn't help but envy my neighbor's plate as I was served a tiny portion. 

Paradiso

I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but I loved this dessert. The sweetness level was just right and the buffalo milk base was to die for. 

Coffee to End the Meal

It's important to note that Claude Tayag was out of the country when we visited Bale Dutung. I'm sure the experience would have been more enjoyable with his mere presence. I also wonder if the food would have been better if he was there to do the actual cooking.  

I guess I'l never know the answer as I have no plans to go back to Bale Dutung. While it's a good experience to share with friends, once is more than enough!

And oh, don't forget to buy Claude 9 products to bring home...

Perfect Pasalubong

Bale Dutung is located at Villa Gloria Subdivision, Pampanga. Reservations needed. The 5-Way Lechon Menu costs 1,750php per person. Add 10% when visiting on a Sunday. For more information, click here.

Revisiting an Old Favorite, Mely’s

There are only a few instances wherein I would gladly volunteer to become the designated driver for a road trip. Eating at Mely’s in San Fernando Pampanga is one of them.

Curls and I first learned of Mely’s three years ago from Pololo, our Kapampangan friend. Since then, Curls and I have made it a habit to visit Mely’s at least once a year.

Welcome to Mely's

Mely’s is a humble roadside eatery, which has gained popularity over the years through the power of word of mouth. Mely’s mostly offers grilled food though its sisig is what put it on the map.



Mely's Simple Menu


Don’t be surprised to see inuman sessions in Mely’s as it is also a popular drink joint for locals. We, on the other hand, surely weren’t here to drink.



 Let’s bring out the food!

Adobong Mani (20php)

Perfect way to start the festivities.

Buro at Mustasa (70php)

Buro is fermented rice with shrimps so it was no wonder I didn’t like this. A taste only Dum appreciated.

Ensaladang Mangga (50php)

One can’t go all the way to Pampanga without having this comforting mixture of tomatoes, green mangoes, and onions.

Bagoong

Included with the ensalada, this bagoong was very fresh with just the right amount of saltiness. One of the best I’ve tried.



The Sauces. I especially love the sauce on top.



Mely’s secret weapon. Everything tastes better when dipped in these.

Mely’s Sisig (150php)

Mely’s has continued the old tradition of serving sisig without chicharon. Devoid of the crunchy bits, the focus is solely on the flavors of the sisig. This never disappoints as its the most flavorful sisig I’ve eaten.

Hito (28php per 100grams)

This has grown to become my favorite Mely’s dish! The hito is always fresh giving it a sweet taste. Dip it in Mely’s sauce and you’re in heaven. No trip to Mely’s is complete without me ordering this dish.

Pork Barbeque (35php per stick)

Pass on this. Not bad but pales in comparison to other dishes.

Pwet ng Manok (50php per order)

Another Mely’s staple. This at first grossed me out as these are the biggest pwets I’ve seen. Good thing I wasn’t deterred as it tastes marvelous. Far superior than what Manila grills offer.

For those who appreciate Filipino food at its simplest, Mely’s is certainly worth the 1 hour trip from Manila.

Can’t wait for next year!

Mely's Bbq and Seafoods is located at San Fernando Pampanga. Better call (045)9615296 for directions and its operating hours.