Photo by Pocholo Concepcion
If “Pampanga’s Best” refers to the food brand that makes tocino, perhaps it can also mean what the province offers by way of nightlife options.
One usually thinks of going to Clark in Angeles, but recently we had the opportunity to visit San Fernando, where sits a newly opened restaurant-KTV lounge-music bar with a longish, kooky name: Don Facundo Delicioso Y Yummy.
Owned by top eye doctor and Pampanga native Noel J. Lacsamana, Don Facundo began as a joke—the name a takeoff on what Lacsamana’s siblings fondly call him. Though “Delicioso” and “Yummy” are redundant, we swear they fully describe the menu items.
The tasty, richly marinated pork barbecue and grilled tenga (pig’s ears) are filling enough for dinner, but other dishes please the palate. Don Facundo’s kare-kare, which uses pork belly instead of ox tail or tripe, is a standout, while its meaty-soft crispy pata can perhaps rank alongside the best in Manila.
The pancit is slurpy good as well, and at that point we understood Lacsamana’s explanation on Pampanga’s reputation as a culinary center: “We don’t scrimp on ingredients.”
Since Lacsamana is also known for his wide musical knowledge—rock or classical songs play in the background when he performs cataract surgery at his clinic in Robinsons Starmills—there are live gigs at Don Facundo.
That night, while Joey Sabino Halili is singing ’70s folk hits, members of South Border drop in for a late dinner after a show in SM Pampanga. Lacsamana and South Border’s Jay Durias are friends, and so what follows is a jam—Durias on piano, Lacsamana and Halili on vocals—that culminates in a joyful, spirited version of “Hey Jude.”
Don Facundo Delicioso Y Yummy, MacArthur Highway (across Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center), San Fernando, Pampanga; tel. 0943-371-4330
Chaos Manila
This year, Chaos Manila, a nightclub in City of Dreams, has been holding its “Live Sessions” every Wednesday, featuring some of the country’s most engaging bands and solo artists.
The schedule for the rest of this month: May 17, Rage Band and South Border; May 24, Open Mic with Rox Puno and the Skylight Band, Puresound, and True Faith; and May 31, Side A and True Faith.
Chaos Manila, City of Dreams, Asean Ave. cor. Roxas Blvd., Parañaque; tel. 800 8080; for table/couch reservations, tel. 0917-886-3678; e-mail chaostablereservations@cod-manila.com
