Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Food Trippin' in Isdaan

A group of friends (four of us) in Cabanatuan decided one Saturday morning to have lunch at Isdaan in Gerona Tarlac. It was hot and clear in Cabanatuan as we drove-off (with me as the designated driver) but as we approach Tarlac, the weather became gloomy and heavy rain started to fall. In fact, we have to stop driving and park my car on the side of the road because the rains were so heavy that visibility was almost nil. Nevertheless, we arrived in Gerona safely although its almost an hour past noon.

The restaurant was fully-packed so we waited another hour to be accommodated. But one thing good about Isdaan is that there are lots of things to see, from the Tacsiyapo Wall to the interesting landscapes and figures. Let the scenery take the back seat for this post is all about food:

Innapoy

Innapoy or Rice Rolls is a Tarlac delicacy made up of sticky rice mixed with curry, sugar, chorizo and cutlets of meat rolled-up in Banana leaves. A single serve consist of four rolls cut in halves and perfect as an appetizer.

Manok sa Gata Inihaw sa Dahon

This original Isdaan menu is a whole chicken cooked in coconut milk spiced with green chili. It is then wrapped in banana leaves and then slowly grilled. This is probably Bicol-inspired because of the gata and the sili ingredients.

Pinakbet

Ilocano's fave vegetable dish of okra, kalabasa, amargoso and eggplant mixed with pork and shrimp then sauteed in shrimp paste. Because of its salty taste, this delicious dish is perfect with rice.

Pansit Sisig

This is pansit with a twist. Sotanghon sauteed the usual way but topped with crunchy sisig instead of the usual chicken and vegetables.

Bulalo

Cow's bone marrow boiled for hours so the soup would taste so grand. Then potatoes, corn and cabbage were added to complement the dish's awesome taste. Best served hot on a rainy day.

Sizzling Sisig

Everyone's favorite either as ulam or as a pulutan. Crunchy pork cutlets, with siling labuyo and onions and topped by an egg mixed together with kalamansi, ahhhh heavenly taste.

Total damage? The above meals plus adobo rice and a dozen of San Mig Lights cost us just a little above Php 1,500 or Php 400 each. Not bad for a very hearty lunch.

So, the next time you pass by Tarlac, check out Isdaan at the National Road in Gerona Tarlac. You can check out their menu here.

25 comments:

  1. oi di na masama ang damage. ang ganda ng hitsura ng pinakbet.

    sikret - tiga jan ako eh kaya hintay ko tong post na to.

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  2. wow sarap talaga yatang magfood trip jan kya oman kasi mukhang masarap yung food. the pics made the food more appetizing. sulit talaga yung gastos eh.

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  3. kinda sikat na to ha, ive seen a few bloggers na nagblog na about this place. i think it's really a must try in tarlac.

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  4. The first time I heard about pancit sisig. Masubukan ngang lutuin. =)

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  5. wow pancit sisig! mukhang masarap!

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  6. you're from cabanatuan? i grew up there! i studied in cab until HS.

    i've never been to isdaan but i passed by the place when i went to ilocos a few weeks ago.

    sana makakain din jan soon. :)

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  7. sa inapoy pa lang nagutom na ako. hahaha...

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  8. Nagutom tuloy ako.

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  9. OMG the innapoy looks tempting! and the pancit sisig intriguing!

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  10. pakbet!!! mukhang masarap sha!

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  11. I'm vegetarian, so wala masyadong effect yung sumptuous pictures of fish on me, hehe

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  12. Nakakagutom naman... yum yum! nice nice...

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  13. grabe, lagi lng namin dinadaanan tong lugar na to. the food looks so yummy!!!! we should stop here talaga next time we travel north.

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  14. really beautiful and very fitting for my soon to visit.

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  15. very good, the quality of the natural beauty of incredible ..

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  16. Thank you for everything you have shown to us, you will definitely experience I use to soon come and visit this nice place.

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  17. I like it, and I'm sure everyone would like to place this good, I was eager to visit it for the sake of my family happy.

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  18. beautiful, beautiful, interesting ... that's no good at these places .. I like that.

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  19. beautiful, beautiful, interesting ... that's no good at these places .. I like that.

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  20. thank you for this excellent info, I would like to visit there.

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  21. a good place that can increase the inspiration for all of us ..

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  22. Ang sarap naman ng mga food. I like the Sisig Pancit. Very different.

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  23. di pa ko naka punta jan...

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  24. this post is very usefull thx!

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