ANGELES CITY – The country’s first culinary museum – the “Culinarium” – is rising in Angeles City.

Jose “Jiji” Paras and Carmen Tayag-McTavish made the announcement during last week’s fund-raising dinner at the Museo ning Angeles, attended by Kapampangan movers and shakers in various professions.

A grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, proceeds from the dinner, collection of cook books from Ronnie Alejandro and museum design by Claude Tayag are all in, says Paras, director of the Kuliat Foundation Inc. (KFI), the group behind the project.

McTavish, KFI president, says more corporate and individual sponsors as well as more kitchen heirlooms are needed to complete the rare endeavor.

It was Tayag, a KFI trustee and one of the six chefs who put together “Kulinarya” (A Guidebook to Philippine Cuisine), who made that night’s fundraising event possible.

He prepared a sumptuous native dinner that satisfied the discerning Kapampangan taste buds.

Before his invitation of “Mangan ta na pu (Let’s eat)!” he admitted being “extremely horrified” for “Kapampangans are the most difficult to please on the dining table.”

That sent the crowd roaring in laughter. Songs by the MaArti and ArtiSta Rita in between the servings completed the dining experience.
The museum, says McTavish, is dedicated to the Kapampangan culinary art and science in particular, and Philippine food history in general.

Gourmet province

Pampanga is chosen as site of the Culinarium because, to KFI’s mind, it is the “gourmet province of the Philippines.”

“Manyaman la batal (literally “delicious neck” and refers to the love of eating good food)” and “manyaman lang maglutu (They’re good cooks)” are praises often heaped on the Kapampangans.

“The idea is developed from the basic concept that food preparation is a heritage and legacy worth preserving not only by exhibit or collection but most importantly by continuously practicing this living tradition,” McTavish says.

For that, the Museo Ning Angeles – a 1920 edifice and the city’s former “municipio” (town hall) – will be reconstructed from a commonplace history and lifestyle community museum into an innovative culinary center.

Interactive kitchen

One part will have an interactive Kapampangan kitchen where cooking lessons and demonstrations will be held. Another side will house a culinary library and research center.

The third section is reserved for an exhibit of cooking implements and equipment while the fourth space is set aside for a photo exhibit on food festivals and cooks.

The second floor will be transformed into an authentic period dining room and kitchen.

McTavish says these are to be done to perpetuate the traditional Kapampangan culinary arts by teaching these to the younger generations, and to draw national and international interest in local culinary heritage.
----------
For those who want to help in the Culinarium project, please contact the Museo ning Angeles at 045-887-4703