Pampanga, the Philippine’s culinary capital, boasts an astounding number of talented home cooks and establishments that have withstood the test of time. Step into its various towns for some culinary enlightenment.

• Sample the heavenly treats of Santa Rita town, a cashew nougat called turrones and the divine flaky pastry sansrival.
• Feast upon the crunchy, juicy, wood-smoked lechon pugon of Guagua.
• Head over to Mexico, Pampanga to meet Atching Lilian, chef and food historian who will feed you lunch, regale you with stories, teach you how to make buro (fermented rice and fish) and the tradition of baking one of the oldest cookies in the Philippines, the Panecillos de San Nicolás or saniculas cookies.
• Visit Carreon’s Sweets and Pastries and try one of their best sellers—plantanillas, a lethal and exciting combination of egg yolks formed as crepes and wrapped around pastillas gatas damulag (carabao milk pastillas). Talk about inducing a sugar high!