I never thought normal Kapampangan food includes so many exotic dishes. During my recent visit in Clark Freeport Zone, I chanced upon this restaurant that offers authentic Kapampangan dishes and more.
Looks just like your ordinary chicken meat, huh? But this is actually a fried crocodile meat.
Matam-IH is an aboriginal Aeta word for delicious. I was out to try out their best-sellers when I saw that they offer crocodile meat. I was a bit hesitant to try at first, but I also thought, how bad could it be?
The Crocodile Wali or fried croc meat somewhat tasted like your ordinary fried chicken dish. But the thought of eating crocodile somehow made me cringe. Haha.
The second dish on my menu are the fried frogs. Now this is a bit more common for me as we’d usually have frog legs in a Chinese menu. I’ve been accustomed to eating frog legs since I was a kid so this wasn’t that cringe-worthy.
The only difference is that with this Kapampangan dish, even the body is included in the dish, and it’s prepared relleno-style.
Finally a more common dish Sale Manok is like your regular Tinola soup amped up with lemongrass flavor.
After eating, I tried out their native archery for only Php50 for 10 arrows–yup, didn’t shoot any bulls eye. But if every you do, you get to have a free icecream 🙂
Will I visit Matam-IH again? Sure. Just because it offers exotic Kampampangan food that I’m sure would be memorable to anyone. 🙂
Matam-IH Restaurant
E Jacinto, Clark Freeport, Clark Special Economic Zone, 2023 Pampanga
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