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Photo AlbumJul 27, '09 12:15 PM
for everyone
Slideshow
July 26, 2009 -- We used Eric's arrival from Sydney as the perfect excuse to troop to Angeles, Pampanga for this 5-way lechon feast we've been hearing, reading, dreaming, salivating about.

We knew about Claude Tayag -- artist, columnist, and chef. Whipping up an amazing lunch, a degustacion that had food gluttons raising their little white towels in surrender, Chef Tayag certainly didn't disappoint.

But the surprise was Mary Ann, Claude's wife. Stylish, gracious, and entertaining, she elevates party hosting to an art.

Of course, the most pleasant surprise is Bale Dutung itself. You enter an unassuming suburban village to get there. Then once you cross their gate, you step into a rustic restaurant slash house slash gallery slash wonderland that blends with nature. A house filled with art, antiques, and creative ideas that salute Philippine food and culture.

And the food -- I honestly have never been that stuffed in my whole life. Slooooow food at its finest -- almost 5 hours. Well worth the time and the trip. (Of course, I'm not with the party that got caught in the flash flood and the 5-hour traffic jam on the way back, so I can say that.)

Resto review to follow. In the meantime, enjoy the photos.


Papagutom muna sa Betis Church
  

Omen of a downpour
  

the entrance and the belfry
  

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The "choir"
  

at the museum part of the church
  

museum photos
  

church info
  

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from a side entrance
  

by the entrance
  

pillar & ceiling
  

ceiling detail
  

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near the altar
  

note the trompe d' oeil ceiling
  

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pulpit
  

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at the side courtyard
  

brick wall
  

Vittorio & cousin at the courtyard side of the church
  

still in the courtyard
  

Betis is known for handcarving
  

Betis craftmanship
  

door detail
  

In a Betis furniture shop
  

"modern antique"
  

everlasting
  

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standing divans
  

hello kitty bike
  

enter here
  

giant corkscrew?
  

suburban feel disappears, and ambience turns to rustic
  

serene
  

welcome to bale dutung! - house of wood
  

artist claude works with wood as medium
  

claude's collection revolves around food preparation implements
  

the gudguran collection
  

modern wood dish
  

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props lang
  

shopping opps
  

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papa chair, mama chair, baby chair
  

romblon marble
  

claude designs furniture too
  

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vintage vinegar
  

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year 2000
  

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peeked at the kitchen before lunch
  

claude's collection of cooking tools
  

more wooden implements
  

food preparation -- inasal
  

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appetizers - as if we needed any
  

taba ng talangka, buro, pesto
  

before the food
  

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the other table for the Su cousins
  

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dining details
  

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the devil in the details
  

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welcome drinks...
  

...with muscovado ice...
  

served by Mary Ann Tayag
  

the chef arrives
  

claude built the house from scratch and from scrap
  

inspired by the kamalig -- ilongo for nipa hut
  

he salvaged materials from a church destroyed by lahar
  

eric and ella, erm, uriel and yella
  

all the single ladies
  

great way to start
  

sotanghon salad - surprise dish
  

4" diameter lang yan
  

the customized menu
 2 Comments 

sometimes we would just leave the table...
  

...to take breaks from the eating
  

once used for priestly vestments
  

back view: repainted when a new priest is assigned to the parish
  

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sonya showing off her braces (real) and her glasses (not)
  

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wood art
  

Claude's XO chili sauce
  

no corkage!! yehey.
  

inasal na manok with talangka rice
  

and bale dutung vinegar
  

the carnivores and the vegan
  

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lumpia ubod in mustasa leaf
  

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sushi talangka
  

scented wet towel - a crowd favorite
  

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parang ayaw ni yella
  

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ayaw nga
  

splashed with johnson's
  

towel works for all parts of the body
  

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beppo's shirt says:
  

gege: stop, don't spoil him.
  

unwrapping the pig
  

this little piggy is lunch
  

bye piggy!
  

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yummy lechon sauce -- garlic galore
  

solingening the balat
  

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attack!
  

balat!
  

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1 way done. 4 ways to go.
  

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way 2: pritchon style
  

crispy lechon with tomatoes, onions...
  

...basil, kimchi, lechon sauce...
  

...in soft tortillas
  

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way no. 4 awaiting
  

palayok collection
  

oh my, the garlic stuffing was sooo good.
  

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way 3 - sinigang
  

just a little rice
  

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way 4 - inihaw na tadyang
  

with eggplant & salted egg
  

finally, way 5 - asado
  

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taking a break again
  

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the guided tour of the house begins
  

brick oven
  

for-claude-only kitchen
  

city hall relic
  

OC's delight
  

apothecary find
  

i love that ceiling
  

sketch pad
  

i heart bencab
  

artful storage
  

books he reads
  

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signing the guest book
  

artist's clutter
  

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old school coffee
  

free tibok tibok
  

no comment
  

finally, dessert -- Paradiso
  

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10 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded
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sheiladc wrote on Aug 2, '09
was this a special/private party? where is bale dutung located? would love to go there with our balikbayan relatives this october! i'll suggest this!
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islandhopper wrote on Aug 3, '09
private party in a way. you need to book with them. minimum 10, maximum 40 pax. bale dutung is in angeles, pampanga. very accessible. really good idea to bring balikbayans there.
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ninircat wrote on Aug 9, '09
aba si raymund ang name nasa gitna pa!
reply
islandhopper wrote on Aug 14, '09
absent naman, kasi his wife gave birth. ask him.
Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner.
Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner.
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tyuluio wrote on Nov 17, '09
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tyuluio wrote on Nov 17, '09
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surreal17 wrote on Aug 12, '11
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bale-DutungCrazy-for-Authenticity/229707187065590#

Hi Miss Gege, I am promoting Bale Dutung on facebook, it it happens that you have a facebook account please help me by visiting and liking this page. I also had a wonderful time eating at Bale Dutung so I decided to create a page about it and promote it as well in order for people with the same passion and love for our culture and food will get the chance to have a glimpse of what Bale Dutung has to offer. I posted your blog about Bale Dutung on my page so that people will get to know more about the restaurant's food and services. :) Thank You very much. Please do help me in promoting the page as well.
reply
surreal17 wrote on Aug 12, '11
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bale-DutungCrazy-for-Authenticity/229707187065590#

Hi Miss Gege, I am promoting Bale Dutung on facebook, it it happens that you have a facebook account please help me by visiting and liking this page. I also had a wonderful time eating at Bale Dutung so I decided to create a page about it and promote it as well in order for people with the same passion and love for our culture and food will get the chance to have a glimpse of what Bale Dutung has to offer. I posted your blog about Bale Dutung on my page so that people will get to know more about the restaurant's food and services. :) Thank You very much. Please do help me in promoting the page as well.
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