CANDABA - The country’s culinary capital, Pampanga, has found its heart in this municipality.
This was according to Mayor Rene Maglanque as he branded Candaba as Pampanga’s newest food park.
Maglanque said his municipality is home to Pinak Food Park which is said to be the longest gastronomic lane in the province, if not in the country.
Pinak Food Park transforms at least a kilometer of the
Candaba-Baliuag Road in Barangay Paligui here into a haven for food lovers.
Vendors offering various dishes — from grilled, local and international street foods, coffee and tea, and other trending delicacies on social media — pops up along the sidewalk of the major thoroughfare every afternoon until night time.
The food park started during the pandemic when some residents took their chance in opening pop-up stores for motorists and passers-by.
“Ngayon dinadayo na siya ng mga tao galing pa sa ibang lugar. Nakikita at natitikman nila ang produkto at lutong Candabeño, at nakikita ang ganda at progreso sa aming bayan,” Maglanque.
He added that the opening of Funnside Ningnangan in Sitio Pansol, Barangay Mandasig also shows that Candaba is a place to be for foodies craving for native Kapampangan cuisines.
Funnside Ningnangan Candaba branch offers grilled meat and seafood, famous Filipino and Kapampangan dishes such as sisig, burong isda, fried itik, ebun buro, and more.
“Ipinagmamalaki namin ang produktong Candaba at Kapampangan habang nagbibigay ng trabaho at kabuhayan sa aming mga kababayan,” said Maglanque.
He said the Pinak Food Park provides a venue for Candabeño small and start-up entrepreneurs, while Funnside Ningnangan employed at least 50 residents here.
“Ineencourage natin pareho ang mga Candabeño na magnegosyo dito sa bayan namin, at mga investors na piliin ang aming bayan dahil kami ay patungo na sa progreso,” the mayor said.