Apropos of Nothing

Our Saturday mornings has just gotten exciting. Any working couple will tell you that breakfast is indeed a fast affair — either taken expeditiously or not at all.  Saturday breakfasts are not something to rave about either – it is usually something quick from whatever is in the ref (because grocery shopping does not happen until later that weekend). Thanks to Legazpi Park Saturday market, we get to have a leisurely and satisfying brunch to look forward to during the week. One less stress, one more perk.

We were in luck this morning. It was the market’s one-year anniversary! The place was crawling with happy organizers (matrons/patrons of the village). There was not only one band but two drum/brass bands! I was overjoyed. At the same time, I felt homesick for the town fiestas at my province. The “tabu” [market day] in my hometown is always best during feast days.

   Indeed the place is small – it is just the parking area beside Legaspi Park. It took us only 15 minutes to have a stroll around and basically, we have seen the entire place already. It was a jumble of organic vegetables, some home plants and a variety of specialty foods.  The food stalls took 70% of the entire area.  We saw the pritchon, which have read and heard about but Michael decided that the piglet looks more “kawawa” than delectable. The homebaked breads look fantastic.  We thought of having some of Ineng’s BBQ but we can always have it at Market! Market! The grilled tuna got the conjugal vote for brunch (together with cold buko juice and buko-pandan for dessert). With the kind morning sun and happy shoptalk all-around it was an enjoyable brunch. On the side, I was watching paella negra cooking in a gigantic paellera. A foodie heaven, indeed.

    What we bought:

1. Calamansi powder — perfect for marinade and seasoning (yup, even for “sawsawan” with soysauce). It is the perfect answer to having standby kalamansi – without the eventual rot of fresh fruit.
2. Lukban or Vigan Suka – some more of the Tagalog sawsawan food habit which I still find amusing.
3. Focaccia — bread so good it does need much else to satisfy your carb craving.
4. Wooden chopping board – every home needs one.
5. Lengua and Lechon Paksiw in jars — guaranteed one-year shelf life due to vacuum packaging. Upscale alternative to canned goods.
6. Sinaing na tawilis – perfect for dinner or a late lunch. Five banana-wrapped packs for P100 – very good deal for very delicious meal for 4 people. (Just had it with steamed okra — gobble, gobble, gobble.)
7. Assorted veggies – enough to be consumed within three days. Well, at least, we get to eat three vegetable dishes a week. No, the pickle in the cheeseburger does not count.

What we will go back for in the coming Saturdays:

1. The paella (negra or otherwise) – the sight of it is hard coded in my brain. I must have some of it.
2. Sausage sandwiches — plump, juicy sausages being cooked right in front your eyes.  You get a free muffin too!
3. Milkfish pate – supposedly unbeatable with pasta or crackers
4. Indonesian food stall
5. Thai Food Stall
6. Roxas Lechon (or any of the fast-disappearing lechon)
7. Fresh Chinese Lumpia – assembled as ordered
8. Poppyseed Muffins – will try it for Zsa’s sake
9. Dressed native chicken — for some down home tinola
10. Sinaing na Tulingan — haven’t had that in a long time.
11. Some more Focaccia bread
12. Some more Sinaing na Tawilis (for Nanay)

This entry was posted on Monday, June 20th, 2005 at 6:34 pm and is filed under Food Adventures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.