Organics in Pasig

The Organics Producers Trade Association of the Philippines (opta), which has spearheaded the movement for organic agriculture as a way of life, has organized a Weekend Market in Pasig, at the new City Bargain Depot on Oranbo Drive, every Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 am. This should be welcome news to the people who would normally motor to tesda to get their vegetables and fruits. Also offered are free range chicken and eggs, dairy products, organic rice (brown or red), vinegars and some natural preserves.

This market offers consultation services on garden, farm and home waste management. Speaking of this, we commend the residents of Ramona Street in BF Parañaque who took the initiative to organize their garbage dump. An empty lot near the Alabang Hills exit is fenced up by green GI sheets area for residents to throw their garbage. There are three sections, for each type of refuse. If all subdivisions would do this, we’d have healthier surroundings. But garbage collection is another thing. We call the attention of Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez to that area near a medical clinic in Sucat Road. By early evening, scavengers are hauling whatever they can salvage from the very tall heap of waste dumped, presumably by trucks that collect from the municipality. It is an ugly sight and certainly not sanitary.

Back to organics: the Grapevine Organic Cafe on Yakal Street in Makati will conduct a cooking demonstration on Saturday, 18th August, from 10 in the morning to lunch time. On the menu are Mixed Vegetable Soup, "Farmer’s style" the rather interesting Spiced Tofu Papaya-Carrot Salad, Spaghetti with Broccoli Cream Sauce and Orange Souffle.

Here is something new we tried with a whole fish that is not the usual fried with sweet-sour sauce. We looked into our fridge and found a bottle of Moutarde (mustard) with Tarragon. After cleaning the fish, we seasoned it lightly with salt and pepper plus the juice of two calamansi. Then we generously spread the mustard on the fish, sprinkled it with olive oil and wrapped it in aluminium foil, letting it stay overnight in the refrigerator. The following day we placed it in a fish boat (a three-in-one cooking gadget you can get in the kitchenware section of stores like Rustan’s) and baked it for about 30 minutes in moderate heat. No need to worry about a sauce, since the natural juices of the fish will do nicely. Serve with sauteed vegetables like broccoli and Baguio beans. Super!

On a leisurely Sunday morning, drive South and visit two of the cleanest markets–the Carmona public market in Cavite and the Sta. Rosa Country Market. In both markets pork and beef sell for less, at P110-P115 and P120-P150 a kilo, respectively. In Sta. Rosa, they have gindara and blue marlin at P160; our favorite dulong goes for P80 a kilo while the rare ayungin sells at P110. Attractive red salad tomatoes are tagged at P30 a kilo and calamansi at P40, the latter big and certainly juicy. We missed the Bicol specialties–laing at P40 and the Longaniza Bicolano at P50 a dozen. If you start early, as we did, you’ll be home before anyone wakes up and you’ll have enough time to prepare a good lunch with your fresh buys.

A pleasant surprise greeted us at the ShopWise supercenter in Alabang. They have an expanded small appliances department with the latest gadgets There is a Wimpex twin coffee maker. From Moulinex are the food processor in a delicious shade of lemon yellow and the beautiful see-through steamer/rice cooker in two layers.

From their produce section, get some of the hydroponic-raised vegetables including a variety of lettuce at P165 a kilo (cheaper than in Makati). Herbs are sold as well; we got a fennel bulb, P50 for a medium size one. But the funny thing is that every bulb–small, medium or large–is priced the same. They have fresh arugula, which is sometimes difficult to find, also at P50 a pack.

From the seafood section, we were convinced by Lina to get the parrot (loro) fish. She filleted it for us, so we won’t be put off by its green scales. We will cook this with the fennel and let you know how it turns out.