Roast duck atbp.

A reader requested that we check out Hi Top supermarket on the corner of Quezon Blvd. Ext. and Scout Esguerra. When we found the time, we motored over, negotiating the long distance from our base and getting into some terrible traffic jams. We do not regret taking the long drive.

We parked on the Esguerra side and wound our way through the Deli-diner which sells processed meat from Euro Deli. They have all sorts of pastries and cakes, plus pasta dishes either for dine-in or take home. Before entering the supermarket proper, there is a small kart of Tramway Tea House, with quite a selection of Chinese ready-to-eat dishes. What attracted us was the Roast Duck (P210 a pack of half a bird with two types of sauces, hoisin and plum). It was the main course at dinner and our brood enjoyed it a lot. Next time, we might try the Japchae, a Korean noodle dish. Tramway’s main restaurant, which also offers Japanese food, is located at the corner of Scout Alcaraz and Banawe streets.

It is a crowded store, but before we got into the shelves, we passed by the Best Sweets counter where local delicacies are sold including nilupak and sapin-sapin. Right beside it is Nutralife with a selection of vitamins and food supplements. We would like to commend the lady who attended to us for being very gracious. She even searched her supplies for a bottle with the longest expiry date for us.

Right after the turnstiles is the tambak area with lots of items on promotional prices–biscuits, canned goods, etc. Ayam from Indonesia has new seafood spreads in a pack of four. Just Juice (new flavor being apple-guava) is tagged at P57.85. Prices in this store are competitive. Selection of cooking oil is extensive; Baguio now produces corn oil, selling at P91.65 for a bottle of .9 quart and P193.85 each bottle of 1.8 liters.

For those who cook a lot with dried Chinese mushrooms, this is the store–a pack costs P130.90. The delicious Japanese pickled radish is also available, in two sizes. Save yourself a trip to a siopao restaurant and get the frozen ones, P106 a pack. There are also springs rolls plus–if you want to splurge–Hong Kong fish (P232 for half a fish). Another typical Asian product is Wang brand kimchi at P162.95 for 410 gms.

We encountered some sales staff who seemed not to care nor know anything about customer service. Ask them anything and you get a blank stare. We just ignored them and went about our research on our own. Meat prices are a bit higher; Monterey has increased prices–shank at P180 a kilo, brisket at P190 and pork at P158. Of the seafood, sugpito and sugpo are good buys at P500 and P480 a kilo, respectively. Lapu-lapu goes for P280 while dalagang bukid is tagged at P160.

Hi Top is one of those one-stop stores, with electrical supplies, plastic chairs and stools, plates, garbage bags (Edison prices are: medium, 10 pieces for P30.25, large P48.60 and extra large P70.25), other house stuff.

Gaudi is a new Spanish restaurant on the cinema level of Greenbelt 3. The Angus beef seems rather pricey at P2,200 a kilo, but considering four to five diners can have substantial servings, it is a fair price. It is presented rather ceremonially–you get the slab of beef, a burner is set up on the table with a ceramic plate sprinkled with rock salt, and after cutting the meat, the diner can cook his/her individual piece/s to the preferred doneness. It is served with roasted capsicum and thinly sliced potatoes.

Over at the Manila Polo Club, a variety of international buffets is getting the approval of members and their guests. The paella and roast sirloin on the Spanish table are perfect that one is very likely to indulge. On occasion, you get pampered by the staff, just as we were when we asked for a special cold dessert of coffee jelly, with cracked ice and a topping of vanilla ice cream. Thanks, Lolit!