'Metamorphosed' vegetables

The traditional Filipino homemaker always endeavors to have vegetables on her dining table. But preparing a dish of sayote, squash or even cauliflower gets a bit monotonous, considering one either serves them ginisa, in lumpia, or as ingredients for nilaga, tinola or sinigang. Our second daughter opened a whole panorama of vegetable possibilities, all of which she executed masterfully and served as delicious partners to our meat, chicken and seafood main courses.

The night’s dinner of curried carrots, potatoes, Baguio beans, leeks and celery was simply spiced up with curry powder and sautéd in a little oil with hardly any salt. (We have stayed away from salt for a long time, using only the natural flavors of herbs and spices to produce delicious meals). The left-over curried veggies found their way into an omelet for a much-welcome breakfast the following morning. So don’t throw away those left-overs – they can “metamorphose” into a completely new dish you’ll hardly recognize as yesterday’s table fare.

There are many vegetable suppliers, some even offering their produce and services via e-mail. Maybe you can surf the net and get hold of one.

Marks & Spencer used to be referred to by our grandson as “Marks and Expensive.” While this holds true, we would also like to call the attention of those in charge of tagging their food products, which they need to monitor more carefully. A few days ago a couple (Brit-Filipino) did their shopping there and got, among others, the traditional British sweet, Double Devon butter toffee, with a tag of P145. At the counter they were being charged P220, with the cashier saying it was the real price. The couple pointed the woman to the rack with a whole stack of this particular candy and they all had P145 tags! Did they just increase the price or was the sales clerk putting one over the customer? If they had changed the price, why wasn’t the whole lot carrying the new price? Somebody from the store needs to straighten this out.

Local dairy products are available at Milk Planet of Mr. Moo’s found in malls in Filinvest (877-4083), Silang (877-4084) and Tagaytay (877-4085). They have a good selection, selling in both retail and bulk, including fresh cow’s milk, kesong puti, choco milk, goat milk cheese and even goat milk soap. They also produce pana cotta, marinated kesong puti in tomato and basil, and flavored pastillas, herbed and ricotta goat cheese. Other items include herbed pan de sal and kesong puti sauce with tomatoes and basil. Interesting line-up really. Check them out and give them a call.

When you go to the Dampa market on Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, be sure you do not get lured by the vendors who, short of dumping their goods on you, would put on all their charms to make you their suki for the day. Ignore most of them and simply go around. When you have decided on what to get, be sure to bargain. Be sure to get at least P10 or P20 off from the quoted price for your purchases, from seafood to fruits. This is actually one place where you will get the best price for fresh catch compared to supermarkets, such as white prawns at P550 a kilo, squid at P220, lapu-lapu at P350 and the rare seabass at less than P350. By the entrance to the market are the fruit stalls where mangoes go for P80 a kilo, mangosteen at P150, and cantaloupe at P80 a kilo. Some mangoes are over-ripe, so choose carefully.

We didn’t realize that native lechon now costs P700 a kilo, until a balikbayan daughter craved for the “real McCoy.” Because the well–recommended Elar’s was so difficult to get by phone, we decided to go to BF Parañaque for Lydia’s lechon (851-2988). Two young women manage the stall, which is just one among its many branches. A price hike was effected in February this year. The 10-11 kilo whole pig now costs more than P5,000. One can get them by bilao, chopped and ready to serve, starting from 1 kilo to 5 kilos. The chain also offers seafood paella in small, medium and large bilaos. If you need them to deliver, you are charged an additional P650, which we think is excessive.         

We have it on good authority that the imported US and Australian meat at South Supermarket in Alabang (Muntinlupa) is about the best in town with regard to quality, cut and price. It’s unbelievable, but they cost less than in a wholesale store that is affiliated to an American chain. Another piece of good news is that the supermarket’s fresh catch staff can debone bangus for relleno. Ask for Venus or Dan, they will gladly do this for you.

Have a good Sunday with your family!  

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