Wet market spin-off

In the past, shopping for fresh foodstuff was limited to public wet markets and medium-sized groceries. Then, a few years ago, the Saturday market emerged in Greenbelt and subsequently in Salcedo and Legaspi villages, offering newly harvested produce, fresh catch, meat and fowl, homemade sauces and bakery products. Homemakers welcomed the clean, dry selling areas and the more gracious vendors, who were mostly residents of gated subdivisions side by side with farmers who come to the city to offer their fruits and vegetables.

Soon there were bigger markets – at the Food Terminal in Taguig, in Quezon City, Bonifacio Global City, and the Molito Commercial Center in Alabang. Recently they have spun-off to churchyards and activity centers of the big malls. It is interesting to note that most of the vendors travel from one market to another, thus one is likely to find the same stuff (brand and chain) in many of them. This makes it convenient for everyone.

One such mobile market is found at the Ayala Town Center in Alabang, right at the activity center. This one is basically a sweets haven as most items being sold are baked products and kakanin (local sweets usually made of rice flour). Weekend promenaders and fun-seekers are now enticed to satisfy their cravings for cakes and pastries, mostly done very creatively, thus taste would not be the only consideration. They are difficult to resist.

One such treat is called inutak, which has nothing to do with brains. It is the famous dessert that originated from the kitchens of the women in Taguig as a regular offering to guests. This is made of ground glutinous rice with coconut cream cooked over slow charcoal fire. It is akin to the sapin-sapin in taste and texture. It has found its way to the weekend markets, which , judging from the crowd gathered around it that Sunday afternoon, has become a favorite. The big one, in a box tied with garnet-colored ribbon, tagged at P350, is an ideal gift or potluck item. Call 502-5922 or e-mail [email protected].

A husband-and-wife team manages a bake shop they call Sweet Vanilla. The gentleman does the baking while the lady tends to the outlet. Their cupcakes are as lovely to look at as they are tasty. They have a collection of bite-sized cupcakes with colourful toppings in various flavors, but are a bit pricey at P30 per. They have innovated on the traditional leche flan by concocting it with chocolate, selling at P180 for the big tin. Tastes good, actually. For orders and deliveries, call 0917- 531-8881, or e-mail [email protected]

The CruKitchen (Classic Recipes Unlimited and an acronym for the owner’s name) dubs their baked products as “blissful, tempting and mouth-watering.” Their bestsellers are cinnamon walnut rolls, either plain, with cream cheese, or pecan caramel, from P160 to P350 a box, and loaf cakes, chocolate madness, divine carrot walnut and cream cheese and soft and velvety Japanese cheesecake from P325 to P550 per. Call 828-4474 or e-mail [email protected].

Then there is The Lollicake Factory, which is supposed to be the “First Official Cakepop Factory in Manila.” Their unique product line is a collection of handcrafted lollies in different styles with characters like Angry Birds, which celebrants can put on top of their birthday cakes instead of the usual décor.

We thought the flower lollies should come in more vibrant colors like red and pink instead of the dark green shade they use. Signature pack costs P480 a dozen, while a dozen customized with characters go for P540 to P840 a dozen.

For the more traditional, there are Iya’s Jumbo Pastillas made of carabao’s milk. Call 729-0325. For the familiar Marilao puto, bibingka and biko, contact 0922-6836458.

There’s more. Go to a weekend market and satisfy your family’s cravings.

E-mail comments and questions to [email protected]