Tesda on Saturday

If you have been missing the tiangge at Magallanes, fret not. The group is now at the Tesda compound on South Super Highway. You won’t miss it. If you are coming from the south (Parañaque and Alabang) it is on the right side, near the curve that goes to C-5. The tall main building displays the name prominently.

We renewed acquaintance with some of our sukis and found most of the food stuff we normally buy from them. The market, clean and dry, is spread out on the cemented portion, but prior to reaching that area there are some stalls, tables, display counters by the entrance, including that of the man who sells special tamales at P45 per. There are many cooked food sellers, some of whom have tables and chairs so that if you’re suddenly hungry, you can sit down and enjoy a snack or even an early lunch.

Fruits and vegetable vendors are the first ones you’ll meet, because fish and meat are found farther inside. Their vegetables are labeled as coming from the highlands, meaning the Mountain Province. Whether they are organic or not is not emphasized. We had a bit of a laugh when a foreigner immediately turned her back on a male vendor when she misunderstood the price of fresh coriander (kinchay): she thought the little bunch she was holding (only about 300 gms) would cost her P400. The price actually is P400 a kilo. Communication gap, no doubt.

Anyway, before we could summon help to carry our load, our basket was already heavy with purchases from Hector and Ofie–broccoli at P150 a kilo, cauliflower at P70 a kilo, cabbage at P40, tomatoes also at P40. Another lady sells pineapples at three for P50 and watermelon at P30 a kilo. She also made us taste the suman Visaya, at P5 (a bargain from the original P6.)

We found the seafood fresh, the tilapia still moving their gills. You can have your purchase cleaned. Prices are not that much lower than our usual BF source. We got bangus with thick tiyans at P120 a kilo, sapsap at P150, ayungin dagat for P90 a kilo, very small tawilis (which should be fried crisp) at P80 a kilo, pampano at P130 and squid at P140. From another lady whose name is Dorothy we got hito at P95 a kilo. They are with itlog and super for adobo.

Puyi, an old suki for frozen seafood, is still manning her store. She has a lot to offer–Atlantic seabass (P180 a pack), smoked tanguigue, squid and squid tentacles (P40 a pack of about 100 gms, ready to fry), salmon and blue marlin belly.

Another enterprising lady delighted us mid-week about how her housewife-ly penchant to innovate on food brought her considerable big business in Makati. Jocelyn (Joy) Unson Lim, a 24-year-old mother of three, owns My Angel’s Kitchen on the lower floor of the Greenbelt Mall, Legaspi entrance. From childhood she has been mixing and innovating with her mother and lola. The resulting products include a wide range of sauces, ready-to-eat pasta and other specialties.

The name My Angel’s Kitchen came about when she could not get the permit for other names she thought of. Her children–aged 6, 4 and 1, who are always with her (even in the store) came to mind and with friend Dedet (who owns and manages a photo outfit called Sweet Dreams) they named the outlet, which sports a picture of the Lim kids in a dreamy, cloudy setting.

Of her many offerings, take note of the following–Quick and Convenient Pasta and Lunch packs (in pretty transparent plastic with raffia ribbons), which can be eaten there or brought home. We particularly like the Scampi and Bacon (P120) and the Salmon and Spinach Pesto (P120). Their daily lunch specials (callos, morconitos, etc.) go for P125 served with rice and free mineral water. The Spreads Galore on the go include Roasted Garlic Cheese, Pesto Cheese, Wild Mushroom Paté, Premium Dulong and Artichoke. We detected a soury flavor from the last one, which makes it a truly refreshing dip or spread, ideal on melba toast. Each is priced at P100 (for a small tub) and served with the toast.

That’s not all. They have a long product list–bottled delicacies and more sauces, savory products, two types of salad dressing, pickles including pajo, cakes and sweets, home cooked food and regional specialties, even dangit. For those in a hurry, this can be a one-stop-shop.