Two Markets Off the Airport

There used to be only one fresh seafood market on Ninoy Aquino Avenue, off the airport. It did not even have a name. The only reference was the small Dampa restaurant which was a watering hole of cargo agents and airline employees. It has always been known as a place for fresh catch, and in the past, it would come to life only in the afternoon. Today it is called (officially with a big sign) the Dampa Fresh Seafood market and is open from morning to early evening.

This area by the airport has emerged as a big and busy commercial center and so another market has been built. This one, called Boracay in Parañaque Fresh Market, is only a few paces away from Dampa, cleaner with its newly-cemented floor, but does not have much, only a few seafood stalls.

Dampa is where you can find Mely who will graciously slice the kabilugan into the thin mat-like morcon beef. She sells it for P170 a kilo and will give you the taba to roll it with. Pork kasim and spare ribs are at P120 a kilo, nearly as much as in some supermarkets. Teddy is a lady who has some good seafood all the time. Sauteing shrimps are sold at P200 a kilo and they are medium sized. Lapu-lapu, always more expensive, is at P160 a kilo while the ulo of maya-maya which is ideal for sinigang goes for P160 a kilo. Half the head, which comes up to one kilo, is good for a family of four.

The mangoes here are mostly from Guimaras and therefore nearly guaranteed to be sweet. But to take the lady vendor’s word, "plane fare has gone up" so they are now priced between P70 to P80 a kilo, each piece coming to about P22 per. Watermelons are priced by size, the big ones at P180 and the smaller ones at P150. Tomatoes have also gone up to P40, although you can bargain and get it for P38. White onions are P60 a kilo.

At the Boracay market, mussels abound, ideally big and sold not by the pail or tabo but by the kilo (P50 per). Remember that the shells make up most of the weight, hence it might come out more expensive. Some vendors are very unfriendly and will not even answer your inquiries. A man quoted prawns at P480 a kilo and tuna belly at P160. They normally have squid from P140 a kilo.

We noticed these past few weeks the fast increasing outlets of Pan de Manila, which makes pan de sal in the old fashioned way, in stoves fired by wood with brick chimneys. This chain, if memory serves us well, was first seen in Pasig. Today there are a lot of them. In Parañaque one is on Sucat and the other one is inside the BF Village, on President Avenue.

So we stopped one afternoon and looked into what exactly makes Pan de Manila so successful. The pan de sal is priced rather high at P2.75 each. It is a bit fuller but not much bigger that the ones you’d get anywhere. And it tastes just like any other pan de sal–nothing special. We would, in fact, give our vote to Fortune Bakery in the Tropical Hut market in BF. Other products are toasted bread at P20 a pack and the traditional sugar sprinkled round and flat ensaymada at P6 per which can be bought in packs of six pieces.

Coffee drinker that we are, we have just been introduced to Café Nescafe at the Rockwell Center. A friend was raving over the cupcakes they sell over the counter and I must agree that they are very good. They cost P26 per and you can choose from Orange Poppyseed, Banana Walnut and Apple Walnut. You might also want to try the old-fashioned Oatmeal Cookies at P31. Pot pies are P75 each.

But not to forget the coffee. It is a selection of coffees of the world, their individually unique blends with full flavors and that intoxicating aroma. You either pick up a cup of any of their offerings, either hot or cold, from P30 to P100 or buy and bring home one of the brews in their attractive containers at a little bit more than P200 each.

At Rustan’s Fresh, also in Rockwell, check the Zaferrano seasoning for paella, at P44 for a pack of 126 mg. This is not quite saffron, but less expensive and also flavorful. We were delighted that the face-lift at Rustan’s Makati is progressing well. From its back entrance, you will be greeted by the well-stocked fruit and vegetable display.