Goodbye, South Supermarket

Two weeks ago, an "institution" at Magallanes Village, the South Supermarket, bade faithful customers a sentimental ‘goodbye’ after 33 years of being part of the community. The place looked pathetic when we visited it a few days before the store totally closed. Staff were busy packing, most of the gondolas were no longer there and the merchandise diminished. We still found what we were looking for, glazed mixed fruits (locally produced) at more than P50 a jar. South Supermarket actually started in Quezon City at the old Sta. Mesa Market which to our mind is the original mall, having had stalls of varying goods–from food to clothing and a grocery under one roof. But sukis of South Supermarket need not be dismayed: there is still the store at Alabang Town Center plus other outlets in nearby towns. Fish, we gather, is among the best buys in any of their outlets because they come direct from the owners’ fish ponds.

Speaking of fish, we promised we’d tell you about the loro that we bought from ShopWise. Well, our friend Lina (at the store) is right; it is almost like lapu-lapu in texture and taste. The very fleshy fish is ideal for fillets, at P120 a kilo.

Have you heard of the tuber called yakon? We hadn’t, until we motored to the Organics Market at the City Bargain Center in Oranbo Street, Pasig. Firstly we would like to clarify that the center is still under construction, so it’s like treading through ruins when you get there. The Organics tent goes up every Saturday and Sunday morning and has attracted quite a lot of consumers. Anyway, yakon is a tuber that comes from Mindanao and is said to be good for those suffering from diabetes. It looks like giant kamoteng kahoy and can either be eaten as is (it tastes like turnips) or extracted into juice, which has the sweetness similar to that of sugar cane. This costs P100 a kilo. However, store owner Rosalina cautions against over-indulging.

In the same market you can get organically grown Deli Fresh chicken at P136 a kilo. This is best roasted and if you want the cooked product, you can go to Robinsons where it is sold at P188 a piece. The best seasoning for this is sea salt, herbs, basil and lemon grass. You pay for health and since organics are much healthier, they cost more. Growing them needs funding (for research, etc.) and there are no government subsidies yet. Thus broccoli is at P250 a kilo, cauliflower at P190, sayote at P35. Native eggs are P6 per, garlic at P120 a kilo.

We got a few useful pointers from very active organics organizer Jacqui who sells products at her Rizal Dairy Farms section. She has fermented papaya into vinegar (P35 a bottle of 350 ml) and blended papaya juice with lemon juice and muscovado sugar. She mixes pechay and avocado, without sauteing, into a delicious soup. Our basket also got filled with her cheese bread (P55) and yogurt (non-fat and low-fat). As customers increase, Jacqui is hopeful this market in Pasig will expand. Of course the center will have to be finished. It is not very difficult to find–Oranbo Street is just across the Valle Verde Country Club.

Kitchen additions. We had half of a big chicken (1.5 kilos when it was whole) and some left-over wine so we thought of making Coq Au Vin. In our fridge we noticed an unopened bottle of pickled onions, so we added some to the chicken. To eat healthy we needed vegetables, but as side dish, they can be boring. So we cut a head of brocolli and a small bunch of parsley and added them to the chicken shortly before serving. The verdict? A super, unique concoction.

To your regular beef stew, you can also add some exotic spices, like fresh basil leaves, fresh coriander leaves, cummin, peppermint and black pepper. You’ll get an Oriental stew with many blended flavors. Mix tuna flakes (drained), cottage cheese, a bit of Worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon of lemon juice and sweet relish and you’ll get a much healthier bread spread.

Our service award goes to Mann Hann restaurant at the Ayala Town Center which readily changed the noodle dish we found found rather smokey. And our disappointment of the week citation goes to Aresi restaurant on the corner of Bohol Avenue and Morato, for the rancid oil they used in preparing the cheese sticks we ordered.