A Passion for Food

Oprah, television’s grand lady, said that we all have a passion for food and we certainly agree. Show us a man/woman who does not enjoy eating–that person would be difficult to find. We know many people whose passion is Japanese food, including our 11-year-old gourmet who, from his early years, knew what California maki and sushi were. Recently, a very good friend brought us to this little place called Little Tokyo in Makati, on a small street off Pasong Tamo, near Makati Cinema Square. Here we found a little kingdom which caters to everybody’s great passion for Japanese food, from small restaurants serving typical dishes to groceries with extensive offerings of noodles, marinades, pickled vegetables and practically everything one would need to serve an authentic Japanese meal, including sake sets, lacquered bowls and trays, and chopsticks (both for eating and cooking).

There are two stores with Japanese merchandize which apparently come direct from its country of origin because the labels are all in Japanese, unlike some of those sold in supermarkets with printed English translations. The sales attendant at the first store we entered, Tsurukamdo, must be used to Japanese clients, hence she seemed irritated that we were asking a lot of questions with regard to ingredients, uses and other information. Not a very good attitude really, because right then and there she lost us. What a pity, because we found some of our favorite cookies and sausages in her store.

We moved on and found a young woman washing her clothes right in front of a restaurant using the water from the pouring rain! Next door to her was Fuji Mart where a gentleman was very cooperative and accommodating (in answering all our queries), from whom we learned quite a lot about Japanese food stuff. We did not realize there are so many types of noodles, like soman for cold dishes, green and brown soba and kishimin, which is like fettuccini. Prices range from P75 a pack of 250 gms to P270. To these noodles can be added or poured a kind of dipping sauce that comes in 1000 ml. bottles at P271 each. We also found in this store the pickled radish that a sister recently served us with some grilled fish. More than a foot long, this costs P145 each and is really a perfect side dish. You only need to slice (about 1 cm. each piece) prior to serving. The pickled garlic is at P92 a pack. The seemingly infinite inventory includes the familiar Hondashi sauce, fresh udon noodles to which you just add a fish- or meat-based broth, barbecue marinade at P145, Japanese sardines and tiny cans of corned beef, plus the Japanese salad oil which costs P285 for a bottle of 750 gms. Of course there is the popular Kikkoman soy sauce and gyoza wrapper.

Done with shopping , it was time for lunch and we could not have chosen a better place than Kikufuji, fronting Pasong Tamo, a neat and clean place done in off-white where the service was fast and gracious. The hot noodles with flour crispies and lots of leeks plus the selection of sashimi we had made for a perfect ending to a beautiful day of indulging our passion for food.

Back in BF Parañaque ,we re-visited the store called Farm n’ Deli on Aguirre Avenue. From the first time we dropped in on the store, their selection has expanded. We were particularly attracted to their bottled Salsa de Bacalao (P200 for a 6 oz. bottle), the chicken and meat pies at P75 each, the Organic Ampalaya (medium size at P150), sugarless tablia (chocolate blocks), juices and fermented sauces. They also carry organic coco jam at P38 a bottle of 8 oz. They carry quite a lot so customers will likely come back. Their products are sold at the monthly Karl Edward Bazaar at The Tent in Fort Bonifacio.

And while in this area, do get that foccacia bread, flavored so deliciously with rosemary and sun-dried tomatoes at P50 per, from Baker Brothers on President’s Avenue. Simply toast and enjoy. And yes, the seafood prices at BF wet market where our sukis Vilma and Julie are, have remained steady inspite of the rains. However, vegetables now cost much more.

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Lydia D. Castillo’s e-mail address: [email protected]