The Pan de Sal

This is the day’s raging issue. It’s been two weeks since a moratorium on its price was declared. But even before that, "wise" bakers already acted to protect themselves. The size is the matter, not the price. Three weeks ago, it was still selling at P1 each, but look at how it shrunk. Our survey (as far as we could go from North to South of Manila) shows that in a talipapa bakery, it has become so maliit, "only about two bites", said a resident. A popular pan de sal chain maintains the price at P1, but when asked for the weight, the seller admitted to reducing it from 30 gms to 25 gms a piece. Other outlets have maintained the weight, but increased the cost to P1.25 per. Still others have upped it to P2 and at some high-end bake shops, the staple costs P3 each.But how many pan de sal will satisfy an ordinary man’s hunger at breakfast? Certainly more than two of the P1 thing. Whatever the size and cost, eating this most common and very Filipino bread will require more pesos than before.

Noodles: we have yet to do research on this. But if it goes the pan de sal way, expect each pack to command a higher price, or be reduced in content. This is apparently one of the most popular grocery items. Taking note of how many packs go into each grocery cart or basket, even a few centavos more will most likely burden an already strained budget.

Making both ends meet is more difficult so perhaps the homemaker should look for foodstuff that would need less ingredients and less time to prepare, thus saving on cost and fuel. Swift’s latest offering, the Pinoy BBQ line, can be one of the solutions to our budget woes. They are now available in major supermarkets and come in three variations and weights– Toppings, 300 gms selling (depending on the store you patronize) from P65 toP79 per; Wings, 600 gms a pack from P95 to P100 and the 10-piece Value Pack, 1.2 kg from P150 to P160. They are all smoked and can be fried, grilled or baked , as we did with the wings. The smallest pack of five pieces served with a second dish like vegetable guisado is good for at least three average eaters.

We have not yet confirmed the reported closure of the Tesda Weekend Market, but one organic outlet has opened at the old site of an Italian restaurant on Legaspi Street in Makati. They were in the process of fixing the place and the girls manning the store assured us more supplies would be offered during the following Saturdays and Sundays. Anyway, here are some of the items they sell–coco vinegar with rosemary twigs at P65 for a bottle of 750 ml., without the rosemary it goes for P35 ; brown or red rice at P70 a kilo, muscovado sugar for P50 a kilo, Vitasoy milk for P99, red beets at P30 a kilo, green pepper at P130, lettuce at P150, celery at P150. They have cooked food to take out and a duet of suman.

In Greenbelt 1, facing the Legaspi Street entrance, we chanced upon the Eurobake stall. The young gentleman behind the counter is a grandson of the originator of the products, among them the famous Malolos ensaymadas (with cheese and slices of red egg), which he emphatically says is "really the original". We did not argue and gave our nod to the attractively fluffy and tasty bread. It comes in three sizes: P25, P60 and P220. They also sell the typically Bulacan inipit de leche (cream between two layers of thinly cut cake), araro and pastillas.

In the same walkway leading to the road is My Angel’s Kitchen, a place we occasionally visit for some of their flavorful sauces. One of our favorites is still Al Nero which, as the name suggests, is squid done in its ink plus herbs and spices and lots of olive oil. You can simply bathe your cooked pasta with this and you’ve got a satisfying dish.

Meantime, make that Christmas list now. Plan your menus and source your ingredients early. Do not wait for the last minute, or you will regret it. Because prices are likely to escalate. Enjoy your Sunday!

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Lydia D. Castillo’s e-mail address: inmybasket@skyinet.net