Up, Up and Away!

That seems to be how the cost of everything is going. And there seems to be no way to stop it. Neither will the poor homemaker be relieved of the heavy burden of balancing her household budget. Most have re-examined their budget, cutting costs, even limiting expenses on essentials like food. This was evident the last time we visited our suki in the wet market. Whereas before she would sell about 40 kilos of galunggong a day, now she can only dispose of 10 kilos. The joya fishes are more problematic, sale-wise. The term joya refers to the premium variety–bangus, lapu-lapu, talakitok, dapa, apahap, etc. She grew up hearing that term from her elders without really understanding where it came from. On the mid-morning that we paid her a visit in the course of doing our mid-week palengke chores, she had six medium-size talakitok, none of which had been bought yet. Tilapia is the in-between alternative and considering it costs between P65 to P80 a kilo, that could be the best buy for a family of four to five persons.

Looking at a budget of P200 for lunch and dinner, without really spending any of it on rice, seasonings, etc. which are normally on stock, we might be okay buying tilapia, which can be cooked in different ways, like adobo sa gata, fried crispy, sarsiado, with sweet-sour sauce and maybe sinigang or tinola. You can have the fishmonger fillet it for you and go gourmet by marinating the fillets in soy sauce, juice of calamansi and ground pepper. Maybe even cook it, cut in thin slices, into tempura. One-course meals, in effect, are the answer to our woes. Dinner time can simply be ginisang gulay time. What we need urgently now is to be innovative, look at bargains and create dishes from the most cost-effective ingredients.

When you travel on Roxas Boulevard, specially at night, you will be pleased to note that it has undergone a beautiful transformation. Plaza Rajah Sulayman in Remedios has a dancing fountain (accompanied by soothing classical music), a kiosk called Tabi-Tabi that serves coffee for P25 per cup and sandwiches for P35. There is also a flower shop named "Bulaklakan" for the romantics to pick up a rose or a bunch of lillies. By the seawall, there are park benches and for the ever-hungry promenaders, there is Café Adriatico alfresco providing Filipino breakfast to joggers at P85. After 9 a.m. it takes a break, then re-opens at 5 p.m. and closes at midnight. Couples on a date, families, friends will find this a very reasonably-priced place after an early morning walk or on a cool evening enjoying the sea breeze after a long day. There is a selection of barbecues, from P120 for a complete meal. The bay and its beautiful incomparable sunset is, of course, the main attraction, something that no other center in Metro Manila can give. Enjoy the boulevard and help Manila revive its past glory.

A most delicious chicken ala salpicao is what Cuidad Fernandina in Greenhills serves. It is a pity that the present crunch leaves some fine dining restaurants deserted these days. Maybe they should re-invent themselves.

Healthy eating…that is still the dictate one must listen to. After a rather long absence in the Makati area (where congested traffic discourages people from going there), we re-visited Rustan’s and found some healthy treasures. Those with sweet cravings would be happy to know that they can indulge in such goodies as Murray’s Sugar-free Double Fudge Cookies (P78.50), Quaker’s Chewy Dips which are granola bars deliciously dipped in chocolate with nuts (P210), Uncle Toby’s Yogurt Topps Mueslin Bars. If you are a jam lover, go for Smuckers’ low-sugar Sweet Orange Marmalade (P101) or Fifty50 Apple Spread.

We’d like to share with you this recipe for a new vinaigrette which is ideal to serve with fried fish (whole or fillet), pork or chicken. You need 1/4 cup olive oil, 6 small gherkins (each cut horizontally then sliced thin), 8 pieces black olives (cut across into thirds), a few fresh basil leaves (torn into pieces by hand), two teaspoons balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix everything together and spread on top of the fish or seafood. Great!

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