The smiling faces of Plaridel

After lunch one Saturday, we drove to Plaridel, Bulacan through the Guiguinto exit (we were actually misdirected by the toll man as we entered the highway). The drive was pleasant; good roads, four lanes on each side, and traffic was light. It was a trip intended to look at how the mall culture has captured the residents of the town and neighboring communities.

We did not have a hard time finding the WalterMart Mall. It is located along the main road; There was a long line of tricyles waiting for shoppers, and a few cars in the rather dusty parking area. Weekend being family day, there were parents and children, groups of young and not-so-young, with big smiles on their faces. Evidently, they are happy that a mall has come to town, offering them not only what they need, but entertainment and a place to spend time with family and friends.

It is a full mall, with eating places (the usual hamburger/chicken joints), small food stalls selling everything from chicharon to empanadas, fashion outlets, tiangge-style stores selling cheap watches and costume jewelry, a bank, foreign exchange office, a play section called Wonder Park, a department store (Robinson’s), a Home Center, a hardware store and cinemas. And of course Waltermart Supermarket, which was our main target.

It is neat and spacious with practically everything that a homemaker needs to manage a household. On the right as one enters is Bread Works, a branch of the one in Rustan’s at Shangri-la Mall. They offer a selection of bread and pastries, from P20 each. Inside one gets attracted to the Wall of Savings, where a wide collection of ‘must haves’ are at bargain prices, among them Tentay Patis (P23 a pack of two). There’s roast chicken at P99 per and liempo at P120 a kilo.

Dizon’s is there, including their salad packs with dressing, priced not much different from their outlets in Metro Manila. The new offering is packs of vegetables with meat for nilaga; chopsuey from P40 each. Mangoes are tagged at P68 a kilo, red plums at P123 and grapes at P205. We noted some Fat and Thin sauces and marinades. The fresh section has bangus at P110 a kilo, lapu-lapu at P215, Garcia’s liempo at P185, pork steak at P155. Monterey’s lamb chops go for P235 a kilo. They have a good selection of rice–sinandomeng at P132 for a pack of 5 kilos , Best Choice (house brand) at P60 for 2 kilos and Happy Budhha Jasmine at P885 for 25 kilos.

Another pleasant day we had was spent with Norman, Monchet, Dong, our former writer who now does PR work and my Ate Zeny. We drove all the way to Tomas Morato, Quezon City because we wanted to experience, once again, the exciting restaurant action over there. We started with a wake-up cup of Batangas coffee at Figaro and then proceeded to Alex III Restaurant, where happily we found pure–as in true–Filipino food, the way we used to delight in at the old and still existing Aristocrat by the Bay. The original Alex III is on Wilson Street in Greenhills.

We are quite delighted that while the young managers of the chain have infused some innovative elements into their offerings, they have kept that particular Filipino taste, a welcome treat since all we have been getting lately are international interpretations (can you imagine adobo with onions and bacon?). They cooked salmon into sinigang with mustasa, blending its natural flavor with misu, making it very refreshing.The fried chicken in remembrance of the chicken specialties of old has skin fried crisp and meat soft and juicy. This comes with the old favorite Java sauce. The sizzling bangus belly is marinated and served on a hot plate. They have combo meals at P189 each. The menu has Japanese and Chinese specialties and, since it’s summer, they have opened a grill area atop each of the buildings they occupy. This chain may just be your perfect choice for value-for-money meals; the average check is about P280.After dining, spend a bit of time checking their small store of baked products. A mini chocolate cake costs P57. This is light. The ensaymadas are sold at P65 for the bites (8 pieces) and P29 for the regular. The selection also includes banana choco squares at P40 each and some Thai candies.

In Chinatown, if you want to have a good lunch at the least price (about P120 a person), go to Sincerity on Nueva Street. Their fried chicken is to die for, no wonder it is their best seller. And so are the sautéd radish, oyster cake and humba.

Indeed it has been a delicious week for us... go and enjoy as well!

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