We marvel at homemakers who take the opportunity to make some extra money during the holiday season. Their enterprise contributes to the increasing number of non-professional sellers at the many bazaars mounted as early as October. A lot of these women have become so successful that they now have established regular outlets, either in their own homes or in shopping malls. If more women follow their quest for a good source of additional income, even while staying home, then ours will be a better world of “home economics.”
We first encountered Adelina’s Ham in Greenhills (on the far end, near the Virra Mall entrance) when we were searching for an alternate to the more popular but expensive brand. On weekends, Adelina’s is sold in bazaars.
The bone-in ham (between 2.5 and 5 kilos a piece) sells at P770 a kilo, sliced ham without sauce is at P890 while that with sauce goes for P790. They have chicken longganiza at P360 and cooked bacon for P570. They are based at 180 General Kalentong, Mandaluyong City. For orders and inquiries, call 531-6833. Aside from the Greenhills store, they are also at Market! Market! and Hypermart Mall of Asia, tel. no. 725-1920.
Menchu Bargarllo-Bernad is apparently a balikbayan who wants to share her culinary expertise with her kababayans.We chanced upon her at another bazaar with her delicious concoctions made from ingredients she brought home. She is quite proud of her cheese terrine, P250 for the small and P350 for a big bottle; fromage ail fit et fines herbes (cheese) also at the same prices; the feta cheese in extra virgin olive oil, kalamata olives and herbs and spices are priced at P190 and aceitunas de abuelita (lola’s olives) go for P180. Call her at 802-4774 and 0917-8577747.
The Food Factory is a home-based enterprise that sells items that could be ideal Chrismas gifts, such as crispy dilis and crispy shrimps (P80 for 100 gms), and anchovy flakes in garlic vinaigratte at P180 for a bottle of 8 ounces. Malou Roa also offers a seasoned collection – Alaminos longganiza at P150 a dozen; Bacolod ereneta chorizo at P130 and beef tapa for P160 a 500-gm pack. Call her at 842-3453 or 842-0261.
Products from Bicol are sold by Calle Azucar, Inc. tel. nos. 521-6623 or 0922-817-237. San Stefano’s yema de pili goes for P12 a piece. They are packed in 10s to 25s, from P55 to P255. They also produce sugar-fee pili at P65 for 50 gms.
Our vote for the most elegantly wrapped collection of sweets goes to Ted’s Temptations, offering assorted bite-sized toffees so beautifully and symmetrically arranged in gold boxes, elegantly tied with red ribbons. P350 for a one-layer (30 pieces) box and P600 for 60 pieces. Contact them at 823-223 or 0916- 476-7084. They also have chocolate truffles at P350 for 16 pieces. There’s many more in their selection.
Other delicious items you can find in some bazaars are the unique Russian cookies for P280 a box (festive in red and green) and different variants of baklava including the spinach filled ones. There is also Quin’s Baked Empanadas – filled with either chicken, tuna or pork – P300 for a big box and P150 for the small.
Even after Christmas, we all must think of what we can cook and sell, especially if you are a stay-at-home lady. There’s personal satisfaction and yes, more money, in this endeavor.
E-mail comments and questions to: lydia_d_castillo@yahoo.com