Going east is what we normally avoid, basically because of its distance from our base and the traffic situation that is often unbearable. But we recognize that our self-imposed mission is to give our readers as much as we can with regard to sourcing food, household needs and, to a certain extent, places to dine.
So we headed for Eastwood City. Luckily we made it there fast and we were immediately overwhelmed by the development and progress. We missed the now non-existent Robinson Supermarket, but we were compensated by what we found. Multi-storey structures have sprung up. In Eastwood 1 and 2, restaurants and home stores abound, carrying practically everything a homemaker needs.
The new mall is customer friendly. The well-designed promenade with lush greenery between the two tall buildings (the food court and the veranda) makes one forget pollution. Waterfalls provide some cooling effect. Here one can seemingly find peace, sitting on benches and watching the world go by. The music, however, could be turned down a bit.
Inside, on the ground level, are neat, modern, backless white seats. From the second level up are sitting areas with upholstered chairs and sofas to rest tired feet (and eyes, as we noted one gentleman was peacefully sound asleep). Practical as well while waiting for friends.
Raffles’ Kitchen World on an upper floor carries what a homemaker always dreams about. Pyrex has a new collection called Naked Pan, metalware made of aluminum alloy with a new feature – plastic lids. Visions Cookware at P7,000 a set is also available, so are Ekco utensils and a beautiful salad spinner. This store is rather pricey, but the collection is of good quality that can last years.
On the ground level of the veranda hall facing the garden is the Make Room store. They have bottles of liquid sprays created by Messy Bessy. They include those for cockroaches, linen and carpets, costing from P250 to P400 for a bottle of 400 ml. An interesting kitchen aid is the turkey stuffing cage, a wired piece where one puts the stuffing which then is inserted into the cavity of the bird. When done, simply pull it out. Ingenious! Their acrylic salad bowls look so much like glass.
Dining here can cause confusion, simply because there are hundreds of choices. We settled for Cyma that offers Greek specialties. The salad with chunks of sun-dried tomatoes was perfect but the char-grilled lamb (paidaka) was so tough we had to have it changed. Not so tender either. Desserts can come in a platter of four, each selection representing typical Grecian sweets. They include baklava, Greek yogurt with honey and pistachio, and creamy semolina custard wrapped in filo.
The Alabang (Village) Saturday Market has been relocated from Narra Street to the country club, right by the guard station. Both sellers and buyers are happy about this because there is a ‘real’ parking area, the stall owners have bigger space and there is enough room to walk about without bumping into another shopper. Estela, our seafood vendor, still offers her day’s catch – fish, shrimps, shellfish.
We always get her tinapang bangus (large and ma-tiyan) at P180 each. Her new items are pork patties at P74 a pack, sisig for P95 and ox tongue at P395 a kilo. An active Alabanger and a moving spirit in their various endeavors is our friend Sylvia (Evie) whose children help man the stall called Q’s. They offer grilled oysters and bangus stuffed with tomatoes and onions (P120 each). They have combo meals costing P80 each. Francis, the baker of Bread Monster, has chocolate muffins (P140 a box of 6) which are perfectly moist.
“Libre tilaw” means free taste, and so it is that a bite of lechon Cebu is offered by the gentleman behind the table. Others to buy are Cebu longganiza at P160 a pack, siomai at P200 for about 20 pieces in an open tub, laing for P60 and dinuguan, P50 a serving but we were too late, it went so fast. Mangoes were not so attractive while mangosteen sold at P200 per kilo; we skipped it because the lady was paying more attention to engaging her friend with small talk than making a sale.
Buying food at the Market is something that can replace kitchen chores once in a while. A drive to the country club on Saturday morning may result in a full-course meal for the family. Pick your favorite viand, fruits or desserts. Bring them home and enjoy the weekend.
E-mail comments and questions to: lydia_d_castillo@yahoo.com.