Outside the supermarket
There were two reasons why Market! Market! used to be such a magnet for me. One was the potted herbs; the other was the array of regional delicacies sold in stalls beside the open food court.
You know, like the pickled quail eggs…
The pastillas that came in oh, so many flavors…
The taba ng talangka (which I don’t touch but which my husband loves to stir into his hot rice) and tuyo in oil…
We grow our herbs from seeds these days so I don’t feel the need to buy potted herbs from Market! Market! Pastillas can be bought in souvenir stalls beside the Antipolo Cathedral at much cheaper prices. Tuyo in oil is available in supermarkets; I made a pasta dish with them, in case you’re interested.
Then, there was Tiendesitas. Since Tiendesitas opened, regional delicacies have become available from a much nearer source. The problem with Tiendesitas is the heat. Even on cool December nights, the heat can be unbearable. The lack of ventilation, the layout of the food gallery where almost every stall has a charcoal grill, the crowds… More than enough reasons to stay away from Tiendesitas. I missed the native delicacies though — the tamales, most of all.
Right beside Tiendesitas is SM Hypermarket. I’m no fan of SM Supermarkets but the food stalls just outside the supermarket offer a lot of Filipino delicacies that I crave for occasionally, including the tamales Obando.
We were there earlier today and I bought tamales, suman ube (purple yam), maja blanca and pasteurized carabao’s milk. The various kalamay (kakanin) aren’t cheap at PhP 35.00 per container. You can save a few pesos by buying three items for PhP 100.00. In public markets, the price is less than half and the flavor and texture are more natural.
BUT I suppose it should make a difference that the kakanin sold in stalls like the ones outside SM Hypermarket are pre-cut and neatly packed in disposable plastic containers. In public markets, they are displayed in the traditional bilao, loosely covered with a large piece of banana leaf, exposed to dust and the shower of saliva of every customer who spends a few minutes haggling over the prices.
Although environmentalists might take issue over the use of disposable plastic containers, I take issue with food sanitation. That’s why I hardly ever go to public markets these days.
The pasteurized carabao’s milk (no preservatives and organically produced) is a delight. Except for the plastic bottle, it tastes exactly like the gatas ng kalabaw that my father bought in softdrinks bottles, the mouth stuffed with rolled banana leaves.
The tamales Obando, I have tried before and was very much satisfied. The suman ube and the maja blanca, we will be having for dessert tonight so I’ll tell you about them another time. 
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Your photos are making me drool Ate Connie. Anything wrapped in banana leaves looks so good!
i LOOOOOVE crab roe! whenever i’m lucky enough to crack open a fat she crab, i always say, “they should bottle this stuff!” and they have! kaya lang, the bottles are halfway across the world from me. *sad*sad*sad*
hi connie, i have been reading all your menus and experiences (and always eagerly awaiting any new entries) but since i am not that computer savvy, there are some entries of yours where i cannot view the photos. dunno if something is wrong with my computer. nakakabitin tuloy when i read about a dish you prepared and i can’t see the finished product. your photos inspire me to get working in the kitchen.
thank you for your wonderful blog. it is a big help for me as i have 5 grown up children and i oftentimes run out of ideas on what to serve them.
susan
wow, nakakamiss naman………….
Natakam ako sa mga pictures pero TL ako sa taba ng talangka… It’s been years since I last tried it. Actually now it made me crave for talangkang pehe. yum yum
Goodness nagugutom ako.
susan, it’s in the browser settings. how it can be fixed depends what browser you’re using.
o, as expected, mga expats ang naglalaway hahahahaha
Everything looks very inviting especially the kakanin wrapped in banana leaves!
I really like visiting these stalls – Market! Market! and Tiendesitas. I was excited to have found Pastel of Camiguin in Market! Market! – ang bilis nga lang maubos. Taba ng talangka…..deadly & delicious! I try not to eat this often, but when i do…..bring out the hot tea
great observation, connie! so true indeed!
Lani, I guess especially during the first few years of living abroad when homesickness can hit really really badly…
we’d always buy kakanin in the stalls outside market market! also the local delicacies like vjandep pastel, chichacorn from ilocos, piaya, butterscotch, etc… we also like the bread from panaderia pantoja!