by Lizette Barretto-Gueco, Foodfinds Asia.com |
Saturday is the day I wake up to with a purpose. This Saturday is no different. With food on my mind, I don my sneakers, my hat and my shades, gather my eco friendly marketing bags, have a glass of water and armed with my list from Yaya Pia, I’m off to the Ayala Alabang Saturday market together with hubby Enic, brother Joel and sis Janelle. It is smaller than the other well-known weekend markets, but it serves the needs of the community quite well. Arriving at the peak of market rush hour, which is about between 7 and 8 am, there is a fiesta feel in the air. The sights, the noise, the smells, never fail to titillate my already heightened senses.
As I enter the market, the first stall after the potted plants vendor, makes and sells my very favorite Healthy eight herbs drink. It is an organic powdered
beverage which contains ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, pandan, sambong, banaba, malunggay and pure honey with some brown sugar. This product is one of my best finds in the market. People I have gifted it to, especially those abroad, swear by the healing properties they claim to benefit from it. From the flu, to stomach upsets, to joint pains, people, including myself, report feeling better after taking it hot. I buy a few packs and some of their pure honey to stock at home.
Beside them is my friend Agnes Galindez-Macalinao of Greens and Blossoms, who propagates, grows and sells succulents and air plants. What a wonderful display of flora! She gives me some tips on how to revive my dying cactus at home.
I head on over to my organic vegetable suki and am happy to see that the staff is wearing a cheerful green t shirt with the words “Ang mga gulay dito ay sari-sari!” Great marketing tactic! I proceed to choose my vegetables and pineapples, which are fresh as advertised and then go over to the counter to pick my salted red speckled eggs. So far, the best I’ve ever tried which they make themselves.
Satisfied with the service and the generous discounts, I mosey on over to Guin’s stall. She sells the best baked chicken and tuna empanadas. Her carrot loaves on display looked quite scrumptious too. I get my brother, Joel to buy a box of both the chicken and tuna empanada for merienda later.
After buying our amazing fruits from Pelican farms, fresh milk and quesong puti from Holly’s and frozen meat and seafood from Billie’s premium meats and seafood, it was time to haul our loot back home. Oh what joy! A perfect way to spend a Saturday morning!
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About the Author
Lizette Barretto Gueco is a regular columnist at FoodFindsAsia.com. She writes about her life’s passions which are family, home, food, relationships and how they fit in perfectly in her scheme of things and in the circle of life.
Lizette is now a busy home based mom after working in marketing and the travel industry for some time. She also ventured into jewelry design while she was a partner at a prestigious jewelry store at Greenbelt 5. Aside from juggling family schedules and managing the home, she also finds time to bake and sell her sweet offerings from her home as well as indulge in her other hobbies like jewelry making and arts and crafts. She is an amateur filmmaker, traveler, foodie, dreamer and lover of life.
Lizette is a graduate of AB Communication arts from the Ateneo de Manila University. You can email her at lizbgueco@gmail.com
