Salcedo Village Saturday Market

I typically hate going to markets. Markets are almost always a disorganized place. Goods are scattered everywhere, hawkers shouting, and some of the produce reek of foul odor. So this was one of the really rare occasions I visited a "market."

This market being on a Saturday, and at the heart of the city's posh business district, one could only surmise that their standards should be a bit higher. True enough, half the stalls were selling cooked food - specialty cuisine you won't get anywhere in Manila. Most of the vegetables were clean and crisp, and the fresh seafood were typically frozen.

We entered from the side of the Saturday market, from Salcedo park, and we were immediately greeted by a waft of fresh seafood air! It wasn't really foul, but you could tell there was fish blood somewhere. They were selling freshwater prawns by the way. (Ulang in the local language).

Other stalls were selling ornamental plants and other inedible goods.

An heirloom restaurant was selling their famed lengua in white wine, fabada asuriana and the really scrumptious slow roasted pork. They also had a whole rack of bottled queso de bola spread, so it is apparently very popular.

There was a Singaporean lady selling some chicken rice. I just had to get myself some! Half of that whole stack of chicken was gone by the time we circled her store a second time.

A French guy had a whole army of maids selling some really yummy French food. The price was reasonable, so we just had to buy a whole roasted chicken and some duck. We totally forgot he had some pate with armagnac on sale.

The French guy was also selling some fine savory tarts.

I just thought a picture of the buko jelly was worth posting.

Another stall specializes in carabao's and goat's milk products. They even have sugra-free pastillas!

We were done shopping for food when we came across this Vietnamese lady selling fresh spring rolls. We had to make room in our basket for one pack. It was simple, healthy yet really heavenly. We are sure to return, if only for this!

One end of the market was actually flooded with barbecue stalls. This is just one of the "hundreds" of other stalls selling barbecue.

My father could not stop ogling at the lechon kawali. But he is on a diet in preparation for Christmas eve dinner, so he eventually let go.

More to come about this market on succeeding visits. Also watch out for features about the food!