Hundreds of restaurants are sprouting all over, each catering to its niche in an increasingly discriminating market. One thing these restaurants have in common is where they get their restaurant supplies—Palanca St., Escolta, Manila.
I’ve been coming here ever since I put up my first restaurant; that was in the ’80s. For anyone with kitchen and dining needs, this is the place to go.
One cannot imagine the bargains in this unassuming corner of Manila. I got a pressure cooker for a few hundreds, which would have cost me thousands elsewhere. From drinking glass to wine glass, kitchen utensils, hot dog makers to siopao steamers, plates, can openers, juice maker, blenders, burners, etc. Literally everything, plus the kitchen sink!
Recently, I have been frequenting the place with my partner Ding shopping around for our soon-to-open restaurant. There, I saw a friend, chef Bruce Lim, doing the same for his coming restaurant, Chef’s Lab at the Fort.
Restaurateurs from all over the country shop here, too. I even met a restaurateur from far-flung Palawan.
There are also interesting food discoveries. Just across the street is one of the oldest stores that make ham. Street vendors sell anything from adobong mani to toyo and tinapa, fresh veggies, etc. Plus, an early morning visit means lunch in Binondo.
Just last week, Ding and I drove back early one morning to get more supplies. Parking is never easy but I found one this time.
From there, we went to Alonzo St. To avoid traffic, we took a tricycle to get to where they have the widest selection of lighting and bathroom fixtures, plus a few interesting restaurants.
While my partner was shopping for bulbs and lampshades (between the both of us, he’s the one with the taste—in décor), I was walking around looking for something new. I stumbled on something old instead. Ling Nam Noodle house has been in Alonzo St. for decades. I love its beef-wanton mami, asado siopao and the siomai. My wife Tessa has found the best tasting siomai there. From here, we took another tricycle to Dasmariñas St. where we had lunch at Ying Ying Dimsum—interesting place with the variety of dimsum selection but since I just arrived from HK, well, just different. Another time, we had lunch at President, no longer the same as it used to be. However, I never miss stopping by the store across where they sell all kinds of champoy and any hard-to-find Chinese groceries. To me, this is the most interesting store in Binondo. I believe it’s called BeeTin.
We then gathered our purchases and headed back to Palanca St. With our goodies in tow, we were rejected by every tricycle and pedicab in the area. There was just not enough space and too far!
Down but not out, I spotted what I thought was extinct—a kalesa! I had not ridden in one since I was a kid. Fun! With all our belongings crammed, piled and spilling out from all sides, we passed the main roads and even bought some fresh fruits. All that for P80.
We also got a few lessons from “Mamang Kutsero” on how to make our horse run. He would raise the whip in a mock threat to strike the horse and the wise animal (with two dimsum-stuffed passengers) would take off at a gallop, causing all three of us to dodge his now airborne frothy saliva! Kawawa!
Wait, another bargain. I was shopping for a portable DVD player. Saw a few in a mall for over seven thousand. Went to Raon and found the same brand for less than three grand. Grabe! No wonder my sister Nina is a Divisoria regular.
For any kitchen and dining need, have a look at Palanca St.; light and bathroom needs, Alonzo St.; and of course, for the foodie Ongpin.
Happy eating!
Mercanti’s morning market, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday at the parking lot of Metro Walk in Pasig. Check it out!
Visit my blog at sandydaza.blogspot.com or tweet me @sandydaza.
