Malabon Food Tour sidelights

With Richard Bautista as guide, naturally the Food Tour wasn't just all about food.  There were bits and pieces of Malabon's history and heritage strewn along the way from the time we converged at Pescadores up to the time the group disbanded.

For more photos, please click on the following link:   Malabon Food Tour Sidelights Photo Album.

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Malabon Food Tour

Like most Malabon residents, I already had my own Malabon food favorites cultivated over the years.  But I recently discovered that it's still possible to keep adding to this list -- that I can actually make new food memories, so that "comfort food" is not just the food that I grew up with when I was younger.  It can also be recent food discoveries that I love going back to, that in the process they become "comfort food" as well.

I recently made two such Malabon food discoveries that I've come to regard as "comfort food." Eager to savor these and other long-time favorites, I joined the MALABON FOOD TOUR led by Richard Bautista last Saturday for the Pinoy Frugal Chowhounds. 



MELY'S CARINDERIA

Lunch at MELY'S CARINDERIA with its selection of of home-cooked dishes.   Some favorites include beef mechado, rellenong pusit and tapang kabayo.  MELY'S CARINDERIA is a recent discovery courtesy of Richard. 

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Beef mechado the way my Mom used to cook it - slowly simmered in finely chopped onions and tomatoes.  Just looking at the picture makes me want to come back for another serving.

 

MELY'S CARINDERIA is on A. Bonifacio Street in Barangay Flores, Tel. Nos. 281.6316 and 282.6299.

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TESSIE'S TURON PINIPIG

Our dessert, another recent food discovery - Turon pinipig with its crunchy caramel coating.

If you can chance upon the turon still hot and freshly fried -- yum...  Sometimes I buy this by the dozen to take home.  But I usually bring my own plastic container to put the turon in, making sure not to put the lid on or enclose the turon.  That way I can preserve the crunchiness for a longer period of time. 

The turon pinipig is available at ALING TESSIE'S PUTO STORE on Flores Street, Tel. No. 281.5804.  From MELY'S CARINDERIA, simply turn right on the first corner.  It's a little past the Sta. Peregrina Learning Center on the right side.

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ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON

A Malabon food trip won't be complete without PANCIT MALABON.  Unfortunately, ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON was closed because ALING ROSY PACHECO passed away the night before.  We were so sorry to hear about her demise.  Over the years ALING ROSY had acquired iconic stature as she maintained the excellent quality and emotional appeal of her product set in the quiet simplicity Malabon residents have always known.   We dropped by the wake to pay our respects.

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ALING UPENG'S SPECIAL QUEKIAM

Aling Upeng's Quekiam on C. Arellano Street in Cuatro Cantos.

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ALING UPENG'S QUEKIAM is also available at the Visita (the Barangay Concepcion Public Market). 

ARNY-DADING'S PEACHY PEACHY

ARNY-DADING'S PEACHY-PEACHY on C. Arellano Street, Barangay Baritan, Tel. Nos. 281.0637 and 281.0641

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CONCEPCION BAKERY

CONCEPCION BAKERY is known for its camachile, pianono and pan de sal.  Located on General Luna Street in Barangay Concepcion.

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DOLOR'S KAKANIN

DOLOR'S KAKANIN is now available throughout Metro Manila because of its many outlets.  Nevertheless, we passed by the original store on Escanilla Street in Barangay Concepcion because this is where it all began.  See my blog posting on DOLOR'S KAKANIN for Malabon addresses and telephone numbers:  Another Food Treasure of Malabon: Dolor's Kakanin

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LUGAW NI ONOY

LUGAW NI ONOY on General Luna Street near the Immaculate Conception Church.

For the adventurous foodie:  Soup No. 5

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TAPANG KABAYO AT THE VISITA

Again, for the adventurous:  TAPANG KABAYO (salted horsemeat)

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JUDY ANN'S CRISPY PATA

Another must:  JUDY ANN CRISPY PATA.

Mouth-watering appearance and aroma.

BETSY'S CAKE CENTER

BETSY'S cakes have made many a birthday celebration in Malabon truly happy and memorable.

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BETSY'S is popular for its broas and rolls.

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Located at 70 Rizal Avenue near the Malabon City Hall, Tel. Nos. 281.1127 and 281.1131.

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Art Display at the Malabon City Hall

To showcase the art and cultural heritage of Malabon, there is an Art Display at the Malabon City Hall lobby from February 21 to 25, 2011.  It features the artwork of Sining Tambobong artists.  Malabon designers, musicians and performers are also featured.

At the entrance.  Collage at the back is by Teddy Ortega; the fishermen painting by Allen Casacop.

A special display for San Bartolome Church, soon turning four centuries old.

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Vintage photos of San Bartolome Church

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Artist:  Allen Casacop

Artist:  Chris Magbuhos

"Dance of Faith" - Sculpture by Ferdinand Cacnio

To see more pictures, please click on the following link:  Malabon Art Display Photo Album.



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Malabon's Landmark

I never noticed it before.  Not until recently when I started becoming more mindful of the sights around me during my periodic descents into the heart of town.

A magnificant bronze sculpture standing proudly on a small area straddling Letre Road and C-4 Road, right before the SSS & BIR offices on C-4.  Behind it, a welcome sign to this city we lovingly call our hometown Malabon.

Up close is the only way to really appreciate this magnificent sculpture.  I just wish that Meralco post could be situated farther away. 

The sculpture is by MICHAEL CACNIO, based on a painting by his father ANGEL CACNIO.  According to the artist, he first submitted a study of the painting to then Mayor Amado "Boy" Vicencio which he finalized in 2001.  The painting appears on the cover of Nonoy Marcelo's book "...From Tambobong to City of Malabon."  His son Michael later made the sculpture.

Because Malabon is surrounded by rivers and is near Manila Bay, much of the livelihood in the city is related to fishing.  Thus the main character depicted in the sculpture is a fisherman with a fishing net slung over his shoulder and a metal basin ("banyera") full of fish at his feet.  Behind the fisherman is a man who appears to be in a "barong" (Filipino dress shirt) - and Mr. Cacnio says his concept was that this man represents a professional who studied and will help lead our city to progress.  This man also represents the father who, together with his wife and children, form a tightly bonded family.  The bamboo pieces surrounding the sculpture are 21 in all - representing the 21 barangays of Malabon.

One reason why we hardly notice this landmark - aside from the fact that we are usually cooped up in a car or jeepney and rushing to or from somewhere when we pass it - is that it is set against a cluttered background.  I understand that there are plans to transfer the sculpture in front of the Malabon City Hall.  I think this is an excellent idea. Malabon residents would then be able to better appreciate this art piece and all that it symbolizes.

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For more on ANGEL CACNIO please see:  Angel C. Cacnio, preeminent Malabon artist and Angel Cacnio: Strokes for the Folk.

For more on MICHAEL CACNIO please see:  Michael Cacnio: Sculptor par excellence.


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