This Country's Kitchen

Have you heard of the term localvore/ locavores?

It's a label recently coined to represent those who opt to consume food produced locally. While "local" is a flexible term depending on who uses it, it's safe to say that locavores have chosen this route as an alternative to supporting products that come from global corporate producers. "Going local does not mean walling off the outside world. It means nurturing locally-owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages, and serve primarily local consumers," says Michael Shuman of the book Going Local. 

Once upon a time, the socially impressive route was to purchase whatever was imported. Now, more than ever, there is great sense in supporting the local industry. Give it a shot. Check out what the neighborhood has to offer. You'll immediately figure out that eating local isn't mere umbilical cord-patronage. 

For me, one place I'm sure to find an array of great local treats is Salcedo Market in Salcedo Village, Makati. Held every Saturday morning for some years now, it has steadily gained loyal following. What to expect on a typical Salcedo Market morning? Neighborhood folks leisurely walking around with moods good enough to fool you that it's not a Saturday morning, a time when people would presumably choose to sleep in instead. Stalls upon stalls of gastronomic indulgence. Sunny skies with just enough clouds for shade. Trees swaying softly to the meandering wind. These and more make for an inescapable vibrance in the air that keeps people coming back.

And so this morning, we trooped over for a dose of local goodness.

 My son, Adi, mesmerized by the cotton candy

Going around, there were the familiar offerings and then there were the newer ones. 

Tommy's Coffee

Turon (deep fried banana fritters) with caramel or chocolate filling for P18 a pop.
Check out the poster by the lower left: Pansit Siopao. I didn't try it cos I'm  a wuss like that.

Mouthwatering spreads. Also available at Echo Store.

Novel polvoron flavors: Kiwi, Cranberry, Rose, Lime Lavender, Jasmine, etc.

Freshly squeezed Dalandan juice

Whole grain breads

What I'd be happy with a lifetime supply of

Fresh catch from the sea

Non-food products

Foreign cuisine offered by expats who have
chosen to live in the Philippines.

I would have wanted to take more pictures of what was there. Wagyu shawarma. Paella Negra. Lechon baka. Sugarcane juice. Adobong Kamaru (crickets). Papaya lumpia. Vodka tinapa. Flavored mantequilla. The list of food finds border endless. My stomach slightly grumble as I go through the roster.

Most, if not all, of the products are supplied for business by their owners out of love for what they offer. Have a chat with the concessionaires and common storylines are bound to come up. "This is my mother's recipe and we wanted to share it." "We have an abundance in supply of quality -- insert product here -- so we thought of utilizing them for market consumption." "I love cooking and I want to share this with other people." "The resources were readily available so we thought, why not?" You'd be awed by the subtle twinkle in their eyes when you hear them talk about how and why they do what they do. 

Here are more reasons to eat local and support small, local businesses: 

1. Local business owners have the local community in mind. I sure would want to buy from someone who thinks of my needs, my taste. 

2.  Local businesses create a great number of jobs. Difficult as it is to fathom, small businesses are the biggest employers in most countries.

3. Local businesses increase the local economy. Local entrepreneurs often prefer to obtain their resources locally as well. Choosing to buy local means positively affecting the business of other local businesses. Ripple effect.

4. There are ongoing debates on whether it truly is more environmentally sound to purchase local. Figures aren't definite, what with the difficulty in computing food's carbon footprint. (Here is an essay that confused me more) Putting the transportation of food aside, my thoughts on this are: If I choose to buy coffee produced by local farmers, this gives them money to sustain their business. Sustaining their business means they continue growing coffee in our land. To grow coffee in our land and ensure the productivity of their business, they need to take care of their surrounding environment. So, if this vague example bears any sense, I therefore conclude with my amateur capacity that buying local makes for a happy Mother Earth. 

5. Supporting local eats boosts tourism. These unique gastronomic pleasures paint a unique color to the community's culture. Consequently, this entices people to come to the community to take a bite of what's in store.

6. Lastly, though I'm sure there are more reasons that could be added to this list, I am awed by how much local pride successful local businesses instill in communities. Haven't you found yourself bragging about a bag of dried mango to foreigners? Or taking foreign visitors to the nearest restaurant boasting of home-cooked local food? I don't know about you but it sure makes me proud how folks from within my reach are capable of making great businesses out of our local resources.