THERE’S A bond beyond malls, restaurants, and the ever-present congestion that has been subtly established between Makati and Ortigas—one that is persuaded by word-of-mouth, and guarded by the adventurous lining of the appetite. If fine dining and seating via reservation just isn’t cutting it for you, then it might be time to shop for new things to satisfy that grumbling stomach of yours.
If you’re ready to divide and conquer, then perfect—brace yourself and prepare to loosen your belts. We’ve got two markets —Banchetto and Legazpi—ready to uplift your foodie spirits.
Banchetto Night Market
Driving through the mean streets of the city by day is one thing, but going behind the wheel past midnight is another—especially when you’re on the quest for something so gastronomically good. Getting to Banchetto’s Food Market is a no-brainer for one who’s pretty much acquainted with the Ortigas area, but one must keep a watchful eye as parking slots are as tough as passing Accounting under a terror prof. The grueling obstacle course that is waiting is of course, all worth the bliss that you shall soon find—just think of it as a foodie Oz.
A flavorful aroma
The charbroiled aroma of meat straight off the grill, the sound of the boiling oil ready to cook whatever your heart desires to that perfect golden crisp, and the vast array of colors that do nothing but increase your hunger and worsen your salivating palate—that’s Banchetto in an understated, appetizing nutshell. It will titillate your taste buds and make your stomach dance to the sound of Gaga, all this in a single bite of your meal of choice.
Being a labyrinth of sorts, people, especially young professionals, flock to Banchetto to recharge themselves from a long night’s work. This place isn’t for the claustrophobic, because one must come prepared for the long lines, and tight spaces. The path is barely existent; and two prevalent things emerge: the food, and the people.
As Friday ascends into midnight, this little part of town comes alive and its arms open itself to the onslaught of people. The most common sight is the flocks of call centers agents, tired but excited at the prospect of biting into a scrumptious, tender P120 schublig sandwich instead of a hastily prepared burger.
Dressed in jeans, comfortable shoes, and their IDs slung around their necks, they bear the heat that ensues fromclaypots used to make little bibingkas, and the heat of having a dozen other people clamoring to have someone take their order for baked ziti and penne alfredo. Swimming through the almost gapless crowd, you’d think that you’d be worrying about your valuables being stolen, but you worry about only two things, really: do I have enough cash for all this food? And what am I going to buy next?
Where people come together
Banchetto has become a hub for people to come to on a Friday night, away from the usual end-of-week inuman spot or movie night out. People from all over, sometimes as far as Parañaque and Alabang, are willing to brave the Friday night traffic of EDSA to partake in the food fiesta that is Banchetto. It has become a haven for yuppies and oldie alike, and not only is the cuisine from all over; the culture that breeds deep is, too.
Legazpi Sunday Market
In the heart of Makati rests a little haven for all things, literally. Contrary to popular belief that this weekend market only caters to food enthusiasts, Legazpi’s Sunday Market actually carries more than what it seems to offer. From recycled shoes to organic concoctions suited to provide you with all your needs, this parking area turned entrepreneur’s paradise easily transforms into your go-to place which gives you a dollop of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of weekday living.
Rise and shine!
Sundays are, more often than not, devoted to family time. Legazpi is sure to keep dad full, mom wanting for more, and the children roaming around in unique stalls. You probably have that generic picture in your mind at the moment, but scratch that, will you please? Take it to the next level, or even two notches up.
If Legazpi’s Ortigas counterpart is for the nocturnal, this place caters to the increasingly rare breed of morning people. After a Sunday morning mass with the family, people within the area commonly head over to this social scene that sits in the middle of Makati’s corporate hub. With a location so convenient and an atmosphere that is very much inviting, there is no doubt how a scene like this draws people to its charm.
The atmosphere immediately shifts from one that is sleepy and slow, as the stalls set up in the heart of Legazpi transform into one that is homey and welcoming. The first stall that one may see is one that belongs to a smiling, jolly African man selling hand-made necklaces with leather and semi-precious jewels that look as if they could go for P30,000–but only go for as high as P3,000. To its left, an all-organic jam and sandwich spread stall. To the left of that is a table with several pizza pans full of quiche—in Legazpi, they speak the prolific language of one-stop shopping.
From all over
Beads from Tibet, honey from the mountains of the Philippines, and necklaces from Africa— the Sunday market is home to a geographical mash-up of all things that transport visitors into places they only dreamed of experiencing, and the people who come here? Well, they’re as diverse as the things they sell.
Legazpi is the perfect start to the week, a reminder that despite the toiling persistence of the previous six days, there is still a little slice of heaven (whether it be Legazpi Market itself or the mouth-watering chocolate cake they sell there) in a tiny patch of grass in the city.
