5 amazing finds at Farmers Market

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There are many reasons to love Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City. It’s comparably cleaner than other “wet” markets, has an accessible location, organized sections, friendly vendors and best of all, a good and wide variety of produce. With over a hundred vendors housed under one roof, it offers a selection, which includes household staples as well as interesting finds like these.

chili
1. Habanero Chilis from Baguio (PHP610/kilo)
They are no mini bell peppers. Make the mistake of biting into them and they can possibly and will probably have you crying buckets. This type of chili is very, very hot. It rates 100,000-350,000 on the Scoville scale, as compared to the bird’s eye chili’s at 100,000-225,000. It is often used in salsas and sauces, added sparingly in sandwiches and BBQs, and is sometimes included in desserts.

black chix
2. Black Chicken (PHP150/whole chicken)
Who would have thought that underneath the white fluffy feathers of a silkie chicken is glossy black chicken skin? The Chinese did and that’s why it is commonly found in their cuisine. It has a gamy flavor, thus it is often cooked with ginger to tame that flavor down. It is often prepared as a soup or stew, and is enjoyed for its medicinal properties. (Photo: thekitchn.com)
 
salted egg
3. Organic Salted Eggs (PHP15/egg)
There’s no foretelling of their salted nature since they don’t come in the usual bold pink hue, but slice one open and the texture will give it away. These eggs come from ducks that are raised and organically fed, consequently producing a yolk that’s noticeably a darker shade of orange. They are also slightly oily, but that doesn’t deter from the fact that they are tastier and richer than the usual.

bangungon
4. Bangungon from Bicol (PHP70/kilo)
These are snails with pointed ends and they are often cooked in coconut milk along with gabi leaves. According to the vendor, before you throw them in the pot, you first have to snip off the ends of the shell so that you can suck the meat from the shell later on. It has a subtly sweet taste, she adds.

crab
5. Curacha from Zamboanga (PHP600/kilo)
Also known as spanner crabs, these crustaceans are found in our waters down south, in Sulu Sea to be exact. Unlike other crabs, these have the same bright red-orange color, be it raw or cooked, and most of the meat is found in the body and not in their claws. They are typically boiled or steamed, and in Zamboanga, they are eaten with the rich, velvety sauce, made famous by the Alavar Seafood Restaurant.
 
Farmers Market, General Araneta, Cubao, Quezon City (beside the Cubao Shopping Complex)

(Header photo: whatmichaellikes.com)
 

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