The Legazpi Sunday Market revisited

After several weeks of summer cooking classes and a bunch of deadlines, I found myself in need of a break and found one right here in the city. The Legazpi Sunday market is a quick getaway from the stresses of urban life, an oasis of delicious food, crafts and produce; fresh air and green therapy; with very high chances of running into friends you haven’t seen in a while. 

Even better, the market has moved from its old location, which is now a carpark. On a cool, early Sunday morning you can find easy parking here then walk through a most winsome patch of green to the market. The Washington Sycip Park is full of tall trees that provide soothing green shade to those exercising their pets, working out in the fresh air or enjoying their yummy market finds on picnic spreads on the ground. One of the park walkways is even lined with benches, tables and trash cans for those who come without any picnic equipment. 

The best way to tackle the market if you haven’t been here for some time, like me, is to make a round of all the stalls before deciding what to purchase. Whatever budget you start off with, if you buy everything that looks (and is) delicious, you will run out of money before you complete one aisle, as the vendors are generous with taste tests and samples.

We decided we would stick with whatever was most unique, and we were also thinking of the varied tastes of everyone in the family. Thus it was a no-brainer to pick up Rodrigo’s roast beef for the carnivores, breads from Beit Lehem for the carbo loaders, strawberries and an OG cheese sandwich from The Grater Good for the bunso and Moroccan dishes from Loubna for the rest of us.

There are enough cuisines here to satisfy everyone. Filipino food is well represented throughout, but I made sure to pick up a packet of frozen Alavar sauce, a concoction of crab aligue and coconut milk that jazzes up deep-sea curacha crabs from Zamboanga. But this yummy sauce is good on any crustacean.

Instead of coffee I had a scoop of Vietnamese coffee gelato from Ginto, while my daughter had the rose lychee sorbet. We were tempted by both Japanese and Israeli bakers but the latter won out, their baked goods and pastries drawing long queues. We forgot to go back to a stall selling sunflower and other honeys, but did not fail to return to Loubna’s Moroccan stall when there was a gap among her obviously loyal regulars. The lamb merguez (sausage) wrap is spectacular, as is the cinnamon-scented chicken tajine with couscous, but we were sad to miss the sold-out rice pudding.

There was people-watching, too. We spied attractive couple Joey Mead King and Angie King, and buyers of all ages and nationalities. The mix was as eclectic as the food choices. People recognized me as the designer and writer. At the Legazpi Sunday market, it isn’t too strange to turn out to be a kind of celebrity yourself. 

There are also handicrafts, sleepwear and bags we vow to return for, plus selections from Indian, Spanish, Thai and Korean stalls. We could not leave without snatching the second-to-the-last giant ensaymada from Inang Salud, a Legazpi market staple from way back. We were also happy to see our favorite Maryland Chicken, whose deep-fried Oreos are the stuff of dreams. And we also grabbed the last lamb shank braised in lemon from the French stall La Cuisine.

I hoped in vain to see Mara Pardo de Tavera, my old friend who pioneered the first outdoor market in Greenbelt back in the ’90s. She really took this concept of the Sunday market and made it shine here in Legazpi Village, inspiring similar markets elsewhere.

To Mara, to all the different vendors who ply their unique and mouthwatering specialties, to the varied shoppers who make people-watching another fun aspect of your visit, and to those who maintain the green space that is Washington Sycip Park, my heartfelt thanks.