I went to Salcedo Market today after one and a half years! I haven't been there since lockdown of March 2020.
The Jaime Velasquez Park is under renovation so all the vendors are situated around it.
The reason why I went to Salcedo market is because I am craving for native kakanin! Tricia "toured" me around while I was buying my loot.
I am already fully vaccinated. I felt safe because it was open air and so many tanods to remind people to put on their face masks. I sprayed my hands with alcohol and I did not eat nor drink anything there.
But I made up for lost time! Upon reaching my house, (after showering, of course) I started going through my food buys!
My sister in law asked me to buy some food stuff for her so everything is not mine.
My favorite is the tamales from Pampanga. I ate it with sugar.
I also ate the corn dog, 1 stick of bbq, fresh lumpiang ubod and the list goes on....
Tricia got puto for PD. I also tried it.
Soooo good because it was made from real rice, not from rice flour. It was soft, moist and it kinda stuck to the roof of my mouth! Perfect! Just the way I like it.
Black Cuchinta from Baguio!
That is my craving at the moment.
I even bought one liter of fresh buko juice.
I ate all of that for brunch!! So full that I had to take a short nap.
I set my alarm at 4 pm. Time to wake up so I can cook Spaghetti Vongole. Tricia bought us big clams and flat leaf parsley from the market.
I asked my neighbor, Vinnie, to open a bottle of white wine because I needed 6 tablespoons.
I followed a very simple recipe online.
It was so easy and I really loved it. It is my most favorite Italian Spaghetti.
I used the clam juice for the sauce.
Spaghetti Vongole
500 gr. spaghetti noodles cooked for 10 minutes
2 kg. clams, cleaned and drained
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
4 T. extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
clam juice
6 T. white wine
4 T. flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
freshly cracked black and red pepper flakes
Heat 2 T. olive oil in a pan. Add the clams and cook covered over high heat for 6-7 minutes. Discard the clams that did not open.
Drain and save the clam juice.
In the same pan, heat 4 T. olive oil then add the garlic. When soft and fragrant, add the clams, clam juice and white wine. Let it boil then add the cooked spaghetti noodles.
Garnish with flat parsley leaves. Season with black and red pepper. Drizzle with additional olive oil.
PS. You may add salt if the clam juice is not salty enough to your taste.
I had it for dinner together with the crumpets I bought from Madge.
It was my first time to eat it! The lady vendor instructed me to toast it then slather a lot of butter on top. Then my choice to eat it with jam, honey or even leftover curry!
I can't wait to go back to Salcedo Market again to buy my new favorite food.
