Homegrown Flavors Bloom at the Mandala Park Weekend Market

The best of the metro's innovative homegrown flavors and concepts converge at the Mandala Park...

The Mandala Park transforms into an oasis of fresh and inventive flavors showcasing a curated listing of merchants with their locally sourced and crafted produce. It's the Mandala Park Weekend Market, read on and take a virtual tour of the metro's best homegrown products...

The Mandala Park Weekend Market is Litton & Co.'s way of giving back to the community by providing a venue for bringing people together to start the new year right with a hand-picked selection of the metro's finest offerings.  

At the Mandala Park Weekend Market, you can find more about your luck, fortune, and wealth with a tarot reading by Mysterium Philippines (L), or rock to the acoustic blues sound of Mikki Gozon, AKA Hoochie Coochie (R), for even more good vibes.

Start your tour of the Mandala Park Weekend market with a refreshing beverage from one of the park's many offerings, including a soothing bottle or glass of Ginger Ale from Stanford & Shaw, made with fresh ginger and lemon.  

Need a caffeine fix? Out-of-the-Box Bullet Proof Coffee at the Mandala Park Weekend Market shares their own take on coffee with a flavorful, and healthy, punch to boost your coffee experience. Have a shot or a cup, and discover the difference.

It was also great to see familiar favorites at the Mandala Park Weekend Market, like Pedro Brew Crafters and their line of artisan craft beer. And it was a good time to get reacquainted with their light and refreshingly crisp Endless Summer Wheat Ale, the hoppy Procrastination Pale Ale, and the traditional style Elementary, English Ale dark beer.

The people behind Pedro Brew Crafters (R) would be more than happy to take you through the finer points of craft beer and rediscover beer in a new light (If you haven't met Pedro yet, see my previous post here).

Other beverages at the Mandala Park Weekend Market include Bayani Brew with their line of all-natural and refreshing beverages made with purely local and indigenous ingredients sourced from organic farming communities.

You can also find an assortment of products consistent with the holistic wellness mission of the Mandala Park Weekend Market, like fresh juice blends prepared with all-natural ingredients for an energy boost. 

Then, nibble your way through the Mandala Park Weekend Market with some tasty Parmesan Crisps (L) from Trigo PH, the same artisan bakery used exclusively by Jeremy Slagle and Mister Delicious for their soft brioche buns, along with some equally tasty snacks and bottled products from Asiong's Carinderia and Cafe (R).   

Choose from a wide variety of fresh, organic vegetables from the Good Food Community (R), or indulge in one of the metro's best artisan ice cream, Fog City Creamery (L), with their line of signature flavors like Ferrero Rocher with Nutella Swirl, Butterscotch Pecan, and Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate.

And you can't pass on the famous Polish Pierogi from Babci Kuchnia, the original and first pierogi in the metro. Savory or sweet, the freshly prepared pierogi at Babci Kuchnia never fails to satisfy, and a quick bite fresh from the flat grill does not disappoint.

Choose from a wide selection of savory pierogi, including the classic meat, beef & sauerkraut, sauerkraut & mushroom; and sweet pierogi like chocolate, cheese & rum raisin, and caramelized apple and cinnamon to prepare you for another round at the Mandala Park Weekend Market. 

As you pick up the pace, you can find even more tasty offerings at the Mandala Park Weekend Market, like Beef Nachos from Punta (L) and delicious Pares from Jonas Manila (R).  

Have a taste of D' Famous Imus Longganisa, a garlicky pork sausage, with fresh links sizzling on the grill releasing its fragrant aroma throughout the park. The homestyle goodness of this regional delicacy is another one of those good finds at the Mandala Park Weekend Market.

Enjoy a boxed meal of Imus Longganisa with steamed white rice, or take home a pack or two. It's comforting flavors like this that make a visit to the Mandala Park Weekend Market an experience in itself.  

And there's more. Chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla bring their own creative and inventive take on French cuisine with a distinct Asian spin at Le Petite Souffle and their signature dishes.

Familiar flavors are recreated and reinvented with a refreshing French-Japanese fusion for a whole new flavor experience (for more on Le Petite Souffle, see my previous post here). Delicately plated, each dish tastes as good as it looks, with that signature style from chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristinne Lotilla. 

After a savory meal, you just have to have dessert from Scouts Honor by chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla. Sample their intricate cookie creations...

...or go for an indulgent Craft Cookie Milkshake for a unique "bite and sip" experience (for more on Scout's Honor's Craft Cookie Milkshake, see my previous posts here and its cool version upgrade here, and inventive new cookie creations here).

You can also find some 'shrooms at the Mandala Park Weekend Market from Perfect Mushroom, all-natural and organic mushrooms. The guys at Perfect Mushroom have taken mushrooms to a whole new level with their inventive Mushroom Chili Sauce and Spicy Adobo Mushrooms...

...or have a bite of freshly steamed Dumplings (R) stuffed with finely chopped mushrooms. You can even purchase bags of fresh 'shrooms (L) and prepare your own dishes at home (for more on Perfect Mushroom, see my post on their collaboration with Mister Delicious and Craft Point Brewery, that's 'shrooms, bacon, and beer, here).

Craving for beef? Stop by Mister Delicious for their signature Corned Beef Brisket...

...or take home some Applewood Smoked Bacon (L), a personal favorite. Mister Delicious also offers Naturally Fermented Sauerkraut (R), perfect when paired with the Corned Beef Brisket (more on Mister Delicious on my previous post here). Mister Delicious Bacon and Corned Beef...just perfect. 

At Wrapped Shawarma, you'll find savory beef shawarma and this beauty, their signature Lechon Belly with tender and juicy pork capped with a layer of crisp crackling. Seriously good.

Then, your nose picks up a savory scent, leading you to the source at the other end of the Mandala Park Weekend Market. The charcoal grill of Gostoso Piri-Piri is fired up, loaded with chicken, pork, and seafood and drizzled with their signature piri-piri sauce. It's always great to see some familiar favorites from last year at the Mandala Park Weekend Market. 

The tender and juicy grilled chicken (L), with its mild smoky notes, are punctuated by the sharp flavors of the piri-piri sauce. You can try their grilled pork (R), a complete meal in itself, or go for a combo (for more on Gostoso Piri-Piri, check out my earlier post here).

At the other end of the Mandala Park Weekend Market, Ribs Manila fires up their grill with their hefty slabs of pork ribs, draped in a thick barbecue glaze.

Serious comfort food, right here at the Mandala Park Weekend Market. And with 24 other merchants to choose from, you'll never run out of tasty options at Mandala Park.

After a satisfying meal or snack, pick up some cool finds at Yakang Yaka Barter for some great deals. And you can find all these at the heart of Mandaluyong, at the former site of the Litton Textile Mills, recalibrated and relaunched as a new integrated 3.2-hectare mixed-use development called Mandala Park. A new Mandaluyong is definitely in bloom, and experience it first-hand and up-close at the Mandala Park Weekend Market.

For more information on the Mandala Park Weekend Market Series, follow Mandala Park on their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/mandalaparkph/ and Instagram Feed at https://www.instagram.com/mandalaparkph/

Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats, Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.