My two sisters celebrated their birthdays last July-- not at home, not in a fancy restaurant, neither in a fast food chain, but near the market. Our family had dinner at Squared Ihaw-Ihaw at the Seaside Wet Market along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

The Seaside, for short, can also be a favorite option aside from Dampa. Both are famously known for selling a variety of seafood with different dining areas or ”palutuan” around. Buying the raw food at the market, bargaining with the vendors, looking for a nice place to settle, and finally waiting the cooked food may all seem tedious but then again, everything will be worthwhile.

We spent about P1,000 for the raw seafood. We got one kilo of squid, two kilos of crabs, one-half kilo of shrimp, one-half kilo of prawns and two kilos of oyster. Another P1,000 was paid as cooking fee or “paluto” for the following dishes: Calamares, Crabs with Chili and Garlic Sauce, Buttered Shrimp, Tempura and Adobong Talaba (Oyster). These made up a delectable fare for five persons.

The choice of cuisine or preparation depends on you. In Manila, the restaurants specializing in seafood normally cooks them in native, Chinese or European/American style. Moreover, rice and drinks can be bought from the “palutuan” (translated in English as “a place for cooking”).  Most of these dining areas are air-conditioned, with extended outdoor spaces as well.

Desserts and “pasalubongs” are also available in and out the “palutuan”. We bought spicy tamarinds, lanzones and ripe mangoes from the market. We had the mangoes sliced in the “palutuan” for a cost of P20, and these were served in a plate with ice. So the fruit tasted even better with a chill! Aside from the reasonable prices and availability of other goodies, you are sure that what you eat is fresh because you have your own pick.