Plant-based pleasures at The Green Market
Once again, celebrity couple Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli added a touch of glamour to the plant-based scene by promoting The Green Market, a two-day bazaar held at G Studios beside Landers Daanghari in Las Piñas.
Running from Nov. 23 to Nov. 24, the market popped up this year for the second time, following its debut in March. The timing couldn’t have been better, right in the heart of World Vegan Month and just a week after Vegfest Pilipinas, Asia’s largest vegan festival.
The event was a smaller, cozier version of the Vegfest extravaganza, but no less exciting. It provided a platform for local entrepreneurs, particularly those from the southern metro, to showcase innovative plant-based offerings. This intimate setup made it easier to discover hidden gems and engage in meaningful conversations with vendors.
Vegan versions of dishes from Guidicelli’s Da Gianni Cucina Italiana Manila focused on pizza and pasta this time around, keeping it simple but delicious. I picked up a Margherita pizza, which my kids demolished in minutes.
I had a lovely chat with Auggie Yap-Suratos of The Vegan Grocer, who set aside some sought-after goodies for me, including ensaymadas from Baker’s Gallery and sugar-free popsicles from Doc Chef.
While I still dream of the Cunanan-style light and airy ensaymadas topped with queso de bola from my prevegan days, Baker’s Gallery’s version still hit the spot. The caramel and ube variants had surprise fillings that weren’t overly sweet, which I appreciated. I also snagged my daughter’s favorite mushroom chicharon and a Doc Chef Madagascar vanilla bean drumstick (no regrets).
Veganized bibingka
Christmas isn’t Christmas without bibingka, and thankfully, Lakapati Basa of The Real Happy Cow has veganized it. Slathered with vegan butter and topped with muscovado sugar and coconut, it was a true holiday treat.
Berde Eats Vegan Grocery showcased their bestsellers, including Vegan Bytes pizza and Vegains protein powder. I hoarded the last few slices of my kids’ favorite Hawaiian pizza on Day 2!
Planted was another tasty find I spotted at Vegfest but didn’t get to try then. Their chorizo rice meal (made of garbanzos and mushrooms) was delicious, but their bacon wrap (made from eggplant) was a letdown.
My weekend’s budol, however, was Tempeh King. I had samples of their sisig and rendang, and both were so good I got the rice meals and some frozen packs. Auggie said the rendang tasted like aligue (crab paste); I wouldn’t know since I’ve never had it.
Aigoo Café returned with refreshing drinks and pastries. Their cherry pink cooler, with bits of apple, was perfect for the warm afternoon, and their brownies were just the right amount of sweet.
Over at Good Sense, the Fusion Blends 3-berry juice and dalandan were equally delightful.
One of the more intriguing products was Uncle Bob’s wild-crafted sea moss wellness potions. Touted as a vegan collagen source, it claims to boost immunity, balance hormones, and improve respiratory function. The taste? Strong. But chasing it with a shot of mango sugarcane juice made it more manageable.
Oat milk from Oatside starred in many beverages, but I also tried Australia’s Own unsweetened soy milk, which was good. Sadly, the promo only applied to their oat and almond varieties.
Newcomer Nummy Blend’s powdered soy milk was not cloying or chalky, a challenge with powdered drinks. Their red grain meal replacement was tasty but a bit too thick for my liking.
Just Cold caught my eye, but I didn’t get to sample their drinks as their power got cut off. I did, however, try their donuts, which reminded me of Dunkin’s.
Better than Reese’s
No trip to a vegan market is complete without something indulgent, and Mindful Indulgence delivered. Their peanut butter cups easily outshone Reese’s plant-based version, and their faux Twix was a worthy substitute for the original.
Laguna-based Grace Forest Farm showcased an array of irresistibly fresh produce, including calamansi, romaine and green ice lettuce, as well as peppers like the Carolina Reaper that my son loves to prank people with. I couldn’t resist taking home some of their gorgeous hydroponically grown lettuces, kamote, Sukaracha spiced vinegar, and Japanese sweet potatoes.
Lastly, I stocked up on frozen goodies from Plant Based & More (PB&M). Their Parang Totoo Sisig lived up to its name, and I couldn’t resist buying five packs of assorted dishes like kaldereta and bulgogi. Bonus: they threw in a free pares pack.
The Green Market felt like a Vegfest aftershock, perfect for those still hungover from the festivities but craving more plant-based finds. Unlike the bustling chaos of Vegfest, this event allowed me to take my time, browse, and chat with vendors. Admittedly, I had to make two trips to the car because I bought more than I could carry.
The dude manning Happy Brew kombucha teased that I should have a shopping cart. “I forgot my sherpa,” I shot back. My 13-year-old loves their kombucha; good thing we availed ourselves of The Vegan Grocer’s buy five, get one free promo awhile back.
Events like these are a great way to normalize plant-based eating. I’m hoping The Green Market becomes a regular affair; it’s about time vegan living became less of a niche and more of the norm.
