My Purple Nook: Quiapo and Binondo revisited

So, my friends and I finally set out to rediscover Binondo three Saturdays ago. My husband who was driving for us surprised us by heading towards Quaipo for a quick stop at two famous stores along Carlos Palanca Street (formerly Echague Street ). First stop: Kim Chiong Tin Hopia Factory.

For me, no trip to Quiapo is complete without hopia from Kim Chiong Tin, the hopia of my youth. I grew up knowing and loving it even as I lived miles away from Manila. My late father who used to frequent Manila at that time never failed to bring home a box or two of this famous Filipino pastry, the hopia monggo, filled with a generous heaping of mung bean paste.

fresh, hot and flaky hopia monggo

How can you miss ( and ignore ) Kim Chiong Tin's next- door- neighbor, the timeless Excelente Ham? Sliced, bone-in, boneless or scrap ham, the savory smell pulls you to its premises.

More eats on the rack:

I wanted to scour the whole stretch for some cookware but we hardly had time. Then I saw this boy, " chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose... " and my thoughts wandered off to many Christmases past.. Suddenly, I was missing my mother and my mother-in-law who both loved freshly-roasted chestnuts. I went nearer to smell the aroma and reminisced for a moment. Those were the days.

On the same stretch: some familiar Filipino breakfast fare. Must be prepared with fried rice, of course.

That's only a fraction of what Quiapo is all about. I shalll be back soon to check out what's new in my favorite beadshop, go to Quiapo church and buy some stuff at Quinta market then pick some handicrafts at Ils- de- Tuls ( Ilalim ng Tulay).

As to our main destination Binondo, we explored Ongpin Street, bought foodstuff and ate to our heart's content.

Healthy options: