Food mart offers Filipino delicacies

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This article was published 05/02/2019 (2782 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I was growing up in small-town B.C. in the 1970s, Chinese restaurants were everywhere, as pizza places are today, but that was about it. There were none of the ethnic restaurants we’re so lucky to have in the West End today.

Sargent Avenue has become a destination for foodies. Within the last year, Akin’s African Restaurant, Deli Brazil Cafe, Sargent Taco Shop and the India Pavilion Restaurant and Bar have all joined the vibrant restaurant scene.

Thai and East Indian foods have always been familiar go-tos for me and I like cooking them at home. Hands down, Thai green curry has to be one of the easiest recipes around. 

Filipino food is still new to me, though, and I’ve definitely been missing out. 

I tried it for the first time when I picked up takeout from the extensive daily selection of dishes at Tindahan Food Mart (906 Sargent Ave). 

Tindahan is celebrating its 30th anniversary at this location and owner Ted Mendoza admitted he never expected the store to get so big. The 5,000-square-foot specialty grocery store is a bustling place. With its meat counter, small fruit and veggie section, pinoy (Filipino) street food, desserts, three packed aisles of canned and packaged goods and, of course, the wonderful takeout counter, it’s a one-stop shop for many Filipinos in the West End and from further afield.  

Filipinos embrace nose-to-tail eating especially with pork, just as many other traditional cultures do, so they also stock beef lung, pork blood, beef tongue and more. 

I tried pork sisig, pork adobo and bopis, as they’re some of their most popular dishes. The adobo and the sisig were lovely as the meat was tender and flavourful. The pork adobo was quite similar to what I’m used to as the meat is braised in vinegar and soy sauce, along with garlic, onions, peppercorns and bay leaves. 

The bopis had a bolder flavour. Traditionally it’s made with beef or pork lungs and heart sautéed in tomatoes, chilies and onions and it was definitely my least favourite dish of the three. Lechon (roast suckling pig) is a delicacy that’s sometimes available. You can order one for a special occasion or birthday.

Mendoza added that Filipinos love the taste of the foods they have grown up with. That’s probably why the store’s catering service is popular. The menu lists all the dishes and desserts available with some priced per piece and others by the tray. 

Go to tindahanfoodmart.com to see the menu.

Anne Hawe is a community correspondent for the West End. She can be reached at annie_hawe@hotmail.com

Anne Hawe
West End community correspondent

Anne Hawe is a community correspondent for the West End. She can be reached at anniehawe1@protonmail.com

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