Because I was born into a Filipino family, I grew up enjoying Filipino culture either it be…read moretelevision, festivals, movies, or music. However, my favorite part of Filipino culture is so far the cuisine. Though Deguzmans in Orlando is the place to go for authentic Filipino cuisine such as kare-kare, dinaguan, bistek, and other dishes, the one Asian market local to where I love to get Filipino wares such as Filipino ice cream, Filipino snacks, and Filipino drinks is the Fil-Am Oriental Store.
The small store is located in a very small two-story shopping complex just east of the Babcock St. and Malabar Rd. intersection. Upon entering, you'll notice the store consists of two fridge cases, four small aisles, and four cooler boxes in the back. To be honest, the selection they have is very limited. However, what they do have is what I want Filipino food-wise that no other Asian food market around here has. First and foremost, they have numerous flavors of Selecta ice cream. Buko pandan, mango, halo-halo, and ube. They have Filipino snacks and desserts, the three-in-one coffee packets, and the grass jelly drinks. Oh, and they also have the spiced vinegar, That may not sound like much, but it is a lot to me.
Besides the unique selection of items that happens to be stuff I want and/or need, the family who owns the grocery is really nice. I have come to know the them and are considered friends of the family. I actually missed them at my niece's birthday party simply because I was fashionably late. To be fair though, almost all Asians consider each other family once we get to know each other.
Back on Fil-Am Oriental Store, it is a "hidden gem" of an Asian grocery store that many people may not even know about. I really hope the are able to expand and increase their selection. For now, they have what is necessary among Asians (and other ethnic groups around here), but if they get popular enough to increase their inventory, their customer base living in South Palm Bay will surely be thankful instead of having to drive all the way to either Jason's Everyday Produce, the closest Asian grocery with a wider selection of goods that Fil-Am Oriental Store may lack.