We've been going to Hi-Top for our groceries for as long as I can remember. We've actually been…read moremoving from one place to another, yet whenever it's possible, we buy from Hi-Top. They have a very wide and often complete selection of goods. They also have fresh products that are cheaper than in other grocery stores. The downside? Hi-Top is not Hi-Tech. Their cash registers are old-school, so it takes a much longer time for you to pay for the groceries. This causes long lines that make me restless most of the time. Also, if you're gonna use a credit card, you'll need to go to the Customer Service counter just to swipe your card instead of doing it in the Cashier counter itself. So if you really want cheaper prices, you're gonna have to endure the long wait.

One of the best places to shop for groceries if you live in Quezon City. They are much cheaper than…read morebig grocery stores in malls. Parking is a bit difficult since this place is usually full but there's a parking area beside it with a rough road. I love how old fashioned they keep everything -- even the payment process. If you want to use a credit card you actually need to go to the customer service counter because they don't even have the POS for credit cards at every counter. Seems like a hassle, but I love how they've kept it traditional. This is also the best place to buy some items in bulk, we found a gallon of extra virgin olive oil for only P500 here. Just for comparison, a small 200ml bottle of good quality olive oil would normally cost about P250. So imagine my joy when I got a hold of that (I literally cooked everything in olive oil for weeks on end). If you're buying beer for a party, you can get it here by the box for less. When you're done shopping, stop by Henny Penny just outside for a nice sandwich.

3 weeks ago I asked my messenger to buy 2 rims of Marlboro red. I do not understand why their…read moreMarlboro red, the cigarettes itself the logo is color red and blue. It has a bad taste and the leave are not full. Where you get your Marlboro red from and your price is more expensive than Wine Cellar in Estancia Mall. I tried to called their numbers 0915 289 0123 / 3411 2888 and it is not working.

I remember going to Quincy Supermarket after school, just to buy snacks I can devour at hone!…read moreQuincy Supermarket is a convenience store and a small supermarket, where almost everything can be found. I can say that for a large convenience store/small supermarket, Quincy is a great catch. They may be incomplete, but you can find a lot of conventional snacks and daily needs in here that could be enough to satisfy your cravings and enough to substitute your needs when a larger supermarket is inaccesible to you due to time/location restraint.

The Sidcor Market I grew up with can be found in EDSA corner Main Avenue--the current location of…read moreHypermarket Cubao. As far as I can recall, it was 8 years ago when it was launched again in Centris. I often visit every Sunday morning for my favorite Empanada, Pad Thai, and Buco Sherbet. This is home to a variety of food selection from regional cuisines to international flavors. Sidcor is also a great source of fresh produce, organic vegetables, and fruits. The price is at par with local neighborhood palengke and definetely cheaper than supermarket. Sidcor is open from 6:00am to 1:00pm but fresh market's stocks runs out easily. Be sure to arrive earlier. There are a lot of parking spaces available at Sidcor as well. Commuters can take the Quezon Avenue MRT station. It's a walk away from the train stop.

Spent a Sunday morning here is fun. Here you have 2 prices,…read morelocal and expat. Unlike in salcedo sat market, here you can find avocado for 150/kg, while it's 250-300php in salcedo! You can also find quite good collection of plants to decorate your home. Super hot though!!! But will come back!

Convenience stores of the Japanese persuasion aren't the most common of sights in the Quezon City…read morearea. It really is surprising, considering how large a chunk of land QC covers. There've been countless times where I've been put in a situation where knowing where to buy Japanese ingredients could have been a lifesaver. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get miso from regular groceries? Fuji Mart has been open for decades, purveying an eclectic mix of Japanese goods. Everything from katsu sauces, bottles of sake, instant ramen, and frozen fish are for sale. If you plan of serving homemade sashimi to your dinner guests, I highly recommend buying the raw fish here. It may be frozen (which is a no no for some people), but at least you're sure that it's been properly packaged and made. If you prefer something cooked, here's a quick recipe: get a nice slab of salmon steak, lather it up with Japanese miso, and bake it. Enjoy and you're welcome!

As a mommy, I do a lot of grocery shopping (obviously, I don't want my family to starve). MyOwn…read moreMeat Shop is my favorite place for meat shopping. Don't ask, mom's do that. We shop separately for everyday groceries, for clothes and yes, even for meat. This is a place where a lot caterers and restaurants get meat and fish in bulk. I love how everything is so organized. There are sections specifically for seafood, chicken, for imported steaks and for every kind of cut imaginable. The meats are packed so neatly, too! They vacuum-sealed in square bags so stacking them in the fridge is super easy. I love how fresh everything tastes when they're cooked and how lean the pre-packed meats are (even the pork). I love the selection of fish they have -- from Black Bass to Norwegian Salmon and in different cuts, too! Plus, if you're a frequent buyer, they keep records of you. Just tell them your name and they can show you records of what you've bought in the past. Great for keeping track of your budget...I don't know if they do this for everyone though, maybe just those weird moms who buy a week's worth of groceries as much as caterers do for a big event.

I am a gym goer, and there are seasons that it actually shows (albeit few). So I get a lot of…read morequestions about what I eat, how I prepare them, and where I buy my stuff. Well, I eat beef and fish, salmon in particular, and this is where I get them, in bulk. MyOwn Meatshop is, well, a meatshop, but they sell all sorts of frozen meats and seafood. Here you'll find imported steak cuts, frozen imported seafood like mussels, cod, salmon and other fish I've never even heard of, and I learned of this place by asking a caterer where they get their salmon supplies from. It is quite cheap, the salmon and the cod in particular, and they have it in different sorts of cuts and fillets. Do call in ahead to check on stocks though, as they are quite popular with bulk buyers and stocks may sometimes be limited. As for how I prepare my fish, let's just say that it isn't something that you can stomach on a daily basis, so let's leave that for another post somewhere else. "My meatshop? MyOwn Meatshop!" I just made that up. Thought you needed some cheese with your salmon. No? Ok sorry.

Santis Delicatessen in Timog branch…read more Last month, I had the honor to setup a hors d'oeuvres table for my sister-in-law's intimate 50th wedding anniversary. Went to Santis to get some of the charcuterie goodies and it was a heaven for me!. They have all the coldcuts, processed meat and cheeses that I need and has great variety of selection too! Sausages, milk, yogurt and many more! Expect fairly high prices since mostly are imported goods though. They also have great selection of wines which was located at the back inside a room. I already have crackers, jams, honey, dried fruits already but in case you need them, they have it too! I was so surprised to see that they also sell equipments that you need for fondue, raclette etc. Had a great time shopping here. They have more than a dozen branches so you can find one nearest you. Highly recommended. Great staff as well Will definitely come back

I love Santi's. Like the proverbial kid getting lost in a candy store, visiting Santi's is always…read moresomething I look forward to because of the sheer amount of interesting stuff you get to see that's missing from other stores. Have you ever tried looking for buttermilk or crème fraîche locally? Or even something as simple as chives? Santi's has them. If you're not into cooking, Santi's still has a lot to offer. For your next wine and cheese party, buy some of their truffle noir cheese. It's a bit pricey, but one taste is all it takes and it's sure to be the hot topic of the evening. Want a bit more variety with the cheese? Ask for help from the wonderful staff and have them assist you in making a cheese platter to go. This usually takes quite a while especially if it's near the holiday season, so be prepared to wait for a bit. It'll be worth it, I promise!