1. Charlie’s Pritchon

What do you get when you deep-fry a whole pig? Delicious pork. Amp it up with sauces (the default is hoisin, but ask for the white garlic sauce) and wrap it up in flavored pita. I found a liking to turmeric (I like how it cut the richness), and if you like it spicy, go for the cayenne pita, which has a spice that lingers nicely. It’s the perfect pairing to the San Miguel Beer that’s available on site.

2. Pizza Grigliata Manila

Crispy thin pizza crusts are always a great thing, and the different pizzas of this stall delivered. While they had three very good flavors, I found myself taking more bites of the Margherita Pizza—nothing like a classic done right.

3. Cinq

This patisserie from Makati has beautifully crafted yummy things on their table. Financiers (best for coffee) are available, but do not miss the Earl Grey Turtles—chocolate, nuts and caramel with some light earl grey flavor to make it more exciting. Yum.

4. Broken Oven

Maybe since their oven was broken, they decided to fry up arancini instead? You can be all inception like and have these rice balls as “ulam” with rice, but they’re fine on their own with the Truffle Lechon Sisig Balls getting top marks for flavor and surprise. Truffle, face parts, rice—crispy bits with fat and all, what’s not to love?

5. Jam Foods

Jam Foods is synonymous to spicy tapa in my mind, but this year, they offered up some bacon tocino. Pork belly that’s cured ala tocino (sweet) and hickory smoked make for a lipsmackingly good bite of sticky-caramelization-flecked pork goodness.

6. Blended Fruits and Herbs

With booths filled with sweet and savory things, this booth was a welcome respite filled with refreshing, healthy and interesting juice concoctions. Surprisingly, peach and rosemary work in a drink, who knew? That and many more, from this booth.

7. Auntie May’s

Auntie May’s is comfort food. Callos that’s sticky and rich, begging for a cup of rice, and Salpicao that’s just asking for a glass of red wine. Delightful.

8. Bakmi Nonya

One of the most generous booths in terms of portion during the taste-test, this Mercato alum known for its noodle dish brings something for the rice-lovers this time around (theirs is a yellow rice cooked with coconut and spices, as well). Beef Rendang Java is thick and nuanced thanks to its long stewing time (8 hours) with coconut and various spices. On its own it’s not too spicy, but that can be easily remedied with a dollop or two of their homemade sambal.

Other notable dishes include the crispy and spicy Spicy Lechon Bagnet from Oink Oink Lechon Bagnet (in photo); and the Lechon Kawali with Inihaw na Talong with Homemade Bagoong by Juan Cholo. Don Bao’s Crazy Bao with kani and tempura flakes, and Connor’s Chicken and Waffles, both drew crowds as well.

Gawad Kalinga also had quite the spread -- Oh GK was a drink alternative in the event sing calamansi, ginger, and oregano -- while Karabella had Salted Egg Ice Cream for the tasters.