Banchetto Night Food Market, Manila

(Notice the huge reflection of the morning sun on the buildings....)

These photographs are from my Manila apartment bedroom window looking back to Emerald Avenue.

Every friday at midnight until 11am Saturday morning, this is the site for a slightly bizarre and somewhat unique event - the Banchetto Night food Market.   Reputedly started to service the thousands of call center workers who would change shift on a Friday at midnight, this has gown into a massive food festival.

In the first photo you can see Emerald Avenue on a normal 6am morning, in the other you can see it on a saturday. Living so close to such good food made breakfast on a Saturday an easy choice.

The market stretches for a long way down Emerald Avenue, the food is cheap, varied and delicious.  The crowds are fun loving  as party-goers and clubbers mix with call centre workers on a break, and families arriving for an early breakfast.

It really is an event not to be missed, and stands out as one of my best memories of Manila.

Two articles about the markets and with some great photos, are here:

http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2010/07/banchetto-love-friday-night-foodie-market-feast.html

http://pinoyfood.nimrodel.net/cakes/banchetto-street-fiesta-at-ortigas-center/