Pinoy Life At Large

Don’t you remember this sign? Being a child in the 1970s, Dayrit’s was always a reason to smile whenever we went to Greenhills or Unimart. In Unimart, there’s the fastfood with interplanetary designs on their tables, which is very unforgettable (I must have spent so much time here as a child. I still remember the train ride that goes back and forth for P1.50, hahaha). When I got older, there was Dayrit’s.

I’m not sure if people still remember the days when Greenhills was like Divisoria, so many stalls around the place and the only way to remember your way was to remember the lane color (orange lane, red lane, white avenue, blue lane, etc). In the middle of that place between Virra Mall and the fountains (where a lot of Koi used to swim around), there were several food shops that were the stuff of memories. Choc’ful of Nuts siopao and beside it was Dayrit’s. A very small shop and was so crowded during lunch time. When we had no place to sit down, we would just buy the Longanisang Macao by the kilo and eat it at home. I remember the way they sliced it when they served it with rice, achara and greens; it was sliced thick and slanted with blackened edges. It was truly my favorite.

So imagine my surprise when I saw that Dayrit’s had opened a branch beside the Fort Terminal, Global City, on what used to be Eat168. Noreen and I walked in and there were so many people! Perhaps I wasn’t the only one who wanted to relish a moment of my childhood. Funny, how the lady behind the counter couldn’t recall them ever having a branch in Greenhills. She probably hasn’t heard of Choo-Choo Junction either. Oh well.

The service was lightning fast. Mind you, for those of the younger generation, it is not roastbeef that made it famous. It was the Longanisang Macao, that sweet longanisa dipped in vinegar. This is what made it famous. The roastbeef came sometime in the 1980s because Dayrit’s was already popular then and they decided to diversify to stay in the business. Dayrit’s was one of the first food places that made their own hotdogs, sausages, burgers and luncheon meat. Though they no longer slice their Macao to make long slanted pieces, the taste and the quality has remained the same. It was like being thrown back in time for a few precious bites of this generations-old sausage. Yes, I bought a kilo for take home, so I can slice them thick and slanted with blackened edges.

Per order costs P135.00 (US$3.40) without drinks.

Up close and personal with the Longanisang Macao with Hawaiian rice. Don’t be fooled with the size. Slices may be thinner than what it used to be, but it is very filling. I could hardly finish this serving, no kidding!

The legendary roastbeef. It is not salty like most roastbeefs. This one is tender and worthy of its reputation. Also at P135.00 (US$3.40) a plate.

I suggest you come to the Fort Terminal and try this for lunch. Noteworthy is that Dayrit’s offers serrated steak knives along with the usual cutlery placements on the table. One of the few that does, and I love them for it!