IT was one big fiesta along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City last Saturday, October 11, 2014, when the Quezon City Government staged the first Maginhawa Street Food Festival in connection with the Grand 75th Anniversary Celebration of Quezon City.
Maginhawa Street, the whole two-kilometer or so stretch from Masaya Street all the way to V. Luna Extension, was closed to traffic, although motorcycles, tricycles, bikes and certain official cars were allowed in. People started trickling in as early as 9:00 a.m., when the Maginhawa Street Food Festival was formally opened by House Speaker and former Quezon City Mayor Feliciano ‘Sonny’ Belmonte Jr., incumbent Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte. With officials of the organizing committee of the food festival, the three of them walked through Maginhawa Street and tried some of the food.
By lunchtime, the crowd had grown considerably, and by late afternoon, there was a sea of people along Maginhawa Street, and a festive mood—similar to a grand fiesta and, yes, even the first years of the EDSA Revolution’s anniversary celebration. The streets were lined with tents manned by different food vendors, the restaurants along Maginhawa Street and its peripheral streets put together al fresco dining areas in front of their stores, and game booths were busy with kids wanting to win prizes. They were balloons being sold, inflatable play areas kept other kids busy, marching bands passed by, upbeat music filled the air, and cooking demos took place in the booth of the Center for Asian Culinary Studies (CACS).
Food to go was everywhere, ranging from street foods like squid balls and fish balls, to hotdogs, grilled food and barbecues, specialty dishes such as Banh Mi, Pizza, noodles, shawarma and viands, cupcakes, cakes and cookies, nachos and Churros con Chocolate, and other delightful bites.
Maginhawa Street was easily the ‘happening-est’ place to be.
