(This venue is closed.) Creepiest translation for a Halloween candy?
A dispassionate description of "gelatinous mutant coconut" might observe that macapuno, or coconut sport, is a naturally occurring variation in which the coconut water is supplanted by additional, softer meat. However, these candies (70 g., 60 cents a number of Octobers ago) are so hard that they're more likely to be used as trick-or-treat projectiles than sweets; they have the color, the mouthfeel, and pretty much the flavor of little cocoa-powder logs.
This little grocery — which also serves as a padala, or remittance and shipping business — has other interesting snacks on hand, but on a return visit I found myself drawn, zombie-like, to more gelatinous mutant coconut. Lucia brand pastillas de ube macapuno (136 g., $2.79) pairs the macapuno with purple yam; the flavor is goofy, but at least the candies are chewable.
Philippine Padala Center
88-06 180th St. (Hillside-90th Aves.), Jamaica, Queens
718-262-8679
