Noche buena food fail

We ate at Grandt Kitchen, a Filipino restaurant here in Surrey, last December 16 and I've decided to just order our noche buena food from them. Wala na rin kasing choice, di ko na alam kung saan pa bibili (unlike sa Edmonton na maraming pwedeng orderan ng kung anu-ano). Nasarapan naman ako sa kinain naming kare-kare noon (pero hindi sa crispy pata) kaya nag-risk na rin ako. Ang sabi ko sa asawa ko, let's get surprised lol.

The owners of Grandt Kitchen were very nice and accommodating. I was thankful that they accepted "small" orders for Christmas eve, sa iba kasi puro tray-size lang. Tapos hindi na rin sila nanghingi ng deposit. We agreed to a 6:45pm pick-up on December 24 (they will close daw by 7pm).

We ordered pancit canton, beef caldereta, pork sisig, and pork barbeque nga pala.

Sobrang ginusto kong maging masarap ang pagkain namin kasi puwera sa pasko, I wanted to have another Filipino restaurant here in Surrey na masarap kainan. Kaso fail talaga. The beef caldereta was too cheesy na hindi lasang caldereta, hindi ko talaga malunok (favorite ko pa naman yun), the pancit canton had too many red and green pepper, the pork barbeque was mediocre (ni hindi naubos ng asawa ko ang isang stick), and the sisig was dry (medyo gusto ko naman ang lasa pero hindi type ni Ford). Overall, sayang ang $43.79 na binayad namin.

I made a mental note, next time hindi na nga ako magririsk. Sa Max's na lang ako magtetake-out kung hindi pa ako sure sa dishes ng mga Pinoy restos dito.

I threw the caldereta and pancit later. Hindi na talaga nakain.

At dahil konti lang ang nakain namin for dinner, naglook forward na lang kami ni hubby sa chocolate cake na matagal naming inasam-asam. Natikman namin ang cake na ito last Thanksgiving at nagustuhan talaga namin.

I ordered it from a Filipina home-based baker last November pa. Mabilis kasing maubos ang slots niya kapag may occasions kaya maaga talaga akong nagpareserve. Ang sabi ko nga, this will be the star of our noche buena and our ultimate cheat food. Kakalimutan ko munang magbilang ng carbs.

Toppers were not included in the cake.

Kaso fail din waaah! Matigas yung cake, masyadong dry yung loob. Na-overcook, obviously. Sobrang disappointed talaga kami. And to think hindi siya mura ha, kasi $40 siya.

I somehow felt guilty kasi as the wife and mother of the house, obligasyon kong mapakain nang masarap ang pamilya ko lalo na kapag ganitong Christmas season noh (sexist stance, I know). Kaso bigo. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na babawi na lang ako talaga next year. Hindi na mauulit ang ganito.

So there, I am putting it in writing to put pressure on myself. I WILL PREPARE A GOOD NOCHE BUENA FOOD next year. Promise talaga yan.

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The following day, sinubukan kong kainin uli yung cake kasi sayang naman. Kaso I felt that it's not worth cheating for. Susme, halos diko na nga malunok tapos tataas pa ang sugar ko? Uneasy na talaga ang pakiramdam ko so I messaged the cake-maker nang madaling araw na (December 26).

She's actually very nice naman kaya ang sabi ko magfi-feedback lang ako. I wasn't demanding for anything. I just felt the need to release haha. Ang sabi ko nga medyo matigas yung cake, unlike doon  sa previous order namin.

When I woke up, may reply na siya. She was apologetic, siguro raw sa dami ng cakes na binake nila kaya nagkaganun. She offered to replace the cake which I gladly accepted. Medyo nakahinga na ako kasi nahihiya rin ako sa asawa ko kasi nga $40 ang matatapon kung hindi mapapalitan.

So on December 30, may new cake na kami (hindi pwedeng December 31 kasi fully booked na sila).

And it tasted so good! Moist na hehe.

Minessage ko agad yung cake-maker to tell her na perfect na yung cake this time. She was very happy, binantayan daw nila talaga yun sa oven to make sure na maayos na. Ayos, both parties were happy!

Note: Dapat kainin ang cake in 2 days kasi titigas na rin after.