Break-up with Master Siomai

I am breaking up with you, Master Siomai!

Our relationship was so short-lived. Our love affair started around November 2016 when I had an instant liking for you. Eventually, like became love. I've loved you. And even when I went back to Canada already in April 2017, I never stopped dreaming about you. I've met and liked another siomai, yes, but my heart still belonged to you. I waited for the day that our paths will cross again.

And finally, last Wednesday (January 17), we met again in SM Marilao. I had high hopes that our relationship will be back to the way it used to be.

But my reaction after just a second of devouring you -- "Anyare sayo?!?! Ba't di ka na masarap?!?!"

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I was so disappointed, nakakaloka! Php35 pa rin ang presyo ng apat pero obviously, nag-iba na ang quality (and to think 9 months lang akong nawala ha). The siomais are smaller tapos makapal ang balat. Lasang balat na nga siya sa panlasa ko. I was supposed to bring home some for Mamoosh pero hindi na lang.

I forced myself to eat the remaining siomais, sayang naman kasi. Pero hindi na siguro ako uulit pa. Buti na nga lang at di ako sabik sa siomai kasi nga madalas naman akong mag-steam nun sa Canada.

I hate wasting rice

We had lunch yesterday at the food court in T&T Supermarket (Guildford) yesterday. T&T is an Asian supermarket so all the food stalls there sell either Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Indian food. No Filipino stall, unfortunately.

Food at T&T is relatively cheap, although we paid $27.95 (or Php1,118.00) rin, so hindi masyadong nakaka-guilty (we've been eating out a lot and that takes up so much of our monthly budget).

But I really felt guilty for not eating all the rice.

Growing up in the agricultural-country Philippines where "rice is life," it really breaks my heart to see this much rice going into waste. Just like what all Filipino mothers say to their children, "maraming ibang batang/taong nagugutom." Nakakahinayang talaga.

But what can we do now? My husband and I are diabetic -- and white rice is our number one opponent! As Pinoys though, we cannot totally give up rice, of course. We just watch our intake, making sure that we don't eat beyond 1-2 cups a day (1 cup per meal). At home, we eat brown rice because it has lower glycemic index than white rice and doesn't cause blood glucose levels to rise as rapidly.

Kaso most Chinese restaurants here serve a lot of rice in their meals. I think that's one of the reasons why I gained more weight din when I lived here. Malalaki talaga ang servings nila dito, be it pasta, burgers, pizza, etc. As a wife and mother, naging role ko na rin ang magsimot ng pagkain kasi nga nanghihinayang akong magtapon. Pero sabi nga ngayon ng asawa ko: "Sayang o patay? Nanghihinayang ka sa pagkain pero sa sarili mo hindi?"

Oh well, may point naman siya.

I just wish there could be a way para lang maiwasan ang wastage. Sana pwedeng umorder ng half cup noh? Even in Filipino restaurants, malaki ang cup nila ng rice eh.

As much as possible naman, hubby and I share na lang sa isang rice meal. Tapos magdadagag na lang kami ng ibang ulam/side dishes. But there are times din naman na magkaiba kami ng preference sa gustong kainin (that's why we often eat sa foodcourt) kaya ang dami-daming rice na natatapon. I am tempted na nga sometimes to tell the vendor na bawasan ang rice, kaso sobrang hassle naman because most of them are Chinese who cannot understand and speak English well. Matagal na diskusyon pa. Saka siyempre style nila ang maraming rice para magmukhang marami ang isang order.

Hay rice! I love you but I hate you at the same time. Pero kahit may love-hate relationship tayo, ayaw pa rin kitang nasasayang talaga.

Love affair with Master Siomai

My addiction with siomai started when we ate at Jumbo Dim Sum Dining (in Edmonton) on Christmas day 2015. Noon ko lang talaga na-appreciate ang siomai as in. Sobrang sarap naman kasi.

And since then, di ko na siya makalimutan. Palagi akong nagke-crave. But a cheapskate that I am, namamahalan naman akong bumili. Around $5 kasi ang 4 pieces, imagine that! Buti na lang meron daw ok na frozen siomai sa T&T Supermarket kaya yun na lang ang ini-steam namin sa bahay.

So isa sa mga plano ko sa pag-uwi ko dito sa Pinas ay ang magpakasawa sa siomai. At dahil hindi nga ako kumakain ng siomai dati kaya hindi ko talaga alam kung saan masarap.

I learned na uso na pala dito ang cheap siomai. As in 3 pieces for Php10.00! But of course, you get what you pay for. Hindi kasarapan syempre.

Then one time, when we were at Trinoma, I noticed in the foodcourt that a lot were eating siomai. Ayun hinanap ko, Master Siomai pala. I asked Ford to buy from there at ayun nasarapan ako.

One time we went to Robinson's Place Malolos (to bring Nathan to Kidzoona), me kiosk ng Master Siomai. Lafang galore kami ni Lani (our ex-househelp who also likes siomai a lot).

Akala ko sa "malayo" lang ako makakakain ng Master Siomai, yun pala meron din sa SM Marilao (which happens to be just an extension of my house haha!)! Kaloka, no more reason para ma-deprive! Gusto kong magtatalon nang makita ko siya as in! Sorry, mababaw lang talaga ang kaligayahan ko.

Master Siomai in SM Marilao

Four pieces for Php35.00 -- not bad at all! Sa ibang  branches (like the one in Marquee Mall), 4/Php30.00 lang. Sarap na sarap talaga ako. I even influenced my mother, favorite nya na rin haha.

I super like Master Siomai to the point na kino-consider kong mag-franchise haha! Sobrang lakas naman kasi. Ang dami palaging bumibili. Naa-out-of-stock pa nga sa SM. Kung dito lang talaga ako based sa Pinas, kakaririn ko talaga ito.

Hay, I will surely miss this when I go back to Canada. Ba't nga ba kasi we can't have everything noh?

BBQ King Delight (Surrey)

I actually feel bad because now that Nathan and I are here in the Philippines, the husband is left alone to feed himself. My husband may be very good at all house chores but he doesn't like to cook. He's lived alone for so many years and he would eat out most of the time.

Thankfully, we discovered BBQ King Delight last October 17, 2016 through Yelp. We just moved to Surrey last October 2 so we were still clueless on where the good restaurants around the area are. BBQ King Delight has very good reviews in Yelp so I asked Ford to take us there. Favorite din kasi namin ang roasted pork.

We live in Guildford and this small Chinese restaurant specializing in BBQ is near our place. It also has ample parking at the back so it's convenient.

The restaurant is small, only around 4-5 tables (?). Displayed just across the door are their roasted items which can be bought per pound. Super nakakatakam!

We chose to dine in and ordered plated 2-item BBQ meat with steamed rice. It comes with soup and tea.

BBQ pork and roasted crispy skin pork

Soy sauce chicken and roasted crispy skin pork

Beef brisket with noodle in soup

Grabe, ang sarap ng food! The best roasted pork I've tasted here in Canada so far. The "nice plating" adds up to the nice gastronomic experience. Ang sarap kumain using a real ceramic plate at maayos ang pagkalagay sa pagkain. We usually eat roasted pork sa T&T or Food Court kaya patong-patong lang talaga.

Their food is reasonably priced and their staff (I think it's family-owned) are efficient and nice kaya ok talaga. I find their service fast.

Aside from their roasted crispy skin pork (the Chinese-style), they also have this "Pinoy lechon" that they proudly boast about. While we were dining, a Filipino couple picked this up. Ito nga raw ang version nila ng Pinoy lechon. It costs around $200, if I remember correctly.

Hmm, medyo malayo naman ang lasa sa traditional lechon natin. I ordered it the next time we dined there (they also serve it on plated meals) and I honestly couldn't distinguish it from their Chinese-style roasted pork haha!

Anyway, now that Ford's living alone, he always buy ulam from there na lang kasi nga mura at masarap. Aside from BBQ, they also sell other to-go Chinese dishes.

Oh, I am craving for some Chinese food right now! Can't wait to eat at BBQ King Delight again!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

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Here's their complete dine-in menu (as of October 2016). So many dishes to try soon!

BBQ King Delight
8973 152 Street
Surrey, BC V3R 4E5
(604) 581-4069
Mon-Sun (except Tue) from 11:00am to 8:30pm