Christmas lunch with friends

December 24, 2017.  We originally planned to hold our Christmas party at Tess' place but we decided the last minute to eat out na lang. Masyadong hassle pa ang ang magluto / magdala / bumili ng pagkain for potluck tapos magki-clean up pa after. Both Tess and Juris are so busy the past days. Tess went back to work already last November (after a one-year maternity leave) and Juris just started her new part-time job this December kaya ang hirap pagtugmain ang schedule nila. I am glad we were able to push through with our get-together bago magpasko.

We agreed to eat at Max's Restaurant since Juris wanted Filipino food. She's married to a white guy kasi and they seldom eat rice haha.

I called Max's the day before for reservation. Buti may slot pa for 6 adults and 4 kids. Their specific instruction was for the whole party of 10 to be present by 11am to avail of the table, or else they have the right to give it away.

As usual, Team Coblancs came early. We were there 10 minutes before 11am. I told the receptionist that we were a bit early and the rest of our companions will arrive shortly. They asked us if we want to sit already and order. I said yes, since the girls and I have already agreed what to order.

Before I ordered, messaged them again to make sure that they are coming haha! Baka mamaya hindi dumating eh aanhin ko ang lahat ng pagkaing inorder ko.

Our order -- 2 fried chicken, 2 pancit canton, 2 liempo sisig, 1 large sinigang na baboy, 6-pcs pork barbeque, 1 chopsuey, 2 large steamed rice. All for $181. Not bad at all. We just chipped in $60 per family.

Group photo before digging in.

Families from Surrey, New Westminster, and Langley

We were all starving. I think nobody ate breakfast that day lol.

The drawback though was that the "party" was over by 12:30nn. Walang masyadong time din for chika because we girls were busy attending to our kids (and our stomachs!). Our husbands were medyo reserved din. You see, it's a bit hard when there's a "foreigner" in a party, medyo nakakailang din. We could not converse well in Filipino for fear that he'll get offended. But though we all can speak English naman talaga, it's still awkward to speak English all the time in the presence of your fellow Filipinos. Kaya nga nagtataka ako whenever I hear Filipinos na slang pa kumausap sa kapwa Filipino (ung mga obvious na hindi lumaki rito ha). Ako kasi nang mapunta ako dito eh parang mas nagtatagalog pa ako.

After eating, we just distributed our gifts to one another tapos kanya-kanyang uwi na. Medyo na-sad nga ako kasi ang bilis lang. Kahit sina Tess biglang nadisplace kasi 2:40pm pa ang next appointment nila sa chiropractor. Nag-mall na lang kami, separately.

Gifts that we gave out.

Gifts that we received.

Hopefully next year, we could plan a better party na. Mas ok nga sa bahay na lang para mas matagal ang kuwentuhan. I am willing to host it kung may place na kami.

Max's Restaurant (Vancouver)

I love Max's Restaurant. I love their chicken and I love the consistency of their food. I remember being so happy when I learned that they were opening up in Edmonton. I was pregnant then at talagang takam na takam ako.

First time naming mag-Max's dito sa Vancouver last July 15 (you know, pre-D-Day days). Malapit lang pala sa Metrotown Mall. They've been operating since 2012 pa, sa Edmonton eh 2014 lang nagbukas.

It was a Saturday night and the place was packed. We had to wait a little to be seated.

They sell pala Pinoy beer there. Haha, my Ilocano husband wouldn't dare order one kahit favorite niya ang San Mig Light. Kuripot yun eh lol.

Max's in Edmonton is bigger and with more function rooms. Dito sa Vancouver, isa lang yata. Pero sa Edmonton alam ko nahihirapan silang magmarket for events like baptismal, wedding reception, etc. kasi nga relatively mahal sa Max's kumpara sa ibang restaurants.

Max's is still my favorite among all the Filipino restaurants here in Canada. Kasi nga 'tastes like home' talaga.

There were so many customers, I wonder kung bakit hindi na sila nagbukas ng iba pang branch sa Metro Vancouver. O siguro dahil weekend lang?

hungry three

By the way, we ordered nilagang baka...

Fried chicken, op kors...

And my favorite sizzling tofu!

Plus a large order of rice (again, pre-D-Day days pa ito) na equivalent pala to five cups!

Overall, the food was good. Medyo matabang lang for me ang nilagang baka pero keri na rin.

I don't eat halo-halo kaya si Pod lang ang nag-order.

And here comes the bill. Total amount due was $57.70 but we paid $64.63 because of the tip (additional 12%).

To be honest, ang pagti-tip ang hindi ko pa gaanong trip dito sa North America. If you would notice, may suggested percentage pa ng tip talaga sa receipt (parang minimum pa ang 15%).

No offense meant sa makakabasa nito na nasa service sector, pero kasi mabigat din naman kasi sa bulsa ang mag-tip lalo na kung niraraos mo lang din naman na makakain sa labas paminsan-minsan. Restaurant workers here in Canada (I am not sure kung ganun din sa America ha) are being paid nang at least minimun wage (tulad ng retail workers) so parang redundant na kung ioobliga pa ang customers na magbigay ng tip. Why give them extra money for merely doing their job? Tipping is ok, pero di ba dapat voluntary?

I have a friend in Edmonton who works in a restaurant and she says na medyo kuripot daw talaga ang Pinoy pagdating sa tip. Siguro kasi hindi natin nakasanayan, lalo na kung 15 to 20% ng total bill mo ang ineexpect sa iyo. Karamihan naman sa kumakain ay ordinary wage-workers lang din na gusto lang din makakain sa labas. Kaya nga gusto ko ang 'no tipping policy' sa Japan eh.

Anyway, here's Max's Vancouver current menu prices:

I am very sure that Max' in Vancouver is a lot cheaper than in Edmonton. A one whole chicken here costs $17.99, sa Edmonton ay $19.99. Basta malaki ang kamurahan dito, kahit sa Toronto. Pinakamahal sa Edmonton, dahil kaya sa sweldo ng tao?

Store hours:

I am glad there's a free underground parking ang Max's. Mahirap din kasing maghanap ng parkings sa Vancouver, tapos karaniwan may bayad pa.

-----------------------------------------

Oops, we came back to Max's again on August 12. We only ordered two ulam that time -- sinigang na baka and crispy pata -- because we weren't able to finish the three ulams the first time we were there.

The sinigang na baka was a lot better than nilaga.

It was our first time to try their crispy pata, kasi nga palaging chicken ang naoorder namin. At tama nga yung pinsan kong taga-Toronto, masarap nga! Parang chicken din, malambot at sarap to the bones. Even my very picky eater son loved it! Waaah, sayang hindi na kami pwedeng kumain nito ngayon kasi bawal na nga sa amin ang fatty at putok-batok food.