"Thanksgiving" Dinner @ Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken (Guildford)

November 23, 2017 (Thursday). It was Thanksgiving Day in the US. Though hindi kami taga-doon, naki-thanksgiving na rin ako kasi talagang grateful ako that Nathan was already ok and back to his usual energetic and makulit self. Halos six days din kaming di napakali at nakatulog nang maayos dahil nga he got sick.

Nag-sink in na sa akin ang exhaustion that day so I asked Ford to bring me to Dollarama so I could "breathe" (aka shop) a little. Mababaw lang naman talaga ang kaligayahan ko dito, makatingin-tingin lang sa dollar store ay ok na.

When Ford suggested that we eat out na rin. Haha, alam ko namang gustung-gusto na niyang kumain sa Nando's kasi may coupon siyang nakuha from our mail box. Pero naisip ko, hay kain sa labas na naman! We've overspent na this month (because of our California trip) kaya ayaw ko na muna sanang gumastos ng gumastos. Kaso ako nga itong naunang mag-aya sa Dollarama, di ba? Haha, sige na nga. Thanksgiving na rin kasi nga feeling better na si Nathan.

There's a Nando's branch near our place, mga 3 minutes away lang siguro, pero first time naming pinasok yun. When we discovered kasi na there's a Nando's sa foodcourt sa Metrotown Mall, doon na lang kami kumakain. Aside from fast service, iwas-tip pa haha.

Ford loves Nando's. I introduced it to him in March 2016, when we were still living in Edmonton. Kabubukas lang ng first ever Nando's noon doon kaya na-excite ako (may 3 branches na yata sila ngayon). Una ko kasing natikman ang peri-peri chicken nila sa Malaysia at na-appreciate ko talaga. I am glad na nagustuhan din ni hubby. In fact, madalas siyang kumain sa foodcourt sa Metrotown nung nagbakasyon kami sa Pinas ni Nathan.

Bagong renovate ang Nando's Guildford na ito eh. It closed for a while (palagi kasi naming nadadaanan kaya alam ko) and I even thought na for good na. I am glad nirenovate lang nila talaga.

I instantly liked the restaurant's interior pagpasok namin. Maaliwalas. Hmm, parang hindi naman maaliwalas dati sa Edmonton ah (at saka sa Malaysia).

Hindi gaanong maraming tao because it was a Thursday. A server guided us to a table and gave us the menu.

More or less alam na naman namin ang oorderin namin haha. Dapat around $30 lang kasi ang coupon namin ay "less $10 for $30 bill."

We ordered the Classic Share Platter (whole chicken + 1 side and garlic bread) na ok na for two people. Pero dahil $28.95 lang siya, we added a small sized side (peri-peri vegetables) pa worth $3.75.

After looking at the menu, you need to go to the counter to order and pay. By the way, I paid $26.70, including the 12% tip.

Then you get your preferred sauces and dressing sa isang corner. Nandun na rin ang pop (soda) dispenser if you ordered some.

They first served the garlic bread. Hay, ang sarap! Di talaga namin na-resist. #cheatdayforthenthtime

It didn't take long for the chicken and the vegetables to arrive. Haha, nagkatinginan kami ni Ford nang makita ang gulay. He knows me too well, alam niyang hindi ko kakainin yun. Kahit siya hindi nya rin type yun (pero kinain niya pa rin kasi sayang). Buti na lang we didn't get the bigger size.

Medyo matagal bago dumating ang corn pero masarap sya ha. Four pieces yan eh, nakalimutan kong picturan bago kainin. Namiss ko talaga ang inihaw na mais. Talagang pikit-mata kong kinain kahit na ma-carbs. I liked it more than the chicken haha.

Nathan didn't eat. Panay pa-cute lang ang ginawa. Hay, ganun naman talaga siya, matumal kumain. He's three pero ayaw pa rin talagang kumain masyado. More on dede talaga.

Oh well, basta super happy ako that night because Nathan's good health has been restored. Ang gaan-gaan ng pakiramdam ko.

I have this feeling na madadalas na kami sa Nando's na ito. Kanina lang nagtatanong na si hubby kung may bagong coupon ba eh, haha!

PS. Katulad ng Max's, mas mura ang Nando's dito kesa sa Edmonton. Yung platter na inorder namin na $28.95, $30.45 sa Edmonton. 

Thanksgiving Dinner 2017

Our original plan for the Thanksgiving weekend was to do a staycation somewhere. Naaliw yata ang husband ko sa Victoria trip namin last August kaya gusto niyang umulit, pero dapat daw two nights na para hindi nakakapagod. Ang mga choices naming puntahan were Kelowna, Seattle (again!), Oregon, and Whistler. But after giving it much thought, I convinced him na huwag na lang. Hindi rin naman kasi biro ang gagastusin sa plano niya. We are scheduled to go back to California this November 4 to 14 na to celebrate Nathan's third birthday kaya sabi ko masyadong maraming gastos na. Buti at pumayag naman (as if may choice siya haha).

Around mid-September, my aunt invited us to join them for the Thanksgiving dinner on October 9. Ayun, problem solved. May gagawin na kami for the weekend lol. Ford was just a bit "sad" though because the dinner was on a Monday, may pasok kinabukasan. Technically kasi, second Monday of October talaga ang Thanksgiving day dito but Canadians may celebrate on any day of the long weekend. So pwedeng Sabado o Linggo.

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The dinner was at 6pm so we spend the afternoon at Guildford Mall muna. Then we went to Henlong Supermarket to buy some fish (haha, namalengke pa talaga). After that, we picked up the cake that I ordered from a homebased Pinay baker. I couldn't think of anything else to bring eh.

We arrived at Tita Che's house at 6:25pm. Maganda ang weather, buti hindi umulan.

Kami na lang pala ang inaantay so start na agad ng appetizer pagdating namin.

Trust my aunt to always have the best food presentation. Very impressive.

Instagram-worthy talaga. No filter needed.

This is the 4-in-1 cake that we brought. Haha, napadpad sa table ng appetizers.

Peechur peechur before eating.

Picture taken from Tita Che's Facebook account

And look at the long table that they set up para kasya kaming lahat. Bigla ko tulog na-feel ang essence ng Thanksgiving.

My aunt is currently into all things dainty. And she's started collecting pretty teacups since a few years back.

There were just 13 of us -- I, Ford, Nathan, Tita Che, Tito Harold, Angel (my cousin), Raf (Angel's husband), Blessi (my cousin), BF of Blessi (I forgot his name), Johnny (my cousin), Tita Bing (Tita Che's bestfriend), Rosabella (Tita Bing's daughter), and Allison (Tita Che's ward).

Very western ang dinner namin that night.

My cousin Angel cooked everything. She took her cooking skills from Tita Che. Too bad she forgot to bring out the soup from the basement!

This is my first Thanksgiving with a whole Turkey. Sumaya talaga ako, feel na feel ko.

The turkey was soooooo good (even the gravy)! I loved the pasta too kaso nga Ford and I are watching our carbs-intake.

Pero nang dessert time na, di na ako nakapagpigil sa cake. Ang tagal ko ng gustong tikman yun eh. Ang sarap nga grabe! Thankfully, hindi naman tumaas ang blood sugar ko (kasi nga turkey lang naman ang dinner). The chocolate cake was perfect, kung wala lang kaming diabetes eh oorder ako uli agad ng one whole cake at uubusin namin ni Ford.

Picture taken from Tita Che's Facebook account

I love nice table settings talaga. When we have our own place again, mag-iipon ako ng maraming gamit.

Picture taken from Tita Che's Facebook account

Thank you for having us, Tita Che and family!

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Oops, I would have to commend this little boy nga pala for being so behaved the whole time. Nakakain kami nang maayos ng daddy niya.

Dahil yan sa toys that Tito Harold always lends to him whenever we are at their house.

I am extra grateful to Tito Harold for being so nice to my son.

Nathan has loosen up na rin. Hindi na siya shy and intimidated to other people. Ayan nga oh, nagpapapicture na with his titas and titos.

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What are we grateful for this year?

• Our son is healthy and happy
• Our parents are ok (despite their respective health issues kasi syempre may mga edad na)
• We are living comfortably (thanks to Ford's new job!)
• We have gotten used to living here in Metro Vancouver (naka-adjust na kami kahit papano) 
• We were able to travel (California, Seattle, Victoria)
• We have more scheduled travels (California, Whistler, Philippines, etc)
• We've met new friends -- Juris and Tess and their families
• We've managed to maintain our friendships with our Edmonton family
• Though we got diagnosed with diabetes, at least our disease is manageable 

Ang dami-daming challenges as usual, pero kinakaya naman. My major wish for now is to have our own home so we can have a place to celebrate Thanksgiving day na. =)

Thanksgiving Day 2016

And I thought this year's Thanksgiving Day will pass without us doing anything.

As I've mentioned before, I am a fan of celebrating occasions. Gusto ko lahat talaga sine-celebrate kahit papano. That's why when I came to live here in Canada, natuwa ako. Nadagdagan nga kasi ng "Thanksgiving Day" ang listahan ng mga dapat i-celebrate.

I've always had this vision of a  'sossy' Thanksgiving dinner table (complete with all those autumn trimmings) pero di ko pa nae-execute. My first Thanksgiving here in Canada was in 2014 , I was pregnant kaya simpleng celebration lang. Last year naman (2015), Nathan and I were in Pinas. This year, lalong hindi feasible. We just moved here in Surrey last October 2 and we are practically living in mess (as in until now!). Our things, including the furniture, are still in storage.

Anyway, happy pa rin ako because Ford came home last October 10 (Monday) with a pot and portable burner! Tapos may mga ingredients na. Haha, hindi na niya talaga napigil ang craving niya. Napabili na talaga siya ng pang-hot pot!

So ayun, we feasted na. Ang sarap, bagay sa rainy weather.  Happy Thanksgiving to us!

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Ooops, before I forget, these are the things that I am majorly thankful for this year:

• I was able to help Ford even in my little way (too vague ba haha!)
• We were able to sell our house (despite Alberta's real estate situation)
• We were able to move here in BC (na matagal na naming pangarap)
• I've made a lot of new good friends in Edmonton (who I will cherish in my heart forever)
• My bond with the "Cuatro Hermosas in Edmonton" have strengthened and they will always be my core group here in Canada despite the distance
• All of us in the family are in good health and we are happy

Marami kaming challenge na hinarap, hinaharap, at haharapin pa this year but we are grateful. Test of strength namin yan eh. 

Our Thanksgiving Day 2014

Hurray for the long weekend! At last, I was able to spend the past three days with my husband.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is officially on the second Monday of October (so this year it fell on October 12) but Canadians can celebrate it in any day of the long weekend. I've noticed (in my Facebook contacts haha!) that just like us, many preferred to do the special dinner thing on Sunday para walang pasok kinabukasan. Makes sense, right?

Anyway,  before I proceed, let me post this Thanksgiving "wefie" of me and Baby Chicklet . He's 35 weeks and 3 days as of yesterday (October 12).

I was actually too lazy to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner but I realized that we have to at least do something special this weekend to commemorate a special holiday. It's my first experience of Canadian Thanksgiving, after all. Also, we have so many things to be grateful for this year. Aside from finally having our own house, we are about to meet our Little Chicklet soon! Now isn't that life's greatest blessing?

I couldn't cook anymore (not that I really cook lol!) so I asked Pod if we could have some steak na lang. Celebrations mean steak for me eh hehe. Then I also instructed him to buy some vegetables and another dish at T&T para may pandagdag.

I was surprised when he came home with this turkey breast. Haha, oo nga naman. Dapat may turkey kasi Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day has to be celebrated with family so we invited Ate June (our only family here) a few days ago to join us. Too bad she has work yesterday.

And so it was just the two of us who feasted on this humble dinner. I regret not being able to buy autumn flowers, candles, placemats, napkins, etc. Wala tuloy kadecor-decor. Di bale, next year talaga babawi ako. I want all occasions to be special eh.

Turkey Breast, Tofu, Mixed Vegetables, Campbell Noodle Soup, Brown Rice, and Steak

Please don't look for any dessert as I am not allowed to eat sweets. Damn you, Gestational Diabetes!

It was the first time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. At extra na si Chicklet! Ang saya!

I am so thankful to this man. He may look like a hoodlum because of his long hair and beard (grrr!) but believe me, he's the kindest, gentlest husband in the world.

I am indeed a lucky wifey!

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

Happy Thanksgiving, USA!

A lot of people I know are oblivious to the fact that Canada and the US are two DIFFERENT countries. Ang akala nila porke magkadikit at English-speaking ang mga tao eh iisa na. Kaloka.

One difference between these two countries is the day they celebrate Thanksgiving. Canadians 'give thanks' on October (second Monday) while Americans commemorate this day every fourth Thursday of November.

According to my husband, who has lived in both countries, Thanksgiving in Canada is not as 'big' as in the US. Sa America, talagang humihinto "busy life" ng lahat kapag Thanksgiving Day. Everyone's into holiday mode, very much looking forward to spending time and good meal/s with family and friends.

Anyway, it is now November 28 and we wish to greet all our family and friends in the US a Happy Happy Thanksgiving Day! 

Picture taken from Hello Kitty's Official Facebook Page

Ford's immediate family (Mom, Dad, and Sis) and majority of their relatives are all based in the US. Almost everyone in my father's side of the family also lives in there. I wish I can also experience Thanksgiving Day in America someday. Si Ford kasi sawa na daw, lol!

With all honesty, hindi ko pa talaga naiinternalize ang value ng holiday na ito. Wala pang kabuluhan sa akin (sa akin lang naman) haha! Wala naman kasing Thanksgiving sa Pinas. Pero malamang mai-instill din siguro sa akin eventually. Wala namang masama kung madagdagan ng isa pa ang holidays na pinahahalagahan ko, right? Mas masaya nga eh.