Latest Discovery: Little Asia Noodle House (Edmonton)

Ford and I were very thrilled upon discovering Little Asia Noodle House yesterday. We've actually just learned about it in the Facebook group 'Pinoys in Edmonton', when somebody asked what the 'best' Filipino restaurant is here in Edmonton. A couple of members suggested Little Asia so that triggered our curiosity.

We live in the west end but we didn't care even if Little Asia is located in the south side. Wala namang trapik dito sa Edmonton so keri lang. We drove for less than 30 minutes.

We were kinda surprised upon seeing the inside of Milbourne Market Mall. Foodcourt agad ang bumungad sa amin. Hindi siya 'sosyal', I told myself. Medyo madilim pa ang ambiance (hence the poor-quality photos).

We saw just a couple of stalls, isa na nga dun ang Little Asia Noodle House.

"Noodle house yata yan, Pod," I skeptically told my husband. Baka kako more on Chinese cuisine siya. Pero nang lumapit kami, ala-turo-turo pala.

Objectively, the Little Asia stall looked very 'low end.' Parang carinderia lang sa isang palengke. Para tuloy wala kami sa Canada haha!

This framed breakfast menu first caught my attention. Wow, $5.99 lang ang tapsilog? Ang mura!

Then my husband pointed this out:

Really??? $5.99 lang for two ulam??? My heart palpitated haha! In my more than 9 months of living here in Edmonton, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganyan kamurang Pinoy meal combo. I am a certified food kuripot (and the Pinoy in me still converts dollars to pesos) so imagine how happy I was about this.

And so it was time to choose the ulam.

The dishes looked appetizing enough. I admit that I am no cook so mababaw lang ang standards ko sa pagkain. I have very limited cooking skills and lately, because of pregnancy, I wasn't in the mood to prepare ulam na may sabaw. Kaya excited talaga akong makakita ng ulam na hindi prito.

I noticed that all they serve are meat dishes. Sabagay, asa pa sa isda o gulay. Or maybe hindi lang namin natapatan? Wala rin silang ulam na may sabaw like sinigang o tinola. Mostly masarsa lang talaga.

This is what I've chosen -- bistek tagalog and pork caldereta.

Our $12.60 dinner! The husband was very happy kasi ang mura daw! Normally, we would spend $25-35 eating out (ordinary restos lang ha) so talagang murang-mura siya dito.

At nakakatuwa kasi ang dami ng serving! One viand is enough na nga kung tutuusin. The guy on the FB group was right, wala ngang overpricing sa Little Asia!

Nabitin pa sa rice si Ford so he ordered another cup - just for a dollar! He suddenly compared it to one Pinoy restaurant we've been to na $3 ang isang cup! Rip off talaga!

Haha, kung hindi lang ako on diet because of my gestational diabetes, I could have eaten two cups of rice din! Ang dami nga kasing ulam. And objectively, masarap naman.

We toured the mall a bit after eating and when we came back to the foodcourt, maraming tao na uli sa Little Asia. Most of them were buying food for take-out.

Of course we have to buy, too! Para may ulam na kami kinabukasan.

Here's the prices of their ulam per cup/bowl. Ang mura talaga! Haha, we could have uttered the word "cheap" a thousand times last night.

If only we live nearby, bibili na lang ako ng food dito araw-araw because it will be more practical considering na dalawa lang kaming mag-asawa sa bahay at madalas magkaiba pa kami ng food preference.

Another good thing pala is that despite their cheap prices, they still accept credit card payment.

We will definitely be back! We'd probably visit Little Asia every week until I give birth haha!

Ford kept on kidding me on our way home na mag-relocate na raw kami sa south dahil mas mura ang ulam. Haha, kung di lang kami nakabili ng sariling bahay, I would really now consider living there. For us who don't really cook, malaking bagay ang may ganitong nabibilhan ng pagkain.

I am hoping Little Asia branches out soon. Sana magkaroon sa area namin.

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Little Asia Noodle House
(780)485-9808
Millbourne Market Mall
7609 38 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6K 3L6
Store Hours: Weekdays - 9am-9pm
                    Weekends - 9am -5pm


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UPDATE -- August 24, 2014

We went back on a Sunday lunch time and was glad to learn that they serve "may sabaw" and vegetable dishes din pala. I guess it's better to go there during lunch time for better variety.

Raxie's Day

My BFF Raxie is celebrating her birthday today (yesterday actually in Malaysian time)...

And because we are thousands of miles apart, we couldn't celebrate this special day together like we always used to (since we we out of college). But nevertheless, I am with her in spirit!

I am glad she received the birthday card I sent her ON TIME! I was quite worried that she'll receive it late because I was only able to mail it last July 31.

Happy happy 34th birthday, my friend! You are indeed one of my life's greatest blessings so I'll forever be grateful!

Looking forward to celebrating our birthdays again together soon! Mwah!

Shopping Deadline (for Chicklet's Stuff)

Yehey! I won't be buying any more clothes for Baby Chicklet because Mamoosh sent a new batch of infant wear for him! Ford's aunt from the Philippines came over last week for a short visit so pinakidala na lang namin.

I am so happy! I am finding it hard to find a variety of baby boy clothing here. Pare-parehas lang ang eh. I wanted clothes na bukas sa harap para madaling isuot sa baby kaya puro ganun ang pinabili ko. Thank you so much, Mamoosh! You've already spent so much for us haha!

I am currently on my 27th week and time is running out. We still haven't bought anything for Chicklet, except for five clothes haha!  We have yet to buy those big items -- crib/s, stroller, car seat, baby bath tub, etc. And then those blankets, jackets, towels, comforters, pillows, diaper bag, and more! OMG, I feel like we're going to cram again!

I have to set a deadline. We should complete everything by September 30 (and that's 1 1/2 months from now). I am due on November so I need my October to already be hassle-free. I just want to rest fully by then.

Coblancs, let's stick to this deadline ok???

Go away, summer!

I was never fond of summer. And although summer here is no match as compared to Pinas' humid all-year-round weather, I still find it hard to deal with the 'heat.'

The hottest weather I've experienced here is far is 31 degrees. Yep, not that hot. Plus it's not malagkit ha. But my pregnant self who's gotten accustomed to the cold was reacting. I really wish summer is over! Hinding-hindi ko talaga mami-miss ang init ever!

Our town house has no centralized air conditioning system. When it was still being built, my husband asked me if I want one installed (priced at $5,000 if I remember correctly). I said no, sayang sa kuryente noh! Dalawa lang kami sa bahay tapos naka-aircon lahat ng sulok? I will just feel guilty using it.

The only solution was buying a portable aircon na lang. We cannot put in a wall type airconditioner because our "Association" forbids us to do so. Ayaw nila ng may nakalawit sa mga bintana.

I've noticed na malaki talaga ang demand sa portable aircon dito. I guess very few houses here in Edmonton have centralized air conditioning. Parang hindi naman kasi nga kailangan. Aside from the cost, sandali lang naman kasi talaga ang init dito. Canadians, I believe, are also tired of the cold weather that's why they enjoy the heat to the fullest. Andami ngang nagsa-sunbathing sa mga balcony nila kaloka!

It's already mid-August. Time flies. Malapit na ang fall. I am excited to wear jackets again.

ForCes' Workshop

Haha, this best describes us!

Picture taken from the net (credits to the owner)

I've only experienced working here in Edmonton for six weeks (February 1 to March 17) and had to quit immediately because of my pregnancy. I was in severe pain that time (I had UTI pa pala) and I was scared of losing the baby. I am not exactly young and who knows, this could be my last shot in having a baby.

I am thankful that I have a husband who is a  very good provider. Not everyone can afford a 'lifestyle' that we have here, given that we are a one-income household.

And true to my nature, all I am doing the past months is shop while the husband works haha! I am a self-confessed shopaholic. My husband, on the other hand, is an industrious Ilocano who works a lot but shops nothing! I wish Baby Chicklet inherits his dad's traits (not mine) or else dadagdag pa siya sa kalbaryo ni Pod hahaha!

Our (still bare) guestroom

We've already had a total of three sets of visitors since we moved here in our town home six and a half months ago (January 24, 2014.) First, were my in-laws Daddy, Mama, and Cecille last (January 30 - February 20), then Tatay, Tita Che and Ally (June 4-8), and just recently Auntie Ely (August 7-11).

And they of course stayed in our guest room which still looked the same since day 1 haha!

We have three bedrooms in the house so we have a spare room for the guests. Too bad I still wasn't able to fully furnish it. Pregnancy happened, you see.

As of now, the bedroom only has an Ikea bed, side table, and lamp. I originally wanted a 'grander' set of furniture for this room but then my in-laws arrived just six days after me moved in so we had no time to scout for a better bed. We can't let them sleep on the floor, right?

Though very simple, I still like how our guest room turned out. I'm very fond of 'white' furniture nowadays because it gives the illusion of space. Maaliwalas pang tingnan.

I am hoping that we can make a bit of improvement in this room before we accommodate our next visitor/s (which I doubt). I am planning to add curtains, accent chair, wall frames, and a bit of other decorative pieces for it to look homey.

Haha, plans... plans! Andaming plano! I am praying for more energy, enthusiasm, and money! :)

I have gestational diabetes :(

I took my Glucose Screening Test (non-fasting 1-hour test) at Dynalife last July 26, 2014 and only learned the result last August 5.

One-hour wait :(

RESULT = positive for gestational diabetes!

I thought I was already spared since I haven't heard from the doctor's office after my test. But then it was only on my monthly check-up last August 5 that my OB read the result. She told me I have gestational diabetes and that I will be referred to a diabetes specialist and dietitian. That's it.

Parang gumuho ang mundo ko. I had so many questions but as usual, she was in a hurry. She just advised me to wait for a call (from the diabetes specialist) and 'not to worry.'

But how can I not worry??? I knew what DIABETES meant. My mother is diabetic and is on insulin everyday. I know how hard it is to have this condition. Plus gestational diabetes means more tusok and blood (which I of course loathe)! I was also scared about the effect of this on Baby Chicklet.

I kept on thinking about 'my condition'. How come the doctor didn't request for me to undergo the 3-hour glucose (fasting) test? Isn't it the next stop? Why refer me to a specialist right away? I've finally concluded that the result must be so high that no follow up test is necessary. Hay!

I didn't know the exact figure so I went to Dynalife's website and sent an email, asking if I can have access to the result of my lab test. They emailed back immediately and instructed me to call their hotline.So pwede palang malaman ng patient ang result either through phone or personal request sa laboratory (which they will send via mail), depende sa klase ng test. Now I know.

I called Dynalife the following day and the woman and the other line instantly advised me to go to my doctor. as soon as possible. I reasoned that I already went to one and I just want the numbers.

The figure: 11.6 mmol/litre (normal is 7.7mmol/litre)

It is indeed very high! Waaaah!

But deep inside, I knew it. I knew that there's a huge possibility that I'd have gestational diabetes in this pregnancy.

• I have strong history of diabetes (my mother and father).
• I am a bit overweight.
• I am already 35 years old.

Aside from that, I admit to having a very bad lifestyle lately:

• I eat a lot of carbs as in (kain ala construction worker)!
• I don't eat healthy.
• I eat only two major meals a day (and I am not that into snacks). 
• I don't exercise (my husband does all the household chores).

I received a call on August 7 from Mother Rosalie Health Service Centre (Misericordia Hospital) and they scheduled me for August 28 diabetes session. According to the staff, after the 'seminar,' I'd have a talk with a nutritionist then the doctor.

August 28 is still far away! Right now, I am controlling my food intake. I am trying to eat frequently in small quantity. We've switched from white to brown rice, from pandesal to wheat bread.

It's been a week since I adapted a new eating habit and I am hoping that my numbers went down already. I remember eating so much the night before my glucose test (Costco fries, hotdog, chicken, and sprite). I also had McDonald's pancakes and sausage before I went to the laboratory that morning so I believe that these contributed to my elevated blood sugar level.

I wanted to have my blood sugar level tested now but we still don't have the glucose tester. We were about to buy already but Ate June said I'd receive a free one after attending the diabetes session (a nurse would teach me how to prick my finger).

I am scared. I am all the more scared to take insulin. But obviously I have no choice right now kundi lakasan ang loob ko. Pero sana lang talaga makuha pa sa diet. =(