Dad's 39th Birthday Dinner @ Kyo (Vancouver)

September 6, 2017. Dad's birthday this year fell on a Wednesday so there's nothing else to do but eat dinner out after his work. Nagkataon pa na ang dami niyang load so past 6pm na siya nakauwi. Buti na lang it's still summer kaya maliwanag pa.

Oops by the way, he was given a cake daw in the office and his officemates sang for him. Ayos, at least may cake na siya kasi hindi na ako bumili (#hellodiabetes). I asked him to take a picture of his cake pero ayaw, nakakahiya raw haha.

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We drove to Granville Street in Vancouver because I found a restaurant that serves my husband's favorites -- sushi and korean BBQ. Maganda ang review sa Yelp so I suggested it to Ford. Game siya, lalo na at buffet. #cheatdayagain!

Buffet dinner is $30.95 + drinks + 5% tax + tip. Mas mura pa rin kesa kakain kami sa Tony Roma's or Old Spaghetti Factory. And no, we are not fond of fine dining. Kahit dati pa lang, hindi na (mga simpleng tao lang kami lol). Lalo na ngayon na may anak na kaming bitbit.

There's a similar buffet restaurant Il Uk Jo in Surrey (near our place) that we frequently go to if  we want to pig out pero mas sossy dito syempre kasi mas mahal at mas maraming food options.

 The ambience of the was was nice and cozy. Medyo madilim nga lang kaya pangit ang pictures.

Unlike in traditional buffets na nakalatag na ang food, usually ang korean BBQ dito ay per order. You will be given a paper where you can check what you want (and put the quantity too). Maximum of 1.5 hours lang daw ang eating pero hindi naman siguro nila inoorasan haha.

I don't eat sushi (or anything raw) but I love BBQ and tempura and teriyaki and tonkatsu.

Here's some of what we ate:

We asked for 10 pieces of mussels pero 6 lang ang sinerve. Ginto kasi ang tahong dito.

All protein, I know. Meat lovers kami talaga. No salad, no kimchi, no soup, no noodles. We just asked for plain steamed rice. Thankfully, hindi tumaas ang sugar ko after kasi nga low carbs. Kaso patay naman sa liver kalurkey!

 My very picky eater son (mana sa amin kanino pa ba?) only had rice and chicken wings.

Keri lang naman ang service. I was expecting more from the food though, pero parang mas ok pa ang sa Il Uk Jo.

We asked one server to take our family picture, parang hesitant siya. Hindi ba talaga uso ang makipicture dito? I didn't like the said picture kaya di ko na ipopost. Itong groufie ko na lang. Again, pangit ang lighting eh.

Ford had a small strawberry pudding for dessert and then we asked for the bill. He paid $75.73 all in all.

We had nowhere else to go after that. It was past 9pm, wala ng mapuntahan. Di na rin pwedeng mag-frappucino sa Starbucks.

Bigla tuloy namin namiss ang Manila! Yung area kasi ng Kyo ay parang street sa Manila, busier-looking lang sa Manila syempre. Saka marami pang bukas na establishments kahit alas onse na ng gabi.

Kyo has an underground parking nga pala na ayos sa reviews sa Yelp ay very steep kaya ayaw kong magpark dun. But we were left with no choice kasi wala na talagang available na street parking kahit nakailang ikot na kami.

My hubby laughed at me nang makita ang sinasabing "steep." Maluwag naman pala, sa standards nating Pinoy ha. Kahit ako hindi mahihirapang mag-park doon noh. Isa yan sa advantage nating Pinoy drivers eh, sanay sa masisikip. Masyadong spoiled ang mga taga-first world lol.

Ay nga pala, when we were in the car na, we saw the server who hesitated to take our picture. He went to his car to get something eh. Nagkatinginan kami ni Coblancs, brand new BMW ang kotse nya ha! Naloka talaga kami.

CES -- Baka naman sila ang may-ari ng restaurant? Tapos gusto lang siyang i-train ng tatay nya.
FORD -- Ano yun, koreanovela?
CES -- Haha, asar talo ka lang kasi yung nag-serve sayo eh naka-BMW!

Oh well, common naman dito talaga na naka-magarang sasakyan ang blue collar worker. I know pa nga one person na sa McDonald's nagwowork pero naka-Mercedez Benz. Ay correction, isa ang McDonald's sa mga work kasi triple job nga pala siya. Kanya-kanyang trip talaga yan. Kapag mahilig ka sa kotse, you will do everything para mabayaran ang montly or bi-weekly amortization.

I remember just a few weeks ago, I asked my husband if he's not envious of those with 'magarang' kotse. He simply answered: "Mi, kung gusto ko ng mamahaling sasakyan, sana bumili na ako noong binata pa ako noh." 

Oo nga naman. Modesty aside, he could afford a really flashy car naman (lalo na noong hindi pa niya ako asawa at binubuhay haha) pero hindi niya talaga trip. Kaya ngayon we're happy na with our  reliable Subaru. Hindi ko rin naman din kasi type ang mahal na sasakyan.

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We just went home after dinner. Pagod na rin kasi si Dad and he still has work the following day. Corny nga eh. Di bale, next year when he turns 40, I'll make sure to prepare something special na talaga.

I was sad nga kasi we had no gift for him except for this card (na pinasulatan ko rin kay TanTan ang loob). Eh kasi wala naman akong makitang magugustuhan niya. I am telling you, Ford is the simplest guy you'll ever meet. Walang mga kiyeme sa katawan. Binilhan ko na nga lang ng card sa Dollarama (no cute happy-birthday-daddy card kaya itong pang-hubby na lang) para may maiabot sa kanya si Nathan. I want our son to grow up kasi nang nagbibigay, nang thoughtful at caring at generous.

Happy 39th birthday, Daddy! Everyday we thank the heavens for giving you to us. We love you very much!

This song is for you!

#CessieLikes: Shoo My

If you are a siomai-lover like me and you live here in BC (not sure if they have it in other provinces), I have something to recommend to you. Try this Shoo My brand from T&T Supermarket and you'll love it!

Finally, I found a siomai that satisfies my taste buds. And it's cheap ha, only $8.49 (plus 5% tax) per pack of 30 pieces. So around 30 cents lang ang isa. Mas mura pa kapag nag-sale.

I find cooked siomai here in Canada so expensive kasi. Nagre-range yan from $4-6 for the standard four pieces. Hindi ko pa type ang lasa. Sa Richmond Night Market nga lang ako nasarapan sa siomai. Kaya super happy ako sa recent discovery namin na ito. Pwede ng mag-bottomless siomai!

I checked the nutrition facts, not bad naman.

Steaming these pork dumplings only takes 15 minutes.

Super sarap nito with toyomansi, promise! =)


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I often eat this for dinner without rice (kasi may carbs na siya). I know I am not supposed to eat meat often but I am taking things one at a time. I am now on a low-carb diet so I inevitably eat a lot of protein to get full. I am also avoiding fried and salty foods. So kahit papano medyo ok na rin itong siomai na ito. Basta baby steps muna when it comes to dieting. Ang importante, controlled na ang sugar ko.

I love autumn!

The weather is getting cooler now. Hay salamat. Just nine more days and it's officially fall.

Among the four seasons, it's autumn that I love the most (summer being the loathed one). Aside from the cool and refreshing temperature, it's really the orange leaves that make this season beautiful - especially to us Filipinos who aren't used to this wonderful sight. Ang ganda kasi talaga seeing those leaves turn orange then slowly fall off on the ground. The assembly of big piles of reds, oranges, and browns is perfect for instagram photos lol!

There's so many happy events to look forward to on fall -- halloween (my favorite holdiday since I love all things spooky!), thanksgiving (as a Canadian resident, dapat maki-in din ako dito) and of course, my son's birthday (November 13). Autumn also means that Christmas is just around the corner.

It was fall last year when we moved here in BC. I wasn't able to enjoy the season because we were busy and occupied with so many things. Unlike in Edmonton, there is an abundance of maple trees here. I will make sure to take beautiful photographs this time.

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.

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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. 

Birthday with the Stroller Mommas

I went out with my new mommy friends last Thursday (September 7) for my post-birthday celebration. Kinulit kasi nila ako haha, pero na-touch naman ako kasi nga sila ang nag-initiate.

We've been here in BC for almost a year now (though Nathan and I went to Pinas for 5 months and 1 week) and I am glad to have found two new friends who became my ka-gimikan and ka-chika the past months.

Meet the Stroller Mommas

I actually met Juris (the girl in white) at Taipei Taoyuan Airport during our flight layover last April. Pabalik na kami ni Nathan sa Canada noon, ganun din sila ng family niya.

Sobrang layo papunta sa gate ng connecting flight namin (may train ride pa) tapos medyo parang scary na yung mga areas na dinadaanan kasi kokonti na ang tao (alanganing oras na rin kasi). The worst part, all the elevators were not working kasi may pending construction yata. Imagine me and my 2-year old son trying to figure out how to go to the next floor without an elevator. Eh me stroller ako at maraming handcarry.

The first two escalators, nalampasan namin. Medyo mababa lang kasi ang escalator, una ko munang inihatid sa taas ang anak ko tapos I instructed him to wait for me kasi bababa ako to get the stroller. No choice eh, walang ibang tao sa paligid (creepy nga eh). Pero at a very young age, my son naman knows na how to follow instructions saka hindi siya magulong bata. Takot din siya sa stairs so hindi siya bababa nang walang kasama. I just made sure na nakikita nya pa rin ako habang bumababa ako para hindi siya magpanic.

Yung last stair ang problematic kasi sobrang taas. Kapag nasa taas na si Nathan, parang hindi na niya ako makikita sa baba. I was worried kaya hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko. Walang katao-tao talaga sa paligid.

Then after a few minutes, dumating si Juris, her Caucasian husband, and two little kids. Juris nicely asked me: "Anong matutulong ko sayo, Ate?" I was so thankful, sabi ko kung pwedeng pakitingnan lang saglit yung anak ko sa taas kapag inakyat ko para makuha ko yung stroller sa baba. They couldn't help me kasi with the stroller dahil ang dami rin nilang dala.

Nagkahiwalay na kami after that and we saw each other again sa may play area malapit sa gate namin (same flight kami). That's when I learned that they are from Langley.

Hindi rin kami gaanong nakapagchika because she was very busy attending to her kids. Nagkita na lang uli kami sa Vancouver airport na while we were waiting from our baggage in the carousel. That's when she asked for my number, ang sabi ko wala na "yata" akong phone number kasi more than 5 months ako sa Pinas, tila pina-disconnect na ng asawa ko kasi nga magbi-BC number na rin naman ako later on. Add nya na lang kako ako sa Facebook.

Since the, we became chatmates na sa FB. Then she invited me to her son's first birthday last June 25. That's where I met Tess, her best friend in high school. Tess is currently on a one year mommy leave from work. She has a 9-month old son and they live in New Westminster.

These two girls are so gala, hindi sila mapakali sa bahay. Juris' husband works on a one-week-work-one-week-off basis (sa mining) so kapag wala ang husband niya, talagang pinapasyal niya ang mga kids nya kung saan-saan. Si Tess naman every Sunday lang off ang husband niya kaya naiinip din at laging umaalis ng bahay. These girls are so madiskarte, kabisado na nila ang pasikot-sikot sa Metro Vancouver haha. Through them, natuto ako mag-bus at mag-train kasama si Nathan.

Lagi nila akong inaaya kapag lalabas sila (to meet with their other friends din) pero madalas hindi ako sumasama kasi nga exhausting for me ang magcommute tapos ang init pa. Saka they normally meet early eh ang late gumising ni Nathan kasi nga late na rin matulog. Alanganin.

Kaya for my birthday, ang sabi ko puntahan na lang nila ako sa 'terrritory' ko -- sa Surrey. No problem daw.

Because they like Sushi and Korean food, I brought them to Il Uk Jo, an eat-all you can Japanese and Korean restaurant na madalas naming kinakainan ni hubby.

I admire this girl kasi ang hirap nang may karag na dalawang toddlers ha. Ang liit ba babae pero very strong.

Juris with Zoey and Jack

I admire Tess naman kasi talagang ang patient niyang mag-alaga ng baby. I don't remember being that hands-on with Nathan haha. Kasi palagi kong kasama si Ford, siya ang in-charge kay Nathan tuwing umaalis kami.

Tess with Baby Marco

We feasted on a lot of food grabe. Busog na busog ako lalo na sa bbque. Oops, ang sugar! I make sure that I eat very little rice/carbs. As in less than a cup lang. So far, ok naman ang blood sugar level. Nakakaya ng gamot lol.

I was so surprised when then handed me their gifts after eating. They didn't have to, parang nahiya naman ako. Pati si Ford binigyan din ni Juris ng gift. I was thankful. At least me na-receive akong gift sa birthday ko haha.

(Note: Ford, until today, is insisting that we buy a gift for me. Parang di siya mapakali. Pero sabi ko wala naman akong gusto saka madami nakong nashopping the past weeks. Saka nag-Victoria trip naman kami kaya gift na rin yun).

After lunch, we proceeded to Guildford Town Centre (the mall across our apartment) so that kids could play at nang makalakad-lakad na rin.

I am happy kasi may constant kids na sa life ni Tantan - sina Baby Marco, Zoey, and Jack.

He's now comfortable being with them. Hindi na siya nahihiya, at home na siya. Gusto nga palagi kaming nakabuntot sa kanila while walking sa mall.

Indeed, I am grateful kasi nga I found good friends na rin dito. By the way, Juris is/was a nurse in Pinas and she's been very helpful sa mga health concerns ko ngayon. Tess is also very supportive. Nakakatuwa talaga. I hope we could be friends forever.

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Eto pala ang gift nila. Haha, the chocolate will definitely go to Pinas kasi nga bawal na sa akin (buti matagal pa ang expiration).