To all my Kano friends who go through the Thanksgiving predicament every year, here in our home away from home in the land of enchantment.
It started out wrong a few decades ago, a thanksgiving dinner for my family who had no idea what the heck thanksgiving even was. First in the early 1990’s trying to find a Butterball Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, or the ingredients for sausage stuffing. Hell Paul that should be simple enough. Then I remembered that I was the only one who had any idea how to even make the gravy.
One year one of my ships was pier side in Subic and it was Thanksgiving Day. The Ship’s Master opened the galley to family and friends. I know the ship’s cooks must have loved that. But the ladies absolutely loved the meal, but then proceeded to crush my feelings, when all the girls said in unison; “Is that how it’s really suppose to taste? Daddy that was good!”
The Thanksgiving food search every year came to an instant halt. Unless another ship pulled in and I could get invited inboard to eat.
But Olongapo was growing and expanding with new restaurants coming on line every month. Now Thanksgiving Dinners were popping all over the place, reasonable prices, heaping plates but no divan or college ball after you eat to complete the day. But a meal worth waiting for, and sharing the day with old shipmates doing the same thing with our families.
There we were at the Sit-N’-Bull in the Barrio, now a strange thing happened, it was a repeat of something that occurred when my granddaughter Heather Colleen was at a pancake house and found that pancakes are served with ice cream for breakfast. You could see the joy shinning from her pretty eyes. But here was the shock, her mother ate bacon her entire life, and yet my granddaughter never had. The look I gave my daughter made her whither. Colleen, tried my bacon, and I ordered 2 more orders of bacon and maybe a third order if needed. One other thing that drives her father’s family crazy is Colleen, will when out to eat, will pass on rice and requests mashed potatoes and gravy. I accept the blame for that.
But one more shock happened at Thanksgiving, she is 14 now, and this was the first time she ever had turkey. Now I was in shock, but she liked it, and of course there was mashed potatoes and gravy. Cranberry sauce didn’t make it to her hit list!
But Thanksgiving is meant to be with family, the food has importance, but the company is what really makes the day worthwhile! Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Sounds like another Christmas dinner. Never experienced Thanksgiving here in Aust.
Nick;
Thanksgiving Holiday is not much to you folks from Oz, but while I was there at the “BULL” Thursday I noted 15 of your countrymen chowing down on the ham and turkey, so maybe they don’t do the holiday, but they sure do the meal. (LOL)
Here in Colorado Thanksgiving is more of a struggle than there in the land of enchantment. The day before Thanksgiving my wife has to make at least 4 different varieties of pies (the easy part ) and then I have to sample all of them to make sure they are edible. Then in the evening the 22 lb turkey has to be washed and bagged so that it can be placed in the oven around 6 am Thanksgiving day. Turkey day is really bad as there is an abundance of food prepared (after my breakfast of apple pie and coffee) and I have to sample all of it to make sure it tastes OK. Sweet Potatoes with marshmallows, nuts, brown sugar, ect — green pees with table cream — mashed potatoes and gravy — ham — dinner rolls, with butter — green salad — pistachio salad,
cranberry sauce — a few other items –and last but not least the turkey and dressing. By the time everything is put on the table I almost don’t even care about eating. Then it takes at least two days to try to dispose of the left overs. All in all I am more stuffed than the Turkey.
Loren;
If that isn’t the best excuse I’ve ever heard to go out and eat Thanksgiving Dinner, my wife makes no pies, but the bakery on the Highway makes the best banana bread, great with coffee. Invite my granddaughter and her mom and dad to eat. 11:30 make that long hard drive to the Bull’s and search for a parking space. I have reservations so straight to our table, say hi to the ladies at the Bull and to Ron no menu required just grunt. Okay there was no vast selection of pies, but then I can still fit in most of my pants. The meal is done; a group of people clean the area where we sat. Leftovers (Not that much) are bagged and moved to the car’s trunk, and we found that some Filipino guy took it on himself to wash every car on the street, he requested no payment just if you wanted to tip him. (₱100.00 from me because he preformed honest work) Then that long 30 minutes to home, and more coffee and banana bread. Mayang ate her leftovers and I took a nap that is life on the enchanted Isles. Happy Thanksgiving my friend
loli had litchon manook
George;
Litchon Manook? Turkey is hard to get! At any time.
I took our 2 year old out to our company’s thanksgiving dinner. Was her first time to eat turkey and she loved it. But ate too much and got sick in the car. Hope that doesnt scare her off turkey. Just need to take a nap and let the food settle.
Don;
That happened to me years ago, but it was the wine! Tell her it was something else that made her sick (Like Wine) and maybe she’ll never have a drink in her life! I’d be beyond rich had someone done that for me!
Nards Cobardo >>> Bayanihan remember ? where are you now ?
Garcia Ben;
I don’t remember, I’m right here, I never mention Nards in mixed company!
I will say Paul I am a bit green with envy with your Thanksgiving meal.
As Predicted my Turkey Dinner was a 1/2 Baby Tuna on the Grill with me working the tongs “Not Thongs” At least I was using my Genuine Weber Smokey Joe Grill (via: Balikbayan Box) with a coldie in my hand so it was a day to be thankful for on the far side of the world.
Neal
Whatever you do, never let a local near that grill. It will be left out in the rain, the surface scraped to clean it and have cold water poured over it which as you know will crack the surface.
It’ll be just like the teflon frying pans!
Cheers
AJ UK
AJ/UK
All my BBQ equipment I had made out of stainless steel, they try, but they do get frustrated. Then they run inside and scrub my Teflon pan with a nice new Brillo Pad. You know we won’t win! (LOL)
Do we call that a 50% success rate Paul?
Or is it just a moral victory?
Aj/UK,
A 50% victory is like winning half a race, but if you can save one pan, and keep one expensive clever out of a mango tree. You are ahead of the national average. My stainless steel grill and watching the frustration, is making up for the fact they won’t let me drink anymore. Take those little wins, wherever one can!
And a big Happy belated Thanksgiving to you and Mayang and all the family too, Paul. We all have a LOT to be Thankful. for.
David;
Thank you and many returns of the day to you and yours. I’ve had better years but I still thankful for this one. I’m disappointed as I was heading to San Diego to visit friends and Florida to see my grandson. But the doctors tell me to wait until 2018. Oh well!
Neal;
As long as I can find someone to cook a thanksgiving dinner, I’ll go and eat it. I rarely get a turkey here in the RP, so when I do I’m down for that. All the other meals are great be it pork, chicken, “London broil,” fish or whatever. Later this week I’ll be at the Bull eating a French Dip roast Beef on a French roll dunking it into fresh Au Jus, with fried Onion Rings on the side. But once in awhile it’s gotta be a turkey dinner.
Paul,
Dinner looks yummy! We just got a boneless turkey breast and apple pie at S&R. We did not have any stuffing as I couldn’t find any boxed stuffing mix. Was surprised S&R did not have any pumpkin pies as they usually do. But can’t complain as the apple pie was the best I’ve had here and the turkey was very good also.
PapaDuck;
S&R has some good pies and pastries plus the only place I can find English Muffins. Those turkey breasts are good; I buy them when I’m in the mood for hot turkeys sandwiches.
Had Thanksgiving Dinner with a group of friends at Rics’ Country Kitchen, sorry Ric, but salting the holy Phuck out of the turkey did not make it taste better. Cranberry sauce was on the menu, but didn’t exist. Still, enjoyed the company and the holiday, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Pita Mike;
Went there once, didn’t stay. There were eight of us they seated us with all the industrial equipment and the empty SMB bottles outside on the patio because it was cooler there, they didn’t turn on the Air/con. Throw down some menus and disappeared. One friend read the prices and said, for less money I could have a steak at Texas Joe’s and five minutes later that’s where we were. (Sorry Ric)