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I ate like a king!

Food/Drink / by

Last night I ate like a King! And, it was thanks to Steven King. No, not the horror writer, but a British friend who lives here in Davao. You see, Steve and his friend John Grant (a Columnist on this site) have been friends for some time now. Over the months, John keeps mentioning to me that Steve is a great cook and his specialty is to cook a British Sunday Roast. Well, I’ve never had a British “Roast Dinner” before, so my mouth was watering just thinking about trying it! Last week, John and Steve came over and were talking about it again, so I just blurted out – “OK, let’s do it next Wednesday.” They were kind of shocked, I think, that I put them on the spot like that! But, when Wednesday came around, Steve and John showed up, food in hand, and ready to cook!

John and I took up residence in front of the TV and chatted while watching a little TV. Steve and Feyma joined forces in the Kitchen. Feyma helped as Steve guided her through the cooking process for an authentic British Sunday Roast. John and I were getting a little upset because we were hungry and the cooking took longer than planned, but it turned out to be well worth the wait!

The Roast Dinner included a wonderful (and huge) Pork Roast, Roast Potatoes, Carrots, Cauliflower, Yorkshire Pudding (it’s not a dessert!), Mushrooms, and a wonderful gravy to smother everything in. Oh my, was it delicious! There was good news too – Feyma wasn’t really there to help, she was there to spy and find out how the British cook their famous “Sunday Roast” so that we could duplicate it in the future! And, Feyma took good notes!

Whenever I heard Steve talk about Yorkshire Pudding, I always kind of teased him about it. I had never had Yorkshire Pudding before, although I had heard of it (although didn’t really know what it was). I kind of thought it was a dessert, but I was wrong. Feyma and Steve made the Yorkshire Pudding from scratch, and it was delicious! Steve said that he had never made Yorkshire Pudding from scratch, he always used frozen ones in the UK, but that isn’t available here, so Feyma searched out some recipes on the Internet. I must say, the Yorkshire Pudding was one of my favorite parts of the dinner for me. Hold on… that’s not true. Every single dish was so delicious that I couldn’t choose one that was the best!

Like I said, we at like Kings. Change that… I think we’d all agree that we actually ate like pigs! We were so full by the end of the meal that we couldn’t even think about dessert! Actually, I was kind of planning that I’d eat some of the leftovers for lunch, but when John took the whole tray of meat and set it where his plate had been sitting, I knew that leftovers were out of the question!

It’s nice to have friends from different parts of the world, and we can all share our favorites from “home” with each other here in a foreign land. Learning about cultures and foods from all over the world is one of the advantages of living abroad, in my opinion.

Oh, that Yorkshire Pudding….. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Hi Bob,

    Just to say I still cannot eat anything after two days still no room lefrt in my stomach.

    Now I will starve myself until the THanksgiving meal at your house, and this will be my first Thanksgivng meal ever!!!

  6. So true, Bob: "It’s nice to have friends from different parts of the world, and we can all share our favorites from “home” with each other here in a foreign land". The joy of sharing stories and enjoying one's company with friends amidst food and drinks. :mrgreen:

    I just wonder what is the recipe there for the British Roast dinner (and thank you, Bob, for that nice picture) – the sauces and mixtures used to marinate the pork, etc. I'd like to try this one out too (well, not as well as what you guys created) when I return to Phil by December. 🙂

  7. Hi AmericanLola – It was absolutely delicious! Excellent! Speaking of Thanksgiving, what do you guys do on Thanksgiving? Do you prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal? Get together with other Americans in CdO?

    Hi Jio – I don't know the real recipe, I suspect that Feyma does now, though, and certainly Steve does! After Feyma cooks it, maybe she can share some tips?

  8. Jio – one other thing…. regarding the photo. We got eating so fast that we forgot to take a photo! But, I found that photo on the net, and it is under a Creative Commons license on Wikipedia, free to use by others…. so I grabbed it! 🙂

  9. My my my!!! So I was being spied on hey?? I thought Feyma was assisting me, but really she was the spy in the camp!!! I will have words with her when I see her ha ha.
    But seriously, I am flattered by your compliments and indeed so relieved that it turned out well. It was an absolute pleasure to cook for you guys, and it was great when the kids were in the kitchen, watching me prepare, asking me what was I doing, and why was I doing this and that?
    A full roast dinner English style is not difficult to cook, what is sometimes hard and to me is so important for a successful result is timing!! There are so many different things cooking and on the go all at the same time and they all take different lengths of time to cook and you want them ready all at the same time, to be produced hot but fresh on the table.
    Thats why it all took a little longer than expected. So poor Bob and John were left salivating while we were slaving away in the kitchen ha ha.
    I admit I was really worried about the Yorkshire puds because i have never made them from scratch before, so i was elated to see they came out good and were so popular. Again they are not hard to prepare, but to make them rise and be light and tasty is not easy!
    But it seems like it was a success. I was worried because I think there were high expectations…..but it seems like I was able to rise to the occasion.
    Like Bob and John, and many others I expect, i love to experience cuisine from all over the world. I have to admit my absolute favourite is chinese (cantonese style to be precise), closely followed by Thai food – oh wow the spices.
    But now that roast dinner experience has been done, I am making this public – Bob and John have agreed to produce a dinner at some point for myself and Feyma……….we are eagerly waiting guys!!

  10. Hi Steve – There was no need to be nervous! Even if it had not turned out good, we would have understood! After all, cooking here is not the same as cooking back in the UK. Different ingredients available, different oven, etc.

    Seriously, your meal was a joy! And, we do appreciate your effort! As far as I am concerned, you can absolutely count on that meal from John and I! I used to be a good cook when we lived in the USA, but I have rarely ever cooked here. So, I'll get my practice on your meal!

  12. Hi Bob John Steve . Iwas starting adiet to day no beer and sunday roasts. but having read your colunm my diet has ended before it started .

  14. mmmm , sounds yummy , guys . klaus saurbraten plz :mrgreen: i havent had it since the 80s when i was stationed in manz, i used to go to a little cafe about once a week.

  17. Hi Bob,
    Your dinner sounds so-o-o good. I haven't had Yorkshire pudding in years, but your delicious descriptions brought back the memories. Thank you for sharing your delight with the dinner.
    I have been without internet service for 6 weeks and I missed LIP more than mere words can express. I am taking this opportunity to thank you and Feyma and all the writers for this beautiful site, a gathering place for like-minded folks to share their memories, their daily experiences, their dreams for the future and their love for Philippines and its people. THANKS EVERYBODY!
    Karen

  18. Hi Karen – Thank you so much for your comment! We are happy to write articles here on this site. It's sort of a labor of love for me. I just love living in the Philippines, and sharing that here makes me happy! 😀

  21. well Bob you sure were treated like a king… Sunday roast on a Wednesday !!

    I'd give a lot to eat a Sunday roast, alas I am not a cook. I have found the meat here I'm afraid to say… not quite up to scratch so far.

    There may be an avenue for a "Sunday roast" restaurant in Daveo, I would definetly fly there if that was the case.

    I've only lived here for 2 months but do miss some of the food from home but thats life.

    Now please don't say next week that you have had traditonal British Fish n chips…… that would be rubbing it in !!! 😉

  22. Hi gerry – Very sorry to say this (not trying to rub it in) but my wife makes excellent British style Fish n chips. I eat Fish n chips at least once per week, either for lunch or dinner. Honestly! For the fish, she uses Lapu Lapu.

  26. Sunday roast….. fish n chips………

    life can be so unfair !!! 🙁

    Please don't tell me that you also have an English breakfast too……. where's that rope !! 🙂

  27. Hi gerry – being American, I don't really know what an English breakfast consists of.

    Hey, they sell Beef Bangers at our local deli! 😆

  28. Hi Ken, I think I remember this place in Mainz. Anyway a real Sauerbraten preparation takes a couple of days, starting by putting the beef meat into buttermilk for one night… But together with red cabbage, potatoes and beer :mrgreen: mmh, yummy. Guys, I think this write up of Bob demands more comments…

  29. Hi Bob- A typical Sunday breakfast consists of rashers of bacon, sausage (mainly pork )black pudding, fried eggs (sunny side up), grilled tomato or fried, fried mushrooms, baked beans and toast washed down with a pot of tea.
    How I suffer her in silence and Marilou knows just how we like it.
    Oh and all that is followed by the Sunday dnner, what a life what a waist line to go with it.
    lol…………………
    John do you miss it?

  30. My God, Jim! You guys know how to eat! What is the life expectancy over there? Please tell me where to send flowers for your funeral!!! 😆

  31. Hi Bob- Its little wonder that like America cholesterol over here is a problem. However Bob my excuse is I'm on an Atkins Diet should anyone ask. I hope I have a few years left before you need to send flowers.

  32. Hi Jim – Yeah, I hope you have many more years to go! I am on the Seefood diet myself. Whatever food I see, I eat it! 😆

  33. Hi Bob- I can remember when Marilou and I got married we were on the honeymoon salad diet……………Let us alone!!!!!!!!!

  34. Bob get John next! 😉 time to cook roast Leg of Lamb (but i doubt if you can get it there?)

    With roast lamb in England we have it with a mint sauce suet pudding(again its not a desert!) roast potatoes roast parsnips(mmmmm) and veg of your choice brocoli(is that available in davao?)

    also with roast port try apple sause masarap.

    Feelin hungreeeeeeei can smell it

    Graham…..

  35. Hi Graham – I have seen legs of lamb here, although only rarely. And, brocoli is readily available too. I agree on the applesauce with roast pork! We intended to have that the other night, but forgot! Ha ha… it was still great, though. 😆

  36. With this kind of foods you guys are talking about, your cholesterol levels must be dangerously low. 😆

  37. Excuse me – it was ME who cooked the Roast dinner not John ha ha ha
    Now where are those ingredients for the full English breakfast……ahh yes

  38. Actually I must just add….I dont know how anyone who did the regular Sunday thing on a regular basis could live over the age of 30, but I have done it a few times myself. The order of things are:
    Up late to a huge cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausages, black or white pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, toast and a huge mug of tea (oh you could have fried bread too if you wanted).
    Then, prepare the joint of meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken whatever it is), put it in the oven at a real low heat and go over to the pub over the road.
    A few hours and many beers later stagger back to the house to eat the big roast dinner usually consisting of meat, potatoes, yorkshires, vegetables, gravy etc etc. Even stretch to a dessert if you can manage it afterwards.
    Then fall alseep in the sitting room infront of the tv and snore loudly for 3 hours.
    That really has been done by many an English person, myself included ha ha. Our local pub was just 30 seconds away over the road so I could even pop back inbetween pints to check the potates and stuff. What a life!!