Spooks Fine Dining in Regina, Sask, Canada

This is my College group blog. I do not post often here because we only meet a week per year or 2 but we just had a reunion in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada last week, so I would love to share  this post with you. We all graduated with a Bachelors degree in Medical Technology although 3 of us pursued their education and are now medical doctors. It has been 43 years since we graduated but have kept in touch and we try to meet annually. Whenever we see each other, it is always like old times, and it is so much fun.

 

Whoever is the host, this time was Jazmine, prepares an agenda for us in advance and scheduled one evening, was fine dining. I was of course, assigned to set the table and I was also one of the main chefs, together with Gatchie as pictured below. Unlike me, although I have a natural knack for it , she loves to cook and we learn so much from her.

 

We stayed at Jazmine's sister, Josie's house, that could accommodate all of us since she lives alone and has 6 bedrooms in her home. Thanks, Josie. for your hospitality and putting up with our loud laughter!

 Although Gatch and I were main cooks, we had a lot of assistants.

 I had to rely on whatever Josie has in her home and she had this beautiful formal china with gold edges. I really do not know the pattern name. She also has a beautiful flatware set and stemware set. Thanks for letting us use them, Josie. I brought paper salad plates with ghosts on them, since we call ourselves "The Spooks" in College, to personalize it. I could not bring my ghost ceramic plates from home cause it would be too heavy in my luggage, besides it was already pushed to the limit at 50 pounds.

 Josie also had capiz plate chargers so I used those as well. We added a card table because the dining table would not accommodate all of us. We were 13 all in all, including Jazmines hubby, Zbigniew. We invited him to join us, though he was not with us the whole week. He stayed at their house which was not too far, while Jazmine joined us at Josie's the whole week.

 We had a lot of food to serve so I only placed a small vase that I picked up from one of Josie's occasional tables, for a centerpiece.

 For a napkin ring, I brought an orange ribbon from home, to blend with the orange stars on the paper plates, that I tied around . I brought name labels that I printed from home before I left and then hang a bracelet charm of a plate with spoon, fork and knife, I won on Ebay. We all have a charm bracelet with charms of places that we have been so we can add this to it.

We had so much food and all of them so tasty and delicious! Shown below are grilled flank steak and seafood paella.

 Gatch created this appetizer, prosciutto wrapped cantaloupes and garnished with basil, strawberry and blueberries.

 She also made a grapefruit salad with cucumber cubes, shrimp and I can't remember what else she added but it was so good! I have the recipe but I still have to find where I stored it. Balsamic vinaigrette for dressing. So refreshingly scrumptious! It had salad greens underneath.

 I made the seafood paella and it was also a hit!

 Everybody was excited to take pictures and was just full of admiration. We could not wait to start digging in.

I scattered a glow in the dark ghost all over the table.

 We also had grilled salmon.

 We had ice wine, courtesy of Josie, first time we all had it and it was so good. I wonder if I can find it here. They say it is only available in Canada.

Thanks for stopping by. I miss my friends already and this is something I can always come back to and view and reminisce the good times.

Centerpiece Wed

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com

Paula's What's It Wed

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Kathleen's Let's Dish

http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Susan's Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Kathy's Home and Garden Thursday

http://www.adelightsomelife.com/

Sarah's Homemaking Weekend Link Up party

http://bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/
Foodie Friday

http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

 

Thanks also to the hosts I am linked with.

 

Spooks Arrives in Natchez, June 2, 2012

We were all classmates in College and we were the closest of friends ever since. We are all from all the US, Canada and Philippines. We try to have a reunion almost every year in different places. This time, we decided to meeet at Christine's house in Natchez, MS. Shown here are Baby from the Philippines and Nelia from New Jersey while on a lay over at Houston airport.

 

Tess from southern California joined them here. They all came from different places but happened to catch the same flight in Houston.

Finally arrived in Baton Rouge airport, which is the closest airport to Natchez.

 Christine and John picked the girls up from the airport. Lyla from Indiana and Gatchie from St. Louis, actually arrived first.

We rented a 15 passenger van to accomodate all of us and the numerous luggage. As soon as we got to the house, we toured the yard and inside the residence.

We stopped and relaxed and used the massager when we got to the master bedroom.

 Then, it was time for dinner. We were all in awe at the dining table set up. We called ourselves "The Spooks" in College and Christine set the table using salad plates with ghosts on them, to represent the group.

The second batch arrived and shown here also are Elsie from San Diego, CA, Josie and Jazmine from Regina, Canada.

 A close up of the place setting.

 Here is Baby showing her place card.

 We all graduated as Medical Technologists although 3 of us pursued Medicine and became physicians. Thus, the centerpiece includes a microscope, a beaker and a graduated cylinder. It was really personalized for all of us. Thanks to Christine's tablescaping skill!

Gatch went straight to the kitchen and made us this scrumptious sweet and sour red snapper. YUMMMMM!

Christine made chicken tinola, a Filipino dish.

For dessert, Christine made Cassava cake, a native Filipino dessert, served here.

 After dinner came gift giving. Here we are happily showing off some of our gifts. Baby went to Vietnam prior to coming here and brought us gifts from there. SOOOOOOPPPPER!!!!!

Ly and Gatch brought all of us a jewelry set. Here's Jazmine showing us hers.

We have the whole week to look forward too. It's just the beginning and you can already hear everyone's laughter, especially Jazmine's, all over the house. It will definitely be a blast!

We have a few more members who unfortunately did not make it this time and we miss them terribly. Hopefully, they can all join next year, scheduled in Canada.

Thanks for stopping by! We are so glad we could share this special moment with all of you.

I am linking with The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday at

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Thanks for hosting!

College Years....Those Were the Days!

This was our school, University of Santo Tomas, the oldest university of the Philippines. We used to walk this alley every single day. That particular building, the Main building, was where our classes were held and our laboratory work done. The big door in front was where we used to wait for our boyfriends, to pick us up to take us home.

This is one of our class pictures. In case you are wondering why some of us were wearing a black jumper with a white blouse, those were our PE uniforms.

We had excursions out of school. These pictures were taken at the beaches of

Matabungkay and Pinamuk-an.

 A lot of us joined the Sing-out "Up with People" singing group and we performed in many different places. This particular performance was at our school,  the University of Sto. Tomas.

We had excursions outside school but we also had field trips sponsored by the school. This one was in Antipolo. We always enjoyed the trips immensely, no matter what!

I think this might have been Baby's debut party. Boy! Did we have lots of fun during those dancing parties. The girls would sit on one side and the guys stayed together on the other side. As soon as the music starts, the guys would get up and go to the particular ladies they would want to dance with. The most fun I think, happens when a lot of the guys stand in front of you all at the same time, (we called it "Bakuran") clamoring to have that dance with you and you are left with a dilemma of not knowing who to dance with, sort of the opposite of a wall flower. Those sure were the days, the good old fun days!

How do you like those mile high hairdos? LOL!

We bade goodbye to a good friend who left for Canada, Aven, at Manila International Airport. He was our Sing-Out guitarist.

Prom night!

.

Graduation Day!

Looking at these old photos always capture a feeling of nostalgia. I hope you enjoy viewing them as we do. Thanks for stopping by!