In 2020, we were still able to enjoy a meal at Nono’s Comfort Kitchen in Makati. In 2021, even if there were restrictions, we still got to enjoy a buffet meal at Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu & Unlimited Barbecue after doing the groceries. That meal at Tong Yang was completely spontaneous as we were just planning to take out food. But when we saw that it was open, we got tempted to eat.

Anyway, even if we celebrated Valentine’s Day at home, we didn’t feel like we were missing out on anything. It was even better because our kids got to also enjoy the food that we bought.

Here are the things that we are grateful for during Valentine’s Day:

It’s no secret that Auffrance is one of our most favorite party tray suppliers in Metro Manila. Auffrance used to cater to weddings and parties around Metro Manila that’s why their food is always of superb quality.

The owner, Ms. Nina Ramos, is also very nice to talk to. She would always update us on the status of our orders, provide clear instructions when picking up the food, and then remind us to sanitize the food once we receive it. She is always so pleasant and warm.

We bought a family size Spinach Lasagna and a tub of Ribs by the Bucket. Auffrance’s Spinach Lasagna is always spot on. It’s cheesy, meaty, flavorful, and fragrant with herbs. The Ribs by the Bucket, meanwhile, is meaty and tasty. It’s not tough or cartilaginous like other meat dishes made of ribs.

Fruits In Bloom is actually a recent discovery because I used to think that only flowers provided the ultimate element of surprise for your special someone during Valentine’s Day. That was the reason why I was hesitant to try Fruits In Bloom. However, as time went on, bouquets of flowers somehow felt impractical because they just wilt and eventually get thrown away.

I thought of trying Fruits In Bloom and I was amazed with how good the quality is. The arrangement looked beautiful. Not only that, you can eat it after admiring how it looked.

Finally, I was able to find a good fruit basket supplier in Cabanatuan City (RAM Fruit & Fruit Basket Cabanatuan) that delivered to our town. 

I ordered a fruit basket and had it delivered to our house during Valentine's Day. RAM Fruit & Fruit Basket Cabanatuan was efficient and followed my instructions well. At least I can send a gift to my mother during special occasions.

I also ordered four banana loaves from One Sweet Day, a local pasty supplier in San Antonio. Of course, we also wanted to send over something that my father would also enjoy during Valentine’s Day.

We treated ourselves to Royce chocolates and also gave two small boxes as gifts to our loved ones at the house. This is a once in a blue moon purchase because they're really expensive although they do taste delicious. Again, you pay for the quality of the product and not the quantity.

That’s pretty much how our Valentine’s Day went. I hope you also had a good Valentine’s Day celebration or at least you had a reason to be grateful during that day.

If you have stories to share, do write them in the comment section below.

For the last three editions of Grateful Dad, please read the following:

To read the whole series, please click here.