Lately, we were blessed with the warmth of the sun but still enjoyed the cool breeze of spring. Yes, this was exactly the weather we had last Mother’s Day, a day celebrated by families outdoors with our favorite barbecue reci­pes. There were several unusual things that happened Mother’s day. First, a good friend from Santa Barbara, California made a surprise call to share her most memorable Mother’s Day celebra­tion with her son who flew from New York to be with her on this special day. She hasn’t seen her son for almost a year since he left to explore some opportunities in the ‘big apple.’ I felt an unusual joy and happiness of a mother through the tone of her voice. We were ‘phone pals’ for years so I knew her feelings that very hour. The telephone is the fastest way for us to communicate our emo­tions in a timely manner. Writing letters and cards are secondary. She does not like computer and therefore didn’t have one. She is a good homemaker and cook. Her special Mother’s Day breakfast menu served to her son was Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice; Egg Benedict, poached egg (Hollandaise Sauce) on whole wheat English muffin with thick sliced ham. Hollandaise Sauce is made of egg yolk, butter and lem­on juice (acid) emulsion or thick sauce. This sauce is also great for steamed or grilled asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower.

Part of the celebration of her son’s homecoming was throw­ing a lunch barbecue party on Mother’s Day. Second, her menu is simple, Grilled Halibut, a very ‘clean’ tasting fish that requires a little seasoning. It is cut into steak-like in thickness and size, salted, grilled and squeezed with lemon juice right before serving. Slices of green, red and yellow bell peppers; asparagus grilled and served with hollandaise sauce. For dessert, fresh, organ­ic (free from synthetic materials like pesticides and insecticides) strawberries raised (backyard compost) and harvested from her backyard. This menu is simply gorgeous! Light yet packed with nutrients needed by the body. What healthy way to spend the day with moms, who simply care to live longer by raising, eating and cooking healthy foods!

She enjoys living by herself since her husband was advised to be brought in a care facility for men with ALS. She sees him everyday without fail to bring his favorite Sweet Yam Cake, a nutri­tious mini loaf cake mixed with boiled, mashed yam. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her favorite television program, The Food Network.

Thirdly, as for me, Mother’s Day was an excuse to indulge with dim sum, a Chinese way of cooking (steaming) and serving food in small portion or steamer. One advantage of dining in dim sum restaurant is enjoying va‑ riety of preparation served with  an extremely short time spent for dining. Ever since we discovered Kam Ding Dim sum at Pine Tree Village,Coquitlam for almost 7 years ago, we didn’t dare to try other dim sum restaurants any­more. The place is always packed with regular dinners. Turnover is fast, so you need not fret when you come with people waiting to be seated. Among our favorites, Steamed Gai lan with Oysters Sauce, Machang (Steamed gluti­nous rice with meat and wrapped in lotus leaf), Sio Mai, Steamed Tendons, Shrimp Dumpling, Chili Chicken feet with taosi (salted black bean). Phone reservation is welcome, just in case you want to be given a table right away upon arrival.

A dim sum brunch on Mother’s Day gave us more time to spend the rest of the afternoon at Deep Cove, a beautiful little village with rich and hidden treasure at the entrance of Indian Arm on the North shore of Vancouver. The place is beautiful quiet with small unique shops of select merchan­dise, restaurants, hiking, trails with beautiful crescent-shaped waterfront. It was such a relax­ing scenery and place to spend the rest of the day.Generous servings of fruited Gelato ice-cream capped day. It was an ‘after‑ noon delight’ to remember!