Succulent adobo, crispy pata and rich bulalo were just some of dishes available last weekend at Kenosse Inn. Never mind if you don't know the names, the food was beyond delicious.
It was an evening where Filipino cuisine was at its finest, plates were empty just minutes after people sat to dine. Saying people went back for seconds would be an understatement; taste buds were stimulated and invigorated with flavours from the "pearl of the orient seas." Kenosee Inn and Cabins held its Filipino buffet benefit fundraiser on Saturday, Nov.30 to aid with relief efforts for those who have suffered at the hands of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippine. On Nov. 8 when the typhoon demolished the eastern seaboard of the Philippines, the pain the country felt travelled all the way to Carlyle. With a Filipino population of about 80 people, the tragedy was close to home. It was then that the Filipino staff and the owners at Kenosee Inn decided to do their part in helping the country in need. Brachelle Pedro, an employee at Kenosee Inn and Cabins, was one the seven Filipino employees that helped to prepare and serve the meals at the event. She explained that she was overwhelmed by the turnout and support. "No words can explain how much we're thankful for the crowd because it's not just from around here but there are people from Maryfield. Its been tremendous and I'm still proud of being Filipino and we're also thankful because we didn't know how much people loved us," she said.
"And for the food we were actually hesitant at first because not everyone knows our food but its Asian cuisine but all in all we're very, very, very thankful."
Ed Fahlman one of the owners of Kenosee Inn said the turnout was fantastic and that the event was a success with about 230 people coming out to show their support. This he said speaks to the nature of the people in the local area and their attitude towards worthy causes. Fahlman also highlighted the connection the Kenosee Inn has with the Filipinos that work at the hotel.
"We just have an incredible sense of gratitude to Filipinos in general The labour shortage, such as it was - we were getting to the point where we could only offer limited services in limited areas," he said.
"These people are so great, and then you get to know them as individuals, so how can you not help. If something bad would have happened to any one of our staff members we would have reached out. This is farther away but we still felt we needed to reach out."
The event was kicked off at 5:30 p.m. and went up until to 8 p.m. however many were still seen chatting over drinks as the night went one. The occasion also provided an opportunity for those in attendance to meet and talk with members of the Filipino community. Tickets for the event were sold for $20 and the fundraiser was quickly sold out more than a week before. Many were encouraged to bring clothing that would be shipped to the Philippines as part of their relief efforts.
Joseph Hubalde a cook at Kenosee Inn said he is happy for the support and feels great to be able to help his fellow Filipinos back home.
"We did this buffet to help them build their houses again and to just help each other," Hubalde said.
The evening's dessert was leche flan, an egg and milk-based custardwith a caramelized sugar topping, as well as, bibingka or in layman terms rice cakes. Both were delicious and sweet, the epitome of what a dessert should be. However according to many who attended nothing was sweeter than the feeling of helping those in need.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the Red Cross Philippine relief and anyone who wants to donate can also go online and visit www.redcross.ca to assist with the relief fund.
