Easter Sunday Dinner and a Mini- Reunion of the David B Katague Clan

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, 2025 was a super happy Day for Me. My 3 adult children, one grand daughter and Macrine's niece and family were able to join me for an early Dinner Feast in a Filipino Restaurant, Isla Grand Restaurant in Pleasant Hill, CA.   

https://www.islafilipinorestaurant.com/

Since, it was Easter Sunday, the restaurant did not take reservations. As usual the restaurant was crowded, but we waited only for about 10-15 minutes. We were lucky to be seated in the semi-private room, which is much quieter and away from the mob of patrons in the main dining area. We ordered the Sulit Bilao Food Tray #4💚( see list of dishes below), four other side dishes, beef nilaga, fish balls, extra steam rice and later dessert of halo-halo, leche flan and Ube ice cream.  

There were nine of us: Me, Dodie, Dinah and Ditas ( my 3 children), Alix Katague Quinn (grand daughter) and Lanie (Elaine) (Macrine's niece), husband Alex Chalfin and two children  (Wesley ad Samantha). 

Here some of the photos that Ditas and I took during our early dinner. The food was excellent and in abundance. We had a large amount of food leftover to take home.

💜Eggs, Prawns, Squids, Dried Fish, Tocino, Pork, Chicken, Lechon, Okra and Mango Salad and Rice ( see list below )

Ditas and I with the Ube ( Taro Root) Ice Cream- the color matching her hair  

Dodie ( son), Alix ( grand daughter) and Ditas ( daughter)

Dinah and Dodie-In the Background the main dining Area

Alex Chalfin and son Wesley

Lanie and Daughter Samantha

Wesley scoping Beef Soup with Assorted Vegetables- Nilaga Na Baka 

💜The Sulit Bilao Food Tray#4-is what we ordered, It contains the following:   

FREE Misua Soup
Grilled Liempo
Grilled Jumbo Squid
Grilled Prawns
Pork Longganisa
Crispy Pata
Freshly Cooked Chicharon
Lanz’s Lumpiang Shanghai
Crispy Fish (Jeprox)
Kyle’s Chicken Wings
Fried Daing na Bangus
Prawn Crackers
Hard Boiled Eggs
Sweet Chili
Isla Bagoong (shrimp paste)
Isla Spiced Vinegar
Diced Manggoes & Tomatoes
3 Sodas
Choices of 2 Desserts:
Ice Cream, Banana Con Hielo

or Mais Con Hielo    

Here's the Full Menu for your Information: 

https://www.yelp.com/menu/isla-grand-pleasant-hill

Meanwhile, I received 2 more gifts from the travels of Grand Daughter Alix and  Daughter Ditas as follows:

Sea Salt Macadamias from Australia and Arrowroot Cookies from Marinduque, Philippines

Finally, Here's 15 Short Family Reunion Quotes: 

• 1. Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life. - Albert Einstein
  
• 2. The only thing sweeter than union is reunion. - Kathleen McGowan
• 3. Love makes a family. - Gigi Kaeser
• 4. Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. - David Ogden Stiers
• 5. Family is not an important thing. It's everything. - Michael J. Fox
• 6. I sustain myself with the love of family. - Maya Angelou
• 7. Family is the most important thing in the world. - Princess Diana
• 8. A happy family is but an earlier heaven. - George Bernard Shaw
• 9. The family is one of nature's masterpieces. - George Santayana
• 10. We are who we are because they were who they were. – Unknown
• 11. Sticking with your family is what makes it a family. - Mitch Albom
• 12. The memories we make with our family are everything. - Candace Cameron Bure
• 13. May the roots of your family tree grow deep and strong. - Irish Blessing
• 14. Trees without roots fall over. - Unknown
• 15.  Life is beautiful. It's about giving. It's about family. - Walt Disney

Do You have any favorite quotes from the above?  Mine are # 3, 7 and 15. I Hope you All had A Happy Easter Sunday!