Recipes by Cafe Metro – Shangrila
Hubby and I enrolled ourselves in a special fat loss program wherein we are required to eat veggies, meat, and carbs every meal. I admit, choosing a decent resto these days can be really challenging because there are very few (especially Filipino restos) that serve veggies aside from the usual pinakbet, chopsuey, and kangkong. I cannot blame them because very few people order vegetable dishes.
Ever since I got myself into this program, i drag the butts of my office lunch buddies to restos that serve “real” meals, instead of fast food restos that serve nothing but oil, junk, and what not. Today, we decided to dine in at Recipes by Cafe Metro.
What did we think about it?
We first thought that their food was cheap because their chopsuey meal costs only 135 but when we saw how small their serving was, we go so disappointed. We got more disappointed when we saw their their chopsuey looked anything but that 
. There was no liver, no broccoli, no cauliflower; instead, we saw loads of bean sprouts or mongo shoot (toge) or whatever you call it. Gosh, it tasted like the sauted bean sprouts, often served in Tokyo Tokyo as side dish. It tasted NOTHING like chopseuy.
Pardon the photo, we were so hungry hahaha!
We also ordered Bistek Tagalog and even though I cannot complain on the beef selection (soft and thinly sliced), I can’t help but think about Tokyo Tokyo’s Beef Misono when I tasted it .
Again, super small serving, it can barely feed 2 people.
Again, we ate a portion of it already .. talk about patay gutoms
Because the food barely escaped reached our tummies, we ordered another dish that looked soo tempting on their menu.
In reality, the dish was served to us like this – parang halo halo lang.
In fairness, the lechon tasted okay, but the kangkong tasted like kangkong with plain soy sauce period. It took forever to arrive, we even had to follow up on it because they apparently forgot to process our additional order. tsk
To make things worst, the waiters were so distracted, unattentive, and snob. I mean gaaashh, it seemed like we owe them for eating there. I promised to avoid negative vibes but this is just annoying!
We paid for the bill with heavy burden in our hearts 
An 8.9% service charge for such an awful service. Never again!
You Need a Budget
It’s been a while now since we started using You Need a Budget (YNAB)… If I remember correctly, we bought this amazing software last May 2009. Since then budgeting has never been easier! Here’s why:
- It has a super cool user interface that’s robust, yet still easy to use –> Think Apple UI
YNAB
- I have always been confused with debit and credit, good thing, this app uses IN and OUT instead
- It’s more than an application… it encourages you to make saving a habit through goal setting and living by its 4 principles:
Give Every Dollar a Job
Each month you assign your Available dollars to spending/savings categories. This process takes 20 minutes and revolutionizes the way you think about your money.
Result: Dollars are told what to do. Your awareness will increasetremendously and you’ll find contentment as your spending aligns itself with your core values. Communication between spouses is restored.
Save for a Rainy Day
You’ll anticipate larger, less-frequent expenses and will be ready for them. Insurance premium due in six months for $600? Save $100 each month and watch the Car Insurance balance grow.
Result: Eliminate the crazy ups and downs in your life. Gain atrue picture of your discretionary income. Enjoy opening the mail again (the money will be there waiting to pay that bill).
Roll with the Punches
The key is to keep moving even when you fail (you will). YNAB will make small adjustments when you overspend, ensuring that you fix those mistakes before you go to the next month.
Result: It keeps you on your budgeting feet, so when you fail, you don’t quit. You start each month with a clean slate–a hugepsychological boost.
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
We want you to work toward living on last month’s income. Both the software and methodology will help you do just that.
Result: You’ll find breathing room. You’ll stop wasting time by timing paychecks with bills, and if you’re on a variable income, your budgeting “problem” will be eliminated.
Budgeting
- It is super lightweight and multi-platform, it even has an iPhone and now an Android application
- Syncing is very easy, it highlights the updates or conflicts between devices, and allows you to easily check for it and approve as necessary
- Beat this — It has an awesome website, awesome community, awesome crew, awesome tutorials
- It focuses more on changing lives rather than scoring money from its users because it focuses on YOU learning by giving free tutorials and coaching classes, it focuses on YOU getting the latest update for free for life, it focuses on YOU being able to access your application from all of your devices
If you’re still in doubt, read what others think about YNAB:
- http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0611/The-Best-Budgeting-Software-For-2011.aspx
- http://financialsoft.about.com/od/budgetingsoftware/gr/You-Need-A-Budget-Review.htm
- http://www.onemoneydesign.com/ynab-3-review-you-need-a-budget/
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/you-need-a-budget-ynab/id372076250?mt=8
- http://www.amazon.com/You-Need-Budget-YNAB-Personal/dp/B000QO76HU
Enough said, why don’t you guys just try this wonder for free 
I know, this is starting to sound like a paid ad but that’s how happy I am! 
I can’t stop spreading the good news! =) In fact, I’m glad that I am finally able to post this one because looking back, I really owe Jessy (founder of YNAB) big time! Read their story here.
If you have any question about this app, feel free to contact me via email. I’ll be a YNAB consultant for free!
Holy Week 2011
Immediate disclaimer before I begin - food pics to follow… if and when the brother in law decides to give me a copy.
Thursday – As always, we went to 14 churches to fulfill a family tradition, that is visita iglesia; one church along C5, near Eastwood made us carry a cross! Quite heavy but overall a pleasant experience because at least we got to at least try and carry a cross and walk under the heat of the sun.
Friday – Instead of fasting and prayer, BQ invited his mom and brother to go to Nuvali, and so we all did. Since there’s really nothing to do there, we went straight to Tagaytay and ate too much at Sonya’s Garden. For only Php 610 per head, we had unlimited salad (with dressing, etc.), unlimited salmon pasta, and unlimited dalandan juice!
–> Super sulit, fresh, delish, and filling! Did not like the ants I saw everywhere (yes, even on our tables) though…
Saturday – Another pig out session… went to C’ Italian Dining in Clark Pampanga to try their famous panizza (where Yellow Cab copied their Dear Darla).
To those who are not familiar, this resto is famous for their C’ SUPER CLASSIC FRESHLY BAKED PANIZZA (approx Php 600+ and good for 3 people), Chef Chris Locher’s masterpiece. Panizza is a rectangular thin crust pizza, served and eaten with arugula and alfalfa sprouts.
We also tried 2 of their risottos – Risotto Kristina – Php 600+ (salmon, prawns, asparagus, broccoli, and finished with tender mushrooms and white truffle oil) and Risotto Frutti di Mare – Php 700+ (salmon, marlin, prawns, mussels blended with tomato and saffron-flavored parmesan risotto).
Their SLOW ROASTED LAMB RIBS IN AROMATIC SPICE RUB (Php 890) was a pleasant surprise. Even though I’m not really into Lamb, theirs is actually delicious and tender.
Lastly, we ordered pasta but wasn’t able to taste it anymore, I was sooo full and not to mention, it was around 9 p.m. already when we ordered that.
Sunday – I just went to the salon to have my hair and nails done – at last! And then went to church service in the afternoon. One important lesson learned, everything means nothing without Him. We must not let ourselves be a prisoner of this world by following what it dictates; instead, let us live a meaningful life by doing what He wants us to .
Happy Easter everyone!
Shop Til You Drop Grand Sale
Gourdo’s, along with Living Well and Sleep Care is having another sale! Woot! My favorite? This uber cute Gourmet Getaway Bag selling for only 395:
Their store locations as follows:
- Alabang
- Address :Home Zone, Upper Ground Level, Alabang Town Center Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
- Contact No.:556-3966 to 67
- Gateway
- Address :3/F Gateway Mall, Araneta Center Cubao, Quezon City
- Contact No.:913-2991
- Gourdo’s World Market Alabang Town Center
- Address :Alabang Town Center
- Contact No.:
- Gourdo’s World Market Greenbelt 2
- Address :Greenbelt 2
- Contact No.:
- Greenhills
- Address :R1 and R2 Upper Level, Promenade Mall Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Ave. Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila
- Contact No.:744-3087
- Living Well Home Store SM Mall of Asia
- Address :SM Mall of Asia
- Contact No.:
- Living Well Home Store The Podium
- Address :The Podium
- Contact No.:
- Makati
- Address :3/F Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City
- Contact No.:757-5771
- Sleep Care Alabang Town Center
- Address :Alabang Town Center
- Contact No.:
- Sleep Care Glorietta 4
- Address :Glorietta 4
- Contact No.:
- Sleep Care Shangri-la Plaza
- Address :Shangri-la Plaza
- Contact No.:
- The Fort
- Address :Unit G, The Fort Entertainment Complex, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Metro Manila
- Contact No.:887-0150
- Trinoma
- Address :Lobby Level, Trinoma, EDSA Corner North Avenue, Quezon City
- Contact No.:901-3475