Thursday 29 May 2014

Sexy Chef 5 day Vegetarian Package

I have managed to gain back the weight I once lost and since I don't have time to go to the gym I decided to try to lose weight through dieting.

To start off my diet, I ordered the Sexy Chef's 5 day Vegetarian Package (Php 1,500). My work schedule is very flexible so I can't accomodate deliveries made with breakfast because they are usually way to early for me - this the reason why I opted for the lunch and dinner package for now.

Day 1
Lunch: Meatless Arroz ala Cubana
I love my first day veggie lunch, it was fulfilling and yummy. My meal had a big serving of brown rice and the viand had green peas, carrots, raisin and crush tofu (I think) smothered in tomato sauce. My only complaint for this meal is that the viand's serving was not proportionate to the amount of rice.

Dinner: Vegetarian Tantanmen
It was my first time to encounter the word "Tantanmen", with a bit of googling I found out that it was a noodle soup. I like the idea that they did not mix the soup with the rest of the ingredients when they delivered it. This way noodles won't get soggy when its meal time.
As I reheated my dinner, the soup smelled of peanuts. I can't quite describe how it tasted but for me it was delicious. I just love the fried tofu included in the soup, it was so tasty.

Unfortunately, I can't really count today as my Day 1 because my husband brought me cake then we later on met with his friends and we ate and drank that night.

Day 2
Lunch: Lentil Pasta Bolognese
Awww... no rice for lunch? =(
At least it's pasta and it's in red sauce too (fave). But how can bolognese be meatless? Their bolognese sauce had a huge serving of green peas, carrots and corn plus they also provided Parmesan cheese to go with it. Once again, they separated the sauce from the pasta when delivered. I really appreciate it that my pasta is not soggy when its time for me to eat them.

Dinner: Tofu of the Sea Bunwich
Now I feel like I'm really on a diet because of this bunwich. I don't know why it is called "Tofu of the Sea" because I did not find anything seafood on it. The tofu stuffing was really flavorful - it had a sweet sour taste and had a little crunch too. I'm not sure if it was pickles or cucumber, but I loved it. The downside to this meal is that the bun was so crumbly that it became messy to eat.

Day 3
I am having several visits to the comfort room today. I am not sure if this is because of what I have been eating with Sexy Chef. I'm not even sure if this is detoxing. Anyways, I checked my weighing scale and I believe a pound or two today. Yipee!

Lunch: Veggie Mongolian Rice Bowl
I am so glad that my lunch today has rice! I just had a very long meeting and this meal is definitely what I need to kick off the tensions. My rice meal had pieces of fried tofu, pechay and bits of corn, bell pepper and shredded carrots (I think). I just love the Mongolian flavors it had.

Dinner: Tofu "Egg" Scramble Burrito
Egg? I thought I ordered vegetarian? Surprisingly, the burrito didn't have egg on it but it was actually tofu coated in curry sauce that made it look like it was egg. Cool! It had soft kidney beans, mushrooms, and green bell pepper which added a bit of crunch to it. The burrito may have looked small but it was a fulfilling meal.

Day 4

Lunch: Tofu "Fish Ball" Afritada with Brown Rice
Tofu again?! I never had this much tofu in a week! hahahaha This time the tofu looked like fish balls but has no fish in it. The tofu balls actually had mushrooms and some greens in it (don't know what really). It was yummy and the afritada sauce had just the right savory and sweet taste. Once again, it was another delicious meal for lunch.

To my fellow readers who kept reading till my day 4 because they are interested to know if this diet works, I am very sorry to disappoint you. Once again, I failed to stick to the system. Me and my husband went out tonight to watch a movie and inevitably I had to eat dinner out with him. Sorry guys... I will keep on writing this post till my day 5 just so you know the type of food they deliver but will not be posting any weight change because it won't be realistic and be unfair to Sexy Chef too.

Dinner: Asian-style Vegetarian Spaghetti (No Shrimp)
I ate Sexy Chef's Veggie Spaghetti on the 5th day as my breakfast. It still smells good after heating it but it did not taste as good. It was plain, a bit bland and did not had much on it - just the usual corn, carrots and peas. Such a disappointment =(

Day 5

Today marks my last Sexy Chef meal and since I am at home with my husband, we ate both lunch and dinner servings together over lunch time.

Lunch: Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce, Brown Rice and Misono Vegetables
Another tofu meal - now why am I not that surprised. hehehe This time around, their tofu were on a stick and were grilled. The Misono vegetables were crunchy and tasty but tasted like it was buttered. I love their peanut sauce, it was sweet and thick almost like peanut butter.

Dinner: Oriental Fruit Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette
Their salad had fresh mixed greens and several pieces of grapes and little oranges. The oriental sauce was delicious but I should not have put everything on the salad because soon did I realize that it was too much that my salad was swimming in it. hahahah Had a difficult time tossing the salad since the container was small.

The Verdict

Their food was mostly good except for the Asian Spaghetti. They deliver my food before lunch usually from 10AM to 11AM and I love how they were able to change my delivery address on a day notice since I wanted my Friday delivery to be at home. Their packaging may not be eco-friendly because they had several disposable packaging but I really appreciate how they separate their soups and sauces to retain the ingredients freshness.

I recommend the Sexy Chef 5 day packages for all busy people who are looking for healthy lunch and dinner meals and for those who don't mind eating too many tofu in a week. (",)

If you're interested in this program, log on to http://www.thesexychef.ph/. If you do decide to sign up, please do mention that you were referred by me (Jill Ann Lorenzo) as they can give me a rebate if I refer people. :)

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Resto Review: Sagada Lemon Pie House

The Sagada Lemon Pie House is located on the very far end of the main road. It is very well known for their Lemon Pie thus the name and it is said to be the best in Sagada so we wouldn't want to leave without having to taste one.

The interiors of the log house was oh so cozy, you can find really small tables and chairs and really low tables where you'll be sitting Japanese-style. They also have the normal tables and chairs if you're joints are too sore to sit on the floor.

They don't have waiters and waitresses here so you will have to make your order at the counter. When I got their menu, I am amazed at how affordable their food are.

Since it was raining that time, I ordered a hot Mountain Milk Tea (Php 20) while my husband got their Lemon Tea (Php 15). Notice how cheap these are, not to mention their pies also starts at Php30 per slice. So if you are on a tight budget, go to Lemon Pie House!

I so love my Mountain Milk Tea, it was delicious. Their mountain tea here in Sagada is a bit different from the usual tea, it had a ginger-y taste to it that gives just the right kick. Their lemon tea was as delicious as their milk tea. They provide brown sugar for you to be able to adjust to your liking.

They are also known for their Blueberry Pies but unfortunately they ran out so we ordered everything that they had available. hahahaha We ordered a slice each of their Orange (Php 35), Lemon (Php 30) and Egg (Php 30) pie. At first look, you can't actually tell them apart. They all look the same! You just have to taste them to be able to distinguish which is which.

As we take our first bite at the lemon pie, we didn't feel any spark. The crust was ok, the lemon portion was sour and sweet with a gelatin-like consistency, and meringue on top was light and fluffy. Overall, we didn't think that the meringue helped in improving the pie's taste. We were disappointed and believed that the pie was overrated. Same comment goes to the orange pie, it only differed in flavor. But we did loved the egg pie. The egg pie was the clear winner from them three.

Even though we were disappointed, we still highly recommend this place because their drinks and pies are really affordable and ambiance is so country-style home-y that it's all worth the experience.

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Sagada Cave Connections

Three weeks have already past since we went to Sagada yet my memories of Sagada is still vivid in me. It was our second day in Sagada and we are about to embark on the most challenging adventure one can ever do when in Sagada - the Cave Connections.

We were a very big group, I believe we were more than 50 and so we were accompanied by more than 10 guides for our spelunking. We started by trekking to the entrance of Lumiang Cave. On its entrance, we can see several wooden coffins of the natives there. Our guide started telling us of how old the coffins were and also gave us instructions on what to do when inside the cave. But the most important rule when inside the cave was "Always trust your guide".

As we started spelunking inside the cave, our flexibility was tested as we try to fit in every hole in the cave. It was a never ending maze inside. There was a lot of balancing, climbing, butt trekking throughout the process.

After an hour of trekking, we only managed to reach half way through the cave connection. We had a few minutes breather in a flat surface inside a cave where we can hear bats everywhere and not to mention the stink from their poops. hehehehe When the rest of the group caught up with is, we then started to trek going to Sumaguing Cave. I never thought that I had so much strength and courage in me to do all the climbing, walking and maneuvering while inside the cave.

And after two agonizing long hours, we finally reached Sumaguing Cave. Here you can find many rock formations, unfortunately our guide was not able to point out to us all of them. This is the disadvantage on going to a tour with lots of people, you won't have the guide exclusively to yourself. Below picture is the King's Curtain rock formation.

We had a fun time relaxing in the cold water that flows through the formations. After taking several pictures, it was time to trek out of the cave. It was definitely one heck of an adventure that I never imagined I could make it through. After this adventure, I can proudly say that I have definitely conquered and survived Sagada!

Important Tips: 
  • Bring a light snack (chocolates or energy bar) if you're planning to go the cave at around 9 or 10AM, because you'll definitely get hungry when you get in the end of the cave.
  • Wear comfortable, loose/flexible clothes. Use rash guard, quick dry or cotton shirts. Wear leggings for ladies who don't want to get scratched by the rocks.
  • Use rubber slippers, water shoes or slippers with grips.
  • ALWAYS trust your guide! They will be there for you all throughout the journey. (",)

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Sunday 25 May 2014

Resto Review: Sagada Brew

We just had our dinner at Salt & Pepper Restaurant but felt unsatisfied with our meal so we went to Sagada Brew Cafe for something sweet.

I ordered their Peppermint Chocolate (Php 100) while my husband opted for their Black Coffee Shake (Php 100).

The Peppermint Chocolate was so yummy and I love the idea that they added marshmallows which added to the drink's creaminess. A piece of peppermint leaf was added to give just the right kick of mint to it.

As for the Black Coffee Shake - there was nothing special to it. It was just black coffee with blended ice.

Sagada Brew also serves desserts. If you want to try out what they locally bake choose their cakes since the brownies and bars that are sold here came from a supermarket chain as admitted by one of their staff.

Out of all their cakes displayed that night, one caught our attention due to its surprising name or ingredients - the Peanut Butter Blueberry Butterscotch Cake (Php 150). As we tasted this cake, we can't seem to grasp the total essence of it. It really did had all the ingredients except for the butterscotch. But the peanut butter was the most powerful taste out of them all. It was not the sweet pleasant cake we were hoping for. After the experience, we finally dubbed this as the "Confused Cake" - once you try it, you'll definitely be confused. hehehehe

The Sagada Brew also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their menu items may be pricier but the serving is big and the ambiance is nice - felt like chilling in Starbucks.

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Resto Review: Salt & Pepper Restaurant

On our first day in Sagada, we decided to have our dinner at Salt & Pepper Restaurant. The restaurant was really hard to find because it was located on the 2nd floor of a souvenir shop along the main road. Plus their sign was really small and unnoticeable. Tip when you're Sagada, look up because some of the restaurants are located on the 2nd floor. heheheh

Anyways, I suggested this place because I read good things about them through other blogs. Most of the blogs, recommend ordering Dinakiw (Php 160) but I opted on ordering their Sinarabasab (Php 170) which was pork viand cooked in vinegar since I just love sour food. My husband ordered the Salt & Pepper Diner Plate (Php 250) which had both pork and chicken in a plate.

The Sinarabasab was really sour - at first it was appetizing but after several bites it was just too much sourness. It was served together with pickled red cabbage which was sour too and did not compliment the pork at all.

As for the Diner Plate, it had a serving of Sinarabasab and a roasted chicken. The chicken's skin was tasty but the meat didn't have any flavor to it.

Obviously, it was not that pleasant of an experience for us but we have tasted their Stir-fried Vegetables and it was really good. Their vegetables are really fresh, crispy and flavorful. This dish is definitely one reason to come back to their restaurant.

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Trek to the Scenic Pongas Falls of Sagada

On our first day in Sagada, we were scheduled to go to the famous Bomod-ok Falls but unfortunately there was an ongoing tribal ritual happening on that day that lead us to go to the less visited Pongas Falls. The local tour guide said that Pongas Falls  is their back-up in cases like ours but assured us that it is as beautiful as the Bomod-ok Falls.

It was raining hard when we reached the site so we had to wait for some time for the rain to subside. Just as the rain became a drizzle, we then started our trek. We walked through the rice terraces. I was always fascinated on how they go about these terraces and now I finally see that there were actually path ways in them that were not visible from afar.

On the way to the falls, you will be walking through slim cemented pathways along the terraces, passing through a rusty bridge, and trekking through some steep muddy edges.

After 30 minutes of walking, I felt exhausted. But after looking at my surroundings, I instantly feel revitalized and at awe at how beautiful and green nature around me was.

After an hour, we can now hear the sound of water flowing. It was a relieve to know that we were almost there.

After several more hikes and turns, we finally arrive at our destination - behold the Pongas Falls.

The water flowing from the falls was refreshingly ice-cold. The falls was so high and had 3 to 4 levels of it - I'm not quite sure. We only managed to climb up to the 2nd level. Sadly, you can't have a swim here since there's no basin. We rested awhile then went back to town when we're all ready to go.

If you're planning to go to a falls in Sagada, make sure to reserve one full day for it because you will definitely need your rest after the long walk.

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Saturday 10 May 2014

Resto Review: Strawberry Cafe, Sagada

While in Sagada, I can't help notice that there are lots of cafe and restaurants serving yoghurts. My husband's  not fond of yoghurts because he doesn't like it being a sour dessert. But one can't help but be curious about it so I just had to try at least once.

We ordered a serving of Strawberry Yoghurt (Php 70) at the Strawberry Cafe. The yoghurt itself was plain and was not that sour as expected from a yoghurt. Combining the fresh strawberry and the sweet strawberry jam on it neutralizes the yoghurt's sourness. I love it and I just wished their serving was bigger.

The Strawberry Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their pancakes are priced at Php 100 and their meals start at Php 120.

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Resto Review: Pinikpikan Haus, Sagada

The Pinikpikan Haus is located just below Alibama Inn along the main road. The Pinikpikan Haus is the official restaurant of Travel Factor where our daily breakfast and lunch are served.

On our first day at Sagada, we were served Chicken Curry for lunch. The chicken meat was really tender but the sauce was quite bland that I'm not sure if it was really curry. I only assumed it to be curry because it was yellow.

On our 2nd day, we had Longganisa  for breakfast. Their longganisa were small but were tasty.

For lunch, we were served with Daing Bangus with vegetables. Thankfully the bangus was boneless and their vegetables were fresh and cooked just right. What's weird about our meal was it came with a single piece of liempo. hehehehe

And since we were really hungry on our 2nd day, we ordered their local specialty Pinikpikan (Php 130). I was expecting its soup to taste like tinola but it was not, it has a distinct taste that I can't describe. The soup really warms up our grumbling tummies. Their pinikpikan had several chicken meat and a piece of etag. Etag is smoked and salted slab of pork meat but it was not for me, I don't like its consistency. As for the chicken meat, it was tender but tasted bitter because of the blood clot on the chicken which is normal for pinikpikans.

Pinikpikan Haus serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with meals starting at Php130 - which is the usual price of meals of restaurants found along the main road. But on the plus side, every meal here comes with unlimited mountain rice. So if you are heavy on rice then this is the place for you.



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Indigenous Handicrafts and Inn, Sagada

We stayed at Indigenous Handicrafts and Inn while we were in Sagada for 3 days.

Normally, Travel Factor assigns their participants to stay in Alibama Inn but since their official inn is full we were designated to the Indigenous Inn which in my opinion was much better accommodation.

Our room is located on the second floor. Our room was spacious, has three double sized beds and has its own bath room. Plus their bath has a hot shower which is very important especially with the cold weather in Sagada (I hear that most of the inns in Sagada don't have it). They also offer free Wifi and free brewed coffee in the morning which was delicious.

Sorry we were not able to get their contact information and rates but rest assured Sagada is filled with inns and lodges to choose from.

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The Banaue Road Trip before Sagada

Planning to go to Sagada? There are two options to go there from Manila, one is via Baguio (which is faster because it's through the expressway) another one less traveled option is via the scenic route of Banaue. We chose the later and chartered a jeepney from Banaue going to Sagada.

The long ride is very well worth it. Enjoy the cool breeze, the fresh air and breathtaking scenery. Be in awe as you see the famous Banaue Rice Terraces for the first time.

Experience riding on top of the jeepney for an added adrenaline rush and really let the cold wind brush through your face. The view on top was amazing regardless of how painful our butt got after the trip.

But hey! it's all about the experience - at least you get to say that you were able to go on a road trip in Banaue topload-style!

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Friday 9 May 2014

Resto Review: Hidden Valley Restaurant, Banaue

After 9 hours of travel from Manila, we finally arrived in Banaue at dawn. We were dropped off by the bus in front of Hidden Valley Restaurant. It was a little restaurant located along the high way and was near Dangwa and Ohayami Bus stations.

We still have at least 3 hours more travel time to reach Sagada so we want to have a heavy breakfast before we head out to our next destination.

We both ordered their Filipino Breakfast meal (Php 115) which was rice with fried egg and your choice of longganisa, daing bangus or bacon. Each meal already comes with coffee or tea. I also added one order of their Banana Pancakes (Php 65).

My husband had their breakfast meal with longganisa. Their longganisa had their own distinct taste to it, it was savory with a bit of sweetness and spiciness. I on the other hand ordered their meal with daing bangus. I was disappointed to find out that it was not boneless. And their daing lacks of saltiness.

Their banana pancakes were really thick, well I guess that's expected since it is filled by slices of bananas. Pancake itself was just ordinary for me nothing special it just had bananas.

Meals here are quite expensive but there are not that many options around either. You will have to ride a tricycle to their market for more choices.

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