Lessons from Shonda Rhimes

I recently read the best-selling book called the “Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes. In the book, Shonda shared about how her commitment to saying ‘Yes’ for a year changed everything.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

source: amazon.com

Shonda Rhimes is the successful and well-known writer, creator and executive producer of hit TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice,  Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and The Catch. Her production company is called ShondaLand.

She has three daughters and she graduated from Dartmouth College. She is an independent woman who knows what she wants. She opted to raise her kids on her own since she admits that although she enjoys dating she never wants to get married.

In the book, Shonda shares her thoughts, experience and learnings from committing to saying ‘Yes’ for a year to situations which were quite difficult for her.

Shonda Rhimes

source: amazon.com

She revealed that she is an introvert and that ShondaLand already started when she was a child. Shonda was only 11 years old when she started creating characters and writing stories.

She admits that she sometimes expressed herself through the characters that she has created for TV. Christina Yang, a character in Grey’s Anatomy, is a character that she can relate to a lot. She also admits having a little bit of Olivia Pope, a character in Scandal, in her too.

Her self-deprecating sense of humor and sincere approach on sharing her thoughts shows that she is someone who is witty and realistic. There was a part in the book when she revealed that the name of her kids’ nanny is Jenny McCarthy(yes the same name as the popular actress/celebrity in the US) and how grateful she is to her nanny since she admits that as a mother she cannot do it all. It was pretty funny how she revealed to readers the name of her nanny and the many situations when she depended on her.

Some of the life lessons in Shonda’s “Year of Yes” that she shared are as follows:

Say ‘Yes’ to being a doer

During her commencement speech at Dartmouth University in 2014, she told the new graduates that they should be a “doer and not a dreamer”. Her advice is keep moving forward, keep seizing the next opportunity and stay open to trying something new.

Say ‘Yes’ to play

Shonda  believes that it is important to say ‘Yes’ to giving yourself the permission to shift the focus of what is a priority from what’s good for you over to what makes you feel good.

She knows that her job is incredibly important but she also realized that playing with her kids is now more important than her job since it is also her “happy place”. It is what she learned when she said ‘Yes’ to her youngest daughter who asked her “Momma, wanna play?”. Today, she puts down everything once her daughter asks her to play.

Shonda’s advice is to look for your own happy place, a positive one, that gives you joy.

Say ‘Yes’ to your body and to health

Shonda decided to say “Yes” to being healthier so she worked out regularly, drank a lot of water everyday and ate nutritious food. She lost more than 120 pounds and now has more energy for work and play with her kids. She also feels better about herself. 

She said that it is important to accept yourself fully so that you can feel beautiful and make better choices for yourself. Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight or stay the same, saying “yes” to loving your body and commit to giving it the best you can, because you deserve it.

Say ‘Yes’ to real friendships

It is important to know who your true friends are. When you become an honest healthy person, you can cultivate honest, healthy relationships with others. Shonda mentioned that it is important to surround yourself with people who treat you well and people whose self-worth and respect and values inspire you to elevate your own behaviour. Real friends are truthful, stand by you, cheer you on and make you want to be a better person.

Say ‘Yes’ to saying No to toxic people

Shonda learned to say ‘Yes’ to saying No to toxic people in her life. 

Difficult conversations are sometimes necessary for personal growth and for the health of your relationships and the people who love you will want to grow along with you. By not allowing toxic people to stay in your life, you will also be able to attract more positivity and be happy.

Life is short so it is best to spend time with true friends with integrity who inspire you to be better and not waste time hanging out with people who are toxic and just drain your energy.

Say ‘Yes’ to who you are and to love

It is important to be honest with yourself and others and accepting honesty in return. You can fully embrace all that you are and all that you are not.

Shonda mentioned in the book that “Happiness comes from being who you actually are instead of who you think you are supposed to be”.  It also comes from living as you need to, as you want to.

Part of loving yourself if fully embracing your “perfectly imperfect” self and changing for the better. By doing this, you will be always be dancing under the sun.

Shonda’s book is certainly an honest revelation about how someone so successful realized that she needed to change by saying ‘Yes’ in order to conquer her fears.

It is also a reminder for us that we need to say ‘Yes’ to situations that make us go out of our comfort zones in order to learn and achieve more in life. So ‘Yes’ to doing more good things and experiencing more positive experiences in life! Cheers!

3 Must-try Japanese Restaurants in Manila

There are a lot of Japanese restaurants in Manila but there are a couple of small restaurants that true foodies frequently go to for a good meal.

There are three must-try Japanese restaurants today in Manila that I consider as cool places for good tasting food. Two of which are modern type Japanese restaurants and the other one is a traditional type Japanese restaurant. Below are the three restaurants worth trying.

Nikkei

NIkkei is a restaurant located along Rada Street in Legaspi Village in Makati.  Nikkei is a Japanese term that refers to Japanese emigrants from Japan and their descendants that reside in a foreign country. The name is quite appropriate for the restaurant since it offers a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine in a modern izakaya-inspired setting.

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NIkkei's modern interiors

The restaurant interiors has a modern industrial feel and combines wood, concrete walls, steel materials and is nicely lit by several incandescent lamps. It also has an open kitchen with bar.

Nikkei's open kitchen and bar

Since I wanted some seafood dishes for lunch, I opted to try the Grilled Ceviche  and the Grilled Ebi maki.

Grilled Ceviche

A combination of white fish, octopus, scallops, prawns, cilantro,
leche de tigre, sweet potato and red chili

Grilled Ebi

Combination of prawns, cream cheese,
onion leeks, mango, yellow pepper
sauce and togarashi

Green tea comes in a French press
and is at PHP145 each

Nikkei has a nice and quiet ambience. It is a nice place for a get together lunch or dinner with friends. A meal for one person can cost around PHP1,000(around USD20). Note that the servings are quite small though so if you are dining with a group it would be best to get several dishes. 

Ooma

Ooma is a restaurant under the Moments group located at SM Fashion hall in Megamall. It was developed in collaboration with Chef Bruce Ricketts, who is known for Sensei Sushi restaurant.  The name is a play on the Japanese word “umai” which means "good" in English.

Sushi bar at Ooma

The restaurant interiors was inspired by the well-known Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. The restaurant has exposed pipes, dim lighting, wooden tables and has an industrial feel complete with brightly painted corrugated sheets on the walls. It also has a small bar where one can see fresh sushi dishes being prepared by the chefs.

 

Chefs at Ooma making aburi sushi

Wall made from corrugated sheet
with long table

I have tried Ooma several times and below are some good dishes that are worth trying:

Ebi and kani aburi maki

Ebi, kani, cream cheese, aligue mayo, tempura crumbs, ginger
and house tare

California Taco-maki

An open-faced temaki wrap, kani stick, aligue mayo , herb
aioli and mango pico

O-Gyoza

Gyoza with mozzarella and cheddar cheese
gratin with togarashi(chili pepper)

Hanger steak

A sous-vide cooked tender steak with sauteed mushrooms, 

white truffle oil, sweet potato mash, crispy baby potatoes,

pickle dressing and ponzu butter.

Miso soup

What makes Ooma interesting is the modern-fusion Japanese dishes and its bold take on new flavours for their dishes. The presentation of sushi and maki dishes is also interesting as one gets to literally paint brush their dishes with some Japanese soy sauce. Plus, they use local ingredients like aligue and mix it with Japanese mayo to add more flavour for the maki dishes.

It is best to go there before 12 noon if you will try it for lunch since the place gets full fast during lunch. SInce most of their dishes are good for sharing, a meal for one person ranges from PHP800 - PHP1,000.

No worries on the service though since the restaurant staff are well trained and they make sure that orders are served fast and fresh.

Izakaya Kikufuji

One of the oldest Japanese restaurants often frequented by foodie Filipinos and Japanese who stay in Manila is Izakaya Kikufuji. Located along Pasong Tamo in Makati and in the same restaurant block known as Little Tokyo, the place is quite old but it is certainly always filled with people for lunch and dinner.

If you want a traditional, no frills type and reasonably priced Japanese dishes then this is the place to go to.  A meal for one person costs around PHP500(a little over USD10) which is really a value for money deal for good quality Japanese food.

Kikufuji’s best-seller is the grilled Wagyu beef sticks which is priced at PHP125 per stick. It is certainly good and tasty.

Gyu Kushi

Sticks of wagyu beef 

Their portions are quite generous and is good for sharing. They also offer a lunch menu that comes with miso soup, salad, spicy tuna sashimi and a main course.

Spicy tuna sashimi and salad

Ebi tempura  with miso soup and rice

To have a hassle-free dining experience at Kikufuji, get a table reservation if you are a group or opt to go there early for lunch(before 12noon). It would also be good to just take an Uber ride to go there or have a driver drop you off at the place since the restaurant has limited parking space for customers.

Do not expect the place to be quiet since there is a lot of noise when you dine in and the service is not as efficient as other restaurants since it usually takes a couple of follow-ups before you get your bill and your change. Nevertheless, people still go there because they serve authentic Japanese food that is always Oishi!

Lessons from Sheryl Sandberg

I was able to watch a video of Sheryl Sandberg’s inspiring speech to the 2016 graduating class at University of Berkeley.

Sheryl Sandberg's best- selling
 book, Lean In

Source;  amazon.com

Sheryl Sandberg is the COO(Chief Operating Officer) of Facebook and the author of Lean In, the best-selling book that encourages women to be empowered, take risks and pursue their goals.

During her speech, she shared how she learned from death and shared the struggles she went through when her husband Dave died due to a heart-related cause last year.

Below are two messages she shared that resonated with me. These messages truly show both her vulnerability and her strength as a person.

“I learned about the depths of sadness and the brutality of loss. But I also learned that when life sucks you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again.”  - Sheryl Sandberg

“It is the hard days—the times that challenge you to your very core—that will determine who you are. You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.” –Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg also mentioned about the 3Ps that she learned from author Martin Seligman and these are:

Personalization – the belief that we are at fault

Pervasiveness – the belief that events affect all areas of our life

Permanence – the belief that the sorrow will last forever

She said that 3Ps are common reactions when we experience grief in our lives  She also emphasized on the importance of Gratitude since it helps overtake grief and it is the key to Resilience.

Personally, I was able to relate to her key messages since at a certain points in my life I too have experienced loss and grief. These past experiences also made me more grateful and see the importance of focusing on the positive things in life.

To express gratitude in life, Sheryl encourages everyone to write 3 moments of joy before going to bed. I have actually been doing this after learning about it from Oprah before and honestly I even end up writing more than 3 moments of joy at times and I feel happy before I sleep.

Sheryl Sandberg encourages us to build “resilience” since it is like a muscle that you can build up and to focus on each day’s moments of joy. She also said that it is important to build resilient organizations that can make this world a better place. Apart from this, she also reminded the audience that it is important to be there for your family and friends.

Her speech was sincere and an honest disclosure that touches people’s hearts. She was able to share learnings that people can relate to and fully embrace. No wonder it is now going viral on the internet.

Below is the link to the video from youtube.com on Sheryl Sandberg’s inspiring speech at Berkeley:

God Blessed Me with Two Mothers

Today is Mother’s Day. I am grateful that God blessed me with two mothers. One was my biological mother who gave birth to me and my brothers and the other is our nanny who brought us up and fulfilled her promise to my biological mother that she would take care of us in case something happens to her.

My mom

I lost my biological mother when I was five years old. It was one of the saddest days of my life. My mom died due to a car accident. I still remember that day that I really wanted to go with her and my dad but she did not bring me and my younger brother in their road trip. She left the two of us with our nanny at home. In a way it was a blessing since my younger brother and I were spared from being included in the car accident.

Even if we lost my mom at a young age, we were blessed with a kindhearted nanny who took care of us and treated us as if we were like her own kids. Since my dad did not remarry and worked to provide for us, our nanny was the one who took care of us. Our nanny has been with us since my older brother was born and she never got married so she really dedicated her life taking care of us and has become part of our family.

Our nanny with my younger brother

Growing up, our nanny would share with me stories about my mom. Through her I also got to know my mom better. She said that like me, my mom also loves to cook and travel too. Our nanny also told me that my mom is smart, generous, kind and thoughtful. My mom also built good relationships with her friends. I still remember how my mom’s closest friends made it a point to visit us and give us Christmas gifts when we were growing up. They only have kind words and praises about my mom and it made me feel so proud of her.

Our nanny did her best to raise us well. We never heard her complain even though she took care of three kids. She is a cheerful, humble, and grounded person. She encouraged us to go to church and pray, to study well, save for our future, share our blessings, keep a positive outlook in life and to always do the right thing.

Looking back, I am grateful that God blessed me with these two phenomenal women who have greatly influenced my life.

I continue to remember and pray for them everyday since both of them are already in heaven.

Here is a wonderful quote on the importance of a mother from Maya Angelou:

“I really saw clearly, and for the first time, why a mother is really important. Not just because she feeds and also loves and cuddles and even mollycoddles a child, but because in an interesting and maybe an eerie and unworldly way, she stands in the gap. She stands between the unknown and the known.” 

―  Maya Angelou (from her book: Mom & Me & Mom)

A Look Inside the Homes Designed by Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres, well-known TV host and comedian, producer of the TV show Ellen’s Design Challenge, is passionate about interior design and style.

I have recently read her book entitled Ellen DeGeneres Home, where she gives the readers a chance to get a glimpse of the seven homes that she has designed and lived in throughout the years.

Ellen DeGeneres

source: Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

Ellen has already bought and renovated nearly a dozen homes for more than two decades. She loves buying homes with great history and does the interior design for each home she buys. Ellen believes that “you don’t have to have money to have good taste”. 

Portia and Ellen at their 60-acre horse ranch

source : Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

Ellen loves to move and is always looking for new properties that she can buy and renovate. Although she did not take a formal course in interior design, her passion for great design, collecting iconic designer furniture pieces and talent in putting things together to make a beautiful living space is quite impressive.

The style of Ellen’s homes varies. She has homes that are traditional, mid-century, Tuscan style villa and contemporary.

The inside of a barn at the horse ranch

Ellen included vintage wicker chairs, twentieth century ornithology prints , early
twentieth century Belgian worktable used as a console, assorted vintage Italian
terra-cotta pots and a horse on the right.

source:  Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

In the book, Ellen shares on what she learned from each of the home renovation projects, some of her favourite shops and an section with her designer friends and collaborators giving tips on interior design.

Ellen also emphasized in the book that in designing a home, you must put things that “inspires” you whether these are plants, fashion items or artwork. It is best to put things that sparks your creativity.

The courtyard at the Brody House

The house is a mid-century modern residence in
 Los Angeles. The Brodys are art collectors
 and philanthropists.

source: Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

The Brody house kitchen

It features a stainless steel island, marble counter tops,
a 17th Century portrait and vintage items.

Source : Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

It seems that  apart from putting furniture pieces by designers like Jean Prouve, Ellen also likes putting Hermes blankets on chairs and sofas in the living room area of her homes.

Living room area at Trousdale estates residence

This home was  previously owned by
 interior designer Kelly Wearstler

source: Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

A cozy living room designed by Ellen

Source : Home by Ellen DeGeneres book

What makes the book interesting is that apart from the useful tips on interior design, it also includes a lot of beautiful photographs. Ellen also wrote the book with such wit and humor since some of the tips includes some funny comments which reflects her great sense of humor. It is simply a book that is easy to read and gives readers new ideas and inspiration.

Margarita Fores: Asia's Best Female Chef 2016

Asia's Best Female Chef, a prestigious award given to excellent chefs in Asia, is one of the most coveted awards for chefs since the voters include 300 industry experts from across Asia and  and it is the same group who also picks Asia's 50 Best Restaurants every year.

Asia's Best Female Chef  2016 was awarded to Filipina chef and restaurateur Margarita Fores. With Chef Margarita Fores winning the award, it brings the Philippines a wonderful sense of pride and opens more doors for the Philippines in the world culinary scene.

Margarita Fores

source:  www.theworlds50best.com

When Chef Margarita was featured by Town & Country magazine in the Philippines, she mentioned that winning Asia's Best Female Chef is like winning Miss Universe in the Food World. 

Margarita Fores  on the cover of
Town & Country Philippines

source: Town & Country Philippines website

She has shifted from a career in fashion to food. After seeing one of her recent interviews, I learned that she worked for Valentino in New York City in the 80s when her family was based in the US.

Her success story is inspiring. She immersed herself in Italy and studied the traditional way of Italian cooking from the Italian mothers who taught her various and delicious dishes from their homes.  She also learned Italian language. All her learnings have been put into practice since she established Cibo in Manila 18 years ago and has launched other restaurants too.

Margarita Fores certainly deserves to be awarded as Asia's Best Female Chef given her passion and dedication in making a difference and uplifting the food and restaurant industry in the Philippines. 

Her love for country and sincerity in growing the food industry in the Philippines is evident in her efforts since she has paved the way for the Madrid Fusion event to be conducted in Manila. She has also been helping local farmers with sustainability since her restaurants make use of ingredients sourced from local and organic farms. Apart from this, she works closely with the Department of Agriculture in developing recipes that makes use of local produce.

Margarita Fores at the market

source: Town & Country Philippines facebook site

She has brought high quality food through her restaurants such as Cibo, an Italian cafe that has been serving good Italian food for 18 years now, Lusso, a luxe champagne and gastro bar, Grace Park, a farm-to-table restaurant and Alta, the main restaurant at the Ascott hotel in BGC.

Apart from being a successful restaurateur, she also established Casa Artusi Philippines, an Italian Culinary school that  teaches food enthusiasts with traditional Italian cooking techniques and recipes.

Amidst her success, Chef Margarita Fores, remains to be humble and thankful. She recognizes that everything she has achieved  was providential and that God has orchestrated it. 

I am blessed to have met and learn from her during one of the cooking classes at Casa Artusi last year. She is truly one of the chefs that I look up to. Her story is inspiring and she is certainly an excellent chef who is kind and sincere in sharing her learnings with people.

I have learned how to make fresh pasta from scratch from her and Chef Carla from Casa Artusi and the Italian dishes that they made are certainly made from high quality ingredients and are simply buonissimo.

Here is a link from my blog post on Casa Artusi Italian Cooking Class:  Casa Artusi Cooking Class blog post