What is your latest win in life? Do you take the time to celebrate it?
In life, we encounter moments of triumph and success, but sometimes, we get too caught up with everything that's going on that we fail to recognize them as "wins" and that they deserve to be celebrated. I personally spend at least once a week to list down the things I am grateful for and that includes my recent wins. It gives a big boost to my confidence and drive to keep on going.
If you have someone in your life right now, I highly suggest that you make it a regular thing to celebrate each other's wins. For me and my girlfriend, celebrating each other's wins is a cherished event because it brings us closer together. We usually go out to eat in restaurants or give each other some gifts.
In this post, join me on a gastronomic journey as I recount the moments of achievements we shared at Tamp Cafe & Co. and Bicester Cafe, two of the trendy restaurants in Cebu City.
Toasting to Presentation Mastery at Tamp Cafe & Co.
In one of our celebrations, I brought her to Tamp Cafe and Co., a cozy restaurant with an inviting ambiance. I always like spaces that are remarkably well-lit, and the restaurant has more than enough lights to draw me in. The occasion for our celebration was my girlfriend's achievement of advancing her level of the Presentation Mastery Pathway of Toastmasters. At the stand of the Pandemic, my girlfriend joined a Toastmasters Club, and I've seen her excitement throughout her journey. I've also heard of her struggles about it. So, this significant milestone proved her dedication to the club and her growth as a confident communicator, and I couldn't be prouder.
I've already been to Tamp before, so I knew that their menu offered an interesting mix of dishes. I easily recommended to my girlfriend what to order based on the things I'd heard. We ordered the beef stroganoff pasta. It was rich, creamy, and bursting with flavors. Additionally, we had a Korean chicken rice bowl. It had the perfect balance of sweet and savory and the right amount of spiciness.
The evening progressed and we finished our meals in between our chatters. We ordered one slice of each of their delectable cakes. They were unbelievably priced at just 1 peso each. They have a long-standing promo of offering a 1-peso slice of cake if you ordered a meal with a drink. We had the Blueberry Tres Leches and, my favorite, Caramel Delight.
The cakes might have been only 1 peso, but they added a sweet touch and immense joyo to the celebration of my girlfriend's latest win.
Brewing Success, One Cup at a Time at Bicester Cafe
Our next celebration was in Bicester Cafe, a charming brunch place with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, providing the best natural light. My girlfriend has a list of restaurants she wants to visit and this one has been on it for a while. This time, it was my win that we were going to celebrate at this restaurant. Finally, I was able to submit my research proposal for my master's thesis, a significant milestone toward achieving my academic aspirations.
At Bicester, we started our celebration by having warm cups of our favorite drinks, coffee for me and chocolate for my girlfriend. To complement our drinks, we ordered a hearty breakfast platter featuring mouthwatering sausages, patties, bacon, egg, potatoes, carrots, and toasted bread. We also had their tapsilog or Beef tapa with egg. It was a feast as if to replenish the energy spent after weeks of intense writing and worrying about my proposal.
In a touching gesture, my girlfriend surprised me with a thoughtful gift—a bag of coffee bean samplers. It was a gesture that showed she knew my love for coffee, despite her not being able to appreciate it (or tolerate the caffeine in her system). It also showed that she understood and supported my passion for research and academia. She told me much later on about her apprehensions when were still dating. She was worried that my time would be occupied by my studies.
Looking back, those celebrations at Tamp and Bicester will forever hold a special place in our hearts. I can say that celebrating each other's wins has strengthened our relationship because what better way to show your love and support than celebrating your partner's success together?
I also look forward to our wins because I am always excited about food, and having a great reason to spend money on eating out. 😁
So, to everyone who's reading this, remember to celebrate your victories and the special people who share in your joys. As for us, our journey continues one win at a time, and restaurant at a time.
Cheers! 🥂