6 Tips To Dine On A Dime
July 14, 2010
Love to dine out, but short on ends? I’ve compiled some of our knowledge about making a dollar stretch without sacrificing your dining out experience. Enjoy!
Restaurant.com
$2 for $25 worth of food? Yes. Many restaurants use this tool to build business. They offer discounted dining certificates online – it’s a great way to try new dining destinations. For example, for about $10, you can purchase a $25 certificate. Certificates are available in limited quantities for set amounts, usually around $10, $25, $50, $100. Be sure to check out the fine print as some aren’t good on weekends or require a minimum amount spent. The certificates can be printed and used within a year. Plus – If you follow @CouponSpy on twitter, they occasionally publish discount codes to get 80% off – basically – you spend $2 and get $25 worth of food. Want to find a code fast? Search twitter for ‘restaurant.com code’. Bet.
Network, Baby!
Follow your local restaurants on Twitter and Facebook. Many offer online specials and giveaways. I’ve gotten gift certificates just for retweeting a restaurant’s posting as part of a giveaway. Check out my list of Milwaukee restaurants on Twitter.
Be A Regular!
Sign up for Rewards Programs, get free food! For example, upon signing up for AJ Bombers’ email list, you’re sent a certificate for a free side or drink. Bring two or more friends on your next visit, get a free burger. Save those frequent diner cards – Bartolotta has a great rewards program, Stack’d gives a free burger for every 10 purchased… need I go on? When going out with friends, use those cards and earn credits fast!
Entertainment Book
Not only are the coupons in the book a great way to save and try new spots, Entertainment Book now also offers online coupons for use year-round. Use the additional online coupons for 2-for-1 meals and discounts. Venues usually offer about 2 additional coupons to use each month. Order a book here.
Groupon
Albeit not exclusively a source for dining discounts, you can sign up for a daily special offer in your area. These include offers for 30-90% off dining, entertainment and services. The catch: You have to purchase the deal that day. Check out the Milwaukee Groupon deals.
Drop Your Card
Keep business cards on hand to enter for the ‘free lunch’ drawings every time you dine out. Intentionally seek out those fishbowls and drawing boxes – You’d be surprised at the results. Many restaurants now offer more than a free lunch. Noodles & Co awards a free ‘Tasting Experience’ of their full menu for you and 3 friends, and Chipotle’s drawing is for lunch for 16! I’ve won both just by simply dropping in my card. Offer to keep friends and co-workers cards on hand to enter on their behalf. One note – Plan on possibly receiving occasional emails after entering; be sure to have cards with your personal email to minimize the amount of email at work.
BONUS TIP!
Check In!
How could I have forgotten about Foursquare?! Add this ap to your mobile, and use it to check in at your favorite spots. Many restaurants offer free drinks for first timers, or special discounts for the ‘Mayor’. Upon check in, you’ll see a note if there is a ‘special here’ or ‘special nearby’. Check it out here.
If you know of any other cost-saving techniques, please do share! Happy dining!
Minister to ‘Your’ People…?
May 15, 2009
‘Minister to Your People.’ That is what my husband was told back in the late 1990’s, on his journey to follow the path God had placed in his heart. Since he is a man of Hispanic heritage, for most, it would make sense that he would lead a solely Hispanic congregation. But who exactly are ‘our people’ to a Puerto Rican man and a Polish/Bulgarian/Who Knows What Else woman with African-American foster children?
Starting out, my husband was told by leaders flat out that a diverse church ‘Won’t happen. We’ve tried it before, and it didn’t work.’ Thankfully God soon opened many doors and also led us to connect with others with a vision that expanded beyond those boundaries. For over ten years now, we’ve served and gotten to know such a breadth of people from many cultures and walks of life. So what do you call that church?
And now, over ten years later, I am still confounded by the fact that churches are still referred to as ‘Hispanic’ or ‘Asian’, etc. I can’t help but feel misunderstood when we get pigeonholed as a ‘Hispanic’ church. All of the reporting forms and surveys we fill in typically only allow you to check one box regarding church culture. So which box? The people we serve span several cultural groups: African-American, Hispanic (and within that group there are sub-groups represented: Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc), Asian (Hmong, Vietnamese), and White, or a combination of any of the above. And our youth group is even more diverse, if you can believe that’s possible. So, please, again, tell me, what do you call that church?
EMF presenting Tiffany's 'going away to college' quilt
While we are a ‘small’ church, I believe God has begun a great work. I recall early discussions as our ministry was just beginning, where there was such hyper-sensitivity among leaders regarding race. ‘Do you prefer to be called Anglo, or European, or White?’ That was a time in our country where there was a strong push for ‘political correctness’, which in many ways put a wall up. People were hesitant to ask real questions for fear of offending someone by saying the wrong thing. Over the years, a sense of familiarity has developed as we’ve found connections beyond ‘race’ – in our life experiences, in our shared beliefs, struggles and triumphs. There is great beauty in hearing someone say they felt welcome because everyone is genuine. That did not happen unintentionally; it has taken years to develop. I believe that getting out of our comfort zones as it relates to race creates a much richer, fuller experience in life as well as ministry.
Now, consider the growing use of technology. The subsequent generations have much more easily embraced diversity. Social networking sites allow us to connect with friends spanning from Dubai to Duluth. Beyond that, even families are increasingly multi-cultural. The days of ‘Black, White and Brown’ have become a beautiful mosaic of shades that cannot be so easily labeled. Take a look at diversity statistics – Slightly more than one-third of the population of the United States – 34 percent – claims “minority” racial or ethnic heritage, a jump of 11 percent from 2000. The 2000 census was the first time people could identify themselves as having more than one race or ethnicity. In 2000, 6.8 million people reported more than one race.
How will we (as a church body) be ready to serve the coming generations, whose focus will not be based primarily upon cultural identity?
Some links about diversity:
Summary of Key Cross-Cultural Church Planting Principles / Urban Church Plant School
http://www.tumi.org/migration/images/stories/uploads/docs/training/summarykeycpprinciples.pdf
U.S. Minority Population Continues to Grow
US Census Reports
The Great Cheesecake Debate…
March 20, 2009
We’re in the process of writing up our review of Maxie’s Southern Comfort.
Dinner was excellent, although we have quite a rant about our takes on what a good cheesecake consists of… Stay posted.
While we’re on the topic of cheesecake, what is your preference? Are you a traditionalist (plain, no toppings please) or a cheesecake non-conformist (pile on the chocolate and change up the crust)? Pick sides with us – Where do you stand on this key issue? Post your thoughts here.
Be sure to visit Maxie’s website to check out the latest specials.
Fortune Chinese Restaurant: Fresh and Fast
January 5, 2009
In honor of Chinese New Year, we are checking out some recommended Chinese spots. Let us know if you have another recommendation, so we have another excuse to go on a date!
Where: 
Fortune Chinese Restaurant
2945 S 108th – West Allis, WI
(414) 328-9890
Quality:
4 of 5 Hearts
Service:
4 of 5 Hearts
Price Range:
$9-13
What We Ordered
House Delight, General Tso’s Chicken, House Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, Egg Fu Young, Egg Drop Soup, Hot Tea
Our meal totaled $37.40 with tax. Add a 20% tip rounded up and it was an additional 7.50. (Yes, we tip better than Rachel Ray!)
Quality
He Said:
Very good, didn’t go for the soy sauce a single time throughout my meal – everything was well seasoned.
She Said:
Incredibly fresh ingredients. The vegetables were always perfectly crisp in every dish.
Service
He Said:
The service was excellent! We never had to ask for a refill of anything.
She Said:
They were quick to bring fresh, hot items to the table. Plus, the waitress kept up with my camel-like water consumption – not once did we have to request refills or to have the table cleared.
Details
He Said:
The egg fu young is the best I’ve ever had. The bean sprouts were still crispy and the gravy wasn’t thick or overpowering. The egg drop soup was a bit on the salty side. I enjoyed the crispy fresh vegetables in the egg roll. I recommend mixing the hot mustard and the sweet & sour sauce – the mustard is very hot and the sweet & sour balances it well. We also ordered what is usually my favorite dish, General Tso’s Chicken (breaded chicken with green peppers, carrots, baby corn). This turned out to be my least favorite, due to an odd, almost citrus aftertaste, and the chicken pieces were on the small side.
She Said:
The House Delight was actually my favorite dish. It is a combination of mixed vegetables (broccoli, baby corn, water chestnuts, snow peas, mushrooms) and an assortment of meat (beef, chicken, shrimp). The flavors were perfectly balanced, vegetables were crispy and the sauce was not overpowering or goopy. I was not as impressed by the house rice, which seemed to be lacking. Perhaps a greater amount of vegetables or meat would have helped. The texture was palatable but lacked the variety I expected.
Final Comments
He Said:
For a date, I’d recommend ordering multiple items and sharing, which allows both of you to try something new. The meal ended with fresh orange slices (a nice touch!) and a fortune cookie containing the following note: “Listen attentively, you will come out ahead in the coming week”, with which I agreed.
She Said:
I loved the option to make any entrée a dinner – this made ordering very easy, and provided a completely filling meal. Although we came for dinner, Fortune also offers a great lunch special, which consists of a main dish with egg roll and fried rice for under $6.
Best Chinese in Milwaukee???
December 29, 2008
What’s your top pick for Chinese dining in Milwaukee? Give us your suggestion and we may review your pick for January!
Rob & Jen
Material vs. Memories?
October 28, 2008
With the holidays coming up, my mom and I were already speaking about plans for Christmas and how this year’s gift exchange would work. I always look forward to my parent’s gifts, because they always manage to find some quirky, fun item that I’ve never seen before. And, now with our expanded family, they receive the same joy in seeing the boys open these unique gifts.
Let me give you an example or two… From a trip to Holland, MI, my mom came back with some creative gifts in tow: a set of hats for all of us – Dutch girl hat for me, as well as Dutch hats for my husband and ‘the boys’. Not to mention the awesome plush yellow clog slippers… Just imagine that picture! Two 18 year olds and my husband in some brightly colored hats with feathers… Now do you get the idea?
But as we all get older, it gets increasingly difficult to find new and exciting gifts for our growing family. This year, mom was talking about just giving cash or gift cards so people could pick out exactly what they want. As we spoke, I recalled reading a Thomas Kinkade book where he mentioned something that really grabbed my attention. Instead of spending any extra ‘fun money’ on material things, without exception he and his wife would use those funds for a fun outing or experience. Basically, they intentionally create memories for themselves and their children. I’ve been inspired to do the same thing.
Do we really need that extra pair of jeans? Must we absolutely have the newly released shoes, or the latest and greatest electronic equipment? If we really resolve to answer that question honestly, the answer is no. We can live without it, and in some cases, we can gain something by not having it all.
So, this year, we’ll be starting a new tradition – a family outing to the theater, a cottage, or even a road trip instead of money on gifts. Will the kids complain? Probably. Will it be more work to plan? Of course. But will it be worth more than a gift that sits unused one week after Christmas? I definitely think so.
As I get older, I realize the value of memories with family and friends. Those are the things that cannot be taken from you, cannot be broken, and cannot be destroyed. Memories cannot be foreclosed upon. Memories are the small, simple threads that tie our lives together. They are the foundations that are solidified and ready when the storms do come. Take the time to create some memories this week and be intentional about creating experiences and stories that will be told for generations.
Love, Life… And Lunch?
October 28, 2008
This collaboration began as an idea to have something that the two of us do together for fun. We do so many things ‘together but separately’ in so many areas, so this is really refreshing for us since it’s quite frankly a little break from reality.
You’ll find our insights about love, and life and the places we dine at in between…
We’ve begun the tradition of going on ‘date night’ to mix things up a little bit. We tend to be homebodies, and if we had no reason to get out, we probably wouldn’t. Sometimes a nice quiet spot at home can be the most relaxing, but we’ve realized the importance of not getting stuck in a rut. Over dinner one night we decided to start writing reviews together, since we always critique and discuss our dining experiences anyway, so it’s obviously something we enjoy. So here goes. Intermingled with that you’ll find random ramblings about other life and love topics.
By the way, thanks for reading this far. We hope you enjoy the rest. If anything, you’ll get some great ideas about where to go for your ‘date night’ and maybe learn a little bit from us or about us along the way.
Peace,
Rob & Jen
