Saturday, 20 April 2013

The Passing of Huang Wenyong

Very shocked when hubby told me the very popular veteran local celeb Huang Wenyong passed away today.

Ever since I remembered there was TV, he has been the familiar face on screen in the lead roles.
The news came as sudden because the last I heard was he was recovering.

It was lymphoma cancer.... which I recently have heard about, from a colleague.... apparently it is a kind of blood cancer.

Unpredictable, really...

RIP

Friday, 19 April 2013

Ministry Corporate Seminar

Attended the corporate seminar this morning at RELC, I like the way they shaped the appeal from the forefathers to our children.
"We do not inherit the environment from our forefathers,
but we borrow it from our children"

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Kiseki Japanese Lunch Buffet with the Ladies

Woke up to a rainy morning today... The rain pitter pattered on the windows so loudly that I could not fall back to my sleep.

Heavy rain

And the rain caused such bad traffic that I reached office past 9AM, but so did my boss. 

Yesterday, Irene suggested to have Jap Buffet for today's lunch. She had this craving since months ago. She successfully lured me into looking forward to the sashimi spread. So we decided to go Kiseki for buffet lunch. I think this was my 2nd visit to Kiseki. 1st time was years ago with hubby when it was still located at Heeren. Today we went to the one at Orchard Central, level 8. There was a queue there but we have earlier made a reservation for 3 (me, Irene & BL). So we did not spend much time waiting.

A little too bad was, by right our seats were by the window but there was a customer who shifted from theirs to ours without informing the restaurant so our "good" seats were taken. We couldn't care less because our focus was on the sashimi. PLUS sitting next to a table of hunks wasn't a bad thing. :)

The 3 ladies walked in and started the "attack". 1st stop was, of course our favourite, SASHIMI! In fact we filled ourselves mostly with sashimi and not so much on other more common dishes. So, I think our $23 nett was very worthwhile.
Irene's very decorated sashimi plater

my 1st course

We were seated next to a table of hunks. They looked very modelly with sharp features and all. And they filled their table with food but with no one eating them (yet). So I sneakily snapped a photo of their table, just want to show the spread of the buffet, but it was badly taken. I was a little panicky and worried that they would return to their table soon.
our neighbour's table (hunky fellows sure can eat)

I really enjoyed today's lunch with the ladies. Had a hearty chat / gossip, and the unlimited flow of sashimi and other cold items which were like shellfish (I couldn't really tell). The sashimi and shellfish tasted fresh and springy. I loved it. They served abalone sashimi too! Ok, I wasn't sure if they were for real but really tasted like abalone. Their smoked salmon cubes were very springy too! I was pleasantly surprised because usually smoked stuff tends to taste a little too salty but not this one.
yummy sashimi, sushi, mussel...

the sashimi was snatched up

nice sushi

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Because we really took sashimi more than anything else, I did not get sick of the buffet but we were definitely full after desserts. :) It was satisfying.

The ice cream counter was forever busy with long queue but we queued anyway. A little disappointed that all the flavours were not really what I usually would like to have; what they had were Wasabi, Vanilla, Yuzu, Cookie & Cream. All the white coloured... "WHERE IS THE CHOCOLATE ONE?" Anyway since I have queued, I just took the cookies and cream to try. It was creamy but I do not see what the fuss was, with the queue. Nothing special really. Irene and BL tried the Wasabi one and.their verdict was Wasabi should be used as it is, not for desserts... HAHAHA!

Then the fondue was not really fondue because the chocolate coating did not harden. It was more like marsh mallows in chocolate syrup. On the other hand I liked the very normal looking jellies, served in very cute square cups. The sweetness was just nice and on top was the Konnyaku jelly, so springy, "doiii doiii doiii". Yum!
cookies and cream with cornflakes

jellies and "fondue"

It was money well spent with the quality of the Sashimi and sushi. Usually sushi served at buffets would taste like crap (except for those in Todai) because they got soggy after being left there for hours. But here, the sushi tasted good. Not many variety but to me, it was good enough so long there was one or two nice ones. Sushi is too filling anyway.

I recalled the quality wasn't as good the last time at Heeren. In fact I thought I might not go back to the restaurant then. But today's experience totally changed my perception. If possible, getting a table next to the windows would heighten the dining experience (esp at night). Can try again!

And a little digression, everytime I wear this dress, I can't help but feel sensitive that people think I am pregnant, which was true enough, this colleague took a 2nd look at my tummy and asked if there was any news... )*$&@*($^@$!%

This dress was bought in Taiwan's Wu Fen Pu very long time ago. I love the colour and I think it gives a bright and cheerful appearance. But I think without my jacket, I will definitely look more pregnant than this.  :S 

Here is my OOTD:

dress from taiwan, jacket from mary julian, shoes from pretty fit

Monday, 15 April 2013

Pork Loin Marinara Linguine

Pork Loin Marinara Linguine 
(2 servings)
300 - 400 g of pork loin meat (diced)
1 carrot (diced)
1 yellow capsicum (diced)
1 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 bottle of Prego's Marinara Sauce (I used about 3/4 bottle)
Marination:
Soya Sauce (1 teaspoon)
Salt (1 teaspoon)
Huadiao Wine (2 dashes)
Sesame Oil (2 teaspoons)
Pepper (2 dashes)
  1. Marinate the pork and let it set for 30 min or so
  2. Heat up the wok and put a tablespoon of oil
  3. Stir fry the garlic until it lets off the aroma
  4. Put in the meat and stir fry until they are 80% done
  5. Pour in the carrots and capsicum and fry together
  6. Pour  a 1/4 water into the mixture and let him simmer over medium heat ( for about 5-10 min, depending on how soft you want your carrots to be)
  7. Pour the Marinara sauce and mix well
  8. Heat for a couple minutes before pouring it over the linguine (cooked as instructed)
I chose the yellow capsicum cos' I love the contrast in colours with the carrots. They really look pretty together but of course with the Marinara, everything will look the same. Haha! But it's always good to try a variety of food colours for health reasons.
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a close up of the linguine

I have not done my "once-a-weekend" cooking since I got my cough. I am trying to start with something simpler. I think I have a love-hate relationship with cooking. I love to cook but I hate the aftermath --> the perspiration, the greasey face and floor, the yellow-faced wife look. I wonder how come the chef and those modern ladies on tv/movies made cooking seem so simple and hassle - free. Even those on Master Chef and Top Chef, after cooking, they still look as good as new. Is it they cook in the air conditioning???? Or just the weather here??? Haha, just mindless rantings here... :p

Sunday, 14 April 2013

Lai Kee Pau @ Bedok South

Hubby chanced upon a stall in a coffee shop selling dimsum. The coffee shop is located in the midst of Bedok South Ave 3 neighbourhood. It was a gem found cos' it served delicious dimsum. I have eaten the "dabao" version, which already I like them but I must say they still taste so much much better, eating at the coffee shop "LIVE". So this morning the 3 of us made our way to Lai Kee Pau.

It was a simple coffeeshop with a few stalls. We saw another stall selling roasted meat which we would definitely try some other day cos' those roasted duck and char siew looked so tempting.

Lai Kee Pau (at Springleaf Eating House)
Blk 69 Bedok South Ave 3

I love the cooling morning, eating dim sum breakfast with hubby and our little boy.

Springfield Eating House
happy mama and bb

ming prawn dumplings and fu pi juan

siew mai

century egg meat dumplings
This is my favourite with century egg inside the meat dumpling. Quite unique.
siew mai alike

chee cheong fun
say hello boy boy!

My Darling Boy


Saturday, 13 April 2013

The Day After ...

Waking up and feeling a little sad that we were not at the villa anymore. I guess Evans felt the same way. He was still happy but not as much as he was in Phuket.

Did not want him to feel bored at home, I brought him to the playroom by the poolside. He loves to go there and play "open and close the windows and door" of the kiddy house. He could self entertain for quite a while but of course it was more fun if we joined in the play... :)
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He must be enjoying himself so much that he did not "tell" me that he has pooped!!! It was not until I smelled something... a distinct poopie smell!!! So I have to cut short his playtime and bring him home for cleanup and nap.

Though we had no car for the day, hubby and I thought we could bring him on a train ride to town area. Seldom we get to bring him to town because of the crowd. But that day was a Weds, so it could work. What's more Evans has been saying "train train" for many times.
in the train

We headed to City Hall and randomly saw the promotion at Out of The Pan, a cafe at basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre. It was having one for one promotion for its crepes and desserts, if you pay using DBS/POSB card. This promotion happens pretty often. It was quite a while since we dine at Out of The Pan, so... ...

Hubby and I ordered Red wine beef stew and Korean kimchi pork, with waffle desserts. Mine was some mixed berries and his was chocolaty with bananas. I enjoyed the crepes, both dishes. The meat was chewy and tender. Hubby ordered the tomato flavoured crepe. It was very crispy while mine was the original version which was soft. Both tasted good nonetheless. As for the desserts, portions were huge. But I kind of got sick of it after eating half of the waffle. On the whole, still a satisfying meal.
papa has been feeding boy boy since mama is still coughing

my crepe - korean kimchi pork style
his crepe - red wine beef stew (in tomato crepe)

hubby's dessert
My dessert

Evans wants the dessert
Evans wants the dessert (Evans' hair looks pong pong here.. HAHA!)