A Memo For You

It's not that I dont miss you but rather, it's the fear of how much I am capable of missing you that holds me back from thinking of you altogether. Been busy with my revision for my exams so if I am going to make this the last post of 2012, might as well make it an honest and genuine one.

I no longer count the days of how long since we have talked but I guess it must have been pretty long (for our standards) since the last time we talked briefly was more than one month ago. It's funny how you can still think of a person so persistently when you have no contact with a person at all. Perhaps it is the past memories playing its mischief, maybe it is the hope that one day fate still hopes something for us, maybe it is just the chemistry we had and how well we played it, that is keeping my memory of us alive. But even so, the days together are fast fading. But like I said before, even if they do fade, they will fade with the quality of how antiques are highly-prized. Like how a soiled letter from years ago will always be treasured despite its form.

Sometimes on days when I sit back and actually think about you, I wonder how your life has been, whether you are happy, sometimes contemplating the what-ifs. That day I saw the sports headline stating that Chelsea  no longer wants Lampard and I instinctively thought of you. Sometimes I would wonder if you are moving along with your life, and if you are going through the same motions of life as I am.

I have been doing good. Sometimes when I reflect on myself, I realise that I am more of the person I used to be before we were together. More carefree, playful and forgiving. It's not that I blame you for anything but I guess everyone has an effect on the people around them. For me, you were like my rock that I could lean on in times of trouble. Hence, my incredible dependence on you, and subsequently the possessiveness and obsessiveness. You always gave in to me and resorted to many things just to please my whims and fancies. These days, I laugh at the same mistakes you used to do, done by other people, instead of throwing a fit. Sometimes I amuse myself with thinking you annoy me better than they do. And sometimes, just sometimes I wonder if things would have been any different if I had learnt FASTER and EARLIER.

These days I divert myself with the many things in my life. Friends, activities, trips, examinations. I wonder if you are occupied just the same. Most likely. I feel that maybe this time it might be different. That maybe you are really gone for good. But what else can I do but to let you go when I have already clung so tightly for so long?

Bygones shall remain bygones. I know there is nothing we can do about the past because it has already been set in stone. There is also little we can do about the present and the future except relish it.

***

Having said that, I am grateful for every friend that has stepped into my life. Each one giving me a different definition of the word "friends".

For 2013

There are several things I want to talk about really and perhaps the best would be to separate each post by topic. But sometimes some things are better off not delved into so deeply because it only digs up old skeletons from the closet.

It's one week short to the end of 2012. Did I achieve what I aimed to achieve one year ago? Well, my resolutions were pretty simple for this year - click here. And looking back, I believed I did achieve all three. They were simple but achievable resolutions to make and looking back, it reminds me of where I was one year ago.

These are my resolutions for the year 2013: (Achievable much?)

1. Love my body AND make it a habit! This includes taking good care of my skin, eating wisely and moisturising regularly.
2.  Be a friendlier person. Be more approachable and generous with my smiles.
3.  Read 10 of the most influential books of all time - to strike something off my bucket list!

I hope I can achieve these three. It might seem simple but it requires a lot of determination to achieve.

Have been slacking a lot in my revision. Gotta keep reminding myself that exams are in early January! boo.. 

Sautes Etc.

Any idea what the title is about? That's 'jump' in case you are wondering. I took ballet as an external elective this semester hoping to broaden my appreciation of the arts and boy, it did not disappoint. Would like to think that my ability to dance to the rhythm of the music has improved along with my (in)flexibility to dance. I came in with zero expectations but finished the course with 99.99% satisfaction. I will never be the greatest dancer in the wirld, neither can i claim to be a very talented one. But taking up ballet as an elective has definitely opened up my eyes and ears to the beauty of dance in general, and the technicalities of ballet, to be specific. Being slow at learning did not deter my enthusiasm to attend class, in fact it spurred me to push on. When my days were bogged down with assignments, stress, sucky progress, ballet allowed me to escape my bad days for a bit. The music is really soothing and moving in line with it makes the soul move in tandem with its wavelength.

Today was my last day of ballet class as well as my final test for ballet. Of course i hope i score an A for this subject but even if i dont, i have no regrets taking this elective.

If Tomorrow Never Comes

So there's all the buzz about 21 December 2012 being the end of the world. To be frank, I really dont see how the world will end on that day. But then again, you can never really expect the world to have a written down expiry date. I reckon if the world really had to end, it would just disappear just as simply as it had appeared with a big bang. So if you think of it that way, there is a slight possibility that the world might end. Of course, the people that calculated 21 December as D-day could very well have miscalculated and surprise surprise, it's 22 December and not 21. Oopsies.

Well, I dont wanna seem like the ignorant little freak that doesnt care a damn that the world is ending. I dont believe it will end just yet, simply because there is still some goodness in this world. The world will end when this world really has no hope or glimmer of humanity to it, in my honest opinion. Till then, we survive. Going back to the-world-is-coming-to-an-end-topic, my first guess is that 22 December will come just like any other day. Maybe you will get some extra smiles or laughters on that day from people grateful to be alive (or perhaps a few groans from those who want to avoid the impending examinations!). But let's just say the world will end this 21 December, have you really done everything you wanted in life?

For me, I probably cannot say that I did. You can check my Bucket List to see how unaccomplished I am, but that is a different story. But am I happy? How would I want to spend my last day really? I would like to think that most people would want to spend it with the ones they love. Because that is the case for me. But if you reflect back on it, yes, writing letters, sending messages of how much a person means to you just because the world is going to end is kind of.. *speechless* really. For a minute, I did contemplate sending out messages to everyone who means a lot to me on that day, but then I realised that I wouldnt really do it for my family. And my mom is really the most important person in my life. So what does sending messages to tell people how much they mean really mean?

Yes, for me, I will appreciate your thought if I ever receive a message from any of my friends. Simply because I know how serious some people view 21 December to be. But messaging isnt my style. People who I care for should know how much they mean to me ("constructive notice") and likewise, if you do care for me, I will know through your actions and how long you have been sticking around. thank you in advance. I shall remember glimpses of your faces and random pieces of memories as I watch the world crumble to its end. I will keep you in my memory while my soul gradually separates from my body. For the other silent carers of the world, you may remain silent. Dont have to wait till the end of the world to say goodbye.

Just hope that all goes well this 21 December. People might just go crazy and start shooting themselves in anticipation of the end of the world, which is so not worth it if the end of the world is still eons away. So in the next few days, keep your chill, treasure the people around you like you always have, and savour each moment of life at your own pace.

For all you people who come visit my blog to read regularly, thank you. You guys are the best silent readers! 

SEP Hunan

The three weeks of student exchange has ended and they returned yesterday morning. I dont normally get attached to my feelings in such a short span of time but the people I met this time round were very genuine people. Friendly, funny, thoughtful, and meaningful people. I feel so fortunate for having the opportunity to know them. Took them around KL, PJ and Melaka in the past few weeks and the memories from those days will always remain. Such a pity that I didnt bother to snap pictures with them, mostly because iphone4 isnt that great a camera or maybe i am such a lousy photographer. These pictures were taken by ZJ's iphone4, ironically. 

This is ZJ. He's a quiet guy but when given the opportunity, he can make a good conversationist. He has a way of putting the most difficult chinese terms into simple english, which I really appreciate. In a way, i like his company simply because our wavelength is quite similar despite the fact that there is the language barrier. There was once when I wanted to ask him a question but was trying to phrase it in chinese and he replied me before i could even ask the question!

Picture below is ZJ and YF. I really admire YF for her quiet confidence. I believe she has seen a lot of the world and has even gone backpacking on her own to places like Nepal and Tibet. One day, I hope I can be like her. Calm, confident and likable.

XF is an intelligent guy which speaks really good english. I love hearing him speak english because it is just like how the British/Americans speak! I can tell he is a bookworm simply because of how he is always so fond of books. Wont forget the last night when we went to Kajang for satay and he was singing random songs in my car.

Of course there are others too, like HF, WD, LN, and BY. But because I didnt snap that many pictures, i dont have much to show. Nevertheless, all of them are special to me.

Three weeks, gone just like that. Missing you guys already. I hope I can visit y'll in Changsha next year..

Now, time to speedy hit my books.  

多几天你们就回了。在过去几周都很难忘的，也很甜蜜的。和你们在一起常常都是有快乐的日子。希望以后我们都会再见面的。。

Been so busy it's crazy. Academic concerns are the least of my concerns and exams are in one months time. So many things to do, so many things I wish to do. Prioritising is easier said than done because no matter how important something is, sometimes your heart rules over your head. The Hunan students have been incredible. Had lots of fun with them. Kinda regret not bringing a camera whenever i went out with them. I know these are times I will treasure months or years from now. Will update real soon, when I have sorted out my things better. :)

Painting with Colours

I bought a Groupon voucher recently for about RM50 for a one-day make-up course at Celmonze Aesthetic Academy. Dont get me wrong, I didnt really buy it out of vanity, more of curiosity. Was it worth it? If you have zero-knbowledge on make-up and want to learn the basics, then yes it is worth it. But if you are looking for high level techniques like which style is more suitable for you, or make-up that suits your personality, then you might be terribly disappointed. As for me, I have never been really that great with make-up so this course was a reasonable refresher for me. There are two types of people, warm and cool skin tones. If you understand which type you are and pick the right colours, it will complement your looks whereas if you pick the wrong one, it will make you look more wash out. So anyways, they taught us the basics right from cleansing, toning to applying falsies. It was fun trying out all the colours and knowing the right way to apply make-up.

And here's the outcome: 

In conclusion, I had a fun time and learnt a fair bit, but only because i didnt know much to begin with. Will I wear make-up everyday from now on? No. The reason i went for the course was so I can apply suitable make-up during formal events, not everyday life. Let's hope I can put my skills to the test the next time I have a formal dinner to attend to. :) 

Although I tell myself everyday that I am almost over you, one dream about you moving on and I am confused all over again. Well, even if my dream is the truth, I cannot do anything. I am selfish to want your affection when we are no longer together and when I have other people as my company. Even if you have moved on, I must be happy for you (though maybe part of the reason I am unhappy is because I think nobody can ever be a better match for you than me.)

But then again, everything was a dream. Just a dream, I guess.

The students from Hunan University came on the 21 november 2012. Yesterday, PL, BE and I took them out for bak kut teh at Old Klang Road. The warmth and laughter we shared reminded me so much of the time I was in Guangzhou, where I met my two friends, CL and FC. It seems, with the months that have passed since June, we contact each other less, simply because our lives are different and not likely to converge. But strangely enough, CL and FC always pop up in my mind occasionally and I would so often reminiscent of the days I spent with all my friends in Guangzhou then. And like last night, it was funny that PL and I talked about FC when so many miles away, he and CL were doing the same about us. It's really touching and heart-warming to have these moments in your life. In a way, I am glad I am going to Shanghai this January to visit them. Friends do not always have to be the people you see every day, but the people closest to your heart.  

November Update

With each time we fall and pick ourselves up, we become a little bit more resilient to what made us fall in the first place. Each time I trip, I am more wary of where I put my foot next. And because of that, you cant blame me if I take extra precaution in falling in love.

These months, I feel like I am almost getting myself back. But I can only tell if this is for real several months from now because only then, I know if all this is just a good phase of life I am going through. I hope I have finally started to re-discover myself again. No more hurt, no more unhappiness.

Mid-sem resumes after this weekend. I have completed 2 and 1/4 year of law school already. 1 and 3/4 years of it left. Speaking of which, I have been applying to firms for work during my end of semester break. And it seems, it is really important to know which field I intend on focusing on when I graduate. Personally think it is too soon to decide but was just thinking.. maybe if I had to choose, I will choose commercial law. Though litigation is where all the glory is, I have to be frank with myself and realise that I really am not the type of lawyer you see in court (think Ally McBeal). Anyway, not gonna make any rash decisions on this. Life is all about savouring the moment so I shall not close up my options so soon.

Till then. 

myBurgerLab @ Seapark

I have been eating all sorts of burgers lately, except McDonalds of course. ;) But today, I will be blogging about a burger joint that I have been hearing of a lot - myBurgerLab.

Beautiful Mess (RM18) Fried Portobello, sunny side up, swiss cheese.

Kick In The Face (RM16.50) Horseradish sauce, sharp cheddar, onion&mustard grilled patty, jalapeno.

Burgers asides, I would like to start off with saying how much I admire the three bosses for setting up a place  like this. I think there is something to learn from every single thing they do - right from how they had tasting sessions to improvise their burgers months before the place was opened up right to the way they show how much they love their customers. I like the concept of producing tasty yet genuine-tasting, wholesome burgers in a fast-food kind of way. I like how they reward their loyal customers in the most quirky of manners. I respect that they spend half the day baking charcoal buns and grinding grass-fed beef just so that they can provide their customers with the freshest of burgers in the evening. And even more so, I enjoy their burgers so very much.

Thus far I have tasted three of their burgers:
1. Kick In The Face (RM16.50)
As seen in the description of the picture above, the Kick In The Face is a burger with wasabi infused sauce. Imagine the typical burger but the difference is that the mayonnaise tastes like wasabi. Dont worry, the wasabi strength is tolerable, not too much that it makes you cry. Wouldnt highly recommend it, but if you are looking for a burger that gives a kick, you need not look no more. The beef patty is juicy and the portions are generous. (This last sentence applies to all the other burgers too).
Rating: 3/5

2. Hangover Burger (RM16)
This is my first love. The Hangover I had consisted of one beef patty topped with one hashbrown and drizzled with maple syrup. I know, it sounds weird to have syrup in burgers but honestly, this burger is amazing. It wasnt just the maple syrup and hashbrown that made it good. There was some sauce added to it that really complemented the maple syrup. And the crispiness of the hashbrown makes this burger alllll the better!
Rating: 4/5

3.  Beautiful Mess (RM18)
is really a beautiful MESS. I never really understood why this burger could be in any way messier than the other burgers but when I finally watched them prepare my Beautiful Mess, I could understand why. Beef patty stacked with three wedges of fried portobello topped with one sunny side-up, I think it is more likely you would wonder how this can ever be a tidy affair. What I loved most about this burger was (i) the fried portobello which were so crispy, yet juicy (AND BIG), (ii) the runny yolk from the sunny side-up flowing everywhere, (iii) and the cheesiness that melted and infused itself with the egg. Oh my god! This must be the ultimate creation of the God of all burgers.
Rating: 4.5/5

The next time I come here, I will be trying their A+ burger which I have also heard, is pretty darn good. Also, try their fries which are lightly salted with herbs. They are fried just perfect - not too soft and soggy but neither is it too crunchy. And their Red House (I call it cheese dip) goes so well with the fries.

With all honesty, I love this place. Not just for their food, but also for their concept and the sincerity they have in serving the burgers. But their business has just begun and there is still a long road ahead. I really hope they will continue to make burgers with this attitude, because it isnt just the burgers itself that makes them so delicious but also the people behind them that contributes to the final taste.


This is the place to go if..
You are a cool trendy person looking for dinner. This is still the place to go if you are uncool and boring. Just try their burger and you will know what I am talking about.




myBurgerLab
No. 14, Jalan 21/22,
Seapark, Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Open from 5.00pm to 10.30pm.
Closed on Mondays only.

Levain Boulangerie Patisserie @ Jalan Delima

 

Virtual macarons for anyone who can guess the place without looking at the title of this post!  *=*

Mid-semester break has just begun and though it is a one-week break for us all, I think we still have many things to settle. Not much time for fun. Hopefully still can find time to experiment with some new recipes though. 

Today, I went to Levain with M, HF, and PL for breakfast. This is a place that I have heard lots about but always never had the opportunity to visit, mainly because it is in KL and I really am anti-driving KL roads. It isnt really convenient taking the public transport here either, so driving was my one and only option. Ended up getting lost driving all over KL. So for anyone who intends on coming here, some advice for you: Look for Jalan Imbi first, then Jalan Delima. The place is hidden from the main roads of KL though it is in the heart of KL. 

Place-wise, it is the classic cottage house kind of beauty complete with the veins and wooden doors. The cashier counter greets you at the entrance and on your left is the wide array of breads and pastries. Walk a little ahead and there is a cake and macaron counter. My eyes roamed crazily everywhere when I first stepped into the place. There were just so many breads, cakes, pastries and whatnot delicacies to see! 

This is the cake and macaron counter. Look at all those colourful macarons. Such pretty colours. 

Cakes were very tempting too.

A row of breads and pastries. 

I finally settled on the Strawberry Yoghurt (RM8.90, picture below) which was from the cake counter. There were too many breads to choose from that I decided not to choose from any of them! But the Strawberry Yoghurt turned out pretty so-so for its price. It's actually a globe of strawberry and yoghurt mousse plopped on top of some cake. And the cake was not very good; it was pretty dry and compact. Perhaps they needed a more compact kind of cake that could carry the weight of the globe on top of it.. but nevertheless felt that the 'thing' as a whole could have been improved. 

HF took the Mushroom Baguette (cant really recall the name and price). On the appearance, it looked pretty ordinary, not that it tasted extraordinary. But there were loads of shiitake mushromms piled on the bread with cheese. It was a tad too salty. A very savoury bread. 

PL bought the Chocolate French Toast (RM4.80). It looks and tastes gloriously (picture above and below). It has a very light texture of bread and each bite has just enough of a chocolate-y flavour. This is something I will buy again if I come back here.   

Above picture is the Mango Souffle. The bread/cake is very fluffy and light and there is mango cream in the middle (with chunks of not-very-ripe-mango).

And then there were tens of breads and other delicacies I couldnt resist snapping a picture of. M bought the Mango Cheese Tart (RM4.30) but I did not have the chance to snap a picture of it. The consistency tasted a lot like mango yoghurt.

I bought a few selection of breads for my family to try (picture above). Durian Melon Bun (RM3.80), Macha Bean Bun (RM3.50) and Choco Crunch (RM3.30), beginning from top following clock-wise. 

The Durian Melon Bun might be appreciated for its generous durian filling. It's like a polo bun with durian filling inside. Really creamy and durian-like. 

Macha Bean Bun was not  exceptional. Maybe a good choice for the health conscious. It's just some green bean filling in a green coated bun. 

Choco Crunch might be a child's favourite. Bought this with my brother in mind. It's charcoal bread with lots of chocolate crushed crumbs coating the bun. The crumbs ARE crunchy, but what I liked was the fluffiness of the bun. 

And when we were done with the breads, we tried some macarons. Choices were varied but finally choose LeDurian (RM3.90 per piece), Macchiato Coffee (RM3.60 per piece), and Triple Chocolate (RM3.60 per piece), following anti-clockwise from the green.

Le Durian was a little too sweet for my liking but the durian cream filling was very lustrous and satisfying.
As for the Macchiato Coffee, the first bite exuded a strong (almost bitter) coffee taste which was very quickly compensated with the sweetness of the ganache. Triple Chocolate would seal the deal for all chocolate lovers.

All in all, it is a nice place to hangout with a wide assortment of breads to choose from. Unfortunately, getting here is such trouble that it would deter me from coming back here again. *Never driving here again, never!*


This is the place to go if.. 
Bread and pastries are your thing. Very nice environment but parking can be quite a hassle.


Levain Boulangerie Pattierie
No. 7, Jalan Delima,
Off Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.

7.30am - 9.00pm
03-21426611

Fat Spoon Cafe @ Damansara Utama

A food review for yet another popular hangout. 

The first picture (below) says it all, with the trademark design of Fat Spoon Cafe. 

Fat Spoon Cafe is pretty popular among foodie bloggers. If it isnt for their soul food which reminds one so much of home, it would be their quaint interior design or one-of-a-kind menu (which is in the form of kiddie books). They are also very popular for their desserts and their hot chocolate which I shall further comment later in this entry. 

What's not to love? 

Thus far, I have tried two meals off their menu. The first would be their Spicy Beef Macaroni Soup (RM8.90). Macaroni with soup. You get the idea. With a few slivers of beef slices to go with it, and lots of coriander. To be honest, I expected MUCH more from this dish. It was not even spicy. A better name for this dish would be Comforting-Beef-Macaroni-Soup-on-a-Cold-Day. 

Next contender is the Ulam Fried Rice (RM11.90) which is wok-fried rice with sambal and herbs accompanied with long beans, fried chicken and pappadum. This was a teeny-weeny bit of disappointment to me too, simply because I expected the sambal to be a lot more spicy and mean. Instead, their version of sambal was my version of blended chillis. I also found the rice to be average (in comparison to how deliciously it was described). So that is the down part of this dish. That asides, the chicken was good - juicy, savoury, with crispy skin. 

So obviously, I have a 'spicy' issue with Fat Spoon. If you cant tolerate spicy food, maybe Fat Spoon is just the perfect restaurant for you. But for me, I get a little sad when a menu represents itself to serve 'spicy' food only to have it fall far below my spicy level. To sum up their main meals, the choices are reasonably varied with a number of rice and noodle dishes, all at a fair price for its portion. Especially for their rice dishes, most consists of home-cooked food types like curry chicken, salted egg, long beans, fried chicken, steamed rice etc. 

Dessert, on the other hand, is much better! Cempedak spring rolls with vanilla ice-cream (RM9.90) screams creativity. So does their Passion fruit Crisps (also RM9.90). Cempedak spring rolls with vanilla ice-cream is served in a pan. Thumbs-up for the quaint presentation! 

And last but not least, their ever-so-famous Fat Hot Chocolate (RM9.90). Beautifully presented, it tastes just as beautiful, and sinful, if i shall add. The consistency isnt too thin/watery but neither is it too thick. The smoothness of the drink rolls on your tongue before it goes down your throat. 

This is the place to go if..

You are looking for a cuppa hot chocolate. Or home-cooked food.   

P.S. Their desserts are pretty attractive too. Think chocolate cake with ice cream, red velvets, bubur cha cha, sago pudding, or The Last Polka ice-cream. 

Fat Spoon Cafe
73 Jalan SS21/1A, 

Damansara Utama, 
Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor Darul Ehsan.

03-7728 3323

11.30am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm (Tuesday to Thursdays)

11.30am - 10.00pm (Friday - Sunday)

Closed on Mondays. 

Curry Wan Tan Mee @ Seapark

I am extracting out this food review from my crazy trip with friends about a week ago. We went to this place in Seapark in the wee hours of the morning just to have curry wan tan mee. You dont want to (or rather, you shouldnt) know what we did after that. lol. 

Basically this stall sells curry wan tan mee from 4am to 6am in the morning near the wet market in Seapark. My eyes almost popped out when I saw the number of people EATING at the stall at 4.30am when I arrived! *I thought my friends and I were the only crazy ones!* 

So anyways, they have two sizes - big (RM5.00) or small (RM4.80). We all settled for small but even then, the meal was pretty filling and satisfactory. 

What the stall looks like, with a snapshot of some of the customers eating at 4.30am. 

Imagine a combination of wan tan mee and curry laksa (with the strips of chicken meat, tau foo pok, fishcakes, and fishballs). Darn, it's making me hungry as I write. Maybe a little overrated to the extent that we can only eat it from 4 to 6 in the morning (sometimes it even gets sold off by 5.30am!) But I think the serving is pretty generous and it has that feel-good factor to the noodles, somehow.

This is the place to go if..
You are a student who has just completed a group assignment with friends at 4am and looking for a place to have supper/breakfast. Alternatively, this can also be the place to have a meal in the early hours of the day before setting off for a hike.


Curry wan tan mee stall
Jalan 21/22,
Seapark,
46300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.

4am-6am

Raleigh IW Camp

I had a very special weekend. One that I would never want to forget, not in a million years. I think I owe it to Raleigh International to convince as many people as possible to take part in their camps because it is that incredible!

A little about Raleigh International before I proceed with a brief summary of my weekend. Basically, Raleigh international runs expeditions in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Borneo, and Tanzania. Their expeditions would normally consists of 10 weeks of living with nothing but nature and doing community projects. It can be pretty hardcore, I must admit, which is why they also organise Introduction Weekend camps every few months to expose interested people to what their expeditions are like.

I took part in their most recent one - October 2012.

I cant really go too deep into what we did, where we were, how our lives were like, because everything is meant to be kept as a surprise for the participants. Perhaps it is to keep us participants ready for any surprises or challenges that come our way when we are least prepared.

But if you are the adventurous sort, this is really the camp for you. If you check out their website and like the idea of going for expeditions, do give this Introduction Weekend a try. I heard there will be another one in December.

I didnt enjoy it like how I enjoy tasting desserts and going for food trips, but that doesnt mean that I didnt enjoy it. This is the kind of camp that gave me chunks of what life can be like without all those high tech stuff and allowed me to be reminded of how beautiful nature can be. It is like the fresh blast of water gushing down from the waterfall - both dangerous and fun, and of course, very refreshing. I enjoyed the company of my new-found friends because we worked as a team - ate together, worked together, played together, slept together, even.

And post-camp, as I type this, I miss the brief weekend I had and know for sure that Raleigh has indeed changed a part of my life by reminding me of how important nature is.

Crazy Random Day

Such an incredible day that began from 4am. Breakfast at Seapark, coffee at SS2, temple visiting in Brickfields and hiking up Thean Hou temple before an early buffet vegetarian lunch in Brickfields. I wish I could write more but I really have too much to write with so little time. Also had cramps after that, which left me unable to move the rest of the day. Tomorrow I might be going off for camp for a few days (no phone, no internet, no whatsoever). So yea you can imagine.. let's hope i aint overdoing meself! 

Double Chocolate Mousse Tart

Here's a quick blog entry before I proceed with finishing off everything else I need to do. So, I havent baked in a while. And because I bought a huge carton of whipped cream months ago with my own pocket money and didnt use it yet, I decided I couldnt let it go to waste. I always love mousse and making this was the epitome of my dream dessert.  

Got the recipe from taste.com.au and the initial recipe required a chocolate biscuit base. But because my mom had never tried a golden base before, I thought I would change it for her sake. Turned out pretty ok too, heh. 

I love the ganache layer... NEVER omit it out!

Double Chocolate Mousse Tart

Biscuit base:

250g digestive biscuits

125g butter, melted

Chocolate ganache:

100g dark chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup whipping cream

Chocolate mousse:

200g dark chocolate, chopped

1 tsp vanilla

600ml whipping cream

A pinch of gelatin

1. Grease a 9 inch round spring-form pan. Line base with baking paper. 

2. Place biscuits and flour in a processor. Process until finely chopped. 

3. Add butter. Process until combined. 

4. Press mixture evenly over base of prepared pan. 

5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

6. To make chocolate ganache, place chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 - 4 minutes or until smooth. Pour over biscuit base. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set.

7. To make chocolate mousse, place chocolate, vanilla and half the cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat. 

8. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until smooth. Remove from heat and let it cool for 15 minutes. 

9. Using an electric mixer, beat remaining cream until soft peaks form. 

10. Fold chocolate mixture into cream. 

11. Gently pour over ganache layer. Refrigerate overnight.

So that's all for today. My life is revolving very fast these few weeks. It's probably the fastest I ever have had to endure. But I will survive, just like I always do. 

Waffles For A Day

Barely half of my day has passed and it has already been so fulfilling (though exhausting)! Last night, I downed god knows how many SMALL cups of Carlsberg beer with my buddies. But hey, that is not the highlight of my blog entry today!

BGF organised a Food and Fun Fair today at SJK Yuk Chai. The purpose of this event is to raise funds to build a new BGF centre at Ara Damansara, if i am not mistaken. There was a food section and fun section but of course, with my tendency to gravitate to food, I volunteered to help out with the food section. And that was the best decision I made today.

Met this man with the waffle machine so I asked him if he needed help to man his stall, in which he then taught me how to make waffles with the machine. OH YEAAA~ So I made waffles non-stop from 9am to like 3pm. And the response to the waffles were very good. He didnt just sell plain old waffles but also waffle sausages. Waffles with sausage on a stick. Those got a very good response from people. That man was actually a waffle equipment supplier or something like that.. but he nevertheless impressed me with his waffle-making skills as well as his good nature. He was very different from the usual traders in the sense that he was not too much of an opportunistic. He was very honest in his work and did not get pissed off when people made mistakes. There was even a kid who wanted to eat a waffle sausage when those ran out and he actually pursued the kid with a sausage. I found that very touching and nice of him.

So yea, there goes half my day. I still have a long way to go. Needa take a break for a while before going off for dinner with some friends. And there is my assignment to do. And my project paper. Oh and.. all those tutorials. OMG!  

Taman Sari Brasserie @ Hotel Istana

Well the past few weeks have been tiring, it has been a long marathon that has tested my stamina and still is. I started this semester thinking that I will be free-er than before but I am almost on the verge of a burn out right now. Well doesnt matter, everything will sort itself out in good time. 

Went for a International Buffet Dinner at Taman Sari in Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur. I have finally completed one term of Vice Editor of VOX Magazine. But seriously, credit should be given to N, not me. 

Heard that each person costs RM91.50. But then again, the choices of food was pretty extensive and service was very warm. There was a salad counter, bread counter, rice and staples (which included ravioli!), desserts, ice-kacang, lassi, and.. and a whole wide range of rotis and meat cooked Malay style. There was also some BBQ food outside - the sausage was very nice, big and juicy.. It is my regret that I did not take the pictures of more desserts up close nor did I take that many pictures at all..  

Bread counter. Really tempted to try the various types of bread but was pretty full. 

The various sorts of rotis. Delicious!

Look at all that fish curry.. And those are the rotis in the background.

Desserts.. always my favourite. Cupcakes are pretty but flavour wise not that great. Tiramisu was satisying. Cant really expect five star desserts in a buffet. But looks-wise, it can be a winner. 

Wont rank the food here as the best but the scenery of the garden outside is quite nice and the service is heartwarming. There was this waiter that kept checking up on our needs to made sure we were all well-fed and happy. 

A snapshot of the outside. Pity it was raining. 

All in all, buffets are always fun. Hope the best for the new Editorial team.. 

Now, if only I could get a quick rest before resuming my endless work! 

This is the place to go if..

You have a bottomless stomach that particularly enjoys Malay and Asian food. They had 10 different condiments for the ice-kacang! 

Taman Sari Brasserie

Hotel Istana

73 Jalan Raja Chulan

50200 Kuala Lumpur

03-21419988

Alexis @ Bangsar Shopping Complex

I have only been to Alexis a few times in my life. The first, would be for a casual dinner with a friend in which I have described my dining experience here. But it was always at The Gardens, and never at BSC. This time round, my buddies and I dropped by BSC's Alexis for a place to hang out and chit chat, while waiting for dinner time to arrive. J ordered three slices of cake for everyone of us to try. 

Well, there is no need for an introduction to Alexis' ever famous Tiramisu cake (with cognac!) as well as the Mixed-fruit meringue which I introduced in my previous entry on Alexis. The environment and cakes in BSC was pretty much the same as The Gardens. But I noted that the cakes did not taste its best - it would have tasted better if they were better chilled. 

The Tiramisu (RM15) tasted as great as before with the slight alcohol flavour in the cream part of the cake. HL was crazy about the nuts. 

Mixed Fruit meringue (RM15). Another popular choice. If I have not mentioned it before, I must mention it now.. I would pick the mixed fruit meringue over the pavlova any day! Meringues, by nature are very sweet and chewy. Alexis' Pavlova therefore, have a very very sweet and crusty bottom but bland top. The Mixed-fruit meringue, however, is the perfect remedy for their Pavlova. Using almost the same meringue and ingredients, they split the 'pavlova' into two so that the sweetness of the crusty meringue is evenly distributed from top to bottom. (I hope my description gets the message across!) So while the mixed-fruit meringue is sweet, it is well balanced with the smooth cream and sour berries with each bite, whether you choose to attack this beauty of a cake from top or bottom. I love this creation.. though I would only advise it for people who can take both extremes of sweet (meringue) and sour (berries).

Then, J ordered another slice of cake - the Zuccotto Dome (RM12.50). It had a very curious design.. dome-shaped with chopped nuts sprinkled on top. The cake is fluffy and there is chocolate mousse with chocolate cream chip at the heart of the cake. I think this cake is special for its unique shape, so you may try it for something a little more fancy. 

So we had these three slices of cake that day. Each with a distinct personality. 

Tiramisu for classical and sophisticated. It is a simple cake with depth and topped with a beautiful topping of caramelised crushed nuts. Any one who loves a little tinge of alcohol in their cake would love this.

Mixed-fruit meringue is for the sweet tooth. But of course, you will have to accept the extremely sour berries that come along with it!

And finally the Zuccotto Dome which is for any one who is attracted to its special design. Can just give it a try. Taste isnt too shabby either! :)

This is the place to go if..

As mentioned in my previous review, I maintain my stand that Alexis is the perfect place for teatime. Lovely cakes, and lovely tea sets. This time, I ordered Ginger Lemongrass tea (RM15) which came with a small pot of honey. 

Alexis 

Lot 15A 1st Floor

Bangsar Shopping Centre

Bukit Bandaraya

59100 Kuala Lumpur

03-22871388

Kissaten @ Jaya One

It was PL's birthday on the 27th September so we gave her a surprise birthday dinner a day before. Initially was planning to go to Chilli Rush but since HF and I were very much drawn by all the (mostly positive!) reviews about Kissaten, we managed to convince the birthday girl to give this place a try instead. 

There are two variations for the Burger Steak - Teppan Mushroom or Teppan Radish. HF and I ordered the same thing - Teppan Mushroom Burger Steak (RM18.90). Clearly, the both of us are not a fan of radish. Basically, what we had was minced pork chop covered with mushroom sauce, two slices of baked potatoes, broccoli, two carrot sticks and corn. The meal was generally good. I especially enjoyed the thick brown mushroom sauce which actually had the fragrance of mushrooms. The corn was fresh and juicy, the potatoes were well done, broccoli was well cooked. But I never liked carrots so I shall reserve my comments on them. But of course, if you are into raw carrots and all, you will love the carrots! ;) Portions were reasonably generous for the price we paid. 

Birthday girl had Seafood Spaghetti (RM17.90). Generous servings of prawns and olive. Not out of the world, but neither is it the worst.  

Shu Lin ordered potato wedges. Though they may appear plain, but the flavour and texture of the wedges were great. Size was just nice.. not too small that it looks measly and unsatisfactory, but neither was it too big that you have difficulty stuffing it into your mouth. It was lightly sprinkled with salt and the wedges came with some kind of sauce. I liked the crusty outer layer of the wedges too. 

The ambience of the restaurant was quiet and peaceful when we arrived. The waiters were very approachable and responsive to our needs. We got two slices of cakes from Kissaten to celebrate her birthday. From left to right, SL, HF, PL and me. 

The first was White Raspberry cake (RM8.90). Pretty on the outside, but average on the inside of your mouth. It is a light sponge with layers of white cream and raspberry jam. The white outer layer is probably white chocolate shavings. Nothing speacial.. I found the cake a little too sweet and the raspberry filling did not have a natural flavour which I was hoping for. 

Next was the Peanut Almond (RM8.90) which was chosen by the birthday girl herself! I was initially doubtful of her choice although I must admit, the cake did look pretty. Anyhow, this cake did not disappoint as much as the White Raspberry. It consisted of a light sponge with layers of peanut cream in between. Not bad, pretty tasty. And to top the cake off, there was caramelized peanuts and almond to give it that extra crunch. 

So to conclude, Kissaten is a cafe that serves Japanese fusion food. Their menu consists of Western-like dishes (e.g. pizzas, burgers, steaks, spaghettis) with Japanese ingredients (e.g. seaweed, eggs on pizza, seafood spaghetti). I will not highly recommend this place if you are looking for full-on Japanese food because this will never be that sort of place. Kissaten, with its fusion menu would be more attractive to the younger generation which is more receptive with mixed food. 

Also, if you like their Facebook page, you may claim a free drink (coffee, tea, or Iced lemon tea). Pick Iced Lemon Tea.. It is worth it! 

This is the place to go if..

You love Japanese fusion. A nice place to hang out with friends, simply because they have a conducive environment. 

Kissaten

L-12A-1-1,

Palm Square, Jaya One,

72A Jalan Universiti,

Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor Darul Ehsan.

03-79541990

11.30am - 1.00am