The Haute Food Co. @ Plaza Damas

 The place.

If you know me, you might know that one of the things I want to achieve in life is to open my own bakery or restaurant. It was a dream, still is.. and I never really could put a finger on what type of place I wish to open. But when my friend shared a link with me, I knew that if my dream cafe exists, this was how it should be. A simple place with desserts that make your mouth water, simply by it's originality.  

 First up was the Caramel Pound Cake (RM5.50). I liked it enough to give it a try but this isnt the first thing I would order if I enter a bakery. It was pretty light and had a nice caramel flavour to it. However, it WAS a little too dry for my liking.  

 Then there was the Raspberry with White Chocolate and Lemon Cheesecake. This is one cake you really have to appreciate for both it's tartness as well as creaminess. But what appealed to me even more was it's chocolate crust. There's a hint of the good old graham cracker but it's mixed with crushed chocolate cookies and just that slight tinge of lemon zest. 

The third cake we tried was the Tiramisu. I read in one of the food blogs that they couldnt appreciate the mascarpone cheese in Haute's version of tiramisu.. Too light, they said. But somehow for me, I like this tiramisu VERY much. Perhaps it is how generous they are with the rum. With each bite you take, there is that hint of rum in every mouthful. The lady fingers (the sponge layer) were also very soft and spongy..  

And, since it was supposed to be lunch, so we decided to order a sandwich as well. Presenting to you.. Smoked salmon sandwich with cream cheese and rye bread along with salad. Felt that the bread was somewhat too hard, and maybe I would have been able to appreciate it better eating it by itself without all that salmon and cream cheese. But that asides, the salmon was good and savoury. Need a stronger sense of cream cheese. Couldnt really detect it in the sandwich. :(

A sum-up of everything we ordered today. :) 

RM46.40.. *oops*

 A picture of Michelle and I.

Michelle and Hui Fong.

 And... Hui Fong and I. :)

Turns out it is pretty easy to get to Plaza Damas in Hartamas from UM if you take the Sprint Highway. We were there in about 10minutes despite the fact that none of us are familiar with Hartamas at all. 

I would come here again but not too soon as the price is a little too high for me. And if I do come, it would be for the cakes. I am very impressed with how they managed to give some of the cakes an interesting twist. Although people say that the sandwiches are good, I beg to differ. They arent the worst, but I think there is much to improve on with their bread. Maybe we picked the wrong sandwich to try or it could be the fact that everyone has a different opinion of what's good. But whatever it is, do check out their cakes. I wont forget this place. :)

This is the place to go if...
You are looking for a quiet place to hang out with close friends, or even a lovers' date. It is very cozy and the area of the cafe is pretty small. Also good for people with a weaknesses for sweet stuff as they serve some of the more delicious cakes I have tasted in my life. 


The Haute Food Co. 
H-0-2
Block H, Plaza Damas,
Ground Floor,
60 Jalan Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-62013168

10am - 6pm
Closed on Tuesdays. 

Fidelity

Dont get me wrong. I have nothing against lovey-dovey couples, nothing against marriage vows and no, I have never been cheated on before (or at least, from what I know).

But the topic of faithfulness has been roaring in my head for some time. I have never really seen anyone outright cheat their significant other before (goes to show how pure and blessed my life is). But these things never go without wondering. Only one year ago, I talked about how infidelity can ruin a marriage, or rather the ugleh-ness of cheating.

BUT, I never thought that.. perhaps being faithful to one partner throughout your life can be as difficult as opting to only eat rice and nothing but rice as your staple from the time you are born till your last breath. Think of it!

Everyone wants a faithful partner. Well, anyone who is in a stable, happy relationship would. Who wants to share their good stuff with someone else, anyway?! Yet, not every one can stick to their side of the bargain when things are tough. Intentions asides, how do you draw the line between being "just friends" or cheating on your partner? Going out for a drink with a friend is normal, but what if you think that girl/guy is hot? Can that be considered a semi-date? How about offering a girl a ride back home? Any gentleman would do that.. (and I am sure any girl would appreciate it), but what if you are already married?

I think it goes back to the expectations of the parties involved in that relationship. Every relationship is different, just like how every family has different traditions and behaviors. My mom might be okay with me not cleaning my room but somewhere else in this world, some other girl may be nagged, scolded, punished even, if her room is left to collect dust even for a day! Likewise, in relationships, it is important to make sure that everyone involved enters into the circle with their eyes wide open. If everyone consents and is happy, so be it. Doesnt really matter whether a relationship is for two or three (or even more.)

Going back to the topic of fidelity, I used to think that it is very important that my husband-to-be must be faithful to me. If I ever caught him having an affair, I would divorce him. After all, what is there left to work on if he didnt treasure me enough to abstain from flirting with other girls and whatnot. I asked my mom that question.. and was very surprised to hear her response. She told me that she would still remain in the marriage. As long as he still cares for her, as long as he still maintains the family, as long as he loves the kids, what more can we expect? I really couldnt accept her reasoning at that point of time. Faithfulness was THAT important to me back then. But looking back now, my views have somewhat changed. No, not to the extent that I would let any guy I date or marry to hang out with any girl as they wish or send flirty texts to them behind my back. I still hold onto my principle that a relationship should be monogamous and nothing else. Why else should it be called a relationship then?

But IFFFF... if, your significant other ever cheats on you, maybe it is a wake-up call. To realise what has been going wrong in the marriage or relationship. There will always be problems, issues and dilemmas in this world. Infidelity is just ONE of those many, many problems.

Humans might be programmed to be greedy and selfish. But even so, people in happy relationships almost never think of hurting their other half by doing things behind their back. I am aware there is a minority who are programmed cheaters but let's just leave them out of this discussion. (My principle is to treat playboys as friends and nothing else but friends. That way, it saves you from lots of disappointment and heartbreak). Anyways, going back to what I was saying.. There is probably a loophole in your relationship if you or your other half is seeking for company other than each other. For me, a relationship is a healthy and good one if both parties can enjoy each other's company, and there is openness, respect, and honesty in the way they behave to each other. If all that is absent in a relationship, it is nothing but a recipe for disaster. You start to seek friends instead of your partner for company, when you feel down you withdraw in your shell instead of sharing your thoughts with your partner (who btw should be your best friend). You start hanging out with your single guy/girl friends discussing how hot that chic or dude is. And when you finally meet someone you think you can connect with, you let things gradually take it's course. And if things continue to not improve with your other half, you start to seek the company and warmth of a fresh new relationship with your new found "friend". He/she seems to know how you feel. Your gf/bf is such an ass - he/she keeps bugging you the whole day. And the more you withdraw from your relationship, the more you get drawn into this new friendship.

I just want to say.. relationships are precious. Dont take the people around you for granted. At one point of time, this was once the most important person in your life. And if you choose to forego this for something fresh and new, it is your choice. It might be a good choice but it may equally be an unwise decision as well. Because everything that is new is almost always good. Only the test of time can reveal many other things about a person.

I dont think infidelity is the main issue in a relationship, seriously. Anyone is prone to cheat on their partner. But what matters more is how you act responsibly for your actions. If you did something, own up to it. Dont prolong things and end up hurting EVERYONE involved by abusing their trust. I think that is the one thing worse than cheating itself. #justsaying

Seeing is Believing, Maybe

Sometimes when you reach a certain level of acceptance towards a particular person or topic, you no longer feel that same anger, jealousy, anxiety etc. I dont think the 15 year old me would have been able to guess how things would have unfolded. And here I am understanding how life works a teeny weeny bit better.

Some Competition Would Be Good

I.. really dont know how to put this.

This June will not only be a reminder that I have been on this earth for 21 years but it will also be the month that marks the two years that I have been in law school.

Somewhat three months away from THE month, I feel like I am almost no better than I was when I first stepped into law school. Maybe a little more familiar with the books in the law library, a little more pro at using Lexis Nexis to find cases, a little better in carrying myself, but.. somehow, I feel like something is missing.

To be honest, I have been stuck at Article 5 of the Federal Constitution for the past week. Maybe it's lack of motivation, or maybe it's because I dont really know where to start reading. I highly suspect it's my lack of enthusiasm for anything to do with Public law though. And it's sad that me, as a budding lawyer in slightly more than two years, knows only that much more about the law than the typical man on the road.  

Once again, I am on the road of self-doubt. Wondering whether law has been the right choice for me. I still dream about baking and inventing new recipes.. but the intensity of my regret for not picking something else besides law is also slowly, but surely going away too. I realise I am contradicting myself much.. but it's difficult to explain how I feel right now. I seem to be getting everything besides my Constitutional law revision done. And dont let me get started on Administrative law.

Consti test will be on Wednesday. I really hope I can get some reading done by then. Fingers crossed. 

The Right One

A reader asked me how I would differentiate Mr Right from Mr Alright.

Upon reading that question, I imagined that it would be very easy for me to answer. After all, I always blog about relationships, always harp about true love and never fail to talk about finding the right one. But one sentence later, I found myself typing and backspacing. Not really knowing how to explain who is Mr Right.

I realised after a few moments that I couldnt really paint out a picture of who he is. Everybody would have their own definition.. and in this entry, I will tell you about mine. But.. I cant tell you what he looks like, what his hobby is, where he lives, how he dresses, and what his life goals are. I cant tell you that I only fall for a certain type of guy. Nor can I say that Mr Right is the ultimate guy that fulfills all the requirements in my checklist. I wanted to say that it is about the feeling - that if it feels right, then he probably is right. But I held back from saying that as well, because even lust can feel right, at the beginning.

So, to reply your question, I can only say that Mr Right is not Mr Alright simply because he stands out from the others. Maybe it's the way he shrugs his shoulder when he replies a question, or the way he expresses himself in words. It could be the way he responds to the things that you say. Or even the things he does not say. Whatever it is, you feel drawn by his presence. You look forward to every second that you spend with him, even if it is to do the most mundane of things. You find yourself laughing, simply from being in his presence. And you smile foolishly to yourself when you recall the happy times spent with him. You seek his company because you know that every encounter will be as fulfilling as the previous one.

Actions and the conduct of a person often reveals much about a person, even if not all. From his actions, if he is someone you can trust and depend on, it becomes an additional point. If he is someone who treats people with respect, not just the person he is after, but to everyone around him, he becomes that much more attractive. If he has an eye for romance and spontaneity, who can resist?

Another thing I feel is somewhat necessary is the meeting of the minds. Although people do say that opposites attract, personally I prefer to believe that we can only sustain a relationship if both parties hold onto similar values and were raised in similar family backgrounds. True, there are many successful marriages and relationships out there which thrive on the uniqueness and differences between the two parties.. I do not and will never doubt the authenticity of such relationships. But I still stand firm to my ground that for a relationship to work, both parties must believe in the same things. For me, honesty and responsibility are important qualities. I can tolerate other weaknesses but if my significant other ever abuses my trust, I am not sure if things can ever work out from there. So if I ever do find someone, it would probably be someone who hold onto similar values as me.

And even having said all that, these things might not be enough. Because more importantly, the feeling must be mutual. *common sense much* Love.. well, it can only develop with time, can only be proven with time. And one thing I would like to add, there's no point saying I've found THE ONE if he isnt even aware of my feelings or worse still, doesnt appreciate my feelings for him, correct? ;)

So basically this sums up what I feel would make the guy of my dreams stand out from the rest. I have been told that my 'requirements' will probably eliminate 99.99% of the male population, or something like that. (And that would make me a delusional, weird, and demented spinster in my old days.) But maybe that is what makes the special one, special. Because he cannot simply be replaced.

But of course, these thoughts.. it might change with time, it might not.

One Happy Ending

Having read about how Sumiko Tan, newspaper columnist and editor, wedded her junior-college crush at the age of 40 something, I really couldnt resist blogging my thoughts about the ever so debatable topic of whether we should wait for Mr Right to come or to just grab anyone who comes along and pray he turns out to be a good family man. Sumiko met him when she was just 16, in junior-college. He got married to someone else, divorced 14 years later with one child, they meet again, fall in love, and marry. If there is any other more beautiful way a love story should unfold, this would be one of those few. Waiting for THE right one, only to settle down, and not just accepting any Mr. Alright that comes along.

But how certain can you be that these endings do happen, ALL the time. Maybe it was Sumiko's fate to really end up with her junior-college crush. Fated that he was supposed to divorce his ex-wife and to end up with Sumiko instead. But what if he NEVER divorced? What if they never met again? Would Sumiko still remain single and available now? FYI, although Sumiko may look youthful and pretty despite her age(yes, looks are deceiving!), she was already 46 when she finally wedded him!!! It would have meant that she was  kinda prepared to not marry for the rest of her life.

In fact, at one time, this is what she wrote: (something almost every single girl can relate to)

“Again, it’s not that I look on enviously at couples. I really don’t. I’m happy with my life. But once in a while, it hits me that maybe there’s something wrong with me. It doesn’t matter how I love my single life. It doesn’t matter that I have all the personal space in the world. It doesn’t matter what I’ve achieved in my career. It doesn’t matter how I know it’s better to be alone than to be alone in a marriage. It doesn’t matter that I’ve seen how marriage isn’t a binding contract or a guarantee of a happy-ever-after. It doesn’t matter how many boyfriends I’ve had or might have. It doesn’t matter if there are men who care for my well-being. The fact remains that I am not married, and I say this not in a self-pitying way but as an acknowledgment of a, to me, puzzling fact. And the fact remains that no one has been mad enough about me – and I for him – for us to embark on a journey together. The fact remains that no matter how fun singlehood is, there are nights when I lie in my nice big bed all by my lonesome self (well, actually my dog sleeps with me), and think: Is there something wrong with me? Is this all there is to life? Why aren’t I married? Am I not good enough? Am I not lovable enough? Am I not capable of loving deeply and permanently? Have I been too fussy? Do I have bad karma? Don’t I deserve more? My mother was married, my sister is married, Michelle Obama is married, the woman who cleans the office pantry is married, so many ‘normal’ women are married, why not me? Have I failed as a woman? Am I inadequate?”

As mentioned by one of the bloggers, Sumiko did write a lot about old age and loneliness throughout her stint as a columnist. Finally meeting THE ONE for her was like a bonus. Something she never expected to happen.

I would like to know.. how many people would actually wait for the right one only to settle down.

Would you accept any Tom, Dick or Harry just so you can escape the ever so scary social stigma of being labelled SINGLE and UNMARRIED at mid-life? Would you still wait for someone even if he has settled down? Would you still continue to wait for someone if he says that all he needs is time?

Good guys can turn bad. And likewise, the jerks can turn out to be one of the best people you have ever met (of course that is if he attempts to be a better person!). We dont really know how our life will turn out, dont know who we will be with, dont know who we really love, until.. it happens.

Standing at a crossroad, I realise that I have two options. To stay or to walk away. But I will never know the story of the other when I walk down the path of one.

I feel happy for Sumiko, that she finally found the one who she felt was worthwhile marrying to. I can imagine that feeling. It is beyond bliss. And perhaps, that hope of experiencing that feeling is the one thing that keeps everyone holding on.. waiting for Mr Right to appear, even when there are so many Mr Alrights around.

As for me, this topic will never end, not until I get my happy ending. It's just that stories like how Sumiko and Hurricane end up together after so many years, well.. are just too motivating to not share.



On a separate note, the phonecall was really like a dream.

Comfort Zone

Almost one year ago, I was thrown out of my comfort zone. Dont ask me how. If you stalk my blog posts enough, you will have an idea.

Comfort zone is that condition when you feel safe. You dont feel the need to change nor to improve yourself, simply because you are happy and satisfied with the situation that you are in. As human beings, we tend to remain complacent when things are going great for us. Why bother working harder when you have so many good stuff at hand? Totally relatable.

But what most people dont realise is that the most valuable lessons are learnt when you are pushed beyond that safe little zone. When you dont feel certain and secure of getting something, you start to appreciate its value. And when you realise how important it is to you, only then you will work for it.

As quoted by Les Brown,

If you put yourself in a position where you have to stretch outside your comfort zone, then you are forced to expand your consciousness.  

And it is only when you dont feel so sure of getting something, that you will start putting in conscious effort to get it. You strive to become better, you analyze your faults, you push yourself to be better than yourself.

The idea is really simple. *Note: Image obtained from Pucks and Puzzle Pieces

You have the comfort zone. And when you cross that border, you enter the learning zone. This yellow zone is where you go beyond your boundaries and actually learn from being placed outside your comfortable normal life settings. And it is quite a far way to go before it enters the anxiety zone.

I've been through that process. It wasnt voluntarily, but I endured it nevertheless. And I've come out with no regrets. There are many instances in life when we have no choice but to go through a very difficult stage of our life. But when we manage to pull through it, we eventually come out as winners in our own eyes.

But sometimes, if you realise it yourself, why do you have to wait for something to happen before you wake up and realise? Why isnt it possible to just get up this instant and make yourself a better person?

Life is Short

Apparently, one of my seniors passed away this evening. It was a car accident.

Goes to show how people can be in your life one moment and be gone for eternity, the next. Your life can disappear in a flash. Maybe if i was closer to him, his death would affect me even more. But even as it is, his death is still nevertheless, a shock to me. I wonder how I would feel if that person who left this world wasnt him but was someone closer to me. People whom I had shared good and bad memories, people I wish I had that one last chance to talk to with, people who I wish knew how important they are to me, or even, a simple apology to every one out there whom I have shown a black face to, or got pissed off at.

And then the thought lingers to.. me.

What would I do if I die tomorrow?

Have I done everything I want to? Can I be certain that I would die with a smile on my face?

Then you realise that when life is short, your priorities in life change. You arent going after that job promotion anymore. Stress is just a word. Getting the recognition or a certain status, be it social or work, suddenly doesnt matter so much anymore.

For me, I think I would regret the other more candid stuff in life.

I wish that I didnt miss that opportunity to go up a hot-air balloon with you.
Going for another trip somewhere, just my mom and I.
Telling my mom I love her.
Making a change in the lives of others, no matter how small.
Eating my hearts content.
Living life, instead of rushing life.
Hugging Metta every single day before going out.
Swimming in the sea.

Maybe if I realise that life is short and that it is a gift given to us by God that can be taken away from us anytime, maybe I will realise that sometimes we just have to let what's bothering us go. Just live in the moment. Take risks. I dont mean being rash, but rather.. grabbing any opportunities we have that comes along our way for we never know when that opportunity may ever come round again.

Appreciate those who love you and love them back in return.

Laugh out loud.

Take breaks off from work just so you can do something random.

Forget grudges.

Accept your feelings, embrace them.

And maybe that's what I shall start to do. Live a little more. Play a little more. Laugh a little more. Hopefully I will have no regrets when MY time comes.



P.S. I hope you rest in peace. I might never have spoken to you in person but I know you were an awesome person in life. 

I wish, love was true. That for every heart that is broken in this world, there will be another heart that is found and healed.

I wish, lust is a lie. And that behind every passionate kiss, there is at least an ounce of honest feeling.

I wish, to love and to be loved, would be difficult. But not too difficult that it kills an innocent heart, time after time.

I wish life could be as easy as working hard for what you want. Because when some things arent meant to be, it can really break your heart.

I wish unrequited love never existed. Wouldnt life be easier if everyone who is loved, loves the people who love them the same way in return?

I wish everyone is lucky enough to get their Mr/Miss Right to be their first love.

I wish there was honesty and sincerity in the intentions of everyone.

I wish people could reverse their actions just so they can amend their mistakes in the past. And make the present just right.

But all these are only wishes. And we all know that wishes only come true in fairy tales. WE.. dont live in a fairy tale where the princess always gets her prince. No, in reality.. wishes do not always come true.

Chocolate Banana Cake (Secret Recipe Inspired!)

Thing have been going well for me, well.. at least for my baking. The Mud Pie I made a few days ago went well and then today, I attempted a Chocolate Banana Cake. I know I really should start studying. What with so many tests coming up after the holidays, and I can foresee the end of April to be super hectic and killing. But.. that is another story.

Chocolate Banana Cake

A:
30g cocoa powder, mixed with 120ml water
4 egg yolks
100g sugar *I reduced to 90g
130g SRF *didnt have SRF so I replaced it with all-purpose flour + 1 1/2 tsp baking soda + 1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
60ml corn oil
1 tsp vanilla essence

B:
4 egg whites
60g sugar *reduced to 50g
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Cake filling:
500ml chocolate whipping cream *I used normal whipping cream but added cocoa powder to the cream
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 tbsp instant coffee, mixed with 1 tbsp hot water *personally felt the coffee flavour was a little too strong but I guess it depends on the brand of coffee you use!
1 tbsp gelatine
6 ripen bananas, cut into slices of 1.5cm thickness

Chocolate topping:
(Note: I cut down the original recipe by half as these frosting recipes normally have extra so if you arent stingy, just double the portion and that will be the original recipe. Personally found the coating to harden quite quickly once poured onto the surface of the cake. Perhaps, a suggestion for myself in future is to add more whipping cream to the mixture so the topping will not be hard and instead, hopefully, will have a softer ganache-like texture.)
70ml whipping cream
175g cooking chocolate
1/2 tbsp butter

1. Preheat oven at 180C.
2. In a bowl, to perpare A, whisk egg yolks with cocoa mixture until thick and gooey. Gradually add sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn oil and vanilla essence. The end product should look chocolate-y and shiny but also very sticky.
3. To prepare B, whisk egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Add in sugar and continue whisking until stiff peak.
4. Fold A into B.
5. Pour into 9-inch cake pan and bake for 40minutes (*I baked it for 30minutes. Again, this depends on your own individual oven as each oven is different).
6. Let it cool. Invert cake and cut into three layers when cool.
7. For filling, whisk cream until stiff peak. Add in vanilla essence, followed by coffee mixture and gelatine mixture. I added in cocoa poweder too.
8. Spread filling onto first layer of cake and arrange banana slices on top of filling. Top with second layer. Spread filling and arrange slices of bananas. For the last layer, spread cream filling on top and side of cake. Leave in the fridge to set.
9. To prepare chocolate topping, heat chocolate in double-boiler and add in butter and whipped cream. Stir until mixture is smooth and melted. Leave to cool before pouring in top of cake.

 Doesnt it look like Secret Recipe's Chocolate Banana? :p
Well the next time I make this, I will try to improvise it and make it more original.. :)