Red Velvet

There was an incident that marred the memory of a great dinner get-together.  Shortly after we were seated, the patrons from another table asked for their birthday cake stored in the chiller.  There were 3 cakes in the chiller (yea, 3 birthday celebrations), including the small one I bought for E.  The staff was so confused she took the wrong cake (ours!) and walked right to the other table while all the time, I was trying to tell her that was our cake.  The lady who bought the cake realised the mistake, and walked to the chiller herself to pick up the cake.  As she walked past our table to her table, she declared very loudly to her friends that ‘My cake is from The Patissier’.

Woah… that stung.  Because obviously my cake box was small and the shop I bought from not as reputable as the big gun The Patissier in Singapore.  But that comment was… tasteless and uncalled for.  Well yes, The Patissier has some nice cakes, but they most certainly don’t sell Red Velvet cakes.  And I do know where to get the best Strawberry Shortcake, the best few Chocolate Cakes, the best Durian Cake etc. in Singapore.  Oh, as a baker myself, I do know my cakes… and that ignorant woman?  No.  She is just one of those fartsy pretentious office worker who mistakes brand name as an assurance of taste.

Yes.  I was very annoyed with her for insulting my choice of cake which by the way, happens to be really delectable.

The topic of Red Velvet Cakes came up during one of our previous dinner gatherings and apart from E and I, it seemed that the rest of them have not heard of it, much less taste it.  So I tasked myself to bring a Red Velvet Cake to the next gathering.  Although this old traditional cake is widely popular in the United States, the fever never really caught on in Singapore.  I researched a bit, and it seemed like only Room for Dessert sold Red Velvets.  Fortunately, I have heard only good things about this bakery.

I love Room for Dessert’s rendition of the Red Velvet Cake because the owner cum baker obviously used the most traditional way to get the red colour synonymous with the Red Velvet – beet root – instead of relying on red food colouring.  The result was a very dense but moist cake offering many layers of taste undertones.  Absolutely delicious.

Apparently Room for Dessert is famous for their Carrot Cake.  I have yet to try because honestly, I’m not a real fan of carrot cakes.  But judging by how good the Red Velvet Cake is, I might drop by one of these days and try the Carrot Cake.

108/250

Believe In

And one does not need many of such friends. ‘Tis the reason why I never believed in having too many friends.  Just some like-minded friends whom I know I can always depend on is sufficient, thank you.

69/250

Let’s Go… Exotic!

This was the suggestion when I asked a group of friends where we should dine for our next gathering.  And so I asked her for her definition of exotic… because exotic to me means middle eastern cuisine, or wild-game chinese cuisine.  Honestly, I’m not keen in either.  Thankfully, her answer was not what I expected because her definition of exotic is a little different – non-Chinese, non-Western and non-Japanese cuisine, and contains an element of surprise.  Somehow we narrowed our choices to Swiss or Indian cuisine and eventually, La Fondue was our choice.

Most of us in the party of 7 have not tried Swiss cuisine, and all of us have never visited the restaurant.  I have had a taste of Swiss cuisine in Lucerne some years back, and while I was not put off by it, it didn’t leave a deep impression either.  Suffice it to say that I was really looking forward to a great night of good food and great company.

Because La Fondue was located at Dempsey Road (not quite accessible via public transport), I picked up 3 other companions in Orchard before driving over.  Coincidentally, two other companions drove in as we were getting off the car. Happily, the 6 of us headed for the restaurant.  The 7th companion notified me via a text message that she was held up at the office and would be late.  This happens often, and we all take turns to because there is just no telling if work would suddenly crop up just as we were ready to leave the office.  In fact, one of the party was so afraid that she might be held up at work (and as a consequence, be late for dinner) that she took a day off from work just to ensure that she would be able to make it on time.  Well you could say we all value the few dinner meetups we have, what with our own careers and family to juggle.

We were complete noobs in the restaurant – didn’t know how to order, and didn’t know what to order.  It didn’t help that there were so many choices and combinations we could go for.  After much confusion and indecision, we decided to get the service staff to recommend their specialties.  I mean, they would know best right?

We ended up ordering mushroom soup, cheese fondue (classic swiss cheese and garlic cheese) served with bread and seasonal vegetables and meats to go with the grill.  My favourite course of the meal must be the cheese fondue, especially the garlic cheese fondue.  We were expecting the cheese fondue to be rather heavy-going, but surprisingly the cheese was rather light and easy on the palate.  The meats and seafood I enjoyed less.  I’m not saying the food is not nice, but in cosmopolitan Singapore we are exposed to many types of cuisines, especially Asian cuisine which tend to be very strong in flavour (think: Thai, Korean and some Chinese cuisine).  In comparison, the seasoning for the meats and seafood were a little too bland for us.  It didn’t help that the grilling method reminded us so much of Korean barbecue.

The next time, we should just stick to cuisines we are familiar with.

It was a consensual decision to adjourn elsewhere for drinks (to go with the cupcakes we ordered for the birthday girl).  Dome Cafe at Dempsey Hill was very nice about it in that they permitted us to consume the cupcakes on their premiese with the condition that we should order drinks from them.  Which we of course did.

We ordered a dozen cupcakes from Plain Vanilla Bakery for the birthday girl based on E’s suggestion.  She also made time to go down to the bakery to make payment, and subsequently pick up the cupcakes since the bakery was nearby her office.  12 cupcakes, 6 flavours which unfortunately, the person who ordered (read: moi) couldn’t identify two even though the ordering took place just slightly more than a week ago.  The cupcakes are nice, but toppings sweet because they are made with icing cream primarily.  I prefer to make my cupcake toppings with Italian meringue buttercream but oh well… it’s too much work.

We chatted till past midnight and didn’t even realise it.  There is just so much to talk about.  And somehow during our conversation, the little fact that this year marks the 20th year since we graduated from secondary school popped up.  Ideas ran wild as we thought of celebrating it in style at the end of this year, with the whole squad of 21 in attendance.  But first things first, we must locate all 21.  Effectively, we just need to locate 2 to 3 of us since the rest are still somehow within the ‘network’.  Almost everyone whipped out their smartphones and started googling to try locate the 3 missing sheep.  It took less than 5 minutes to find some connection.  Ah, the power of the internet.

55/250

The Truth

I am blessed to have a couple of this ‘true friend’, with the exception of the hubby.  He’s in a different league, under the label of ‘soulmate’.

I don’t like to have a large social circle because I find it a chore to maintain numerous relationships at the same time.  It tires me senseless.  Consequently, I have tidied my exclusive circle of friends several times in the course of the last 3 decades or so and the latest exercise, as recent as a week ago.  I’m not a social butterfly and I find hi-bye friendships nauseatingly superficial.  With reference to the quote above, I don’t need ‘friends’ who cannot see my tears pouring.  And I don’t need ‘friends’ that I can only share joy, but not sorrows in.

For someone who vacillates often when it comes to her thoughts, I am surprisingly decisive when it comes to calling it quits.  And as always it was rather good while it lasted.  Pulling the plug now feels right.

53/250

Missing You

Hey guys,

It’s 1 Jan again.  How many years has it been?  2, or 3 years?  How time flies…

Everyone has picked up the broken pieces and moved on since the unfortunate mishap.  The hubby even took time to visit the site of the fire when he was in Bangkok for a meeting last May.  I think that’s very brave of him; if it were my good friends that I lost in the fire, I doubt I will ever be able to visit the site.

I can’t speak for everyone, but as far as the hubby and I are concerned, we are doing fine.  Still have our frequent arguments – only difference is, the both of you are no longer around to listen to him ventilating.  No little ones yet, but I have been thinking of naming them after the both of you if we eventually do have.  If it fits in the theme, that is.  Paul is easy, that’s essentially a Christian name, but Leslie… I admit I will need to find a variation in the Bible.

You both are sorely missed.  Really.  I’ve never been very close to the both of you, and almost everything I learnt about the both of you, I heard it from him.  Yet, it felt as if I know you both very well.  I can only say that I have a husband who had also been a good friend. And your departures, apart from affecting your closest confidantes, had also deeply impacted me – he stays at home far too often now, and it gets on my nerves.  But we’ve learnt to cope with it.

Wherever you guys are, let’s share a toast to another good year ahead for atc, for the hubby and for all our dear friends, will ya?

1/250

Cherish

I’m sorry if I have been taking you for granted.

I shall endeavour to cherish everyone around me.

And… I like diamonds.  Pink diamonds to be exact.

And I also like mica and feldspar.

Actually, what’s wrong with collecting stones?

Anyone who knows some basic geology would be able to tell you that stones are fasincating in themselves.  And my knowledge in geology is not exactly basic.

But, I like diamonds for very different reasons from others – not because they sparkle.  I hate how overrated diamonds have become, because the reason why I like diamonds, is because it has an implicitly understated beauty.  Simple, clean and elegant on their own.  The very reasons why I also like pearls.  Small pearls, and small diamonds; not the big ones.  The big ones are ostentatious and… vulgar.

Friend Map

Here’s my friend map generated by Facebook.  Not terribly exciting, my friends.

Most of my friends are from and in Asia, so no surprises there.  But considering how selective I am at adding friends to my FB account, I must say this map truly epitomises how ‘global’ my generation truly is.  I can almost name every link I have out of Asia – all classmates and schoolmates either working or married to someone in the region out of Asia.

Now, if I start adding friends I’ve made on this blog, I’m sure it’s going to be a lot more interesting.  However, I’m not exactly inclined to do that because I’m consciously trying to wean myself off FB for good.

Mayim @ Yishun

Following our visit to Yum Cha Garden, XX suggested that we patronise Mayim Chinese Cuisine the following week.  I am game for any dim sum, so a date was quickly fixed.

It was pouring bucketfuls of cats and dogs the afternoon I drove out to XX’s side of the island (far north).  Throughout the drive, I was worried about the two furkids at home, wondering if the younger one would be afraid of the thunder.  As a result (of both the weather and worry), I was late for our appointment.

The first thought that crossed my mind when I entered Mayim was that, don’t these people need to work?  The restaurant was close to being filled to its maximum capactity.  I don’t understand this at all.

I love the congee!  It was really smooth and tasty.  Then again, I could be hungry and craving for something to warm the stomach on a cold, rainy afternoon.  The rest of the items were so-so.  Not too impressionable.

These are my favourite items from the lunch – durian tarts, fried carrot cake, fried dough rice rolls and fried pork dumpling.  Strange that all these items are fried, because I tend to like the steamed items better on a typical dim sum menu.  Guess we could conclude that Mayim fares better where fried stuff is concerned.

The bill came up to S$43, just a tad cheaper than Yum Cha Garden.  For almost the same amount of food.  Since Mayim is not discernibly better than Yum Cha, to me, I think I would rather save on the 40-minute drive to Yishun and proceed to Yum Cha Garden instead.

Mayim Chinese Cuisine Pte Ltd
930 Yishun Avenue 2
#02-01/05 North Point
Singapore 769098
Tel: +65-6758-3168
Opening Hours:
1130-2200hrs (Mondays to Saturdays)
1100-2200hrs (Sundays & Public Hols)

Curious Belle

One of those days when I’m too lazy to blog.  But hey, I’ve kept up with this habit for over 200 days so I’m not about to break it.  Not on the 202nd day.

Here’s a very curious Belle who came up to me yesterday morning when she saw me fiddling with my brand new iPhone.  This puppy really tickles me senseless with her goofy expressions sometimes.

Today’s the birthday of one of my best friends.  I know she doesn’t read my blog, but still… would like to wish her here.  Happy Birthday, YL!

And oh, the other day Daily Post asked what I would like 200 more of, on the 200th day of the year.  Simple – I would like to have sufficient funds to go for 200 more vacations.

See, I’m easily pleased.

Sibling Rivalry

Spent a lovely Sunday evening at an old friend’s place with 4 other friends.  We go back a long way – 22 years to be exact.  The purpose of the visit?  This good friend just gave birth to a baby boy about 2 months ago and because we all couldn’t make it for his first month’s celebration, we made separate arrangements to visit.

While we were all warming our seats, we observed the dynamics between a 4-year old girl (friend’s elder daughter) and a toddler (another friend’s 1-year old boy).  It wasn’t the first time we met C (the little girl) and she always came across to me as a reserved and quiet girl, a little like my friend herself.  I saw a transformed girl that day.  She was chatty and always vying for our attention in her cute little way whenever we paid too much attention to her baby brother or N the toddler.

My heart went out to her.  She is obviously still adjusting to having a new baby brother around, and getting used to not being the centre of everyone’s attention.  Plus the fact that she is a Cancerian, like I am, I could most certainly empthatise with what she is going through.  After all, I experienced the same old thing 3 decades ago.

Sibling rivalry has been around since siblings existed, and it’s underrated.  In my opinion, the issues with sibling rivalry is not addressed properly in most, if not all, Asian societies (I can’t say the same for Western societies because I don’t know).  My generation (Generation X) suffered because we have parents who were not equipped with the necessary knowledge to address the rivalry before the pent-up frustrations and resentment escalate to an unhealthy level.  Maybe it’s just my parents, or human nature, to always gravitate towards protecting the younger and cuter one.

That said, I’m pretty sure this friend of mine knows how to handle the situation at hand.  It’s just that… seeing C try so hard, reminded me of myself years ago.