my yearly denial ritual

so it seems i've just turned 39 as per my candle count :)

this year, the girls and i decided to try out catalunya... spanish tapas in a wonderful restaurant with a great view of the marina, lots of very cute servers with a great attitude. this restaurant has got to be Singapore's hidden gem. food was good (the lobster rice was da bomb), service was great from cute guys, great view... what else is needed really?

our pre-dinner drinks

the food...

molecular gastronomy at play.... spheres of olive jus in olive oil, imitating to be olives... very cool idea and unexpected

tomato tartare with truffle oil and foam

a pricey version of grilled cheese - parma ham and cheese, truffle toast

their famous roast pork that melts in your mouth....

chorizo, eggs, potatoes

 

highlight of the night.... lobster rice!!!

dessert apart from the cakes was smoked milk ice cream with french toasted broche

all thanks to my girlies for a clutch i've been looking for.... a gorgeous dragonfly alexander wang oversized panties!

 

L'Abattoir de Plastique

a long overdue post...
the highlight of my christmas gift came in this box

and what was in it...

all these great bangles were handmade from a 3D printing machine... and i've seen the wonders of it with my own eyes :)

just touching it, i always thought it would be too fragile for me to wear it everyday, as everyone knows im not the most caring person. but i'm so glad it's able to withstand everyday use.

jo's actively updated his site and given that i love his packaging and range of colours... i do hope it'll take off internationally soon :)

Liberty Private Works - Hong Kong

a new and exciting restaurant emerged in hong kong. it was from a good friend that i first heard of it followed by extensive research. a private french kitchen which started as an experimental place, with lots of rave reviews... why not give it a shot?

the amuse bouche - foie gras with a cube of toast

the presentation of this was very pretty

 

Tune, Uni, espelette, rice with frozen grape and logan on the sides

it was a new take on tuna tartare... who can complain of uni topped with gold flakes?

 

Scallop, Jerusalem Artichoke, Pork Rind, Black Garlic

another beautifully plated dish

 

Market Fish, Black Truffle, Celery Root

shaped to be like the fish scales... the fish was very well cooked and truffle was given in generous pieces

 

Egg, Truffle, Parmesan, Caviar

the chef's highlight and rightly so... an oozing yolk in a raviolo to be eaten with truffle mash so light it's like foam

 

Rabbit, Pancetta, Chestnut, Brussel sprouts

after the raviolo, this was a little letdown and have yet to change my mind about brussel sprouts

 

Beef, Porcini, Foie Gras, Onion

a well cooked slab of beef... a great end to the savory

 

Pineapple, Coconut, Olive Oil, Pepper

it was a take on pina colada... another beautifully plated dish and surprisingly really yummy

 

Coconut, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Salt

i'm usually not one for such imaginative desserts as i like them traditional but yet it was good

 

LPW is worth the raves and effort to book in advance. beautifully plated dishes, great combinations of fresh ingredients, great service staff. the menu is seasonal, changing every 3 months while keeping their highlights. i'm definitely a fan, totally looking forward to returning hopefully soon!

ushering in 2013

i think for as long as i can remember, this is the first time new year was ushered in rather quietly with no clubbing involved. drank a cup of wine and let off lanterns containing our wishes for 2013 at swas' place with all the usual group. a sign of old age?

but of course my 1st weekend of 2013 more than made up for that. not that clubbing was involved. it was off on a last minute trip to hk! with jojobooo

 it was his first time heading there and was gg to stay with maggie and bee. i rushed to the airport from work while he was flying in from indo. his flight landed a good 35mins before our gate closed and he was landing at a different terminal too! i was very worried he wasnt gg to make the flight but spoke to the pple at the gate and they assured me there were quite a few passengers frm indo on our flight too... huffing and puffing, we're off to our trip!

landed just in time for dinner of pekking duck and herbal ckn covered in clay... which jo had to work for :)

then it was off to walking thru lkf and getting drinks at soho

the weather was perfectly chilled, and everything was on sale! unfortunately, i had purchased the same season clothes just 2 mths before, so there was nothing for me :( as it was also jo's first time, i had made time for more touristy escapades... which some were first time for me too! haha without jo, i don't think i'd ever have done them

including the tram ride up to the peak

dinner at tung po thanks to maggie's recommendation... it's essentially an air-conditioned hawker centre above a wet market opposite North Point's mtr exit a1

a terrible dinner at goldfinch

a trip to goldfish road at prince edward's

and i managed to convince jo, wen and jk to drive us to eat at the really deserted seafood place... with awesome fresh seafood esp cheesy lobster... yum!

then back to my all time new favourite... sevva! where wen did the cat walk for us along the length of hsbc :)

see if u can spot him

other adventures include factory outlet shopping, wandering around sheung wan, lots of food, hanging out at maggie's quite a bit coz her apt rocks and just really more eating. time passed so quickly, i'm sad to be back in hot, humid, rainny sg and not seeing jo soon :(

(everywhere we went, there would be a queue at the apple stores!)

(awesome cousin gg a little mad with lack of sleep coz of girls+exam+me squeezing in his bed)