Of Foodie Blogroll And Buffets
Labels: eating out, home life
Friday, December 04, 2009
Today's a red letter day for Lekker! as it's one of five random daily featured blogs on The Foodie Blogroll! With a membership of 5981, it feels like I've won the lottery. I've been staring at my Foodie side bar for a good couple of minutes now and I'm sure I'll be doing that some more throughout the day.
Last night's dinner was great. I wore my spaghetti strapped, knee-length, black chiffon dress. It's empire waisted with a bodice of interwoven strips of fabric that hang down from under the bust line. Extremely forgiving on the pear-shaped figure and hides all evidence of a buffet table raid.
Speaking of buffets, the dinner at Oscar's had oysters. Not one, not two, not even three but ten, mind you, TEN varieties! Who knew there were so many types to be had? I stopped at five before waving the proverbial white flag. My tummy - even if the way I eat contradicts the fact - is not a bottomless pit. There were other goodies to be sampled and I had to make room for them. The buffet selection was not mind boggling but the fare was very good. Also excellent were the waiters and waitresses. They were johnny-on-the-spot and very friendly. As we were waiting for our bill, one of the waiters informed us of their Sunday Amazing Graze Champagne Brunch. For some reason, I began to envision cows milling around the restaurant, chewing their cud.
Oi.
And, speaking of champagne brunches, we did one of those last Sunday. At the Raffles Hotel, no less. That was seriously posh nosh. Maybe the person who buys the ingredients (I'm sure there's a proper name for it, I just don't know what) is in with the local lobster supplier because a good part of the buffet had lobster in one form or the other. There was a seafood bisque, lobster ravioli, lobster tartare salad thingamajig and my personal favourite, steamed Maine lobster in all its shelled and clawed glory.
Then there was the foie gras station. I went twice. So did Hubs. The guy at the next table had six, two each trip. I don't blame him. It was pan fried upon request and served with sauteed apple and passion fruit.
Dessert was fantastic. They've revamped the selection and as luck would have it, the patisserie chef was there fussing over his exquisite little creations. After complimenting him on the spread, I picked his brains on how certain confections were made. One could see he was passionate about his work. He was not the only chef I harassed that morning. There was Chef Foie Gras (I must try and see if I can recreate the sauteed apple and passion fruit) and Chef Smoked Salmon Atop Buckwheat Pancake with Lobster Bisque. Eagle-eyed Big Boss Chef was there too, overseeing everything like a general. Every time he approached a station, one could almost see the chef in charge quiver. Not unlike the way I felt when Mrs. Aw, my primary school principal, walked imperiously towards my direction. Or one of the nuns for that matter. I was educated in a convent you see, and up to now, a sighting of one still strikes terror to the heart.
So yes, that was a pleasant Sunday with Hubs drinking champagne for two and me eating for the three of us. Sonny-boy is hopeless when it comes to buffets. Ice-cream and chocolate fountains notwithstanding, he eats like a rat. But we love him to bits anyway.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 6:31 pm
Friday Date Night
Labels: eating out, home life
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Text message from wife to husband:
7pm tonight Oscar's at Conrad Hotel. International buffet. Bring appetite and handsome good looks :D
Now I've got to go find something nice to wear. Maybe that little black chiffon confection I bought last month ...
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 11:47 pm
Birthday Brunch At The Lighthouse
Labels: eating out
Monday, November 23, 2009
As the stars would have it, the Husband's birthday fell on a Sunday (8 November) which meant we had a wide enough choice of hotel champagne brunches to choose from.
I did some checking (don't you just love the internet?) and finally decided on The Lighthouse at The Fullerton Hotel for its ambience and culinary fare. With a seating capacity of 52, the restaurant is about the size of our living room and has a great view of Marina Bay and the city skyline. Atmosphere is chic, exclusive without being stuffy. The food is Italian fine-dining so do not expect huge portions. For parents with young children, it would also be wise to note that a meal there would take at least two hours so unless your child has been trained or you've brought along superglue to hold Junior in place throughout the period, a better choice would be the Town Restaurant. The chef will also do special orders for kids, something we pleasantly found out when we asked if Sonny-boy could have a plate of tossed pasta in garlic and herbs.
Amusé: Herbed marscapone cheese on slice of toast
Hubs' appetiser: What 24 month old parma ham looks like decked out with parmigiano cheese and shaved celery.
My appetiser: Fancy pants beef carpaccio. I swear the chef used a set square to get the perfect angle.
Hubs' main course: Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with all the trimmings. There was a long chic name for the dish but it eludes me now. The taste was unforgettable though (Hubs cut me a small piece to try).
My main course: Angel hair pasta with braised lobster. The fuzzy topping is, as described in the menu, "lobster foam". Whatever it was, the foam resembled clouds in the sky and the pasta was heavenly.
Hubs' dessert: Molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream laced in liquer. Alot of it.
Oozing chocolate lava. Yum!
My dessert: Stawberries with balsamic reduction and lavender ice-cream.
If you look carefully, you can see lavender in the ice-cream. The aroma left me swooning.
Done in under two minutes. *blush*
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 9:28 pm
Happy Birthday To Me
Labels: eating out, home life
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It was my birthday on Tuesday 9th June.
Happy Birthday to Me!
This is my year too, the Year of the Ox. I was born in the evening, a water ox. Hence I do not need to toil so hard in life unlike those born in the day. According to the fortune tellers, I have it good amongst my bovine kind.
I did have a nice birthday. Hubs could not take time off on the day itself so we celebrated over the weekend. On Saturday we went to pick out my present. Jewelry again (I'm in a phase, okay?) but this time, I wanted an Art Deco inspired earrings cum necklace set.
The following evening, we headed off for dinner at my favourite teppanyaki restaurant Uama. Everything was the same as it always was, excellent food, people watching and funny conversation. Then the chef (not ours but the one over on our right) started flaming the meat. I suppose he was over eager with the alcohol because the fire went whoosh! Most impressive of course. But what really got me goggly eyed was the dish cloth next to him on the grill catching fire. It started with a small lick and the lick morphed into several dancing licks. I tried to catch his attention but it was too noisy for him to hear me. The place was crowded but yet no one else saw what was happening. Save short-sighted me who is blind without her contacts. Unbelievable! Finally, I gestured wildly to our chef and pointed to his colleague, yelling in Mandarin, "Fire! Fire! The cloth is on fire!" who, mind you, puts out the fire and continued on as calmly as you please.
Bless my grilled lamb chops! And there I was thinking we had to make a run for it without getting a taste of the beef wrapped goose liver and vegetable rolls we had ordered.
Tuesday was a couple of notches more serene and less heart-pounding. I went and spoilt myself at The Heavenly Spa by Westin with their Mediterranean olive body scrub and hot stone massage. It started with a foot wash and scrub in petal water while I sipped tea and nibbled on white chocolate bon bons. All this in a fluffy white robe, sinking in a plush seat. For the next two and half hours, I was kneaded like an overworked piece of dough. When it was all over and I had to get off the massage bed, my knees buckled and I almost fell. I was that relaxed.
After this, I slithered down to their restaurant where I had a little lunch of salad and a Reubens sandwich. Then I slithered off home.
In the evening, the three of us mosied on to the nearby Traders Hotel for a buffet dinner. Two of us walked while one of us, say it with me, slithered along.
We are regulars at the hotel's Cafe Noir. As such, we've become friendly with the two executive chefs, one from Devon for the Western kitchen, the other from Penang for the Asian one. This is very handy as the Penang chef would cook up something wonderfully local not found in the menu and slip it on our table. When he has a moment to spare, he'd come by our table where we'd talk about food and cooking, specifically Nyonya cooking.
On my birthday, he fried up some dark sauce Hokkien Mee (with loads of sambal belachan!) and Roti Prata filled with minced beef and scrambled eggs. As if that was not enough, he also let us sample some Chicken Curry and Bak Kut Teh for a private party the cafe was hosting later. We were floored. Hubs wouldn't touch the Bak Kut Teh on account of the pungent smell but everything else went down nicely. Little wonder we hardly had room left in our bellies for the main course.
*****
Before I end this birthday post, Sonny-boy bought me a Swarovski mobile phone charm and my 25th floor neighbour sent a huge bouquet of lilies. I gave myself a little present too - a coffee book from Tiffany showcasing and explaining the history of their various jewelry collection.
Oh, and the dentist hopped on the bandwagon and gave me a gift as well. I had to make an emergency appointment yesterday afternoon whereby she presented me with two root canal treatments back to back. This makes it a grand total of six root canals in three years. And three on the same cursed molar. The treatment took two and the half, almost three hours and when I got off her chair, my knees buckled and I almost fell but this time for an altogether different reason. And no, I certainly did not slither home.
What a difference a day makes!
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 11:38 pm
Korean Barbecue
Labels: asian food, Beijing, eating out
Monday, March 09, 2009
Ai Jiang Shan is our go-to place for Korean barbecues. The restaurant is in a stand alone two storey building. The decor and ambience is lush, sedate with lashings of zen thrown in. There is a little stream running through the main dining hall complete with bridges et al. The bridges serve a practical purpose. You really do need it to get to the other side. At the hall way towards the entrance, a quartet plays traditional Chinese/Korean music. For bigger parties, there are the private dining rooms which run down the middle of the restaurant. For absolute peace and privacy, going upstairs would be your best bet. We did once, but it was a tad too quiet for us. It was not unlike eating in a mausoleum. To complete the aesthetics, staff are all dressed in traditional clothing which change with the season.
Then there's the food. I'm not a professional critic nor imagine myself to be one but I know what I like. And this I like very much. Here are pictures from our last meal there and I think they speak for themselves:
Edited on 16 March:
This is Ai Jiang Shan's official website. It's all in Chinese though but even if you can't read the words, the photos are still drool worthy.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 8:53 pm
Saturday Golf And Dim Sum Lunch
Labels: asian food, Beijing, eating out, home life
Monday, March 02, 2009
Of late, our Saturday afternoons have been taken up by golf lessons. By 'our', I collectively mean all three of us. Sonny-boy gets his own golf teacher and goes off for his private lesson while Hubs and I share another instructor. All this is conducted indoors at Central Golf Beijing. When Sonny-boy heard we would be taught by professional golfers from the PGA, his face lit up and asked if Tiger Woods would be one of them.
Uh huh.
Hubs does not need the lessons as much as he needs some brushing up tips. I'm the one who's the (severe) work in progress. I am told my grip and posture is good, but there is much to be desired in my swing. Truth be told, I'm not too passionate about golf in the first place but Hubs is and this is something we can do as a couple or family. I think he appreciates me making the effort since I'm none too sporty. Why would I want to hit a ball, chase after it, hit it again till it lands in some hole? All this in the scorching sun too! But like I said, if learning to play will increase our couple time, then I'm all for it. The other saving grace I suppose is the cute clothing and accessories I may need to get when I start to play properly on the green.
Sonny-boy on the other hand, has taken to it like fish to water. Sure he has to work on his technique and swing but the feel is there. It is with both pride and embarrassment I say he hits the balls better than me. It's a good thing too because on a whim last year, Hubs bought a complete set of kids' clubs for him. Now Sonny-boy is able to use them as the manufacturer intended and not let it sit in a corner and collect dust.
*****
Last Saturday, after said golf lesson, we went off in search of some lunch. We decided to stay around the massive shopping mall the school was situated in and eventually found ourselves outside a Shanghainese restaurant. It looked rather posh and inviting so we all trundled in. And posh it was. The tables were set with contrasting damask tablecloths, bone china for plates and spoons and two pairs of silver tipped chopsticks (a pair in black and the other white) on a silver holder. It takes three staff (kitchen help to waitress, waitress to head waiter) to play Pass The Food and Beverage before it gets onto the table. And every time my tea cup was empty, a waitress would miraculously appear by my side and refill it. I could have done it myself seeing as how the tea pot was next to the cup but i) it's nice to be pampered and ii) the waitress was faster than an Iron Chef contestant. The two men didn't get such luck - they ordered a draft beer and coke.
The menu read like a who's who in Chinese delicacies and the greedy monster in me wanted to order all sorts of wonderful dishes but common sense gave me a slap on the face to remind me it was lunch, not dinner we're at. Instead, we looked at the dim sum menu for lighter fare. We were not disappointed either, no feeling of consolation prizes because the Big One got away. For starters we ordered a big plate of sashimi with all the trimmings followed by warm dishes of xiao long bao, pot stickers, dumplings, stuffed steamed buns and soupy pulled noodles. To end it all off, I had glutinous rice balls in lotus and osmanthus flower syrup. It was super!
This restaurant is a keeper and perhaps the next time, we are there, I will try and make the effort to remember the name. I was too distracted and dazzled that day to see past my silver tipped chopsticks.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 8:03 pm
Sunday Lunch At Eudora Station
Labels: Beijing, eating out, home life
Monday, November 24, 2008
Eudora Station is a fairly big but cosy restaurant cum pub some twenty minutes by foot where we live. The food is good, prices reasonable and the ambience is relaxed. How can it not be, with plush sofa chairs for seats in the terrace area? During the winter, the terrace is encased in glass panels but come summer, when it is removed, the terrace makes for very pleasant al fresco dining. The mosquitoes have a feast too as the bug magnet in me discovered over the summer months.
On Sunday, we decided to have a long, leisurely lunch there. It was a beautiful sunny winter's day and we thought it would be lovely to park ourselves in the terrace.
Eurdora has a bit of everything on the menu. As such it can be quite difficult to make a choice. Especially when one is hungry and even the potted plants look delectable.
That day for starters, Hubs had the Spanish style sizzling hot shrimps in garlic and olive oil.
Sonny-boy ordered fried calamari which Mum and Dad were only more than happy to help out when he couldn't finish.
I had a salad which comprised of a raspberry vinaigrette drizzled over semi raw shrimps, lettuce leaves, sliced pears and melon.
This was followed by a rack of grilled St Louis Spare Ribs in Barbecue Sauce for Hubs...
...and a Teriyaki Cod Steak on Buttered Rice with Leek and Mushroom Brochette for me.
Sonny-boy, having completed an Unit of Inquiry module on Healthy Foods in school, decided he would have a fruit and cheese sandwich. What? This from a boy who would live on pizza if he could? As the waitress was taking our orders, I made very sure he understood what he was getting himself into. "Yes, mummy, I know." Very well, then. Miracles never cease.
Needless to say, he promptly got hungry again when we arrived home.
And what would a long, leisurely lunch be without dessert?
Sonny-boy had the usual scoops of chocolate ice-cream while I had a cup of tea with a Black Cherry and Rum Raisin Crumble.
Hubs, who doesn't need sugar for sustenance and is therefore, not human, was just happy to have his nth glass of red wine. We talked, we ate, we laughed. Is it any wonder then, that we at Cookalot, love Sunday lunches?
Burp!
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 8:39 pm
Berena's Beijing Roast Duck
Labels: asian food, Beijing, eating out
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
We at Cookalot, love Beijing Roast Duck. We are so crazy about it that on occasions, we'd have roast duck twice in a week. We have two favourite spots. One a neighbourhood Sichuan restaurant down the street serving organically farmed duck and the other, the more flashy and expatish (if there's such a word) Berena's Bistro
The restaurant is situated on the third storey of a walk-up building and is run by a local Chinese lady named Berena. She and her French husband bring new meaning to the term working together for he has a French restaurant right across the narrow hallway to her award winning Sichuan one.
Berena is what one would call a woman's woman and the interior of her restaurant reflects it. There are organza lanterns and butterflies dangling off the ceiling and the furniture and decoration mainly Chinois. My favourite part is the wall where she displays the imperial costumes of the Emperor, The Empress and The Emperor's side-dish, formally known as The Concubine.
Imperial Costumes.
l-r: The Side Dish, The Emperor, The Empress
Beijing Roast Duck requires some prep time so patrons are advised to call in advance should duck be on the table that visit.
When it is ready, the chef will come to your table, duck, chopping board, cleaver et al and proceed to cut the duck into thin slices right before your eyes. I remember reading from somewhere that an expert can yield up to 120 slices from a single duck. Makes one wonder if it's a case of a huge fowl or wafer thin slices.
Well, 120 slices notwithstanding, Berena's ducks are not to be sniffed at. Its skin is crispy while the flesh retains it's succulent juiciness.
Lekker!
How To Eat Roast Duck 101
For my in-laws and friends on the other side of the pond, this is how Beijing Roast Duck is eaten:
First you place a slice of duck or if you're like me, make it two, on a layer of thin wheat pancake. You then add sliced cucumber, spring onion and radish followed by some dipping sauce. In some restaurants, you are given sugar to sprinkle on as well.
Next, tuck in the ends and pray nothing spills out because *blush* you've been greedy and put two pieces of duck when you should have only taken one.
Form a neat little package like so...
... then proceed to pop neat little package into your mouth and enjoy the fowl concoction.
Now man, or woman, for that matter, can't live on roast duck alone, hence the additional dishes on this particular visit.
Sichuan Hot and Sour Soup
I love Berena's version of the soup. It is busy with ingredients like pork, bamboo, mushrooms, silken and of course, egg white, stirred in to give a lacy look. It is also spicy with a capital S which would explain me clutching a tissue while sipping the soup. For the runny nose. Oi.
Deep Fried Potato Sticks
Hubs' must-have dish. It's like French Fries, only crispier and spicier. MUCH spicier. You can't see it from the photo but there are hidden landmines in the shape of dried chilli and Sichuan peppercorns.
Treasure Box
This is deep fried cubes of tofu which have been cleverly hollowed out, stuffed with minced meat and re-covered to form little boxes of 'treasure'. The whole lot is then drowned in, yes, yet again, a spicy bean sauce. A real gem of a dish this is. Forever thinking ahead with my tummy, I normally order an extra portion to take away as lunch the next day.
A girl's got to eat, you know.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 8:06 pm
Weekend Leftovers
Labels: Beijing, eating out
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Over the weekend, we visited a restaurant called Phrik Thai. It is fast becoming a favourite haunt for us when we hanker for some authentic Thai cuisine.
Phrik Thai has a wide variety of dishes but not so wide till you can't make a selection without wanting to pull your hair out. The restaurant has two sections, smoking and non-smoking. Smokers get to sit at proper tables and chairs while non-smokers have to contend with a more traditional touch of floor cushions and low-rise tables. Not that we mind though. The cushions and tables are covered with ikat woven Thai silk which really added to the ethnic atmosphere. And while we may be technically sitting on the floor, there's a sunken area below the table where you can rest your feet. Or play footsie with the hubby.
This evening we were famished, having skipped lunch earlier on, decided to go for it when making our order. We had Crab in Red Curry Sauce, Beef in Yellow Curry, Tom Yum Chicken Soup (this had coconut milk and was heavenly), Kang Kong with Bean Paste, Grilled Thai Style Chicken Wings, Pad Thai Noodles and Beef Rice Noodles with Gravy. The rice noodles were a dead ringer for Singapore's Beef Hor Fun, right down to the charred noodles.
To coin a Dutch phrase, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs which led to leftovers, despite our best gluttony efforts. However, nothing goes to waste here in China. From the poshest restaurant to the hole in the wall establishment, one gets to take away leftovers. What's the norm on this side of the pond is an etiquette faux pas on the other. I love the practice though because I just can't stand wasting food. And good food too, wouldn't you agree, if the crab photos are anything to go by.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 10:08 pm
De Lindeboom
Labels: eating out
Monday, October 08, 2007
De Lindeboom (English translation; The Linden Tree) did not fail us on Saturday night.
And because it was a celebratory night out, we opted for a four course dinner (waistline be damned) and Hubs picked a fine bottle of wine from the restaurant's private collection. Sonny-boy chose his beloved combination of chicken nuggets and Belgian fries served with home-made mayonaise. A word on the mayonaise - it is heavenly. I've tried to replicate it at home but with no success. I know they add dijon mustard in it but there's this missing X ingredient I can't seem to place. I guess you don't go to cooking school for nothing.
So here's a run down of what we had. I would have quoted the menu off their website but it hasn't been updated yet - they still have the summer selection.
Appetizer
Consisted of two thin slices of raw Japanese tuna steaks marinated in oil and coated with sesame seed, a creamy dipping sauce with hints of wasabi and a fresh garden salad topped with diced mangos and river crayfish.
Warm Starter
Normally one would have a salad at this junction of a four course meal but we thought we'd live dangerously and opt for a warm fish plate instead:
European Pikeperch filet on a bed of tomato and cheese risotto with saffron sauce and steamed mussels.
I very almost went to heaven. I love seafood.
Entree
The kitchen gods answered my prayers. There was game. Well, only wild boar since it's not truly game season just yet. But still.
The entree was rather hearty, rustic almost. It was made up of two succulent filets of wild boar topped with a muscovado sauce containing raisins and baby onions, served with courgette, brussel sprouts, mashed potato and pickled red cabbage. As a finishing touch, it was garnished with strips of deep fried sweet potatoes.
Now it was Hubs' turn to attain Nirvana. He loves meat.
Dessert
Hubs had the cheese platter. It came with some salad greens, grapes and grained bread. There were six varieties of cheeses in all to be eaten in a certain order to really savour the experience. The cheeses went from mellow, to medium to oh-my-chianti heavy and then back to medium again.
I had the other option which, like the appetizer, came in three sections. Starting from right to left : a pure cocoa mousse topped with strawberries and a sprig of mint, a scoop of home-made vanilla ice-cream on a wavy, arty-farty wafer biscuit and lastly, a slice of warm pinapple poached in a Marsala (or some other dessert wine, I couldn't really tell) and cinnamon sauce.
If I hadn't been transported to heaven by the warm starter, I was most certainly there by now.
The staff took their time with the dinner service and there was a good fifteen to twenty minute wait in between courses. This was to be expected for course and that's when we get to chat, people watch or just enjoy the moment together in silence. Sonny-boy was entertaining as usual - he's got quite an imagination and kept us in stitches. Our very own stand-up comic. He's at the age where kids are still very innocent but savvy enough to make jokes or just be witty. However, he's been catching me by surprise lately with sudden bursts of maturity - sort of like a sneak preview of the man he's going to grow up to be in years to come. Then I get a bit sad but that's for another day.
So.
I'm sorry I don't have food pics of the evening. I can't seem to bring myself to whip out the camera when we go to the nicer places. For one thing, I find it embarrassing, an ettiquette faux pas of sorts (I don't know how the other food bloggers do it but kudos to them for pulling it off). Secondly, some establishments don't like it if you take food photos so I prefer to err on the side of caution. In any case, I hope the descriptions were good enough for you to imagine what it was like.
Here's a little something you don't need to use your imagination over - what I wore for dinner:
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 1:29 pm
Posh Nosh
Labels: eating out, home life
Friday, October 05, 2007
One of the things my husband and I like to do as a couple is eat out. Because of his hectic work and travelling schedule, we don't see much of each other, so eating out is a time where we reconnect and bond. It's also like going on a date: we make reservations, get dressed up and dine in relatively fine style. And since we don't like to rush, these little dinners can stretch into three hour affairs. The general rule of thumb is: the posher the place, the longer the meal. We don't mind though because it gives us a chance to talk. And that's the way it's been since we met.
Tommorrow evening is no different. Well, except we have something to celebrate about. No, I'm not pregnant but I prefer not to disclose the reason as I just want to savour the moment privately with Hubs since it's an awfully big thing. Life changing, one might even say.
The restaurant we've picked is called De Lindeboom New Style Restaurant. It's a chic establishment which serves fusion cuisine and is one of our regular haunts. You know you're a regular when you call up to make reservations and they know whose name to place the table under before you even say it. You also know you're a regular when again, without prior arrangement, you get your favourite table - window seat, facing the church courtyard. Every time. The other nice touch is, whenever we arrive, the owner, if he's not busy, is there to greet us and take our coats. If he had been previously engaged, he'll make it a point to come by our table later at least once or twice to make small talk or check if we're enjoying our meal. Ditto with the other staff. And that is why we enjoy fine dining - it's not just the food, it's the service and the ambience. In this case, the interior of De Lindeboom is very modern and chic. Lovely pebbled leather chairs to sink into while you enjoy the equally lovely view of the old church and it's courtyard next to it. Soft lighting, candles and other tasteful decor touches round up the entire atmosphere.
Being foodies, Hubs and I have a weakness for good food, just like being shoe mad, I can't resist designer or rather, well designed shoes. More often than not, this means going upmarket; even better if there's a Michelin star or two plastered over the signboard. It all seems rather frivolous but hey, whatever rocks your boat and leisurely fancy pants dinners rock ours.
And where is Sonny-boy when we dine out? Unless it's an anniversary or a dinner date, he's right there at the table with us. We've taught him from day one to behave and sit out long dinners since eating out plays a huge part in our lives. People used to be amazed at how a three year old could stay put for two hours in a restaurant (fancy or regular) and i)not scream his head off and ii) not run around and wreck havoc on all and sundry. It's all training, I always say, and a strong will (ours) and even thicker skins and deafer ears (again ours and ours). We had our fair share of tantrums and run-ins but we stuck to our guns and as a result, we can now take him anywhere.
So.
I'm really looking forward to tommorrow. On top of the family time we'll be sharing, I wonder what De Lindenboom's autumn/winter menu will have in store. I hope there's game although it's still a tad too early. Well, we'll soon find out.
In the meantime, please excuse me while I go figure out what to wear.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 5:56 pm
Take A Wok On The Wild Side
Labels: asian food, eating out
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
We dined out yesterday evening. This was highly unusual since it was a school night. However, we figured if we were home by 8pm, His Royal Highness will be none the worse for it, since the Royal Bedtime is at 9pm. Tops.
It was possible for us to go out since my husband was home nursing a throat infection courtesy of moi from last week. Well, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, germs and all.
Anyway, with claims of feeling much better, we all drove down to our favourite Chinese restaurant, just a couple of minutes away.
The recent trend for most Chinese restaurants here, on top of the ala carte menu is Wokking. What happens is you select your fresh vegetables, meats, fish and what-not laid out buffet style, bring them to the wok station where chefs are waiting to stir-fry your meal with the sauce of your choice. Or if you feel like living dangerously, there's a teppan-yaki grill option as well. Of course this is nothing new in Asia but for the Dutch, it's quite a novelty.
After your food is cooked, you go back to the buffet spread; to the warm section this time to load up on the side dishes like noodles, bee hoon (rice vermicelli) rice and a whole host of deep fried goodies. In last night's case, it was spring rolls, seafood balls, egg fu-yong etc. And just to Europeanize (or bastardize) things up a bit, the other staples were french fries, potato croquettes and frikendel (Dutch sausages). I had to keep correcting my son that frikendel is not Chinese food.
Just an observation: In the 4 years we've lived here, I've yet to see another Asian person besides myself, in a Chinese restaurant. As a customer, I mean. You see, once, while waiting for my turn at the buffet table, a Dutch lady actually asked me for some cutlery to which I coldly replied I didn't work here. She was suitably embarrassed of course. It must've been The Look I shot her.
So whenever we walk into a Chinese restaurant, we, or rather I get stared at quite a bit. I've since gotten used to it unless it's done very blatantly, to which I proceed to stare just as rudely back. Last night was no different. Since we're regulars, the waitress knew I'd ask for chilli sauce and a pair of chopsticks. Phoawrrr! It was rather unnerving the way the other patrons were gawking away while I was using them instead of my knife and fork. Will she drop the noodles? Is the piece of duck going to fall off? Oh my, she's dipping the shrimp in chilli sauce before putting it into her mouth. All this with 2 wooden sticks!!! I felt like a zoo exhibit.
The other funny thing that happens or did initially is the language. The Chinese waitresses and chefs would first speak to me in Dutch and when I reply in Mandarin (albeit on the wonky side since it's not my forte), they do a double take and are surprised I speak the language. And just by that one action, the veil is lifted and one can almost hear them think: "Ah, my fellow countryman!" Well, give and take a few Asian countries since I'm Singaporean and they are Mainland Chinese. This feeling of kinship has gotten my husband and me that extra piece of duck or char siew (so expensive in these parts) when it was not available on the particular day's menu.
Oh, and thanks to living and working in Asia for 5 years, with half the time spent in China, my husband knows the odd phrase or two as well. When he says things like "Ni Hao"(hello), "Zai Jian" (goodbye), "Xie Xie" (thank you), it earns him amused giggles from the staff. *heh*
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 5:15 am
Birds of Prey
With that done, we did another Dutch thing - go for a drink. Now, after living in Europe for a few years, I've finally come to the realisation that not only do all roads lead to Rome, they also lead to the nearest watering hole in the form of a cafe, bistro or pub. And since we were near Terbough (the converted farmhouse turned cafe I mentioned about 2 weeks back), it was the most natural choice. When we arrived there, there was an bird exhibition going. Not just any bird, but birds of prey namely the owl and falcon. By luck, we managed to get front row seats in the form of a long table and bench - perfect for our group of 6 adults and 2 boys. It was fun, huddling together under huge umbrellas nursing hot tea (me) and cold beers (everyone else) in the frisky wind and slight drizzle, watching falcons do their thing. Labels: eating out, home life
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
We all went for a walk iin the woods on Sunday afternoon.
'We' comprising of our family, my husband's parents, his brother and son and his colleague who dropped by unexpectedly and was sporting enough to come along with us.
They chose this forest called Stammenderbos; loosely translated it means Forest of the Trunks and there's a reason why it's named so because this is what it looks like all over:
I don't know who picked the route but it ended up being more of a climb than a walk. Up and down, up and down we went. At the start of the walk, we had to climb this rather steep slope. R, (my brother-in-law) gave up pushing his son's buggy halfway and my husband took over. I was trailing behind them, thinking," Thank goodness that's not me!" Well, once upon time, that was me but I've paid my dues.*heh*
As you can see, the forest is not very picturesque at all. If anything, it was a bit creepy. I felt I should be leaving bread crumbs to mark our location ala Hansel and Gretel. But it was just as well there was nothing to see - one needed one's full attention to navigate the undulating terrain. 
After the show, one could hold the birds and take photos if one was inclined too. Of course we all wanted a go. Here's my photo op:
Here's another photo of a falcon enjoying his snack of a dead chick. A bit gruesome, I know:
Who knew a simple walk would turn out to be so interesting?
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 3:14 am
Old MacDonald Had a Farm...
As you know, cycling is the national pastime in this country. There are bike paths on the main roads as well as scenic biking routes in/along the farm land or countryside making it a pleasant way to spend the day. By the time we reached the farmhouse, we were more than ready to eat. I was so hungry, I wanted everything on the menu. Top right: My son's - Pancake with ice cream and whipped cream. Bottom left: My husband's - Bacon and egg omelette served with bread and apple syrup. Lekker! There are no photos of the cafe itself because it was packed and I didn't think the other patrons would appreciate their photos being taken, even by accident. As it was, I already felt like such a tourist snapping away at our food. "No one touches their plate until I've taken a photo!!!" I yelped the minute the waiter left our table. My husband, ever so sporting, turns his plate around for a better shot while my son goes,"Mummy, can I take one of you eating?" I love my 2 men. Labels: eating out, out and about
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Today was so warm and sunny; lovely after a long spell of relentless, chilly rain; we just had to spend it outdoors. It would be such a shame not to. So we pulled out our bikes and went for a ride around the countryside. Our destination: lunch at a converted farmhouse serving local cuisine.
It was a 45 minute ride one way and I'll let the photos do the talking:
Top left: Mine - Baguette with baked ham, pineapple and melted cheese.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 3:06 pm
