Mama Mia!

Hi there, sorry I have not blogged for so long. i know many must have been chiding me for my absence. But it is really crazy trying to juggle 3 fashion shows! I promise I will become stronger and better designer after surviving all these. :)

Anyway, here's a little dish that Gary prepared for me on Sunday that is really YUMMY. Looking at the picture is enough to make me hungry again. These are spaghetti with baby abalone and squids in white wine. His food is ultimate indulgence and comfort for me when I am tired. Spaghetti al dente with garlic chopped finely, sprinkled with white wine, and served with generous chewy fresh abalone plus FAT squids. The aroma of the white wine and garlic already greet me before I taste them. Mama mia! If one day he opens a restaurant, I will be the first in line.

Look at that!

Nothing is too weird in Tokyo. We have all heard of the legendary used panties vending machines though I didnt chance upon that. And we have also heard of the ridiculously expensive cabs which I painfully experienced. Walking in the streets, you can see people dressed in a style of their own. And no one would raise an eyebrow even if you wear purple and yellow socks on different feet. From absurd to refined, no one dresses plainly there so it is exciting people watching there.

These ladies are very tanned and colourful. Some kind of Indiana look.

While yellow pants is associated with "bengness" in Singapore and no decent guy will be caught with yellow pants here. This guy looks rather stylish in his mustard pants. Is it the culture, the way he wears it or the environment he is wearing in?

Buildings are built v densely in Tokyo.

Even with a very tiny space, they managed to squeeze a building in there.

Train is for ladies only during certain hours.

Me in Shibuya station.



Hmm..when can we see such orderly queue in MRTs?

During the peak hours. And they have these people at platforms for order.

The trains are very silent there. With sweet melody to remind people doors are closing. So no one speaks loudly on the phone there. Ah so peaceful.

They have lockers in the train stations. At first me and my friend wondered why will anyone use it. But one day we had extremely heavy shopping bags from buying fabrics and books, so we instantly recognise the usefulness of these lockers as we had to go back the train station again.

But we reached the station at 12.10 midnight. And we had to pay another 400 yen as they go from 12am-12pm usage! argh!!.

I know what you are thinking! Yes we slog like a dog everyday in today's modern world.

You are supposed to strap your child to this while you pee.

This is not so funny. Animals are kept in such cubes in a pet shop. Not good!

Fainted...

The sign outside a kitchen.

Have you seen oval watermelon?

Nice car!

Cab fare start at 710 yen ($10sgd)and meter jumps 90 yen ($1.40sgd)! There was 1 night me and my friend missed the last train. Luckily there were 2 of us and so we spilt the cab fare. But for a 10 minute ride, it costs a whopping 1890 yen which is almost 30sgd! Not for the faint hearted. No wonder the cabs are always empty there.

Tokyo cuisine

Actually to be honest, most of the time I didnt know what to eat or what I was eating. There are no English words, the staff speak zero English and the only clue was the pictures on the menu and some food sense. When I had craving to eat spicy food, I had to choose image of ramen with a darker and redder soup base hoping it is hot and spicy. But always I didnt get what I expected. But the food was still enjoyable. And 1 bowl usually costs $10 bucks at least. I think Japanese do not really fancy foreign food. I seldom see any foreign cuisine except 1 indian restaurant in the 3rd day and pasta is probably the most well loved imported cuisine there. The Japanese pasta there are "tomato-nised" and very creamy.

We arrived very late in Tokyo and was really famished. I chanced upon this ramen shop in Shibuya with my friend. And both of us are amazed that we have to order our food from the vending machine.

A ticket with your meal is dispensed out.



After which, you wait for food to be served. Well this is really salty and it is not spicy as I hoped. 780 yen

This shop was closed to our disappointment but their desserts display is surely very enticing!

Lunch was 45 minutes before we had to rush back to gather. So we found this sushi restaurant at Otomosando and hoped right in.

Thats what we ordered based on some food sense. And I like the one on the left and chawanmushi.


Chawanmushi is different from Sg. It doesnt have chicken meat but it has prawns. And when it is gulped down hot, it is really comfort food at its best.

This seafood pasta with soup is very yummy! The pasta was al dente. The seafood so fresh and the soup so creamy but not sticky. I discovered this while exploring on my own. It was so good that I brought my friend to eat it the next day and she relished it too. 1100 yen

One night there was a dinner hosted by Spring and Parco. And our responsibility was just to eat whatever they ordered.

However, all Japanese sushi comes with Wasabi in the rice which I dont really fancy the taste. So I just ate what was on top! :)



I like the green tea cake or do you call this mochi aka Japanese kueh? It is very light and refreshing.

Pasta chain there. I like it clean and fast and the pasta are very presentable. I had to gulped down my hot tomato pasta in 15 minutes. Lunches there are always so rush as we have to gather with a big group at a certain time to move to another place.

On the last day, we came upon this restaurant and it was the most satisfying and memorable meal experience! It is like Ma Maison but the food is 10 times better and 1/3 the price.

too hungry to wait for photo taking. Appetisers. We had a meaterian meal.

My friend Chantal ordered this and it came sizzling on a hot plate. The beef was dancing on the gravy.

I ordered this combo sizzler which was 1 side chicken and another side pork I think. I never regret it. Although I was kinda worried about what I will be served as the waitress didnt seem to understand me and I could only do hilarious sign language with her. We were dead tired after 1 whole day of walking. But I could find myself dancing on cloud 9 after eating this. The gravy poured on the Japanese rice was heavenly. If there is one last food that I must eat, this must be it.

Cosy space. Regretted not taking their namecard. I hope I can remember how to get there the next time I go. It is outside Shinjuku station.

A Private Birthday

Birthday is the time when I can spend the day enjoying whatever I like to do without feeling guitly. Almost. Although in the earlier afternoon, I was still busily replying work emails. Anyway, nothing beats a more happy birthday than having a private celebration with Gary.

He turns up with a bouquet of fresh pink roses. Even though everytime I told him not to waste money. But he always replies as long as you like it. *Smilezz* He came with groceries for my home and more milk to make my daily milo. Other than managing my design label, I am quite hopeless in managing other daily aspects of my life. While Gary will always know what is running out in my house. *Smilezz"

Then in the evening, he brought me to this very cosy Italian restaurant La Noce which we have not been before. This was very refreshing to me. Even 3 years in the relationship, he still pays attention to what I say. As I told him recently, we should hunt for interesting eating places as I am getting bored with the usual suspects. *Smilezz*

The restaurant is not lavish but I like the homely feel of the restauarant with its brick walls, shelves of wine and warm lighting. As though you have been invited to dinner to the house of an Italian friend. I heard Gary said the cuisine is done in Southern Italian style. *Smilezz*


Carpacio di Manzo. Tender beef shredded to amazingly thin slices with balsamic dressing


Zuppa di Pesce. My favourite!! The soup packs a punch and the flavour still lingers in my mouth.

Linguine Della Zio. Seafood pasta in aglio oglio. I find it a tad too sticky


Gnocchetti di Patate al Formaggi e Noci. Italian dumplings in potent mix of cheese. Gary's order.


Panna Cotta. Taste is just nice without being overly sweet. Will be better if it is heartshape :)

And after the dinner, we went to watch the movie I have been waiting for. Coco Before Chanel. It really gave an insight into the designer Coco Chanel's private life. A pity not many designs are shown in the show.

I went home at 4am that night with some midnight shopping at Mustaffa! Because Gary says we can go back however late I want and enjoy myself on my birthday. The only thing missing for the night was him in a dashing suit and bow tie. *Smilezz*

That warm feeling in the tummy

Sorry for my slow updates as I can hardly breathe preparing for my new fashion showcase, upcoming design trip, new collection for fashion design incubator @ Japanese Parco next year and a queue of custom make orders. Not to mention I have to constantly come up with new arrivals before my customers "complain". :P

Anyway, I was so happy that tonight I got to savour Gary's cooking again. Sometimes I think he is a food genie coming up with fantastic creations whenever I wish for it. His seafood soup packs a oomph with the most generous serving of seafood I will ever get. Will be perfect with mussels and pasta. There was once he even served it with toasted garlic bread oozing with garlic goodness for my family. And my whole family was relishing it. So unforgettable.... The dishes he whips up always get cleaned out when served in gatherings!

And he prepared a bottle of milo just the way I like it with milk and not hot water that can last me for 2 days of breakfast. My mum moved to my sis house temporarily to take care of my new born niece. I felt a warm cosy feeling in my tummy as I bade him farewell tonight.

Seafood soup with generous servings of prawns and clams.

Served with meeee...

Satisfy your craving for Penang food

Char Koay Teow. I chomped it down readily.


Penang Curry Mee. Soup is not too thick and prawns are big.

My mum was a Penangnite and when I was a kid, we always made what seem to me an annual "food" pilgrimage back to Penang. What made me excited during the long ardous journey back was the promise of koay teow thng (flat rice noodles in duck soup with bouncy fishballs, char koay teow (fried rice noodles with prawms and clams), Penang laksa, loh bak (assorted fried meat) and oh jian (fried oyster ommelette) when we arrived. The list goes on. Even now I make sure I go back every year to visit my aunts and alas Penang food with my loving bf. He will make the trip back with me every year even though Penang is not the most exciting isle on earth.

I never quite seem to find Penang food in Singapore that satisfies my craving. Even Penang buffets in big hotels dont seem quite near to Penang standards. But if the craving kicks in, I will visit this humble hawker store in ABC Market which is near to Ikea Alexandra. It is called Jason Penang Cuisine, Block 6, #01-113, Jalan Bukit Merah. It is closed on Monday.

A plate of hot piping char koay teow is only $2.50 with big prawns and springy koay teow plus clams! So is the curry mee with flavoursome soup and tau pok that squirts curry as you bite into them. They serve many Penang favourites like laksa too. Looking at the pictures make me salivate again. As portions are not big, you can actually order 3 dishes with a friend and savour them All!

Romance is ...

As you mature, romance takes on a new meaning especially when time becomes a luxury commodity other than money. 5 years back, flowers and fancy dining in a posh restaurant wld send me over the moon. I even received flowers air flown from London before. Now it still makes me smile but perhaps the impact it has on me is not as great.

Romance now to me is being able to enjoy wine over board games after work.
Romance is exploring recipes and baking cakes together during a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Romance is holding hands in a foreign land like you just knew each other yesterday.
Romance is dancing in each other's arms.
Romance is gazing at the moon together on a beach without having to rush for the last bus.(I even painted this image before on a canvas!)
Romance is about accompanying him to look at fishies and asking him 101 questions even though they are boring.
Romance is writing and reading poetry together.
Romance is falling asleep on his tummy while he watches Discovery Channel. (I like falling asleep on people whom I trust:))))
Romance is painting the wall of your new house with a bear and bunny watching the moon together.
Romance is exploring something new together with a flower in your heart, in this world of uncertainties and insecurities.

Most importantly, romance is being able to face life together everyday positively despite all the challenges. Because romance like companionship should last a lifetime.