AMUSE BOUCHE
Ocean Trout, Mayonnaise, Salmon Roe Caviar

FOIE GRAS ANGLAISE
Goose liver custard, duck confit, ginko beans, truffle salsa, parmesan foam

BEEF CARPACCIO
200 days grain fed Black Angus Beef tenderloin, poached eggs, chives, vine cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella

BLACK & WHITE SNOW COD
Squid ink infused and iberico ham wrapped snow cod, aerated potato creme. globe artichoke, parsley, squid ink crumble

MUSHROOM GNOCCHI
Creamed seasonal mushrooms, potato gnocchi, thyme, parmesan

The boyfriend made a reservation for the both of us at Novus to celebrate our seventieth month together. He found a gem in a quite corner by the Singapore National Museum, and we enjoyed our dining experience there.

I had the Foie Gras Anglaise which really came as a surprise to me because I’ve never eaten foie gras in the form of custard – made with duck consommé (clear broth), goose liver parfait, ginkgo nuts and duck confit. And the foam had a taste to it, which kinda made me opened my eyes when I placed it in my mouth. Babs had Black Angus Carpaccio – fine slices of raw beef tenderloin – and we were tried something called the buffalo mozzarella for the very first time. Quoting the introductory cards place for us when our dish was served, it says “It’s a cheese made from the milk of a domestic water buffalo rather than from cow’s milk. A fresh, stringy textured cheese in porcelain-white, it has an extremely thin rind and delicate taste. When cut, it produces a white watery fluid with the aroma of milk enzyme.” It just burst like a balloon filled with water in my mouth. Mushroom gnocchi was savory, but I kind of regretted ordering it because it made me feel so bloated even before I could finish half of what I was given. I loved Jon’s Black & Snow Cod because I love Cod fish and probably would just love any way it is being cooked, and loved it more when they actually wrapped it up with Iberico Ham that is cured for 48 months.

The mind blowing food aside, thank you sweetheart for giving me the best 70 months of my life. Thank you for all the things you have done, big or small, even though I may be the most oblivious girl in the world but you still do it any way because you have me in your heart. For being the most tolerant person to my flaws and still be as loving as you can ever be – you’re definitely the sweetest thing that has ever happened to me. I love you, and will always do. ♥

My group of poly mates and I wanted to relive the fun that we had in Kukup two years ago, and arranged for a second trip there. Babs joined us this time round, and it was nothing short of fun! It was a pity that some of them couldn’t make it at the very last minute. Mahjong, in between, blackjack, fireworks, karaoke, feasting like kings and queens because neither do we have to prepare any of our meals nor clean them up. It’s probably the first time how I actually felt exhausted taking photos during our fireworks session because I had to fiddle around with the tripod I actually felt like I was panting. And how funny it was when we had to take our mobiles to find the correct way of writing chinese characters as we were scribbling our wishes on the kong ming deng, just because our chinese is terrible like this. I was so exhausted with all the fun and slept at 4am (probably first to hit the sack), while babs joined my friends and continued playing (having eight persons bunking into a room, coincidentally with 2 couple beds and 4 singles). I could literally hear all of them laughing as they all walked into the room when they finally figured that they were tired.

It really didn’t matter how run down and dirty this place may be because the company really made up for it. And this was really the weekend that I had been looking forward to. ♡

Chai Latte and Sunrise Smoothie of Orange Juice, Banana, Fresh Berries, Yoghurt and Honey

Wild mushroom with truffle oil

Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs with Avocado on Turkish Pide

Marinated Portobello and Halloumi Burger with Caramelized Onions, Cos and Fries

We spent the entire Sunday morning lazying around in bed, listening to music on YouTube before finally getting our lazy selves out of my place for our Sunday date.

Took on a runaway afternoon to Rider’s Cafe for brunch. The sun was burning hot, but thank God that there was breeze and we were under shelter. I loved how the place was so opened that the sun light could just shine through the entire place, and the fact that it wasn’t air conditioned. A little noisy with the crowd on a Sunday afternoon, but that’s okay. I was in the mood for some feasting but thank goodness the more logical side of me (along with the boyfriend’s nagging) won – I was so bloated with all that I had on my plate.

If only every day was a Sunday – even if it means doing nothing and lazing in bed all day, listening to our favourite songs together.

Garlic King Prawns

Impromptu supper with the boyfriend at Bukit Timah area, which was the very first time I actually been to this hidden bustling corner of Singapore in the wee hours of the night. Had frog leg porridge, and we ended up buying almost twice of what two persons could have all because the waitress managed to make us think that it’d be more worth it. We slept till late morning the following day, and we started cooking up a simple feast for our poolside picnic. And it was good. Even though we aren’t fantastic cooks, but I do have visions of us spending our weekends through our married life whipping up something new each time. ☺

Later that night, we had dinner at Tatsu Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant. It was the most fancy teppanyaki dinner we’ve ever had, but the chef made our dining experience a really enjoyable one. He was so amiable it makes it difficult not to smile and start having a conversation. We even got short entertainment and cooking stuns from this fella, who at the very same time catered to each of our gastronomic needs. I can’t wait for our next food adventure together. ☺

And this is one of the best weekends I’ve had in a while. ✘♥✘♥

After work on Christmas Eve, the boyfriend drove over to my place to pick me up and we spent the first hour of Christmas doing some groceries shopping for our Christmas Potluck. It was raining and the night was just chilly, and somewhat blissful for some reason. Baby J who wasn’t sleeping when I went over came to join me up on the bed while the boyfriend was outside using the computer and accompanied me. This pup is really a sweetheart in every single way. ♥

Christmas gathering was held at Darren’s place, and it was nothing short of awesome. Simple company from the boys and Amanda, with endless laughter which even makes me chuckle as I think about it right now. From the random moment that Amanda broke the chair (epic moment for life) while eating, and all the boys just laughed for a good whole 10 minutes/wanting to take a picture instead of helping her up. Prepared our meals together and our dinner was an absolute feast. It was probably the best christmas dinner I’ve ever had, and the most heartwarming one too. Pictionary-turned-charade where Lance and I had to portray “birthday suit” and he started stripping while I just stared in awe. But it was hilarious. And skyping with Vincent who is currently in Perth.

Christmas, filled with good food and alcohol, good company and laughter.

Thinking back, this is probably the best Christmas I’ve ever had for the past 22 years of my life. x

Met up with Amanda for lunch at our favourite Yong Tau Fu place before roaming around town for her last minute christmas shopping. Turned out to be quite a wrong decision because the rain was so bad and it was just a massive human jam everywhere.

Pre-christmas dinner with the girlfriends and the boys at Santouka for dinner was good. Loads of catching up, laughing and what not. Settled at Starbucks thereafter for more catching up and gift exchange, and it was hilarious! Some got really nice presents, while others were small but wrapped up in so many layers (Linda) to give its receiver a big trouble opening up their presents (me). But I guess the funniest was when Eugene got March’s present and it turned out to be a set of pink towels. Boyfriend knowing what the girlfriend bought, and had no choice but to accept it. Traditional Christmas walkabout, then we headed over to Playnation to play Wii and Kinect till it was 3am in the morning! Too much dancing and moving in the wee hours of the morning my hands and shoulder ached so bad.

Too much fun in one night. Too much love to contain. Christmas is all about the gift of love and sharing.

I’ve got mine. x

Over the weekends, the boyfriend fell while playing football and sprained his wrist, so we had to change our plans from going on a date together to taking care of his hand and trying to seek medical advice. It was so swollen he could only do minimal movement. ☹  Stacey’s best friend arrived in Singapore and it has been quite a while since I last saw her. (My trip to Hong Kong, three years ago, was the last to be exact) But the weather wasn’t so nice because it was raining so heavily. ☂ Thank goodness I stole my boyfriend’s umbrella before I left the house. We had a simple Singaporean chicken rice dinner at Far East Plaza, and went to play Kinect. It was so much of a fun but exhausting that my unfit body woke up to an aching shoulder and arm.

The weekends is over. This weekend would be an exciting one I hope. Merry Christmas to everyone out there in advance! x

Favourite Yong Tau Fu for lunch, caught a chinese chick flick, and a savoury dinner at Tonkatsu.

It all isn’t so much about how fancy our dates are. It is really about how much we love spending time with each other, how much I love spending time with you. All the laughter we share even when we were walking on the streets. And the way you’d smile to me showing off to me about your achievements in a game, after sitting outside a shop playing on my iPod while I was shopping away. How you’d actually text me to see if I wanted a lift home, when I expected you to be just lying on my bed fast asleep.

Thank you for being the best boyfriend in so many ways, for being the most unjudgemental person I’ve ever met (and that itself always serves as a good reminder for myself to be a better person, and still trying to), for being the most patient and tolerant man. And for being the sweetest living thing that ever existed.

Happy 68th sweetheart, you always amaze me with the love we share. x

I’ve been spending plenty of time with the boyfriend since he returned but it wasn’t any sort of fancy/exciting dates, which is good in a way because 1) it is inexpensive 2) we just enjoy each other’s presence. And it is actually good. We actually laugh a lot together, every day. Laughing together, and laughing at each other. When I actually had a rough time, I sought solace in him – he wiped my tears, understood my angst/pain, and brought a smile to my face. To think of it, it might actually be the first time that we actually just laid in bed before the night ended and doing something like that. I know I can always fall back on him no matter what happens. He always, always have a way to make bad events a lot easier to swallow. ♥

That aside, I am still looking forward to some exciting dates! On a side note, we’d be getting our house a year earlier than expected, and that would mean we’d have a lot of planning to do. Plans that are made by real adults.

Definitely my favourite vegetable dish from Dian Xiao Er

Dinner feast at  The Chau’s

My favourite boys

Groceries shopping with the boyfriend

Gordon Ramsay inspired breakfast – Pan-fried portobello mushrooms and tomatoes, scrambled eggs with potato onion bread

My little batman

Tuesday movie dates

Lunch with The Chaus at Dian Xiao Er x Slept the entire afternoon away with the boyfriend and woke up for home cooked dinner x Drinks at Three Crowns, followed by supper with together with Amanda and Darren, which we obviously over ordered thanks to Darren. x Woke up early in the morning to whip up a Gordon Ramsay inspired breakfast with the boyfriend x Tuesday movie date x Cheap-but-good eats at Maxwell market.

Instead of having what I actually hoped – fancy dining, some fun and exciting activities – for during my four days off from work, it was actually an absolutely lazy one. Completely makeup-less, running errands, having cheap eats and doing something new together. It was actually such a rejuvenating break that I actually woke up an hour earlier than I usually did on the first day back at work.

P.S: All photos were unedited (except for resizing the images) and comes straight from the camera. ;)

Island creamery after work with Liting and Tiac Woo at Holland Village.

Curious little J.

The face and warmth I’ve been waking up to.

Goodbye korkor.

Ohana

Round three of building our home.

Precious

Tradition.

Cherry seeds and stalks.

Of the most random and senseless way of showing how my week went.

I’m gonna have the next four days off from work, and I see myself going trigger happy on my cameras. With the company of my favourite people.

x

It is legal to laze your Sundays away, just like how I refused to get myself out of bed and chose to roll all over the entire morning. Met up with my baby girl for dinner despite initial plans of meeting up with boys has been called off. Settled down at Jones the Grocer at Mandarin Gallery for dinner was a great idea – I had the best mushroom risotto I’ve ever tasted. The mushrooms and the risotto itself was really flavourful despite looking real simple. Catching up in each other’s lives that we’ve been missing out on in a quiet setting by the corner was just peaceful and slow. It was like a short runaway from the crazy hectic everyday life, and I really enjoyed that.

I am probably extremely repetitive because I am not a person that is extremely good with words. But this is the kind of day that makes me there is something worth looking forward to in the boring week. With someone that makes me feels loved. x

Chunky leek and potato soup with burgundian escargots

Roasted spring chicken, sauteed mushroom, bacon and garlic

Baked Norwegian salmon, parsnip cream, horseradish and roasted almonds

Madeleine with chocolate mousse

Crème brûlée

Met up with March on a Sunday afternoon for a one-on-one date together. Settled for lunch  at Bistro du vin and it was good. I enjoyed my meal and service of the friendly staff. A very casual and simple environment, and nothing too fancy on a simple sunday afternoon. It was very nice of them to let us in to have our lunch when the last orders were closed. March had the soup, and I tried escargots for the very first time. It didn’t taste weird, but I can’t get over the thought about me having snails in my mouth. ☹ I am usually a fish over chicken person, but for the first time I loved the chicken over the fish. It was so savory and it had my favourite mushrooms for the sides! The salmon was good too, but I just loved the chicken better. Very savory. ☺

Caught up over lunch about the things that we have been missing out on each other’s life. It’s true that once we all grow older, we have more things on hand before we could even find the time to meet up with close people. Unlike those days when we would meet up every weekend to head out and play. Those were the carefree days, but… I think it feels even nicer to know that we are growing up to be independent adults handling the tough things that are coming into our lives.

And that made me realised that, a lot of people whom I haven’t been meeting up regularly with are still so dear to me. The people that grew up together with me. ♥

Bbgirl

Homemade potato gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce

Tomato soup

Roasted Sea bream “Isolana”, Potato, Tomato, Onion, Black Olive, White Wine sauce

Truffle Profiterole

I received an email one night from my favourite girl, and it was a dinner reservation for two at Casa Tartufo Ristorante so I actually bbm Amanda to ask if this was a date. This girl just assumes that I was available and booked it without consulting me, but it’s alright because I guess I wouldn’t mind spending some time with her and her food choices is the best thing I can bet on. And as expected, the food was good. ☺

Amanda had Homemade potato gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce for entree while I had Soup of the Day. My soup was good, but Amanda’s was better. The smell of truffle was a beautiful blend with the potato gnocchi I just wanted more. The fish tasted good and we swiped the entire table clean. The dessert was a pleasant surprise – we expected it to taste as ordinary as it looked, maybe vanilla ice-cream with some truffle flakes around, but the ice-cream itself was truffle and the first mouth of it blew me away. I’ve never tasted anything like this before. I am so glad that bbgirl made this booking without consulting for my opinion.

Short night with my precious girl, but it was sufficient for us to know of our love for each other never died despite being busy in our daily life. Can’t love this girl any less. ♥