tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54654279630773650592024-03-06T16:08:02.069+08:00She walks on velvet cotton candy & has a fabulously flirty time ♥The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-84108040281097486092011-11-12T18:09:00.003+08:002011-11-12T18:35:44.253+08:00And I said, "What about Breakfast At Tiffany's?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU4gOctqfGWJ7w20e_03rArzX8nMdVICvQTaeY_5X-gALHbPdOS8wRdXQbI3l_s_gdkVN5DFh6B3k4mq0cqwYtfpH4kEX1f6qI6Omdy7NM4EjK8woIlxN3FWdb1QD9t6_ll-BObYmKkM/s1600/lavender+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU4gOctqfGWJ7w20e_03rArzX8nMdVICvQTaeY_5X-gALHbPdOS8wRdXQbI3l_s_gdkVN5DFh6B3k4mq0cqwYtfpH4kEX1f6qI6Omdy7NM4EjK8woIlxN3FWdb1QD9t6_ll-BObYmKkM/s400/lavender+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Lavenders are such <b>sexy flowers</b>. Their seductive perfume scent... feminine lilac hue... and feathery petite petals... all seem to marry beautifully. They carry with them an aura of sensuality and placidity that somehow makes us feel <b>magically at ease</b>. Some like them freshly bundled into a flower girl's bouquet, some prefer them dried in a porcelain vase, and others love them bottled into essential oils... <br />
<br />
...But I? I want to <b>eat</b> them.<br />
<br />
I've been having this peculiar urge to make something lavender for quite a while. Lavender honey, lavender sugar, lavender tea... But I've decided to go with a recipe that I've bookmarked for almost a month now because... procrastination got the better of me. <i>(Not proud about it.) </i><br />
<br />
So. <b>Lavender Shortbread Cookies.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1EnDgYrz_tdhNU-9Nri3VdaVtRN7Oiv7dUCPV2Uv4lmKcXOv2mPeFpfLHz2Z70st3JzJARicB019QV97k-A2NPf2AAfuieRH2Qk6G-1ZzHbsOedZu5iiWGb9MooAalEt0Xk5vXNvZjg/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1EnDgYrz_tdhNU-9Nri3VdaVtRN7Oiv7dUCPV2Uv4lmKcXOv2mPeFpfLHz2Z70st3JzJARicB019QV97k-A2NPf2AAfuieRH2Qk6G-1ZzHbsOedZu5iiWGb9MooAalEt0Xk5vXNvZjg/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>They are<b> sexy, sensual, feminine </b>and<b> elegant</b> - all in a bite. <br />
<br />
Have them with a <b>flirty Cosmo</b>. Or maybe some tea and honey. You can even pair them with milk. But not milk in a mug. Milk in a <b>martini glass</b>. Just like how <b>Holly Golightly</b> had hers in <b>Breakfast At Tiffany's</b>. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-Za6bakzqP-ugBsKJCFUFurOuXeK3iKWZ7vuNK5EUi9kM0oWotM8C8lo1uvC5RQuGmdVM60hHqCpB5Q0-DrXQY81QTgvn948JRYVMjIUKwBqLgRpxOEb9IPo7AEr-Ck-BG4NcX2Eh-s/s1600/bat+3%252C2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-Za6bakzqP-ugBsKJCFUFurOuXeK3iKWZ7vuNK5EUi9kM0oWotM8C8lo1uvC5RQuGmdVM60hHqCpB5Q0-DrXQY81QTgvn948JRYVMjIUKwBqLgRpxOEb9IPo7AEr-Ck-BG4NcX2Eh-s/s400/bat+3%252C2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Such elegance and poise. <i>Sigh.</i><br />
<br />
So, back to the cookies. I started with an equal part ratio of dried lavender blossoms and granulated sugar, and ground them together with a pestle and mortar until it became a <b>fine perfumed powder</b>.<br />
<br />
In a separate bowl, I creamed two sticks of unsalted butter with a cup of sugar, added 2 1/2 cups of AP flour and a pinch of salt. To that, I mixed in the lavender sugar until everything came together to form a moist, slightly crumbly dough. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JVj8JE6hqCsqc_bz9nuNly4lqnqhKdWQufAOUlfN4n7kAY-sW1xb1Fawzhk2isOeFqPhfICg7Nol3CiuZ8j2tLNasu_FhD28dODsir98mr_Kl0fG8XrZF2oVFyP1a9ujd3H1gGypeWE/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JVj8JE6hqCsqc_bz9nuNly4lqnqhKdWQufAOUlfN4n7kAY-sW1xb1Fawzhk2isOeFqPhfICg7Nol3CiuZ8j2tLNasu_FhD28dODsir98mr_Kl0fG8XrZF2oVFyP1a9ujd3H1gGypeWE/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Wrapped it in cling film and gave it some down time in the fridge. Once it's firm enough to work with, I rolled it out and cut mine into 1 1/2 inch circles before pricking them, brushing them with beaten eggs, and dusting just a tad of demerara sugar on these circular mounds.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R_bLocvt1Z5tAuftYJjBXBez77CRBDc8Iy9kjdGgp1VAZDv2qhqczG5lG_8_gRlBQ9znz_qyopjHcbmjZT9eygzMGRjZb9aamEx2aJfJiAZ4xxbBkvbFKeSEVAbaJwe4oaKdqbSGef8/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R_bLocvt1Z5tAuftYJjBXBez77CRBDc8Iy9kjdGgp1VAZDv2qhqczG5lG_8_gRlBQ9znz_qyopjHcbmjZT9eygzMGRjZb9aamEx2aJfJiAZ4xxbBkvbFKeSEVAbaJwe4oaKdqbSGef8/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Pop these beauties into the oven at 180degC for 14 minutes until the sides are just turning golden. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRDgxlXz9AnL5uvP36-YWeg2gDJRGcSVrBE2tW1fE_XoVosScTCksEAUNm9UbXRmn1QPsrv2esTkpjMOEi4jrVrJU1rBrj9tDcm4xsbcz8Gs3C-eTkGMlApzk5N4wvGgxLcQtTWmZwxQ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRDgxlXz9AnL5uvP36-YWeg2gDJRGcSVrBE2tW1fE_XoVosScTCksEAUNm9UbXRmn1QPsrv2esTkpjMOEi4jrVrJU1rBrj9tDcm4xsbcz8Gs3C-eTkGMlApzk5N4wvGgxLcQtTWmZwxQ/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>While waiting, brew yourself a petite pot of fancy tea. Mine was called <b>Paris, Mon Amour </b>(or Paris, My Love) from <b>Fouchon</b>. I bought it during my Halloween weekend trip to Hong Kong... And no prizes for guessing who I dressed up as...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRlMVDwtrYBH3wmbarnNjf0CPWq3RSNMXdoU2EP4KTivq4EXrXRb208l5BLjKXloH3i_HIn4Fh94qk_myODZeHfc2mlWUzWPHR6IIjpIh3VfwOvpik6RL-NNDcoAWrTQFfJ-cOCCm4bs/s1600/audrey" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRlMVDwtrYBH3wmbarnNjf0CPWq3RSNMXdoU2EP4KTivq4EXrXRb208l5BLjKXloH3i_HIn4Fh94qk_myODZeHfc2mlWUzWPHR6IIjpIh3VfwOvpik6RL-NNDcoAWrTQFfJ-cOCCm4bs/s320/audrey" width="268" /></a></div>But I'll give you the answer anyway. <b>xoxo.</b>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-61731676369838129062011-10-09T19:53:00.012+08:002011-10-11T00:41:23.422+08:00A Kaleidoscope of Dreams<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I've been leaving <b>pleasure by the wayside</b>. And I feel petrified by it.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But amidst the stiffness and restraint, I've still managed to find solace in my weekend escapades, my midweek sweet libations, and my wee-hour nightcaps. Wine has been my<b> loyal therapist</b>, and food a <b>non-judgmental confidant</b>. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2011 </b>may have taken away the pure joy<b> </b>of <b>baking at midnight </b>with classes the next morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoD33GQYSDhTXdAt9Z6G9CrfnJ-kjBzItroVJXdfCQBmsqPuJiOa-qpLMx3L7Dgdoxld-7I7tqxmkbzNSL1jybRvhFO9Wve6SDCJAuo6r8V65atnjtpXbILjk35HFTrP5T-iJntN1-0g/s1600/photo%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoD33GQYSDhTXdAt9Z6G9CrfnJ-kjBzItroVJXdfCQBmsqPuJiOa-qpLMx3L7Dgdoxld-7I7tqxmkbzNSL1jybRvhFO9Wve6SDCJAuo6r8V65atnjtpXbILjk35HFTrP5T-iJntN1-0g/s400/photo%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...But it has become my job to <b>do the tasting</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2011</b> hasn't taken me on new travels and discoveries.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBMRzPWNXjKaTfUAkz4_V6VW9heVBRVSijk8NOev6QDCF6HvrRNFcPRnj68FOhUq0CeLKZdxsvl6hBT5v-r2NZOAV9HBRCNgOFUd-m-bNccJRu1QOuU3agQIA3z9WpYS3Cup5fNyAuk8/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBMRzPWNXjKaTfUAkz4_V6VW9heVBRVSijk8NOev6QDCF6HvrRNFcPRnj68FOhUq0CeLKZdxsvl6hBT5v-r2NZOAV9HBRCNgOFUd-m-bNccJRu1QOuU3agQIA3z9WpYS3Cup5fNyAuk8/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_DapGEQlAheyUdcJei73VV1aFxyPY3bzsa9F1SJ3JY5rCtkB_dcm0RGSdxPeGFNoK9rYBiuCVOPijIIkJGHqtSUDGpND-OInB8Wu_70SD62upFbPlULoYLUqBZuv2xpCXkQIsxdQzvE/s1600/1photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_DapGEQlAheyUdcJei73VV1aFxyPY3bzsa9F1SJ3JY5rCtkB_dcm0RGSdxPeGFNoK9rYBiuCVOPijIIkJGHqtSUDGpND-OInB8Wu_70SD62upFbPlULoYLUqBZuv2xpCXkQIsxdQzvE/s400/1photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ...But it has become my job to win the pitch and <b>experience the journey</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i> </i>2011</b> has left me yearning to go back to college and be <b>graded for drinking</b> in class.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIpr7Etk-74PaZ6Y1nfq-vPZN_B_0oHG3F5Bf4qDNAGIcWDr2R0qBEKuS7s6REfQAZ5ss0XWoLzAjYIhQXos6vceuG6YdzZ2xJplU_0TgjVcgCDnr2ALDBBsa952jTBc8fUwxoFr3u-M/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIpr7Etk-74PaZ6Y1nfq-vPZN_B_0oHG3F5Bf4qDNAGIcWDr2R0qBEKuS7s6REfQAZ5ss0XWoLzAjYIhQXos6vceuG6YdzZ2xJplU_0TgjVcgCDnr2ALDBBsa952jTBc8fUwxoFr3u-M/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> ...but it has become my job to <b>mingle and entertain</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2011</b> has made me forget to stop and smell the daisies. (<b>Pink ones</b>, of course.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLlRKWlrKNUqUuZr5X1hw6HMJqo8hsCF0SRkU_GbL_HOfy0RFQZpRqieN1N5oZJrsCLtTsxkpTqZgtcqP3yAYCnNLwNaesYh86Fn1f_jbG3ZD9b1pV71ojuANdu01kulXQ9zXQ_yvRYc/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLlRKWlrKNUqUuZr5X1hw6HMJqo8hsCF0SRkU_GbL_HOfy0RFQZpRqieN1N5oZJrsCLtTsxkpTqZgtcqP3yAYCnNLwNaesYh86Fn1f_jbG3ZD9b1pV71ojuANdu01kulXQ9zXQ_yvRYc/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...but it has become my job to <b>ask for flowers.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2011</b> may have flown by without me grasping it in its <b>entirety</b>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L2WZnnmAyucnTdtDn_-n89-N1erVq_Pp4Xvlm0pntLw8-N8InKAezd7pZwdAzR-qbhaXvsS-OmCd1ZK957VGgujTneFX1C7Vsj69vtx1T7Dwz6I84uGRSiKJIh8J7bqlTSx6aTOODUc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L2WZnnmAyucnTdtDn_-n89-N1erVq_Pp4Xvlm0pntLw8-N8InKAezd7pZwdAzR-qbhaXvsS-OmCd1ZK957VGgujTneFX1C7Vsj69vtx1T7Dwz6I84uGRSiKJIh8J7bqlTSx6aTOODUc/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...But it has become by job to <b>witness the race</b>.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2011</b> has clearly been a year sacrificed to the soulless world filled with soot and suits. But someone once told me: <b>If you want to reach the castle, you have to swim through the moat. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And while doing so, I do realize that I'm <b>learning to love</b> the experience.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBsNgpMzhJCOCe4tNXDfLrXnOIqA-wIVVUKqZNjxxYjD7PQoh5bensUnIakpEBcI6kRRU1pSQHBoORkKLwSn_gXgl2XO6t5YK0AviOBp2OZ5mJqsU2svnrs6-9VXVE5EyJ4ktWxKVoVE/s1600/1photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBsNgpMzhJCOCe4tNXDfLrXnOIqA-wIVVUKqZNjxxYjD7PQoh5bensUnIakpEBcI6kRRU1pSQHBoORkKLwSn_gXgl2XO6t5YK0AviOBp2OZ5mJqsU2svnrs6-9VXVE5EyJ4ktWxKVoVE/s400/1photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I still <b>gather </b>with old friends to relive good times.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFB9i_eCxMGEMyKDseSa-DVUg4I9Lc2yjvi29DAjCfYkpJyROe-J4oU-kcLst-oEd78AgMhf72SRZLzocaExev-y97V7zXe7mdD2k2jKEjz2d6sl1XcyQ7UW2FP5_BtZ4Crz9IaHJyJaY/s1600/1photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFB9i_eCxMGEMyKDseSa-DVUg4I9Lc2yjvi29DAjCfYkpJyROe-J4oU-kcLst-oEd78AgMhf72SRZLzocaExev-y97V7zXe7mdD2k2jKEjz2d6sl1XcyQ7UW2FP5_BtZ4Crz9IaHJyJaY/s400/1photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">New York City is <b>always </b>never far from my mind.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQNRGwfFy-caXXeiZKSu__bXzOj7-yWtmK-ndVyJmJ6y1qNwc2EfUjDR2BYcl0z594YWPYvnbtydWsS9A-eeN4qn9a14quLTwXFSkktJVgnfZoWlYirYNtHHhqyzDJwvaQ7ePyR0-VAg/s1600/fortyhands2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQNRGwfFy-caXXeiZKSu__bXzOj7-yWtmK-ndVyJmJ6y1qNwc2EfUjDR2BYcl0z594YWPYvnbtydWsS9A-eeN4qn9a14quLTwXFSkktJVgnfZoWlYirYNtHHhqyzDJwvaQ7ePyR0-VAg/s400/fortyhands2" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weekends are life's <b>pleasurable</b> pit stops. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80yJ9XZcxc9eqTZpjLU1mNvDxNGGQCvwjfOVJjj_4Bq66BqwEva9m0wN-IdG9DJzVcnaLHlXYBV5a6zh0TzIW8C2m0N1xVTzeZ8n-3wfY_NebCkuMOmHb3qwnvoZU2lbCDW2FzabzT4U/s1600/1photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80yJ9XZcxc9eqTZpjLU1mNvDxNGGQCvwjfOVJjj_4Bq66BqwEva9m0wN-IdG9DJzVcnaLHlXYBV5a6zh0TzIW8C2m0N1xVTzeZ8n-3wfY_NebCkuMOmHb3qwnvoZU2lbCDW2FzabzT4U/s400/1photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> You'll find your <b>pot of gold</b> at the end of a certain rainbow if you search for it hard enough. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIB6Af7-rWFKsKglsP-frs4FqK_94MlGiXYNPgmQygvM2HRwcpCK0v3FUhMKtJNrleJksiXSCgPl6Ps69r_1FxVKw7COyMHEvG-ncgjoi4obYOyhau50jvYM2PkQNDcp_ReQZuaB7zJM/s1600/fortyhands6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIB6Af7-rWFKsKglsP-frs4FqK_94MlGiXYNPgmQygvM2HRwcpCK0v3FUhMKtJNrleJksiXSCgPl6Ps69r_1FxVKw7COyMHEvG-ncgjoi4obYOyhau50jvYM2PkQNDcp_ReQZuaB7zJM/s400/fortyhands6" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's always time to <b>make magic happen</b>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IyHBxgDq9Qg68hQJcV5nbXsnHYN6G8qY8c72frkvN455K8RPRFeOrAIU03XIq7SHjydpdoYa-N_ZtMkPUtZcLN2myFNC1IrOk9UHnZ3mp-sXbCOR2Ffe4k1GLMPKObdJuPafNrjQe34/s1600/fortyhands5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IyHBxgDq9Qg68hQJcV5nbXsnHYN6G8qY8c72frkvN455K8RPRFeOrAIU03XIq7SHjydpdoYa-N_ZtMkPUtZcLN2myFNC1IrOk9UHnZ3mp-sXbCOR2Ffe4k1GLMPKObdJuPafNrjQe34/s400/fortyhands5" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if you stop to <b>take a second look</b>: You'll realize that She has grown to look <b>mighty fine</b>.</span></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-25128419353236453362011-06-27T01:25:00.006+08:002011-06-27T01:36:41.437+08:00Bright lights of the urban landscape<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Why, hello.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Thought I haven’t see you for quite awhile.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Honestly, I had every intention to blog about summer in New York, but…</span></span></div><style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHespLlbp435z4WMXOaggW6wd_T1eBD9zxVmVyHu7h4ncMI6RNeb-jWTRxWylfjRma-r5ACCTAE4QASfnGFoKAiBX3SLNaOgOz5q0y1CCjl9NGTBYELID_xphyphenhyphenQLdwq-lm9piSZaEO2o8/s1600/NYC+Summer+2010+-+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHespLlbp435z4WMXOaggW6wd_T1eBD9zxVmVyHu7h4ncMI6RNeb-jWTRxWylfjRma-r5ACCTAE4QASfnGFoKAiBX3SLNaOgOz5q0y1CCjl9NGTBYELID_xphyphenhyphenQLdwq-lm9piSZaEO2o8/s400/NYC+Summer+2010+-+174.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">And yes, so I guess I’ve been 12 months too slow.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">In a nutshell, my summer of 2010 was absolutely amazing. New York gives you a tan that never seems to fade away. And 8 months after, the stories collected from the big city are still beautifully haunting, and I find myself flipping the pages over and over like an evergreen classic.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7tI_zFtDP_dCFkgvnDocCyNBkpIFsj5q84fIHWZZt0zgb-A8p7NE9QlyLnLykNz5ujI9x4hPb1QW5ZzHU9vyfkRiGv5JxHtRaI6B3ot07SRHuho5QKS6acsJXk9bbbFLoBTCEO0JzpI/s1600/NYC+Summer+2010+-+260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7tI_zFtDP_dCFkgvnDocCyNBkpIFsj5q84fIHWZZt0zgb-A8p7NE9QlyLnLykNz5ujI9x4hPb1QW5ZzHU9vyfkRiGv5JxHtRaI6B3ot07SRHuho5QKS6acsJXk9bbbFLoBTCEO0JzpI/s400/NYC+Summer+2010+-+260.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">And I had every intention of relinquishing my self-appointed role of updating this blog ever since summer ended and work found itself as a replacement. But I think I made a mistake by doing so. So here I am – 365 days later – running back to my canvas where I can paint my idealistic world of sugar creations, smart people, and pretty things.</span></span></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-90283989377507224422010-05-04T15:31:00.042+08:002011-06-27T00:42:37.940+08:00A Day In The Life of An Uptown Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgskuI4QdTb10MHSp76AM38ZW0S66MHfDlmZ_fQrJpPlj0nv80xsONmD8PzKjQkRqAg6hDdszXdG8YB3pNSeO1b6jP62ReAYyzTtXInzTStr3RJo5r14ur6YS3-m0F_3rZ1kCn1eHfu4/s1600/prom+-+45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgskuI4QdTb10MHSp76AM38ZW0S66MHfDlmZ_fQrJpPlj0nv80xsONmD8PzKjQkRqAg6hDdszXdG8YB3pNSeO1b6jP62ReAYyzTtXInzTStr3RJo5r14ur6YS3-m0F_3rZ1kCn1eHfu4/s400/prom+-+45.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Despite the <b>dream weekend trip</b> to the city being just a fortnight ago, <i>boy</i>, were these last fourteen days a long, long journey till the end. Never have I in college pulled so many weekday all-nighters in a row, forced to embrace the pseudo ghastly role of <b>a nocturnal cemetery caretaker on his graveyard shift </b>- over <i>and</i> over again; the puffy eyes and slight disorientation of the mind are some unflattering evidence highlighting this accumulation of sleepless nights that just <b>escalated out of control</b> towards the end.<br />
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And so I finally submitted my proposal today. Fearful to admit, but I do feel <b>oddly </b><i><b>empty</b>;</i> an eerie revelation that <b>something </b><i><b>did</b></i><b> consume me</b>. And I have been <b>purged</b>.<br />
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Alright, that should be sufficient rambling for a blog that's supposed to be about <b>Muscovado sugar</b>, <b>cinnamon spice</b> and <b>angel food cake batter</b>.<br />
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So I promised updates on the weekend trip to <b>Manhattan</b>. And right now, I shall promptly deliver.<br />
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The <b>Manhattanite high life</b> begins at 10 in the morning at <a href="http://www.gramercyparkhotel.com/">Gramercy Park Hotel.</a> The stunningly chic boutique property by the ledengary Ian Scrhager. (The two doormen were <b>outstandingly charming</b> I have to add.) Well, Danny Meyer recently took over the Aoki Chinese restaurant to open his all new Roman trattoria, <a href="http://www.maialinonyc.com/">Maialino</a>, in November last year.<br />
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We had a family-style lunch at the private dining room. <br />
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The menu featured simple, classic Roman dishes done superbly well. The bread, can I say, was marvelous.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzfW8ocIPy5dCYXDkPnRYfWfqpj52v4FGcZ7e8C0UFH-papH8cFtkfbfvcJcODeR221H7GdN_-3O9q9Rt1YAMDuehNaKuHDRWAA7y4wn3DH36_nBaFceIcyvLgkeaCIZO7wPmWtavo-I/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzfW8ocIPy5dCYXDkPnRYfWfqpj52v4FGcZ7e8C0UFH-papH8cFtkfbfvcJcODeR221H7GdN_-3O9q9Rt1YAMDuehNaKuHDRWAA7y4wn3DH36_nBaFceIcyvLgkeaCIZO7wPmWtavo-I/s400/RestEntNYC+-+55.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
A <b>flaky, crisp crust</b> just waiting for me to sink my teeth in to reveal the <b>airily soft and moist insides</b>. <i>Mmmm.... </i>And it can't be all that awful when they had a decent selection to choose from. I<b> loved</b> the focaccia.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU4wJpd6syGOIUMvWjMcS8uGzXUxqpqTxwB3j4-lNwJw8H73orME_4lU9E7EsnaIciDGj2m1bVyLmmB9jkL5-LvYz_4GI2bxRTIXKMwQ8vPxjv4CVkFvXwMvjEsQ0cQqvpHLp6ppFE74/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNU4wJpd6syGOIUMvWjMcS8uGzXUxqpqTxwB3j4-lNwJw8H73orME_4lU9E7EsnaIciDGj2m1bVyLmmB9jkL5-LvYz_4GI2bxRTIXKMwQ8vPxjv4CVkFvXwMvjEsQ0cQqvpHLp6ppFE74/s400/RestEntNYC+-+54.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Next came the <i>Carciofini Fritti</i> or fried artichokes. I do enjoy artichokes, often in my salad, but never had them fried before. So realizing how amazing these <b>little nuggets of golden shards</b> taste (dipped in anchovy sauce) was yet another <b>enlightening gastronomy episode worthy of a diary entry</b>. But then again, don't almost everything taste delish deep-fried...?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzrxzwlu7ZjOUaHIAc6JZJiEJe3ssYFnaU2wfhJBId5if8NlLtS8eGGzKfn8f_1pN5Ctw78SdluWdaIxWvpMQ1WWBHCGaQlddBZbJxslm2AsPirOs-pAOIUbt6eqlkXksi2P0dpj803M/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzrxzwlu7ZjOUaHIAc6JZJiEJe3ssYFnaU2wfhJBId5if8NlLtS8eGGzKfn8f_1pN5Ctw78SdluWdaIxWvpMQ1WWBHCGaQlddBZbJxslm2AsPirOs-pAOIUbt6eqlkXksi2P0dpj803M/s400/RestEntNYC+-+56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The <i>Bombolotti all'Amatriciana </i>were mouthfuls of <b>spicy, savory </b><i><b>al dante </b></i><b>bliss</b>. Thanks to that fresh homemade pasta<b> (and hidden pork bacon...)</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbGH3RHJpyEVxLogeLWU9639-erKYMNVPwtl4aI3C7ixL7ZD9QIF1dSOkdGjCy2AD3BmgaE6SSGrdn9unHhCQvGppP0WFOd4L14v5cggK0sPgyWjKi-gK3EARmPVcXeXNe9Yev1bYjNs/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbGH3RHJpyEVxLogeLWU9639-erKYMNVPwtl4aI3C7ixL7ZD9QIF1dSOkdGjCy2AD3BmgaE6SSGrdn9unHhCQvGppP0WFOd4L14v5cggK0sPgyWjKi-gK3EARmPVcXeXNe9Yev1bYjNs/s400/RestEntNYC+-+58.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxolJ5_oB_hwHGHHwMMDZ5Ga6YctLzTcO4H9TmGXY8toYGM_soblRLB3Fnpja2iZubzZQgb3fudiqxzoI2myo8Nk0yOiUdQKI3I_EMJ9dCRaM2r2EjSFgX35Sr4FUI1kRuV2zXUBUJpiA/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxolJ5_oB_hwHGHHwMMDZ5Ga6YctLzTcO4H9TmGXY8toYGM_soblRLB3Fnpja2iZubzZQgb3fudiqxzoI2myo8Nk0yOiUdQKI3I_EMJ9dCRaM2r2EjSFgX35Sr4FUI1kRuV2zXUBUJpiA/s400/RestEntNYC+-+57.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Finally - the <i><b>entree du jour!</b></i><b> </b><i>Insalata di Spigola</i> and <i>Bistecca di Bue. </i>Translation: Marinated sea bass with preserved lemons, and aged sirloin with radicchio and sunchokes. I am definitely a self-proclaimed red meat lover and these ever-so-moist tender hunks of charred beef illuminating with their <b>crimson pink interior </b>were (<i>literally</i>) a feast to my eyes and (of course) my palate.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51c5aXWGAjVYVb_0rlZ7Py64EdTIwrTm0JixqvrUc8U844NO8ukgKLELs6ZVo860sah9phF2Vu_yySxQPQk1aC0iGds2pOuJN6SWwQjIZklQ6zNaHb-4xPNTL2kV8MRJhBUKF-jXMURE/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51c5aXWGAjVYVb_0rlZ7Py64EdTIwrTm0JixqvrUc8U844NO8ukgKLELs6ZVo860sah9phF2Vu_yySxQPQk1aC0iGds2pOuJN6SWwQjIZklQ6zNaHb-4xPNTL2kV8MRJhBUKF-jXMURE/s400/RestEntNYC+-+62.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Dolci, </i>or desserts, were a simple but spectacular fare of fruity and chocolatey delights, of which I am <b>not</b> proud to admit that - ironically out of all things - my brain chooses to dismiss any signs of recollection for these divine sweet treats. And my only excuse? I <i><b>blame<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">it on the excessive </span></span></b></i>food and wine that had thrown me out of focus... <i>Right.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... But most certainly not lacking in <i>too</i> much focus to make it to our next culinary pit stop at the famous <a href="http://www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com/">Four Seasons Restaurant</a> owned by Mr. Alex Von Bidder. No seriously, we left Maialino's and all we did was to walk from Gramercy Park on 21st and Lex to The Four Seasons Restaurant on 52nd and Park. Twenty-one streets uptown but undoubtedly much needed after that <b>midday feast fit for the Roman gods (and goddesses)</b>.<i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwLpbmc_PKWr6yUnw3pC77KVKwp3oXQ2oE8Gw6GhIVYVO1K-_pmQsKAeB5iy1sI8HvCmXy_7a4CBJdutmE6Dotl_MCRxKm7j2QPQgtxdxsP9YY6M0qlvbPbKUWjULjGztY2oR_Jag4jA/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwLpbmc_PKWr6yUnw3pC77KVKwp3oXQ2oE8Gw6GhIVYVO1K-_pmQsKAeB5iy1sI8HvCmXy_7a4CBJdutmE6Dotl_MCRxKm7j2QPQgtxdxsP9YY6M0qlvbPbKUWjULjGztY2oR_Jag4jA/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwLpbmc_PKWr6yUnw3pC77KVKwp3oXQ2oE8Gw6GhIVYVO1K-_pmQsKAeB5iy1sI8HvCmXy_7a4CBJdutmE6Dotl_MCRxKm7j2QPQgtxdxsP9YY6M0qlvbPbKUWjULjGztY2oR_Jag4jA/s400/RestEntNYC+-+74.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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So whizzing past dinner, our next stop (yes, we did have another stop <i>after</i> Maialino and FS) was downtown Chelsea where I had a <b>little evening champagne-sipping</b> at Moet Hennessy. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggqgc6xfPgrInlis8O5V4_52aeixnPgkT5oRtyGmkbQZyW-2fHrj4vywdR3JeiPVMVkuFXIXCwGgP3H1Knt7mvPjkHhkBeTvbnUdZrd5_eSkY0Iu43GJii4e8PY8zlW-FWjV22su1jM8/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggqgc6xfPgrInlis8O5V4_52aeixnPgkT5oRtyGmkbQZyW-2fHrj4vywdR3JeiPVMVkuFXIXCwGgP3H1Knt7mvPjkHhkBeTvbnUdZrd5_eSkY0Iu43GJii4e8PY8zlW-FWjV22su1jM8/s400/RestEntNYC+-+103.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
How about some <b>bubbly</b> to round off the night? With<b> compliments</b> from the good people themselves.<br />
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And we tried some of their <b>champagne-chocolate truffles</b> specially created for the <b>2010 Oscars'</b>. Again, need I speak further? If it's fit for Hollywood, I'm p<i>retty darn sure </i>it's more than fit for me too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0MvSxiCN62teH66hOUBEsWi0eVlsP3Ew9tW4G6zeDZmY9HsCRQbQf4xAbt7tmxFUJwAw577xxrp-h8Es2UFwL9KOYkQsaH5X5a2Sd-cxIVzmO1mqIFzLd_K7-cqKeVZvbhBJCxz264g/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0MvSxiCN62teH66hOUBEsWi0eVlsP3Ew9tW4G6zeDZmY9HsCRQbQf4xAbt7tmxFUJwAw577xxrp-h8Es2UFwL9KOYkQsaH5X5a2Sd-cxIVzmO1mqIFzLd_K7-cqKeVZvbhBJCxz264g/s400/RestEntNYC+-+101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
By the way - they're launching a new Belvedere flavor soon! <b>Grapefruit </b>- I eat, love and crave; <b>Belvedere vodka</b> - my ideal libation of choice at any party <i>any time</i>. Put them together? I trust I'll have a <b>fabulously flirty time</b>.<br />
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And when I thought the night was truly over, new episodes always happen to make me remember that<b> I am, after all, in the city that <i>never</i> sleeps</b>. So surprise or no surprise, I ended up in revelry at <a href="http://www.delposto.com/">Del Posto</a> next door. The chefs kept whipping up <b>h</b><b>ors d'œuvre after hors d'œuvre</b>, while the bartender showered us with <b>more champagne yet again</b>. I shall not even <i>try</i> to recount what I did after that fifth (or was it the sixth? maybe the seventh?) glass of sparkling... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ah, w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ho's counting anyway?</span><br />
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How's that for an epic <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>start</b></span> to a great weekend in the <b>Big Apple</b>?<br />
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The official time now stands at 3:19AM. I think I'm getting accustomed to <b>working on overdrive</b>. No need for Redbull to give me wings. Neither do I need that disturbingly potent 5-hour energy drink to beat the 3PM (or in my case, 3AM) snooze time. But what I do need is some <b>peace</b> and <b>shuteye</b>. And definitely more than forty winks. So <b>goodnight world</b>, as I sign out from my deeply modest and humble abode along a nondescript street up in dear ol' Ithaca.The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-5981778263971268152010-04-25T15:12:00.034+08:002011-06-27T00:32:44.247+08:00Living A Dream... With Compliments from Daniel Boulud<div>Last weekend was special. Very<b> special</b>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<br />
I had the greatest honor of dining at </span></span><a href="http://www.danielnyc.com/daniel.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #663366;"><b>Daniel</b></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> over the weekend. <b>With compliments</b> from the chef himself. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, Chef Boulud.</span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463977215832328578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUAk3kYWanCl2vmKFY2caqrwk31YvK9IJZYVvSppdC6pnpM8XybH16TJUBnXZg4rfHDAMZiJucAXcBQ1ESoHgf_N4LrjcW0eXam_YCesvKuNgJqRln6dZkopfosOH1Mm9eduwsrLH7TU/s400/daniel-cananpe-by-e-laignel.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I shall not go into the nitty gritty of how I landed myself with that<b> once-in-a-lifetime</b> opportunity, but I was definitely </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>star-struck</b> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">when I first had a phone conversation with Chef Boulud. He was in Florida that day for the </span></span><a href="http://www.citymeals.org/eventsnews/daniel"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #663366;">Citymeals on Wheels</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> charity event, but graciously offered to set up a dinner reservation that evening at his <b>celebrated four-star restaurant</b> on the Upper East Side... with his compliments.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I could not believe my ears.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKjW5Jtnet_KPDWUB9MtwAHbBAtHOchl1DkF6cYvm8707Y4edfYtcsbbsPVgF0uLpPX0FbBQCtUHWab295IwJuqvh1EtNGtCB706wMr4utRjveDMVCMjin_eLn-6rj_UukmdsRXrY9no/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463956805342272978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKjW5Jtnet_KPDWUB9MtwAHbBAtHOchl1DkF6cYvm8707Y4edfYtcsbbsPVgF0uLpPX0FbBQCtUHWab295IwJuqvh1EtNGtCB706wMr4utRjveDMVCMjin_eLn-6rj_UukmdsRXrY9no/s400/RestEntNYC+-+8.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was by far the most </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>spectacular</b></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> dining experience I had ever had to date. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ever.</b></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> The service was impeccable. Beyond outstanding, I dare say. Witnessing how guests were attended to was like watching a <b>symphonic </b><b>orchestra</b>. From the dashing young man going around with the bread basket, to the charming maître d that greeted us warmly and ushered us to our table - everyone worked in <b>harmony</b>; every server moved in <b>synchrony</b>. I was in awe at how much <b>passion</b> each person had for their craft, no matter what it was. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463959360086017490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzLPsv9vvABoL5TB01vhD7E3qCu5QpmR-t-84DZrGTLxOYjNA_gAA0IKyp_xUeqBSImx6nbdq5iAtyZ7mqSZGiKEZBoB7v2CiXcTW2En7CjT2kLih3iXB2x7fP-6xsOUupDs39d_5NHw/s400/RestEntNYC+-+139.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And the food... the wine... O</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">h, where should I even start?</span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The maître d brought us a tasting menu and told us we could have anything from it. </span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oh no, all of you are too gracious. Extremely gracious.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So then, we decided to leave our meal entirely up to the chefs. And I wondered if that was a mistake... but then again, who's complaining </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">at all</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">? If I have to say, it was <b>a </b></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>glorious </b></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>mistake</b> indeed. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">MY DREAM MENU</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Some courses are accompanied with photos, but do pardon me for the unflattering lighting - the room was dimly lit)</span></span></i></div></div><div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">KATAIFI CRUSTED MAINE LOBSTER</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Broccoli Mousseline, Ricotta Salata, Lemon-Pine Nut Gremolata, Harissa Coulis</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
♥</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">MAINE PEEKYTOE CRAB SALAD</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Celery, Walnut Oil, Granny Smith Sauce</span></span></i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463960814070598498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXig4v8m-TEFt0pEBxFjlcjSCxFVtEW2Yz1UGRM5AdRC6f7sh-t9fUwZKK3gNHlndmuCbeAlVGMxB_WPVwsnSZ7cNqYAZTP9C_Az4Dcm92ZinFgCezELz5hijXA4hJQW3eU0QuA4QViU/s400/RestEntNYC+-+4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span><br />
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></span></h3><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">CEDAR WOOD WRAPPED KAMPACHI</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Eggplant Caviar, Garbanzo Beans, Sauce Diable</span></span></i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwWi8LMuUdAg4neCEZa9o70VtGV1VzajiA7cRV2y71al-B9FC4tKPDWvvaOaMdjzWs46QQLyuJwHaWdHSH1PPLlrcOXWEVbBkKCF_-nUvozfM2oHZxoryWafISABsIdhiWUP5SyNFISg/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwWi8LMuUdAg4neCEZa9o70VtGV1VzajiA7cRV2y71al-B9FC4tKPDWvvaOaMdjzWs46QQLyuJwHaWdHSH1PPLlrcOXWEVbBkKCF_-nUvozfM2oHZxoryWafISABsIdhiWUP5SyNFISg/s400/RestEntNYC+-+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></span><br />
<div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">BLACK SEA BASS WITH SYRAH SAUCE</span></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Leek Potato Parmentier, Roasted and</span></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Tempura Celery</span></span></span></span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee; font-style: normal;"></span></i></span></div><div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></h3><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">SLOW BAKED ARCTIC CHAR</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">WITH SWEET MAINE SHRIMP</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cipollini Onion Marmalade, Glazed Salsify, </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dijon Mustard Chicken Jus</span></span></span></div><div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></h3></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">FOUR STORY HILL FARM VEAL TRIO</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">with Louisiana Crayfish</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Roasted Tenderloin, Spring Garlic Confit</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Crispy Sweetbreads, Artichoke Barigoule</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Braised Cheeks, Young Turnips</span></span></span></i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></h3><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">DUO OF WAGYU BEEF</span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Red Wine Braised Short Rib </span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Chanterelle Marmalade</span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Seared Tenderloin</span></span></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Chestnut-Potato Gnocchi, Swiss Chard</span></span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUk2QufDyCNvh4NiTfZ4II4LmDEfdJJFj7rC9R1WrjTzVSiEO_20F-wTvYE9gRwuZd4BFejUxM26LMeV2ZbyAresx0zrUeAAQsS1du405DEGFIdc3B8FTAkBw428jShChjTtjPMihsc0/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUk2QufDyCNvh4NiTfZ4II4LmDEfdJJFj7rC9R1WrjTzVSiEO_20F-wTvYE9gRwuZd4BFejUxM26LMeV2ZbyAresx0zrUeAAQsS1du405DEGFIdc3B8FTAkBw428jShChjTtjPMihsc0/s400/RestEntNYC+-+16.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></span></h3><div><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ASSORTMENT OF AMERICAN </span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">AND IMPORTED CHEESES</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71lzo4I22obANzYUDadLfYqsIZETaGmpPHx5goMuv4smyet7g4L8C5ZddMKyDKX1NtyaT_UmiWuiEsjiHFAxL6tjTiofu9x2jLwjfRrqNDMUCuVaOX5Cnxlv3rmnPJyfSG0jub4wNcSA/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71lzo4I22obANzYUDadLfYqsIZETaGmpPHx5goMuv4smyet7g4L8C5ZddMKyDKX1NtyaT_UmiWuiEsjiHFAxL6tjTiofu9x2jLwjfRrqNDMUCuVaOX5Cnxlv3rmnPJyfSG0jub4wNcSA/s400/RestEntNYC+-+20.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></span></a></span></i></div><div></div></div><div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></span></i></h3></div><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">WARM GUANAJA CHOCOLATE COULANT</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Liquid Caramel, Fleur de Sel, Milk Sorbet</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">&</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">LYCHEE AND CRANBERRY VACHERIN</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Candied Rose Petal, Crème Chantilly </span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssVPQtZLLGwdgBvHM-fb7xN7wUpZbIYDJeU8LOLlAtbAZBJjdVhCMxQQVjZFwOawRWFT4mfldl920eNY81KaWC0h0okpf4LqkRhoI-6BtHY5pYMWE8uZ_OT8mqio9NaXNUNFmuUtj1v0/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssVPQtZLLGwdgBvHM-fb7xN7wUpZbIYDJeU8LOLlAtbAZBJjdVhCMxQQVjZFwOawRWFT4mfldl920eNY81KaWC0h0okpf4LqkRhoI-6BtHY5pYMWE8uZ_OT8mqio9NaXNUNFmuUtj1v0/s400/RestEntNYC+-+23.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></span></a></span></i></div><div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></span></i></h3><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">M</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ANJARI CHOCOLATE MOUSSE </span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">WITH NOUGAT FOAM </span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Milk Chocolate Biscuit, Rwanda Coffee Ice Cream</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">&</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ROASTED BANANA WITH BROWN SUGAR TUILE</span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Caramelized Macadamia, </span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Passion Fruit Banana Sorbet</span></span></span></i></span></i><br />
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></span></i></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></i></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span></i></span></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥</span></span></i></span></i></h3><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(& THE SWEET FINALÉ...)</span></span></span></i></i></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaN8dnpnGwwfmMPf_rDykP9kleCRx2g6i9wxAuq2-QQ2QUxaWvZeC_Rz4BO6dg84RqlkhtNPCAL8ie6SBaY2jksSYFBUZ5q6Ln2h2iPs4EuolyYJt7lQdX8uFhIwx3kjqteApIEvdUow/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaN8dnpnGwwfmMPf_rDykP9kleCRx2g6i9wxAuq2-QQ2QUxaWvZeC_Rz4BO6dg84RqlkhtNPCAL8ie6SBaY2jksSYFBUZ5q6Ln2h2iPs4EuolyYJt7lQdX8uFhIwx3kjqteApIEvdUow/s400/RestEntNYC+-+26.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></i></i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">♥♥♥♥</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></i></h3><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I have to say that the photos don't do justice - though they'd have to suffice. The maître d and his team knew how much I </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">simply </span></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">adored</span></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> the citrus madelines</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> served with the tea. So much so..</span>.</span></span></span></i></span></i><i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7AMFlsYDGucA1palVgeunkSUt7yNAtEXPsw_ZH4Ehl7fUazlE5GpfXZ3bKXyeYWAH1IkSVGx_Nj5pNfSn_lZQCE1GJ3tUM1CpCZP4fNBIvuyn2z4MK-d8ITwc3cHs-ATfogAvEOTkAM/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7AMFlsYDGucA1palVgeunkSUt7yNAtEXPsw_ZH4Ehl7fUazlE5GpfXZ3bKXyeYWAH1IkSVGx_Nj5pNfSn_lZQCE1GJ3tUM1CpCZP4fNBIvuyn2z4MK-d8ITwc3cHs-ATfogAvEOTkAM/s400/RestEntNYC+-+28.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></span></a></i></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">...they surprised me with a box just before I left the restaurant.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0WjiAGNvIzJwt8MlKd3MIIfFb4jomLXuDTI-Aw8-e8IatFgwAX0A6oJ2j4XMFteiTyCjYo1HbWb0E3FADcznca8jn2vm1dbad5AbwpXY0uC5hDnaiVbrmii-AwkhAI0MwmAvRRPlbhk/s1600/RestEntNYC+-+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0WjiAGNvIzJwt8MlKd3MIIfFb4jomLXuDTI-Aw8-e8IatFgwAX0A6oJ2j4XMFteiTyCjYo1HbWb0E3FADcznca8jn2vm1dbad5AbwpXY0uC5hDnaiVbrmii-AwkhAI0MwmAvRRPlbhk/s400/RestEntNYC+-+29.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></span></a></i></span></i></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">How's that for four-star service? Let's not forget the absolutely beautiful wines that were paired with every course. Every dish worked in </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">perfect synergy</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> with the wines, and every mouthful was truly a mouthful of bliss. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Complete. Utter. Bliss.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> Words can never describe how amazing that evening felt. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I was living a dream.</span></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">And did I mentioned I had </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">the chance to meet Chef Boulud</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> when he returned from his charity event that weekend? I was almost speechless. </span><i>A</i></span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">lmost.</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Pssst...! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">And I'm definitely looking forward to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">doing pastry at </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Daniel</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> this summer! </span></span></span></span></i></i></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><br />
</i></span></i></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">P.S.- Will share more of my weekend gastronomic adventures in my upcoming posts... XOXO <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">♥</span></span></span></span></span></div></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></i></div></div></div></div></div></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></i></div></div></div></div></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-58538552662858915282010-04-08T12:30:00.004+08:002010-04-25T13:46:58.889+08:00Summer On A PlateIt has been more than a week since I've arrived back at Ithaca from my amazing <b>7-day voyage around the Caribbean</b>! Our little sojourn on board the ship was nothing short of spectacular.<br /><br />Sights were <b>b</b><b>reathtaking</b>...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RUS96ouptysh8nSkZTfBHEsyuCGycwZmYTPyqGfGaE0GTSGjlEWD1KH-e_m0Bst2-eckop-wJyDVWj2kaRMctOb7llExNIS79kqyczBwNWnqtXKsACh7wMCLDDmxF4uypHLK1M6pQAE/s1600/carnival-liberty+-+76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RUS96ouptysh8nSkZTfBHEsyuCGycwZmYTPyqGfGaE0GTSGjlEWD1KH-e_m0Bst2-eckop-wJyDVWj2kaRMctOb7llExNIS79kqyczBwNWnqtXKsACh7wMCLDDmxF4uypHLK1M6pQAE/s400/carnival-liberty+-+76.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sunsets were <b>divinely romantic</b>...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZn6ZnPJojmxZb66yDEUUC_tTgMFtHbiY29prNnc7Yc5xY4KFVGaInt78_-WxGkIPZLYRp3t__3CPMV0oYW0he2DnFUrkaZ_X-Ga_FJ4DGXpNlOb-6G9jen-OjnVzc8NwLnflOA_AzOw/s1600/carnival-liberty+-+389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZn6ZnPJojmxZb66yDEUUC_tTgMFtHbiY29prNnc7Yc5xY4KFVGaInt78_-WxGkIPZLYRp3t__3CPMV0oYW0he2DnFUrkaZ_X-Ga_FJ4DGXpNlOb-6G9jen-OjnVzc8NwLnflOA_AzOw/s400/carnival-liberty+-+389.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The ship was <b>outstandingly charming</b>...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKx6t-nNp-0Yr-lTg9STcv1osoSKSVgekwCYhAqK-TwmfmcrYQozWPcKq3k6d7ue4fJtE-qc66IhChqOFvIAb_M-pg0x1TPtEGL5esioEsDCS1e4TiCmLSrJel-gL3xcdeZTvC8FxtWo/s1600/carnival-liberty+-+350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKx6t-nNp-0Yr-lTg9STcv1osoSKSVgekwCYhAqK-TwmfmcrYQozWPcKq3k6d7ue4fJtE-qc66IhChqOFvIAb_M-pg0x1TPtEGL5esioEsDCS1e4TiCmLSrJel-gL3xcdeZTvC8FxtWo/s400/carnival-liberty+-+350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />...And needless to say, the food was a <b>p</b><b>ersonification of pure joy</b>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3ZmKeuCpOD1lS3FYSL6wJqjiNcAFtPUoC0CmnRplcHM6ehLYAS5cx0oRUV-C5fKSx1b-N2h48iujY3SU4fkuXLF9l1zHQbJb7p7ICdVyxz0XqfA0g5A1zMLPLIhHdIuSYxrelWFYXFY/s1600/carnival-liberty+-+195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3ZmKeuCpOD1lS3FYSL6wJqjiNcAFtPUoC0CmnRplcHM6ehLYAS5cx0oRUV-C5fKSx1b-N2h48iujY3SU4fkuXLF9l1zHQbJb7p7ICdVyxz0XqfA0g5A1zMLPLIhHdIuSYxrelWFYXFY/s400/carnival-liberty+-+195.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Indulgence was definitely something people took for granted on board the ship. We relished in a plethora of decadent dinners, unending buffet spreads, on-board Vegas-style entertainment, and stunning off-shore explorations that left us gasping for more...<br /><br />...And now, all we have left of the vacation are nothing but nostalgic remnants of <b>sun-kissed memories</b>, a folder's worth of still images (thanks to our trusty Canon Digital Ixus), and - why, of course - a mountain of calories to last us for... quite awhile.<br /><br /><i><b>La vie est belle, la vie est belle!</b></i><br /><i></i><br />So back to school it is, but no one's complaining because the <b>SUN IS OUT</b>! Yes, the cherry blossoms blooming across the street from my bedroom window join me in ushering in <b>the new season of sunshine and colors</b>: "Hail, Spring Time!"<br /><br />A bunch of friends and I had a <b>tea party </b><b>picnic by the Arts Quad</b> last Friday. We made our own dips to go with crisp crackers - your choice of wheat or original - and a beautiful mixed salad of vanilla yogurt, crunchy granola and a <b>medley of seasonal fruit</b>. And what's a tea party without a moist, crumbly slice of summer pie? And so, I took the chance to whip up a lovely <b>Peach, Yogurt & Almond Cake</b>. The top came of toastier than I would have liked it to be, but that was because my housemates and I left the cake baking while we went out jogging. But no one's picking on sour grapes here: We agreed that it would give the cake a<b> pleasant toasty-vanilla flavor</b>. (<i>Tsk, the glass is always half full.)</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4YmBiwtele22KfBXo3iKLseuUMdSG8EmVkbpS39vMkeNYpnsk_qOhnIzvOkxEPmyHyXi-yBDyf5PLQNWCMaCVeXLiHhHxIch_sCigcS_KWeiofVEu52ZrM1wdGI7S_ouOE2rCFGH3AA/s1600/picnic+in+spring+-+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4YmBiwtele22KfBXo3iKLseuUMdSG8EmVkbpS39vMkeNYpnsk_qOhnIzvOkxEPmyHyXi-yBDyf5PLQNWCMaCVeXLiHhHxIch_sCigcS_KWeiofVEu52ZrM1wdGI7S_ouOE2rCFGH3AA/s400/picnic+in+spring+-+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyone was in good spirits - and we ought to be anyway since it was <b>the weekend</b> and the weather was <b>to-die-for</b>. The tea party picnic was <b>a blissful combination </b>of flavorful dips and crackers, sweet cake, joyful laughter, lighthearted conversations and...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBhB7ZLTZKCfEPSwynfFghyphenhyphent0uKsDnGAtNZCWyfefwAjhF1Axnb-rj7pRRCl1U6EVVTCsZ3VdwxDLof7c_qxJAI4YhtO1ZmWg3qNIS_KL_VABhxqSVewTaXuB7EOXxszCpgJrm4dUvK8/s1600/picnic+in+spring+-+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBhB7ZLTZKCfEPSwynfFghyphenhyphent0uKsDnGAtNZCWyfefwAjhF1Axnb-rj7pRRCl1U6EVVTCsZ3VdwxDLof7c_qxJAI4YhtO1ZmWg3qNIS_KL_VABhxqSVewTaXuB7EOXxszCpgJrm4dUvK8/s400/picnic+in+spring+-+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>...Cranium. I am <i>far</i> from proud to admit a new discovery: Most of us definitely need more coaching in our artistic and creative departments. Nope, we couldn't mould the solar system using purple dough. Nope, neither could we hum to the tune of MJ's Thriller. And nope, we couldn't act like a hamster wheel (?!).<br /><br />But what we <b><i>could</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> do, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">we did</span> best</b>.<br />We <b>ate</b>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIp-aJWoTcDzQMRdFz7P1qwdpJmekX2nBcc2tc5e_VlZlLGVRQjXC3UOJiVMV8tUMhigynLuyuXRw79NOWiSBNSDrCXznNjqX2TGh_vCoP1QFUrbieYvpfowAeIWq3k3seN6hHCd3Hws/s1600/picnic+in+spring+-+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIp-aJWoTcDzQMRdFz7P1qwdpJmekX2nBcc2tc5e_VlZlLGVRQjXC3UOJiVMV8tUMhigynLuyuXRw79NOWiSBNSDrCXznNjqX2TGh_vCoP1QFUrbieYvpfowAeIWq3k3seN6hHCd3Hws/s400/picnic+in+spring+-+18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Left to Right, Clockwise</span>: Sautéed Baby Bella Mushrooms; a slice of Peach Yogurt & Almond Cake; Vine-Ripened Tomatoes with Fresh Basil & Balsamic Vinegar; and a dollop of Spicy Avocado.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBTXG39QTgakQbcLGAUxCIeXlEEXYPMrt7R9HKf2O1rrlBNzpUbWe4899WfgHPBgnUWJdE6NFxABwjiZ1ATQ5BTvcBvP5whGqr0rEKA0DeqHoM1smdq0NohcK1xF6sVsOMgSMMitoZPM/s1600/picnic+in+spring+-+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBTXG39QTgakQbcLGAUxCIeXlEEXYPMrt7R9HKf2O1rrlBNzpUbWe4899WfgHPBgnUWJdE6NFxABwjiZ1ATQ5BTvcBvP5whGqr0rEKA0DeqHoM1smdq0NohcK1xF6sVsOMgSMMitoZPM/s400/picnic+in+spring+-+14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is what I'll call <b>Summer On A Plate</b>.<br />No doubt about that.<div><br /></div><div>P.S. - And who says that cakes can't be <b>sun-kissed</b> too?</div><br /><br><a href="http://www.foodista.com/food/SHT7274N/peach" style="display: block; width: 200px; border: 5px solid #C44F50; -moz-border-radius: 2px; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; background-color: #C36C6D; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; color: white; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; padding: 4px; text-indent: 0;" title="Peach on Foodista"><img src="http://cf.foodista.com/static/images/widget_logo.png" alt="Peach on Foodista" style="float: right; border: none; width: 70px; height: 25px; padding: 0; margin: 0;" />Peach<img src="http://dyn.foodista.com/content/embed/z1.png?foodista_widget_V6HQGPPD" style="display: none;" /></a>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-71394438743678857772010-03-17T08:25:00.004+08:002010-03-17T09:14:33.482+08:00Chocolates in Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The weather has taken a turn. Finally! Apart from the weekend (which <i>just </i>had to rain when our house had visitors over), sunshine has reigned again and warmth is all over the slopes! I started running outdoors last week - something I was <b>longing</b> to do since Jack Frost decided to visit five months back. I almost forgot how <b>beautiful</b> Ithaca is without that thick quilt of snow blinding everything in sight.</div><br />
We had another weekend cookout last Saturday - a Tuscan-inspired seafood pasta special (I ♥ angel hair!) and some sesame-honeyed spinach greens tossed with cranberries, roasted almonds and clementines - a wonderful meal to usher in the l<b>ong-awaited springtime</b>. And seeing that I have had one gourmandizing episode after another for the past couple of weekends, I decided to cut back on the sweet treats and go for something savory instead. Cheese is always a <b>favorite</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyQ7bATLaHxHVbYC3aFy0vJrurxFO1L4R5TbOrh3iuxqJyTQ17KsjH8uLHjhoZmBAyLJV7OfObW2xThF5D41rFHEln4NZmKZSxO79075yjszhGwdMyXpem50dLbY8QQHm0yETZiiiEzk/s1600-h/poachedpears+-+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyQ7bATLaHxHVbYC3aFy0vJrurxFO1L4R5TbOrh3iuxqJyTQ17KsjH8uLHjhoZmBAyLJV7OfObW2xThF5D41rFHEln4NZmKZSxO79075yjszhGwdMyXpem50dLbY8QQHm0yETZiiiEzk/s400/poachedpears+-+6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
We decided to roast some red and bartlett pears with walnuts, fresh gorgonzola and brie. I just <b>love </b>those candied walnuts, roasted and gleaming in its glossy cloak of clover honey and vanilla. The pears were a little underdone, I must admit. A little longer in the oven would have made those voluptuous pears perfectly soft - but <b>a watched pot never boils</b>, so we all settled for something a little crunchier.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlNfFFwxkafk5pI_EmpftixfZ48M-io465hxmbr77z51B8-8oz547oxqdqtxUBAVNn9zj4aAc4s3XIKgKCsnonze0BFjSKR7DmjHJP4omOxI4irIRNLmTEFSdJ7ZXA-ImCRNaXo5vvzc/s1600-h/poachedpears+-+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlNfFFwxkafk5pI_EmpftixfZ48M-io465hxmbr77z51B8-8oz547oxqdqtxUBAVNn9zj4aAc4s3XIKgKCsnonze0BFjSKR7DmjHJP4omOxI4irIRNLmTEFSdJ7ZXA-ImCRNaXo5vvzc/s400/poachedpears+-+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And the cheese... <i>mmm... </i><br />
<i></i>Simply satisfying, nonetheless!<br />
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I had a HSI networking session two Tuesdays ago, and I know I promised some Nanaimo chocolate bars for the event. Nanaimo bars - for those unsure - are no-bake chocolate bars that originated from Canada. They're basically layered with a waffle crunch bottom, a white custardy middle layer, and a dark top coating of milk chocolate.<br />
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So I intended to swap the base for a brownie batter, then top it off with a layer of milk chocolate (I don't fancy white cocoa that much), then finish it off with a blanket of deep, dark cocoa spread. However, the middle layer didn't harden as quick as I thought it would, so I ended up with a chocolate truffle swirl - which I actually preferred just because the textured surface makes this sweet confection so <b>pretty</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh3IrMvx0Bume-EubzEYJiFxzTsyusBuj32M3kTTF-IAR0sL7lqITlJsEQdkCcZI1u6lH_2UH9LpSY0zk2xHLa2NWMKEQIAorl-wXbI_HA8y3UM0STbwv9JSkER7U1tv_V87NIvlK9OE/s1600-h/chocolatetruffle+-+39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh3IrMvx0Bume-EubzEYJiFxzTsyusBuj32M3kTTF-IAR0sL7lqITlJsEQdkCcZI1u6lH_2UH9LpSY0zk2xHLa2NWMKEQIAorl-wXbI_HA8y3UM0STbwv9JSkER7U1tv_V87NIvlK9OE/s400/chocolatetruffle+-+39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They're <i>really</i> rich, so one-inch cubes would be ideal bite-sized portions at a party. Don't you just <b>adore</b> those pastel-colored paper cups? It makes everything look so <b>floral</b> and <b>feminine</b>. It's like a <b>springtime chocolate bouquet</b> - what could be more <b>perfect</b> than that?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxcAVaSunZI6DAzPP187tb2ZaJzOfI9C8TNFYxNu3tw5e5afJazNB6fj8_xJ6Kj3K2kPjWJo_lzGFt55UII7UIGC2JKCljGtly9Dxl425gsjpsuWRK2cjEFAh_tnpD35Id8XL93XCSPg/s1600-h/chocolatetruffle+-+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxcAVaSunZI6DAzPP187tb2ZaJzOfI9C8TNFYxNu3tw5e5afJazNB6fj8_xJ6Kj3K2kPjWJo_lzGFt55UII7UIGC2JKCljGtly9Dxl425gsjpsuWRK2cjEFAh_tnpD35Id8XL93XCSPg/s400/chocolatetruffle+-+23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Spring break is just <b>two</b> days away! I can almost smell the <b>salty ocean breeze </b>and feel my toes wriggling through the <b>moist sandy beaches</b>, all framed beautifully under the <b>sublime Caribbean sunshine</b>.<br />
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I'll definitely keep my promise of sharing <b>postcards from the Caribbean</b> when I get there! XOXO!The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-78578817991155632472010-03-05T03:54:00.006+08:002010-03-05T13:05:18.570+08:00I Wish...I look forward to breaks in-between classes.<br /><br />Not because I can hang out with my friends (though I won't deny that being an enjoyable activity).<br /><br />Not because I can catch up on my <strike>sleep</strike> school work.<br /><br />And most definitely not because I dislike school. In fact, I<strong> love</strong> my classes. Well, most of them at least. <em>I'm having some personal issues with my financial management class, but let's leave that for another story.</em><br /><br />I treasure my <strong>breaks.</strong> They're my <strong>peace and quiet</strong>. I grab a coffee - my all-time favourite Vanilla-infused Americano - grab a laptop, and tuck myself in <i>the</i><strong> comfy corner</strong> that I always sneak to before the next class...<br /><br />...and just sink blissfully into my <strong>own world</strong> of sugar, spice and <strong>everything nice</strong>. Reading entries from my <strong>favorite food writers</strong>, looking at creative recipes and <strong>imagining how wonderful</strong> the dish will be, and just being <strong>Inspired.</strong><br /><br />Sometimes, I wish my breaks were <strong>longer</strong>.<br /><br />And I wish I could write my own<strong> cookbook</strong> too. Just like <strong>her</strong>, and <strong>her.</strong><br /><br />And I wish for a SLR camera to take more <strong>pretty pictures</strong>.<br /><br />And I wish for an <strong>ice-cream maker </strong>because I'm craving for some homemade chocolate sorbet.<br /><br />And...<br /><br /><br />...It's time for class.The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-86412441432641953112010-03-01T07:00:00.017+08:002010-03-01T07:36:34.856+08:00The Week I Was Spoiled With Food (Part 2)<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Blog Post Interruption: An Emergency Alert Message</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Welcome to Ithaca's <i>unimaginable </i>snow storm! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzwcCDmgRUhwZAd4BaQFUzmrPOuF4Fi3fcDtWrjiAZ6uSoyDKL4-RRIurx__D7o1N0pvspNIMdzafkM-lrxlwfLPI5vFbmTYc74JGm75pzy_Vum1UkSQXf9Op_KAmJKqRZZff_vI7EuU/s1600-h/IMG_9505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzwcCDmgRUhwZAd4BaQFUzmrPOuF4Fi3fcDtWrjiAZ6uSoyDKL4-RRIurx__D7o1N0pvspNIMdzafkM-lrxlwfLPI5vFbmTYc74JGm75pzy_Vum1UkSQXf9Op_KAmJKqRZZff_vI7EuU/s400/IMG_9505.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slushies are refreshingly delicious in a cup, but a complete (inedible) slippery pain when I'm late for class...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifUeEFRZcW5-TYT7kqBKm6u_CE_fuF2payBCY88b3klvN9L7VWKQ-gjBJBHxD456Kmh0dCqtP1OeGTgoNkQxq5yzxCtX9dThacpDwbGJwrdxRJdglnsWNXClmROxocvH5dz-VZ1MFfcw/s1600-h/IMG_9494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifUeEFRZcW5-TYT7kqBKm6u_CE_fuF2payBCY88b3klvN9L7VWKQ-gjBJBHxD456Kmh0dCqtP1OeGTgoNkQxq5yzxCtX9dThacpDwbGJwrdxRJdglnsWNXClmROxocvH5dz-VZ1MFfcw/s400/IMG_9494.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">...And I wonder why school wasn't closed on Thursday.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRfVFLeHaUO27rub2k7Yu63mnIv6kkMKVsItnfbGqBq4OwURR44N02iOpT9vtBZryZffKd03fqspsNVT6tVrR2StawenniZsoCwbFH-xSzSrDQbD5JxOABAKO41YPO95BB82q1y-U1LY/s1600-h/IMG_9581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRfVFLeHaUO27rub2k7Yu63mnIv6kkMKVsItnfbGqBq4OwURR44N02iOpT9vtBZryZffKd03fqspsNVT6tVrR2StawenniZsoCwbFH-xSzSrDQbD5JxOABAKO41YPO95BB82q1y-U1LY/s400/IMG_9581.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKwRLDIZFewUeiqgGERbU13JrG4tJszHjO63eMc4n6aoHUDqqgsq9TpL6QlV21zRsQ5a_T7zL17pIUZyGpS3LB4H69co2DFdpchj4KOiq5XhL0ya3NC-dbEKHVLa1_H95VD4jmrOndeo/s1600-h/IMG_9491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKwRLDIZFewUeiqgGERbU13JrG4tJszHjO63eMc4n6aoHUDqqgsq9TpL6QlV21zRsQ5a_T7zL17pIUZyGpS3LB4H69co2DFdpchj4KOiq5XhL0ya3NC-dbEKHVLa1_H95VD4jmrOndeo/s400/IMG_9491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Alright, regular blog entry resumed.<br /><br />Last night, after yet another stay-in <i>(i.e. let-us-shun-the-snowstorm)</i> weekend feast - which I am about to share in a moment's time - I was flipping through the last blog entry I had written the day before flying back to school for the Spring term, and it was me sharing about some delicious <a href="http://smittenbysugar.blogspot.com/2010/01/sweet-summer-ending.html">miniature raisin-studded cream scones and homemade blueberry jam</a> I had made for Aunt Rosalind's birthday...<br /><br />...And I can't believe almost half the semester has gone by already! I remember dreading that departure day <i>so</i> badly thinking that it was going to be <i>"the same crap, different semester." </i>I was dreadfully homesick the first week of school, living in the absence of my family, my highly entertaining cable TV, the warm tropical sunshine, Singapore's fantastic fare of local food, and of course, <b>baking</b>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>But as much as I whine, sulk and moan the whole way through the departure terminal, I eventually find myself always having the wildest and most enjoyable time - and it just keeps getting better and bolder every semester. This final one, however, seems to be a tad bit more <i>extraordinary </i>than the previous three. And in all honesty, I would have to attribute that to baking. Despite living amidst the unearthly snow storms and arduous college workload, spending some alone time in the kitchen creating sweet treats is somehow my form of escapism. In some unexplainable way, I find it immensely soothing just completely immersing myself in the activity at hand, be it simply swirling a bowl of stunningly sweet cake batter, melting a pool of buttery dark chocolate, or watching plush cupcakes swell into beautiful airy mounds... <i>Mm</i><i>mm, </i><i>definitely easy on the eyes...</i><br /><br />I think the $6 whisk I bought at Wegmans last week was hands down the most satisfying purchase I made thus far. The first dessert I used it to prepare was a delightful tray of cheesecake-marbled brownies for the Sangria & Asian Tapas house party we threw on Friday night. I had a sudden urge to bake the night before during the witching hour, and while my housemates were fast asleep, I was floating around the kitchen turing ordinary cocoa batter into an intense chocolatey glory.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoJK58Hk6r3IHRzdGN4ZNaMhNp_0o5JtpaI2ZEaIdEq0dtH4ZmSq-UbSI7qVa8xleg4uLLwQPSFZYYtotk1Tu1f0lPhxnu6YHNWvv7H289jiF5E6h3XEK7ziwGtUa1mKXZ_dIuc0W0Ik/s1600-h/IMG_9537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoJK58Hk6r3IHRzdGN4ZNaMhNp_0o5JtpaI2ZEaIdEq0dtH4ZmSq-UbSI7qVa8xleg4uLLwQPSFZYYtotk1Tu1f0lPhxnu6YHNWvv7H289jiF5E6h3XEK7ziwGtUa1mKXZ_dIuc0W0Ik/s400/IMG_9537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I swirled some cream cheese filling in and around the thick cocoa-laden liquid, and dotted it with some semisweet chocolate morsels I had remaining since I last made a batch of those <a href="http://smittenbysugar.blogspot.com/2010/02/fancying-cupcakes-with-your-glass-of.html">banana cranberry cupcakes</a>. Tossed the tray into the oven...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y0mYFxcSQFNO5o_QsgkT1C2O42xMP-KibvcguJNV_4OtQo9i8wYnaUoa3UlBgDRFINCqS1lPRVoC05CxTBiLG9NfbfLXO-6AW6fJXDgw8eouYJ5uRwDya_tjm4kBp3FET-r3P7c0Nnw/s1600-h/IMG_9562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y0mYFxcSQFNO5o_QsgkT1C2O42xMP-KibvcguJNV_4OtQo9i8wYnaUoa3UlBgDRFINCqS1lPRVoC05CxTBiLG9NfbfLXO-6AW6fJXDgw8eouYJ5uRwDya_tjm4kBp3FET-r3P7c0Nnw/s400/IMG_9562.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...<i>Viola!</i> A gorgeous batch of fudgy and creamy marbled squares that did turn out to be a hit with the party crowd. Not one was spared for weekend leftovers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f7e08Of7hjAGyYk9EPb77bYauukeMaMi_tlH_x8fZwGkVRzWyIdqcVd1gq2q_otasZUGe2Kf_Jieh-VzhZGPAy8XA3VA1gXyCUgOBGPyA3BNHKaR-wCG_buT_ngHjGACzCeKhaQweEM/s1600-h/IMG_9561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f7e08Of7hjAGyYk9EPb77bYauukeMaMi_tlH_x8fZwGkVRzWyIdqcVd1gq2q_otasZUGe2Kf_Jieh-VzhZGPAy8XA3VA1gXyCUgOBGPyA3BNHKaR-wCG_buT_ngHjGACzCeKhaQweEM/s400/IMG_9561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CHEESECAKE-MARBLED BROWNIES</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Gourmet Magazine, June 2007 </i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Ingredients:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">For brownie batter-<br /><ul><li>1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces</li><li>2 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped</li><li>1 cup sugar</li><li>2 large eggs</li><li>1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</li><li>2/3 cup all-purpose flour</li></ul>For cheesecake batter-<br /><ul><li>8 ounces cream cheese, well softened</li><li>1/3 cup sugar</li><li>1 large egg yolk</li><li>1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Directions:</span></b><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Make brownie batter-<br /><ol><li>Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan.</li><li>Heat butter and chocolate in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, whisking occasionally, just until melted. Remove from heat and whisk in sugar, eggs, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until well combined. Whisk in flour until just combined and spread in baking pan.</li></ol>Make cheesecake batter and bake brownies-<br /><ol><li>Whisk together cheesecake batter ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Dollop over brownie batter, then swirl in with a knife or spatula.</li><li>Bake until edges are slightly puffed and center is just set, about 35 minutes.</li><li>Serve warm or at room temperature.</li></ol></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8nx607zTmXc_7LclbnMqkf45wEAcsScZtKcvktQbyCqhPEtm3rQi65iER6Tbd1u5KEQE-0hIOoIkPDqTQ8wyOoVokRWw0WiMTIKZo4mKQtnHBR4tKyWiI-9i3fj9riK98FUhPdkaIR0/s1600-h/IMG_9568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8nx607zTmXc_7LclbnMqkf45wEAcsScZtKcvktQbyCqhPEtm3rQi65iER6Tbd1u5KEQE-0hIOoIkPDqTQ8wyOoVokRWw0WiMTIKZo4mKQtnHBR4tKyWiI-9i3fj9riK98FUhPdkaIR0/s400/IMG_9568.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>So Friday went and Saturday came, and Ananth had prepared a Southern Indian feast for the six of us (my housemates, Ming and Yong Kai). The menu comprised of homemade <i>naan</i>, <i>raita,</i> <i>murgh makhani</i>, <i>masala masoor</i>, and basmati rice. I have to admit that it was a rather lip-smacking meal indeed. We paired dinner with a couple of bottles of Vinho Verde and Riesling - an <i>almost</i> perfect match. I decided to whip up a simple dessert to put a sweet ending to the weekend feast, and since Ananth made a special request <i>not</i> to have anything too heavy or chocolatey, I decided that my Peach-Pineapple Upside Down Cake (a la mode) would do the magic.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZLgbwgn09YbxYssG2zkSzIE4k37ZE-XVRBykAMHWUfahY43Uhyphenhypheno__R0l_djut9oZjxHXTYZ1zdkzzIjkksdhyphenhyphenWJzd5QCygDnGHwE0buRRubG8KYVd2V3jw2qY1audBq5Ti1VEqewcjI/s1600-h/IMG_9606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZLgbwgn09YbxYssG2zkSzIE4k37ZE-XVRBykAMHWUfahY43Uhyphenhypheno__R0l_djut9oZjxHXTYZ1zdkzzIjkksdhyphenhyphenWJzd5QCygDnGHwE0buRRubG8KYVd2V3jw2qY1audBq5Ti1VEqewcjI/s400/IMG_9606.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And boy was it <i>magical</i>. The baked fruit came out perfectly caramelized - sweet, toasty and tangy all in a single bite - and the cake was fluffy and light, and yet <i>so </i>moist... It was hard controlling ourselves from wiping out the entire plate.</div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkSapf7-sSOHzl7wcF4xlc1yrF-fYVKRMSbYcwdd4YmVxtJQo2wXNo8n3wGHYR3f6NZofgaV0PakA103ofFU22qVI1C-jcQNb3mhjaweHaQY8W52C_lLSQ2CdAshr3DGFwYOA_gCIEEI/s1600-h/IMG_9614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkSapf7-sSOHzl7wcF4xlc1yrF-fYVKRMSbYcwdd4YmVxtJQo2wXNo8n3wGHYR3f6NZofgaV0PakA103ofFU22qVI1C-jcQNb3mhjaweHaQY8W52C_lLSQ2CdAshr3DGFwYOA_gCIEEI/s400/IMG_9614.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Alas! </i>We all gave into temptation - and that includes Shihao, who firmly insisted initially that he wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing. (Tsk, he finished it faster than I did.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that's all folks, to this <i>yum-</i>mazing weekend that I was spoiled with food. This definitely calls for a run at the gym.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What's Bakin' Next?</b> Nanaimo Brownie Bars for my HSI finale event, Hotelies Sharing Information, March 2nd at 4:30pm, SR445. <i>And</i><i> o</i><i>f course, you're certainly invited!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-53240714402616978052010-02-26T15:43:00.029+08:002010-02-26T18:33:08.019+08:00The Week I Was Spoiled With Food (Part I)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fNnBBaLDqq848Wd3pWQiALsrN-FYOMwAxSf67tJ5EQNkQA-WKXhaizquogOoyU1gq-uQDMKELNrAFYA8eF_7FkZreHypxaliwJFqQu53OkM-pLxoE60t1VrawKpBmBGRh8GQzEw41k8/s1600-h/johnmayer+-+28.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><u>Indulgence</u> is definitely <i>the</i> theme for this week.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So it all started on Saturday with a cosy dinner for five. I've been having a recent odd craving for salmon, so I persuaded my friends to stay in on a Saturday evening to whip up a satisfying meal of our own.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>On Our Stay-In Saturday Night Menu</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><b>~ Caprese Salad ~</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#741b47;">Thyme-Infused Roasted Cherry Tomatoes </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#741b47;">Buffalo Mozzarella</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-style: normal;color:#0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442465912506103442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzvKb7xdvevLdOiLrzHweAZ_5WnMwSOlFodWTbSyEfMql8vrwYg0QzSqdylB4ZQoH4TJOtTXQpZUAMfqNdlrQw77_7q_6u-YqnP7yz_U8nB8v8nNIkTW1qnQayCOr6KeKRaRuLhBniNY/s400/johnmayer+-+14.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;">- Whole Filet of Salmon -</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#741b47;">Roasted Asparagus</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#741b47;">Dill-Butter Sauce</span></i></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4zo9cqg-F0NjlNv_1qvT0KFZzepx7HFLq_frU3PvfJ0D8PQiy88nEh788Yr4OnFZhTYGDL-C6u9kFyolLE9oW42ghxG4rTwo1TIjvDTALq9c7jkMTTDc4gWMk82DdER7mfKW-2X6j_Y/s1600-h/johnmayer+-+17.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442464794110572306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4zo9cqg-F0NjlNv_1qvT0KFZzepx7HFLq_frU3PvfJ0D8PQiy88nEh788Yr4OnFZhTYGDL-C6u9kFyolLE9oW42ghxG4rTwo1TIjvDTALq9c7jkMTTDc4gWMk82DdER7mfKW-2X6j_Y/s400/johnmayer+-+17.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;">~ Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables ~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><i>Garlic & Rosemary Butter</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><i>Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash, Fingerling Potatoes</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCmn2GOphe_1Ys2TqwjeseZF95-MG2okQWu5HPSMHQU9sJKLjaBYYo1wizp4wHOnBet8twR5Ugw2iomYD_W5VRw_VPzU3eFIf0vMQwWCt3eogSHDq5baXhoVOkEqrZqK44MhOhw1DeY4/s1600-h/johnmayer+-+24.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442465901964406562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCmn2GOphe_1Ys2TqwjeseZF95-MG2okQWu5HPSMHQU9sJKLjaBYYo1wizp4wHOnBet8twR5Ugw2iomYD_W5VRw_VPzU3eFIf0vMQwWCt3eogSHDq5baXhoVOkEqrZqK44MhOhw1DeY4/s400/johnmayer+-+24.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;">~ Cheese, Fruit & Nut Platter ~</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><i>Gruyere Cheese</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><i>Fresh Fruit</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><i>Ghirardelli Chocolate</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fNnBBaLDqq848Wd3pWQiALsrN-FYOMwAxSf67tJ5EQNkQA-WKXhaizquogOoyU1gq-uQDMKELNrAFYA8eF_7FkZreHypxaliwJFqQu53OkM-pLxoE60t1VrawKpBmBGRh8GQzEw41k8/s1600-h/johnmayer+-+28.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442466355246071266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fNnBBaLDqq848Wd3pWQiALsrN-FYOMwAxSf67tJ5EQNkQA-WKXhaizquogOoyU1gq-uQDMKELNrAFYA8eF_7FkZreHypxaliwJFqQu53OkM-pLxoE60t1VrawKpBmBGRh8GQzEw41k8/s400/johnmayer+-+28.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Oh by the way, we ended it with some chocolate brownies too.<br />Talk about being <i>stuffed</i>. And this is just the beginning.<br /><br />Sunday was sublime. We drove to Philadelphia to watch John Mayer live.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSucObvPTVHm1EmDB_zdayBzn06i71-yxUNz5pL4AOWQT9fKTVPhyphenhyphenL2yapXFCJ1TZbaEO_VH2U3wLo52-ffAl56wcLbXWcJRrLgsohyXNVdBPRpv-1Ps4tk8nlNcaMqSDQjJUnxrH9eTM/s1600-h/johnmayer+-+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSucObvPTVHm1EmDB_zdayBzn06i71-yxUNz5pL4AOWQT9fKTVPhyphenhyphenL2yapXFCJ1TZbaEO_VH2U3wLo52-ffAl56wcLbXWcJRrLgsohyXNVdBPRpv-1Ps4tk8nlNcaMqSDQjJUnxrH9eTM/s400/johnmayer+-+103.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Definitely worth the 4-hour drive there <i>and back</i> (and arriving home only on Monday morning at 430am). Love his guitar skills, love his guitars, love him. I told my Dad about it, and he basically thinks John Mayer is the younger version of Eric Clapton. <i>Yea-ah</i>, Agreed. By the way, I totally took my hat of to Ethel who had class at 8:40 that morning (!!)<br /><br />So moving on, the new week greeted me with a sumptuous 4-course dinner at the all new <i>Taste of Thai Express</i><i>.</i> We had a pleasant visit from the people in the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU), who flew over 10,000 miles across the Atlantic ocean and brought along with them none other than the highly entertaining Guest-of-Honor Hossan Leong - all in the name of building stronger bonds with Singaporean communities abroad. The event definitely exceeded my expectations (honestly, they weren't <i>that</i> high to begin with). I thoroughly enjoyed the food; I had fried ice-cream for dessert! Finally, a dish that reminds me of happy days back home. It wasn't outstanding, I have to admit, and nothing close to the real McCoy - fried durian ice-cream at the <i><a href="http://www.newmajestichotel.com/">New Majestic Restaurant</a>, </i>a definite<i> "</i><i>die-die-must-try!" </i>on any foodie's list.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503061766@N01/107995444" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442463049834593298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfjdOr_VAP3_2IOOaxG0ubepFQFaOtaQ1M96I8zmSvqxdrbUvCTXNdV5dG2iz98PV3RCHKfkQv6po0hftYP8FZi7F9MCRY6bVg4hXTjmhUKamPecryFD_SEzyf_VfM7xgqJm51etxx48/s400/107995444_115d7faeb6.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" width="300" /></a>I ended up having a fantastic conversation with Avinash, Ming and one of the OSU representatives: From National Service and un-men armies... to immigration laws and the possibility of raking up dual citizenships - <i>Certainly no</i><i>t in the near future, I must say.</i><br /><br /><div>Wednesday was Ling's 21st, and I baked birthday cupcakes - a choice of vanilla or chocolate! Blanketed those babies with some freshly whipped frosting, and topped off with a marshmallow and Ferrero Rocher for some added sweetness.<br /><div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPafv-8yP555riggNkdXR7hKiwgRCNOV2sDl7acyD2kB5rR3PcRO-ShEdpDceGcj4RwjiKhpJrbwbWi2qdEfZbQopSZCHXHmqGM4KnR3KIc0_e9ExDAdgddyw5-10YTKiEqd7VeaIqapM/s1600-h/IMG_9484.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442456638923288082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPafv-8yP555riggNkdXR7hKiwgRCNOV2sDl7acyD2kB5rR3PcRO-ShEdpDceGcj4RwjiKhpJrbwbWi2qdEfZbQopSZCHXHmqGM4KnR3KIc0_e9ExDAdgddyw5-10YTKiEqd7VeaIqapM/s400/IMG_9484.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="400" /></a>Though everyone enjoyed them, I thought the chocolate cupcakes could have been a tad bit more chocolatey. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Lesson Learnt:</span><i> Stop being lazy and melt real chocolate!</i> I thought I could get away with an easy recipe that only called for cocoa powder to give it that chocolatey flavor...</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTg3PoYgpOQ5B9X5kakBUNoL0y2PQZD8RnCUtWPZvEYtRFBWJjPvFTvsuRwAER-ixBojPbCJr7jSzV0l3Y4evTYlA5iQe0duPleZ4TXybDUEA3pgOd3NJXULmPbV01l7zy0v5ooCxaA4/s1600-h/IMG_9489.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442456218528715394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTg3PoYgpOQ5B9X5kakBUNoL0y2PQZD8RnCUtWPZvEYtRFBWJjPvFTvsuRwAER-ixBojPbCJr7jSzV0l3Y4evTYlA5iQe0duPleZ4TXybDUEA3pgOd3NJXULmPbV01l7zy0v5ooCxaA4/s640/IMG_9489.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" width="480" /></a><br />...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Verdict:</span> Nothing beats <i>real chocolate</i> chocolate cupcakes.<br /><br />And as for tonight's gourmandizing episode, I was spoiled by a fabulous food and wine dinner pairing by the Johnson School Wine Club. A decadent 6-course meal accompanied with fine wines from Castello Banfi. <i>The B</i><i>est</i> pairing of the night?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><b>Dark Chocolate Tart</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#741b47;">Strawberries, Aceto Balsamico di Modena</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#741b47;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">accompanied with</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal;color:#4c1130;"><b>Rosa Regale</b></span></i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0B6n5L_Tu35ErjPx2ox8Z73Uvoxf51KYUt18Qz-u6xCV1XcSn0928-D8qHtsChH2Ky1j0-p4pz5asv3fE5EGMHIccwMXFrEK8jO_a-zMQQ5jqltm5KKMhB-0B4_3UvGQroDVlUkXT0U/s1600-h/IMG_9525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0B6n5L_Tu35ErjPx2ox8Z73Uvoxf51KYUt18Qz-u6xCV1XcSn0928-D8qHtsChH2Ky1j0-p4pz5asv3fE5EGMHIccwMXFrEK8jO_a-zMQQ5jqltm5KKMhB-0B4_3UvGQroDVlUkXT0U/s320/IMG_9525.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit3mijkFRoY5udJgvcF1zTi0TG3fdS1ecASFPY_jaOG6SWJ97xK3tmFF_IE8nQJgDZPH3_sTRT_gvmu7VF-L3MN_5K3dKqCpVCyS3_zLtiR3_B4-jrwcEThYzwSV-vFPYh2dtlvdD4hs/s1600-h/1030528x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit3mijkFRoY5udJgvcF1zTi0TG3fdS1ecASFPY_jaOG6SWJ97xK3tmFF_IE8nQJgDZPH3_sTRT_gvmu7VF-L3MN_5K3dKqCpVCyS3_zLtiR3_B4-jrwcEThYzwSV-vFPYh2dtlvdD4hs/s200/1030528x.jpg" width="83" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#4c1130;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The<b> B.E.S.T. </b><i>Ever</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div></div></div></div></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-83860716234315213972010-02-21T03:02:00.010+08:002010-02-21T03:46:25.491+08:00Breakfast In a Cup<div style="text-align: left;">So last night Shihao and I had ambitious plans to wake up at eight this morning to enjoy a bit of a weekend breakfast before heading for our first pottery class at 10am.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I <i>did </i>wake up this morning. To my Dad calling me on my cell phone. At 1130am.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Darn it again.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>And why wouldn't I be surprised that my dear roommate slept past his part of the commitment too..? After all, he stayed up till the wee hours playing <i>Defense of the Ancients </i>(while I devoured food blog after food blog - you won't believe how many amazing foodie writers there are online!)<i>. </i>And our sumptuous Japanese feast at <i>Plum Tree</i> earlier that evening didn't help alleviate the snooze factor either. And here's a glimpse of what we relished in...</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkZehJRhJYVFI5ve2WHKw87YEnEimQpRJAL5J0cdIeqyPT8EseX0hKCoZZ6T8jDTbeDNa4hW_4Oiv7_0ECfZmdjKYj9Nku9uR1ggLzIFpjKMWRIYQIXVphL0xhD7GeJHFcni7fzAUEDc/s400/IMG_9309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440405377227811826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxnEvKhNXuOHc-zhzuc8nIBXhFh_HkqHN46GQoquw-EAE5yWVtnl5qf2gzUVm2GuYAzdExVsN-xTeIogDyo-ySSVZ8DrLzoMBU1GAP-7ZBB2mayHgpOuhn8ks5IeEUuqQo0Vmp1xfMAA/s1600-h/IMG_9310.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxnEvKhNXuOHc-zhzuc8nIBXhFh_HkqHN46GQoquw-EAE5yWVtnl5qf2gzUVm2GuYAzdExVsN-xTeIogDyo-ySSVZ8DrLzoMBU1GAP-7ZBB2mayHgpOuhn8ks5IeEUuqQo0Vmp1xfMAA/s400/IMG_9310.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440405385623998034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>So yes, we both missed our little American breakfast <i>and </i>pottery class lesson we were so keen on attending: He wants to make a coffee mug for his dad, and I intend to mould a pie dish for myself. As such, I ended up whipping up a batch of Maple Cupcakes to bring a bit of that relaxing weekend spirit to make up for the breakfast we never had.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzutDzX52RQxGmRHAN3cmoxuGHxjBKQ4SkMSF2Vpg9G9P4zoBkUhIAg5CHEjbJPEC1oEXflZoqkKiE5IiH1G7RCicVPsrFLs0TL1aQmpyGakWev08TsR4eg2qznLMna5fafoV8nKKZ1I/s1600-h/IMG_9312.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzutDzX52RQxGmRHAN3cmoxuGHxjBKQ4SkMSF2Vpg9G9P4zoBkUhIAg5CHEjbJPEC1oEXflZoqkKiE5IiH1G7RCicVPsrFLs0TL1aQmpyGakWev08TsR4eg2qznLMna5fafoV8nKKZ1I/s400/IMG_9312.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440406503078817250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">They came out paler than I expected - but I guess that's where the maple glaze comes in (though I did add some maple syrup to the batter as well). And I actually think the pale quality does give those fluffy sponges a seemingly feminine beauty, especially against the pastel-colored cupcake holders. I gave some to Jacqueline, my dear neighbor living below me, who greeted me blearily in her PJs. And the UPS delivery guy came with Shihao's order of wines (a whole crate!), which thoroughly made our day - so I gave Mr. UPS-guy a cake as well. And I think that little breakfast in a cup<i> </i>made <i>his </i>day too.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5Ndy6oZcAKlKAgCaZQsTdB01fQb6LbrVWs3U1UvKrpxTKDGghPBmRxnfIX4vijwiVPDxXfh9iBlDe7_0mgXZe8lIanASKqgNzMFHTCX-jXPmmZCU_91qVfoU8dIfNNTA_NQ2_Dv6B1Y/s400/IMG_9325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440406511051174994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The rest would probably go Philicia, Deb and Dave, who are coming over later. We're all heading to Ithaca's Chili Cookout Fest (yay!), then Wegmans after to grab some fresh ingredients to whip up a cosy dinner for five. P.S. - I'm craving for a poached salmon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sweet, sweet weekend people!</div></div><div> </div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-69437594685662810832010-02-18T14:35:00.026+08:002010-02-19T15:14:29.672+08:00A Banana Bread Story: An Ode To The Good Life... Yet AgainI stepped into the kitchen this morning to find a bunch of brown-spotted (clearly overripe) bananas sitting on the sill - <i>Hmm, </i><i>they definitely weren't there five minutes ago. </i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Shihao (one of my two most awesome college roommates) responded, "I brought it out. They're too ripe, so let's turn them into banana bread tonight." </span></i><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I just </span>adore<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> this <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Banana-Bread/Detail.aspx">Banana Banana Bread</a> recipe from Shelly Albeluhn. It's superbly popular simply because it's effortless, and it works. Needless to say, we threw in some semi-sweet chocolate morsels since as we all know, chocolate and bananas are definitely </span><span class="Apple-style-span">best buds</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">.</span></i><br />
<blockquote><b>BANANA BANANA BREAD </b></blockquote><blockquote><i>Shelly Albeluhn, allrecipes.com</i></blockquote><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Ingredients:</span></b></blockquote><blockquote><ul><li>2 cups all-purpose flour</li>
<li>1 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li>1/4 teaspoon salt</li>
<li>1/2 cup butter</li>
<li>3/4 cup brown sugar</li>
<li>2 eggs, beaten</li>
<li>2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas</li>
<li>1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)</li>
</ul></blockquote><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Directions:</span></b></blockquote><blockquote><ol><li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.</li>
<li>In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.</li>
<li>In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended.</li>
<li>Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.</li>
<li>Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.</li>
</ol></blockquote><i></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8QKbTdNLoSpZXoTEBNtE-ok1zlDkHW5Mh17epe2CloM6W04FByT8zHBo9IpwQaJTx9ZhP8eQUlWyiQ_qnewHQHPyYhncUZ-AFWcQMQlQlAz17xxNh7xayf7x7Ka_JrdJBwkzkVn0mOk/s1600-h/bananabread+-+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8QKbTdNLoSpZXoTEBNtE-ok1zlDkHW5Mh17epe2CloM6W04FByT8zHBo9IpwQaJTx9ZhP8eQUlWyiQ_qnewHQHPyYhncUZ-AFWcQMQlQlAz17xxNh7xayf7x7Ka_JrdJBwkzkVn0mOk/s400/bananabread+-+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Before hitting the oven...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSHRNtWeQJ2nORXm9vXS5m5UJQSlBR-HExMiwqxsNCzj3c3nm-mzIKH5wjWRRzFQjE86sXxYC8nyQh5hol3_CFh44xN1eeI5NTaatol5W2e_s7wHGDTBBcOFfktV2ZrLZKGz_qXGYsGI/s1600-h/bananabread+-+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSHRNtWeQJ2nORXm9vXS5m5UJQSlBR-HExMiwqxsNCzj3c3nm-mzIKH5wjWRRzFQjE86sXxYC8nyQh5hol3_CFh44xN1eeI5NTaatol5W2e_s7wHGDTBBcOFfktV2ZrLZKGz_qXGYsGI/s400/bananabread+-+23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh. How. Glorious.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And that's basically one thing I love about baking: Converting overly ripe fruits into a sweetened pastry dessert (compotes, crumbles, muffins, jams... the list goes on). I mean, who would <i>ever</i> complain about a moist, dense, and freshly-baked loaf of bread filled with intense, fruity sweetness? <i>Nope, I know I wouldn't. </i></div><div><br />
</div><div><i></i>This actually reminds me of how I was desperately craving for salad over lunch today. I <i>never</i> understood how people living in this country could <i>ever </i>'grab' a mealtime salad on a borderline daily basis and feel satisfied with it. But contrary to (my) popular belief, the Americans actually <i>do </i>do salads outstandingly well. With the surprisingly endless array of toppings you can dress your leafy greens with - ranging from beets, asparagus tips and bulgar wheat, to cranberries, peaches and pineapples - I genuinely <i>do</i> look forward to eating my veggies... Well, I <i>suppose</i> when you're living in the absence of 24-hour k<i>opitiams</i> that whip up a whole spectrum of hawker fare to taunt your tastebuds, those salads of yours <i>better</i> taste pretty damn decent. Overripe bananas to banana bread, and boring leaves to fancy salads - as Daddy always say: "It's all about making the best with what you have."</div><div><i></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Interesting Fact of The Day</span>: </div><div>Coincidentally enough, my housemates and I were actually baking the <i>same</i> bread the <i>same </i>night one year ago while booking our Spring break trip to Vegas. And presently as I speak - or type - we just booked our 7-night Carnival cruise around the Caribbean. Departing from Miami, Florida this March (<i>oh yeah!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, and<i> </i>the ports of call? Half Moon Cay Bahamas, Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk Island. And to add a crimson cherry on top of an already all-star vacation, we're spending a night in Miami before setting sail.<i> Yea-ah, tell me about it...!</i></span></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6frHOblUU1KhCfkVGZnJsIdaCaGGFJv9zj1IimiLkU-IKN8bLDkOKofpK_3t-8tmnzCbvJyRTcN2VmiRkEJwWDV9JRj0aTUzVlFENDrzpl_6kraDRzzEnuKQt0i5rF7ZinEL3j32TonQ/s1600-h/bananabread+-+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6frHOblUU1KhCfkVGZnJsIdaCaGGFJv9zj1IimiLkU-IKN8bLDkOKofpK_3t-8tmnzCbvJyRTcN2VmiRkEJwWDV9JRj0aTUzVlFENDrzpl_6kraDRzzEnuKQt0i5rF7ZinEL3j32TonQ/s400/bananabread+-+25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So it's ode to the good life, once again, with a little slice of delish Banana Banana Bread, and a satisfying <i>chomp!</i> to yet another spectacular, fun-in-the-sun sojourn. I promise postcards from the Caribbean when I get there! <i>XOXO!</i></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-32390088791421812682010-02-14T13:38:00.025+08:002010-02-19T15:20:01.655+08:00Fancying Cupcakes With Your Glass of Chianti?<div>This evening was our first wine tasting session of the semester, and so, I decided to whip up some of Nigella's banana, cranberry and chocolate chip cupcakes to usher in this final 6 months of spring in Ithaca. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, then again, you can just say it's just an excuse for me to satisfy my <i>cuisson</i> cravings. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nonetheless, the crimson-studded medallions came out rather decent and were a hit with my friends at the wine session. I was initially worried that they would be inedible just because the oven in my apartment didn't seem to be working as efficiently as I hope it would. The original recipe called for a baking time of 20 minutes (till amber golden and springy on the top) at a moderate 350-degree oven, but it took more than <i>double</i> the time to get these miniature sweet sponges to the required texture.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLGgdyTYrt00ulm2CxCE-4RWLJnCIQ8ODA5DI6msTXx8lg1rVhsCB0nWZupHtr1TWQLC5vRqM5UfuJnFAkZpBLRNWA3-4jEajSL9vD4SUvU-b4VK6NO5HdW9iG7I_8MOFQkjZoXdivJY/s1600-h/IMG_9250.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437969867126596146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLGgdyTYrt00ulm2CxCE-4RWLJnCIQ8ODA5DI6msTXx8lg1rVhsCB0nWZupHtr1TWQLC5vRqM5UfuJnFAkZpBLRNWA3-4jEajSL9vD4SUvU-b4VK6NO5HdW9iG7I_8MOFQkjZoXdivJY/s400/IMG_9250.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2elWwsBzdkCtcL4eUXZbeHo6uqNENGaKS7c_-nXiolOZoLAnxer53sMxPW6d7OWtqAtL5NgnOTD4vdAdof6_GhqfAWovc1Umy6cWgnHW_TvpKnc8wZRgxO8chsRcFkrjAfeY1ust9bxQ/s1600-h/IMG_9249.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="text-decoration: none;"></a><br /><div>Faulty ovens aside, what I love so much about this cupcake recipe is the fact that I can do it without the use of a mixer - which is awesome since I don't own one in my college apartment. I<i> know - a definite pâtisserie sacrilege!</i> But on the bright side, it brings challenge and sparks creativity in my recipe searching sessions - plus, I'm graduating in 3 months time, so I deem it to be a slightly unworthy investment that I believe I can live without for the time being. <i>Alright</i><i>, let's move on to the recipe.</i></div><div><i><br /></i><div><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span">BANANA, CHERRY & WHITE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES</span></b></blockquote><blockquote><i>Nigella Lawson, How To Be A Domestic Goddess</i></blockquote><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Ingredients:</span></b> </blockquote><blockquote><ul><li>1/2 cup unsalted butter</li><li>3/4 cup sugar</li><li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li><li>3 ripe bananas</li><li>4 tablespoons sour cream</li><li>2 large eggs</li><li>1 teaspoon baking soda</li><li>1/2 teaspoon baking powder</li><li>2 cups all-purpose flour</li><li>3 tablespoons dried cherries, chopped</li><li>2 ounces white chocolate, chopped, or chips</li><li>12-cup muffin pan with paper baking cups</li></ul></blockquote><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The Directions: </span></b></blockquote><blockquote><ol><li>Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.</li><li>Melt the butter in a saucepan, then, off the heat, add the sugar, vanilla, and soft bananas, mashing them with a fork in the pan.</li><li>Stir in the sour cream and the eggs and - still using your fork or a wooden spoon if you prefer - beat to mix. Add the baking soda and the baking powder, and stir in as well, then finally stir in the flour, cherries, and chocolate.</li><li>When the mixture's just blended, divide among the 12 muffin cups and cook for 20 minutes or until golden and springy on top.</li><li>Remove the cupcakes in their paper cups to a wire rack and leave till cool.</li></ol></blockquote></div><div>Max actually recommended that I throw in some walnuts or pecans into the batter, and I actually think he's right on that. Those fruity-chocolatey sponges are actually good the way they are, but embellishing it with some nutty crunchiness may just boost its sugar ratings up a notch.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>I thoroughly enjoyed my intimate wine evening - it's just so wonderful to immerse myself amongst fabulously talented people who are undeniably passionate about food and wine. I'm making a resolution to whip up sugary treats for our future wine sessions - a perfect excuse for me to satisfy my whimsical confectionary wishes and temporarily neglect that never-ending pile of assignments due the following week... </div></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-55399117724502454112010-02-10T23:59:00.009+08:002010-02-17T13:49:40.183+08:00It's My Birthday & I'll Bake If I Want To!<br>I'm actually a year older now. Wow. Time <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> fly.<br /><br />After pampering my stomach with a carbo-laden dinner and polishing off almost the entire bottle of red, I'm not exactly in the right state of mind to present a comprehensive entry on my birthday festivities. Nonetheless, I thought I <span style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to post something on this special day just so that it'll go into my blog archive. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, go ahead - roll your eyes</span>)<br /><br />So it all started with a lovely surprise by my most awesome housemates and bestest Cornell buddies ever - Miss Malika and Swati - who all simply barged into my bedroom past midnight with a video camera, a titanic Triple Chocolate Cake (credits to Cornell Dining), and an a cappella performance to the tune of 'Happy Birthday'. There I was, lying on my bed chatting with Matt on my cell phone in pitch black darkness, dressed to kill my most *<span style="font-style: italic;">ahem</span>* (<span style="font-style: italic;">un</span>)fashionable PJs ever, and hair tangled in the fanciest knots imaginable.<br /><br />I was <span style="font-style: italic;">shocked</span>.<br /><br />And to make things worst - It was <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> caught on tape. So much for blackmail, huh.<br /><br />But of course, I was thoroughly happy with the intrusion. We ended up enjoying a bit of that gorgeous chocolate cake - which explains why it looks so much like a Pac Man when I took the picture of it - and almost finished up the bottle of sparkling left over from the previous wine night we had. I'm actually impressed at the quality of cakes supplied by Cornell Dining. It was amazingly rich and dense, but not cloyingly sweet, which made it <span style="font-style: italic;">such</span> a delectable midnight treat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYb_L3JAldR9Qh5luC7jzdTjsRU7pXufyP6bcfrA_69UR7rk7H8Y-P0F81ASALSOVNG7o7PTBNNOJ4lG8IMOqJ8Zhq_qjK62VfzB_VGp-swSeV4JagumhLb7c_X5Q0PxPDbBsBczUNX8/s1600-h/My+23rd+Birthday+-+21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYb_L3JAldR9Qh5luC7jzdTjsRU7pXufyP6bcfrA_69UR7rk7H8Y-P0F81ASALSOVNG7o7PTBNNOJ4lG8IMOqJ8Zhq_qjK62VfzB_VGp-swSeV4JagumhLb7c_X5Q0PxPDbBsBczUNX8/s400/My+23rd+Birthday+-+21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436856795179685842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej_8K0XbrkSwBEB3dmgQ1Pt5wTbaVKceJnGbVOl1bgIoeni7Hn8SeI4ffsSZHKDQNSo3wLT-qvBlsPMBWCw2fWiNJtztIzZaMhN7sbTY7DdYkPZ4QnoIQlXbCWy5-bwOCOWOf6tphotE/s1600-h/My+23rd+Birthday+-+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej_8K0XbrkSwBEB3dmgQ1Pt5wTbaVKceJnGbVOl1bgIoeni7Hn8SeI4ffsSZHKDQNSo3wLT-qvBlsPMBWCw2fWiNJtztIzZaMhN7sbTY7DdYkPZ4QnoIQlXbCWy5-bwOCOWOf6tphotE/s400/My+23rd+Birthday+-+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436856807306512690" border="0" /></a><br />Moving on, I had a dinner celebration with Bern, Shihao, Yong Kai, Ethel and David at Joe's Restaurant, which served Italian food (though the name doesn't give it away <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> easily). The food was decent, and we continued devouring that quarter-eaten chocolate confection (but failed miserably and <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span>, leftovers are presently lying in my refrigerator). Nonetheless, the company made it all the more spectacular.<br /><br />And when you're 10,000 miles away from home (I mean it literally), friends become family. And <i>t</i><span style="font-style: italic;">hat's</span> what I call Food For The Soul.<br /><br />P.S.- Now, it's <span style="font-style: italic;">definitely</span> time to hit the haystack. Sugar kisses and chocolate dreams people!The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-46086988568070970062010-02-03T12:12:00.014+08:002010-02-18T15:36:31.683+08:00Taking My Pâtisserie Adventures To Greater Heights (Literally)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiGd0a2RXEGsTA3LYv6rsCnkmQ0LWTOvswJyYAP_oKZ0G-X4ka8NmA-RGO64fV8oheQLS_63EBWdIbBD99y-5WMCV5lfMpJ-yfmO4O5aNgSng18-j8aInnCvrcA3MOiGhBprWsOcd5-4/s1600-h/mont-tremblant+-+179.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_17ro6fBRaVpb6C7MH45uas5fDpPiN4Fxrb7AKMny7MR3n2ooRtAVQAtsacS3ASdZEUzy2FIRUpIxlzq7F9g0zQ_jBnBU8ydu_bqIQ-O2jTz3SAs2ESg4GegpXUWMXzO48z0MvGxLFiE/s1600-h/mont-tremblant+-+176.jpg"></a><div><div style="text-align: left;">"<i>The end of a journey marks the wonderful beginning of a new one.</i>"</div><br />Winter greetings from the '<span style="font-style:italic;">gorges'</span> town of Ithaca in upstate New York! It has been slightly more than a week since I've arrived, and the weather conditions here are a stark contrast to the abundant sunshine I've been basking in for the last month-and-a-half. School has been decent thus far, and I'm actually enjoying most of my classes this semester (despite the arduous workload that lies ahead of me).</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly, shifting gears and assuming a brand new semester of college life after being back home wasn't an easy switch. I was missing home <i>dearly</i> the whole of last week, and being the complete foodie that I am, sought refuge in the simple comfort foods that reminded me of the pleasures of home. I was completely satisfied with waking up to a steaming mug of <i>Milo </i>(filled to the brim with chocolate-malt goodness) and jam with bread, and ending my day with a hearty bowl of herbal chicken soup decked with b<i>ok choy</i>, Chinese cabbage and bean sprouts. And to add on to that, I am extremely grateful for the Lunar New Year tidbits that my Mom made me pack along.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So the week came along and went, with me ending up at Mont Tremblant in Quebec during the weekend with my three other girlfriends. We planned for this winter ski trip since two months back, and I am thoroughly glad we did it since it did alleviate my spell of homesickness. Mont Tremblant was beautiful and <i>intensely</i> cold, and though we had our fair share of explorations, retail therapy treatments and snow-laden adventures (<i>tubing was absolutely thrilling, by the way</i>), surprise surprise - eating was by far the top activity on our list. </div><div><br /></div><div>Entering this quaint little crêpe cafe, <i>La Crêperie</i>, on a Saturday morning just made me feel like I stepped into a typical Parisian coffeehouse. I was warmly greeted with wafts of sweet crêpe batter sizzling gently on an open pan, bright blue wooden furniture, and an eclectic collection of country-style paintings and chef figurines displayed proudly all over the cosy interior of the restaurant. Moreover, the French-speaking Canadians just made the seemingly European atmosphere all the more believable. I settled for a Mediterranean-style crêpe loaded with aromatic flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, olives, feta cheese and the likes.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tq9hLvibj9-zvZX7miwoywWXQlR0g2Y1wIY9KzUYJu_R5J8G43qOW_KCyBqKzCwKMnA7uGL4D0gXqphGPMot80kSVwdUzq6_abb4VD3hY8cjzlmbY6taSyD2vEU7gpHI55vMU18lupk/s400/mont-tremblant+-+117.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433885671568371666" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Scrumptious.</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, the highlight of the meal: Dessert was simple, comforting but exceedingly satisfying. I took a amateur video documenting the works of our banana split crêpe à la mode covered with a blanket of golden caramel sauce and a thick glossy chocolate glaze.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxl1hFiQCUG8A5YbeVcje2MY0DHeMOLyFFMxOGd8cdO8V1_Za_OWAkS8r0xinHbjfhGRw4V0WIkNkOaUf_tvw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmlrL9a73U6QYQNE5BKFg3KgFCwlvFcEnu5ddn6Q1Eu0lqcECYziAyzGc8s39Fb62wwruDUmLPYBGzmV9GpZaDGnn5zAzn1Phs9ucJiQYPXOj9NZ6Am2BLYHBz3d_4gDsMS-fIHd-G9E/s400/mont-tremblant+-+120.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433885675577710930" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After our drooling Brittany dessert, we wandered around the ski resort and stumbled upon an interesting maple syrup store that sold <i>Maple Taffy On Snow</i>. The owner basically pours strips of melted maple syrup on a barrel of ice and you simply roll it up into a taffy stick after 15 seconds of freezing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiGd0a2RXEGsTA3LYv6rsCnkmQ0LWTOvswJyYAP_oKZ0G-X4ka8NmA-RGO64fV8oheQLS_63EBWdIbBD99y-5WMCV5lfMpJ-yfmO4O5aNgSng18-j8aInnCvrcA3MOiGhBprWsOcd5-4/s400/mont-tremblant+-+179.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433888424187741458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_17ro6fBRaVpb6C7MH45uas5fDpPiN4Fxrb7AKMny7MR3n2ooRtAVQAtsacS3ASdZEUzy2FIRUpIxlzq7F9g0zQ_jBnBU8ydu_bqIQ-O2jTz3SAs2ESg4GegpXUWMXzO48z0MvGxLFiE/s1600-h/mont-tremblant+-+176.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_17ro6fBRaVpb6C7MH45uas5fDpPiN4Fxrb7AKMny7MR3n2ooRtAVQAtsacS3ASdZEUzy2FIRUpIxlzq7F9g0zQ_jBnBU8ydu_bqIQ-O2jTz3SAs2ESg4GegpXUWMXzO48z0MvGxLFiE/s400/mont-tremblant+-+176.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433885696958813810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AKov-d1bD8BZAeF3Q3bRIaxWsMv03_ksZ0OPLIF2tf8blDM8IjILiovR9SNH74RsGeWiMHU882mSGKi3rn1VRHEl__UmNDsnCFCN1TCN7YIuyKSu0Ya4HUKY7DlUtc-Slpj8X8gE62s/s400/mont-tremblant+-+177.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433888413702205106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0t7kD4OoRd7CRLRzOMhKlxgdfFVK8KvaKi4LZ8ysp1m5YvU8IQuI0BYIW_8s9riYl6W7XrXx2XYSbGF426WFuA8x_0EfrJKu8Q6PArYmNR6KxOoNd0MeRXiA4ebtckXcBKeLIq2OLC0/s1600-h/mont-tremblant+-+178.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0t7kD4OoRd7CRLRzOMhKlxgdfFVK8KvaKi4LZ8ysp1m5YvU8IQuI0BYIW_8s9riYl6W7XrXx2XYSbGF426WFuA8x_0EfrJKu8Q6PArYmNR6KxOoNd0MeRXiA4ebtckXcBKeLIq2OLC0/s400/mont-tremblant+-+178.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433888415108061650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Just when I was convinced that<i> Durian </i><i>Ice Kachang </i>was the best thing you could use shaved ice for... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I guess there's always room for innovative frosty ideas when you are constantly living in 50 feet of snow.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyhow, moving on again, my awesome girlfriends surprised me with an early birthday treat during our final Mont Tremblant dinner together. How could I resist a huge slice of this gorgeously moist multi-layered chocolate confection? (<i>Though amusingly, it did remind me of Bruce Bogtrotter's chocolate cake-eating scene in Roald Dahl's Matilda...</i>)</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQCRteqre2cR9TwCziZkNp1xgfJcwr3IM7IryIZihahXjdSyt1LKXnkkvmv9v2XWX1796tC05BxZl9pb1zVfkotx_hWXl2Q5bJlfEEtvjjVGQYKXj8D6g9kOYUCZbP13CNrf512Q-FFI/s1600-h/mont-tremblant+-+173.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQCRteqre2cR9TwCziZkNp1xgfJcwr3IM7IryIZihahXjdSyt1LKXnkkvmv9v2XWX1796tC05BxZl9pb1zVfkotx_hWXl2Q5bJlfEEtvjjVGQYKXj8D6g9kOYUCZbP13CNrf512Q-FFI/s400/mont-tremblant+-+173.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433885686728075378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div>But of course, I wasn't <i>at all</i> aiming to pull any sort of Bogtrotter chow-down scene any time soon. <i>Mmm</i>... just look at the rich and moist interior glistening in all its pleasurable chocolatey glory. A definitive sweet ending to our girly weekend getaway, I'd say.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYd6LuJk3mau26evTFDwB1AiVJf0f0hWdPZKRrJGVvbdICHgu3vWAHalV5x5Dr-3GuKR43BjKZUk4vmRN3BLqf8sXOIMb4SZWzgCq7QffgXwoHOmKmou2wZk2o-E71-9mT0EhIW1V9LY/s400/mont-tremblant+-+174.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433885695000765122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...And as Julia Child would exclaim, "<i>Bon Apétit!</i>"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-57290508192635122002010-01-23T13:59:00.012+08:002010-02-03T14:50:59.449+08:00A Sweet Summer Ending<br>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Change is the only constant</span>."<br /><br />Change is always a challenge, and my recent globetrotting journeys have made these challenges all so tangible for me. And as much as I always like to think that every next trip back to school would be slightly easier for me to stomach than the last, I admit that I can't seem to get over this initial inertia every time I walk through those departure gates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzR_6ZyhEPUuOdOabx7d32BdrJF47k-y3Yg9IwFXCs0QIKodbv09SJ3wnOkjtcjABiwipERT5QHcMjWfElRNrNuH2Xt3Tm57VrIUMHkwdP2y1CS4KQ_WqS3aae0O5B1XP2_Jy3pDIpis/s1600-h/IMG_8725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzR_6ZyhEPUuOdOabx7d32BdrJF47k-y3Yg9IwFXCs0QIKodbv09SJ3wnOkjtcjABiwipERT5QHcMjWfElRNrNuH2Xt3Tm57VrIUMHkwdP2y1CS4KQ_WqS3aae0O5B1XP2_Jy3pDIpis/s400/IMG_8725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429812055858608978" border="0" /></a><br />Well, it's a season finale for my pastry escapades back home. I spent the final day in my pastry lab whipping up some mini cream scones spotted with cranberries and raisins - a homemade birthday present for Matt's mother. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Tsk, gone are the days of using 'brownie points' to keep score.</span>) The scones came out perfectly - a light, flaky crust exuding rich amber hues, and a moist, fluffy interior studded with the sweet berries. And I even made cream cheese and blueberry jam (also from scratch, by the way) to compliment those miniature golden medallions.<br /><br />I'm starting to miss home even before I have to leave. My winter holidays were embellished with an array of rich, joyful moments spent with people that I truly care about - especially my family. Living away from home, I have to endure the occasional bouts of homesickness, but at the same time, it has made me cherish them so much more.<br /><br />So till I begin my new patisserie adventures halfway round the globe, let me wander off one final time in this tropical world of sugar, spice and...<br /><br />...yeap, you've got it - <span style="font-style: italic;">everything nice</span>.<br>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-56594313158321969342010-01-21T14:22:00.009+08:002010-02-17T13:50:57.956+08:00When The Italian Meets An Oriental Beauty...Just as I've promised, here's an update on the signature Italian dessert done two ways: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Classic</span> with a heavy dose of fine espresso and Kahlua, and the Asian inspired, which I'd like to aptly name as <span style="font-style: italic;">The Jade Beauty</span>. Infused with herbal green tea and my all-time favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Azuki</span> beans, it is a treasure trove of decadent pleasures hidden under those emerald sheets of cream cheese...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc28BinBq3eFik8Xj1zgawO1ZrgURzulviNnzui-mVLjT3I9HASETNKn8V5mEOG99jmnsQtBjsjGbZAXbqV31WPMQnA76f5aOIDR8E8J0DJxHp3W2vEkUW9Uvf7cKjuwN1tKQY8Tsvzc/s1600-h/IMG_8714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc28BinBq3eFik8Xj1zgawO1ZrgURzulviNnzui-mVLjT3I9HASETNKn8V5mEOG99jmnsQtBjsjGbZAXbqV31WPMQnA76f5aOIDR8E8J0DJxHp3W2vEkUW9Uvf7cKjuwN1tKQY8Tsvzc/s400/IMG_8714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429077594469216578" border="0" /></a><br />I actually have to admit that I am rather pleased with myself. Both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tiramisus</span> came out <span style="font-style: italic;">exceptionally divine</span>. The night of chilling did well for melding all those wonderful ingredients together - the lovely lady fingers had ample time to soak in all those fine booze while resting amongst the silky layers of ivory <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mascarpone</span> cream, creating this explosion of sublime flavors for a rapturous tastebud awakening after my 8-hour eating hiatus.<br /><br />The green tea <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tiramisu</span> was purely an experiment that turned out to be an oriental beauty. I was wondering around my neighborhood baking store and the little bottle of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">matcha</span> caught my attention. "<span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hmm</span>, if Starbucks' Green Tea <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Frappuccino</span> can taste so good, I wonder how green tea would taste in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">tiramisu</span>...</span>" And for those who know me well enough, I simply <span style="font-style: italic;">adore</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Azuki</span> beans, so it was without question that I'd throw those miniature roseate nuggets in for some extra goodness. A jade beauty indeed... <span style="font-style: italic;">Mmm-hmm</span>...<br /><br />Tsk, all this sugar talk is getting me high. It's time to channel my sugar spike towards a midday jog around the park. I'm trying to soak in as much sunshine as I possibly can before winter strikes again in three days time. School's starting on Monday!The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-82048018069162093632010-01-21T00:50:00.011+08:002010-02-17T13:50:20.778+08:00My Whirlwind Romance... With FoodI've been meaning to write about my pastry escapades since a couple of weeks now. The winter holidays have been just amazing, or as Alvin would say - and I quote, "<i>YUM-mazing!</i>"<div><br /></div><div>Kudos to my Makansutra Singapore 2009 guide book (coupled with my innate curiosity to explore fine, fabulous grub), I have spent my tropical days back home charting my very own "<i>Die, Die Must Try!</i>" culinary extravaganza, titillating my taste buds with the potpourri of <i>Uniquely Singapore</i> local fare - from one of Joo Chiat's finest <i>Cze Char</i> stalls, to the award-winning <i>Hill Street Fried Kway Teow</i> tucked away in a nondescript hawker center at Bedok South, that of which Anthony Bourdain has blissfully sank his teeth into and declared, "<i>How can something that looks so messy... taste so good?</i>" And, despite my bursting belly and shrieking inner conscience that I have to double my jogging distance the day after, temptation got the better of me, so we settled for an after-dinner curbside D24 durian indulgence that I, till today, have to admit was worth every caloric morsel. The aromatically pungent fruit gleaming in its vibrant lemony custard skin was gorgeously sweet and moist... (Oh,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> please don't get me started...)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div>After my month-long love affair with K F Seetoh's recommended grub - which I have to confess <span style="font-style: italic;">may</span> be bordering the line of gluttony - I would expect some sort of deep, pregnant guilt to sink right down to the pit of my stomach... but perhaps the term 'bottomless pit' fits in aptly right now.<br /><br />Yeap. The guilt just goes <span style="font-style: italic;">right through</span>.<br /><br />So on the contrary, my culinary and pastry explorations have taken off to greater heights. I have been ranting and raving about using my Morrocan tagine (courtesy of <span style="font-style: italic;">the</span> best girlfriends ever), so weekend dinner parties have given me ample avenues to experiment and display my inner craze for all things sweet and savory. And having been inspired by <span style="font-style: italic;">Julie & Julia</span>, I did a modified take on Julia Child's celebrated <span style="font-style: italic;">Beef Bourguignon</span> recipe with the help of my handy tagine. I know it's suppose to be a pastry blog but we need some splashes of salt to tickle our Umami taste buds, don't we?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7se5-CTvPkbNcthNAqh45lPYaucT3sr8kP2gtmkT-K-9ZD-6iJCcR4ISVF51iARoCsjRyN0cY3eWpNC0V0jUH0gYltRnobZjBPzFqXmdMW2gWIGM-MBQ0nPBwUl0YNC28WDJaJmQjhBs/s1600-h/bday2010+-+29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7se5-CTvPkbNcthNAqh45lPYaucT3sr8kP2gtmkT-K-9ZD-6iJCcR4ISVF51iARoCsjRyN0cY3eWpNC0V0jUH0gYltRnobZjBPzFqXmdMW2gWIGM-MBQ0nPBwUl0YNC28WDJaJmQjhBs/s400/bday2010+-+29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428889607654065554" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Fabulous, just fabulous.<br /><br />Nonetheless amidst the recent whirlwind cooking adventures, pastry was - and is - and will always be my kind of soul food. Apologies for the lack of photographic displays, but I've managed to dabble in multiple dessert creations - from Gordon Ramsay's most YUM-mazing Chocolate Fondant (translation: molten chocolate lava cake), to Pi<em>ñ</em>a Colada panna cottas, Spritz cookies and blueberry jam. The latest creations that I just embarked on this afternoon were two versions of Tiramisu - the classic Italian, and a Japanese twist using matcha and Azuki beans. I promise more updates on the creamy duo tomorrow after they enjoy a night of chilling (both literally an figuratively).<br /><br />So in the meantime, goodnight, sweet dreams and enjoy a couple of Nigella's Totally (decadent) Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies and a rich, frothy glass of cold milk...<br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgmCJ-yon5viLjBAKP3OiiIDpc1MDw4FpBV58jPrmAkFopDKW8G_-bxbL8fEob-QJTgEpmgTsvbLYpFb_m0PAYPkF8X032IpdeqJH-Qe0Q_m46e3WCS2z4OU_6D3tMuR_-AFYHxUw-KM/s1600-h/bday2010+-+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgmCJ-yon5viLjBAKP3OiiIDpc1MDw4FpBV58jPrmAkFopDKW8G_-bxbL8fEob-QJTgEpmgTsvbLYpFb_m0PAYPkF8X032IpdeqJH-Qe0Q_m46e3WCS2z4OU_6D3tMuR_-AFYHxUw-KM/s400/bday2010+-+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428874892305926290" border="0" /></a><br />XOXO darling!The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-50998326837505125582010-01-02T11:00:00.007+08:002010-02-17T13:51:20.220+08:00Too Much Of A Good Thing Can Be Wonderful... Or Not?<div><br /></div><div>Have you experienced one of those quirky and almost bothersome days where you've fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning only to find yourself waking up less than 5 hours later, and realizing you can't seem to return to slumber land no matter how snug and cozy you try to be or how much personal meditation you place on falling asleep again? And to make things worst, <i>it's the weekend</i>.<div><br /></div><div>Last night was one such night. It's times like these that you wish the big, fuzzy Z monster was lying under your bed ready and waiting to pounce on you and cradle you to dreamland.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the whole week of festive eating - or gorging I must admit, I was awoken early at the crack of dawn only to find myself feeling somewhat nauseous. Perhaps the nasty aftermath of a holiday-season gormandizing extravaganza.</div><div><br /></div><div>And since my early awakening has given me so much time to kill before my tea and dinner date with Matt later on, I was contemplating whether to assume the passive role of a couch potato and check out the New Year programs on the telly, or spend some time in my pastry lab (despite the odd bout of queasiness in me).</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I decided to multi-task. Us girls all excel in that, don't we darlings?</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLGbCb_T6Q7P6YSHwDQhxI7UPW-nTrX6sOg3ZoN2_d8xWEIXUWIR-iENNfZ18Aq_5g7Twsx6VqK7oplxeJZlkQmotfIIMV6fWtGVoBGJmh-njuVVAJz9JFaTeb3cPKhxPXyNudjeKsEw/s1600-h/IMG_8643.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLGbCb_T6Q7P6YSHwDQhxI7UPW-nTrX6sOg3ZoN2_d8xWEIXUWIR-iENNfZ18Aq_5g7Twsx6VqK7oplxeJZlkQmotfIIMV6fWtGVoBGJmh-njuVVAJz9JFaTeb3cPKhxPXyNudjeKsEw/s400/IMG_8643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421976930381867282" /></a><br />There's a certain calming quality about an <i>old-fashioned pound cake</i> that reminds me of simple pleasures and classic breakfast or teatime treats. Kids love it, grannies adore it, and so does everyone else in-between. And I guess I've had one too many decadent meals these past couple of days that a simple cake will suffice.<div><br /></div><div>This morning, I've made mine with a slight earth brown marbling of dark chocolate, which I find so appealing against the pale custardy tones of the traditional batter. Adding a handful of freshly-grated lemon zest also gives the cake a zingy, citrus touch that works excellently with the bittersweet chocolate. And I just love the crisp, faintly burnt crust that evokes such a wonderful aromatic smokiness when paired with its light, fluffy interior of moist cake crumbs.<br /><div><br /></div><div>As much as I have always agreed with Mae West that <i>too much of a good thing can be wonderful</i>, I think this festive season has convinced me that no matter how gratifying holiday meals can be, I'll somehow or another find myself running back and finding gastronomic solace in the simple pleasures of everyday comfort food...</div><div><br /></div></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-2603916803414615342010-01-02T00:40:00.007+08:002010-02-17T13:51:49.364+08:00Scones With Your Tea, My Darling?<div><br /></div><div>I was invited by my girlfriend to a tea party on New Year's Eve. So I thought I'd have a share in the festive spirit and bring over some of my own high tea creations. And what's a lovely English afternoon tea without some classic cream scones? </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9P14gEn8lZJtGZzSfwvEWdb9-CtMp7fBoMbEl34RqCcg8TyyXGgUZPl4nBW_iRu8ys-YAR2sdt8jZT1schd7aYqIweDk-NFkoYlzWS4e7tNoubYxaMUmX-guec2uOyHxmlJF7FHsn3U/s1600-h/IMG_8602.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9P14gEn8lZJtGZzSfwvEWdb9-CtMp7fBoMbEl34RqCcg8TyyXGgUZPl4nBW_iRu8ys-YAR2sdt8jZT1schd7aYqIweDk-NFkoYlzWS4e7tNoubYxaMUmX-guec2uOyHxmlJF7FHsn3U/s400/IMG_8602.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421812793355559794" /></a><br /><div>They actually came out better than I expected. The light and flaky crust glistened with shades of amber and gold (thanks to the double egg wash), and the interior was moist, crumbly and specked with shriveled nuggets of burgundy-colored raisins - the slight tanginess complementing the rich cream crumbs perfectly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hmm, I think I <i>will</i> bake this more often.</div><div><br /></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-34476866465875789992009-12-29T19:14:00.006+08:002010-02-17T13:52:08.845+08:00Seventh Heaven<div><br /></div><div>The Christmas season is such a fabulous time to go cookie-cutter hunting. Every mall and store would be selling rows and rows of such wonderful hollow metallic assortments, all bent and twisted to form anything you can dream of... and more.<br /><br />So with a sparkling sack of cookie cutters stashed away in my Christmas cupboard, I've embarked on a sugar cookie frenzy and have begun rolling out buttery mounds of biscuit dough, stamping them into a mélange of wintertime patterns, then embellished with shimmery brown specks of Demerara sugar and magical golden dust.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"...and you can almost hear the choirs of angels singing..."</span></div><br />There's something ethereal and enchanting about that sentence that still captivates me even though I have to admit that it has already been four days since Christmas. But I guess there's always the New Year to excuse myself for my whimsical musings...<br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReHSZLhR8xwVph32_qJNNRkgXhU3ZM8rL41PGKW_NWrxAECqIaRR4SJihIeaBWQZ-NDzRHDuj2YvCtR2BBUduj1o-52v8OT7tsAgoRF5rVZSpagXVDHwtl8E8ZK7k9Ogsvrb5L4SGR1s/s1600-h/IMG_8591.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReHSZLhR8xwVph32_qJNNRkgXhU3ZM8rL41PGKW_NWrxAECqIaRR4SJihIeaBWQZ-NDzRHDuj2YvCtR2BBUduj1o-52v8OT7tsAgoRF5rVZSpagXVDHwtl8E8ZK7k9Ogsvrb5L4SGR1s/s400/IMG_8591.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420615195483435266" /></a><br />Mmm... Talk about being in seventh heaven.<div><br /></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-86522987024318860482009-12-27T19:21:00.010+08:002010-02-17T13:52:54.210+08:00Cooking Up Some Positive Energy<div><div><div><br /></div><div>Contrary to what others may think of baking - a positively discomforting experience of someone slaving away in a hot kitchen over stoves and stoves of hot liquid and sticky gooey batter - I, on the other hand, find it fascinatingly wonderful to spend the entire day in my pastry lab, whisking egg whites into soft, frothy peaks, and watching summer berries and granny smith apples bubble away in a pot until it all turns into a sweet heavenly glaze. The feeling I get from it is almost... liberating.<br /><br />And today was one such day. I woke up feeling peculiarly unsettled... almost bothered really, by a series of unfortunate events that have plagued since I returned home for the winter. Nothing much that I'd like to share on this entry - at least not for now. But I decided that a couple of hours in the pastry lab would do the trick. So I started channeling those (slightly) negative energy to brainstorming for creative ideas on what to concoct.<div><br /></div><div>There's something fascinating about Indian food that compels me to it. I love the chewy, dense texture of naan bread - especially over a piping hot bowl of coconut curry and its medley of aromatic spices. So I decided on a banana and strawberry naan bread with a dark chocolate-Grand Marnier-orange sauce. And to my cocoa and fruit laden flat bread, I also spooned a couple of creamy, ivory-colored nuggets of cottage cheese specked with earthy crimson cinnamon dust... then baked them till everything just caramelizes and the bananas turn soft and deep golden.</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhMgL358obFCxPLGu_zhitoOSBFbpZ84xQ8tdyjO7TNyAtV6q0-UHPrnNzZ-kQsk639XpHsLzI4bnRQyMgIPpTVQ2saC1WEueD-DX0OCDtLpamlweWzcesBQVevBr9-RQ1FU47YsSiDU/s1600-h/IMG_8581.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhMgL358obFCxPLGu_zhitoOSBFbpZ84xQ8tdyjO7TNyAtV6q0-UHPrnNzZ-kQsk639XpHsLzI4bnRQyMgIPpTVQ2saC1WEueD-DX0OCDtLpamlweWzcesBQVevBr9-RQ1FU47YsSiDU/s400/IMG_8581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419879081594871714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br />Next on the list was a simple shot glass filled with a potpourri of textures and flavors... the crunchy graham cracker crumbs, dark and dense chocolate sauce, two mini mounds of macadamia and espresso ice cream, and topped with a tropical and summer-inspired fruit compote. This is what I call happiness in a shot glass.<div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaWDZfjIGgVob0VzwpySFpxE7ld5MtTzOZwn9AfD3tx3fK_wbSL8NMj5i6fwsRKsl463mhPoD_nmOXtStjzCZ9xulaawFriqpBa2VvMqSRH-2HKTxJ7rvIapCevoUm3e9bGQhap594R0/s1600-h/IMG_8583.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaWDZfjIGgVob0VzwpySFpxE7ld5MtTzOZwn9AfD3tx3fK_wbSL8NMj5i6fwsRKsl463mhPoD_nmOXtStjzCZ9xulaawFriqpBa2VvMqSRH-2HKTxJ7rvIapCevoUm3e9bGQhap594R0/s400/IMG_8583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419885265337635522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><div>Since I had quite a bit of the summer fruit compote left, I decided to roll out some puff pastry to make mini fruit compote tarts topped with a buttery crumble. I wished the puff pastry turned out crisper, but nonetheless, the bite-sized fruity nugget was certainly mouthful of bliss.</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVAXLW9szu-OkkLiZ48cyp0vGIKKrpXLoFizHxPfXzXU0LpoD9iF2FTFzqe8UJVR0geVhv5KZDmu56m64Owlw1g1SZTegeKXAZRuMpBeyEML92ZpYWx8DrlZXIx27aFRiMKshXrG6NAc/s1600-h/IMG_8585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVAXLW9szu-OkkLiZ48cyp0vGIKKrpXLoFizHxPfXzXU0LpoD9iF2FTFzqe8UJVR0geVhv5KZDmu56m64Owlw1g1SZTegeKXAZRuMpBeyEML92ZpYWx8DrlZXIx27aFRiMKshXrG6NAc/s400/IMG_8585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419886148029683650" /></a><br /><div><div>And I'm feeling better already..!</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div> </div></div></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465427963077365059.post-77459660832732094712009-12-26T23:03:00.012+08:002010-02-17T13:53:21.404+08:00And I Can Almost Hear The Choirs Of Angels Singing...<div><br /></div><div>I've always had a soft spot for pastry. Since young, I would find myself fascinated by the nimble hands of bakers and pastry artists sculpting beautiful little pieces of edible art, then line them all up like pretty maids in a row on those sturdy wooden shelves, and just letting me admire them sitting there, glowing and gleaming in their shiny fruity glaze under the amber hues of the display lights.<br /><br />And after watching <i>Julie & Julia</i> on the plane back from New York City, I'm inspired to do the same as Julie did. So here I am, creating my very own virtual canvas where I can paint my culinary creativity, make my imagination tangible, and share with the world this loving relationship I have with pastry.<br /><br />Let's get the basics down first:<br /><br />I call the kitchen I work in my pastry lab.<br />I'm superbly inspired by Nigella Lawson. She is such a beautiful woman that brings so much love and passion to food - it's highly infectious.<br />I'm born and bred in Singapore, but am presently attending college in New York.<br />And today is a special day. It's my dad's birthday! Plus, it's Christmas time, so I've been going crazy in my pastry lab whipping up sugary treats over and over again. I find it immensely liberating to just totter about the kitchen and dabble in some culinary treats and tricks - as amateur as they may often be but nonetheless still exceedingly enjoyable.<br /><br />I find it a necessity to bake a sugary treat whenever I'm meeting friends - and that happens <i>a lot </i>over Christmas time. Let's see, so far I've made little cherry chocolate cupcakes, cranberry banana and white chocolate muffins, almond biscuits, granny boyd's biscuits, classic chocolate muffins and brownies, sugar cookies, panna cotta with cherry compote...<br /><br />My mom is yelling at me for making her gain a kilogram ever since I returned home for the winter break (which was just last Tuesday).<br /><br />Nevertheless, Christmas morning without a sugary treat is like eating a bagel without cream cheese. So I woke up yesterday morning and whipped up some classic Grand Marnier-infused dark chocolate muffins with my special chocolate peanut butter swirl chips and shimmering gold dust. Watching those golden powdery gems fall against the dark brown chocolate mounds reminds me of Nigella doing the same on her Christmas fruit cake...</div><div><br /></div><div> "...And you can almost hear the choirs of angels singing..."</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJeIXdT82IDqGCjrL5cLshZrTyb5jxm5q7nWhQ4-pF_dOOYx7TDX6by77NoZ4vK-4bgGu6mbpQBr4imD2meX7g9BW6-PKR8-wNvZtBWvkCsn2q3N2BOSOjE4tvSutim5Lv2HtYu_edn8/s1600-h/IMG_8580.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJeIXdT82IDqGCjrL5cLshZrTyb5jxm5q7nWhQ4-pF_dOOYx7TDX6by77NoZ4vK-4bgGu6mbpQBr4imD2meX7g9BW6-PKR8-wNvZtBWvkCsn2q3N2BOSOjE4tvSutim5Lv2HtYu_edn8/s400/IMG_8580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419574301284378146" /></a><div><br />Have yourself a merry little Christmas and a wonderful New Year!</div><div><br /></div>The Girl On A Sugar Highhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803926650889798096noreply@blogger.com0