diary organizers: A New Year Beholds

Tis' nearing the end of the year, and along with the bling bling streamers, the Christmas trees and the glamourous parties come the printed calendars, the printed diaries, and the Chinese-almanac looking hanging wall calendars with lunar dates and Horse Racing Days smacked right across it.

I'm a diary person- you can well tell- who uses pen and paper to fill in her appointment dates, her special occasions, her relevant information and who doesn't feel embarrassed about it one bit at all.

Why should I?

Diary organizers have always been a part of me since the days when The Parents ran a little (side) business dealing with organizers, table planners, calendars and the like. There was never no shortage for each one of us, and I always got a brand new, hot-off-the-press diary at the close of each year.   

To me, that diary was a symbol of new beginnings, a harbor of hope, and as I carefully wrote in significant dates and important information, I wished for the new year to be filled with successful achievements, joyful moments and peaceful days.

And even though the diaries I got were the very adult, corporate-looking kind- the binder consisted of four large rings- I preferred it to the exercise-book type of diary which my school insisted we all buy. Come to think of it, I hardly wrote in the school one except to seek out the dates for School Holidays, CA Weeks, EXAM Weeks, Founders' Day and Sports Day.


It doesn't matter to me that we've got computer calendars and mobile phone calendars now.

Yes, I use them, but because I like my paper and pen, I continue to make a yearly investment for the organizer which I choose very carefully. It doesn't matter if the book is plain- stickers come to the rescue- but it must suit me for the year ahead, and it must be pleasant to the eye. After all, if I'm going to be looking at it almost daily for 365 days, I'd better get one that will make me happy.

The selections vary from year to year.

I don't know what this year's choice will be. Maybe I'll stick to the ladylike floral hardcover as I did for 2019. Maybe I'll go all administrative and C-suite like I did in 2018, or I might just try to embrace  (back) the bubbly side of me and go (back) to the bright glitter Smiggle style.

doing a Roadshow

 

In life there is always what we call a FIRST- and for this young skincare startup by the name of Skin Calories- this roadshow at Bukit Merah Central could most certainly be described as the Company's VERY FIRST.

An interesting time it turned out to be for the staff present on duty that day- because whilst we're used to setting up booths, hiring part-timers, and giving out flyers to the general public- it was the first that the (intimate) crowd would consist mostly of our neighbors- we said hi and hello to reps from the essential oils and the fitness industries- individuals from the organizer's company both male and female, and a couple of casual walk-ins who had made a special trip down just to see what this was all about.

Not that we minded- a roadshow is a roadshow- and if there be just one person who hears of the brand, and responds to it, hey, that's as good as any. Of course it all comes down to KPIs for Marketing Efforts, and honestly, if it were just one(!!) person we spoke to, then we'd get the end of a very heavy stick.

Thank goodness then, that our numbers turned out okay.

Especially since it was a mixed marketing approach we took where, on one hand, we had printout flyers listing down the benefits of a SkinCalories' membership, and on the other hand, digital content in the form of SkinCalories' own character-based 2D anime playing on repeat. And because everyone loves takeaways from shows like these, we prepared cute little cards detailing the company's background and Magda's story with a QR code attached to it.

The QR code was something we specially did for this show, and although it can be said to be "not too big" a deal (considering our tech background), what makes it significant is that it marks a start for all its potential when it comes to interactivity and augmented reality in the near future.

It was a very short roadshow- only just the morning- but I'm glad to say that we did manage to speak to a couple of people, we did get a couple of registrations, we got the Company out through word-of-mouth, and with a bit of potpurri and some props, our little booth didn't look too bad.

Plus I got two cups of machine-brewed coffee.

pretty foods: char kuay teow

There's never not a good time to not have a plate of char kuay teow, especially if it is a Friday, it is near National Day time, and you happen to be at a hawker center in one of Singapore's (matured) housing estates.

 

Never mind if the dish is oily, greasy, not very healthy, bad for the arteries yada yada yada.

 

Just eat.

 

Because unless you eat it frequently, like every two, three days or something, it is more than fine to relish in the dish that has made its mark as one of Singapore's top street foods.

 

I dont' know about you, but I find it hard to describe a perfect char kuay teow. Everyone has different tastes, and each plate leaves different feels upon each person.

 

Someone, for instance, might insist that Hill Street Char Kuay Teow is the best. Another, however, might say that the one at Zion Road is better. And then there's always going to be someone who says that both stalwarts lose out to the Outram Park one at Hong Lim Food Centre "because the queues are longer at lunch time and any time."

 

Whichever stall is a person's favorite, what is in agreement is that the flavors of wok-fried flat rice noodles, egg noodles, lap cheong, eggs and cockles must come together in such a unique way that each bite is shiok enough to make you wish you could have a second plate or more.

 

And even if cockles are subjective (some prefer it mai hum) or if you don't want lard (yeas, we know why), the warmth, the deliciousness of the dish must still remain.

 

My plate of char kuay teow on this particular afternoon came not from any of the famous stalls-I was at Bedok Interchange- but given that the last time I had this was months and months ago, I loved it, and ate it up, lard and all.

this little Bunny in a shop

A few months ago I walked past this pet shop in Jurong East, saw this cute little bunny, and although there's a sign there that says "No Photography", I stretched the rule a little by standing outside the shop, and zooming in for the photo.

 

It isn't something I usually do, honestly, but the sight of this bunny nibbling away on what looked like, um, a long blade of grass intrigued me. It wasn't just the fact that he was eating. It was the fact that his cheeks were so cute and his nose had this little twitch and he had these expressive, curious eyes that looked anywhere and everywhere all through his dinner.

 

You know how there are just some days where you can't help but be charmed by little sights like these?

 

Yeah, this must have been one of those- because on other days I would have walked right past- but this evening I stopped long enough to watch the bunny, squeal at his adorbs face, and take the picture.

 

I haven't had a pet for a long while.

 

We used to have a fish tank at home, a very pretty one, in fact, with pebbles and plants and a tiny little bridge, but it has been so long that I no longer remember what breed of fish it was we had, and I only recall the fish hiding under the bridge, the fish getting stuck to the filter, and The Parents finally giving away the tank to our neighbors who lived downstairs.

 

Maybe it is time to get a pet for myself.

 

I don't mind a dog or a cat, but I think I should begin with a smaller pet just so I can get used to having one in my life.

 

And I've been wanting a guinea pig (the breed with the mohawk) for the longest time. 

K-House Kewalram

With only a few more days to the sixteenth anniversary of the Company, there is no better time to talk about these pictures than the present.

Many people assume that the Company is a young one, and it often surprises them when told that the history of the Company goes back twenty years where it began with a single LAN shop in the east.

Now, we might no longer need LAN shops as much as we used to, but any dude will tell you that they were all the rage on this little island way back in the 90s, and that shop in the East marked the starting point to what the Company is today.

No longer is she just a LAN shop, she is now an entertainment company with six divisions, studios in five locations, and a pretty strong  background in Game Development, Animation, Visual Effects and everything related to all three.

But I'm not here to write a PR spiel for the Company.

I'm here to write about these two pictures above. :)

They're moving in pictures, both of them, ten years old now, and they had been taken at a time when the Management decided it was the right time to develop the local studio arm independently whilst linking operations from her five year old educational arm to the studio.  

Motion Capture was then an "emerging technology" in the entertainment sector (think Lord of The Rings) and the papers drawn up intended that this studio would have the capabilities for motion capture specifically for the use of 3D production.

Hence this place in the industrial estate of Bukit Merah- and these pictures- and although it may not seem like a big deal now, we gotta remember that this was 2008- 6 years after the first wave of digital transformation in Singapore- and a time when JTC hadn't developed Blk 71 into its current hipster status yet.

It was for extremely practical reasons that the industrial estate was chosen, because Motion Capture is a form that requires a good number of (powerful) computers, a bunch of crew, a heck lot of props, one big screen in blue or green, and plenty of jumping around.

Motion capture is a form that requires a good number of powerful computers, a bunch of crew, a heck lot of props, one big screen and plenty of jumping around.

In an industrial estate there is no need to cramp ourselvse into a tiny space on the second floor of a shop house.

There is no need to worry about noise pollution of the neighbors at night (because they have their lion dance practices downstairs in the car park at night and no one cares)

And best of all, I don't have to worry about having to protect the friggin' cement floor.

I'd love to say that we forged ahead with our mocap studio in Bukit Merah- that would make for great press stories- but it got to a point where it was not commercially viable, nor productivity-efficient, and as anyone knows, business isn't only about sticking to your stubborn guns and chomping doggedly through it.

It is also about the domestic economy, the business of the day, pivoting, making new decisions, having turnkey solutions and doing turnarounds.

We don't have mocap in Singapore today- Management decided not too long after to re-channel the resources- but we continue to have a foothold in the technology with our better-utilized studios in LA, South Korea, and elsewhere that today have delved into the universes of virtual reality and augmented reality.
 

the Food of Mookata

Lovers of Mookata will know that there is one singular ingredient that distinguishes it from the likes of Japanese Yakiniku, Korean barbecue and Chinese steamboat.

It is an ingredient commonly found in South East Asian cooking.

It reveals a distinctive fragrance especially when tossed about with other ingredients in a Chinese wok.

And if you follow the halal or kosher diet, very sorry, this ingredient is completely out of bounds for you.

Unless (ahem) you *happen* to be one of those who doesn't really care about the ingredients and/or you choose not to recognize what those chunks of white stuff on top of the grille are.

I can't say whether or not it is the right thing to do- different people live their lives by different rules.

What I can say, however, is that those chunks of white stuff make up the foundation of Thai Mookata, and it is a primary ingredient for your entire meal. Whether it be for the grilled foods on top of the dome, or the boiled foods in the moat below, lard is central to your entire meal.

Thai Mookata became a genuine hipster thing in Singapore about two years or so ago, and whilst there are a good number of places around the country that serve up this ubiquitous Thai experience, it is this place on the second floor of Golden Mile Complex that frequently catches my eye.


Called Y Cube, it sits right next to the upriding  escalator, and is unmistakably the only place in the building that carries a millennial vibe, contrasting strongly with the others which have more of a street food vibe.

It really doesn't matter which Mookata place you go to, honestly, they have their little differences (like cheese!) but I'd think they are more or less the same.

Just follow your heart.

Or your stomach.

Whichever works.

We have an established pattern that we seem to adhere to each time we are at Y Cube.

I start with grabbing the utensils and a couple of empty plates to do up the table setting. Yes, order is important to me. Next, I place a couple of those white chunks on top of the grille. It takes some time for the grille to heat up and for those white chunks to start melting, so off I go to get the drinks and the vegetables.
 Meanwhile, my companion would have been traipising back and forth with platters of beef, chicken, pork and crayfish, and so whilst I head off to get the corn, the mushrooms, the lettuce and the seaweed, my companion works the half melted white chunks around the dome of the grille.

The grille won't be hot enough yet for a couple of minutes, so whilst more chunks get smothered over the grille, I go get the prawns, the cuttlefish balls, the fish balls and the cheese tofu.

Yes, they're all for the soup- lettuce included.

I dunk some of them in, never mind whether the fat from the white chunks is already flowing down- I can taste it afterwards.

Now is the time for the meats.

So in a round robin of beef, pork and chicken, we eat whatever catches our fancy, or whatever gets cooked first. Sometimes it is the pork, sometimes it is the beef. It depends. My companion does the cooking. I do the eating.

In between I go to top up our drinks. There're soft drinks on tap, but in recent times there's also been Thai milk tea, so with us being sticklers for a full and complete experience, we skip the Sprite and get glasses of iced Thai milk tea.

More food tends to appear on my plate in the time that I am gone, including rings of fresh cuttlefish, so I spend the rest of my time dividing up my meal between bites of meat, perfectly grilled crayfish, and spoonfuls of (lard-flavored) soup filled with lettuce and seaweed.

Vegetables are wonderful during buffets- not so much for feeling healthier- but their fiber aids in digestion and I've found I feel less stuffed at the end of a meal when I take lettuce compared to the times when I don't.

For the same reason at Mookata I usually eschew the carbs for protein. Fried samosas and instant noodles are not that hard to find elsewhere compared to good marinated meats that I get to grill with the oil of pork fat.

What charms us about this place is that they do have a fair bit of variety. I cannot recall what their offerings are- the food blogs would have the pictures- but I know I've had two different kinds of lettuce, fresh tofu, seaweed-wrapped fish cakes, Fuzhou fish balls and pieces of fresh fish. I don't take seafood so much, but I've seen crabs and other kinds of shellfish (mussels?) for those who do.

We usually finish off the meal with bowls of ice cream two scoops each (because there are four flavors and we are kiasu kiasee like that). I take strawberry and paddle pop, or cookies and cream. My companion takes chocolate and cookies and cream.

in the (Setting) Sun

I'm not sure how this Mystery Thought will sit with people, but have y'all realized that there are some structures that look best in the glow of Singapore's setting sun?


Not that they don't look impressive at other times of the day- just that they seem to look more glorious when the soft light of the early evening sun shimmers upon their walls.


I know, I've been at this very spot, seeing this very same view, for many a day, but none have been as beautiful as this that I saw on this early evening as I walked down South Bridge Road towards City Hall.


This isn't the only place that throws forth such a view, by the way.


There's also the hexagonal structure at the junction of Orchard Road, and Scotts, and if you know where I'm talking about, yes, it is what used to be Dynasty Hotel, then Marriott Hotel, and now Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel.


Dont' believe me?


Go there around 6pm on a hot, clear day, stop just outside the main entrance, and look at the floor. You'll see what I mean.


Such a view, and such a Thought, is not limited by country, space, place, or time as well.


Because the very first time I had such a view, and such a thought, was when I was a good distance away from Singapore, in a palace, in downtown Seoul, in South Korea.


I remember that moment well.


Back then I had been (nonchalantly) wandering about the palace grounds when I made a turn, and suddenly right in front of me, was this wall of plain brick, that at other times might have just been a wall, but right now, today, on this winter's day, was illuminated magically by the soft slanting rays of a glorious late afternoon sun.


It was so beautiful it (literally) took my breath away- and I stopped.


Which marked the precise moment that the Mystery Thought came. :)


There're other places in the world, I'm sure too, that will throw forth such a view. Where they are, I don't know- the world is a big place- it might be in Manhattan, it might be in New Zealand, it might even be in the southern hemisphere- but one thing I do know.


We have to find it.


Or at least, we have to allow it to find us.


Because there's more to life than just the daily grind, and if we living beings communicate, why would not the earth- a large, living mass of energies and matter- communicate with us too?

O'er at Carlton City

Would it be hard to believe if I told you that on the day I stayed over at Carlton City here in Tonjong Pagar I was in fact rather unsettled in mind and heart?

And that I had come here because it had been deemed necessary for me to have a change of environment, and it was hoped that the time here would serve as a (short) distraction from the things that had been happening in my life?  

Can't say that it didn't work.

Even though there were still the annoying, distressing phone calls which I *had* to pick up.

They spoilt my mood, honestly, because in life there are just  some people whom you don't wish to interact with.

But I was determined not to let the conversation get to me- why spoil the stay, ruin the day, and waste the money that's already been paid at the front counter downstairs?

Of course, having a great view helped.

From the window there was the view of Amara Hotel just in front, there was the view of the housing board flats opposite, the Tanjong Pagar Distripark, the harbour, the dockside, the ships out at anchor, the ships at anchor by the dock, the giraffes, and all the shipping containers that come with the business of logistics, international shipping and port operations.

There was also the view of Pulau Brani, her distinctive hill, and all the foilage on top of it.

It was refreshing to see the little sliver of water by the dock. It was encouraging to see the container ship anchored by the dock. And better yet it was that I could see all the dark jungle green along with the sliver of water (on this day) so blue.

Sitting there on the armchair, staring out the window, I had an epiphany.

And although I won't share it in detail here, let's just say that I came to a more definite conclusion of what it was I wanted to be, where it was I wanted to be, and what it was i didn't want to be.

Having the epiphany was strangely comforting.

It also gave me a renewed sense of hope. 

And the rest of the day passed better after that.

I wish I could say that I did a lot more during the time I was there, but truth is I spent much more time slacking in the room- reading, watching cable, munching snacks and drinking up all the instant coffee- instead of wandering about the neighborhood like a tourist (even a staycay one) is supposed to do.

I'll do that next time.

Because the 'hood of Tanjong Pagar is quite a fascinating one.

On one side you have International Plaza, which leads you to the CBD streets of Anson Road and Robinson Road and which you'll find are literally empty and silent on a Saturday evening. On the other side past the Guocoland building, you have Maxwell Chambers, Maxwell Road and Amoy Street Food Center, which then leads you to Amoy Street and  theThian Hock Keng Chinese Temple.

Nearer to Carlton City there is Tras Street, Tanjong Pagar Road and Duxton Road. The weekend vibe here is great, and I might have hung out had I been in a better frame of mind. After all, this is a place where the shop houses have their own interesting stories, there are the Korean BBQ restaurants, the millennial style cafes and the one thing that Tanjong Pagar Road is famous for- the bridal shops.

There're nuggets of history in the 'hood too.

Right at the back of Carlton City  on Peck Seah Street is a 195 year old Chinese temple that goes by the name of Seng Wong Beo and which is quietly known for the practice of marriages between the non-living. And then somewhere behind the housing board flats there is little Yan Kit Road with the still-standing structure of Yan Kit Swimming Pool that marked one of the first few public swimming pools in the country. You could venture further out, of course, towards Keppel Road, and take a peek at the old Sin Chew Jit Poh Building (now a co-working space, I think) and the Customs House (which I don't know if it is still in operation)

One thing about this place though- there isn't much shopping to be done. 

In fact there's hardly any shopping at all.

On a weekday you might have something at International Plaza, or you might have something at Tanjong Pagar Center. But weekends are notoriously quiet in this area, and other than 100AM which has a supermarket, a Daiso, a Don Don Donki, and a few other shops, there isn't anything much.

Opposite there is another supermarket, a couple of bakeries... and that's about it.

The only shopping I did was at Don Don Donki and Daiso, and which I'm glad I did, because both stores are bright, the jingle at DDK is cute, there were no crowds, I could take my time to appreciate all the merchandise in the stores, and I got to do what I had wanted to do for a very long time- buy salmon sushi, salmon belly sushi, prepackaged meals, snacks, bottled drinks, and then tapao them back upstairs for dinner.

But I didn't eat in the room.

I ate at the picnic tables out by the pool.

street Cats of the 'Hood

There are many cats in the 'hood where our officetel is.

They're community cats, meaning that they've been checked, clipped, and are allowed to freely roam.

It also means that there is a group of dedicated feeders who come by nearly every evening with little dishes of cat food, watch them eat, clear the dishes after they're done, and then leave behind only little bowls of water so the cats can have a drink as and when they want.


They're a welcome sight in the 'hood.


Over the last couple of years, these cats have become more than just street cats. They have become friends. They're also friends with a good many people. We've seen the cats run over to individuals whom they recognize, and a charming sight it is.


Not that you'll find them there all the time, though.


Afternoons, especially, are pretty challenging if you want to see the black and orange cat. More often than not, we've found ourselves wandering up and down in circles around her usual space, meowing unabashedly, calling her name loudly- only to be met with no cat.


Not that she isn't around, you know.


She is.


Just that she is under some parked car in the driveways of the houses, or under some parked car right out there on the road, and she doesn't see the need to come out from her shady hideout just to see two humans whom she knows have not brought any snacks for her.


Very practical, this cat, with strong survival instincts.


The other cat that hangs out in the area is the grey-black one.


We dont' know if the cat is male or female- we assume that it is a male. It doesn't matter, of course, but it is just funny, because their behaviors are so different.


Whilst the orange and black one hides under cars to avoid the hot afternoon sun, the black one stretches himself out comfortably on the wall of the terrace houses and goes to sleep.


That's how we found him on this particular Saturday afternoon.


On top of the wall of the house, snoozing, with his long tail hanging down.


So, being the mischievous ones that we are, we went to tap his tail.


But this cat recognizes us and knows that we mean no harm, so all we got was a startled leap and a squinty GLARE before promptly going back to sleep.


The other cat, however, heard the commotion (if you can call a soundless event a commotion), popped out from wherever she was, did a jaunty turn around our legs, and then settled down on the ground- facing the other way.


Yes, she is one jealous cat.


Looking at the last picture, you can well tell.

NDP (tanks) on Our Streets

The country held her Bicentennial celebrations in the summer of this year. Well, technically it wasn't a summer, because there aren't seasons in this little red dot of ours, and where once we used to have at least June monsoons and December monsoons, climate change has made it such that we don't know when it will rain, when it won't, from where the winds will blow, and from where they won't.

Still, weird weather patterns or no, life goes on, and so starting from June, there were activities and celebrations all around the island- with the singular intention of kicking us all into high patriotic gear.


Can't say that their efforts didn't succeed.


There was quite a bit of excitement with the AR thing going on at Fort Canning, and although I don't know how theirs works, utilizing technology to reveal nuggets of history right on-site where it actually happened is remarkably fascinating. It must have been quite a success- they've extended it to December.


I didn't do the AR thing.


There was no time- and okay, it was because I didn't fancy prancing about Fort Canning Hill by day or *gasp* in the dark of the night armed with a phone to see history come alive for the sake of seeing history come alive. Yeah, I'm a bit dull like that.


What I did do, however, was to get myself (on foot) from Bugis to Suntec City just so that I could capture these pictures you see above. It isn't every day I get to see them (thank God) and neither is it so that I can simply waltz into Sungei Gedong or wherever it is they are housed to see them up close and take pictures, can I? The original plan had been to go to this particular bridge on Nicoll Highway- that's where I'd been when they made their last appearance in 2015- but that height grants me only a top-down view, and someone had told me that you could get a closer look at these military machines if you stood outside Suntec City where the Duck Tours were.


True enough, the intel- I got close enough to get a great look at the barrels- less than two meters away they were- and had I not been so self conscious, might have whipped out my phone and done a selfie the same way the others around me had done.


But I was content to take a picture. Even if the picture was one of those one-shot things that you do, hope you got it right, decide to edit the heck out of it later, and move on. No time (and no permission) to ask the personnel to please sir move aside, you're in the frame, you'e blocking the barrel, so yeah, I'll just have to take it that the uniformed dude photobombed.


The rest of the pictures I took randomly as I moved down the  pavement right outside the Mall. I've no idea what these machines are, actually, and neither do I know what they do. I'm just glad that no one stopped me. :D Frankly I had no idea whether my camera was permitted, or not, but after three clicks and two deletes, no one approached me, so I continued. Then again, even if they had tried, well, whilst as a good citizen I would have politely complied, it would have been pretty hard to tell the same thing to the bunch of excited Duck Tour tourists who came up right behind me snapping away happily with their phones. There were quite a few of them, mind, not just one or two, male, female, children, adults, all hailing from countries large, very large, small, and very small.


I guess it is an opportunity for them as much as it is for me.

Just one thing: As a civilian, and a female to boot, I would have loved to get even closer to these tanks, but hey, this isn't Army Day, only ten minutes before they roll, and I didn't want to be breaking any rules, so yep, we've all to be content with seeing these shiny, polished, olive green machines camouflaged amidst the citified structures of LTA road fence and NParks-planted ferns. :)


A fact which, when I think carefully about it, I don't really mind, for is not being able to take my own sweet time snapping pictures of these quietly parked tanks outside Suntec City Mall in the Downtown Core, the essence of Singapore's National Day after all?

a dinner Escape to One Farrer

This place at One Farrer Hotel just off Serangoon Road has become one of my (new) favorite places for a dinner buffet, and long, I hope, may it stay that way.

Escape might not be one of those dining places with heavy plates, elaborate decor and formal service, and (frankly) it may not be the likes of what you will find at Marriott, Sands, Swissotel or Hilton, but it has a homely, cosy, quiet, out-of-the-way, nook-in-the-corner sort of vibe that at once makes you feel comfortable,  relaxed, and at ease.


The colors in the restaurant are inspired by nature, in earthy shades of brown, orange, mustard yellow, blue and green.


And their buffet offerings are a wonderful combination that invite you to partake of the Earth and the Sea.


On one side you have the Asian cuisine that includes roast duck, roast pork and roast chicken, as well as (on occasion) cute little paus with fillings of coffee and yam, and little dumplings filled with either prawn, or chopped chives.


Then you have zichar-like dishes on the other side, where one gets stuff like fried rice, fried noodles, steamed pieces of fish (really large ones) along with other stuff like sweet and sour pork ribs and steamed vegetables.  


A staple offering that they have are the Indian dishes, particularly South Indian, where tucked at the corner are pots and pots of chutney and curry, a platter of naan, a platter of briyani, lots of vegetables, yogurt, and on occasion, some sort of kebabs on a skewer.


What I like are their seasonal offerings.


We went there at Christmas, and they had brussels sprouts sauteed with honey, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted pumpkin, chestnuts, sauteed onions, and an entire serving platter of shepherd's pie. I remember the brussels sprouts particularly well, because even though I'm not a huge fan, they tasted so good I took an entire plateful, accompanied by chestnuts and two spoonfuls of shepherd's pie.


Good idea I did, too, because I've been back there twice since then and there have been no brussels sprouts on the menu, much less those sauteed with honey.


And yet, disappointed I am not, because what keeps me coming back here for dinner are their salads, their sashimi, their desserts, and their selection of fresh seafood.


Now, some of us might say that these aren't that big a deal- most buffet spreads have them- but here at Escape they've been prepared with a lot of heart, and I love that.


In fact, their salads are one of the first things you see when you approach the buffet table. Served on ice next to the platters of cut fruit, everything is kept fresh and cold. Salad is a meal that you can eat alot of, and not worry about being filled up. It doubles up as an appetizer whilst you figure out the rest of your meal, and there is something refreshing about filling your plate with crispy, cold romaine lettuce, olives (I only like the black ones), kernels of corn, chickpeas, kidney beans, feta cheese, alfafa sprouts, dashed with a generous dose of olive oil. There is also something cleansing in having chunks of fresh rock melon, a forkful of chilled papaya salad, a bit of creamy pasta salad, bean salad, and a couple of potatoes tossed with some sort of salad cream.


Centrestage is their seafood- and quite a variety they have of it.


If you're someone who digs fresh prawns, mussels, cockles, snow crab legs and freshly shucked oysters amidst other varieties which I now suddenly can't remember, here's the place to be. I don't take everything- too lazy to crack the crab legs that's why- but oysters and prawns dipped with Thousand Island sauce are frequent favorites, and between me and my dining companion... let's just say that we can take a few plates. 


Same thing we do for sashimi- we always have salmon, we take by the plateful- and if there's salmon belly, straight to it we go. :)

Of course, impossible it is to leave a meal as great as this without dessert, and here they do have interesting selections that combine the palates of the east and west. There're cakes all nicely sliced- sometimes there's red velvet, sometimes there's cheesecake, sometimes there's matcha cream cheese, and very often there's chocolate. They have three flavors of ice cream that rotate from time to time.


If you miss the typical desserts from Chinese restaurant dinners, sometimes they might have a big pot of almond jelly with lychee that you can take as much as you like (no restriction to just one bowl!) There's mango pudding. There's pandan pudding. There's jelly for those who like it. During Christmas they had the additional selection of gingerbread cookies and M&M chocolates.


And then, to satisfy the sweet tooth of the South East Asian vibe, there's durian pengat, served in cute little one-shot glasses, decorated with a little leaf on top, and which I think is best savored bit by bit instead of slurping it up all at one go.

Celebrate a Birthday!

We had not planned to have Japanese.


In fact we had not made any special dinner plans at all.


Sure, there would be something- after all I am not the type to go past a birthday without a celebration however big or small- but what it was we were going to do, where it was we were going to eat etc etc, I didn't know.


Not that I didn't ask.


I did.


Several times, truth be told, but (with everything that was going on) we decided to keep the choices open, and play it by ear when the time came.


And so as it happened that we were in the Bugis area on the evening of the dude's birthday, we did a quick app runaround, and decided on this little Japanese place over at DUO.


Main attraction of the restaurant apparently was the beef, which was the only thing that the dude wanted for a special dinner, so yes, that's what we ordered.


Two dishes, one of which came served to us as little chunks on wooden skewers arranged neatly over a beautifully patterned blue plate a la elegant yakitori, and the other, a thinly sliced filet of sorts laid out invitingly on a little ebony platter.


The meat was (naturally) tender, perfectly grilled with that delicious hint of burnt fat on each cute little chunk, and the flavor of the beef sliding smoothly off the skewer.


The place called for decorum and elegance, and so whilst elsewhere I might have simply grabbed each stick and munched my way through it, here I found myself reaching for the chopsticks to slide each chunk off the skewer, and then picking it up it piece by piece up before savoring the flavors of the grilled beef.


We had fried rice with cute litte pieces of wagyu beef too, and can I tell you that even though it looked like it was just plain typical fried rice, it was in fact really quite good? It wasn't the Chinese wok kind we have at the zichar stall. Here each grain of rice had the roundedness of taste, there was a whole load of egg, and the whole dish felt like it had been delicately prepared over a carefully controlled flame.

There was one thing I was determined to do this year- get a cake. Because previous years we had done the cake together with dinner when we were at Marche, and the last year we got a block of Walls Vienetta ice cream chocolate flavor, but since this year it was "anything goes", I wanted to do a cake.


Which we did, a day or so later, at Cedele, where the dude made his choice of a chocolate and hazelnut something slice, and having heard lots about kombucha, got ourselves a bottle to share.


Very raspberry, very lemony, in short, very sour.


But very fun. :)