Sometime in July...

Me: So dar, got anything planned for this August?
GW: *smile* Maybe. Why?
Me: Oh.... nothing la. It's ok if you want to surprise me
GW: *thinking hard*... Hmmm...

SO on that blissful (took leave heh!) Friday morning, I was greeted by a knock on the door & something tt came in a Zara bag:


Mai siao siao, my man can do origami k! 3D and proportionate somemore!

I burst out laughing when I saw it again (I say "again" cos I had unknowingly twisted off the head & tail to get to the foie gras contents & GW had to resculpt it back, make sure I saw the swan, make sure I took time to appreciate it, then allow me to tear it apart) Apparently, takeaway at Italian restaurants comes wrapped like this. Now you know =)

Guess what's inside (no, it's not foie gras, though I did cross my fingers like sooo hard)


Scrambled eggs with capsicum, shittake mushrooms & topped with lumpfish roe. YUM!! (trust the man to incorporate veges into this)

Poor Dar woke up late that morning & had to rush to prepare this for our brunch & cab all the way down =P

I was about to clear the utensils when I saw him doing this behind my back:



And presenting it with a flourish later:


I shall call it "Guowei's virgin vanilla Panna Cotta with strawberry wine sauce"

Ok before you guys laugh at the pic, let me tell you it's not an easy dessert to make.

It's about finding the balance of ingredients at the right temperature that when made perfect, makes this such a light creamy surprise that leaves a cool vanilla-ly trail down your throat.
It's also the reason why I savoured every delightful mouthful at the Botanical Gardens cafe on V-day and was still gushing about it for weeks after.

For a first time effort, it's really quite good. Plus, nothing beats having homemade food in your belly. There's a special warmth to it, like having mum's home cooking.

Touched =) *blows kisses @ GW*

Later...

We met again ard 6pm for our reservation at Wild Rocket. We got lost around Sophia Rd and had to take a detour around Upper Wilkie Rd & climb a long steep flight of stairs (rather drafty so ladies, take caution you don't do a Marilyn Monroe like I did) all the way to Hangout Hotel.






If I'm not wrong, we were sitting right here =)


Whipped out the camera while waiting for the food.

Don't want to AA (dress so nice... unglam la!) so didn't use flash in all the pics.
Pity though cos the shots are quite blurry =(


And a friendly waiter (with shaky hands grrr) came along.

Appetizers


His: Grilled tofu baby spinach salad with drizzled chinese miso: S$8.50



Hers: Salmon affumicato with drizzle of cream and alfalfa: S$11.00

Mains



His: Lambshank with mashed potato: S$24.00
Glass of house red (a merlot, I think): S$12.00


Hers: Crabmeat linguini with chilli tomato cream: S$18.80
Glass of house white (a lovely fruity Sauvignon Blanc): S$11.00
(Note: Best to go easy on or omit the alcohol if you're sensitive to allergens. You'll see why later)

Desserts


His: Bubur pulut hitam with coconut icecream: S$9.00


Hers: Kueh Buloh Tiramisu: S$9.00

We did some measure of damage to his pocket that day but it's all worth it =P heh!






Even the discovery of a red rash did nothing to dampen my mood =P

I didn't mean to cam-whore in the ladies but the mosaic design is just too pretty not to use as a backdrop =P I've set my eyes on this for my bathroom walls =)


Thankfully, the rash subsided by the time we reached St James Power Station.


Will definitely return again. This time, during the day.


Next stop: Wild Oats, which is just a stone throw's away.

Dim Sum Dollies: The History of Singapore
6 July 2007, 8.30pm

Due to time constraint & laziness to blog, here's a random review from the Internet =P

The Dim Sum Dollies score again with their latest production, The History of Singapore. In the hands of the "naughty, saucy, almost tacky" Dim Sum Dollies, the days of Temasek, Sir Stamford Raffles and separation from Malaya are rich material for hilarious songs and skits. Who would have imagined that the Integrated Resorts were first conceived by an entrepreneurial bunch of opium den, brothel and gambling den owners? Or that the swarthy pirates of the Malacca Straits ran their ship with KPIs and pay reviews somewhat similar to those of the civil service?

With their trademark sassiness, the Dollies flirted lightly with sensitive issues, combining incisive social observations with a whole lotta heart. The skit "Samsui Woman", with its lung-busting showtune, showed us what girl power is about, while "Singapore Girl" featuring the inimitable Hossan Leong as Miss Singapore was surprisingly nationalistic. The underdogs of our history received ample stage time, with rickshaw pullers and kampong ladies sharing the stage with other eminent personalities.

For the latter, most of the skits poking fun at them were pure naughtiness. The hypothetical meeting between Mahatma Gandhi (Hossan Leong) and Mao Zedong (Selena Tan) was completely irreverent - and totally hilarious. In contrast, some other skits, like "LuckiLee", coyly referred to existing political leaders in part-glowing, part-mocking ways without ever making a clear stand. While this was an undoubtedly clever and kiasu way to avoid lawsuits, it also underscores the extent of self-censorship in the arts today. Dollies beware: too much of such prevaricating will eventually take the bite out of your characteristic wit. This was articulate, self-aware fun that was not too precious to omit the occasional cheap pun - which, if used in the right context, can still thrill. The music, which was slightly blander than previous shows, nonetheless displayed a wide range of styles to beguile even the most attention deficit disordered audience. The Dollies belted out overwrought Sandiwara themes, sassy showtunes, moody blues, as well as time-honoured national songs like Good, Better, Best!

Hossan Leong deserves an honorary Dolly-ship for his significant contributions. In History, he practically stole the show with roles such as an effete Sang Nila Utama who prefers to "relak in a corner" than to conquer new lands, a recalcitrant convent schoolgirl, a materialistic Peranakan tai tai, and of course Miss Singapore circa 1965. This vulnerable lass, kicked out of the Miss Malaysia contest after separation, played out our nation's larger separation anxieties, and then paralleled Singapore's nation-building process as she found the strength to stage her own Miss Singapore contest. Leong's presence and comic genius infallibly lit up the stage with each appearance.

Oddly, out of the three Dollies, only Dolly Emma Yong seemed to be on top form, dishing out razzle and dazzle with enthusiastic flourish. Pam Oei wasn't really her usual chilli padi self, and creator Selena Tan seemed a little deflated (notwithstanding her self-proclaimed similarity to char siew pau). (Considering it's my first time watching them, I think all 3 are brilliant! & it's Dua Ba Pau, not char siew pau)

The Dollies, guests-to-be at the upcoming National Day Parade (NDP) 07, have their manicured fingers on the pulse of society and their hearts are in the right places too. Cynics and patriots alike will laugh aloud at the infectious jokes and marvel at the timeless truths revealed through comedy. The only thing really standing between the Dollies and our oh-so-Singaporean desire for world-class acclaim is their less than fabulous showgirl skills. Comediennes and actresses the Dim Sum Dollies are; dancers they are not. While witty lines, Frederick Lee costumes and top-notch production values place the Dollies in the upper percentile of local comedy productions, their ho-hum footwork and unsynchronised routines led to otherwise fantastic skits losing their fizz towards the end, instead of climaxing with a bang each time.

Nevertheless, one could do much worse than the Dim Sum Dollies. At the end of the day, wit and substance are what engage audiences in the long term, and the Dollies have proven their mettle in this area. The Dollies have perfected their winning formula (as the Dollies might themselves say, comedy also need Formula One) and are running with it in the best possible way. Indeed, the Dollies are going from good to better, and hopefully the best.





& this is the kinda shot u get when u dun wanna queue for their autographs =P

Needless to say, I enjoyed myself thoroughly @ the show, what with my random outbursts of Malay-accented English phrases (Pam Oei rocks la!) throughout last month & the youtubes videos this month.

Hmmm... I wonder if CHC Drama Ministry requires behind-the-scenes voiceover...