Last Of The Italians

After packing most things in Grandpa's house, we had to get dinner and I thought we might try another Italian restaurant, Enzo, that I spotted while on our bus rides around town. It was a short walk away, and we got it just as it started to drizzle. 

At the table was a small bowl of olives, which dad and I just ate while we waited for our orders to be taken and arrive. We got the Duck Salad and Mussels that was listed on their specials board. Dad chose the Penne Amatriciana, while I asked for a Spaghetti Aglio Olio con Pepperoncino, and chose a Tiramisu for dessert. We were both really hungry and it was a good thing the food arrived just as we finished the olives. 

The salad was simply flavoured with shaved Parmesan and a lovely drizzle of balsamic vinegar, balancing the sweetness of the duck and the peppery Rocket. Dad was just looking forward to the pasta and mussels and I was lucky enough to get almost the whole salad to myself. The mussels soon came and dad was raving about the bread served with it. It must be mussel season around here, and so the mussels are all quite plump and sweet. The bread they served with it definitely tells you how good their pizzas will be. It was soft on the inside, with a really crisp shell, and it sopped up the lovely tomato-infused mussel sauce really well. Dad wanted to order another order of the bread but stopped himself as his pasta was brought to him. 

Their Amatriciana was absolutely perfect with enough sweetness and a slight zing from the tomato sauce, the richness and saltiness from the bacon, with that lovely touch of spice from chillies. It was so good, dad did not bother too much with the mussels after. My pasta was a little disappointing. The pasta lacked flavour, like someone forgot to salt the water, and the garlic did not cook long enough to give a nice fragrance to the whole dish. Good thing was I had the lovely mussel sauce which I used to add flavour to my pasta. 

Finally, we finished the dinner with their tiramisu, which was soft, smooth but a little too sweet. The ladyfingers were well-infused with coffee and liqueur, mascarpone was thick and creamy. I would say this would be second place when compared to the other tiramisu we have had during our stay here. 

Bit Of Fun In This Old Town

Everyone was talking about the Weymouth Beach Motorcross event for the past week, and even the guest house we were staying in was at full capacity for the weekend. There were some events along the esplanade yesterday afternoon, also a lot more motorbikes running around town, both livening up the usually quiet beach.

Dad and I were on our way to get the bus to the Weymouth Sealife Adventure Park but ended up watching a few races. It was quite fun and exciting, and there were a few close calls when as some bikes got stuck in sand, others trying to pass the stuck bikes, some falling at the bottom of a mound and almost being squashed by the bikes trying to fly past. There was sand being blown everywhere (still wondering if the child's ice cream had an extra crunch) and some bikes even started smoking after crashing. The atmosphere was a big difference from the rest of the week, very lively with supporters laughing at their friends who fell while racing, and the bikes were loud!

We did not stay for the rest of the races, but we managed to catch the happy winners walking off with their trophies when we took shelter from the bad weather at the Weymouth Pavilion.

Supermarket Education

I had been wondering if I could grow samphire after having some in the bowl of mussels the other day, and I found out I most likely would not be able to while on a walk around Morrisons today. While looking around for interesting things to cook with, I came across this and realised why it fit so well in the mussel dish. It tasted a little like coriander and parsley, took on the flavours of mussels really well, and was a little saltier than the mussels. Now I know why it was saltier than the rest of the dish. 

Best Dorset Cream Tea Ever!

The bus that stops at the Portland Bill Lightbouse only operates during the summer, and the closest bus stop is too far away for a walk in the current unpredictable weather. Since we still had the car for a few hours, dad and I took the opportunity to have lunch at The Lobster Pot, which is just next to the lighthouse. 

Grandpa was the one who first took us to the Lobster Pot for lunch, and it was here that I had my very first scone in England. It is also the same time I had my very first taste of clotted cream - EVER! Every trip back to England since that first taste, I have returned here just to have their Dorset cream tea, but I also cannot forget to mention that their AWESOME crab dishes - crab salad, crab cakes and crab sandwiches - anyone of which can fill you up, so save space for dessert!

One thing is guaranteed about their scones, and that is they are freshly baked. You can smell it in the air around the restaurant, feel it as you cut through it, and taste it once you take your first bite. Spread a nice thick layer of the buttery clotted cream, add just a smear of strawberry cream. Then all that is left is to take a bite and let the fireworks explode in your mind. 

Om Nom Nom....

Final Resting Place

We left Weymouth right after breakfast and drove as fast as possible (trying not to go over the speed limit) to Lymington. It was important that we did not miss our Wightlink ferry to the Isle of Wight as today we were interring Grandpa's ashes. His wish was to have his ashes interred next to Grandma's and that was in Northwood Cemetery, which is also where most of Grandpa's family is buried. 

After picking Granduncle Geoff from his home, he directed us to the cemetery, and we met up with the funeral directors from the Co-operative Funeralcare and the volunteer from the Friends of Northwood. Everything had been prepared and all we had to do was pass them the casket and whatever else we wanted buried. We managed to find Grandpa's first pair of shoes and they placed it nicely with his ashes. There was a short prayer read, and we each took turns to throw in a little bit of soil as we let him rest in peace. 

We also found a rather unique picture of them that had been printed on ceramic, and mom thought it was the best thing to put at the grave as it would be able to withstand the weather for a few years. We asked them to set it into the ground as they covered up the grave and it was done really nicely. 

The only thing we forgot was to get some flowers. 

Awesome Crab Pasta

After mom and sis left to catch their flights home, dad and I rented as we would need to leave early for the Isle of Wight tomorrow. After getting things settled, we decided to take a trip to Portland and I was looking forward to eating at the Crab House Cafe that was along the route. Sadly, it was closed for their mid-day break, but the nice chef recommended a place down the road at Chesil Beach. 

We found ourselves trying to find the driest and highest parking spot (flood warning signs everywhere) next to the Chesil Beach Centre. After struggling with flying doors, errant parking tickets, and just fighting the wind that was trying to keep me away from the centre, I finally got there and we were just in time to put in one of the last orders of the day. 

Taste Cafe shares its premises with the Chesil Beach Centre and while we waited for our order to arrive, we had a quick walkabout, learning some really interesting information about the area. I got a bowl of their soup, which happens to be a hearty vegetable one for today, a pot of tea, and their Crab and Prawn Linguine. Since we have not had any food since breakfast, the hot food was a warm welcome for our stomachs. The soup was a simple mix of seasonal vegetables, served with a crusty, yet soft, cheese scone. The people around Portland sure know how to make their scones! The scone and soup could have been a meal in itself, but I had to share it with that once I had a taste of my pasta. 

The crab pasta was simple, well seasoned, and it just allowed the flavour of the crab and prawns to shine through  The portion was also quite big, and thus, I was pushing dad to finish the rest of the soup. This bowl of pasta is something I would definitely battle the winds, and even a flood for. These people in Portland sure know how to use their crab meat too!

Om Nom Nom...

Back For More

I almost always post photos of the food I eat and one of them was a pot of mussels dad and I had finished the other night. It was followed the next day with another photo of the lunch we had, which also included mussels. The pictures got my sister craving a little for mussels, and when I told her that one Il Porto had her favourite pasta, the Puttanesca, she was all in for a stroll to Brewers Quay. 

We head there for dinner this time and the entrance was still a little dim even with the lights on. The waiters still happy and really friendly. I spotted the chef, who looked as grumpy as he did before, but smiled a little when he realised dad and I returned with more people in tow. The waiter who served us before brought the specials board over and got our drinks order while we decided on what to eat. 

Other than the mussels and Linguine Puttanesca (that came with spaghetti instead), we decided on getting a Scallop and Prawn pasta that was listed on their specials board, as well as a Spaghetti Bologna. The food did not disappoint, and the mussels were actually fatter and sweeter than the ones we had for our previous visit. Must have been something about the change in weather that made all the seafood a lot sweeter, and the seafood dishes were all on the specials boards, so they must be there for that good reason. 

The pastas arrived a little later and my sister was really happy with her the puttanesca. She would have probably finished the whole plate by herself if she did not intend to try the other pastas, or eaten half the bowl of mussels already. The pasta had little bits of anchovies, was randomly dotted with capers, and had enough olives for every forkful. The sauce clung nicely to the pasta, and every mouthful was had a slightly different intensity of flavours from the next. The sauce for the spaghetti bologna was different but just as rich, cut through by the acidity from tomatoes, which balanced perfectly against the sweetness from the meat, onions and garlic. 

One thing I love about their pastas is that the sauces are not too watery and you get all the sauce you need clinging to every mouthful of pasta. No need for extra bread, a spoon, or worry about splattering sauce all over your clothes. 

The last dish was one of the specials for the day, done simply with just garlic, basil and white wine for the sauce. I loved this dish the most as I prefer my oil-based sauces most. Give me an Aglio Olio over any tomato, pesto or cream sauce any day (and everyday)! The only bad thing was the breadcrumb mix on the scallop had absorbed a little too much alcohol, which gave a shocking sharp assault to the nasal passage. Well that was easily resolved by pushing the mixture aside and just enjoying the lovely scallop beneath. 

Dinner had to end with their tiramisu, and since dad said he could finish one by himself, we decided to have two orders of it. 

Om Nom Nom....

Time To Say Goodbye

It has been over a month since Grandpa passed away, and the day has finally come for us to say goodbye. The day started out wet, and we were hoping that the rain would go away before the funeral started but it seem to be getting heavier as we looked for all his photo and medals for his memorial. Finally, when it was time for us to head over to the church, the heavy rain lightened to just a drizzle. 

We got to the church and it felt a little odd when everyone turned around as we walked into the hall, but I guess some were curious as to what the family looked like since most have never met us. The requiem mass was done according to Grandpa's wishes, and it felt solemnly grand. Eulogy was given by Father Stephen Geddes, who peppered it with some interesting details that even we did not know about. The weather cleared up while we were in church, and the sun came out as his coffin was brought out to the hearse. The bishop and deacons said their final prayers as we all shed the tears we had been holding back, then it was time to head to the crematorium. 

It was a short ride to the crematorium and only a few friends came to see him off. I thought it was odd that Pearl asked if they could come to the crematorium, but I think only family usually attends this bit. He was brought into the hall with "Don't Worry, Be Happy" playing, and I think it lifted everyone's spirits. In attendance were Grandpa's old navy friend, his fellow inmates from Swannery Court, Ray, Pearl and Paddy, and Father Geddes saying the last goodbyes and prayers. Everything was over and "Time to Say Goodbye" started to play. 

I did not realise they cleared everything from the coffin until I saw the yellow rose and carnation spray outside with Grandps's name behind it. We did not really know what to do with it and decided to leave it with the church instead. We then head back to the church, where all the others had stayed, to attend the wake. I was really looking forward to the food because we had not eaten anything since breakfast and the day had been draining, however, we still had to "entertain" the people who came to mourn Grandpa. The were those who were genuine, and those who just wanted to get some gossip, but I just stuck to eating and whoever wanted to interrupt me, tried while I stuffed my hungry self. 

Once everyone left, we made our way back to the room and were quite glad that everything was done and all went well. Now we were just left with interning his ashes. 

Another Italian Meal

My mom and sister arrived late last night, and since we could not do anything in Grandpa's apartment during the weekend, we got them a pair of FirstWeek passes and went exploring. After finding almost everything in Weymouth closed after breakfast, we decided to head to Dorchester as I read that there was a car boot sale on. My sister also wanted to get her shopping list cleared and she had all the shops she wanted in that town. 

After she got her shopping done, we needed lunch and was thinking of eating at The Horse with the Red Umbrella but it was closed. We ended up at Prezzo at Judge Jeffrey's as it looked like it was the only restaurant that served something other than sandwiches. 

For starters, we got the Proscuitto and Melon, and their Calamari. Did not think that I was supposed to share my melon, but mom decided she wanted to get in on the delicious salty-sweet pairing. My sister had the Lobster and Crab Tortelli, dad chose the Spaghetti Bolognese, while mom and I shared the Penne Arrabiatta with the addition of Buffalo Mozzarella, and the Spaghetti with Lobster. Other than dad sticking to his own plate of pasta, the rest of us ended up swapping plates as all the dishes were so good, and that goodness NEEDED to be shared!

After having the Tiramisu at Piccola Italia and Il Porto, we had to try one from here as well just to compare. We also ordered their Citrus Tart just to try something different. Both desserts were a bit disappointing, and mom was the harshest critic of all. The tiramisu was obviously cut from a big tray, and this one was a little dry. Even the mascarpone layer was a little dry, which made some mouthfuls a little grainy. I wanted the citrus tart to be a little more tart, but it was just slightly too sweet. The crust was thick and sweet, which is fine, but with the thick layer of the sweet lemon curd, it was a little too sweet in the end. Dad, however, found it perfect for his sweet tooth and finished it all. 

Om Nom Nom...

Bottled Beefy Goodness

Went out exploring this morning with our FirstWeek pass, and on our way back from Dorchester, we decided to stop at Pets At Home to get something for Adi's cat. The same area also had a Tesco housed in the next building, and since we had to wait about thirty minutes for the next bus, we decided to get some supplies. 

We realised that supermarkets in England stocked Bovril with the products to make stock and sauces, and we finally found the bigger bottles of Beef Bovril in stock. I was considering clearing the shelf but I was saving baggage limits for the squeezy bottle versions. In the end, we still bought ten bottles as there are too many people back home that actually love the one with Beef and not some yeast paste. 

Also, after making my version of Ajitama Tamago, I need Bovril for great tasting marinate to make some awesome eggs for ramen. Three loves in one bowl.... Mmmmm.....

More Italian Food

Dad and I got ourselves the First Dorset Weekly pass today and were exploring the Portland area by bus as we were thinking of heading to Portland Bill. The weather got bad as we got closer and everyone on that bus decided to head back to Weymouth. Once we got back, I told dad I wanted to go look for the other Italian restaurant I was thinking of eating at, and that we could also explore the area as it was supposed to have some interesting shops. 

We take the bus to the town bridge and take a walked a short distance to get to Brewers Quay, and before I could point out Il Porto, dad saw the sign for a D-Day Museum and HAD to go in. It obviously was a small museum as he came out in about ten minutes. I wondered if his stomach was growling, as he should have taken a much longer time in that museum.

Anyway, we get into Il Porto, which has a really badly lit entrance, and were greeted by a pair of really happy wait staff even though it was almost time to close for their mid-day break. We end up ordering the Prawn and Crab Penne, White Wine Mussels and a Tiramisu from their special menus, and only the Fusilli Arrabiatta from the main menu. 

Everything was awesome! The mussels were really fat and sweet, and their flavours blended perfectly with the onions, white wine and samphire. The penne had me wondering if there was any crab in it, but with every mouthful, you were guaranteed that it is THE main ingredient in the sauce. I have a feeling they used a whole crab for each plate of pasta. The two prawns on top did end up looking like decoration on the dish though. The fusilli was really flavourful and I could taste the bit of spice in it. I thought was much nicer than the one from last night, and dad agreed but I think it was because they used bacon here instead. 

Had to finish the meal with a "standard" Italian dessert and this one came looking quite standard, like a piece cut out of from a big tray in the refrigerator. However, ladyfingers were well soaked and full of flavour, the rich mascarpone still soft and creamy, and well balanced. The whipped cream on the side would help make it lighter if you preferred it as such, but I liked it nice and rich as it was. 

Definitely coming back. Om Nom Nom...

Birthday Dinner

It has been a crazy month since we learnt of Grandpa's passing and things were dragging on so long that I thought we were going to have the funeral today. However, we had to push the funeral a few more days because my sister could not fly in that quickly (thankfully). Anyway, the day was uneventful, and I was looking at a few places to have dinner because I wanted pasta. I found a few places and we ended up at Piccola Italia for dinner. 

We were greeted by a really friendly waiter with a really cool afro, had our coats hung up and got to choose the table we wanted. Guess it was a quiet night compared to the reviews I had read. I already knew what I wanted as I had gone throughout the menu while looking at the website and dad decided to just let me choose everything and just share. 

So I ordered their Mussels, Penne Arrabiata and a Tiramisu. I forgot to tell them not to add cream to the mussels but I was lucky it was actually cream and not milk, so it didn't affect me much. The Ciabatta was really nice, and I was considering ordering another one but the portions are quite big and pasta was on its way. The pasta sauce was good, but the chicken just did not do well with the whole mixture, probably because it was a bit too chunky. However, it was a good thing we skipped the bread because dad was really filled up after the pasta, but as always, had room for dessert.  

Dessert was a strange one. I think they made it to order but they did not let the ladyfingers soak in enough liquid. The balance of flavours was lovely, but the ladyfingers were still hard and we had to be a little cautious breaking them to fit on our spoons. To think we let it sit a little while more as I took photos and they were still hard. Well, it still tasted good though. 

Om Nom Nom...

Cheap Spider Prevention

We were walking around town this morning and popped into the florist to have a look if they might have any seeds and bulbs we could grow later. The staff there were really friendly and were not bothered by us just having a look. What caught our eye was this box of horse chestnuts and the sign with it. We had to ask how they used it as I only know it was either eaten, or used by Brendan for a childhood game. The nice lady explained to us that you just had to leave one chestnut in any corner that spiders might like to comfortable in and they will not go near it. Some people say you might need to drill or poke a hole in them - possibly to release something that the spiders dislike. Anyway, if you have a spider problem, these nuts might just be a good, eco-friendly, and rather long-term solution. 

Breakfast Of Champions

After the long journey we had, dad and I went to bed right after settling into our room at the Charlotte Guest House. We woke up quite early the next morning, too early for breakfast in fact. There was no clue what breakfast we would have, but I was happy to just have scrambled eggs and toast. Once we head down to the small dining area, we were met by Martin who made our order of two large English breakfasts. 

I really did not expect to have breakfast with such an interesting presentation. Toast was well buttered, everything hot, and the eggs were fried with lovely soft yolks. The rest of the table was simply set too. A bowl with instant coffee, tea and sugar, a thermal pot with hot water and a small jug of milk for you to make your hot drink the way you like it. Another small bowl had condiments, while another had jams to spread on your toast, and also a jug of orange juice to accompany the rich breakfast. 

This is definitely a good start for every day. 

Om Nom Nom...

Still Travelling

Dad and I have just completed the flight from Singapore to London which took about thirteen hours and now we are on the next leg of our journey to Weymouth. We have got two bus rides to go; one to Bournemouth then onwards to Weymouth. 

Sitting at the back of the bus reminded me of the bus trip from Paris that Angie, Adi and I took almost one year ago. Oddly enough, that trip to England and Paris was the only trip here that was an actual holiday. 

Time to get a bit more sleep. 

Airport Indulgence

It is time for the flight out to London and since we had dinner before checking in, dad and I were looking for a place to sit a chill before the long flight. Dad was considering having a beer and while he went to check out the Tiger Signature Bar, I was at Dunkin Donuts looking for the one donut I will always get from them. Good thing for me was that they had it in stock, and we ended up having dessert and drinks while we went over plans for our trip from Heathrow Airport to Weymouth.

Something sweet to start a trip that we all were not looking forward to.

Another First

Was out with mom getting a few things ready for the flight to England when I had a craving for a chicken burger. We were in Westgate and I thought I would try one from Texas Chicken. I ordered their Mexicana burger and did not really know what was in it, but it looked good. As usual, burgers from fast food places rarely look good, and most times rather disappointing. Anyway, the burger tasted alright but it seems to have the fried tacos missing, or they just turned soft while it was being transported home. 

Would I order this again? If it was in the building when a craving hit. 

Om Nom Nom...

Something I Learnt A While Back

Wanted to have a hot pot today and I asked mom to get a few bunches of this pungent leafy vegetable called "Tang Orh". When I was younger, I only saw this vegetable on the menu during the Lunar New Year reunion dinners, or only get two leaves (it is that rare) in a bowl of liver soup from the Bak Kut Teh stall. It has a slight antiseptic pungency to it and I guess it probably helped with the bloody offal flavour of the liver. 

Recently, NTUC has been stocking quite a bit of it regularly on their shelves, but it is apparently a Japanese breed which is quite thin and looks a little more delicate than the ones I was used to. It tasted just as good though, and that was more important anyway. 

While in Australia, I found that they had the opposite, a giant compared to the Japanese ones. Seems like everything in Australia was bigger. It was also in Australia that I realised, while walking through Bunnings, that it was called Garland Chrysanthemum. 

Now I've got some seeds and I wonder how big mine will end up. 

The Other New Pack

Wanted something to munch again while watching more episodes of The Blacklist and I had another pack of Twisties to try. This time it is the Chili Cheese flavour, which was a bit of a let down. It did not have enough of spiciness nor did it have enough cheese flavour. Compared to their original flavours such as the Chicken or Curry, this pack felt like there was just too little flavouring for the amount of the crunchy corn bits in the pack. Probably would skip this one in the future. 

Destructability Tester

If any company needs to test how easily their toys can be destroyed, and how fast it can be done, they can hire Barkley. This was a snorting pig toy made for dogs that originally looked like this. It's a rather big toy, yet it lost its head just minutes after Barkley got hold of it. Worst still is that the head has a slight rip in it and can no longer fit nicely back onto it's body. It still snorts though. 

Something New Again

Saw some Twisties on sale while shopping at Giant yesterday and bought the two flavours I have not tried. Picked out the Lime Chilli-flavoured pack today and snacked on it while watching the first season of The Blacklist. The taste of each of the two listed flavours were detectable, and they complimented each other really well. The chilli was not too spicy (for me anyway) and the tart lime just made me want to eat more after every mouthful. Was not very long after that I finished the whole bag. 

Om Nom Nom...

Something New

Went to Giant today and found a pack of wholemeal croissants on sale. I would say it is probably the first time I have seen a wholemeal croissant in Singapore. It would definitely be the first time I am tasting a wholemeal croissant. 

The croissant still had the flaky layers, but it was not a buttery as most croissants are. It was also a little more heavy. I could see this getting popular, but it was in the sale bin and I think it was due to pricing. I could not see what the original price was, but on sale at $3.05 for five croissants, it was a good tester. 

The Only One Car

While watching the Singapore Grand Prix this evening, I was once again treated to a few laps of my favourite car in the whole race - the safety car. I do not have a team that I support for the race as I am really not a big sports fan. I do enjoy nice cars though, and the race cars do not interest me much because they would be unrealistic to have on normal roads. However, when the first night race was telecast in Singapore, and the safety car was brought out, I found the one car in the race I would love to be in. Also it is most likely the only Mercedes I would want to drive as well.

If you were driving the safety car, you would always be at the front of the race and it would still be going rather fast. Not only that, you get to test the track out before anyone else! So it is not always a bad sign when the safety car is out on its run.

Caveman Tools

After all the walking on Thursday, and the uncomfortably small chair I had to sit on on Friday, my back and legs were hurting. I needed some love on my feet and I managed to find one of my best tools to get all the knots out. This is one of the many odd shaped stones in my collection that I use for  getting rid of odd knots in my feet or my butt. It might be a little caveman to some, but when something works good at getting rid of pain, it should not matter. What is the use of having a sleek-looking, vibrating massager when it just tickles rather than relaxes your muscles. My stone collection can not only get right to the point, they can be heated, and there is no need for batteries. 

Sometimes the most bassl things are still the best. 

Winning Again!

My uncle had asked if anyone wanted to join them for the F1 Practice sessions today, and I decided to let my dad go in place of my cousin since he wanted to see some cars zooming by. We then receive another message asking if anyone else wanted to go as another uncle could get another pass from a friend. Well since it was free, I might as well use it!

So today I head to the Padang area and I was lucky enough to get a pass for the grandstand, which meant I had a seat. A seat I really really needed as the walk last night hurt my back a little. The seat was not the best spot as it was right at the point the cars would speed up to the sixth gear and trying to get any good photos was tricky. Worse still was my camera battery died just as I was getting better shots. 

Oh well, I think I did good for a first time. 

Winning!

Checked my email the about two weeks back and thought that I had received another email that deserved to be chucked into the spam list. However, I got a little curious when I saw the preview saying "congratulations on your win", and wondered what interesting story I would be reading. Upon opening it, the logo for the Singapore Grand Prix loaded up, and it got me really excited. I had actually won tickets to the Pit Lane Experience and quickly checked to see if the instructions to get my tickets were legitimate. 

Only after receiving the email with my tickets did I think to check if I would be back in Singapore for the event. I posted a screenshot of the win and I suddenly had people asking me to bring them, but I already had someone on my mind. My one camera whore, the one who will pose with anything and everything, Adi. 

So we started our journey by taking a really slow walk from the Singapore Flyer (where we saw Vettel), through Suntec City, and finally reaching the gate close to Nicoll Highway train station. We were forty-five minutes early and while waiting for the gates to open, people started forming two lines, one which snaked almost halfway back to the train station. Finally the gates open and we were greeted by the sounds of Wicked Aura Batucuda and a line of stalls selling merchandise for the teams. 

I wanted to get a tattoo, but decided that the designs were quite boring and I was more interested in getting some drinks into my system. In the end, we walked past the merchandise and head towards the food. In the end, we head past the food and got a glimpse of the safety cars passing by as they were doing their laps round the track. There was a few activities available, and lots of photo opportunities throughout the area. Entertainment that night was also alright, but the pit lane walk was definitely on everyone's minds. 

After the safety cars were done, the track was then open to everyone for a walk around the pit lane and even before it was open, a line started forming. Adi and I decided to get a few more photos while we waited for the line to shorten and managed to get rather good photos without anyone blocking our view. That was also the time she also tried her hand the Pit Stop Challenge - changing the tyres for a Formula One car. 

We end up getting in at the end of the line and it was really bright, so bright that I doubt the drivers can actually see anyone in the grandstand. Bright enough that my transition glasses got a few shades darker than it should. Saw Vettel (again) as we were walking towards the pit lane. As we got to the pit lane, it seems there were some teams waiting for something and we soon found out that they were actually waiting for everyone to leave so they could start work. Well it seems that Torro Rosso did not really care about everyone taking photos and videos and scared everyone when they tested their airguns. 

Would have been a really great experience if the ushers were a little more organised, but we saw what we wanted to see, and probably more. So I would say we enjoyed ourselves. 

Don't Judge A Dessert By Its Sloppiness

It's the final day at HIMSS AsiaPac14 and we were allowed to have food from the buffet line again. Today's they had Creme Brûlée, and it was one of the dishes I tried last year. I actually did not see any of it as most of it was already gone by the time we were allowed to have our fill, but thanks to Noel, the resident sweet tooth, I found out about it and hunted it down. At the same time, I managed to get some fresh fruit, which was also finished at the other buffet lines. 

Well by the time I got to the creme brûlée, there was only bit I could scrape off the sides of the bowl, but still managed to get enough for myself and Noel. It might look like broken curds, but it was still rich and decadent.

Om Nom Nom...

Less Work, More People Watching

It is my third day at HIMSS AsiaPac 2014 and the number of passes to be printed are dwindling down really fast. After the first tea break, there were not many people coming by the counter for their passes or for the complimentary parking coupons. So since 10.30am, it was getting rather quiet at the counter and all I could do was people watch and doodle. It got a little more interesting when a media group set up right in front of the registration counters for their interviews. I could not hear any of them, but it was interesting to watch how television interviews were done. The final interview ended with the crew acting like children, testing out a pair of Google glasses one of the speakers had. 

Boys and their toys.

Pizza Testing

The plan was to send Angie home right after work today and we ended up kidnapping my mom, and having some drinks at Dome UCC. The idea was to have dinner there, but Adi was closing up and suggested we head out for dinner. In the end, we decided to try Pizza Hut's new Cheesy 7 Pockets pizza. 

The idea of having a cheese-loaded pizza is heavenly, but there is still a chance where an ingredient can just spoil the whole pizza. That ingredient is their tomato base. It was too tart, and a little overpowering for the mild mix of cheeses. The mix of cheese did their job of melting and stretching, but the flavour was just a little too one dimensional, therefore murdered by the tomato sauce. To be honest, I made the pizza taste better right at the table by adding a simple ingredient, and most likely will just make my own seven-cheese pizza with some stinky Stilton instead. 

A Year On

Before I even left for my trip to Australia, Angie asked if I could help out at this HIMSS AsiaPac 2014. I didn't really even think to ask when it was, but since she knew my flight details, I knew that I was going to be back by then. I think there might have been a bit of a worry when they found out about my grandfather's passing, but since things in England seems to be done really slowly, the funeral has yet to be confirmed until now. 

There was a slightly late start today due to some lost sheep, but we eventually got on with the briefing  from the new HIMSS duo. Right from the start, they both gave off a really approachable vibe and the atmosphere was rather relaxed. It was then all about ironing out any kinks in the system and printing out a whole load of passes before we actually started printing passes for all the exhibitors who were setting up today. 

Time passed really quick this year, and I think it was not only because of the amount of passes we were pre-printing, but also because of the really cool team that made work rather enjoyable this year. 

Singapore Food

Decided to just head to ABC Brickworks for lunch today as we had a few things to do around the area. After finding out that the stall selling a noodle I just started falling in love with closed down, I was on a hunt to find something to pique my interest. There was a bit of a musical chair game going on between the hawker stalls. The hawkers selling my mom's favourite soups took over the one held by the noodles. The noodle stall actually took over one selling congee, which moved to the middle lane of the hawker centre. The stall currently occupying the soup stall's former location is selling some dim sum and hand-made noodles. 

I decided to try the Shanghai steamed dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) from the new stall and was pleasantly surprised at both the rich flavour and rather low price. The basket of six tasty soup-filled dumplings was $4, and you helped yourself to the vinegar and ginger. What I liked even more was that they sold the frozen version at $5 for ten pieces. I can see my sister's friends, Simon and Dave,  just wiping the whole stall of its stock in one go. 

Om Nom Nom....

Hopeful Experiments

Bought a few plants back from Australia in the hopes that they might grow in the Singapore heat. Although most are plants that are used to going through the four seasons, I am hoping that they will get used to this climate since they are rather young plants. My blueberry plants are already bearing some berries though, and I'm hoping that they will survive long enough for the berries to ripen. The grapes seems to have a few leaves shooting out, and I shall take that as a good sign. Stevia is a little young, and seems to be enjoying the morning sun so far. The only one is the spaghetti squash, that is currently out in the open and hopefully there is enough sun for it. 

Fingers crossed....

Waiting For The Plane To Arrive

Dad and I went out in the afternoon with Aunty Nene for a late lunch and were still quite full by the time we were dropped off at the airport last night. I decided to get Brendan to drive through Zambrero so he could get his dinner, while we can get something just in case we get hungry before our flight. That plan of mine worked out great as our flight ended up arriving a little late and we got hungry while waiting for it to arrive. I was still eating my burrito when it was supposedly time to board, and I think I had some rather hungry eyes staring at me. 

Om Nom Nom...

That Versatile Recipe

So after attempting tacos, I thought I could probably make a pizza for my sister's lunch with that one super versatile burger bun recipe. The base was made by placing it in one of the microwavable lunch boxes which was obviously rectangular. The mixture puffed up after it was cooked and they could have been considered thick crusts. All I had to do in the end is top both bases and chuck them under the grill till everything melts and turns a little brown. 

Think I will make these for myself as well!

Test Kitchen 17

My sister has been saving old bananas in the freezer and when questioned, she mentioned that they are still good for making banana bread or muffins. I got bored again and decided that I might try to make a banana bread she could enjoy. So I looked in my current favourite carb-free recipe blog, Comfy Belly, and found good, and really easy, recipe.

Other than chopping up the nuts and adding it in the batter, I just made a later on top, but I did put chocolate chips in it still. Banana, chocolate and walnuts just go so good together! Anyway, baked it and it was perfect - until I tried taking it out of the pan. Seems like I didn't put enough oil at the base and it got stuck and broke in half as it dropped out. Anyway, it tasted good, and that's the most important thing. The only thing better is to pan-fry a slice with a little salted butter.... 

Om Nom Nom...

Thai Inspired Salad

I bought some long beans and mango yesterday thinking I would make a green mango salad for my sister's lunch. I'm not sure how the mango got so ripe so quickly but it was too soft for the intended salad and I had to change it up a little. Also, dad was using up all the prawns I had been buying and I was left with almost no protein to add to the salad. 

Good thing I fond some frozen scallops while digging through the freezer and found some button mushrooms in the vegetable drawer. The mango ended up as part of the dressing, along with birds eye chillies, onions, fish sauce and a little palm sugar. And along with the long beans, everything was just tossed together and I had a really tasty midnight snack.

Om Nom Nom...

It Took Three Days

Had been thinking about having some good ramen since I discussed it with Angie and the closest I got was when I made some instant ramen and added my Bovril-infused egg. I decided I wanted a broth that was not made from a powder so I got a big pack of bones, a good roll of pork, and lots of garlic! 

Well after boiling the bones, garlic and some root vegetables for more than a day, I strained the broth and prepared my pork roll in it. After a few hours, the roll was taken out of its hot tub and was sent into the oven. Eggs were prepared and left to marinate overnight. 

So finally three days after the first boil, we are having ramen for dinner!

Om Nom Nom...

Bloody Good Burgers

Had planned to go out and get myself some new glasses at SpecSavers as my current pair is a little scratched up. They were also having a promotion which would get me two pairs for the price of one. Brendan had also planned to get some things from Bunnings and I thought it would be better if we just went out for lunch. Since we had a discount coupon for Grill'd outlet that just opened in Ocean Keys, and I wanted to have some really good burger, I suggested we go there, and there was a very quick agreement from Brendan. 

The menu had expanded since I last had some burgers about two years back and the little additions are great. They made an option to have sliders and you could choose to have two or three sliders from a list of four. Best thing to choose when you can't decide on just one of their yummy burgers. 

Om Nom Nom...

I Was Bored

After making my sister's lunch, I got a bit bored and decided to make dessert. It was supposed to be a muffin, but I stretched the batter for eight to make twelve, making them rather tiny. I then stuck two together with some of the chocolate frosting, then just topped it with frosting quenelles as I did not want to bother piping. 

The first time I made these, I used sugar-free syrup, which did not turn out well as there was not any sweetness except for the Nutella I used for frosting. Using honey this time, it was actually not too sweet, even with more honey in the frosting. Got to make these more often. 

Om Nom Nom...

Another Charity House Visit

My sister asked if I wanted to go to another home viewing with her tonight as Brendan had made plans with his friends. This house was going into an auction for the this year's Perth Telethon which will help children and young people. It was in a location that is currently being built up and is one of a handful of finished houses in the area, most of which are show homes. It is quite close to the sea, but I could not see it from the house. The master bedroom did have a little park and playground for its view, which was rather pleasant. 

The skylights in the master and kitchen were one of the feature sin the house I really liked. There was also the little window between the kitchen and living area to keep and unrestricted view of your favourite shows while cooking. Another spot was a little nook right next to the kitchen that had data points and power outlets - perfect to keep your computer with a recipe page blown up on the screen while you cook!

These charity home visits are getting quite fun. 

In Loving Memory

How do you tell if someone has really passed on these days when the only clue you have is from someone leaving a condolence message on their Facebook page? That was exactly how I found out about my dear grandpa's death, and the only confirmation I had was through a news article I found while trying to find a way to get in contact with someone in England. Finally the lady who left the message replied my enquiry and it was just great that she happen to be living right across from the first person I thought of while finding out about his death. 

Well in all confusion, frustration and sadness about grandpa's death, it is good to know that there are a whole lot of people who loved him as well. Seems like every where he went, he managed to make a few good friends. 

Rest In Peace Grandpa. Hope you're with grandma and smiling that big, beard-covered smile. 

From Television To Lunch Box

Was watching Rick Stein's Far East Odyssey on television when my sister got excited about a cured beef dish that is inspired by his trip to Cambodia. She even recorded the show just to make sure I will know how to make it and turn it into a salad for her. So without bothering to look of the proper recipe, I tried to follow as closely as I could to his instructions buy watching the segment a few times. As she can't eat bean sprouts and had to replace that and used spring onions which we already had. The most important thing was to get the beef cured in the lime and lemongrass mixture.

I tossed everything together and took some out for my sister's lunch. I then decide to have some for a midnight snack and found it went really well with a handful of baby spinach. 

Om Nom Nom....

Attempted Tacos

I decided to try making tacos with the burger bun recipe I used the other day for my sister's lunch. After microwaving a thing circle of batter, I draped them over a stick and managed to get them to curve without breaking. However, after preparing the filling, I had a little trouble stuffing them and ended with flat taco bases to fill. Good thing is that they were quite pliable and were still aright being gently folded in half for packaging. Completed the meal with a bit of baby spinach and quick corn guacamole. 

I Love Them Rolls

While shopping for groceries, my sister and I spotted the sushi counter in Woolworths and thought we would get something to eat from their display fridge. The pickings there are not as varied as what we have in Singapore, but they were definitely more interesting and all have a typical Australian fusion twist to them. 

My sister bought Fried Chicken Maki which had crispy garlic toppings, and a tray of assorted sushi. I chose the Smoked Salmon Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll (very American), both wrapped in rice paper instead of rice. The smoked salmon roll was quite nice and a really refreshing change from the usual pork or prawn rolls. The tuna roll was not as nice as the tuna did not have enough flavouring in them, let alone spice. However, I just love my rice paper rolls and still enjoyed them both.  

Om Nom Nom....