redfern/the rocks/random florist in circular quay/manly beach/george street
have been in a pensive/nostalgic mood of late – it must be the rain, but then again, i know i’m ready for a major change, a major yet positive one. also, lots to do in anticipation of the trip…winter makes packing a li’l more complicated, and the guidebooks i’ve yet to thumb my way through. and it doesn’t help that lately i keep on misplacing my things.
“cute’s good. but cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, who are you as a person? that’s the advice i would give to women: don’t look at the bankbook or the title. look at the heart. look at the soul. look at how the guy treats his mother and what he says about women. how he acts with children he doesn’t know. and, more important, how does he treat you? when you’re dating a man, you should always feel good. you should never feel less than. you should never doubt yourself. you shouldn’t be in a relationship with somebody who doesn’t make you completely happy and make you feel whole. and if you’re in that relationship and you’re dating, then my advice is, don’t get married.” – michelle obama, glamour magazine december ‘09
also, i’m headed for shanghai later this week, and i need some advice and recommendations - specifically, where to eat, where to shop, and any other fabulous places i shouldn’t miss out on. thanks!:)
on rainy, dreary days like today, feel-good spots like fika are always a brilliant reprieve from the drudgery. this is a new and relatively undiscovered swedish cafe & bistro in beach road, near the arab street section. the interior won me over when i stepped in – it’s elegantly charming and inviting, with gleaming white countertops, tables, lights, flowers, and neatly lined jars, cups and teapots - clean lines juxtaposed with warmth. today was actually my second time here. my first time was yesterday, when the skies were clear and sunlight spilled in, lustrously bathing the place in a gorgeous glow. it’s just one of those cozy spots i love where you can spend hours losing yourself in conversations with friends over pots of tea /cups of coffee and swedish pancakes.
i tried the swedish meatballs that came with a buttery cream sauce ( i mopped up every bit of it), lingonberry jam, parsley potatoes and a salad. t had the roast chicken thigh (so tender and delish when coated with the sauce) with potatoes and salad. the meatballs yesterday were kinda dry (i wanted to give them a second chance) but today they were done right and i couldn’t get enough of them. i love how lightly pan frying the potatoes in olive oil and maybe a dash of butter makes a world of difference. their desserts look promising too – yesterday i had a warm slice of apple crumble topped with vanilla ice-cream and it was delightful as all comfort foods should be.
fika
257 beach road
best meal i had in taipei, hands down. so good that we rushed there again for a quick meal before our flight home. du xiao yue, originally from tainan, was established way back in 1895, so they’ve certainly chalked up plenty of street cred. their claim to fame is their dan zai mian – noodles in a fragrant shrimp-based broth, topped with this stewed mince meat sauce that’s way more delicious (and absolutely addictive) than it reads, with a dose of vinegar and garlic for lots of good ol’ flavor. you can order it with/without soup, but i think the soup version is a clear winner simply because of the fabulous stock . i also loved the deep fried oysters in all their perfectly plump and juicy, encrusted-with-batter glory. the unusually tender roast fish is another must try. the almond dessert was okay, the right amount of sweet with the loveliest bouncy texture.
du xiao yue
9-1 yongkang street
02-3393-1325
an overcast winter’s day on bondi beach is still quietly beautiful, with the rhythmic lapping and booming of waves against the shore, and rays of sunlight peeking through grey clouds.
on uw campus
inexplicably feeling down this past week. trying not to dwell on the negative or let it get to me. it’s just one of those tiring days, you know? i think i need to head to bed early tonight.
i’m a fan of marc by marc jacobs’ quirky, colorful dresses that are brilliantly infused with a dose of eclectic feminine charm i can’t resist. while online shopping this lazy saturday afternoon i spotted the perfect accompaniment to my classic dr q groovee bag - the classic q natasha messenger bag. it’d be a timeless addition to my bag collection - for some reason classic pieces and staples catch my eye more than of the moment ones, but i also love it when they’re dressed up in some color, which marc really does well, than the same old muted ones. i don’t have much black bags, so i wouldn’t feel too guilty about it, and it’d be so great for dress down days, with an airy blouse and jeans or a casual dress.
credit//shopbop
so on monday, t and i had a self-declared ‘couple’s day’, took the day off from work and spent some major quality time together. for lunch, we decided to stop by twg tea and it’s one of those places that made me fall instantly in love with it. i suppose i’m partial to it’s air of opulent european grandeur, warm honeyed hardwood interiors, marble floors, fine bone china, french music, and glass displays showcasing neatly arranged, delightful tea-infused macarons all lined up in pretty rows, amongst other equally delectable looking tarts and cakes.
extensive doesn’t quite describe the tea menu enough, with a mindboggling selection of more than 600 blends that run the gamut from classic to exotic to rare, served in sleek gleaming teapots. t had this samurai japanese tea while i had the lemon bush tea. we didn’t spend too long to make up our minds nor read through every tea, since we figured we’ll be back here again anyway. although i thought it would be cool (yet ultimately tiring) if they had some kind of description for each tea. i think it would be a really fun job for the writer to dream up far-flung lands and times long past as inspiration for some lyrical lines (something i would enjoy very much), but i digress. both our choices turned out to be very light and delicate, his had a bit of a bitter edge while mine was more citrusy.
for our entrees, he had the piked perch fillet while i had the scrambled eggs with pure saffron threads, accompanied with smoked salmon, shrimp and salad. i felt these were average at best – twg’s strengths lie in other areas, and palpably so. a big plus point was that there was still quite a bit of room for dessert and we had a chocolate croissant and chocolate fondant – a lavish calorific treat to sweeten up any rainy, gloomy monday.
twg tea
ion orchard
#02-21
6735-1837
overdosing on lactose at once upon a milkshake, a new milkshake and ice-cream parlor in town. had a strawberry milkshake, with vanilla and rum and raisin ice-cream. very rich, thick and creamy but wholly and indulgently fabulous. my only grouse - the uncomfy chairs and somewhat awkward layout.
once upon a milkshake
32 maxwell road
#01-08 maxwell chambers
homey italian fare is the heart of osvaldo (formerly of forlino), and i think it truly delivers. we had a meat platter to start, followed by seabass for t which looks deceptively insubstantial but leaves you nicely filled up and satisfied. i had the hard-to-photograph yet totally awesome dish that made my night – the boat pizza with parma ham. it’s calzone-inspired, except that instead of resembling a curry puff it looks like a boat, hence the name. honestly it didn’t look impressive when it was first served but when i started on the pizza i was genuinely surprised by how seriously good it was. beneath the parma ham is where all the magic lies - a perfectly balanced (and terribly addictive) combination of cheese, sauce and a thin chewy yet crispy pizza crust. fresh from the oven, ripe in juices, flavors and aroma. and that’s the thing i like most, osvaldo bills itself on simple italian home cooking and the food really, really shines.
osvaldo ristorante
32 maxwell road
#01-03 maxwell chambers
(behind red dot)
6224-0978
rediscovering an old favorite – korres basil lemon showergel. i really dig the scent – it’s light, refreshing and invigorating in an understated kinda way – lemon laced with basil and aloe. also, it leaves your skin feeling so incredibly smooth, relaxed and comfy.
credit: korres
hot chocolate, marianne’s special (swedish pancake with strawberries and ice-cream) and 3 little pigs in blankets with apple sauce
when’s the last time you sat down to have breakfast? that was a good three months ago for me, when i was holidaying in taiwan. in fact, going on vacation is probably one of the rare times i have a sit-down breakfast. i miss those. most days (weekends included), i stand by the kitchen sink and scarf down soft-boiled eggs or eat my cereal in between prepping to go to work. sitting at my cubicle eating sandwiches while reading the news does not qualify. pathetic, i know. these days, i long for a slower pace of life, when i can dawdle a little, luxuriate in having nothing to do/nowhere to be, slowly pore through the papers, to just be still for awhile and soak in the honeyed sunlight spilling through the windows. and then maybe crawl back into bed for a bit. everything else can wait.
when i visited the oregon coast, i fell in love with the breakfasts at pig ‘n pancake. cannon beach is one of those few breathtakingly beautiful attractions with nary a recognisable commercial name in sight for miles. except maybe for pig ‘n pancake which has three outlets along the coast. it’s a bright, airy and casual spot with a treehouse feel, just a short walk away from the beach, and it’s extremely popular with families (but that can be overlooked given the fabulous comfort food they serve up). they’re famous for their homemade specialty pancakes (the ones we sampled had a deliciously fluffy and light texture), of which there are many variations to to try.
Pig ‘N Pancake
223 S. Hemlock
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
(503) 436-2851
at the MOMA
caught what are possibly my two favourite movies of the year over the past week – 500 days of summer followed by julie & julia last night. highly inspiring, wholly satisfying and witty visual feasts with lots of comedic moments and paired with awesome soundtracks…i need to watch them again. also, loved zooey deschanel’s eclectically feminine vintagey wardrobe.
i think i need to take up some form of exercise soon-ish, i’ve been in a sluggish state for way too long and my level of fitness is practically nonexistent. in fact i cannot remember the last time i engaged in some form of sporting activity that does not include walking to the train station back and forth during the weekdays.
reminiscent of old world glamour and dripping with sophistication. i love how you can pile everything on at once…i’ve found that layering necklaces can be a chore, because i sometimes spend so much time untangling chains that i don’t feel like wearing them anymore. which has led me to use a better, organized system, but somehow, i still do quite fancy these “put together” pieces.
credit//banana republic
…where troubles melt like lemon drops
tonight t and i were just talking about how much we wanna go back there, – it’s definitely a happier place for us (also, the weather isn’t as dreadful as everyone thinks) and i’m mad about its offbeat culture, laidback pace of life and the plethora of gorgeous scenery that comes with being surrounded by water and fringed by mountains.
in the photos above, i’ve captured one of my favourite things to do – spending hours at the waterfront. i love watching ferry boats ply the bay, the occasional sailboat gliding across glittering waters, the loading/unloading of goods (and the cacophony that often comes with it), daydreaming and staring out at the horizon, and soaking in the general bustle of this awe-inspiring place.
aren’t these buttercream confections the best moodlifters? too pretty to eat, yet irresistably delectable at the same time. i recommend the red velvet lovelies, although i’m sure everything tastes pretty darn good. this airy and light-filled 1940s-style cupcakerie also has a party section with the quirkiest collection of cards, curios and one-off vintage finds for your little soiree. positively delightful, even when it’s a party of one.
trophy cupcakes
1. wallingford center
1815 N45th Street
Suite 209
2. university village
eagerly anticipating the weekend – nothing exciting planned, i’m really looking forward to watching 500 days of summer with t, having some peace and quiet, curling up with my magazines (i have some from past months still in their wrappers!) and catching up on gossip girl/entourage/the hills. due credit for this lovely photo goes to my bro who snapped it in good ol’ madison.
uw campus
where the light feels purer somehow, and where, even in the throes of winter, there’s still an unmistakable beauty about the place.
shrugging off the last week’s nasties and starting this new one on a fresh clean slate i.e. whip some order into my (recently) incredibly messy life. i have been so out of it lately.
mad love for balmain as always. am laying off the heels for a bit though, after this week’s unforgivably long hours walking around in them.
and on a wholly appropriate note: why do women wear crazy shoes?
credit//net-a-porter
golden gardens park, seattle.
the past few days have been crazy, with back-to-back-to-back events (the preparation is insane), and it’s not over yet. also, walking around in heels all day has left me with aching legs and i can’t wait to just go back to my usual routine of wearing flats. actually i can’t wait to have some semblance of normalcy again. so tonight, in spite of everything else that needs to be done, i’m giving myself what i most need right now – some good ol’ sleep.
what a grand and pretty statement piece…a bib necklace adorned with strands of pearls. looking for more of such pieces (albeit affordable ones) to add to my collection.
credit//anthropologie
with cookies, soothing music and long random conversations on a friday night.
mozzarella cheesesticks, mushroom bruschetta, spaghetti bolognese, lobster and crabmeat ravioli
the set lunches here are ridiculously good value for money, understandably so since it’s location puts it awkwardly out of reach of the general human population, unless you’re a tourist. we were the only customers there on the day we went, but that meant more privacy anyway. on a whole the food’s pretty decent, good quality for what you fork out. i couldn’t get enough of the cheesesticks, strawberry milkshakes and ravioli.
senso bistro
#01-03 singapore flyer
6338-8550
