more macaron madness
brought a box of these sweet babies home from taipei and just couldn’t bear to eat them. i loved them so much when i got them a few days into my trip so i insisted on bringing some back with me. these petite morsels are so delectable – they’re about half the size of what you get in singers, and cost twice as much, but the taste, oh the taste! insanely, sinfully divine. i need to get myself to paris.
quality french food and great value aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. and this couldn’t be better reflected by the french stall, a casual french eatery reminiscent of a local coffeeshop situated in the row of shophouses along serangoon road.
i’ve visited its old location once but that was so long ago i can hardly remember the experience. so in the rare instance that t and i were in the neighbourhood we proceeded to have a late dinner there.
the french onion soup is one of their specials and its just packed with flavor (chockfull of onions and a generous dose of black pepper) and a hearty starter. must admit that i didn’t quite as enjoy the bread that came with the soup and escargots though. speaking of which, the escargots were average at best but i suppose it’s decent for the price you pay.
for my entree i had the pan-fried dory with sauteed potatoes and bacon (they had run out of mashed potatoes but i didn’t mind) and it was soft, tendery and delish. i was sick then but that went down very well, and it was a generous serving too. i probably shouldn’t have had too much of the sauteed potatoes and bacon though but i couldn’t help myself;) t ordered the sea bass which disappeared rather quickly so i’m guessing that must have been real good. we rounded off the meal with the creme caramel which was light, smooth and delightfully sweet.
i think this place drives home the point that french cuisine isn’t pretentious or exclusive in a way that many make it out to be (no snooty waiters here, only helpful ones). the french stall isn’t haute cuisine, nor does it try to be. it’s a great place to relax and unwind in a laidback atmosphere, with no airs about it.
the french stall
544 serangoon road
6299-5344
spotted, and cooed over, in ximending, taipei
utter cuddly cuteness. i want to bring him home!
so in between resting on doctor’s orders i read this beautifully touching novel set in one of my favourite places (washington state) and picked up this dress that i’ve got mad love for. i also think this slashed tee is rad but i’ve got way too much black in my closet so i put it back.
this venerable purveyor of the humble xiaolongbao is another stop you’ve got to make when in taipei. despite it’s outpost in singapore the standard is completely different. it’s next to yongkang street which i made a beeline for three times during the course of my trip because the food there is simply hella good. here’s a tip: go early, before the tourists arrive (11.30am would be ideal), or end up in the notoriously long queue. the place (or the steamed dumplings) is a magnet for hordes of japanese tourists. aunt and i were in the bookstore next door (its got the loveliest chillout music) thinking it was too early for lunch (11am) and by the time we got out a tour bus just dropped off a whole batch of tourists:( but thankfully we were still early enough and didn’t have to wait. it’s kinda small but it’s got about 2 storeys of dining area nonetheless.
on to the food. i can’t think of anything else to describe the xiaolongbaos except in superlatives – they were the freshest, juiciest, tastiest ones i’ve ever eaten, and exquisitely crafted with finesse. also tried the shrimp wanton noodles, where the soup was aromatic and flavorful, and the dish on a whole garnered the same reaction as the dumplings. we rounded off our meal with dou sha baos (red bean buns, not pictured). mildly sweet and smooth filling enclosed in delightfully chewy buns. service was first-rate, friendly and swift (it’s one of those establishments that run like clockwork) to top off a wholeheartedly mouthwatering and fulfilling gastronomic experience.
Location: No. 194 Xinyi Road Sec. 2, Taipei (on the corner of Yongkang Street)
Contact: (02) 23218928
asakusa, tokyo.
haven’t been well since i came back – under the weather, again. in need of lots and lots of rest (to which i’ll gladly comply).
it’s a must visit for any visitor to taipei, and it’s the country’s largest and most popular night market. yet, shihlin was a bit of a disappointment for me but that doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s an experience every visitor should savor during their time there. i found the variety of food repetitive after awhile (so there’s alot of competition among the stalls, with menus thrust in your face everywhere you go) and the quality of food not that awesome as it was made out to be. take the orh jian(oyster omelet), for example. the oysters were puny, and there was more starch than egg, so you were filled up in an unsatisfactory and slightly distasteful way. i did however love the strawberry shaved ice dessert – divine in the 30-odd degrees weather, with a generous heaping of sweet strawberries. and so, i think it’s more about the experience than the food itself: just soaking in the bustling and chaotic atmosphere, checking out the street food, some of which were rather interesting (i did find the stinky tofu to be repulsive), and scarfing down as much as i possibly could (oyster mee sua, orh jian, papaya milk, strawberry shaved ice).
red house theatre, ximending, taipei
is where the humidity is. and the fresh smell of haze this morning was just nasty. i’m slowly easing myself back into reality. taipei was a lovely and much-needed break from everything…it was a week filled with copious amounts of awesome local fare(especially desserts! lots of pics to come), shopping (love the japanese department stores and the wholesale clothing district), celeb spotting, and major major fun in general, as evidenced by heaving overweight luggage. hello again:)
sweet pastel confections from magnolia – so pretty, delightful and irresistable. the bakery’s my happy place. i sat in the park across the road and ate while dodging the flock of pigeons swarming the area. i’ve got a penchant for sweet treats – cupcakes, macarons, and anything with lemons in particular. so for my trip to taipei tomorrow, i’m excited to scope out their lovely desserts, aside from drinking lots of bubble tea, checking out the night markets and doing some shopping. can’t wait!:)
this cracked me up and touched me at the same time. it’s kitschy and witty, yet sweet and inspiring. a long distance relationship is tough, having experienced it myself, but what’s beautiful is the lasting, perservering nature of love, and how through all that time spent apart, you really do come to understand yourself and your partner much better, how much more of an effort you put in and how much stronger it makes the both of you.
credits//design*sponge via antipodean
when i returned to seattle after a month travelling along the east coast, the first thing i craved for was green leaf’s vietnamese cuisine. specifically, that rice dish above…it’s my favorite there. i’m not a big fan of pho but i really liked this prawn and pork chop on rice dish…unfortunately i can’t remember what it’s called exactly. they’ve also got some crunchy spring rolls too that make a great appetiser. (there are a number of pho places in the university district but the food there is pretty much average so after awhile i stopped going altogether.) food aside, i love that green leaf is this charming and cosy nook in chinatown, if you look beyond its nondescript exterior, and the people there are so unfailingly friendly. prices are surprisingly low for the high quality of food they serve. and that’s pretty hard to beat.
at the meiji shrine, tokyo
when i was touring the meiji shrine, i’d the rare experience of witnessing a japanese wedding ceremony. it was very dignified and stately, set amidst the peaceful, sprawling and sacred grounds of the shrine. it was a saturday morning, and there were two weddings going on separately. the pictures don’t capture the exquisite beauty of the kimonos but in reality the craftsmanship that goes into the embroidery and embellishing is elaborate and amazing. that said, i truly relish such unexpected, thoroughly surprising peeks into different cultures – insights that wouldn’t be found in a guidebook otherwise.
bean and bagel, seattle
longing for the luxury of quiet afternoons whiled away in a little cafe, my nose in a book with a cuppa white chocolate mocha topped with a pretty piece of latte art. sometimes accompanied by a lemon bar, brownie or whatever catches my fancy in the display. lost in my own world but not wholly so – i’m drawn to the whir of the espresso machine as it tirelessly grinds beans, the rustling of papers, the low buzz of chatter punctuated with the occasional laughter, the clinking of spoons, the aroma of fresh coffee and toasted bagels, the day’s offerings scrawled in colorful chalk, and the delectable cakes and pastries on display.
missing the city…it’s dizzying chaos, alluring beauty, enduring charm, incredible strength, and neverending surprises.
this is where i lose myself walking its streets, wake up excited at the prospect of each new day, and find myself getting one epiphany after another.
a little street of shijo kawaramachi, kyoto
i admit to being an absolute grouch the past week
but that mood has dissipated after i slept for 10 hours straight last night
such a refreshing feeling.
i definitely need to sleep earlier, but i’m not used to it
then i drag myself out of bed the next day, hating my puffy eyes
i’m just not a morning person.
i was glued to a great book the whole afternoon
took a nap, had tea, watched television, did some trip planning and alot of online (window) shopping
more days like this would be nice.
random trinket shop in kyoto
what a pretty way of displaying and selling sweets…although it must have been tedious work!
having a bad case of hiccups now:(
but it’s finally friday and i get to curl up in bed with a suspense novel and chocolate biscuits.
have a happy weekend!
zao noodle bar, university village, seattle
some crisp, refreshingly light bites while dining al fresco, washed down with a tall glass of thai iced tea. the veggie summer rolls and chicken dumplings are zao’s specialties, and they’d be perfect dishes in summer’s sultry heat. i love how the fine rice paper softens the crunchiness of the veggies (tofu, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, red leaf lettuce and mint) and rice noodles, and the riotous mix of hoisin caramelized onion dipping sauce with crushed peanuts and sambal sounds so delectable on its own.
lastly…added some new links that i’ve been hooked onto reading of late…do check them out:)
Zao Noodle Bar
2630 NE University Village Street
206-529-8278
reflection lakes, mount rainier
everything looks calm and picturesque in this photo but as we stood on the banks of the lake to take some snapshots, there were tons of mosquitoes swarming around. i’d never seen so many mozzies in one place before, and it was quite a freaky sight. the view, though, was totally worth it. mount rainier is breathtaking and summer’s the perfect time to explore the area, scorching 100degree temperatures notwithstanding.
the magic garden, south street, philadelphia
both times i’ve been to philly, i’ve never stayed long/ventured around enough to get a true sense of the lifestyle and culture there (old city, independence hall and the liberty bell probably aren’t accurate reflections). which sort of explains why i don’t have an affinity for it the same way i do for other cities like boston or new york. although for the most part i think it all boils down to personal preference. anyway. a friend brought me to this beautifully gritty mural by Isaiah Zagar, whose art is all over South Street. Crafted from an eclectic combination of bottles, bicycle wheels, shattered mirrors, tiles, and cracked crockery, this kaleidescopic mosaic is oddly charming in all its bizarre, colorful glory. i think it makes some kind of social statement, though i’m not too sure what. i do get a sense that it somewhat reflects the chaos and stream of consciousness of the human mind, or perhaps it expresses the flourishing of the human imagination despite the dreariness of the urban landscape. regardless, it’s pretty mindblowing and awe-inspiring.
cape meares, oregon {along the three capes scenic loop}
i’d a good start to the week, but i think it’s because i slept early last night and felt more well rested than usual. i hardly ever wake up feeling happy on mondays and have to psych myself to be positive. so…starting from this week i’m gonna attempt turning in early and see how it goes. goodnight!
a tale of two cars – the first, i spotted parked outside dean & deluca on fifth avenue. i still haven’t been able to identify it, but it looks spiffy cool, like something out of an action movie. the second, is the jaguar 1963 e-type roadster exhibited at the moma - rare, sleek and such a classic beauty.
cannon beach, oregon
it’s so unbearably hot of late and i’d like to dip my toes into the deliciously chilly waters of the pacific. or maybe immerse myself in it for 10 seconds :p been spending most of today out of the house…where did the weekend go? i wish i could press the pause button stat.
victoria, bc {february 07)
last night i went to wen luxe spa and had the omorovicza deep cleansing facial and eye treatment – a little luxury i decided to indulge in. this was definitely one of the better spas i’ve been to. i love the white spaces, the zen-ness and tranquility of the spa, the friendly service, the soothing products they used (aromatherapy associates for the massage, and omorovicza, a hungarian brand using minerals from hungarian thermal water for the rest of the facial), and the warm and soothing thermal pillow.
my previous two experiences at other spas were unpleasant – overbearing and pushy therapists who were aggressive in selling their products, small treatment rooms, and the noise from outside…certainly wasn’t therapeutic at all. i don’t know why they were recommended in some local fashion mags, but i was glad that my latest experience was a positive one.
so last night i left wen spa feeling happier, calmer and relaxed (with softer, clearer skin and unknotted shoulder muscles/cranium!). i highly recommend it.
i’ve been craving for german food for about a week now, and finally got to satisfy it last night at magma. i decided to go for something more traditional with their onion and bacon flammkuchen, which is basically the german version of pizza, made of a thin crust and baked in a wood-fired oven. t had the chicken breast and cheese one. i was ravenous and started devouring it quickly but towards the end the onions and oil got a bit much for me and i couldn’t finish it. it would be nice to share though…two flammkuchens are overkill, assuming you do order their sausages. they are really hearty, however – rich in flavor with a nice contrast of textures. crisp at the base, moist and chewy on top.
the bratwurst was delicious too, albeit a tad salty (especially after all that bacon), but then most german sausages sit well with me. i couldn’t get enough of their droolworthy potato salad. i can’t put my finger down on the sauce though, it seems a bit like sour cream, or it could be a light mustard. either way i’m starting to crave for german food again.
magma – german wine bistro + shop
2 Bukit Pasoh Road
6221-0634
1st and 3rd from pike place market, 2nd from uw campus
are always an inspiration. even if the photos are a little off (taken when my old camera was spoiled)
these days i can’t get enough of: color, yami yogurt, twirl chocolate, and sleep.
c’est magnifique. sexy skyscraper heels bringing foot fetish to a new high. currently experiencing major shoe lust.
credits// seaofshoes (1st photo) and life in travel via fashionispoison
