Basket Case
Labels:
thoughts
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let me tell you more about my yesterday. So I did fulfill one of my long time dreams... yes I caught Sara Bareilles live in concert. And boy was I blown away... she's just so much better live than recorded. Well, I do have the acoustics within the concert hall had a part to play in this AMAZING performance (yes, I was quite amused by her lack of a better word during the prelude to the concert). One thing that enhanced the entire experience was her lovely personality and bubbly jovial self while interacting with the audience. When the sweet words "some people should just mind their fucking business" escaped her lips, the crowd went ballistic ! This was followed by a terrific rendition of 'King of Anything', where the audience participated by crooning on top of their lungs.
You would then ask why do I have an affiliation to Sara'a music? Well, the answer is simple, in 2006, when the song, 'gravity' was released, I took to the song with incredible emotive attraction; probably because I was dealing with an extremely bad relationship there and then. The words that flowed so painfully from her powerful lungs reached out to my wretched soul, soothing the cracks. At least there was someone out there who understood my woes, feel my agony. From that point on, I had recognized Sara Bareilles as an talented song writer and gifted artiste; purchased her album and literally took to reading all the lyrics of her song, developing a deeper understanding for her expressive yet bemusing teasing of words. Somehow or another, I could relate to all her songs, developing a relationship with a different song each time my life reached a crossroad. Some of my favorite songs include 'Love on the Rocks','Between the Lines', 'Basket Case' and 'Say you're sorry'.
And watching her in concert yesterday was certainly an unearthly experience. After a tear-worthy rendition of 'basket case', she followed it with a last act of 'gravity' (extremely wise move). And as I left the darkness of the concert hall into the light, her soulful voice reverberates through my head... somehow or another, I had attained a state of liberty, a mind at peace.
I love you Sara Bareilles.
I'm not an open book that you can rifle through
The cold hard truth that you'll see right to
I'm just basket case without you
He's not a magic man or a perfect fit
But had a steady hand and I got used to it
And a glass cage heart and invited me in
And now I'm just a basket case without him
You're begging for the truth
So I'm saying it to you
I've been saving your place
And what good does it do?
Now I'm just a basket case
Now I'm just a basket case
Miniature living.
·
Thanks Weiyi for giving me a chance to glimpse into the life of an interior design student in laselle. Sure was an eye-opener!
That's Steven... the
Alright. Signing out for some hard work.
Life's all about crazy students and mad ass graphings.
Miss the days of floppy discs and Sticker book collections.
Pigging out.
Labels:
food
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Macpherson Road is chock full of hidden troves and treasures of good culinary finds. Take for example, the kway chap store, part of the pretentious Sinfong "restaurant" that we noticed while looking for food to fill our empty stomachs. Despite it's provocative store display (imagine an eye boggling spread of intestines and unidentifiable parts), the food served was unpretentious and very very good.
WE gingerly placed an order for a mixed platter and two bowls of kway chap with the store owner and hoped for the best. When the assemble of dishes was hoisted to the table, we were taken aback by the abundance of parts generously heaped onto the plate, the savory thick sauce spilling over. In it's companionship, two bowls of kway chap, all for the price of $13. Now that in my opinion was a steal. And this hypothesis was further reinforced after biting into the crisp innards and taking a slurp of herbal broth.
Revolutionary. So this was what the real deal is. This rendition certainly put the mass-produced food court versions to shame. What sealed the deal for me was the unique offering of fried large intestines, which I later found out to be the rectum. Okay, this would certainly make you squirm a little in your chair, but it was so good. Crisp skin followed by a slightly chewy texture. The pork belly as well was gorgeous, I wished we had more of that.
After tucking into our heap-load of food, we were stuffed and thoroughly satisfied. I must admit that the coffee shop's atmosphere allows for the optimum enjoyment of food with it's slightly cooler than normal conditions despite only it' fan installments over head.
Okay, now for something random. here's a shout-out to Dan. Thanks dear for the lovely watch. A lovely Triwa gadget now helms my collection. *beams*
560 Macpherson Road
67441252
8am to 12.30am Daily
Working on my *ROAR*
Labels:
desserts,
food,
restaurants
·
Prior to the main event of fluffy costumes and exaggerated hyena laughter. The three of us had to fill our ravaneous stomachs before the Lion King Musical. Being the inclined foodie in the bunch, I set out to prove to the others that dining within the swanky compounds of the Marina Bay Sands wouldn't garner an astronomical bill (aside from the unfairly incurred ERP and parking charges).
Daniel Boulud has become a synonymous name with the newly introduced food scene in the Marina Bay Sands. First introduced to me via a Television show on the Asian Food Channel, One night in Singapore. Daniel Boulud, a renowned French chef with Michelin stars to his accolades was featured battling the odds on his first visit to South East Asia where he had to prepare and serve a meal for 50 guests in his special French fine dining style. Then on, I was intrigued and perhaps a bit piqued by Chef Daniel's working attitude, thoroughly professional and almost obssesive to details. So, the answer was clear, db Moderne Bistro was where we should be headed.
In this lacquered space, I was a tad confused by the conflicting concepts. French Bistro style with an incorporation of American food...served french style? Now.. what the heck. Just bring on the food.
Our bread basket to start off the meal together with cheese Gougères (yummy).
Starters arrived swiftly at the table along with our assemble of mains. Side note: The speed of the kitchen was amazing. And since we had earlier indicated to the service staff that we would be sharing all the dishes, she instintively enquired whether we would like the burger to be sliced. Upon that request, sharing plated were quickly brought to the table and even though the burger first made its peek-a-boo appearance in its full glory at the tip of the table. I was quickly brought back into the kitchen for some knife treatment. All without the sound of squabbles of hushed hurries from the mutual staff. I was well impressed.
Food wise, we had the Tomato Tarte Tatin. Made of a delicate construction of puff pastry, tomato confit, goat cheese, frisee and basil pesto sauce. This was simply delicious, clean flavors helping to cleanse our tired palates for the meal ahead.
Small eaters beware! Portions at the bistro are rather large in size, so do be cautioned when you place your orders. A good solution would be to share, as we did. Here we had the Duck Confit and the Original db burger. The former was one of the best duck confits I've had. Crisp and evenly browned skin revealing succulent and tender flesh underneath. The crux of the dish would have to be the pan fried potato cubes at the bottom of the dish, soaking in the glory of the juices from the duck. The original db burger was a walloping mess of premium ingredients. A far cry from the sloppy joes served up at tex-mex styled bars. Parmesan buns, beef patty with short ribs and a silver of foie gras tucked away neatly in its center. Not a mind-blowing affair but I did love the steak frites as accompaniment. Those were excellent!
At this point, we were all full to the brim. Still, we had to lay our hands on some of the irresistible desserts. With a rather wide choice of selection, we settled on a juxtaposition of flavors. The Lemon floating island and the flourless chocolate cake(Clafoutis Tout Chocolate), a fine representation of cloud-like lightness versus dark and rich. The former reflected such finesse with its tangy flavors reflecting from both the yogurt sauce and lemon based meringue complimented by candied stewed rhubarbs. My mum couldn't resist wiping out the sauce from the bottom of the dish. The latter, the flourless chocolate cake was good as well, it's center, molten, the reminiscent thought-provoking flavors of intensified dark chocolate going extremely well with the vanilla ice-cream and chocolate sorbet.
Dining at the db Bistro Moderne was a truly enlightening experience, featuring commendable food with even finer service. With it's convenient location just next to the theaters, I'm sure it would continue to rake in the crowds.
Alright, so it's farewell now as we leave to watch the singing animals prance across the Savannah.
10 Bayfront Avenue
#B1-48
The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands
background noise
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A special message for that someone out there who is supposedly busy burying his nose in piles of notes.
For lack of better words
our tempers swallow us.
For if we were to speak,
rattling words of never-ending tongue twisters,
our ears would fold.
An air tight lock to stop the bleeding.
Focus.
Drift. The storm pasts.
Still, I can hear your thoughts.
Like daggers to my heart.
The stirring of pain in your voice.
Impatience.
Is it me?
Am I too difficult?
A tight grasp of hands.
A promise of forever discovery.
Forever love.
Haunts me.
The image clings to my pounding head.
A sway of hips,
a toss of perfectly refurbished hair.
My vision takes a stab at the blur.
The yearn, the conformity.
I am nothing like them.
How will you love me?
Face it,
the truth
I am permanent.
and I love you.
swirling clouds in violet haze
·
Starry
starry night
paint your palette blue and grey
look out on a summer's day
with eyes that know the
darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills
sketch the trees and the daffodils
catch the breeze and the winter chills
in colors on the snowy linen land.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
they did not know how
perhaps they'll listen now.
Starry
starry night
flaming flo'rs that brightly blaze
swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in
Vincent's eyes of China blue.
Colors changing hue
morning fields of amber grain
weathered faces lined in pain
are soothed beneath the artist's
loving hand.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
perhaps they'll listen now.
For they could not love you
but still your love was true
and when no hope was left in sight on that starry
starry night.
You took your life
as lovers often do;
But I could have told you
Vincent
this world was never
meant for one
as beautiful as you.
Starry
starry night
portraits hung in empty halls
frameless heads on nameless walls
with eyes
that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the stranger that you've met
the ragged men in ragged clothes
the silver thorn of bloddy rose
lie crushed and broken
on the virgin snow.
And now I think I know what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
they're not
list'ning still
perhaps they never will.
you never fail to make me see what a beautiful song this is.
and maybe it is right.
They would not listen and they would not understand.
Perhaps they never will.
hold on
·
but your mind is a mile away.
Which planet do you thread on?
Do you see the footprints you leave on the shapeless terrain?
You run for a brief moment,
your hurricane heart skipping a beat.
The thin air revealing no signs of your muffled cries.
Nothing seems to matter now.
The orbital continues.
Glorious rays mapping their paths,
burning their way into the cold shadows.
You feel just like the sun.
From the moment I knew.
I hold on.
Life's a feast
Labels:
food,
restaurants
·
On a recent food galore session at 10@claymore situated at the recently renovated Pan Pacific Orchard, my stomach rode the ups and downs of thrilling indulgence followed by guilt stretchings at the end of the night. I have never dealt well with buffets, now thats the truth. Blame it on the faulty limit receptors.
Together with the rest of the hungrygowhere staff and other invited guest writers, we savoured the offerings of the modern bistro and grill, harboring even greater expectations for the 'plates of pleasures'; after the impressive introduction from our hosts.
As you would see in other international buffets residing in other hotels, there were the staples, mussels, clams, fresh oysters, sashimi, salads, lobsters and roast beef. I must admit that I found the latter rather good, especially with the myraid flavors of seeded mustard in a mish mash of aromas.
In heartstabbing honesty on this page, the rest of the offerings of the hot items on the buffet line were painfully mediocre. I could have ignored those entirely in place of the cold items. These shall not be reviewed here.
The plates of pleasures as advertised came in the daintest of portions. Lovely idea given that you could sample a portion first prior to re-ordering the specifics in larger quantities free flow. The gratinated chilean diver scallops were amazing, the gratin providing a sensous textural contrast to the tender pan fried scallops. My only gripe would be the over use of chinese spinach in most of the seafood dishes making the dressing of majority of them a boring repetition of each other. Discontent aside, I'm moving on the ala carte menu at our beck and call. I bask in the strong spotlight of conciliation.
The oven roasted bonito cod with honshimeji mushrooms, pea spouts (bah) and a garlic shoyu sauce was a sure winner in my eyes irregardless of the rather inauspicious edible flowers garnishing my dish. The cod's fatty consistency accentuated by the sweet salty flavors of the shoyu sauce, it's sensuous characteristics played up by the slow dancing of the bonito flakes straddling it's back. I swooned, pushed away the tiny mould of pea sprouts from underneath and continued in my mild hypnotic act of savouring it's sweet flesh. *two thumbs up*
ooo.. desserts. jars and jars of sweet delights greet the eye. Damm i get distracted too easily.
Okay. So, perhaps some salads to work up and appetite? With a library full of sauces, dressings, oilves oils and ingredients to be mixed in. We went trigger happy on the salad, mixing a kaleidoscope of rainbow colored ingredients and a good measure of bacon bits in for extra joy. Lovely.
In a major operation to taste all the a la carte offerings available to our eager-beaver palates, we ordered, shared and laughed at the table action. The CLAYMORE Grain Fed Australian Beef Rib eyes was fantastic, well aged and featuring a solid cut, swimming in the goodness of the herbed butter melting in it's feverish glory. Another winner was the beer battered black cod fillet with fat chips and tartar sauce. I could wax lyrical about the fries all day long. thick, crisp on the inside with smoky moist innards, i dug in like a hysterical refugee.
The other mains such as the wagyu beed burger came across slightly disappointing with it's premium make up of wagyu beef overshadowed by the doneness and compactness of the patty. So I continued rifling through the frites.
room for desserts anybody? I sure do have some.
A pedestal of assorted fresh fruits and petite sized cakes meets the eye followed by a magical waterfall of death by chocolate. Nothing too out of the ordinary but do save space for a blueberry and peanut butter crepe. made à la minute. resistance is futile.
10@Claymore
Address: 10 Claymore Road, 2F Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
Tel: +65 6831 6686
buckets of emotion overflow
·
Sometimes its hard.
I blink a tear away.
Crying isn't a sign of defeat, it's an act of recognition. Isn't it better than ignorance?
Emotions sets each of us apart. What makes us different from robots if we were to shut them out?
It's okay not to be okay.
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