Last weekend of May

We're already at the last day of May. It seems like just yesterday was labour day. Now we're moving on to the last month of the first half of 2010. Does anyone else think that time is flying by as well?

Much has happened during the Wesak weekend.


1. Blood & organ donation. 
I have donated blood every year since 2007 as part of my individual Social Responsibility (SR) Campaign. This year was no different, I made my way to the Utama Buddhist Centre in Bandar Utama to do my part. Only this year, I had a different memory - I fainted. Hehe. Quite a dramatic story. One that earned me the nickname Ms. P (Ms Pengsan) from the bf. Ish.

My little squeeze doll

2. Penang getaway
Right after my blood donation and fainting fiasco, we made our way to penang to join my girlies and the bf's boys. 3 days 2 nights filled with food, girlie time, group charades, 1 fainting fiasco and more food. :)

Smooth journey on the way there. Can't say the same for our journey back on Sunday. 

We ended the trip in Ipoh for their Chicken rice / hor fun for dinner. One reason is also to beat the on going jam back to KL.

3. Wooi Teng's wedding
I attended one of my uni mate's wedding tonight and it certainly felt weird knowing that your peers are slowly getting hitched. One by one. Like in a marching line.

Her 2nd wedding dinner (I missed the first one last week) was held at Selayang Palace. It was such a challenge finding the place. Four cars including mine got lost, overshot the turning and had to make 2 U-turns. I made a few more prior to that. But I must say, the food there was really good. 

The first dish: 2 dishes of scallops, some fried thingy, lobster meat (I think) and fruits in thousand island sauce

The beautiful bride, Wooi Teng and her lucky husband.

So tired.. I haven't had a proper rest even though we just started the week from a long weekend. Gonna go crash now.

Good night all! Have a great June!

Food Talk in Saigon

I am back from Saigon. Yummy yummy Saigon. Although I was not able to tour around this trip to visit the underground tunnel where the people hid and live during the war (apparently, it's just like a city below) and many other attractions, I have had the pleasure of satisfying my palette.

Pictures paint a thousand words, so lets have the pictures do the talking.

The hotel I stayed in was a 1 star boutique hotel, but I must say it has 5 star service. Every morning, I get room service breakfast. Nice way to start the morning. 

Continental breakfast & Vietnamese Pho Er

On the 2nd day, we had a barbecue pork rice for lunch. It looks simple and plain, but trust me, it tasted wonderful! Sweet and salty with the smokey barbecue taste.

The same place serves one of the best homemade yoghurt. So of course, nothing that is labeled 'best' goes untried right?

That night after our meeting, we all adjourned for team dinner at a Czech Republic Beer Hauz. One of the first Czech eatery and brewery in Vietnam and also where the Czech Republic Consulate is now based.

Bacon wrapped something. Memory of a fish, I don't remember!

Some barbecued fish & Pork knuckles with mash potatoes (if you're a potato lover, you'll love this mash potatoes)

Salmon Roe, Pate, butter and some leaves.

No pictures of food for the third day but I went to a chain restaurant called "Wrap & Roll" where you are required to wrap and roll your own Vietnamese springroll. What interest me was how they take such a simple and traditional food and turned it into a contemporary food concept together with the design of the restaurant itself.

On my last day, my journey of interesting food continues. We went to this place at some back lane at Binh Thanh market and tried some Central Vietnam dishes.

Shrimp + some rice paste + fish sauce + something else | The wanton looking thingy is similar. :)

Some traditional sweet pastry - glutinous-y sweet paste with coconut. I'm not sure what the rest were because we didn't have any space left in our stomachs for them. 

Other things that are interesting in Saigon:

Which side of the road are we in?

RM24 for a pedicure + nail art. This is considered one of the more high end prices. 

Clotheless kids playing with boxes by the streets. 

But after all these, I must say that I couldn't surpress that grin on my face when I felt the wheels of my plane landing on the LCCT runway. One week abroad alone is enough to make me feel all excited to be home where I can share my experiences with people who matters to me.

Pictures!

Hungry boys and girls, the time has arrived! Here are the pictures of the food at Lafite as promised! :)

Try not to wet the keyboard as you drool over these gastronomic images ya! hehehe

This is the Perspex tower of the Showcase Luncheon, where the appetizers and lusty desserts are placed.

California Ball- fresh crabmeat wrapped in avacado and rolled in rice puffs.

My main dish for lunch that day, Beef Truffle.
See the white thing that contains the sauce? That's a bone.

For those who love scallops, you'll enjoy this!
Scallop Tzatziki

Lamb cappucino


******
Good leh!!?!?! hehe.. this is only a portion of what is on the menu. They have alot of unique dishes that have been prepared in Malaysia before! So for more details on its taste and variety, head on over there for your answers! :)

Hahah damn hard sell man. But really, you gotta try it to believe it
I is no lying ok! :p

My first fine dining experience

For two days in a row, i ate at Lafite. Not that i'm complaining, i am merely just gloating. Haha.

Lafite is one of the top fine dining restaurants in KL. What now with its new chef de cuisine, Chef Kevin, it has taken a totally different direction. Every has been twisted. Things that we usually only get to witness on discovery channel, about those foamy food using nitrogen and other creative things, we now can get it in Lafite.

Actually, we're running a PR campaign for it, that is why there are all these food reviews for media that somehow allows me to sit in and host them for a few reviews. Which means, i get to makan for free! Bagus ya? :) I think so too!

But really, you guys should try it out. They are having a Showcase Luncheon right now where it is only RM68++ per person. It includes a buffet appetizer and dessert where its array is fascinating, and also a main course.

However, you can only go for it on weekdays, 12-2.30pm. And they are closed on Sundays. Other than that, you can also go for dinner, where there are more choices and even crazier dishes. It's amazing what this chef whips up!

Just last night, he brought a vase of "pussy willows" made out of chocolate sticks and self-made popcorns, and also a pot of "cherry blossoms" made out of zesty cotton candy and chocolates disguised as sand. Sounds simple rite? But it looks so cute.. and it tastes good too.

Chze Hong, you should go and try it out! haha.. since you love food as well. But, u gotta book first before you go as the place is always full.

It's a good experience. :) I'll post of some pics of it when i can 'get' them. ehehehehe