Friday, February 29, 2008

Sexy spanish littlest plastic bowls - Tast









We self-professed gourmands try as often as possible to prepare from scratch. We shake our head and pooh-pooh store-bought pasta sauces. Canned soups are verboten from our pantries. We cry foul whenever friends try to serve us pizza baked on premade bases. Pasta must be made by hand. So too must our bread be, kneaded or not. Our fries have to be hand-cut, never frozen. And we take great pride in pointing out that the confit de canard we’re serving is home-made and most definitely not from any can.

But then, there are some other foods that we simply accept for what they are. Despite our new-found (and occasionally pretentious) predelictions against store-bought products, we never even think about making these things from scratch.

Like ketchup for example. I don’t know about all of you, but I’ve been pretty happy eating Heinz for most of my life. It’s one of our kitchen staples. There’s always an open bottle in the fridge and often a sealed one in the pantry (running out midway through a burger is simply a no-no). Unfortunately, most other ketchups just don’t measure up to the “thick, rich one”. Most are either too watery and simply unsavory. One of the rare exceptions is a Swiss German ketchup that S found in a gourmet store. It was nice, with a sharp and almost curry-like taste.

Juz recently, Ricky and I have been helping some friends develop ideas for a new restaurant here in Singapore. One of the things that came up in conversation while we were brainstorming food concepts was the idea of serving homemade ketchup. S remembered that Heston Blumenthal, one of our food heroes, had included a recipe in his fantastic book Family Food.

The more I thought about it, the idea of making (and eating) ketchup without any artificial ingredients and preservatives was really appealing.

Heston’s recipe calls for 5kg of ripe tomatoes, which yields approximately 500ml of ketchup. Truth be told, I looked at these numbers for quite a while before finally deciding to actually try making it. 5 kilos of tomatoes is one heck of a lot of tomatoes. And to only get 500ml of ketchup seemed like a whole lot for a whole little, both in terms of quantity and in terms of costs of ingredients. But, I rationalized, if it tasted great, better in fact than any other ketchup that I’d ever had, it would be worth it.

Making the ketchup was easy. But it did take several hours, so be sure to set aside enough time. I suggest using the recipe (reprinted below) as a general guideline. I honestly eyeballed almost all of the ingredients (save the quantity of tomatoes that is), slightly increasing and decreasing some to suit my taste.

The resulting ketchup was delicious. Nothing at all like Heinz, but still gorgeously sweet and savory. The combination of ingredients — especially the mustard, cloves, five-spice, ginger and cayenne — gave the ketchup a spicy complexity. One friend who tasted it said it was more like a thick, slightly sweet salsa than a ketchup. Another said it tasted like ketchup, but one that had a real distinct richness. S liked that it really tasted of tomatoes and not artificial thickeners. It worked beautifully with some fries (home-made of course) and a nice bottle of bubbly (hey, a boy’s gotta celebrate these little culinary achievements). I simply can’t wait to spread some on a burger later this weekend.

(Picture note: The fries and ketchup are displayed in a “Nuevo Doble Bowl”, a beautiful disposable plastic bowl from Tast. Ricky and I first saw Tast products at a World Gourmet Festival event in Bangkok a few years ago and fell in love with them. Until recently though, we had no idea where to get these gorgeous Spanish disposable catering tools. We’ve just discovered that you can now get Tast products in Singapore through Ruiter Far East. We think they look great and our friends have been totally wowed by these cute and sexy little plastic bowls.)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Australian Grand Prix









Melbourne has many special areas worth exploring, some of which include Chinatown in Little Bourke Street, the exclusive ‘Paris’ end of Collins Street near Spring Street, the City Square, city nightclubs, exciting Southgate on the river, the historic Queen Victoria Market (Elizabeth Street), the Botanic Gardens and Arts Center (along St Kilda Road) and leisurely cruises along the Yarra River, which flows along the city's edge.

Come along and be part of the action as Melbourne plays host to the spectacular 2005 Foster's Australian Grand Prix. The picturesque Albert Park will come alive from March 13 to 16 and be transformed into a Formula One world championship race track.
We have been fortunate to secure the best seats at the Circuit. Great views of all the action and good view of the Big Screen.

History
From 1985 to ’99 the Australian Grand Prix was hosted by Adelaide. But thanks to ex-racer-turned-entrepreneur Bob Jane, the action soon shifted to sports-crazy Melbourne. He created a huge ‘thunderdome’ and invented the AUSCAR series.
Between 1956 and ’58, Albert Park in Melbourne hosted a non-championship Grand Prix. But it was only in 1996 that Melbourne revved its way into the world championship of Formula 1 races.

Timings: March is F1 season in Melbourne. The Australian Grand Prix has been the traditional season-opener except in 2006, when the timing of the race clashed with the Commonwealth Games being held in Melbourne that year. The event is held from 15th to 18th March. The Opening hours are:

Thursday and Friday - 8:00am 7:00pm
Saturday and Sunday - 7:30am 7:00pm

The Circuit: The 5.3 km Melbourne Grand Prix circuit around Victoria’s scenic Albert Park Lake is custom-built every year.

How To Get There: Fly into Melbourne at the Tullamarine Airport, 21 kilometers north west of the city. From here you can:

- Taxi to the City Center. From there to the circuit, it is only 2 km.
- Or, you can also take a regular shuttle bus-service into the city.
- One can opt for train or tram. Travel within the city using the free tram services and get off at one of the many stops near the circuit.
- You must buy the tram, bus or train tickets into Melbourne in advance.
- When hiring a car, make sure to pay the automatic motorway toll and keep enough coins handy. There is no parking available near the circuit. So the organizers advise visitors to Melbourne to park-and-ride.


Tickets: You can choose general admission on race day and take a delightful walk around the parkland surrounding Albert Lake. Or you may opt for these grandstands, available particularly at the beginning and end of the lap:

- Fangio Grandstand £190
- Brabham Grandstand £265
- Jones Grandstand £265

Accommodation: Stay at one of the many hotels right near the race circuit! Some hotels you may look up are:

- Albert Park Manor Boutique Hotel
- Bayview On The Park
- Carlton Crest Hotel

The Climate: Late summer in Melbourne is perfect, with long, leisurely days just perfect for a holiday. With additional benefits like friendly people and a party ambience, Melbourne sure does live up to its tag, ‘a great place for the race’.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your sunscreen and shades, and catch the action right when the season opens in Melbourne this March!




2008 Formula 1 Grand Prix Calendar

Country Venue Date


March 16 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne, Australia

March 23 - Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang, Malaysia

April 6 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Manama, Bahrain

April 27 - Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona, Spain

May 13 - Turkish Grand Prix - Istanbul, Turkey

May 25 - Monaco Grand Prix - Monte Carlo, Monaco

June 9 - Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal, Canada

June 22 - French Grand Prix - Magny-Cours, France

July 6 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone, England

July 20 - German Grand Prix - Hockenheim

August 3 - Hungary Grand Prix - Budapest, Hungary

August 24 - Valencia, Spain, European Grand Prix

September 7 - Belgium Grand Prix - Spa, Belgium

September 14 - Italian Grand Prix - Monza, Italy

September 28 - Singapore Grand Prix

October 12 - Japan Grand Prix - Fuji, Japan

October 12 - China Grand Prix - Shanghai, China

November 2 - Brazilian Grand Prix - Sao Paulo, Brazil

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Amara Sanctuary Sentosa










Solmnisation: 14th June 2008, Saturday
ROM Venue: Marriott Hotel
Solemniser: Mr Chan Kai Yau
Solitaire: Soo Kee Brilliant Rose
Wedding Band: Lee Hwa Destinée (18K Gold)
Bridal Shop: Ritz Couture
AD: 14th June 2008
AD Banquet: Marriot
AD Photography: Daniel Beh
AD Videographer:

Love has given us wings

Love has given us wings, and our journey begins today.
Wherever the wind may carry me, I will stay by your side.
Take this ring as a sign of my love.

From this day forward, You shall not walk alone.
My heart will be your shelter,
and my arms will be your home.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Amara Sanctuary Hotel , Sentosa
























Finally got to see the hotel after much anticipation. The hotel still doesn't provide a regular shuttle service unlike Sentosa resort, but was told there's one for staff so took that instead, and was driven to the lobby promptly.

Resort is divided into 4 areas: newly built main building with deluxe rooms and lobby, colonial building with courtyard rooms, villas scattered in front of courtyard rooms, and spa building which is still under construction.

Check-in was rather slow, as the ladies at the counter seemed abit clueless. They should review the check-in procedures because part of it involves tearing off a corner of the registration form and slotting it into the keycard holder. This tearing left scraps of papers on the table and everywhere and it just seemed untidy and unprofessional.

Room alloted was on 3rd floor with a so-so seaview. Though on the small side, it's well designed and effective. Plenty of natural lighting, windows can be opened, and on a breezy day allows good ventilation without the need for aircon.

Bed is fantastic, completely undisturbed sleep even with partner turning and twisting.

Bathroom comes with a tub and separate rainforest shower stall, and generous bottles of fantastic spa-like toiletries. The wardrobe has a dual opening function allowing access from bathroom and walkway, very efficient design. However there's no sign of towel hooks except for railings at the sink, not very convenient there.

Bottled water, orange juice and soft drinks are complementary, which is a nice touch. However, the tv is on the smallish side, and the sofa doesn't come with a high back, uncomfortable for any form of relaxation there.

There are two small pools - a garden 'family' pool, a sky 'adults only' pool (infinity view), and a jacuzzi on the 4th floor of the main building. Even though there's a sign stating 'adults only', but because it was a bank holiday, there were plenty of families, and kids were brought in. The management should look into keep children out of the sky pool area. They can't be seen everywhere. A gym's available at room 411, not sure if it'll be moved to the spa building. A tennis court's available as well, not sure about the charges. Business centre located behind the lobby desks is stocked with mags, books and board games which guests can borrow for free.

Breakfast was boring, nothing to shout about, food mediocre, at least coffee came in a huge presser that didn't require refilling all the time.

During checkout, I informed the concierge of my intention to take the shuttle service to the shopping mall across the island, he promptly informed the driver and promised a wait of 15 min. When the bus didn't appear, he enquired again and informed me that the driver went somewhere else and would arrange for the hotel's limousine to drive us. Impressive.

Did not dine at the restaurants, so cannot comment. But it's got Amara's signature Thanying. The resort's generally got its hardware right, but like all new properties, they need more polishing and evening of creases. That said, I'd hope to see more improvement such as complimentary WIFI in public spaces, greater selection at breakfast, a more exclusive feel within the resort. It should do fine. And oh, the complimentary sentosa passes (unlimited exits and entries for 3 days) are wonderful too.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

86 Rules of Boozing


























86 Rules of Boozing

1. If you owe someone money, always pay them back in a bar. Preferably during happy hour.

2. Always toast before doing a shot.

3. Whoever buys the shot gets the first chance to offer a toast.

4. Change your toast at least once a month.

5. Buying someone a drink is five times better than a handshake.

6. Buying a strange woman a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb.

7. Never borrow more than one cigarette from the same person in one night.

8. When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist. Limit orders to beer, straight shots and two-part cocktails.

9. Get the bartender's attention with eye contact and a smile.

10. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink.

11. Unacceptable things to say after doing a shot: Great, now I’m going to get drunk. I hate shots. It’s coming back up.

12. Never, ever tell a bartender he made your drink too strong.

13. If he makes it too weak, order a double next time. He'll get the message.

14. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.

15. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.

16. If she buys you a drink, she likes you.

17. If someone offers to buy you a drink, do not upgrade your liquor preference.

18. Always have a corkscrew in your house.

19. If you don't have a corkscrew, push the cork down into the bottle with a pen.

20. Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks.

21. Our parents were better drinkers than we are.

22. Never talk to someone in the restroom unless you're doing the same thing—urinating, waiting in line or washing your hands.

23. Girls hang out, apply make-up, and have long talks in the bathroom. Men do not.

24. After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence.

25. It is only permissible to shout 'woo-hoo!' if you are doing a shot with four or more people.

26. If there is a d.j., you can request a song only once per night. If he doesn't play it within half an hour, do not approach him again. If he does play it, do not approach him again.

27. Learn how to make a rose out of a bar napkin. You'll be surprised how well it works.

28. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store.

29. If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.

30. Never complain about the quality or brand of a free drink.

31. If you have been roommates with someone more than six months, you may drink all their beer, even if it's hidden, as long as you leave them one.

32. You can have a shot of their hard liquor only if the cap has been cracked and the bottle goes for less than $25.

33. The only thing that tastes better than free liquor is stolen liquor.

34. If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge.

35. Learn to appreciate hangovers. If it was all good times every jackass would be doing it.

36. If you ever feel depressed, get out a bartender’s guide and browse through all the drinks you’ve never tried.

37. Try one new drink each week.

38. If you are the bar's sole customer, you are obliged to make small talk with the bartender until he stops acknowledging you. Then you're off the hook. The same goes for him.

39. Never tip with coins that have touched you. If your change is $1.50, you can tell the barmaid to keep the change, but once she has handed it to you, you cannot give it back. To a bartender or cocktail waitress, small change has no value.

40. If you have ever told a bartender, “Hey, it all spends the same,” then you are a cheap ass.

41. Anyone on stage or behind a bar is fifty percent better looking.

42. You can tell how hard a drinker someone is by how close they keep their drink to their mouth.

43. A bar is a college, not a nursery. If you spill a beer, clean it up. If you break a glass, wait for a staff member to clean it up, then blame it on someone else.

44. Being drunk is feeling sophisticated without being able to say it.

45. It's okay to drink alone.

46. After three drinks, you will forget a woman's name two seconds after she tells you. The rest of the night you will call her “baby” or “darling”.

47. Nothing screams 'nancy boy' louder than swirling an oversized brandy snifter.

48. Men don't drink from straws. Unless you're doing a Mind or Face Eraser.

49. If you do a shot, finish it. If you don't plan to finish it, don't accept it.

50. Never brood in a dance bar. Never dance in a dive bar.

51. Never play more than three songs by the same artist in a row.

52. Your songs will come on as you're leaving the bar.

53. Never yell out jukebox selections to someone you don't know.

54. Never lie in a bar. You may, however, grossly exaggerate and lean.

55. If you think you might be slurring a little, then you are slurring a lot. If you think you are slurring a lot, then you are not speaking English.

56. Screaming, “Someone buy me a drink!” has never worked.

57. For every drink, there is a five percent better chance you will get in a fight. There is also a three percent better chance you will lose the fight.

58. Fighting an extremely drunk person when you are sober is hilarious.

59. If you are broke and a friend is “sporting you”, you must laugh at all his jokes and play wingman when he makes his move.

60. If you are broke and a friend is “making sport of you”, you may steal any drink he leaves unattended.

61. Never rest your head on a table or bar top. It is the equivalent of voluntarily putting your head on a chopping block.

62. If you are trading rounds with a friend and he asks if you're ready for another, always say yes. Once you fall out of sync you will end up buying more drinks than him.

63. If you're going to hit on a member of the bar staff, make sure you tip well before and after, regardless of her response.

64. The people with the most money are rarely the best tippers.

65. Before you die, single-handedly make one decent martini.

66. Asking a bartender what beers are on tap when the handles are right in front of you is the equivalent of saying, “I'm an idiot.”

67. Never ask a bartender “what's good tonight?” They do not fly in the scotch fresh from the coast every morning.

68. If there is a line for drinks, get your goddamn drink and step the hell away from the bar.

69. If there is ever any confusion, the fuller beer is yours.

70. The patrons at your local bar are your extended family, your fathers and mothers, your brothers and sisters. Except you get to sleep with these sisters. And if you're really drunk, the mothers.

71. It's acceptable, traditional in fact, to disappear during a night of hard drinking. You will appear mysterious and your friends will understand. If they even notice.

72. Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they’re sober. It's akin to a precocious five-year-old arguing the super-string theory with a physicist. 99.9% of the time you're wrong and either way you're going to come off as a jackass.

73. If you bring booze to a party, you must drink it or leave it.

74. If you hesitate more than three seconds after the bartender looks at you, you do not deserve a drink.

75. Beer makes you mellow, champagne makes you silly, wine makes you dramatic, tequila makes you felonious.

76. The greatest thing a drunkard can do is buy a round of drinks for a packed bar.

77. Never preface a conversation with a bartender with “I know this is going to be a hassle, but . . .”

78. When you’re in a bar and drunk, your boss is just another guy begging for a fat lip. Unless he’s buying.

79. If you are 86’d, do not return for at least three months. To come back sooner makes it appear no other bar wants you.

80. Anyone with three or more drinks in his hands has the right of way.

81. If you’re going to drink on the job, drink vodka. It’s the no-tell liquor.

82. There’s nothing wrong with drinking before noon. Especially if you’re supposed to be at work.

83. The bar clock moves twice as fast from midnight to last call.

84. A flask engraved with a personal message is one of the best gifts you can ever give. And make sure there’s something in it.

85. On the intimacy scale, sharing a quiet drink is between a handshake and a kiss.

86. You will forget every one of these rules by your fifth drink.

--Frank Kelly Rich


this article from :
http://drunkard.com/issues/01-02/01_02_booze_rules.htm

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Who's your movie star double test ?

Clarissa, your movie star double is Jennifer Lopez A magnetic maven like you needs to be played by someone who knows how to get an audience's attention — and keep it. That's why Jennifer Lopez would be a great leading lady in the movie of your life. You've got a certain star quality that makes people applaud whatever you decide to put your energy into. Regardless of whether you match J Lo's glamorous look, her mega-diva glow will help translate your stunning charisma to the silver screen.

Back in high school, were you the one in the spotlight — star of the school play, student council president, and popular girl around town? Well, with your charms, you should have been. There's just something about you that has people screaming for more. But that's a good thing since you probably thrive when you're being social, surrounded by people, or getting out and about.

If some people perceive you as high maintenance, you can just tell them that you have high expectations. If you're willing to work so hard on yourself, why can't other people do the same? So get ready for the new cast in the movie of your life headed by none other than J Lo herself.



http://web.tickle.com/tests/stardouble/result.jsp

Which Britney spears are you ? test

Clarissa, you are the Mouseketeer We're not going to come right out and call you a goody-goody, but, well, you're pretty close to squeaky clean. Even if you aren't completely innocent, you sure can act the part. With your thousand-watt smile and your upbeat attitude, you usually don't have a problem making friends and keeping them around. And if you have a naughty side, you sure do hide it well.

Like everyone else, you aren't a happy camper all the time, but an upbeat spirit like yours can't help but shine. So even if you suddenly find yourself facing court dates, fender benders, wardrobe malfunctions, and family feuds, you know how to stick it out with a smile. After all, a big comeback is just around the corner. You're coming up in the world — so get ready to make your mark!

Clarissa, you could have been a famous Actress

Clarissa, you could have been a famous Actress
Marilyn Monroe? Veronica Lake? Humphrey Bogart? A scene-stealer like you could have been any one of these legendary entertainers. Like Hollywood's acting elite, you've got loads of charisma and charm, and you know how to use it.

Whether you're turning heads on the way to work or making the rounds at a party, you're a people person who loves basking in the spotlight. With your bold spirit and magnetic aura, you're sure to brighten up any room and leave your adoring fans spellbound and begging for more.


http://web.tickle.com/tests/pastlife/result.jsp


Ha ha- so awesome! I hope it's accurate!