Had lunch with Lydia at Holland Village, Al Dente Trattoria, Italian Restaurant, her treat of course ! heehee

Al Dente Trattoria,Holland Village, Lunch

Al Dente Trattoria @ Holland V

Made a few rounds in Holland V for lunch, the idea was to try something different, we’ve been eating asian food, from japanese to indonesian, and also American meals, so we were deciding between mexican, middle-east & italian, before we finally settle down in this restaurant.. And it was a pleasant surpise.

Salt, Peppa, Olive Oil and Spices. Neccessary for Italian dining

The place on its own was pretty cosy followed by blue tinted lights. I pretty much liked the environment. Well, at least it beats the environment of buffet restaurants !

Smoke Salmon Carpaccio( Pardon me if spell wrongly)

This is a really good appetiser, although it wasn’t our initial choice, we wanted green mussels, but they were out of stock at the moment. (I heard it was a popular favourite, but I suspect they don’t have it cause its weekday lunch hour) The smoke salmon was plentiful mixed with vinegar, lime & onions. Add a bit of pepper in, and voila.. full of zest.

Flower Crab Bisque

Next up was the soup, which is also my favourite of all the sets, the flower crab bisque, the soup is so full of crab taste that you can just drool smelling it. The aftertaste of the soup.. mmmm… lingers in the tongue for quite sometime.. real nice the soup is nice and thick, whats more, the crab meat is plentiful, just like how you shell it from the claw.. (not those cheap crabmeat type) tastes real good, I say it tastes similar to lobster bisque, only more full of taste.

Lobster Spaghetti (Sorry I can’t remember the actual name)

This was my main course, but its all share share between me and Lydia, very nice spaghetti mixed with lobster meat, mushrooms and zucinni(also known as italian squash). Whats more, topped unto it is a creamy white wine garlic stew to give the full italian taste… Yummy.. It’s really nice but I don’t recommend completing the whole course.. (best to share share.. ) Cause although it is tasty, most italian food very gelat. But best eaten in small portion. Quantity quite big somemore. (not like those cheap pasta, some other places are offering) The lobster meat is also plentiful! Cool !

Triple Cheese Pizza. (Can’t remember the name also)

I always remember this pizza I had in Bintan, so we ordered it once more. There is no salami, pepperoni or any meat.. It’s just practically made of 3 different cheeses.. oolala.. I’m a cheese lover by the way.. cheese is springy and full of taste, crust is cooked to perfection as well, but similarly to pizza, should be eaten in small portions, as cheese also very gelat. (Wonder how those italians eat so much pasta everyday !)

Tam Jiak Lydia


I’m gonna START !

Went home for a short nap, before we carried on with dinner with the folks at ..

Some restaurant at Bukit Timah, Dinner

Cheers ! Dad and Mom !

Cheers ! Lydia !

Cheers! To myself !

This is dad’s favourite restaurant, and its obviously not my first time there.. So I didn’t really want to take much photos.. dishes were simple very family style.. But at the end.. It was the crab that matters !!!!

White Pepper Crab

Nice nice White Pepper Crab ! Olala ! Tastes so much better than the black pepper counterparts.. (well it’s a signature dish there) But right now.. I’m still dreaming of my flower crabs ever since having the flower crab bisque during noon.. sedap !Anyway, Thanks to the 40 odd people who wish me happy birthday today thru msn, phone and every possible way of communication. Well, its been simple this year.. but I like it this way! All the best for everybody else ! Happy Holidays !

Projects after projects… bah… Has a busy weekend dealing with projects again… but manage to drop by Robin’s birthday..

Labyrinth Pub, Saturday 4th Nov 2006

I wish…….
…Dun take my fat cheeks !

Trying hard to look normal
F4 ? nahhh…

Every year also must kiss. Dunno why !

Anyway, 6 more working days ! I guess I’m starting to lose the discipline of working as a teacher there.. bah… But I’m never one to bother about image.. so .. who cares…. Anyway.. poor Lydia everyday slog… I really pity her.. God Bless Her and hope her work level gets lower..

Had a very bad week at work… Some conflicts, but who cares.. I’ve got 7 working days left only. So I don’t really bother.. But one thing is for sure… I don’t like people to take advantage of me… no offense to anybody.. But I know my abilities and calibre… I may always pass off as a person proud and arrogant.. but I make sure that I have the ability to carry it out..

Anyway.. Lydia was having a bad week at work also… She was practically working 13 hours a day at work.. OT until siao ! So I went down to accompany my unhappy gf for dinner and to walk walk at raffles place…

Wednesday, 1st Nov 06, Raffles Place, 9pm

So I waited for Lydia after work at her place, knowing that she may knock off even later.. took some photographs of the surrounding.. But dunno why.. nowadays like black and white ? Anyway.. She finally knock off at 9 plus.. looking very very tired.. she rejected photographs today.. ( knowing how camera friendly she is..) Guess she really is tired.. accompanied by black eye rings…

Lydia’s Office.. Waiting downstairs.. Don’t need to tell you where lar hor..

Directly next to Lydia’s Office. Fullerton Hotel. A beauty to look at.

In front of Lydia’s Office. I think I’m addicted to Black and white.

Found ourselves walking in circles, since most places were closing at 9 plus.. till we walked to the Far East Square region to settle down at Sushi Tei.

Our choice for dinner: Sushi Tei

Our Dinner: Sukiyaki and Beef Rice Set for Lydia

Sushi Tei seems to be on another level compared to the other Sushi Franchises… However, their service was very unimpressive, and I had the urge to complain. I understand that they are about to close.. But I don’t like the attitude that they give Me the customer.. that they want to close… I mean it looks very unprofessional.. as if they want us to rush thru our dinner so they can go back early.. initially I wanted to order their hokkaido special of hairy crabs.. And immediatly their response is that they needed time to prepare.. And by the time it is ready.. it will be their closing time..and therefore will not serve that.. and advise ask to try things that are easy to prepare.. and that was before their last order timing !!!! I mean.. how can they give people the impression that they want to close so they don’t bother about our dinners ! Even before my meal is over.. they already start asking me things like.. You don’t need the soya sauce hor.. and just cleared the rest of the cutlery on my desk.. Wah Lau ! Aren’t we a country of service.. working a few extra minutes.. will it kill ?

My Ex Office: Nankin Row

Beautiful Building

We wandered off to my old office area, which is just in front of Far East Square… I used to work in Great Eastern by the way… Which is a beautiful sight at night….

Anyway, folks came back from china yesterday night.. Bought a very nice jade for me.. Tonight is Robin’s birthday.. Myself and Lydia would be going down.. Would share the pictures on the next post !

iClone Trial Test : We dance not bad ah ? Software $300 SGD.. should I buy ?

Had a rather peaceful weekend this week. Spend most of the time playing with iClone. Other than that was mostly about having meals out during the weekend.

Dinner at Jurong West BLK 456 Kopitiam (Saturday 9th September, Evening)

Just near my house area, but never really tried it much.. so went to test the bbq there.. Sedap ! Especially if you like BBQ seafood. (CANTONESE: MO TAK DENG AH !)

Well, I can’t pronounce the chinese words, but that’s the kopitiam name right ?

Never underestimate the power of the fried rice! This fried rice isn’t your average $3 Yang Chow fried rice you order at any “Tzi Cha” Stall. The fragrance of the fried rice is so darn good, plus its just nice in terms of oil, and fried to perfection, not too dry or wet ! In fact, its really a “zhao pai” dish on its own. Not joking ! Do I look like I’m from Jacky Wu Zhong Xian’s “Shi Zhi Lu Kou”? So trust me ya !

The lala is not bad. I prefer the one at Pasir Panjang though.. I can say the one here tastes good, but nothing special lor..

Sting Ray is meaty, Chilli is good.. One of the few good ones around. Confirm must order item also.

Surprise inclusion ! BBQ Flower Crabs ! From my veteran tastebuds, they spend a lot of work on their crabs ! They steam, marinate and than BBQ ! And although flowercrabs, they got meat ! Not like those Shell Big big, but meat so little and pathetic ! And its cheap ! Taste so good, that honestly feel like eating it again.. Not expensive somemore.. $6 for large ones, $5 for small ones ! Smells and taste so good… even the aftertaste lingers for long! MUST MUST MUST ORDER ! 5 stars rating.

Frankly speaking, Makan there is good ! Prices are not super special, but really no complains of quality.. Any BBQ seafood lovers ? Go must jio me also wor !

Holiday Inn Hotel (Sunday 10th September 2006,evening)

Was having dinner at Holiday Inn Plaza for a small celebration of Mom’s Birthday. Things to note, great appetisers, salads, pastries and great Durian !!!!!

Appetizing isn’t it ? Sister you missed out ! Hahaha ! From Top, Smoked Salmon, Some sort of Aboloney, Roast Beef, Californian roll and Scallop sushi (chuka hotate ?) Potato Salad, Crabmeat Salad, Top shell Salad.

Lydia was very impatient.. she just couldn’t wait to eat !

My folks, so who do I resemble more ?

Mom & Auntie Irene. Mom tried very very hard to keep her eyes big !

Was having a short stroll after dinner.. Hmm.. can try…Maybe next week..

Feragamo.. hmm… sexy.

Eski Bar @ Holland Village (10th September 2006, Even Later evening)
Had a small meet up with best bro GZ. We haven’t had a drink together for sometime, except those kopitiam drinks.. So was bored in jurong so we drop by Holland Village for drinks at Eski Bar, cause drinks are 1 for 1 on Sunday mah ! We also tested the chiller room..

Ever since his Hong Kong Trip, GZ always makes it a point to drink like a Hong Kong Yuppie.

In the chiller Room ! Wah Lau eh ! Super Leng ah !

Muscle contraction.. Because too cold.. Mai Gey Kiang lar..

And oh yah, start of IMF, for all those MATA friends of mine and those PENG KIAs friends, have fun on your duty ! LOL !