Brunch at the Blue Elephant, Paris

Soup with Vermicelli and Sliced Beef

Many moons ago I invited the Hub to the Blue Elephant on his birthday which was generous of me since in those days I was still living with a student mentality and had difficulty buying the need to spend a few hundred Francs on a Thai dinner. Nowadays of course in accordance with my glorified maid status I no longer bother with prices or at least if I do I would pretend that I didn't.

A few years later I had Sunday Brunch in said Thai restaurant with my Singaporean girlfriend MF and I remembered being happy with it though still whinging about the lack of Thai desserts as we know them in Asia (namely the steamed tapioca and tako that I just adore). At that time we paid 29 Euros per head. A few Sundays ago when I brought the Hub there to brunch using his funds, the price had gone up to 39 Euros. And still no Thai desserts as we know them in Asia.

But as I had expected, he was happy. The restaurant is situated in Bastille in a seedy but interesting street filled with lots of restaurants, bars and cafés. It's actually in some kind of cheap between-2-walls transformed into an exotic paradise with wood, bamboo, flora and fauna, a bridge and a pond. We arrived early and got a table on the mezzanine overlooking the buffet area and it was just perfect.

View from our table

The buffet consists mainly of a fresh salad station, a soup station (you choose your own noodles and ingredients and the cook prepares it for you), a starter section (e.g. satay, fried hors d'oeuvres, tim sum...), a main course section (e.g. different types of curries, stir-fry dishes, rice, pad thai...) and a dessert and fruit section. The quality is quite good and the selection while not as important as buffets come in Asia is OK, I guess, especially after years of living away from Asia. Unlike many Thai restaurants in Paris where the owners are usually Chinese of some sort, the Blue Elephant has a real Thai cuisine with a nice and gentle Thai service. I sometimes do wonder why Chinese waiters are usually so rude and impatient, though it doesn't mean that we are not good people as a race. Anyway I digress.

Soup Station

Salad Station

Dessert and Fruit Station

So the Hub was really happy with his brunch and I gained a few points in his book for that.

Blue Elephant Paris

43-45 rue de la Roquette

75011 Paris

Tel : 01 47 00 42 00

http://www.blueelephant.com/paris/index.html

Shopping at The Mall, Firenze

How could summer be complete without a teeny bit of Summer Sale, right? When the Hub was off to play golf at Lésigny I drove myself to the Outlet Village La Vallée Village. When the rest of the family went to the beach at Viareggio near Florence, I spent my day at...THE MALL. Yes, the famous designer outlet 35Km from Florence.

Before that, let me touch quickly on our hotel in Lésigny. The Best Western Abbaye du Golf Hotel was situated in the golf course itself and is part of an ancient abbey. For those living in Paris, this would be quite a good option for playing golf especially in August when they actually discount the green fees. For those visiting Disneyland Paris, a few hours of golf could also be factored in as the golf club is less than 30 minutes from the Theme Park itself. Can kill many birds with the same stone.

View from our hotel room

Golf Hotel at Lésigny, France

Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Burberry, La Perla, Armani, McQueen, Ferragamo...It was like arriving at Ali Baba's cave, I didn't know where to start. But of course being fat and poor made things easier which probably explained why the Hub didn't bother to warn me not to overspend or set me a budget.

I've actually never gone near any Fendi or Gucci boutique before truth be told (or at least I walked in and out very quickly in the ones in Singapore last month). So when I finally did, I honestly do not understand what the fuss is all about. Why would anyone want to pay hundreds of Euros for canvas or stiff leather with the Gucci logo all over? Though the super high Gucci heels were quite fabulous - except that I'll never have any occasion to wear them. I finally settled for a raffia and leather purse from YSL and I still feel so happy whenever I think of the soft feel of its leather. My other purchases include a black linen skirt, cream leather key purse and a pair of golden leather sandals from Ferragamo.

I took a bus from The Mall to Florence after my shopping. The trip lasted an hour and cost 3 Euros (best if you could buy the ticket beforehand, they run out fast on the bus itself). I actually prefer this option to driving as the road is very windy, narrow and steep. Also, taking the bus allows one to enjoy the lovely Tuscan landscape.

I was last in Florence 2 summers ago. But one doesn't forget 3 weeks spent in the Tuscan city. My feet led me to all the boutiques that I've visited on my last trip, all the way to my favourite gelato shop Coronas, across the Arno river to the street where the Hub would drive past to pick me up and bring us all to dinner near the Piazza Michaelangelo. The restaurant's name is Chalet Fontana and it offers good quality al fresco dining in a lovely garden terrace.

Voici one good way to spend a hot summer day in August.

The Mall

Via Europe, 8

Leccio, Regello.

Italy.

Brilliant Weblog Award 2008

I received this award from Precious Moments in my absence which of course is a wonderful change from all the bills and (negative) bank statements waiting me upon my return.

I would however not go so far as to accept that my blog is brilliant, especially not in design (didn't have to do anything thanks to Blogger), though I dig that diamond that came with the award and will be most happy to hang on to it :-).

And I do spend quite alot of time and effort sharing my life with all and sundry, and when I'm not too lazy or tired I do try to be smart and be at least brilliant in my spelling.

"Brilliant Weblog is a prize given to sites and blogs that are smart and brilliant both in their content and their design.

The purpose of the prize is to promote as many blogs as possible in the blogsphere.

Here are the rules to follow : When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in their content or design. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with ‘Brilliant Weblog’.

Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize (optional).

All the bloggers have wonderful work and content in their blog and all deserve to get this."

As the tradition dictates, I will now pass on this award to my fellow blogger friends :

Rojak Rendezvous

Lekker

Daily Affairs

Pris' Life in Germany

Bibou and Angel Thru The Years

Umami

Sraikh

Bella Tigre

Lost in the Wilderness (mainly in Portuguese)

Those who already know the above blogs will more than agree with me that we have some of the most beautiful, informative, delicious, inspiring, friendly and interesting blogs around thanks to them. Those who don't, don't wait, do go check them out NOW!

Thank you, Precious Moments, once again for having thought of me for this award.

La Ferme Saint Simon, Paris

Gambas rôties et foie gras poêlé, velouté de petits pois écossés

This was the 1st nice restaurant that the Hub brought me to when we were still dating. And that after he had brought his good old friend B there first. But still, it was a nice restaurant and we eat really well there. It was therefore with nostalgia and stars in the eyes that we dined at La Ferme St Simon one evening recently in Paris - after a break of many years.

We nearly didn't make it there though and actually had to race through Paris to reach it before they closed the kitchen. Before that we were at the Bastille, in the Théâtre de la Main d'Or, more precisely having a good time catching Dieudonné and his one-man show "J'ai fait l'con". He was brilliant as usual and the theatre was full full full, we were packed like sardines in it and quite a number of people had to sit on the stairs - but nobody complained and he was welcomed to the stage with generous applause. Electric atmosphere. But it started late and therefore ended late.

I ignore the polemics surrounding Dieudonné's alleged anti-semitic views. From what I understood of the guy after watching a number of his shows, I do not think that he's racist in any way (he's half-African). Provocative, yes. In fact, too much. Politically correct, not at all. Angry, probably. Because let's face it, all the tragedies and atrocities in this world are never given the same attention or treatment. Black slavery was a drawnout, murderous affair that is almost forgotten today. The Palestinians are crying but you usually only hear the Israelites. I think that he only wants to draw our attention to the injustice in this respect, make us think about it. In any case, Hub and I enjoy Dieudonné very much. Especially his good timing in delivery. As I must have also said it before, you need to have some general culture to be able to understand his shows. You go there to have a good time, but to have that good time the brain gears have to be working. In this show he sketched out his asking Jean-Marie Le Pen to be his child's god-father (!), the pgymies in the Camerounian forest, Colin Powell/Bush and the Invasion of Irak, some sort of an Ode to the Palestinian Suicide Bombers (aiiii)...

In any case he'll be giving a performance at Bercy on Dec 26. Just so you know.

So we arrived at the restaurant just before the kitchen closed and left the car with the valet (thank God for valet parking). The restaurant was still as we remembered it, calm, elegant and simple. It's situated near the French Parliament, Musée d'Orsay, Ministeries and the foreign embassies and has a simple and very French menu. The last few times we were there, I had always started with their green bean and duck liver salad, but this time around I decided to try something else and was happy with all the choices I've made. Everything had been cooked to perfection and the ingredients were nicely married no matter how unlikely matched they may seem at first glance. The service was discreet yet attentive and the sommelier knew her job and her food and could offer good advice for the wines. A lovely way to end our evening.

Saint-Jacques justes saisies, nid d'épinards frais en crôute de Parmesan

Mille-feuille, crème vanillée au kirsch et sa déclinaison de fruits rouges

La Ferme St Simon

6 rue de St Simon

75007 Paris

Tel : 01 45 48 35 74

http://www.fermestsimon.com

Mer de Sable

We originally planned to visit Parc Asterix (again) but decided at the last minute to go to the Mer de Sable in Ermenonville also north of Paris. It had been a rainy week plus we didn't feel up to spending hours queuing up like we did at Gardaland just 2 weeks before.

This park was quiet. No queues at the cashier. No queues getting in. No queues for the rides. So we got to do everything by the time the park closed at 6pm including watching the 3 shows available. Wow. For once.

But just a quick note of warning to those who do not like rubbing shoulders with the masse populaire. This park is smaller and cheaper (19 euros per entry) than both Parc Asterix and Disneyland Paris. So it is inevitable that you get mainly clients from the poorer suburbs of Paris and from the region north of the Capital, not to mention groups from the centres de loisirs (holiday childcare centres). Parking is free (versus 7 euros for Parc Asterix) and there are just a few kiosks selling coffee, drinks and sweets.

One of the 1st thing MIL said when we arrived at the park was, "Why, it feels like one's in the banlieue (suburbs)!" And I couldn't help thinking as the day progressed that whether we like it or not, those people are different from us. It's a world between the civilised snobbish friendliness of Parisians and these loud and often inconsiderate people from elsewhere. I had quite a headache after one African insisted on sharing his passion for loud rap music with all within 200m around him, for example. And you didn't dare tell him off as he was really quite gigantic, if you wish. Those foufou stuff is very filling from what I know.

Back to the rides, they have a little of everything and I would recommend the park to those with young children (e.g. 2-8) and who do not enjoy queuing up. For older children and adults, there is a rather cool water ride (a good plunge - just great) that if I may say so is actually more exciting than the ones I've had in the more famous parks. Their shows are mainly Cowboy-Red Indian shows with good equestrian displays.

Calamity Jane Show

Around the Mer de Sable, you have the little town of Ermenonville and it's actually a really pretty one with a most beautiful castle and lovely stone houses. Probably will be a good idea to visit the town quickly (maybe have a picnic in the forest opposite the amusement park) when you're there.

All in all we had a good day though I doubt if we'll return to the park again. I'm a big child and need a more sophisticated park to play in.

Cinque Terre

Manarola

One couldn't live in Italy and not visit the Cinque Terre (Five Lands - a Unesco World Heritage Site) at least once. It is composed of 5 villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare) perched on a cliff along the Liguria overlooking the Mediterranean sea. About 2,5 hours from where I live in Modena.

Ideally one should rent a room in one of the 5 villages to better take one's time to explore the region. But in August almost everything would be rented out not to mention be very expensive, so we decided to set out early at 7am and spend a full day there. In any case with the Babies we wouldn't be able to walk the 5 hours normally needed to cover all 5 villages by foot - one way. So we ended up covering 2-3 villages by foot and the rest by train.

I would recommend that one drive to Levanto and park there for free, buy the Cinque Terre Tourist Ticket (less than 9 Euros for adults, around 7 Euros for the over-70s and half price for children above 5) and visit the 5 villages from there. There's a train travelling from Levanto to La Spezia and the 5 villages are situated in between. We'll need a ticket to go onto the paths (part of the National Park) linking the 5 villages anyway. And the tickets provide free access to a few museums and also bike rental under certain conditions.

From Riomaggiore to Manarola

Vernazza

We drove all the way to Monterosso al Mare and parked our car in a covered and secured carpark for 15 Euros (full day). Then we took the train to Riomaggiore (the village furthest away) and walked to Manarola (shortest and easiest path - 20 mins) where we had lunch in this Michelin-recommended restaurant Marina Piccola overlooking the sea. They served really good home-made pasta with seafood and had reasonably priced local Cinque Terre wines. After lunch we walked to Corniglia (1,5 hours). From Corniglia we took the train to Vernazza which we found to be the prettiest of the 5 villages and had excellent ice cream near its Marina in this gelateria called Il Porticcerio or something like that. You may wish to know that there is almost no beach (except at Monterosso al Mare) in the villages and the sea is often very choppy, though it didn't stop people from spreading out towels here and there to sunbathe or jump into the sea for a dip. We finished our day at Monterosso again and had dinner at the restaurant Ciak Lampara which was good if a little too expensive.

Monterosso al Mare

MIL agreed with me that the villages looked better in pictures than in reality. When you are there, you will of course be impressed with the breathtaking scenery and the sheer ruggedness of villages perched on cliffs. Try imagining how life must have been tough and isolated for those living there in the past before they had the train etc. But the buildings are not elaborate or well-maintained and are often just plain concrete covered with a pretty (often peeling) coat of paint. After beautiful old cities like Verona, the Cinque Terre looks cheap.

Vernazza

Still, we really enjoyed our day there and are already hoping to return and cover the paths that we couldn't cover by foot on this trip. Definitely worth at least a visit.

3-Way Anchovies

Anchovies Baked in the Oven

Anchovies before I lived in Andalusia I knew only as Ikan Bilis. Yes, the air-dried smelly but very delicious once-cooked ones. But in Spain you find the fresh ones easily at the fish monger's and they also eat them canned or in jars (preserved in oil) so I've also gotten into eating my anchovies fresh since.

Yesterday we visited the weekly Monday market in Modena with MIL. She saw some fresh anchovies and expressed desire to have them. Being the ahem devoted DIL that I am, I promptly bought nearly a Kilo of the good stuff and had them prepared in 3 different ways being unable to decide on just one cooking method.

So last evening we had the anchovies

1. Grilled on the BBQ with some herbs, olive oil, salt and pepper
   
   
Before being grilled


2. Baked in the oven with olive oil, fresh red chilli, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper


3. Fried in Tempura batter
   
   

Tempura Alici

Everybody liked Method Number 2 best. Needless to say, fresh lemon should hang around waiting to be squeezed generously over the anchovies. We accompanied them with a freshly tossed baby spinach and rucola salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Shine For Singapore

Another year away from Singapore during National Day. My sunny island will celebrate her 43rd Birthday in 9 days. This year's NDP Theme Song is titled "Shine for Singapore". We can listen to the theme songs and watch the parade on http://www.ndp.org.sg/.

Happy 43rd Birthday, Singapore!

Shine for Singapore

Music and lyrics by Benny Wong

Performed by Hady Mirza

Have you seen a star,

One that guides you no matter where you are?

However vast the sky may be

Or dark it seems

You can be sure, it's always there for you and me

Have you heard a song,

One that moved you, one that made you sing along?

Your dreams and hopes will all come true

If you believe that every vision begins with you.

*Shine for Singapore

This is your song

Deep inside your heart where it belongs

It'll always stay, strive for your goals.

You will achieve with visions so bold.

# Shine for Singapore

This is our song

Reach out for the sky, far and beyond

As one we'll stand, we're Singapore

It's here that we belong

Have you heard a song,

One that moved you, one that made you sing along?

Your dreams and hopes will all come true

If you believe that every vision begins with you.

Nowhere I'd rather be, this is home to me

This star shines strong and free

Repeat, *,#

Ready, Steady, Gone...

To :

Visit the MIL

Catch a few French movies

Watch Dieudonné's one man show "J'ai fait l'con"

Brunch at Blue Elephant

Have a picnic at night with a few friends on the terraces of Paris

Lunch at l'Atelier de Robuchon

Shop till I drop

Catch the play "Le clan des divorcées"

Lunch at the Champs Elysées with B

Watch the Hub play golf at Lésigny

Visit Mer de Sable Theme Park

Spend a week at Club Med Nabeul in Tunisia

Drive back to Italy WITH the MIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fishballs are Waiting

The cake I am supposed to make at Kuidaore's Baking Class

Will be going home on Sunday. Am scheduled to attend a baking class at Shermay's when I'm there, btw.

See you all in 3 weeks. Have a hot and fun Summer!

Lychee and Coconut Cheese Cake

Lychee and Coconut Cheese Cake

This cheesecake is not for the faint hearted. In fact you'll either like it or you won't. The Hub who loves cheesecake didn't (said it was too exotic for him), while I who dislike cheesecake do. Suspect that most cheesecake lovers prefer their cheesecake simple. But whatever it is, here's my Lychee and Coconut Cheese Cake.

For the biscuit base :

250g Digestive biscuits

100g Brown Sugar

150g Butter

For the Lychee Coconut Cream Cheese filling :

750g Philadelphia Cream Cheese

50g Roasted grated Coconut

200ml Coconut milk

4 Eggs

150g Sugar

400g canned Lychees

Prepare biscuit base, spread it on springform mold and chill it in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC.

Basically just cream cheese, sugar, coconut cream and eggs together. Then fold in the lychees and roasted grated coconut. Bake for 1 hour.

I've been very busy buying gifts and trying to figure out who to give them to when I return to Singapore. I organised them this morning and was a little surprised that they should be so bulky. Now I wonder if I'll be able to pack and transport them after all. Maybe it's not such a smart idea the Cappucino Moka machine for dad (plus a huge supply of coffee), the remote control Ferrari, or the bottles of pasta sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil etc.

The last time I went home I focused mostly on Ferrari gifts and they didn't take up alot of space. This time I had the smart idea to go for food, Italy being famous for that, and for something that goes in and comes out quickly, it certainly takes up alot of space. And I'll still have to worry about them breaking in the luggage...

Otherwise I have a really busy calendar with school finishing for the kids this week and them having end-of-unit presentations almost every day. This evening the school will even have a celebration that the Hub wouldn't be able to come since he's up to the neck getting ready for Ferrari's Podio. A few families will be leaving the school (or Italy) so a few farewells are in store. And then we leave next weekend! I'm still debating whether I should start watching the Korean TV serial "Princess Hours" (and risk getting stuck to the sofa for a week) so that I can return the DVDs to SIL, or wait till I return home to do so. Decisions decisions.

Fried Shrimp and Pork in Bean Curd Skin

Fried Shrimp and Pork in Bean Curd Skin

Dear E from Torino brought me some soft bean curd skin when she visited me a few months ago and I have finally done something with them : Fried Shrimp and Pork in Bean Curd Skin. For the Grades 3 and 4 Traditional Foods presentation - even though I have no children in the 2 classes...

Very easy to make and a little too oily for my own good but Oh! so yummy. And of course, the same thing can actually be steamed instead of fried.

The filling :

Raw peeled Shrimps

Raw minced Pork

Shallots

Garlic

Chinese Mushrooms

Fresh Coriander

Water Chestnuts (optional)

Light Soy Sauce

Dry Sherry or Chinese Rice Wine

Oyster Sauce

Ketchup Manis

Sesame Oil

Pepper

Egg

Offered a few of the Bean Curd parcels in exchange for the right to taste the goodies that the other moms made for said presentation. Sh made a really hot and spicy Chicken Biryani and needless to say I wasn't shy, helped myself to 3 servings of the good stuff. And straight after I had lunch (Tex Mex) with Rb and the new mom J. So much (as usual) for my diet.

Part of the Traditional Foods Spread

Pricked & Possessed

MCQ Big Leather and Canvas Bag

At this time of the year when we're much infested by our flying friends, one is bound to be pricked, stung or whinged at some point in the day. I for one experienced all of the above with the additional pain of being possessed - by the Shopping Bug.

Jimmy Choo Leather Slingbacks

Alexander McQueen Leather Heeled Sandals

Salvatore Ferragamo Cloth and Crocodile Leather Heels

So if I looked kind of distant and distracted lately, please do excuse me. I've been spending all waking and sleeping moments thinking and living shopping and repose can only arrive when the credit card has been zapped to its limit as would the Hub's tolerance for this viral madness.

BCBG Maxazria Silk Chiffon Dress

Zara Silk Dress

Burberry Pink Candy Mini Bag

And true madness it was as most of the objects of my obsession are thoroughly unsuited to my daily life and would probably never see the day once they enter my closet - to spend the rest of their days with the moth balls. Fitting end for the Buy Buy Bug?

Gucci Sunglasses

Just Cavalli Sunglasses

No more shopping for the rest of the year. Pity since the Summer Sales would be coming up soon, no?

Asparagus and Porcini Risotto with Safran

This evening's dinner : a simple Asparagus and Porcini Risotto with Safran. Found those really thin asparagus that do not require any peeling and absolutely love them.

Grilled (Satay) Beef on Glass Noodles

Grilled Satay Beef on Glass Noodles

I was listening to Danny Chan in the car when suddenly I couldn't stop sobbing. Was I sad that my favourite HK singer died young? Probably, but I do have a very nice CD compilation of his best songs (offered to me by a Secondary Schoolmate whom I've since lost sight of). But hearing him sing in Cantonese was surely more the cause of this feeling of sadness, it brought to mind the nearly 13 years I've been away from home and nowadays it is starting to feel like 13 years too long.

You can take this girl out of Asia but not the Asian out of her. In my (now lost) youth, I had this dream : to learn many European languages. Looking back, I think I haven't done too badly. I'm fluent in French, know enough Spanish and German and am currently learning Italian. But somehow nothing gives me greater kick than hearing someone speak Cantonese or doing some cursing and swearing in Hokkien. Knowing that those kids of mine wouldn't be able to do any of that saddens me further.

E's Hub came back from a business trip in China and kindly gave me a pack of Mung Bean (aka Glass) Noodles. I thought of cooking them in a soup at first (they were quite large) but finally decided upon a Grilled Satay Beef on Glass Noodles.

Basically did the dish in 5 parts :

1) Sliced the beef (I used onglet/lombatello) and marinated it in light soy sauce, kecap manis, oyster sauce, sherry and sesame oil for a few hours. The same sauces and adding in corn starch and water or stock will use to fry the glass noodles with later on;

2) Immersed the dried glass noodles in hot water the time it took me to prepare the rest of the ingredients;

3) Cooked a thin omelette and shredded it;

4) Prepared and stir-fried some vegetables e.g. zucchini, carrots, asparagus, Chinese mushrooms, red peppers, chilli...in a fragrant ginger-garlic-sesame oil base;

5) Made satay sauce (actually quite optional) for the beef that I would have nicely-grilled (but still rare) on my iron grill.

Then I assembled them (glass noodles, vegetables, omelette, beef...), sprinkled some sesame seeds, fried shallots and fresh coriander leaves on top of everything and served the dish hot.

Konnyaku Jelly with Lychees

Konnyaku Jelly with Lychees

The kids love this (well, so do I) and I would have spent quite a fortune each time we were back in Singapore buying them this Japanese Jelly usually made with real fruit. I couldn't possibly bring too many of the ready-made jelly back with me so I've decided to buy the jelly powder and make my own Konnyaku Jelly.

This time around I made it with canned lychees. Very versatile and easy to make and absolutely refreshing. And what I like about konnyaku is its heavier consistency and the shorter time it takes to set.

Meanwhile, with Spring here (albeit a wet one), the Modena Golf and Country Club where the Hub and Eldest Son play golf is starting to look quite nice. Especially its swimming pool and comfort zone (where on weekends you can buy yourself a massage). Still, I wish they serve other stuff than pasta and risotto in their restaurant.

Pool at Modena Golf and Country Club