Cookyn with Mervyn

My colleague PW and I were invited by our colleague CW to attend a "cooking party" featuring a 4-course Italian meal with wine (!!!). Now, I'm not a "cooking person" (am an "eating person" haha) but after checking out the website of Cookyn With Mervyn and seeing how many past participants had their DSLR slung around their neck as they cooked, I was intrigued. Excellent photog opportunity! :)

The session was held at 270 Thomson Road, Novena Gardens (at the office space above the restaurant - Peach Garden).

Meet Mervyn - "The Food Explorer"

Meet Amanda - "Hostess Extraordinaire"

They are a perfect example of an extraordinary husband & wife team :)

And us - "The Chef Wannabes"

Mervyn's cooking philosophy is to use the best ingredients possible in terms of freshness and quality.

Large portabello mushroom and freshly grated parmesan for the Mushroom and Truffle Risotto.

Tip: Mervyn advised to not wash mushrooms but to instead wipe clean with kitchen paper towel. As mushrooms will absorb water, the taste will be different when you cook them (I think!)

Live littleneck clams from New Zealand for the Vongole.

According to Amanda, this was chosen as the flesh to shell ratio is good.

Freshly diced strawberries for the Strawberry Panna Cotta.

Handmade "meatballs on steroid" for the Italian Meatball Casserole with Fresh Mozzarella. They were the size of tennis balls!

Freshly chopped garlic

(I only put this here because PW and I were in charge of the garlic haha!)

This was the recommended brand for tomato puree. Not too sweet.

A device to ground pepper. Fully motorised with light. Cool stuff.

Herbs and wine. We had wine from start till end. Seriously.

As there was only one main working station, we had to gather round and take turns to handle different tasks such as chopping of herbs, stirring of risotto, frying of foods, handling the clams etc. This arrangement suited me fine as it allowed me to take pictures without worrying that I'm lagging or that my food is burning!

Not everyone gets to play with the cool device hor!

And the end results!

Vongole - The soup was flavourful and the clams sweet. Yummy.

Risotto - This was very fragrant (with truffle puree and porcini) and tasty. Though the rice tasted 3/4 cooked and I would have preferred it to be softer.

Panna Cotta - The panna cotta was premade as it required 3-4 hours to set. The largely milky sweet base topped with sugared pureed fresh strawberries and drizzled with Balsamic sauce (awesome stuff), this dessert was a sweet & sour comfort food.

Meatball casserole - I didn't try this as it was beef meatballs. :( But according to the rest, it was yummy!

The session was around 4 hours and very well-paced. Much of the usual stress of cooking was taken away as it was more of a cooking observation and handling relatively simple tasks. What I found useful were the tips that Mervyn would dish out along the way. Of course, the 4 bottles of wine that came as part of the session helped. :) For a group of 12 and above, the usual fee is around s$80 per pax. For a session of this length with good food, good company and good hosting, I would say it is worth an experience. Try it!

Cookyn With Mervyn

I think the only reason...

...why I keep going back to PS Cafe despite the overpriced mediocre food and beverages...

...is because I love the fresh flowers and gigantic floral arrangements; the brown and white sugar cubes;

...the general look and feel of the place;

...and the opportunity to take pictures in a pretty, pretty place.

Don't Waste the Pretty.

Don't waste the pretty. Don't waste the pretty.

Today was a beautiful day...

... because my good friend got married. And another good friend told me she's pregnant (for the fourth time!) and I'm super happy to be the sponsor of Baby Gap for the dear, cute little boy that he is bound to be. And all the love from my friends - the SMSes, calls and the offer of a drinks session.

Thank you. =)

I lost some, but I gained plenty

Coming back was the best decision I've made in a long time.

If only I can be as decisive and determined about other aspects of my life.

Have you ever...

...felt that your iPod mysteriously grows to understand your mood and plays songs to comfort you?

Today I was feeling grumpy about work after a long weekend and just before I went into office, my iPod (on Shuffle mode) played the chirpy, bubbly "Rivers of Love". After I knocked off from a long day, it played "What a Difference A Day Made" followed by another jazzy number. The real deal came when my iPod played a song I'd almost forgotten - "I Wish You Love" by Ann Sally and sent by elebeng sometime back with the email subject as "I'm positive... (that you will like this :))"

I wish you bluebirds in the spring

To give your heart a song to sing

And then a kiss, but more than this

I wish you love

And in July a lemonade

To cool you in some leafy glade

I wish you health

But more than wealth

I wish you love

Pet Peeves

1. Singaporeans with an American accent.... after a grand total of like, 6 months in the States. WOW. That must have been a life-changing experience for you! You must have been stoned for your kampung Singaporean accent.

2. People who smoke whilst walking and thus slowly killing the innocent people behind with their waste product.

3. People, especially men, who show no form of gratitude when you hold the lift doors open for them and walk out as though it's their God intended right to be an "I'm-so-important-with-my-business-talk-and-cellphone-and-blackberry-and-my-nose-is-in-the-air-and-you're-just-a-slave" a*hole with no manners.

4. Christian evangelism. You know, I do get it. You love your God and you think it's your duty to spread the joy otherwise the rest of us are just lost sheep with no meaning and purpose in life. It's just like how I would nag friends to eat their vegetables because it's good for them otherwise they can't poop smoothly and might fart and belch like mad from constipation. But really, you got to learn that not everybody minds being a "lost sheep" or not being able to have conversations with God or to not attain eternal salvation. Plus, I do go to the temple and I have conversations with Goddess of Mercy. I know you have kind intentions and have a "KPI" to fulfil but let us find our own way, please.

5. Blasting music on the handphone on public transport. Get headphones, you irritants. I don't want to listen to your crappy low-quality music.

6. People who try to squeeze me out of my seat on the train. Get your child to sit on your lap and not squeeze into my side of the seat and jabbing me with your fat arm and your kid's smelly butt.

7. Drivers who don't signal when making a turn. HELLO?! I'm not a driver but I know you need to signal.

8. PeOpLe WhO tYpE LiKe ThIs.

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls..

He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf ball. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.. 'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions - Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else --The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Can somebody tell me...

why my life is filled with SO MANY weird men?

Before I Turn 30

I want to:

1) Get a freaking driving license! -_-

2) Go to Santoriniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii


3) Camp under the stars in the Egypt desert (and see the pyramids lah)

4) Grow longer fingers so that I can play the guitar with style (haha one can only dream)

5) Finally commit myself to a charity or community service

6) Find a rich husband, quit my job and study full-time (ha ha ha)