Sunday, January 25, 2009

Flex Your Mussels Before Eating Them!

Yeah, flex them. Make them delicious and yummy.

Having been to Brussels Sprouts for three times and not once disappointed, I now have to talk about this restaurant known for their famed, what else, but mussels!

The mussels all come in a pot, like this.

Vin Blanc mussels

Fries or bread are served as a side dish. Fries come as a free-flow dish while bread is not refilled. I love the bread! It is toasted very nicely with the outer crust crispy while the inner bread is pretty soft, just the perfect thing to dip into the sauce of the mussels. The texture of the bread is rather unique too, with more “holes” than the normal bread that we’re used to eating. This means it soaks up the sauce more and you can literally suck the gravy from the bread. Yummy!

My sister’s favourite is none other than the one you’ve seen above. While mine is this:

Cream based with mushroom

Well, I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite of all, but I much prefer this to the white wine. You can choose to have all mussels or clams or a combination of both.  We chose mussels, of course!

The Vin Blanc mussels carries the right amount of wine for you to be able to taste it without it being too much that it spoils the taste of the dish.  There are two types of soup that you can choose from – clear or cream based, which also includes the tomato-base soup.

I like the cream mushroom, cream ham and leek ones. Tomato one was pretty mouth-watering too actually. They are creamy and yet not that thick until you feel sick of it after a few mouths. And the sauce went very well with the fries and the bread. The mussels are cooked till the right time so that they just opened and very fresh.

If you’re fretting over what wine to go with, we’ve tasted both red and wine and they’re all good! Though my personal preference still tend to incline more towards white wine, as I find it blends better with the food.

What’s so good about these mussels is they fill your stomach without being too filling. It doesn’t make you feel you’re so bloated with heavy food, but rather, this nice, warm feeling in your stomach that you’ve had enough for the night.

The alfresco dining style that overlooks the river and those beautiful residences is also perfect for anyone who wants to bring a date along. The fans littered around will make sure that you can ensure your mussels and your wine without have to sweat over sweating under the humidity!

If you prefer a more cooling environment, choose to dine indoors then.

As for service, well, there were those few times when we thought they could have given a better level of service. But other times, and most of it, they’re very friendly and all smiles. And certainly accommodating, if I may add.

So, if you’re craving for some really good mussels, do not consider anymore. Brussels Sprouts located at Robertson Quay should be a place where you’ll love going to. You can visit their website for more information: www.brusselssprouts.com.sg

Until now, this is by far the place that serves the best mussels in Singapore that I’ve known and been to. 

Even The Brides Are Fighting!

Gosh, violence has all but taken over this planet. Now, even for the supposedly happiest and most beautiful occasion in our lives (at least so for girls!) has failed to duck the attacks and ambushes in the likes of secretive sabotages and outright competition to see who is the best bride of the day.

With full knowledge of every wimp and fancy, likes and dislikes, secret histories and dreamy futures of each other, Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) make use of every singe ounce of secrets they knew since childhood days to their own advantage when a turn of events caused the unthinkable to happen – their wedding fall on the same date, same place and same time.

It should have been a happy occasion still, in Chinese we like to say it is “double happiness” except for a little problem – both of them have sworn to be each other’s maid-of-honour. Now they can’t, not when they are brides at the same time!

This Catch-22 situation may be a catastrophe for others, but it should see a harmonious and peaceful resolution between two childhood friends who have been through thick and thin, good and bad and who are probably closer than real sisters are.

What I like about this movie is not just about the hilarious sabotaging acts that Liv and Emma do to each other. They are just there for entertaining purposes. The underlying elements that are brought out through those acts serve more meaning to me. Like the kind of chemistry they have. How only they probably know the deepest, darkest secret of the other.

The wedding preparation is another part of the movie that caught my attention a lot. Liv’s fiancé, Daniel’s (Steve Howey) acceptance and love for her is nicely contrasted with Emma’s husband-to-be, Fletcher’s (Chris Patt) denial of the Emma that she is now. He cannot find himself supporting this girl who now knows how to assert herself and stamp her foot on something she truly wants badly. He cannot find himself accepting this used to be the girl who is always being pushed over and who avoids the limelight.

At one point when both of them are embroiled in an argument when he complains about her as she talks about how she is the Best Bride of the Night (probably the nth time!) in her and Liv’s bachelorette party and he clams up and refuses to talk anymore, in my mind, there’s this little voice that says “If I were Emma, I would cancel the wedding.”

Why? How can I when the wedding is only 1 week away? Because I see the signs! I see how this is going to be the start of a wrong union, when two people get together because they have been with no one else for the past 10 years. And during this time, things change, circumstances change, and more importantly, people change.

Catch the movie Bride Wars for some funny tickling moments and some nice doses of touching friendships and the true meaning of “bonds” in relationships. The acting of Kate and Anne is precise and good, and even though the plot has a rather predictable ending, and an almost cliché one, I’ll still recommend anyone who’s considering to head for the cinemas during the CNY holidays to give this a go.

Now, just thinking about that particular scene brings tears to my eyes.

P.S Now, the final bit that I find is heart-warming is when Emma’s father goes to Liv and gives her his blessings, as what he says “blessings from my generation”. Now, don’t we all crave for and love to have blessings from our parents and our elders? That is such a touching moment for me. 

Story telling

Do you have any good stories to tell? Are you a good story teller? Can you make your audience cry and laugh at the precise moment you want them to?

If you can, then you may be a born public speaker. Because, the real good ones are those who excel at telling stories!

What if you lack those exciting and dramatic life experiences that others have? Does that mean that you can’t be a story teller anymore? Those who have been through a similar situation will know the answer – of course you still can be a good story teller. You just have to “borrow” other people’s story and tell it with all your passion

But, not everyone can do it, can they? Not everyone can put themselves into that unique role where he’s able to crawl onto the skin of the real character in the story and feel what he feels, think what he thinks and says what he says, the way he says it!

In view of this, how then can he tell it like his own? How can he make his audience believe him wholeheartedly?

I’ve discovered that some people can make the characters in their stories come to life. They add animations, they give full play to the facial expressions, and at times, other parts of their bodies come to life as well. They vary their tones and pitches to bring out the feelings and emotions of the characters. They’re just like theatre actors!

Now that the secret’s out, some people may find that “hey, this sounds easy”. Well indeed so. It can be a piece of cake for some, while a hell of a nightmare for others.  But good news is, it can be learnt.

Yes, anyone can learn to be a good story-teller. However, not everyone has the passion and drive to be a good story-teller. So, maybe before you tread down this path, ask yourself if this is what you really want to do. Can you see yourself still prancing around on stage telling stories in 10 years time? How about in 20 years time?

As a speaker, I know to be completely at ease with yourself, with your audience and to be totally immersed in the stories that you’re telling is a matter of hard work. So, the next time when you hear a fantastic speech, or a very touching story being told, remember to give that person a loud and passionate applause. Thank him/her for adding that bit of light and colour in your world, if he/she really did that. 

Monday, January 12, 2009

Little Nyonya, Big Waves

“What’s the time now?” my sis asked as we shuffled our way past the crowds dashing out from MRT station.

“10 minutes to 9,” replied Stuart.

“Hurry up, The Little Nyonya is starting soon!” she said. Now, coming from someone who isn’t as “TV addict” as me, this was rather surprising.

“Aiya, don’t worry, we’ll sure make it,” I assured her. “Eh, actually, don’t you think that a very good drama and good food will bring a family together?” I asked them. “I mean, you see, when you know there’s delicious food waiting for you, you’ll want to go home faster right? Same as a good drama, people are actually rushing home to watch TV. Gosh, look how we are dying to go back now!”

We all agreed, but none of us could afford to slow down our pace to further discuss this issue, because The Little Nyonya (小娘惹) was starting in less than 10 minutes!

Now that this drama made its grand finale last night, I believe many of the more 1.6 million viewers in Singapore (not counting those who are following this serial in Malaysia too!) are suffering from a withdrawal symptom. I don’t know about them, but I wouldn’t be chasing after the new drama Reunion Dinner. So, come 9pm, there isn’t anything to look forward to, for me.

Well, now that we’ve just sent away 2008 and ushered in a new year, many people would be contemplating their new year resolutions while reflecting what they’ve done or failed to do in 2008 (or are they?). And here I am, writing about a TV drama?

It’s a fact that TV is very much a part of the lives of the billions of people living in a modern society. As much as many personal development gurus frown on this box (which has been shedding more and more weight until it has become a slim and flat piece of gadget now), it still holds the ultimate capability in getting a person, or even a family, completely hooked as they all enter into the hypnotic state that TV induces.

So, when mega dramas like The Little Nyonya made its appearance after more than a decade, it’s hard not to be part of this big hooha about this TV serial. I must applaud the whole production team (back and front stage) for this marvellous effort. I’m really proud that this is a local production, and we’re able to produce dramas that are not just well-received locally, but are getting all the attention and accolades across oceans. It brings people and families closer together as they huddle together to watch it and talk about it. It is a hot topic, and the good thing about it is it is a common one, perhaps more common than the FI. (agree?)

As I’m blogging now, my eyes looked down at the clock display at the bottom right-hand corner of my monitor. It reads “9:06pm”. This day last week, I would have been sitting on my sofa watching how the plot unfolds to showcase the destinies of the ill-fated women. In fact, my anticipation would grow as early as one hour before the show! Now that it has ended its run, the feeling of loss is indeed present, and very real.

Is this a danger? Not if you’re able to tell yourself that that is a fictitious world, while we’re living in a world that is ever present, ever real. And that only makes me want to run to my loved ones and tell them I love them. Because the more the people suffer in there, the more it tells me I should cherish what I have and be thankful for the people and things around me.

But I know that not many people can actually differentiate the real and the fictitious world. They allow themselves to be so absorbed into the plot that they began to hate the actors and actresses playing the nasty characters. Maybe they know that it is only a drama, but still, they allow themselves to be completely lost in that world. Now, this is dangerous. Because unless they can withdraw themselves and return to reality, their moods are going to be controlled by an environment that is absolutely fake, and out of their own control.

My sister was complaining to me that they shouldn’t have written such a plot with so many twists and turns and bad things happening to everyone in the drama. “Why can’t they just shoot it more like a documentary to let us know how is the Peranakan culture like? Why do they have to make it into such a big sob story?” she questioned that day while we were in a cab on our way home.

“Because if it were a documentary, it wouldn’t have gotten such a high viewership. That’s what dramas are for – to dramatise! We still got to learn about the culture anyway,” I explained. “Like why the husband’s family has to send nasi lemak back to the wife’s family on the 12th day of marriage to signify the chastity of the woman, like their delicacies, their beaded shoes, their costumes.

“If it were a documentary, it can at best be only a few episodes, with each one airing for about 30 minutes. Nobody will have the patience to watch this if it’s a documentary without all the drama! Learning about the culture is a by-product, you know?” Finally, I got her with my reasoning. (she’s been harping on this for several times!)

Oh I simply love the sarong kebaya (have always loved this traditional costume in fact)! And I have to give Jeanette loads of credit for carrying it off so beautifully. She looks elegant and graceful in all the traditional nyonya outfits she wears in the drama.

So, are dramas good, or bad? I don’t know the answer. All I know is, they’re probably here to stay for a long, long time.

And I know I’ll be making the most out of it.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Dare you to try Level 8 Buffalo Wings

"Level 5 please,” I told the waitress.

She opened her eyes to twice their size, paused two seconds, and said: “That’s very spicy. Are you sure you want Level 5?”

Now all of us looked at one another, and the sky-high confidence just a minute earlier when we made up our minds to go for the mid-level wings evaporated that instant when we were challenged.

“Erh, is it really thaaat spicy?” I asked.

“Have you eaten Level 1 to 3 before?”

We all shook our heads. “This is our first time here.”

“Hmm, then maybe it’s better to take Level 1 or 2. Most people take that level,” she suggested out of kindness.

Again, several glances passed between the four of us, and the last look on my and Stuart’s face told me that no, we were going to take Level 3, at the very least. So, we settled our order and waited to see if my taste buds would be murdered that night.

What was all that bargaining and fearing all about? These were the culprits…

A half-dozen Buffalo Wings!

Starting from Level 0 with absolutely no spice, anyone who dares to eats up to an entire plate of Level 10 wings gets his or her name listed on the Hall of Fame. No kidding.

As we were waiting for our wings, we heard someone shouting, “Table XX, Level 8.” The waiter sauntered over to the counter and took the Level 8 wings. Level 8! We sat up and simultaneously turned our heads to stare at the waiter.

We had to know who ordered Level 8 wings! We saw the waiter walking to a table occupied by Caucasians, and our jaws almost dropped to the floor. How can that be? Caucasians? The hottest stuff they could handle was probably Maggi Chilli Sauce.

As it turned out, it really wasn’t them. After serving the food, the waiter strolled over and put the plate of Level 8 wings onto the table just right next to us. I knew it was rude to stare while people were eating (being taught by my mum to have basic table manners), so I could only stole furtive glances to check them out. Apparently the guys who ate Level 8 wings didn’t even show a glint of sweat on their brows.

We have other dishes as well, which, in my opinion, paled in comparison with the Buffalo Wings. But the ambience of the place made up for the less than fantastic food. It was nice to sit and chill out while our bodies got heated with the wings! There was a constant breeze and we were feeling comfortably cool by the time we were ready to leave. The breeze is like a zephyr from some romantic clime, giving me the urge to want to fall in love over again.

Guys, get out of the city pressure cooker and head for Sunset Grill at Seletar Airbase, if you drive. Don’t ask me for directions because I doubt I’ll be able to go there again without a guide. The laidback atmosphere makes it easy for you to relax and enjoy the food and the company you are with.

Sunset Grill Pub is in the clubhouse of the Republic of Singapore Flying Club.

How it used to look like, once upon a time. Click here to see the photo on the club’s official site. You could still see some planes there.