Contest: Win A Trip To Japan!

Encounter With The Deadly Japanese Delicacy

Eco-Friendly Performance Bedding

Chocolate Wonton Kisses

As promised in my An Evening With Celebrity Chef Bob Blumer, here's my 1st demo on Bob's creation - Chocolate Kiss Wontons but I prefer the name Chocolate Wonton Kisses.

here

Contest: Win A Free Trip To Asia Now!

Japan is sponsoring Discover Asia Now Campaign & one Grand Prize winner will receive a trip for 2 people to Asia!

From bustling modern metropolises, to pristine beaches & ancient world heritage sites, Asia caters to a myriad of interests. A vacation in Asia is an adventure unlike any other, where rich cultural diversity, stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, vibrant festivals & exotic food enchant visitors & meticulous service & warm hospitality lure travelers back time & time again.

* Eligibility: Sweepstakes is open only to individuals who are (i) legal residents of the United States & living in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia & (ii) are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. View terms & conditions .

Click here to enter sweepstakes now & Good Luck!

An Evening With Celebrity Chef Bob Blumer

He’s funny, friendly & extremely charming. It’s Bob Blumer’s 1st trip to Singapore & I was one of the lucky few who attended the 'Surreal Surprise with Bob Blumer', the host & co-creator of the adventure television series Glutton for Punishment on Saturday evening!

 And I also got this lovely flower mug, courtesy of Discovery Travel & Living. Oh, & I got to keep the signature 'Cooking Up A Storm' apron.

Besides displaying his culinary skills, Bob constantly engaged the crowd with his food adventures in his TV series. He also entertained the audience with his juggling skills as shown in the pix below. It was an incredible gastronomic evening with the ‘no-rules’ chef, giving a culinary experience like no other. Read more @ http://luxuryhaven.blogspot.com/2009/07/evening-with-celebrity-host-bob-blumer.html

Visit To The Nanking Massacre Site

Most of my trips abroad are for food, shopping & sight-seeing. But my last trip to China served another purpose – to visit the Nanking Massacre site. I couldn’t help but started planning for the expedition after reading “The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II", a bestselling 1997 non-fiction book written by Iris Chang about the 1937–1938 Nanking Massacre.

The book intrigued me for a long time. I don’t know why it took me so long before finally picking it up to read. The “story” was stomach-churning, tear-wrenching & thoroughly riveting.

"If the dead from Nanking were to link hands, they would stretch from Nanking to the city of Hangchow, spanning a distance of some two hundred miles. Their blood would weigh twelve hundred tons, and their bodies would fill twenty-five hundred railroad cars. Stacked on top of each other, these bodies would reach the height of a seventy-four-story building." - from the Introduction of The Rape of Nanking.

It was said that Chang succumbed to her battle with depression after the book & finally took her own life in November 2004. Apparently, the Nanking book “had made Iris sad".

My 10-day China trip covered Nanking, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi & Shanghai. I’d mixed feelings as I’d no idea what to expect of Nanking, one of the oldest 7 cities in China. I’d a fantastic guide who'd prepared us mentally before reaching the site cause we’d be seeing skeletal remains of massacre victims etc, he explained. I’ll not be displaying these gruesome pictures here. Read more.......

Promotion: Ascott Int’l Celebrating 25th Anniversary

80th Birthday, Ageing Gracefully

Most would probably dread attending an 80 yr-old birthday party unless of course, you belong to that age group, the youngest guest there being 55 & above. I mean, how interesting can a senior citizen party be, especially in Asia, where we’re a conservative lot compared to the west?

Many would think nothing more than just sipping Chinese tea at the party & simply sitting at their respective tables chatting among themselves. But not at THIS Birthday Bash. These old folks were sipping red wines, karaoke-ing & grooving to the music. This event has definitely proven me wrong & I’m glad I was there to witness this party, which I’ve enjoyed as much as the guests. Read more...

Bottega Veneta Women's Early Fall 2009 Collection

How To Prepare A Live Lobster!

Crustacean lovers! Check out how to handle a live lobster, plus a Recipe for a Mouth-watering Lobster Tail.

1. It's gonna be a challenge if you haven't done it before. Putting the lobster in the freezer will do the trick, if you’re afraid of being “slapped” by the lobster. Temporary freeze it for about 10mins for easy handling. Do not leave it in the freeze for too long as meat will toughen & you do not want to kill it at this point.
   
   
2. Use an oven glove to pick up a lobster, grab it by the back just above where the tail connects to the body. The shell on the underside of the tail has some sharp edges & may cut you if the lobster flips its tail. *Remember: The lobster is only temporarily immobilized, it’s still alive & may move anytime.
   
   
3. Prepare by inserting chopsticks into the tail of the lobster to let “veins” (urinal thread) out.
4. 
   
5. Clean thoroughly in cold water.

Boil, Steam or Grill, but Don't Overcook! How you cook a lobster has no bearing on how you remove its meat. But if you overcook it, the meat will be tough & tasteless instead of sweet and tender.

It’s highly recommended to cook your live lobsters on the day you receive them & never place lobsters in water to try to keep them alive. Boiling a lobster is probably the easiest way to cook a lobster but I prefer steaming as the meat is more tender, especially with larger lobsters. Steaming preserves the true flavour of the lobster because it does not penetrate the way water can. Besides, I don't have “gallons” of boiling water to waste & clean up after.

My Lobster Affair!

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not particularly difficult to cook a lobster. The only thing that may put you off is the fact that lobsters must be cooked fresh, which means buying it live & taking it home with you or alternatively, have it delivered to your home.

Of course, you can avoid the chore by buying cooked & chilled lobster meat or even frozen lobster tails, but the meat is not as fresh & the texture is compromised. However, if you want to rustle up something spectacular in order to impress your dinner guests, presenting a whole cooked lobster, would certainly be an excellent & innovative choice. Today, I’m using Spiny lobsters for:

Amuse-bouche: Bloody Mary Lobster Cocktail

 Soupes: Classical Lobster Bisque

Crustacés: Steamed Spiny Lobster

Besides lobsters, I’ll also be using Celery for all the 3 courses. Celery has a rich source of vitamin C & it’s a remedy to lower blood pressure & aid in the fight against cancer.

Read more!

How To Take Care Of Your $500 Shoe

Shoes, shoes, shoes……. one of my favourite topics. Needless to say, I’m a shoe fanatic. I’ve a weakness for shoes, to the extent that my hubby had to limit me to a max of 3 pairs at one go during our regular shopping trips when we first got married.

I remember my very first pair of pricey sandal was a red pair of Scholl which cost me more than S$50 in the early 80s when I was in my sweet sixteen, using my own pocket money. It looked somewhat like the one in this pix except that it’s wider & completely flat with a lighter shade of orangey red. It was a fad at that time. Soon, I graduated from Scholl & progressed to Charles Jourdan, then Ferragamo to Chanel etc. When someone's buying expensive shoes, he's usually paying for the brand name, as well as for quality craftsmanship. But after immersing yourself in the most luxurious designer shoes in the world, don’t you think you’ve to pamper them?

This is a pair of Chanel ballerina flats that I’ve bought from London some years back @ about S$700 & this sophisticated lady is still resting elegantly in my shoe wardrobe. So what are the rules to keep your shoes in condition as good as new?

Read more......

Louis Vuitton: The New Monogram Multicolore Collection

The casual & functional Insolite wallet is fashioned in Monogram Multicolore canvas with sharp details. It can be held as a clutch or slipped into a bag:

 

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Monogram Multicolore canvas, grained leather lining, golden brass pieces & rivets
- Zipper & double press stud closure
- Two inside zipped pockets
- Two flat pockets for papers
- Twelve credit card slots
- Leather zipper pulls
- D-ring to attach the wallet to a bag with an optional golden chain

At a price tag of US$710, you've a wide range of colours to pick from: Figue, Raisin, Citron, Litchi, Anis, Grenade & Pistache.

Note: The canvas may slightly fade with time, revealing the canvas background. However, this phenomenon does not deteriorate the quality & durability of the product.

Enjoyable Steamboat/BBQ on Mother's Day

I'd a belated Mother's Day celebration as I was attending a full-day training yesterday. It was a wonderful Steamboat/BBQ dinner with my family & my dearest 80 yr-old mum.

Sauce
BBQ: Japanese Goma Shabu
Steamboat: Soya sauce, red-cut chilli, slice garlic, seasame oil

(BBQ)
Beancurd Pouch (TauPok)
This is another family's all-time favourite. Fill the pouches with your fave ingredients:
6 Taupok
1 Chinese sausage
1 fish cake
1 hard-boiled egg
Parsley/Spring onion
3 tbsp mayonnaise

Dice all ingredients & mix well with mayonnaise. Slit open the pouch & stuff fillings.

Seafood:
Prawns
Remove shells & devein prawns. Marinade with crushed lemongrass & pinch of salt.

Squid
Remove skin & insides. Cut into rings.
Spicy: Mix squid with chopped onion, chilli, garlic & lime
Non-spicy: Mix squid with soya sauce, pepper, sesame oil

Fish Slices
Marinade with salt, pepper & sesame oil.
Skewers
- 2 types of fish balls + Cherry tomato
- Pork ball & quail eggs
- Pork with Lady Fingers & Shitake Skewer
Marinade pork with oyster sauce, Chinese wine & pepper. Butter the lady fingers & wrap them with pork slices. Butter the shitake mushrooms. The Steamboat/BBQ idea was a good one as there were lots of interaction going on at the dinner table. Most importantly, there were laughter, fun & warmth.

I really had a great time bonding with my son today, both of us having fun in the kitchen. I also treasure the time spent with my mum since she's not living with me. I hope you've enjoyed your Mother's Day too

Mother's Day Video

Tomorrow is Mother's Day & guess what? I've to return to "school" to attend a full-day training from 9am-6pm, while most will be enjoying & celebrating this special occasion. Gosh! I'd to call my mum to postpone my dinner with her till next Monday. Still puzzled why the school is conducting a class on a Sunday...... wonder if I can concentrate.

Since I won't be seeing her tomorrow, I've made a 30 sec special dedication to her on a video. Hopefully, my brother who is now in Houston, will also get to watch this.

Click here to watch.

Be sure to keep me posted on how you've celebrated your Mother's Day. Stay tuned for my updates on my dinner celebration on Monday.

Why not try making your own video by reading How To Create Your Own Blog Video!?

Have an Enjoyable Flight!

As we all know, cabin pressure changes during flight & minor pressure adjustments during take-off & landing can sometimes cause discomforts such as "blocked" ears. Unfortunately, the experience of travelling to the other side of the world can sometimes be a stressful & exhausting affair. Plus, air quality, noise & that cramp "cattle-class" seat is certainly not conducive to a sleeping environment.

Flying can also be a stress especially when travelling with children on long-haul flights. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the rigors of flying, so parents need to plan for novelty & special care & planning should be carried out to ensure a healthy trip. I remember having to load a full trolley bag of toys & snacks when taking my 2yr-old son to the US for a 10-day family trip. It was no joke at all.

Today, I'm gonna share with you some tips for a stress-free flight:

Read more.......

Tribute to Mothers

I adore my mum for the million things she gave me, I treasure her for the countless bits & pieces she has done for me, I admire my mum for her unconditional love. Everything I am today, I owe it to HER!

Let's never take our mothers for granted. Remember - A mother carries the child in her womb for 9 months & in her heart for the rest of her life.

Mother's Day is near (10 May), so let’s take this chance to make her feel special & shower her with love. I've lined up a whole list of ideas you can do for her…….. surely mum deserves more than a hug & a kiss?

Buy something nice for her, treat her to a nice meal, pamper her by inviting her to a spa or manicure or WHIP UP A FEAST OR COOK SOMETHING SIMPLE:

Award-Winning Sushi Birthday Cake

1 cup Rice

Lazy Gourmet: Crunchy Seafood Roll

1) Follow the reheating instructions at the back of the box & set sauce aside.2) Wash the chestnuts thoroughly to get rid of the mud. Remove skin & cut it up into tiny pieces.

3) Remove the “insides” & skin from squid. Rinse thoroughly & dice it.

4) Rinse & mince the fish. Dispose prawn shells & heads. Devein, clean & minced the prawns. Sprinkle a dash of black pepper & mix well.

5) Mix all the ingredients together. Scoop up a spoonful of mixture onto your palm & mould into your preference shape. Add about 5 tbsp of breadcumbs onto plate & cover the seafood rolls with the crumbs.

6) When oil is hot, lower the rolls gently to prevent breakage & deep-fry till golden brown. Do not over-cook or you’ll lose the rich creamy sauce in your rolls. When done, place it on top of the gratin & serve piping hot.

1. Cook the Penne according to instructions behind packaging & drain well.
2. Mix the Penne with the balanced sauce (remember I "stole" some earlier to make the Seafood Rolls?) & top it up with cheese.
3. Grill it for about 5 mins or till cheese brown. Serve it with the Crispy Seafood Roll, which makes a great complement. See above for Gratin pix.

Click here for step-by-step photo instructions.

Healthy Steamed Fish With Leafy Spinach

My son has been down with high fever for the past few days & he is sick of having a liquid diet & eating porridge everyday. I saw some nice Spinach at the supermarket, so I prepared this steamed fish fillet for his dinner, fit for the sick. This is a very simple, yet tasty dish, using fresh ingredients & requires very little seasoning. Afterall, you wouldn’t wanna serve something heavy for the patient.

Spinach is a delicious green leafy vegetable which has been crowned as the ‘Powerhouse Of Nutrients’. It contains an impressive range of active substances which are indispensable to the body. Moreover, Spinach can help eliminate intestinal parasites.

Spinach has three times more vitamin C contents than an average vegetable. However, the taste of Spinach is not favourable at all especially among the younger generations. It tastes bitter due to the “oxalic acid”. Hence, Popeye the Sailor was the top idea for young generations to inspire them to eat Spinach.

Well, one way of reducing the bitter taste of Spinach is by adding oil when cooking. The nutritional value of Spinach with olive oil also indicated as one of the best.

A bunch of Spinach leaves
1 slice of fresh fish fillet
7 pieces of Chinese mushrooms
1 slice of ginger
1 tsp of olive oil
1 tsp of sesame oil
1 tsp of oyster sauce
Pinch of corn flour
Pinch of salt & pepper

1) Marinade mushrooms with oyster sauce, & fish with salt, pepper, sesame oil & corn flour. Set aside.

2) Soak the vegetable in water & rinse thoroughly to rid any sand residues. Cut them up & add olive oil to mix. Arrange onto serving plate & add shredded ginger.

3) Add mushrooms & put the fillet on top of Spinach. When water boils in wok/pan, put to steam for about 2-3mins. Do not steam for too long or you’ll lose the vitamins in the vegetable & the fish will harden. * If unsure, stick a toothpick or fork into the fillet. If it goes through smoothly, the fish is done.

4) Well, here’s your nutrients-enriched dish for the indisposed. Add more seasonings or ingredients if cooking for the entire family.

Click here for photo instructions.

How to spot that fake bag!

A handbag’s an important part of a woman’s fashion arsenal, the gateway to her fashion statement. For a woman to own a top range handbag is not unheard of. Which is also why a lot of women are willing to part with their month’s salary or entire bonus just for a bag. Unfortunately, many are tempted by the huge discounts that are offered on the internet. But before you part with your hard-earned money, shouldn’t you do some homework before hitting that “buy” button?

Ebay is a breeding ground for fake designer merchandise & while there’re websites selling the genuine article, there’re just as many passing off counterfeit goods as the real thing. Some 2nd-hand sellers may even produce a receipt claiming it's authentic.

Fly The World's Largest Plane - A380!

Day 5 (An Experience on the Super Jumbo):

Singapore Airlines is the first airline in the world to fly the A380: the world’s largest commercial aircraft designed to carry 471 passengers in exceptional style & comfort.

Singapore Airlines operates the superjumbo to London, Sydney & Tokyo & from 1 June 2009, SIA will fly the world’s largest passenger plane on its Singapore-Paris route.

The SIA A380 heralds a new era in air travel, with its cabin offerings providing unprecedented comfort, space & luxury. The aircraft is the quietest large passenger aircraft ever built, & delivers substantial fuel burn reductions per seat kilometre over the next largest aircraft. This means it becomes a cleaner, greener alternative for long-haul travel, while allowing for the addition of extra capacity to congested airports, like London.

I was privileged to be travelling in the award-winning Business Class of the A380 on Singapore Airlines, the most spacious the world has ever seen, on my return flight from Tokyo to Singapore. Flight time: 7hrs 10mins.

Upon boarding, I was impressed that SIA has created a double-decker entrance in at least two aero-bridges & I was already on the second level instead of having to climb the usual stairs up to Business Class.

The Business class, located on the upper deck, consists of 60 seats. I like the unique 1-2-1 cabin layout with the unrivalled space between each seat as opposed to 2-2-2 on Qantas. As I’m a ‘window-seat’ traveller, this 1-2-1 feature allows me direct aisle access. I happily slumped into my luxurious 34” wide armchair & it was really nice seating all by myself, with no one beside me.

Once on board, coats were taken & a selection of juices & champagne, newspapers, magazines & menus were given out. I was glad I wasn't the only "tourist" on board. A Japanese man, sitting in the two-seater was seen busy snapping photos & I soon join the entourage. Read more...

Travel: Fine Dining @ Ginza, Tokyo

I was invited to the authentic Hama Steak House @ Ginza by an old friend of mine for dinner. This cozy old-establishment with a team of all-male servers, started in 1971 & prides themselves using the best quality of beef roast & fillet to provide the best steak in front of customers.

I was waltzed into a rich-wood, high-society atmosphere, with an experience of style, fine delicacies & serenity. I later learnt that the restaurant entertains celebrities & diplomats when they're in town.

I was looking forward to enjoying the art of grilling, teppanyaki style. I was pleased to be presented the recommended Chef's Course, as it embraced all my favourite food. Best part, I don't have to crack my head, deciding which to pick. Read more....

Travel: Burberry Blue Label In Ginza

Day 3 (Burberry Blue Label @ Ginza & Dining @ Shiseido Parlour):

Woke up early to check the latest news on ANA. I was worried cause the airline was on strike the night before. I'd to ensure my flight was operating & that I can fly to Tokyo safely. It was a such a relief when the concierge informed me that all flights returned to normal.

Juliet & I went our separate ways. She had to return to S'pore, while I took the domestic flight to Tokyo alone. While at the domestic airport, I noticed that all flight announcements were made only in Japanese. Even though I've finished with an advanced in the language, I'd to listen carefully at the continuous announcements just to ensure there were no last minute changes. It's really tough for non-Japanese speakers to fly domestic or to move around the airport.

Flight time was just an hour half & it was soon over. I'd chosen to land at Haneda airport as it's much nearer to the Conrad Tokyo. The ride was just 15mins & but look at the fare! There're 2 places in the world that one shouldn't resort to taking cabs unless necessary - London & Japan.

I got out of the hotel as soon as I checked in. I reminded myself, I just have another 48hrs here..... so scram.

My first stop was to head straight to Burberry Blue Label at Ginza to check out the latest fashion. This is like a 'must-do' whenever I visit Tokyo. You can't find Burberry Blue Label in other parts of the world except Japan. The prices are cheaper than Burberry but sizes are much smaller. I guess it's because it's catered to a younger crowd, but that doesn't stop me from visiting. Read more...

Travel: Admiring Nature in Fukuoka

Travel: Fukuoka, Japan in 48 Hours!

Day 1:

It was a smooth 6hrs overnight flight on Boeing 777-200 to Fukuoka, with me watching the award-winning Japanese movie "Departures" or ””, while my stewardess friend worked through the flight. Juliet has been flying with Singapore Airlines for 25yrs. She has 48hrs in Fukuoka & has invited me to join her for this trip, which I gladly tagged along.

I've been to Fukuoka many times but the last was more than 10yrs ago. Fukuoka, the largest city on the island of Kyushu, has a moderate climate & it's bordered on three sides by mountains & opens on the north to the sea. It's a beautiful city with nature where visitors can enjoy some buildings with green in the urban center & flowers in full bloom all throughout the year in an island of the Hakata Bay. Read more

How To Create Your Own Blog Video!

Well, I decided to create my own video & it’s easy. You can do it too. Just sign up for a free account with Animoto, follow the simple instructions & you’re on your way to create your own video.

Only setback is, the clip is only 30 secs & it doesn’t give you much option, but you can opt to pay for more flexibility & longer clips.

Click here for full write-up. Cheers!

Yummy Deep-Fried Mussels

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp salt for mussels
1 lemon wedge
Cooking oil

1) Throw away any mussels that have broken shells. If shells are opened, tap on them. If it’s alive, it’ll close else discard. 

2) Ligthly blanch mussels with salt water to open & purging them of sand. Clean & debeard shells, open them up & detach mussels. 

3) Rinse the mussels & drain. Mixed mussels with mayonnaise. 

4) Add pepper to breadcrumbs.

5) Roll mussels in breadcrumbs, dip into beaten egg & coat with crumbs again. 

6) Deep-fry till golden brown. Squeeze lemon wedge just before serving...... and here's your tray of S$1 mussels.

Click here for full photo instructions.

Recipe: Crispy Bacon Roll

Bacon is so unhealthy....... but I simply can't resist, especially streaky bacon. I remember years ago when I was in Las Vegas having breakfast buffet at the hotel, I ended up just snacking cripsy bacon for b'fast!

I learnt that bacon is so popular in the US that restaurants are organizing bacon & beer tasting nights etc. Commentators explained this interest in bacon by reference to what they deemed 'American cultural characteristics'.

Sarah Hepola, in a 2008 article in Salon.com, suggested a number of reasons, one of them being eating bacon in the modern, health-conscious world is an act of rebellion: "Loving bacon is like shoving a middle finger in the face of all that is healthy & holy while an unfiltered cigarette smolders between your lips". Hepola concluded by saying that "Bacon is American".

Interesting, isn't it? Today, I'd like to share with you my family's favourite bacon recipe with prawns that's smacking good :) 

6 slices of Streaky Bacon
2 Eggs
12 stalks of baby French beans
12 sticks of carrots
3 tbsp of corn flour
Pinch of salt & pepper to taste

1. Remove prawn heads & shells & devein. Squeeze out roe, if any. It adds flavour. Rinse & drain prawns. 
2. Blend prawn with salt & pepper & mix well with roe. 
3. Spread prawn mixture on bacon, then lay vegetables on top . 
4. Roll bacon tightly.
5. Coat bacon rolls with beaten eggs, then flour. 
6. Heat oil & deep-fry till crispy. Remove & serve.

For step-by-step instructions with photos, click here.