Tag Archives: happy burbday

Happy Burbday: Les Bouchons

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Bryan decided to surprise me on my birthday. he led me on a merry goose chase around Maxwell, first bringing me to Maxwell hawker centre to fry hum jing pang (“huh? we’re eating hum jing pang for my birthday? you’re frying fresh for me? uhm okay?”), then we had sugar cane juice (mine with sour plum) before he presented to me Les Bouchons (Ann Siang Hill) with a flourish. Of course it wasn’t ready yet as we were early so we popped by to a bar next door for a drink, where I promptly drank a glass of white wine too fast and almost fell asleep at the dinner table for the rest of the night.

Les Bouchons is an understated french restaurant tucked along Ann Siang Hill (lots of parallel parking, to avoid, please park next to Maxwell hawker centre). it’s small (sits about 25) and cosy and I like it a lot. there’s no snobby waiter and it doesn’t matter what you wear coz you’re there for the food, nothing else.

Escargots, the recommended dish of Les Bouchons
The last time I had escargots was at a french cafe along little india road that used too much garlic. This one came piping hot in a skillet pan with a strong aroma of garlic but the flavour wasn’t overpowering at all. the meat was tender and chewy, although I kept psyching myself that I was eating abalone and not slugs.

All this while I was struggling to keep my eyes open as the wine bubbled inside my empty tummy. I did everything to keep myself awake, from babbling nonsense to closing my eyes for a “rest” as I tried to hide my closed eyes behind my overgrown fringe. Nothing worked, not even a shot of espresso.

 

I ordered the ribeye with some fanciful named butter. the butter gave it an extra kick to a steak that was lightly salted and grilled. it was one of the tastiest steaks i’ve ever eaten, cooked to perfection (medium) and I couldn’t help rolling the meat around my tongue before swallowing it. The steak was larger than usual so be prepared to be really really stuffed after your meal, or share with a friend. The meat was a little fattier than expected which while making it very tasty, was a little hard to chew and swallow in the end. Each steak comes with free flow of home made fries.

Bryan ordered the extra large. his eyes are bigger than his stomach. and his stomach is REALLY LARGE nowadays.

The wait for your meal is a little longer than normal but well worth the wait. you know your food is coming when they bring a tray of mustards to your table. I love my steak naked so no yellow stuff for me.

The look of bliss with perfectly baked creme brulee rolling around your mouth. again, a larger than normal serving so bring a big appetite or starve yourself for a week before visiting Les Bouchons. we love it so much we plan to come back again.

Reservations recommended.

Happy Burbday: my burbday ring!

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Recently Yilin threw a launch party for her jade collection and Bryan wanted to head down to check it out, which in itself was an odd thing coz since when was Bryan so enthusiastic about jewellery launches. I was okay to go till the day itself when my period decided to ruin my weekend with cramps. I was rolling around in bed in self-pity and hoping Bryan would take pity on me and cancel the outing. He did, but then I saw the look of disappointment on his face (what is with this boy and jewellery?!?!?) that I gave in. I didn’t give in graciously though, grumbling all the way there as I cramped all the way down AYE. it did help that the radio was playing some rock classics so I managed to sing my misery away.

Upon reaching Yilin’s show at Yu Studio at Mohammed Sultan Road, where I “parallel parked” (many empty lots, just slide into one), we reached just around the tail end of the launch where there was no one to jostle with. after introductions to Yilin and her friend, she passed Bryan something, who then passed it to me and said, “try this on for size.”

I took it from him and it took me 3 secs to realise what it was I was trying on.

The ring that I asked for previously! this was my first choice in my Valentine’s nudge to him but it was out of stock or something so he waited till my birthday to give this to me! how sweet! but it was given in such an unromantic, casual manner that I didn’t realised what he was giving me (in my head, I remembered the entire exchange as him going “Nah” while handing it to me). I was mighty pleased and couldn’t wait to put it on. Belatedly, I realised why he was so insistent on coming to the launch. Aww!

The picture doesn’t do the gem (+5 intelligence) justice as it’s really sparkly and pretty and it’s a paler green than what’s seen here. I also have no idea why the iPhone camera captures the wrinkles on the hand better than the cut of the stone.

Of course I was drawn to Yilin’s jade pieces. I’ve always thought of buying jade as I fancied being a tai tai myself one day. However most jade pieces are rather overwhelming and I’m no connoisseur. Yilin’s designs aren’t for purists so if you are going to poo-poo her designs, go somewhere else. Her pieces are catered more for the modern palate and crafted with unconventional designs. I spotted this chain and got it for myself, although a very sweet Bryan readily brought a cheque in anticipation of buying something for me.

Unfortunately, my skin was allergic to the chain. a little research showed that there’s bronze in the chain which apparently I’m now allergic to. I can no longer be 3rd place! Surprised that this happened since I had no adverse reaction to the rings, we contacted Yilin, who very nicely offered to swap the chain to sterling silver for me.

When I showed off the ring to my PJ, she shrieked and clapped, “he proposed???” I was like what? no! and quickly moved the ring to my right hand instead.

Happy Burbday: Annual Pilgrimage to No Signboard Seafood (Geylang)

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Every family occasion is celebrated at a crab place, more often than not at No Signboard seafood at Geylang. Well almost every except for my brother’s fiancée, who is allergic to seafood. I think I’d rather be allergic to anything else in the world but seafood.

Mixed seafood pot. I seriously wonder what goes into the yummy sauce.

 

Stir fried eggplant. I love eggplant.

 

White pepper crab. My dad likes.

 

Chili Crab. so far I like No Signboard’s chili crab best. Long Beach’s crab is too sweet and caters to the tourist’s palate, Ban Leong one has a tinge too much ketchup, Jumbo’s crab seems more belachan-chili than the orange gravy we’re used to.

 

Fried man tou.

They’ve upgraded their area somewhat. Last time we used to have to loiter around the entrance while waiting for the valet to get our cars. It was kinda uncomfortable coz that is also a walkway for pedestrians and it being Geylang, there were a lot more sleazy looking types walking around. Since No Signboard is unfortunately located on the even numbered lanes of Geylang, which is where the red light business thrive, we looked like street walkers ourselves, loitering around like that. My dad and brother used to have to stand really close to us and glared at the other men.

As we drove down Geylang, Bryan looked around fondly for his beef horfun restaurant and went, “Bu yao le! NAHBEY!”