Back to the past - Dian Xiao Er

+0@DianXiaoEr ™

It was my birthday last saturday. Because for some reasons, my husband cannot bring me out to celebrate it. But, I can sensed that he really wish to bring me out to nice places in this special day.

I know. I really know. I won't blame you for not having a proper celebration for me. We can have it on your birthday. :)

Lunch time. We decided to go LotOne, Dian Xiao Er (店小二）to settle. We never been to any franchise of this shop. Anyway, we decided to give a try.

Browsed through their menu, and their one of their famous dishes should be roasted duck.

Served with 3 types of herbs:-

1) Ginseng

2) Dang Gui

3) Mixed of herbs.

Since it's their famous dish, and out first visit, we have to order one of this, and we chosen Dang Gui. There is a little gravy served with the roasted duck.

All of us like this dish.

Meat wise, we ordered also pork. Mongolian Prok Rib.

They fried the pork rib, and cook with special sauces. Something similar to Pai Gu Wang.

Then we ordered Ma-Poh taofu and Kailan fried with salted fish. Hmm... Can't taste the salted fish at all.

Last dish ordered:-Ma-Poh taofu. It is very nice to eat with rice. The taofu is soft and smooth. Yum~

Overall, it is good. :D

Early Birthday Dinner

+0@Modesto ™

2days before my birthday, is his first paper exam. Is a final exam for him. He had been locked himself in the study room for the past few weeks. Can really see he is studying hard to get a flying colors result for this semester.

He came and fetched me after the exam finished. And suggested to celebrate my birthday earlier this year. Celebrate means to have a 'better' dinner as he will need to study hard for the next paper on my exact birthday.

At the end, we decided to go to eat his favorite dishes, Pasta!! :)

In fact, I also love Pasta.

We have good impression of Modesto's Restaurant. There are 3 Modesto's Restaurant in SG. We only been to the one in Vivo City. The other two located at Mount Elizabeth Hotel and Orchard.

Once arrived, we order a set dinner for 2pax, which costs SGD48, consists of 1 appetizer, 2 main courses and 1 dessert. Drinks are not included in the set dinner.

Browsed through the choices, most of them are very familiar to us, eg: Insalata Mista, Crema Di Funghi, Spaghetti Aglio Olio Peperoncino, Penne Arrabbiata, Spaghetti Carbonara, Linguine Vongole, Verdure Pizza, Wurstel Pizza, etc.

These dishes are all written in Italian. But, I still able to understand the meaning without checking the description in English.

Here are what we ordered!!!

Spaghetti Carbonara... Not sure this is the original recipe of it. As I know, this dish is without cream, only egg and cheese. Anyway, with the cream, it's yum yum.

Wurstel Pizza. Wurstel is referring to sausages.

And the dessert - Tiramisu!!

I used to make tiramisu quite frequent when I was in Italy. And the taste is almost the same. The little different is that I added coffee liquor. And also mine is not able to be cut into pieces. I tried to analyzed why this piece can be cut so nicely. Then I found out, the biscuit in between the layer were not soak with coffee. But I DID!! Haha... next time I know how to improve. Yeah!

We are really full, when we started the dessert. The portion doesn't look big, but, it's filling. Oh ya, they provided free Italian bread with balsamico vinegar and olive oil right after we finished ordering. I love this very much.

Happy Birthday to myself

+0@YewTee ™

Thanks to all Birthday Wishes, from ALL.

I received a lot of wishes today, since 00:00 of 24th April.

I am stepping into my 30s. Time really flies, especially these few years.

It was like just yesterday that I graduated from Uni, freshly stepped into the community to start my career life, travelled to 10 (or more) countries in a year, swore for my marriage, witnessed and experienced the born of a baby, learnt the lessons of making mistakes, etc.

Everything was just happened yesterday. Freshly playing through my mind whenever I thought of it.

I wish to thank to my family, for their uncountable loves.

I wish to thank to my friends, for their caring, understanding, guidance.

I have had a great past one year.

Xin Wang HK Cafe

+0 @ Yew Tee Point ™

"Is there anyone birthday in this month?"
"err..Yes."
"Ok, then you don't need to order warm water for yourself, we can give you a FREE drink. Hold on.."
After work, feeling like want to eat wanton mee, and hence decided to have dinner at Hong Kong Char Chan Teng at Yew Tee Point, which the name is Xin Wang HK café.

The waiter came to take our order, and at the end of ordering, the conversation above continued.
I think this is a good way for them to promote to customer about joining their membership.
The membership fee is $30 per year. On the day that you sign up, you will be given $15 off vouchers (where the membership fee becomes $15), $10 anytime dining voucher, for next visit, valid for 6months (where the membership fee becomes $5), one-for-one main course coupon, free one drink worth maximum of $4.90 (where the membership fee is ==$0). Lastly, in additional if you sign up at your birthday month, you will get a free gift from them.

Isn’t this is a great deal? Haha…

Here is the gift from them.
A big bowl or cup?

Their membership themed FRIENDS.

That's why can see a row of people holding hands.

Let’s say, this is not the first time I visited this café. The one I visited before was near to Kovan mrt. As you know, the famous dishes from a HK café must be cheese baked rice, wanton mee, Nissin noodles with Ham, fried rice, Iced ying yong, and last but not least, their assorted flavored ice (especially mango ice, my favorite).

Erm, back to the conversation above. This gave me a very deep impression of the waiter.
But, in fact, I a bit pity of the waiter. From the way he talks, I noticed he is not a very smart person. But, he is very kind and explained everything nicely, slow and steady. After he took our order, many times, I saw the supervisor scolded him, for some of his working attitudes, eg why serve the food so slow to customer, why never hold things nicely, why never keep things properly, why serve the newly arrive customer so slow, etc.
Personal thinking, the supervisor shouldn’t have scolded him in front of customer for such things. This will only de-motivate the waiter. This kind of briefing can be done before and after operating hours. And the supervisor looks always angry and showing un-satisfaction.
Luckily, the waiter is still able to take it, and will smile to customer. I know he is scared of him, but at least he is not de-motivated.
Hope he is still working there when I revisit the café. ;)

Do you apply Perfume in the right way??

+0@HOME ™

Perfume, always expensive in my opinion, just a small little bottle with essential oils. Their selling point is the bottle design, my opinion as well.

I seldom apply perfume. Only when I attend a special event, and also if I remember, I will apply. My first bottle of perfume is in year 1999. I never buy for myself. The first one also a gift. When passby the perfume corner in any shopping complex, their packaging and free gifts always attracted me. But, none of the time that I will spend money on it, except buying as a gift to other people.

I have a Chance of Chanel and a DKNY-Green Apple. Both fragrances I like. But, when this fragrance keep appears around me, I don't feel comfortable.





There is a doubt. Which is the correct wat to apply perfume?
I think this is also one of the reason why I seldom apply.

Some would spray on the clothes. Some would spray on their wrist/back of the ears/neck/hair and whatever.

Yesterday I applied Green Apple EDT. This fragranced me the whole day. Today, I am not applying it, until I figure out which is the correct way to apply.

Checking the info on the right way to apply perfume, and hereby share with you some info that you might not know even everyday you are using it. :)


Have you ever came across EDP, EDT, EDC, etc when you searching for a Perfume?

Everything has its hierarchical chart, and this is for Perfume, which categorized based on the concentration of pure perfume oil to the amount of alcohol in the blend. The higher the concentration of pure perfume oil, the more expensive the fragrance and the longer lasting scent. That's why a pure perfume oil will never be in a big bottle, but just a small little bottle and can last for quite a long time.


Parfum (Perfume) is at the top of the chart. Follow by Parfum De Toilette, EDP, EDT, EDC, For Men EDT and Aftershave.

The common to most of us is EDT, with 4-8% concentration of essence. This is recommended for daily use.


A bit bored topic with the fact. Let's share something interesting:

It costs USD$32,000 for one-page advertisement monthly on Vogue magazine.

Clavin Klein spent USD$6mill to advertise Eternity. ~_~"

This is why perfume so expensive. And also department stores typically mark perfume 60-100%, which means the price they selling is 60-100% higher than the price they buy in. This is a lot!!!!


Opps.. Just noticed I am getting far from the intention of this post.

Let's back to the topic.
The correct way to apply perfume is apply on our pulse points, which are crock of elbows, inside the wrist, behind the ears, behind the knees, the back of neck, the cleavage area, between the toes, ankles and thighs.
The best to apply perfume is before dressing, some say it will not leave any stains on the clothes, because the ingredients will be evaporated, but there are some saying that it might leave oily stain on the clothes. From the my experience, I say the latter one.


A recommendation if you are using Eau de toilette, you can spray in the air, and walk through it. The fragrance will cover all your body. Remember, before dressing.
Another important thing to remind, most of the people like to rub the wrists after applying perfume. Never do this anymore! This can reduce the effect of the fragrance.

The sense of smell becomes quickly fatigued. You will get used to smelling your fragrance after applying for some times, or maybe not able to smell the scent. But, in fact, the scent is still there, and it can be very strong to others, which may cause uncomfortable to others. So, do not apply too much.




Alright!!
Now, you know a little about how to apply perfume. So, don't use it wrongly anymore.
:)

Starz Restaurant - Hard Rock Hotel

+0 @ Sentosa™

The long awaiting department gathering is back for the first time this year.

And this time, the destination is Sentosa Island!

STARZ Restaurant, which is located in Hard Rock Hotel, Sentosa.

10 of us plus our secretary, sailed the ship at noon. The lunch buffet is from 12noon to 2.30pm.

Brought along the 5dmk2 for this event. I brought only 50mm f1.4, and I think it will be enough.

When we arrived, not too occupied. At a first glance of the food area, not too much of varieties.

Some pictures of the environment.

Every time visit to buffet restaurant, I will definitely start with appetizers. Smoked salmon is always in the top of my list. And I spotted there are my favorite dish, Smoked Salmon !

The smoked salmon were just sliced and served. Since I brought along paidee(5dmk2), I spent a little time to turn the sliced fish becomes flower. And here is!!!

Isn't this is more tempting?! :D

After appetizers, it's main course time. I walked around, and came across a cute little burger. It was written Burger with Wagyu beef patty. Wow... As I know, Wagyu beef is very nice and expensive. For sure I can't miss the chance to taste on it.

This small burger tastes really good. The patty is soft, and yummilicious.

Tried their pasta, spaghetti and penne, both with the same sauce - tomoato sauce with meatballs. Highly recommended. ^^

Hmm... stomach still not so filling. Decided to try their Udon noodles with miso soup. It's just a small bowl. But, it's enough to taste it.

Emptied in less than 5mins. :D

Almost 70% full, and it's time for dessert, plus coffee. :)

Order a cup of Cappucino, and went to check out their dessert counter.

Saw a lot of cakes and ice-cream. most of the cakes are kind of big slice, not able to finish. At the end, decided to make another own deco for dessert.

And here is!!Does it makes you swallowing saliva, or your saliva starts dripping? Haha..

And my Cappuccino also arrived just in time, to be served with my dessert.

Wonderful Ending of the Buffet.

Oh ya, not to forget to include a group photo of us, to prove that we were here on April Fool !!