July 15, 2009
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Song of the Day
時間…
不知道…是好是壞,
時間…是給予對方相處的好機會,
時間…也是考驗等待的極限,
因為過多的等待…
只會讓人感覺到…
都只是傷心和難過…
While in the midst of taking two weeks off from Xanga, I have acquired four little furry creatures as pets.
These are Robo Hamsters which require very little maintenance and care. All they need are: food, water and a small cage.
On the otherhand, I was very tempted to set up an aquarium which was my favourite option, but this hobby needs a lot of
time and maintenance. Therefore, I have given up the idea and settle for a few rodents, for now.I do not have a name for my furry friend yet, any suggestions? They feel so soft and furry, just like a cotton ball…
Sitting up making a ‘face’…
WEBLOG – July 3rd, 2009 – Drove north to San Francisco and the wine country (Napa Valley) for W’s birthday.
The weather could not be better and perfect for a driving trip. And many thanks to W for taking some of these fabulous photos.Dinner at the ‘Corner’ restaurant near the Mission District of San Francisco. The neighbourhood is kind of ghetto,
but it seems that there are quite a number of trendy eateries throughout the area.
The Draft Beer was quite good, it was a ‘medium strength’ beer known as Anderson Valley Boont Beer…
First up is the Balsamic Farro-Beet Salad, the texture is very similar to rice and is quite filling…
Bay Scallops with Sweet Corn and Salsa Verde…
Braised Short Ribs with Horseradish-Potato Puree…
Mediterranean Orzo Salad…
Baby Asparagus wrapped in Prosciutto…
At the Matanzas Creek Winery , lavenders with the main winery in the background….
Lavender fields with the grapevine in the background…
A few miles away in Yountville, lunch at Bouchon . The very sumptuous French Onion Soup…
Fruits de Mer, we had the Petit Plateau, with 1/2 Lobster, 9 Oysters, 3 Shrimp, 3 Clams and 6 Mussels…
We shared this Gigot d’Agneau, which is a roasted Leg of Lamb with Pommes Boulangere, braised Swiss Chard & Lamb Jus…
For the Birthday Boy, the Creme Glacee – Sorbet de Fruits, the flavours are Creme Fraiche and Mango…
Before we leave for LA, Dim Sum at Koi Palace. The Chinese characters literally means ‘Koi Fish Doorway’
(thank you Jason for the recommendation)…
The usual ‘suspects’ – “Har Gou” (Shrimp Dumplings) and “Char-Siu-Bao” (Steamed buns with Roast Pork n’ sauce fillings)
The more ‘exotic’ ones – Steamed ‘siu-mai’ (Pork Dumplings) with Abalone; and Stewed Chicken Feet,
where the delicious portions are the glutinous soft bones and tendons…
The Wok Fried Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage and Green Onions, is very filling with the sticky rice…
It was a sumptuous eating trip up north, and I enjoyed the meals very much. Although a few of the courses are quite pricey!
Comments (40)
<3 french onion soup!
Tawn and I want to build a house in the Khao Yai area (about 2.5 hours outside BKK in the mountains) and have fields of lavender. They are so beautiful.
oh god.. i was hungry.. and now i am straving
@JL789 -
Delicious and very filling!
@christao408 -
Ahh…Khao Yai, I would love to explore the outskirts of the Big Mango! I think it’ll be cooler up in the mountains, with waterfalls as well!
@MadaMadaDan3 -
I was starving too after finishing my weblog! Any good recipe for a French Onion Soup?
@curry69curry - hmm.. i don’t have any, i just sautee my onions really well.. lots and lots of onions for sure.. add some thyme.. sherry vinegar and chicken/beef stock.. my liquids to onion ratio is like cooking rice.. LOTS of onions.
They look like Tribbles!
Great lavendar shot!
oh..my…god..that hamster is SOOOO cute!!! >< i want one now. And that lavender field looks amazing. Must have smelled like heaven.
@MadaMadaDan3 -
I’ve always caramelized the onions (cook at low heat, covered, for like 30mins). A lil cognac at the end gives it an even richer flavor profile
Is Bouchon good?
I have heard the name so many times, but haven’t had the chance to try it
I am getting a lot of mixed feelings reading this blog. I don’t know if it’s the music, the pictures, the birthday with your bf… but it’s a good teary sort of feeling. *sniff*
Oh yeah… how about wonton for the name?
@caihwei - ahh nice thanks for the advice.
Stunning pictures of lavender growing at the foot of the vineyard. I loved seeing them here. Your pet hamsters are cute.
@CareyGLY -
Oh, you mean those little furry creatures from Star Trek? Haha~I wish mine would ‘purr’….
@MadaMadaDan3 -
Thanks for the advice! Bon Appetite!
@caihwei -
The low cost needed to maintain those Robo Hamsters is a good selling point. I’d love to get a doggie too, but have to spent a lot of time toilet training and keeping it company everyday. The lavenders in full bloom are very pretty indeed, the winery planted those to deter deer and other animals from eating the grapes!
@Wangium -
Bouchon? Its reputation is no doubt worth the trip and $$$! Strangely though, while we were lunching that day, almost three-quarters of the diners are Asian, probably, we all love eating out!
@ElusiveWords -
Or most likely it’s the colour of lavenders which gave you that ‘sniffy’ feeling?
Haha~~ the name “wonton” is cute. Just the thought of “wonton”…I may get too tempted and cook them up for real! *rubbing tummy*
your hamster is just the cutest thing ever! and i’m hungry too now after seeing those photos. *stomach growls*
@ZSA_MD -
I’m glad you like the lavender photos, and my pet hamsters too. I wish my pet would sit still most of the time.
As for the lavenders, someday, I wish I could travel to Provence to view the flowers bloom! Anyway, just standing amidst this wine country lavender field and under the warm sunlight sure made me feel good!
haha… u like furry stuff
did u get the same rice cooker as mine? mine is sent in for repair – actually they might just send me a new one.
@osmundaregalis -
I’m glad my hamster photos did not upset your stomach. You’ve got very appetizing recipes too!
@YNOTswim -
Mine is a Tiger, very basic cooker which I’ve acquired years ago. Yours a Tiger too?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/ac6e/
Hi Gary,
How about 改你的那位超可愛的new funny friend 名為: 毛毛? 英文可以叫momo….
hope he/she like it lar~~ ^__*
@curry69curry -
no, mine is Sanyo-ECJ-F50S…
My bf and I went to a Jay Chou concert and I remember how happy he was. We both like food. I was thinking about him when I read your entry. Your affection towards your bf / partner was touching and I think the music just enhanced the feeling. Ok ok… I’m just a softie.
@CareyGLY -
Oh dear…my cutie looks very similar to one of those creatures indeed! Thanks for the link!
@uyyt -
Thank you for the idea. Another suggestion was ‘wonton’; how about 毛毛 wonton? But I have four of these little ones, what to do? *head spinning*
@ElusiveWords -
This Jay’s song is one of my favourites, I’ll be playing more of his music from now on, only if you don’t object to it! *wink*
Gary,
原來你有四隻咁多啊…m….m…..那麼不如改: 東東tungtung, 南南namnam, 西西seesee, 北北bebe 呀…
或者, 可以上上songsong, 下下haha, 左左jorjor, 右右yooyoo…
你覺得如何? 嗯…其實還有一組很特別的, 就是如果這四知隻funny lovely friend 是你非常重要的人贈送的心意的話呢, 那就可以改: 我i i, 很 hanhan, 愛 (粒粒), 你 nene 啦~ 呵呵~
就考慮下吧….希望終於有你想改的吧~
Everything looked really tasty except the seafood
.
your little friends will grow and become quite big…..I did see one as big as my forearm…from my old schoolmates….
the dim sum looks really nice and tasty….specially those chix feet hehehehe
@uyyt -
Thank you again for the very funny names…maybe I should consider something like a mah-jong game pieces, sounds good?
@kachino -
I’m glad you like everthing else….but the seafood? You’re more of a meat n’ potato person, I suppose?
@agmhkg -
Oh, I hope they won’t get bigger than this, since I’ve got limited shelf space. I may have to give one or two away if they outgrow the present habitat, would you like a couple of freebies?
@curry69curry -
I’m allergic to seafood
.
Hi Gary
其實, 我反而會concern 你是否可以分辨到四隻funny friends 係邊隻打邊隻啊?…呵呵 ^__<
@uyyt -
Haha~~You’re right about that. I can hardly distinguish between those four, but I know there’s this particular one who likes to bite my finger whenever I stick my hand inside the cage. =p