I’ve been dying to give this a try so when my first choice of a Korean BBQ for a very important person’s birthday got shot down to accommodate a rather particular individual in the group, I jumped at the chance to bring the ladies here.

Chalk
11 Mount Sophia
http://www.chalk.com.sg/chalk/index.php

The awesome journey began when I called to make a reservation. I was asked if I wanted to placed outside or inside. Inside was what came to mind to accommodate that rather particular individual despite the fact that it was all for the vip’s birthday. Reflecting, I wondered what went through my mind than. The only explanation I can give is that I hoped everyone would walk out of this place with a wonderful experience.

After other round of blur-ness by keeping the birthday girl waiting (I know I ought to be shot many times over and still shouldn’t be forgiven), making her accompany me to redeem my soon to be expired points when she is enroute to recovering from a sprained ankle and realising that there are a whole load of my life story I hadn’t shared with her despite her being vip after my immediate family we finally made our way to our dinner destination.

The restaurant was aptly called Chalk befitting the interior that were designed with old-school chairs, tables and drawers filled with chalk. In addition, it was located within Old School. Turns out, the “surprise” with the presence of the rest of the clique was a bad job done on my part because of a lame reason I gave when she asked to invite the others.

The service was impeccable. I love it. The food was delicious too! I love my duck confit. Bestie’s beef cheek was my next favourite, then the ribeye. Well, one can’t really go wrong with the ribeye unless the chef has no skill in controlling the heat.

Pre-Starters

Starters - Mushroom Soup

Starters - Escargots

Main Course - Chermaine's Ribeye with Roasted Potatoes & Carrots

Main Course - Birthday Girl's Beef Cheek with Mash Potatoes & Carrots

Main Course - Serena's Pizza

Main Course - My Duck Confit with Mashed Sweet Potato & Salad

My duck confit was tender on the inside yet surprisingly crispy on the outside. The waiter who introduces the special menu to us told us that it was cooked for three days over low heat. Upon hearing that, I was wondering if I had ordered something bland and tasteless but it turns out otherwise. The mashed sweet potato was a nice change from the usual mashed potato, simply refreshing. I wouldn’t mind going back if there were less mosquito bites. (that can be avoided if one chooses an inside seat).

We eventually ordered the Chocolate Fondant and Sticky Pudding with Ginger Ice Cream to raise the birthday mood and it got too heavy with the topic on life. Bestie never fails to get me a cake because she believes that it isn’t a birthday without cake. Despite objections, I went ahead with it. So there it is, there were two desserts for the bestie and fellow June baby Cher.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE! I hope you enjoyed yourself!

It wasn’t a perfect birthday I think. It could have been flawless but I wasn’t flawless. I hoped the person I intended this for enjoyed herself thoroughly. As for Lou, thank you for being the coordinator on the “other” side.

Us Again. Third Time This Year!

BEWARE! PICTURE OVERLOAD!

A "Sua Gu" Singaporean

Lately, I seemed to be on the human bridge that leads to Sentosa on a weekly basis (even know I was there only twice). It is such a beautiful place that with each visit I wished I had someone with me just sitting, talking and enjoying the breeze until we saw the sunrise.

On a Saturday night, it seemed undisturbed by the weekend crowd; retaining the tranquility young couples need to show their affection for each other under the faint lights. I was there with Serena on my second trip just days after she returned from Japan and her account of the “adventure”.

This time, standing by the railing, looking out into the sea, listening to the waters crash against the breakwaters, fishes occasionally trying to catch our attention with their “misbehaviour” by jumping out of the waters and the breeze blowing in our faces, I felt safe. Singapore allowed me to trust my life with her; the breakwaters need not be complete because we weren’t fully exposed to the threats of the sea and ocean, I could walk the streets without fear of meeting with rioters that threw handmade bombs, I didn’t have to wake up in fright because of a tremor, here everything is calm (except the people).

I had crossed this bridge the first time after dinner at Singapore Seafood Republic in celebration of my secretary’s birthday. I just had to display the food because it is one of the most expensive meals I ever had. The kang kong was the cheapest at $20. There’s the wasabi prawns which costs $48 a plate. Craziness. I bet there are Zhi Char places that sold better tasting replicas and cheaper! Here goes!

Wasabi Prawns

Scallops In Yam Basket

Sambal Kang Kong

Fish Slices

Salted Chicken

Toufu With Seafood In Claypot

View Of Harbour Front & Vivo City

View Of Resort World Sentosa

Auntie Friends I Got To Know Through My Colleagues. Just Us Because The Rest Went To The Casino.

After bringing myself through a rather painful week, between taking MC, “sneaking” off half way into the working day, surviving the day with much sniffles and cough, I finally arrived at Friday.

I love it when things are “happening” on a work day besides being bound to the desk and computer. It would definitely be better if there are after work activities. This Friday was on of the best since the beginning of the New Year. I had a crazy day in court not for a trial but a mediation. Amidst the gentlemanly discussions, nicely organised bites and lunches, random chats in between long waiting times, we came to an end we had not hoped for just minutes after concluding a shortlived “and they lived happily ever after” fairytale end. It was just SO close.

After work, feeling quite misfitted in the Orchard crowd, cause its Friday but I am in court attire (because I figured I’d be cold and I didn’t wanna catch another cold having just recovered from one) I went for dinner at EwF. The fries was pretty good at the beginning but I think the portion became too big for my consumption. The tandoori burger I had was just edible, basically a place overhyped. Doubt I’ll go back again. Freshness Burger is a whole lot better.

The next highlight of the day was the catch up with Serena and the movie that followed… Why didn’t I think of asking Serena to watch it with me?

It was a good movie, we both concluded. It was necessarily gruesome and scary for those parts where we watched between the gaps of our hands. I like how it was filmed to make the brain automatically assume a particular event because of what the eye receptor receives of the event before. This film had those little twists that lead us all to the peak of the show at the discovery of the stab wound in the main character’s stomach. Particularly, I like the scene where the character was playing the black swan and as she flaps her arms with each turn, her arms grew to become better feathered wings.

Through this, I saw how insecurity at its extreme can lead to its severe consequences. I can still remember what the character Thomas Leroy told Nina

The only person standing in your way is you. It’s time to let her go. Lose yourself.