Dim Sum at Hua Ting (Orchard Hotel)

Dim Sum at Hua Ting

After hearing raves about the Dim Sum at Hua Ting from Jo Jo, I finally decide to go try it myself. It is my sis birthday and she wants to eat Dim Sum. Well, despite my efforts to go on a diet, i cannot refuse a pregnant lady and since i temporary forgot her b-day, she is pestering me to make up for it. Well, our family birthday is always celebrated over Dim Sum or Crabs, so it is a break from our usual Dim Sum place.

When it comes to Dim Sum, i always go for the prawn. Everything else can be average but the prawns definitely must be BIG and springy. So the very first dish i have to order is always the prawn dumpling. If the prawns fails, i wouldn't even think of spending too much money on the food. The prawn dumpling definitely looks tantalising. The prawn is sooo huge. I just put the whole dumpling in my mouth. Talking about etiquette. It is too irresistible. Had to order another round of that.

Loved the "Siew Mai" as well cos it is stuff with prawns unlike the usual "Siew Mai" that is stuff with oily and fatty pork. Then there is also the "xiao long bao", sooo sweet and juicy but they should be more generous on the ginger to go with it.

The chicken feet is also nice. Big (I wonder where they find chickens with such gigantic feet) and Tons of skin. The sauce is a bit bland though and it is not spicy enough.

The pan-fried bun with cod fish is quite special. Hate to eat buns cos i think it is a waste of my stomach space. My daddy used to always order char siew buns which i cannot understand. Why eat buns when there are other nice food to sample. However, this bun i like cos it is very soft but the fish is a tat too little (even had a second helping).

The "Chee chong fun" is a bit disappointing as the skin is a bit too thick and mushy though the scallop is quite big.

Then lastly, the "Ee Fu" noodles. The noodles are harder then the usual we had, which is a bit soggy. I prefer this compared to the soggy ones we had, though my bro thinks it was not properly cook.

We ordered almost every dim sum there is except the buns and the rice items, which is too filling. Overall, love the place. Can't forget the big and springy prawns.

New Environment

Finally, managed to settled everything by today. The 'shi fu' came in early to fix up my broadband. Kinda lost with everything with the internet, most importantly, can't see my wife for the whole week.

Apartment

Well, what can i ask for more, other than asking my wife to join me here (since she is unhappy with her work). And I really 'hate' it when i feel that ppl are taking her for granted and not appreciating her work. Anyway, the apartment is very spacious with a floor area of 1200sqft. It come with 2 bedroom, kitchen, living room and 2 toilet!! It's fully furnished and i don't have to add too much things. However, a MAN U store is opening in Venetian in 2 weeks time, be assured that i will be 'raiding' the store to furnish my apartment. ;)

Managed to set up all the Cable TV, HP, Bank and Broadband, so kinda feel like home now...happy many.

On top of that, the facilities here is overwhelming, dude. There's even a bowling alley!!!

http://www.midland.com.mo/eng/ebook/E000005465/

Work

Well, i must say that it's a totally new and different experience. Still trying to adapt to the new work jargon, eg drops, counts, slots, cage etc. Finally, the new audit work plan from Head Office is out. Had a meeting last friday to discuss the plan and for us to state our preference as well. Overall, kinda looking forward to it. Currently, i am doing what i do best... doing a project on Anti-Money Laundering. However, it's different from KPMG, cos i am taking the role of a "G2". Kinda like starting all over again to build up my reputation, well, not easy but challenging. Language is not a major issue, as most ppl at work do speak English and Mandrain. But being able to speak Cantonese will be helpful, cos it will be more...hmm... close.

Food

Food here is different but good. Most importantly, meals are provided for in our staff canteen. So, i would only need to spend on food during

weekends. But of course, for weekdays dinner, will pamper myself occasionally. Here is different from Australia, food is relatively cheap here, so it's not really a need to cook. As such, although i bought all the cooking necessities oready (nicely sitting in kitchen), neber had a chance to use it yet ;p

Transportation

Another great thing!! It's free cos got shuttle bus to work from Venetian. Well, even so, the local bus transportation is cheap... only MOP2.5o-5.00, which is like S$0.40-1.00. (fixed regardless of journey).

Bad Day

Today is a bad day.

Had a bad dream last night again.

Then i woke up late cos i forgot to set the alarm clock. Was reading my book in bed last night and just felt very tired so i slept without setting my alarm. This morning woke up and felt terrible cos of the stupid dream. But was well again after a shower. Guess i'm use to such dreams now. Left the house without my mobile phone and need to detour back to get it....now i'm even more late.

Reached office and everyone seems cool about it. So just continue working as usual. Received stupid complains from another team head about my team members. Cannot get it. Still very puzzling to me. Such a small matter. I just don't know what people are thinking sometimes. I confess i'm a complain queen but i don't complain such stuff at least not to the line managers.

Anyway today i'm thinking a bit more than usual. While listening to one of the client's call, i begin to wonder.....i don't want a job that heavily rely on others and i don't want a job that people needs to heavily rely on me. Well, not that i'm not a team player, but tooo much of relying really suck. Things just can't move as quick and efficient as it should.

Have made up my mind over something that is bothering me. It is better to do something and regret rather then regret not doing anything at all. Anyway it is no big deal. Either way, the world won't come to an end and life goes on. Hahahah guess i'm an optimist at heart.

Work this whole week seems to move very slowly. Can't wait for the day to end and i can go out and refresh.

Swimming

Gave great thoughts to my exercise routine this morning.

My cousin said actually it was my arms that looks a bit flabby. I have been exercising in the gym and the machine that i used only emphasize on my legs and my arms are just stationary. Well, so i'm not having a full-body work out. My brother suggested that i do jogging, but i really hate to jog. I used to be one of the last for my 2.4km run. So i decided to go swimming instead.

Called my sis up to check whether she is coming for her routine swim every Monday. Opps!! its her birthday today and she blatantly told me she is not coming and having a break becos it is her BIRTHDAY. Well, if she knows me well enough, she will definitely not put it to heart that it slipped my mind for awhile. Anyway we are having a celebration this weekend.

Knowing myself very well, i left work early today today so that i can put into action my decision. And i really did swim. I swam 20 laps. I swam 3 laps continuously....it is the most i can do cos my goggles keep fogging up (got to buy a new one). And i went for jacuzzi to relax. Feels great!! Janice when are you coming over to join me sometime? We have been talking about it.

Just hope everyday is like today. No worries/frustration from work, i can leave early, do some exercise, drink my mum herbal soup while surfing internet/watching TV/reading a book and still can manage to have my beauty sleep before 11pm. Great day.

Something wrong with my exercise routine.

There must be something wrong with my exercise routine.

It couldn't be the diet...ok maybe i had too much fats/sugar consumption. I cannot help it. From young i lov to eat all the fatty stuff. Friends around me likes to eat chicken breast meat. I can never understand why people like to eat breast meat. It is sooo tough and dry and no matter how well u cook it, it still taste like over-cook meat. For me i only eat the chicken tigh. Beside that, i really lov butter. Toasted bread and butter. Yuuummmy!! I can have it everyday. Not fogetting the coffee i have everday. My energy booster...my comfort drink from all the stress and frastration that i sometime have to put up with at work.

Well, but i tried to stay away from my fried chicken wing and my coffee. Used to have fried chicken wings everyday to go with my bee hoon. A cup of coffee every morning for energy booster and another cup during lunch for chit-chatting/gossip/complain time. But i think i have quit having it for ....hmmm i cannot reamember. 1 or 2 months?? well it seems like a long long long time to me, at least.

I was at my cousin wedding yesterday. Almost to the end of the course, my cousin (Ivan) asked " Hui, did you put on weight?" I think he has been trying not to ask the question for the whole night and finally got the courage to asked (or issit becos it is nearing the last dish?). Soo sad. I had been quite discipline (for 2 weeks now) and not have any food after 8pm....except for Thursday and Friday this week. I must say i really didn't regret having the late dinners. It's been a long time since i have such crappy conversation. Laugh soo hard till my tummy and jaws are aching. I guess this can tone my stomach muscle. A crappy bunch...i must say but at least it took my mind off something which have been bothering me for the whole week.

Coq au Gewurztraminer

My first attempt to cooked Coq Au Gewurztraminer based on recipe in Chubby Hubby.

For my first attempt i would say it is quite a success cos the plates were all clean, leaving just the sauce, after the dinner. The sauce tasted a bit sour but it is still quite nice. I wonder whether it is suppose to be like that or whether I bought the wrong wine. But the aroma is really nice so I took a sip of the sauce before i put in the cream. It is sooo sour. After the sauce was added it was much much better and we even drink the sauce, leaving only a few spoonful. Well, I will change the wine for my next attempt to see whether it would taste even better. The sauce was still quite watery after i added the cream so i decided to put some cornstarch to thicken it. I like my sauce creamy so that it will stick to the chicken when i eat it. Mum said the onion i use is not medium as mentioned in the recipe. Mine was large onion but it is ok, everyone enjoyed the onion.

The only time i ate this dish is in Ooster located in Suntec and it was just last Thursday. It is such a huge difference. The sauce is dark in colour and it uses breast meat i guess or it must be really over-cooked thigh meat. It was our team dinner so all of us ordered some dishes to share. When the dish was presented to me, i took one bite and thought it was beef. It is only after that, they told me it is a chicken. After tasting that, i was considering not trying out the recipe as it really tasted quite awful. Well, i'm glad i stick to my plan and it turned out quite fine.

Feeds 2 hungry people or 4 normal folk
1tbsp olive oil
50g butter
100g pancetta, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
200g button mushrooms, quartered
2 carrots, diced
3tbsp chopped parsley
4 chicken thighs
300ml double or thickend cream
500ml Gewürztraminer (or Riesling)

Melt the butter and the oil together in a heavy-based pot.

Put in the pancetta and let it colour a little, then add the carrots, onions and garlic. Leave to cook over a moderate heat until the onions have softened but not coloured. Scoop the carrots, pancetta and onions out with a draining spoon and put aside in a bowl or on a plate.

Brown the chicken thighs in the pot. Pour the carrots, pancetta and onions back into the pot. Turn up the heat and pour in the wine. Quickly bring the liquid to boiling and then turn it down to a simmer. Let everything cook at a gentle bubble for 25 minutes, turning the chicken from time to time.

Lift the chicken out of the pan. Put them into a bowl or on a plate and cover to keep warm.

Pour in the cream. Season with salt, pepper (and sugar to taste) and stir in the chopped parsley. Also add the mushrooms. Let the sauce thicken while the mushrooms cook. You want the sauce to reduce substantially so that the liquid is a nice delicious gravy.

When ready, put the chicken back in the pot and let it get heated through again. Serve when ready.

Stevie, gimme me more Jia Yong!

Went to gym after a heavy brekkie with daddy and mum to work out away all the fats after yesterday 10 chicken wing. This week only manage to go once. :(

After gym went car washing with my dad. Daddy washed his own car and i washed Stevie's. It is quite a work out, so i guess i kindda make up for the lack of exercise. I even sweat more than in gym.

Stevie.....who says i didn't do any housework and didn't contribute to the family. I washed the car. I want my "Jia Yong".......gimme gimme gimme....!!

Tired going to bed to do some reading and have a short nap befor i start to cook my chicken. Hope it is a sucess.

Tiring Day

Today is a tiring day....lack of sleep and a few places to go. Think I'm getting too old to skip my beauty sleep.

Went to KTV with the Gals (and 1 guy to be accurate) last night. It's been a long time and as usual, my songs selection are as ancient as the last time i step into KTV (all the songs i know are actually learn in KTV cos i don't listen to radio). Had a great time singing some of the English oldies....That thing u do, dancing queen, uptown gal, etc. Songs that i listen to when i'm still schooling...those were the days when i listen to radio everyday. By 2am, i dead tired and can only manage to open my heavy eyelids occasionally to check out what is going on. The gals are still hyper and we finally went home at 4am when the KTV close. Janet still complained there is not enough space in the room to display her dance routine for some of the songs and showed us her steps in the ladies not knowing that passerby can have full view of the ladies.

Dragged myself out of bed after sleeping for less than 6 hours to go to my cousins house for lunch. Still feeling very lethargic after last night but i cannot resist my uncle famous drunken chicken. I ate 10 chicken wings in total. Talk about losing weight!!! After the 9 piece, i convinced myself, what the heck just round up the number and make it a perfect 10. There goes my diet. Cannot wait for CNY and i can lay my hands on the chicken wings again.

Went to Janice house for a short while to see her and her little princess. Hopes her Jondis is not serious and it is dinner with my parents.

Just finished making funny faces at Stevie with my newly bought webcam and going to marinate my chicken for dinner tomorrow. New recipe off the web, cannot wait to try it.

Stevie has left for Macua

Photo took with Stevie before he left for Macau.

Sent Stevie off earlier today. Took photos before he left for Macua. Stevie is soo handsome with his short hair. He look his best after every haircut. Just can't understand why he likes leaving it long. Soo Ah beng.

For the past week, sometimes it hit on me that he is going away and we cannot see each other as frequent and i cannot help but feel a bit upset over it. Luckily, i didn't cry in the airport.

I'm not really upset that Stevie is going to Macua. Actually, i'm pretty excited. A new experience and opportunity for him. I guess i'm already used to not having him around, though i can be very very sticky. He always says i "nian" him like superglue.

Our first long-distance relationship is when i went to Australia to study. At that time, it was quite bad. We end up talking almost everynight but still i missed him so much. I lost weight. Almost 7 kg. This time, i think it will be much better, although i won't mind losing a few kg again.

Stevie you must work hard. Learn and grow from this experience.

Wish you have more and better opportunities ahead.

Remember the things you promise me.

And i will also work hard and not make you worry.

Luv you lots.

2008 Resolution

It is 2008 and it is time to set new resolutions.

Never really kept my past years resolution but if there is no goal there is nothing to reach for and no result....so here's the lists:

To stay healthy and keep fit. Weigh myself today and i'm really off my acceptable weight.
1) Go to gym at least twice a week
2) no more eating after 8pm
3) no more snacking
4) no more sweet and oily stuff

Make myself Pretty!
1) Stop being lazy and go through all facial routine
2) go to facial at least once a month
3) drink more water
4) eat more vegetables and fruits
5) get at least 8 hours of sleep everyday
5) Shopping, shopping and more shopping to keep all the pretty clothes.

Increase my general knowledge.

Discover more good food and recipes.

Start Driving

Save Money. To reach my target saving for the year.

Career. Hmmm......must definitely rethink what i want. Is promotion/money/interest/oppotunity more important now in my career roadpath? What should i choose?

Hope my blessing continue for year 2008. Same goes for Stevie. Cos we both loved 2007 and hope all our blessing will continue or blosom further in 2008.