crush me like the mint leaves in a mojito.

some experiences are just too painful to forget, and they return to bite at you once in a while.

ain't no likin' this feelin' so Lord help me.

is your menu playing mind games on you?

photograph: public domain

read this really interesting article about how restaurants design their menu in a way that customers will unknowingly be enticed into ordering their profitable items. you have to check it out!

say kim-chee!

back from a whirlwind work trip to korea. though i can now say that i have stepped foot into the land of kimchi and ginseng chicken, i must admit that i haven't seen much to decide if i like this country. it was probably 80% airports, hotels and offices. i haven't had so much kimchi in a day before, not that i'm complaining!

kimchi

(photo from the korean times)

one thing i realised is that kimchi tastes different in every eatery, and through a quick google i also found out that there are numerous types of kimchi! looks like i have to read up on it some time. if you're interested to learn more, click here.

time for bed, i'm extremely exhausted. i miss the beach. a blue sky holiday would be nice.

christmas dinner 2009 in pictures.

it was a wonderful evening worth documenting, so here's what we had for dinner:

setting the table

parma ham and rock melon salad; french onion soup

whiskey-glazed carrots; pumpkin with scallops and mushrooms

chicken le cordon bleu

shrimp and scallop pasta in foil package

monkey munchies

lovely company!

7 perfect days between christmas and the new year.

2009 has been a wonderful year, and the past few months just kept getting better. not that i'm complaining, but there's been so much excitement in my life that i wish i could have a little more rest time. dozing off on a great movie like avatar probably was a good enough indication that i need more snooze time.

in the end, i decided to forego the merry making this new year's eve to spend a quiet one at home with my dad. i'm sleepy as hell, but it just seems wrong to go to bed so early on the last day of the year!

photo by yao hong

in 2007, i made some chocolate peanut butter cups for christmas. that was when i just got kanon as a 21st birthday gift and was so enthusiastic about the birth of this food blog. this year, it's almond chocolate pocky sticks, adapted from pioneer woman's recipe. it's easy, fun, absolutely brainless but looks nice nonetheless!

photo by yao hong

i also had an awesome potluck dinner on boxing day, but i shall leave that to another day, maybe next year... heh! merry christmas and happy new year everyone, it's going to be an awesome 2010 filled with His love, peace and joy. =)

photo by yao hong

selling salt (not by the sea shore).

one of the most interesting and innovative marketing initiative in a very long time!

product in question - plain 'ol salt!

click here to explore.

tea-break.

see time's list of top 10 tv chefs for an interesting read!

amongst whom my favourites are jamie and rachel. =)