Sake No Hana

It was quite random but Bin Bin and I decided that we haven't had Japanese food in a while, so we decided to splurge a bit... we went to Sake No Hana, which is one of Alan Yau's venture... this guy is just famous here in London and could do no wrong... every place that he has opened was such a hit...

This is the Japanese version of Hakkasan, and with a price to match as well... although no Michelin star yet... but we only went because there was a top table promotion which gave us 30% off (well, usual is 40% off but on Friday dinner, it's only 30%...)

And I must say that he lived up to his billing, it was probably one of the best Jap food that I had in a while... The tuna and salmon sashimi was absolutely fantastic... you know it's good when they just melt into your mouth...

Their special hand rolls were really yummy... not many Jap place in London does hand rolls and when they do, it's often uninspiring as it will just be the normal california or prawn tempura roll... I just love those hand rolls with a twist and especially those with eel... hehehe...

We also had the miso cod... it was interesting... it's not what I expected and definitely not like the Nobu miso cod... but it was still delicious...

Since we loved the sashimi so much, we went for second helping, this time we tried the yellow tail and fatty tuna instead...

It was really so good and with the top table offer, it's definitely worth trying out... without the offer, it might be a bit too pricey for me.... so fingers cross that the offer will stay...

One thing though, we didn't really like the waitress who served us... the whole time, she had this really black face on and didn't seem to like us that much... perhaps we don't look too rich... bleh... and we were a bit upset to overhear her telling the table next to us that today's special was wagyu beef at the end of our meal... and throughout the whole time, she didn't even mention it to us!!!! Grrrrrrrr.....

Giving back to the community

Due to the credit crunch, this year my department has decided that we will not be having our annual Away Day and Summer Ball... well apparently these events cost the firm the annual salary of a manager wor...

SO... instead, we are going to be participating in a community event... my team was assigned to paint a nursery which runs on charity for those children from disadvantaged neighbourhoods...

We painted the nursery in this really bright yellow!!!

(And oh... by the way... the guy in the right picture who is standing up is the legend actuary in my department, he was the one who founded the department and usually when he predicts something, it's always right!!! And the other guy in the same pic is my reviewer/group manager...)

Everyone working hard...

And ME ME ME... I also painted the walls!!! (And obviously the lower end of the walls...)




Well... I really did enjoy the whole event even though I didn't end up painting a mural... and when the teachers thanked us, I felt that we really did made a difference to them!!

I am all for giving back to the community and doing this kinda stuff (like when I was in uni, I was a volunteer student tutor)... as you can make an impact on someone else's life... I guess in a way, it also taught me to be appreciative of what I have and what I have been through... true, I may not be born with a silver spoon, but at least I am more privileged than any of these children and they have been through so much more than me...

That said, I do miss the away days... where we get to be pampered and go to the spa... hehehe... :P

MiMi's Cooking

One of the things that I miss most now that MiMi is back in KL is her cooking... so, here is a post to thank her for all wonderful meals she cooked for me and especially for my friends here...

For the big dinner.... she prepared lots of dishes...

MiMi slaving in the kitchen since morning...

Hard at work...



Showing off her cookery skills...

AND...

THE RESULTS...

TA-DA....

Her so called boxing chicken (because it's called 铁公鸡 in Chinese) and sweet and sour pork...

Oooh... abalone (courtesy of Rui) and yeah... salted egg yolk prawns... my personal favourite and special request...

And there's also vegetable and soup... see... how happy everyone was?? MiMi spent the whole day in the kitchen and the food was gone in 15 minutes!!!!

Sigh... it's so good to have dinner ready when you come home....

MiMi in London

Some pics from the places that we went when MiMi was in London...

Dinner @ Ran Korean Restaurant...

Ran is probably one of my favourite Korean restaurants in London... and now that they have refurbished the place, even more reasons to go! (it is also one of the few places that MiMi actually said the food was good!! :P)

Dim sum @ Yautcha

Dim sum here is kinda fusion... if you are not looking for traditional dim sum, I must say that it's really good, although it's quite pricey... bleh... the fried sotong is really good!!!

We went to Yautacha when tai ka che and Andrew was still around...

Designer goods shopping @ New Bond Street

Look how happy MiMi looks in front of the LV and Burberry shop... hehehe...

Dinner @ Cha Cha Moon

Didn't really plan on bringing MiMi there but then she saw the advertisement for it and wanted to try it out... I do think that the food used to be nicer there before they change the menu!!!

Sunny day @ Canary Wharf

Lunch @ Royal China

One of the few chains which has never failed to deliver... reliable and good food... whether it's for dim sum, lunch, dinner or its lobster noodles!!! yum yum...

Hahaha... I know I know... most of the pics are of food and restaurants that we went rather than sightseeing... but MiMi has been here and she is not into the touristy sightseeing things like museums, galleries etc.... she did commented before she left that this time round, she probably tried out every type of cuisine in London from Japanese to Korean to Thai to Vietnamese to steak to British (fish & chips) to Indian to Chinese to Dim Sum to Malaysian!!!

Hahahaha... what to do...I come from a family where eating is our favourite past time... bleh :P

Frankfurt (and Mainz)

Our last destination was Frankfurt ... because this is where Yun will be based for the next few months for her internship... we helped her to move some of her stuff over here from Cologne...

We did a quick stop-over at Mainz before heading to Frankfurt...

Views of river Main...

The town hall in the old town of Mainz...



The main square of Mainz...




Which is probably one of the more touristy area in Mainz as there isn't much there...

That day that was probably the nicest day of our whole trip and temperatures soared up to the mid-twenties... and this of course... means that it's ice-cream time!!!

Everyone enjoying the ice-creams...

After that we headed to Frankfurt.... again, we have been to Frankfurt before so we didn't really do much... not that there is much to see in Frankfurt anyway...

Well, Frankfurt hasn't changed much from the last time we were there... but what about us??

Have we changed??

Now.... and then in 2005...



2009...

and back in 2005...

One thing for sure, we are all older... not sure whether we are any wiser though... hahahaha....