　おいしい！

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Hi Dudes and Dudettes, it's been some time yet again. Days are getting awfully wet and rainy here with frost and fog all around. Where is my "sunny island, set in the sea"? Heh, but there's nothing better to warm this rainy season up with a LONGGGG french dinner yet again. This time, I'm no longer floating in outer space. 5 months in France did something for me after all! And you may ask, who's that xiao shuai ge up there? That's the son of my theatre teacher Alex! You may not see it in this pic, but he's really blonde blonde! So without further ado, let me introduce you one of the most important element in French culture - LONG dinners.

Little éliot is the first little guest to arrive!

Santa is trying to steal my star!

élise and the xmas tree! (Urs truly decorated it!) Not a bad job considering that I had to decorate the tree in record time just before the guests arrived! With the decorations up, it does seem a bit more christmassy after all! We have to elevate the tree due to the naughty dogs in the house. If not, all the beautiful decorations hanging from the tree would probably be ripped down in no time!

Taking a shot by the xmas tree before the dinner starts. Not to be a whiny cannot make it youth of the female species, but somehow I look fat. Too much xmas candies and chocolates with liquor in them. Don't know why but my face seems to reflect that of the moon around the xmas season. Well, life is short, eat now and heck!

Let's start with the aperitif! Yesh, in Singapore, this is exactly what our mothers warn us not to do! No snacks before meal times! In France, it is the exact opposite. French dinners start with aperitif! The french eat potato chips, titbits and little pieces of sausages to "start their engine". Wine, cocktails and special aperitif beverages are served to all. There would be a good selection and guests take their pick. Hosts are particularly generous with regards to liquor and you really can drink whatever you want and how much you want. However, aperitif is usually one glass of wine, cocktail or special aperitif beverage. After our stomach is warmed up, we proceed.

The chef's carving the ham. Guess what it's for?

Just look at the size of this ham would you!

Everyone's plates are empty, waiting for the raclette session to start.Raclette is a french traditional dish which consists of potatoes, ham, bacon and cheese. We each have cute little spades to ourselves where we deposit the cheese to melt. We then place the little spade between the two hot plates to melt the cheese. Ham or bacon can be placed on the upper hot plate to be grilled. Potatoes are served to each and everyone and you peel and mash them on your plate. By this time, the cheese would have metled, ham/bacon grilled, and you place the bacon with your potatoes and pour the cheese over! Yum yum! Sizzling hot yellow lava will then pour over your mash potatoes and grilled bacon and you may thus start your meal. Salad is often served on the side. It's a very interesting and fun dining experience and kind of fuss free too. Except.. that.. it's kinda fattening eh.. considering that it's potatoes and ham, bacon and cheese.

Ham and Cheese Platter

Then comes the dessert. Charlotte au chocolate! My favourite! Three desserts for 11 people. (inclusive of two kids) No, that is not a lot for french people. It's normal.

Apple Pie

Chocolate cake from Alex

Nothing beats a good bottle of champagne to finish the meal, courtesy of Marie

Bon appetit à tous!

Labels: pre xmas dinner

12:13 pm　うまい！Y

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Saw this on my's blog and it's really interesting! Very funny! So I "kop" to share with you guys! Thanks MY!

3:47 pm　うまい！Y

Friday, December 08, 2006

The wonders of Xmas

Champagne hamper, anyone?

Chocolate balls to hang on the xmas tree

Lalala, joy to the world, the lord has come! There are so many goodies out there and so many yummy chocolates that one can't help but be amazed! I especially like those chocolates with liquor in them, yummy! Starting to feel the joyous mood because I'm feeling much better and ready to embrace the joyous season! Going to buy a Xmas tree and decorations! I want the mistletoe! heh. So many presents to buy for everyone and yet so little time. Poverty of ideas too! Where is my xmas muse? In other news, the full dress rehearsal for the Xmas Pageant is tonight and tomorrow will be the real deal! Lalalala. 'tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la!"

5:22 pm　うまい！Y

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Life is a road I wanna keep going

12:40 pm　うまい！Y

Saturday, December 02, 2006

This is the name for my scooter - Black Beauty. She is sleek and sophisticated and I decided to call it a SHE as she is my very first and very own scooter. Kiba has presented me with this very welcomed present as my xmas gift. I was ecstatic when I received the present. Now I can roam wherever I want and enjoy the freedom.

However, having rode the scooter for a while, I realised that riding in towns is really no joking matter. It requires a high level of concentration and you never know if the vehicle in front of you will stop suddenly. Human reaction time is also a major factor. I realised that I should never ride when I am not concentrating or when I am too tired or sleepy. Negligence. One really pays a high price for it.

Something happened recently which makes me change with regards to my perpectives on life and attitude towards people. Life is so short. Anything could happen to anyone. Human life is so fragile really. It can be threatened so easily. I've grown up a lot over the past year. 2006 is a year that I will always remember. The year when I am 23. The year I got married. The year I move to France and the year I encounter this incident. It really jolts me awake and makes me understand how one should live life to the fullest and have no reserves. Do not be shy. Go out and make new friends. Do not be cold, warm up to people. We always know of the saying "Live everyday as if it's the last day of your life", but how many people actually heed the saying. Why do we let mundanity gets us down? Why do we take everything for granted. Why do we always complain and not treasure what we have? Something, once gone or damaged, will never be the same again. Why do we let the good times slip away from us as we worry about the nonsensical things happening around us? The thing is, there is not enough time to worry about all this. Dance if you have always wanted to dance, even if you are not a good dancer. Laugh as you have never laugh before. Don't be a pessimist as things can only get better.

As 2006 draws to a close, I want to recount my blessings again and again. I thank god that I am alive and healthy. I thank my husband for being there for me always. I thank my family for being so supportive towards my decision and I thank my parents-in-law for being so endearing as my new guardians. I thank all my friends who have listened to me, supported me and always being there for me when I needed them. I thank my newly made friends in France for being so kind and nice. Thank you everyone. I love you all. As for my dearest husband, Kiba, Je T'aime.

Labels: an epiphany

5:36 pm　うまい！Y