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我輩について 男 中華と日本料理 客人数 Counters 通告！ Trip will proceed with 3 pple - Spice Peranakan - budget: $15 - Shimbashi Soba at Paragon - budget: $25 - P&P Thai Food - budget: $15 Reviews 評判 怨言与投诉
友達様 Take Out Bento Boxes February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 |
Friday, October 27, 2006 Jenseits Bon Gut Und Bose - Beyond Good And Evil While stagnating around my room for the past week, i kept coming across this phrase. Jenseits Bon Gut Und Bose. A german phrase that's translated for you readers above. The 1st sequel of Xenosaga, a PS 2 game, has this as it's title. The books that some anime characters read was also this. If you happen to not be in the know, this book is one of the masterpieces of 19th century philosopher Frederick Nietzsche. I went and found the book yesterday, but decided the writing style was too deep for someone as shallow as yours truly. What better to find a summary of what he said in this book than wikipedia? So why am i writing about this? Nietzsche was reknowned because he rebelled against the norm of his day. That is, the rising of the Christian movement and subsequently, having all of society's morals lifted from Christian teachings. Nietzsche believed more in the power of the individual, instead of blindly following "faith", especially when the church was having double standards. So what has this got to do with present society? The more i think about it, the more honored i feel to find my thoughts being shared by a philosopher in the 19th century. Of course, i'm not on the same intellectual plane as the man himself, but the basics of our thinking are so similar. Thinking about it, human society progressed much in terms of technology and science (it could be said that it is a blessing advancement of science wasn't retarded by religion). The same cannot be said for the development of our "souls". Socrates once asked a man, who was sending his father for prosecution, whether he was doing it of his own will, or because God commanded him to do so. Many people nowadays seem to be able to do something, because God willed it. Whether God himself directly told the person to do it, or that the message was relayed, is of no concern. Neither is the part about having individual processing regarding the information and the choices around him. If you want to put it in christian terms, God gave people the power of free will so that we can think for ourselves, and not act like sheep, just being herded around according to the shepard's instructions and his big dogs. I don't reject religion, but i feel that individuality should come before religion. The concept of religion if one insists on having one for emotional support, should come from one's own interpretion, and not through almost purely, the influence of others. You can say that your own interpretion is that that is taught to you by others, but have you actually thought through it yourself? What i am emphasising is also the spirit of being able to question what people tell you, and not just take it into your own heart without any further questions. Just as there might be proof of the existence of god (as insists some people), surely these people can see also that there is evidence of why he does not exist. Using religious works and twisting words, or using truncated paragraphs does not count. It is only but a weak attempt to cover everything up with smoke and save yourself the questioning. It is no doubt that the world we live in presents many harsh treatments. However that is no excuse for us to forget ourselves and live as what others command. In the first place, do those who "teach" you, even fulfil their own teachings? What i have seen is people making self interpretations of religious works and forcing their own interpretation upon others, creating something actually cultlike. There is no "real" good and evil. The concept of good and evil was just the standardisation by religious authorities in the past to ensure social order. Religion, if not created to justify war, then it would be to create social order in what was near anarchy before its coming. Religion beat many into shape by using threatening that a big superior figure stood over the world watching everyone. It works, but shouldn't we have our own interpretations of what is moral and what is not? Even as i say this, double standards are abound. Supposedly devout people are engaging in fun not very appropriate for the teachings they supposedly adopted. So where then, does religion actually matter, if such double standards are present? Good and evil are but extremes on a spectrum. Even evil may have had good intentions. What appears to be good may hide something sinister under layers of so-called teachings, morals and what not. Are we so weak that we can't even summon the courage to question all that happens around us, even as the evidence stares us in our faces? Are we so weak that we accept others' ideas so readily and enforce them on their behalf, even when we do not know everything clearly? Are we then so weak that we can be fooled by rhetoric that what others say is the "truth" and classify anything outside as being foolish, ignorant and falsehood? I am disappointed in today's world. Things have never moved since the 19th century, and i guess things will never, as long as people exist. People's weakness will always be present, infecting each other, and allowing the loss of the ability to question oneself. Monday, October 16, 2006 Happy Birthday? My stomach hurts. Doctor said i got gastric flu, but somehow it's been days and it's not getting better. Didn't even have the mood to bring the family out for birthday dinner. I refused to decide on a phone or an MP3 player. My parents wanted to get me a new one, but i just didn't want any. didn't feel like celebrating it at all. What's there to celebrate, when this is the first anniversary of the day my grandma left? At least, for this year, i don't want to celebrate... I grew up with her. She wasn't well educated at all, and only knew dialects, so i grew up learning hokkien as first language. Back then my ma was still working, so i stayed with her alone for days, in a cozy little neighbourhood at Circuit road. She fed me my first cornflakes, and she had a peculiar way of pronouncing those words. I cannot transliterate it but it will remain in my mind. When my cousins came over to visit, she would give us money, to buy ice cream from the motorcycle vendor downstairs and we would sit on the stairs and eat till the ice cream melted. Her flat was rather old, and run down, and kind of messy, but it provided me with my only existing memories of my childhood till i entered kindergarten. She was fat and jolly back then. When i began staying with my parents, i still visited her regularly. She also visited us too. I heard much about her past from my mother. She's been through alot but things never improved. Never. As i grew older, my memories became clearer too. Whenever she was out with us, and i wanted some toy or what not, my parents would refuse, but she would drag me back there to choose. She bought me my Pro Yo 2. The rage back then around 1998. When my cousin had this C Watch thingy, she gave me $40 to buy one too, seeing how i liked it. My wardrobe was partly filled by her too...Although her fashion taste wasn't exactly good, i still appreciated these little gestures of grandmotherly love. When i was in JC, as if her life had not been hard enough, she was stricken with cancer. After responding poorly to the radiotherapy, i just stood there seeing her get thinner and thinner, unable to eat well because of the inflammation and diseased tissue caused by the radio treatment. Everyday for three meals, just some stupid nutrient milk solution. Imagine drinking milk every meal for one whole year till you die. Before she was rendered near incapable of moving around freely, she used to visit my house every other week, always buying my favourite soon kueh, peng kueh from bedok. Then, the visits stopped. The only times when i saw her was when i went to her house. I can't refute the fact that i was kind of in a rush to get a girlfriend, because she said that she wanted to see my wife before she left. That's not to say that i never loved my ex. I did, with everything, but i cut short on the time i allocated for getting to know her before getting together because of my grandma. If i couldn't do anything to cure her, at least i wanted her to see that all her grandchildren were doing well. Everything ended last year. I was enjoying my day off, sleeping till 2pm. Maybe i was on MC, i can't remember anymore. Near 3pm, my father called to break the news to me. The funeral came and went, the cremation came and went. The rites for the 7, 49 and 100 days also came and went. For moments at a time, i hoped she could finally see some unity in the family she was so disappointed in, wherever she is right now. A fragmented family finally coming together to pay their respects at the columbarium. Maybe just for show. But at least they bothered to act. Today, at the time when i write this, is exactly one year from the time when everyone rushed to her bedside. Except me. I don't know why i was at home, maybe i was sick, maybe my parents told me to look after my sister. I don't know if i can forgive myself. It always seemed as if i could have done more. Why do i wish for a non religious world? Why do i always insist that everyone should put their faith and energies in doing more constructive things for the people around them instead of just praying and praying? Religion brings strife. It just has to be one person in a family who holds a different religious view to topple the balance. To cause my grandma so much pain. To let her witness how family ties are crumbling just before her passing. What a way to pass on don't you think? The purpose of the funeral is to see her off, a chance for everyone in the family and friends to gather, for the deceased to see a everyone before she leaves. Why, why fight over the rites? Why can't people compromise. Adults. You reprimand children for being immature, YOU are the immature ones. YOU fail to see what she needed most, YOU ALL failed to realise that love and care was what she needed before she left, not constant arguing on which religion is right, which religion she should take, how much money should be spent by each child. Adults. Never love. Religion preaches love as the priority. Yet what i see is the utter opposite. Adults think they are adults. They are just childish kids who think that insisting that they are right is more important than treasuring the time spent with the one who raised them all. I was never very fluent in hokkien. I missed out so much stuff that i should have said, but never said. Maybe it's just that i can't form words. Everyone thinks i'm a language prodigy. But how can i be, when i can't even convert what i feel into words? I wanted to visit the columbarium today, but somehow i can't go. I don't know what's stopping me either, but today, is not my birthday; it's the day where i commemorate the person who made the best Ngoh Hiang, who protected me during the first few years of my life, who hid disappointment behind her detached expression, who loved, and was never truly, loved in return.  Ichiban Sushi いちばん寿司 A review done after two satisfying visits to this place. Ichiban Sushi is managed under the same company as the fine dining Kuriya restaurant, and Fiesta. On my second visit i finally brought my camera. After looking through the menu, I was not very keen on the value meals. The restaurant offers two value meals which change every "season". Equally well prepared and very value for money, but the food is slightly more boring. The shop is furnished much better than Sakae, with a really "pseudo-village" feel to it. The service is prompt and fast too. Watch waiters speed to you balancing a Nabe dish together with rice, miso soup, pickles, and fruits on on hand on a tray. On to the food. I had the value meal Tori Ninniku Yaki とり大蒜焼き the other time. A piece of wel grilled chicken served with a special sweet garlic sauce. The chicken is juicy but with a slightly crispy exterior and the garlic flavour is well infused with the sauce, such that the pungent smell of garlic is nicely distributed throughout. Fabulous. My Mum ordered the Katsu Tamago Toji set かつ卵とじ. The usual fried pork cutlet is served in a shallow stoneware with a soy based sauce and sauteed onions. The egg soaks up the sauce's flavour and complements well. Pork cutlet also stays crispy even though soaked in the sauce. 鮭刺身 the salmon sashimi is one of the few that actually pleases me. Rich in salmon fat, aromatic and fresh to the extent that the fish has bite in it, served with freshly shredded daikon and sweet kappa, the large slices really leaves you longing for more. The chawanmushi 茶碗蒸し was made with aromatic chicken stock that did not reek of MSG. The other ingredients are the usual shiitake, kanikama, chicken pieces and a gingko nut. But it just leaves kids scraping the stone cup with the spoon.  On my second visit, Jeffrey was at a loss as what to order, so he took the most foolproof dish, Katsudon. Not much elaboration is needed, as the cutlet was done identically to the one used for the tamagotoji, just much thicker. Here comes the real highlight. Unagi Yanagawa Nabe combination meal ウナギ柳川鍋. Generous slices of BBQ marinated eel was served in a sweet sauce flavoured with a certain herb called burdock root (that really long horn like thingy) which imparted a crisp yet pungent herb flavour. Very unique taste, but very japanese too. The boiling stoneware is served to you, then the waiter beats up an egg and pours it in. The egg, just like that in tamago toji, soaks up the essence. Tender eel slices in a fragrant herb sauce and flavoursom egg. Together with the rice, it just made my day. Food: Home style japanese food for the real japanese food fan. Lots of nimono 煮物 and nabemono 鍋物, with the usual sashimi and sushi. Oh, do try the mochi sold at the counter when you pay for your meal, it's really fantasticAmbience: Just right between modern and zen...really japanese feel. Cost: 7/10 Cheaper than japanese restaurants such as sushi tei and better value and food than sakae. Large variety of food makes you spoilt for choice! Furthermore look out for the value meals and udon promotions. Location: 10/10 PS, Causeway Point, Parkway Parade how hard can those be to get to?? Tuesday, October 10, 2006 Plaza Market Cafe It's been quite a while since the gang went for a buffet, with the last one being Kuishinbou. Armed with a discount coupon in hand, the gang went to Swissotel's Plaza Market Cafe for dinner.  The decor was expected of a restaurant in a big hotel. Styled to throw in some Peranakan feel, the place was decked in brownish tones and wood. The long counter spanned the length of the entire restaurant. It seems that most of the customers were ang moh tourists, which was not very surprising either. I came slightly late, and the rest had already started. HJr mentioned that the potato and leek soup was nice so i had it for starters. It was nice, but tasted too similar to cream of mushroom... The taste of leek was non existent too... Nevertheless, you cannot expect super high standards at a buffet, so the soup started the meal off quite well. There was also this suspicious sounding soup named Pork Maw. As the knowledgeable HJr would tell you, there is no maw in a pig. Biology aside, it turned out to be pig organ soup. Did the traditional way, with salted vege and lots of pepper, the soup was rather delicious too, with quite a few pieces of 'maw', although if i want pig organ soup i know where to get better... Sashimi. What is sashimi doing in a place that supposedly specialises in Peranakan cuisine? I don't know and still don't. That aside, the salmon was fatty and fresh, to my approval, and the maguro was rather Q too, passing my expectations. The tai (bream) was weird tasting though, being slightly bitter. It turned me off. Time for the main course. On the counter were not only Peranakan dishes but a whole bunch of assorted cuisines. On the upper right is a cute little dish with a broiled salmon and a walnut perched on top. Looks nice and tastes good, since the salmon was fresh. The bottom left is dory in orange sauce. Dory was tough and dry, and the orange sauce had too much zest to it, it made the whole thing taste weird. The last one is stewed beef. Quite ok, the sauce was sweet and complemented the beef well. Although the beef could never match up to the goulesh at Galbiati's. Next up, on the left is roast lamb. The roast lamb clicked well with me, with a crispy lemongrass skin and a juicy and tender inside that wasn't too pungent. With the special sauce provided it was one of the best dishes I had. The fried chicken thigh in lemon sauce on the upper right was also rather good. Reminded me of the Hwachee days where i used to go to Coro for lemon chicken rice. The chicken was crispy but not too oily. Last is the seafood pasta. Mediocre cream sauce though. Too thin, and the whole thing was left too long in the air con air. The highlight. Peranakan food. Mee goreng lacked ingredients, but the taste was there and tasted quite good, rather authentic. Kailan in oyster sauce was overcooked and yellow. Pity. The Ngoh Hiang was very suspiciously similar to those you buy outside. Guess they all get it from the same supplier. Only my grandma makes the best Ngoh Hiang... Rendang was tasty but dry. It appeared that the place suffered from a severe dehydration... Alin suggested that we share a plate of Oyster Egg Omelette. I agreed and went to get it. It was done on the spot, but what irked me was that the chewy starchy part was PRE COOKED. The Orh Nng was then made with some liquid egg and lots of oil and some oysters. Tasted far far from the authentic ones. It's the single dish that irked me the most... Time for dessert. Mango sago was the first. Tasted okay, not too sweet and it had plenty of mango. But after the one from Mei Xiang Yuan desserts, this one is worlds apart. That thing in a Tequila shot cup was supposedly Panna Cotta...HJr and I agreed it tasted more like DDT...I couldn't believe it but it's true! The rest of the desserts weren't spectacular. Chocolate mousse had some weird chemical aftertaste too...PityA lesson learnt i guess. Authentic local food and desserts should NEVER be emulated by buffet restaurants. There were good dishes and bad ones, but all in all my after thoughts pointed to it being more for tourists than locals. For the price i think Genghis Khan, Cafe Vienna or Kuishinbou would have been a better choice.  Food: So-so.Ambience: Restaurant style decked with slight Peranakan flavour. Cost: 2/10 Dinner is $42+++ for adult...i guess it's not worth it...Unless you have discount! Location: 7/10 It's in Raffles Swissotel, but kind of hard to find, being located in a corner. Address: Level 2, Raffles the Plaza, Swissotel Tel: 6431 6156 |
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