A Dose of Humour

Dayen has been sick for the past couple of days and since his airways are all choked up with phlegm, he tends to vomit. So tonight after dinner, I decided to give him a treat and gave him a slice of cheesecake. His body didn't agree with the dairy and he started to vomit as I was carrying him. Instead of whisking him away from me, the hubs actually, in a swift motion, pushed Dayen's head into my bosom, such that he continued to vomit into my cleavage! All in a bid to save us from having to clean the floor. My! The younger me would have flared and given the hubs a great piece of my mind and a large chunk of my cold shoulder. But age, perhaps, has mellowed me. Instead of flaring up, I saw the humour in this situation and the hubs and I had a good laugh. This will definitely go down the hall of fame in "Family Stories to Tell The Next Generation(s)". 

I still can't believe the hubs did that. This is one of those instances when you have to be there to feel the full impact. Gosh! 

Kodawari Katsuya (The Tonkatsu Specialty House)

The whole area of Katong is packed with eateries that are under-visited by yours truly. Take a walk down the corridor on one side of the road and you'll find more than just the Katong Laksa or the Beach Road Prawn Mee that the area is so famous for. If we were to visit the area for dinners during the weekends, it'll probably take us more than a month to sample them all. 

Our family love Japanese food and we went to try out Kodawari Katsuya (85 East Coast Road, #01-01). 

The menu is decent, though not extensive. When I first stepped into the restaurant, I was overcome with a slight sense of anxiety. The restaurant was decorated tastefully in dark oak (I think) tables and comfy chairs. A wallpapered side of the restaurant added to its charm and soft piped-in music suggested that this was not a place for casual dining. A table hosted 3 Japanese men (traditionally, Japanese men and children don't mix) and I was there with my 2 boys (read: noisy!). 

But we sat down, anyway, and the server soon got me at ease. There really is no need to fuss. The restaurant came equipped with baby chairs (and children's cutleries) and a table reserved for families with prams. So, they're used to noisy children. And they're very upfront about a possible service shortfall. I like that! 

The hubs and I went for a katsu bento (which comes with free-flow green tea) each, with an additional order of sashimi and udon for the boys. 

The sashimi was generously cut and extremely fresh. It wasn't exceptionally pricey ($39 for 4 kinds) and so, the chef didn't stinge on the portion just to make a larger profit margin. 

The tonkatsu served was true to their philosophy. It was crispy without being oily and the meat tender instead of tough like how most restaurants serve them. And you've got to try their sesame sauce for the salad that comes in the bento. 

There wasn't a big lunch crowd and service was excellent. I liked the fact that the server asked if we wanted the udon cut because she knew it was for the boys. I didn't need to open mouth! 

The feeling I got at the end of my lunch there? The people here take pride in their work. And this is an attitude that is dangerously close to extinction in the local service industry. It may not be a big establishment they're working in. But a restaurant it still is. And they served like one. You can visit their website at www.katsuya.com.sg.

 

Itadakimasu!

My Pleasure

You know something about baking? The more you bake, the more you want to bake. For me, at least. I enjoy the anticipation of wondering if the finished product is as it should be, challenging myself to beautify my cakes (I'm not in the least bit creative) and the excitement and sense of satisfaction in seeing it take shape in the oven. And when compliments are given, the sense of achievement just makes my day. 

These days, there are so many tools to help in the baking (e.g. Moulds and cutters) that it's such a breeze if you're not too particular about being professional in your baking (i.e. take shortcuts!!!).

Recipes are almost similar across the board. So I like to twitch them a little to cater to our own needs, especially if the boys are going to be the ones eating most of my baking. I add in stuff like fruits and nuts and things they don't usually enjoy eating on its own but is beneficial for them. For example, the boys don't like walnuts; and walnuts are good for the brain. So I crushed them up and sprinkle them into my chocolate cupcakes. 

Baking is not a cheap hobby. If one wants to get quality ingredients, the bill can get pretty hefty. Having said that, I'll still continue to bake....because it's such a delight. So if I share my baking with you and you say "thanks", well, the pleasure's all mine!