Not all new, just 1/5 - Chilean Nite with Vina Leyda

 For those who knows Spanish or simply knows about the lovely and subtle restaurants tucked away in Start Street might know what I am referring to from the title of the post – yes, I went to 1/5 nuevo for dinner!

Even though going there was not a completely new experience for me as I was there around October for one of my best friend’s birthday, this time was different and new because I had new company and it was my first time trying out their wine dinners, so it justifies being 1/5 new. =P

Just happened yesterday was the “Chilean Nite with Vina Leyda”. It was a 6-course dinner with 5 courses (except desert) paired-up with 5 different wines from Viña Leyda, Leyda Valley, which lies to the west of Santiago (14km from the Pacific, meaning very nice and humid weather for harvesting the vineyards). The Viña Leyda was established in 1997 as it was recognized as the potential area for growing grapes and water has to be pumped for 8km from Maipo River for irrigation.



 Marinated Salmon, Rock Oyster and Iberico Ham

So enough with the background, back to the dinner.

First of all, I personally quite like the restaurant because my last experience there was quite nice. Last time, it was a company of 6 people and we had a few tapas and were able to try a series of different things – in which I fell for their seafood paellas. =) (which was comparable to those that I had back in Spain). Apart from the food, what I like about 1/5 nuevo is the furnishing. Those who know me know that I’m a “berry-color” person – meaning I like purples, reds & blues. 1/5 nuevo is covered with a warm blend of reds and art pieces which makes this Aries feels like home. According to my dinner date, a lovely lady from Elite Concepts, said that their boss handpicked the art pieces for the restaurants and also has put a lot of effort in the interior design of the restaurant – and apparently made me a fan.

Paella risotto with saffron
and roasted king prawn

With candles lit and wines glasses all set on the table, our dinner first began with an appetizer selection which included Marinated Salmon, Rock Oyster and Iberico Ham which is paired up with Sauvignon Blanc, Garuma, 2009. The white had a quite thick herbal note with crisp acidity and lingering feeling at the end – good enough to go with the fresh and salty appetizer selection. Always more found of sweetness than acidity, I preferred the second white wine Chardonnay, Falaris Hill, 2009 that went with Paella risotto with saffron and roasted king prawn.  Then it followed by the Pinot Noir Las Brisa, 2008 Magnum with slow cooked ox tongue and ox tail. The Pinot Noir had quite a strong character with a more prominent oaky palate and vanilla aroma, a good choice for the gents (if I remember correctly, it was fermenated in fresh oak barrels for 8 months), but might not for the ladies. Meanwhile, I really appreciate the meat! It was soft and delicious, really good textures and the flavor was rich. I only eat ox tongue during Korean BBQ and never eat pig’s tongue cause I didn't like the feeling of eating a "tongue", but it was so good that I finished it all!



Slow cooked ox tongue and tail

 Roasted pigeon with truffle sauce

Peppered lamb rack
with lime gravy

 Next up was the Roasted pigeon with truffle sauce, paired with Carmenere Talhuen, Colchagua Valley 2007. This was my favorite red among the three as it was more fruity and ample with flavor with works great with the pigeon and truffle sauce. Last main course was the Peppered lamb rack with lime gravy joined with Vintage selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc & Merlot blend, Maipo Valley 2007. Among the different meat dishes, I like this lamb the most as it is cooked to perfection with fresh peppers and salt on the rims of the rack. Most important is that it didn’t have that flavor which I sometimes dislike in lamb, even when it got a bit cold as we chat through the dish. And the wine was in the middle between the previous two, not a bad choice if you have some new company and you don’t know which wine to serve.

Frozen raspberry meringue with fruits jelly

To finish the meal, was the frozen raspberry meringue with fruits jelly – light-weighted desert for such a satisfying dinner.

The atmosphere was good, the food and wine was excellent and the company I had was terrific. I even managed to know the Chef who was quite a gentlemen; subtle,gentle and polite, unlike most of the other Chefs I’ve meet. If it weren’t for the calls from the office, it would be a wonderful dinner. But still, it was a great evening and it is something which I appreciate during the hectic moments of work and reminds me once again, why I am doing what I am doing now.



Sometimes in life you really need some hints and pointers to encourage you, remind you and let you have certain directions and things to look forward to. This dinner was one of them and I am pretty sure the best is yet to come if I strive on to my goals, despite the challenges I'm going through.

Don’t you think? 

意義

過去一星期裡，真的令人感到非常之累。公司的工作令人廢寢忘食 (應該是說下午五、六時才食 “lunch”)及壓力大增之外，家裡及外面也有不同的東西要處理；也令我沒有什麼時間去寫網誌(各位久等了)。休息不夠之餘，還不停在晚上被弄醒了及於清晨時份肚痛…~ 據說，我的另外一位同事也曾經試過這樣。看來，壓力有時真的可怕得很。

盡管如此，多慶幸有朋友這東西。

情人節那天又是沒情人般地過，不過真的過得很開心!除了能夠認識了兩位新朋友之外，我們四個人一口氣吃了十二道上海菜式，還有笑聲不斷、有賀年歌作背景。最後在Starbuck吃甜點、飲了杯熱可可作結。

當了記者之後，對節日這東西的意義越來越模糊。是為了找個藉口去消費、娛樂嗎? 其實又有多少人真的明白每一個節日背後的故事及意義?之前聖誕節已經發現原來現時的小朋友以為有聖誕節的原因是因為有聖誕節老人，而不是為了慶祝耶穌出生….。

有多少人知道St. Valentine為了強捍衛婚姻同愛情而死呢?情人節是為紀念這一位聖人之外，也象徵每個人都應該勇敢地追求愛情。 



下班後跟朋友來了一個late邊爐會~
有史以來最健康的打邊爐，也令我可以吃掉一切不如意。



雖然沒有勇氣，但我總算有力氣去發短訊；而見到朋友們那麼的幸福也替他們開心，情人節也算過得有意義吧。=)





對你們來說，情人節又是什麼呢?

在最忙、最苦惱的時候給我支持的朋友們，謝謝你們。

近期工作真作真的令人越來越心灰，應該找一個出口。



維修

踏入了兔年之後，又大一歲了。不得不承認，『年紀大，機器壞』。身體、精神好像越來越不仲用。經過了一年非常之艱辛的虎年之後，自己好像把身體弄壞了，尤其是腸胃。

不定時的用膳時間、份量(及酒量)和不足夠的休息均足以引發了無數次的腸胃炎及令皮膚受罪，同時亦在不需要運動之下自動減肥。雖然瘦了真的不錯，可是很明顯，這些都是不健康的，而且精神也提不起勁，需要咖啡、朱古力以吊命，但又令身體的狀況更不好。

有見及此，是時候要為身體進行維修。

治標不如治本。

改不了上下班的時候，唯有改一下生活習慣。

 

其實身邊有很多的朋友都因工作關係而令體質變差了。
以下是小妹改變生活習慣的項目，大家可以借來參考，小改善，大改變。

 

今日做完Pilates後的少少獎勵~
house crumbs with blueberries!~ yummy!!~



1.      用中醫調理身體。

2.      食早餐。

3.      一星期有5餐(午/晚餐)素食。

4.      每星期去最少一次workout，天氣回暖就開始跑步(不過潮濕天氣要注意氣管問題，而且距離、時速應慢慢增加，不要為了跑而狂跑)。

5.      日日飲一杯豆漿。

6.      每日一點前睡覺(正確應該是11時，不過對現代人來說，太困難了!退而求其次吧!)。

7.      睡前拉肋/冥想

8.      起床深呼吸。

9.      少食用牛肉、咖啡同朱古力。(最困難的…)

10.  每日望著鏡子對自己笑。(這個最容易 =)



要愛人，先要愛自己。

要愛自己，先要愛自己的身體。

當然，如果你真的愛身邊的那一個他/她，除了好好愛護她/他，也要好好照料自己，讓你有能量去愛。

各位情人節快樂。



Extensions:

今早看了這一段片，Dora用了她的生命做了一個好好的例子叫我們愛自己~

她再一次提醒了我健康真是一種福份。

當這世上有很多人因為身體上的問題而受苦，可是仍能努力的活下去。

其實當我們遇上錯敗、不如意的事的時候，還有什麼可以怨的?

Love Life~



Lost for words

Happy Chinese New Year!!

After 4 days of holidays that involves quality time with family, friends and simply being alone, it all comes to the end when the office is opened. Despite working on some freelancing until 3am, I still managed to put a cheerful face to work, with a good cup of coffee and sweet tunes ringing in my ear (yes, I wasted a whole evening trying to put songs in my iPhone..).

The challenge finally arrives when I get back to my seat and sees the workload ahead. The first thing to do was to wrap up the Valentine’s Day features for tomorrow (technically today). I did most of it before the Chinese New Year and I was completely out of vocabulary. Love, affection, intimacy, sweet, admiration, adore…. It occurs to me that it was very ironic that a person who never officially celebrated Valentine’s Day before (ok, passing out cupcakes and Valentine’s in elementary school does not really count), needs to write so much about the occasion. Luckily, I was a girl with unlimited imagination and managed the task.

But what is Valentine’s Day? Another opportunity to spend money, make out or feel sorry for yourself and getting drunk? I might sound too sensible here, but I am definite of the fact that if you are with the right person, everyday is Valentine’s Day. Tokens of love and expressions of affection should not be solely being expressed on this day; they should be reflected through daily interactions. Actions are more concrete than words, attention and patience worth more than a diamond; and a simple kiss is sweeter than three thousand dozens of roses and chocolates.

Before lunch, I had managed to step out of Valentines, but fell into love again for another occasion – Weddings! Actually, I was excited by the topic since late November because my lovely brother is engaged and I have been receiving a lot of good news from friends! Now, it seems a bit depressing of the tight schedules and could not say anything but write, write and write.

 Diamond Romeo & Juliet Rings from Wellendorff

One thing which was able to cheer me up was the Diamond Romeo & Juliet Rings from Wellendorff (it would be better if they can drop the “W”) and also the opportunity to find out the customs and traditions of the engagement and wedding rings. I discovered the reason why we need to put the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand (ring finger). According to Egyptian myths, the vein of love (“Vena amoris” in Latin) directly ran from the heart to the ring finger. And the reason why people wear rings when they are married because the ring was a symbol of the Sun and Moon God which were related to home and hearth. The endless circle showed the eternal nature of the bond, while the open in the center was meant to be a doorway to things unknown – just like marriage.  

Personally, I have a big affection for rings. I go out the door without a watch, a bracelet or a necklace, but I cannot go without a ring or else I will be playing with my fingers the whole day. I would also get myself a ring when I want to give myself a treat, now, after know about the real meaning of a ring, I’ll think again before I get one. =)

Extensions:

Men don’t need to say a lot when actions are the best testimony.

Looking forward to “The King’s Speech”, in theatres in March!

Colin Firth (the beloved Mr. Darcy – Pride & Prejudice and Bridget Jones) is another man which cannot make a good speech, but still expresses his charisma through actions and modesty.

Some rich things in life

Just two days ago, I went to the Central Pier for a product launch of a renowned watch brand. I was able to resist the temptation of a meatball sub from Subway, but I could not escape the lavishing Mocha which was calling me from Leonidas.

My first encounter with the chocolatier can be dated back during my University days when I read an article about the owning company of Leonidas, Confiserie Benji Ltd, was a social enterprise where all the revenue generated after detecting the necessary expenses will be contributed to Benji’s Centre, the first and currently the only charitable organization providing specialized one-to-one professional speech therapy to children and teenagers with communication problems, particular for those from low-income families. At first, I wanted to use the story for my broadcast journalism homework, but it lost to the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture at the Central Police Station compound in terms of visual impact.

But then fate puts us back together last Spring when my colleague and I decided to give them coverage on the chocolate brand as well as their surprisingly good Belgian restaurant which was also under the same company. It during was the whole-day interview that I had tasted their hot chocolate and coffee for the very first time. Since then, every time I go by the shop, I couldn’t resist myself from getting a coffee or checking to see if my favorite chocolate of the shop – Coupe Truffle Maracuja (Passion Fruit) was back in town yet; additionally, it was also become a habit of mine to get Leonidas chocolate as treats for friends (and myself) from time to time for a good cause.

Well, after the event on Monday, instead of going to the MTR station directly, I stroll along the harbor side and walked the long flyover in 3 inch heels and cold hands just to get that MUST-HAVE mocha. (MUST-HAVE meaning it’s a Monday afternoon, coffee was out at the office and I was seriously in a holiday mood =). It was smooth, rich and aromatic as usual and made me feel warm from head to toe. What more can you ask for as for a tea break? It made my day and reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:

“Chocolate, coffee and men
– some things are better rich.”

It was a 2-in-1 experience.

Mocha with Ganache (Dark )- $36

Speaking of chocolates, with Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day packed so close against one another, I had been receiving chocolates ever since I got back to the office after the Christmas holidays (and yes, been continuously eating chocolates like I always do). A cute creature which caught my eyes was the 2011 Limited Edition chocolate rabbit from Godiva. The limited edition flavor is black tea with ginger. Wrapped up by a hard chocolate shell is a soft and silky black tea mousse with hints of ginger taste. Frankly speaking, the ginger taste is not that strong until you ate the whole piece of chocolate and you get a bit of gingery spice on your tongue. But I do quite like the crispy hard chocolate shell and the cute image which does reminds me of Easter (and my birthday). =)

Anyways, here’s the Godiva Rabbit!!
Wish you all a blissful Year of the Rabbit.


p.s.: If you are looking for something spicy and chocolaty, try Spicy Chocolate Firecraker from Starbucks;
If you are looking for something with really good tea taste and sweetness of a dessert, try Earl Grey Mousse from Café Corridor (Causewaybay).