Re: Babies

Reading your mum's email, when she says "you must be firm and calm to receive all the stress given to you", I think she's saying that whatever she and other people say, it is YOU who must be strong-willed eonugh to make your own decisions and handle the stress.
~Mr. HEA~

I think I posted during Mother's Day that I have been rather upset with mum over all that pressure for me to have a child or three soon. Darling Mr.HEA had been helping soothe me down and helping me enjoy the trip ahead of me.

And truth be told it hasn't been an easy feat, but the magic of one taking it as a joke and the brushing off lightly of a serious topic slices tension like a knife through butter. I was back in KL and Mum demanded for grandchildren again as usual so I placed these freaky babies in her palm and told her to take very good care of them.

I suppose it is just as hard for them to make these demands as it is for us to disappoint them. In a way, they only want what is good for us and they are afraid to hear that the reasons may be that we are struggling, be it financially or health-wise. So, whilst I used to find it a probing and detested the question, I think I have risen above it all and am now able to cope better. There are worse things in life to focus your energy on than being angry with people who really care about you.

Adelaide the city of Chocolate

Yeah, I meant what I wrote, I hereforth no longer will refer to Adelaide as the city of Churches. City of Chocolate seemed more apt. Two years ago, I travelled there with a real lady who pretty much gets whatever she wants. We were in a traditional pub and she got a craving for chocolate truffles and the bar-tender whips out a martini glass full to the brim with these handmade chocolate truffles that the Hilton Adelaide provides to their VIP staff. True Story. So there, if you can get chocolate truffles from a pub here, how else would you perceive the city?

I find Adelaide a place that's serious about produce and fooding. Why else would so many Adelaide contestants proceed so far in National cooking competitions? Who could forget 2012's MKR finals the battle of the South Australians Nic and Rocco v Leigh and Princess Jen? Or of Masterchef fame, Poh and Adam Liaw?

At this point, I am tempted to gush all about my dining experience in the Marquis here because it was real fine, but I will be reserved and keep that for another post. This one will just be about chocolate consumption whilst in Adelaide.

Behold:

Some of these you would have seen from my previous two posts, but oh my I tell you, these ChocoMe on the top right hand corner are a SA brand to watch. I would have had three bars to photograpgh except Mr.HEA devoured one before I could stop him. He ate the Strawberry and lemon myrtle bar and (ok I partook in some of the consumption) it was D-I-V-I-N-E.

Now tucking into my truffles from Haigh with a cup of hot tea, a spot of indulgence I now afford myself to remind me of the wonderful region of Adelaide.

Adelaide Dining experience - The Marquis

Describing each row from left to right:

Row 1: Dining at the Marquis a place of contemporary Parisian food; The waiter says to us there is a list for wines they sell by the glass, but if it was a bottle we were after, feel free to explore the extensive wine shelves they have; a private room setting if you are so inclined.

Row 2: My first Escabeche but certainly not my last. A perfect appetiser that opens your palate to want more food; A Delightful tile of the finest SA seared scallops; Rack of lamb for two? Or Five?

Row 3: My Fish Main; Jenga chips with sirloin steak; Complimentary Tiffany-esque box; Inside holds a delightful hand-rolled chocolate truffle.

Other elements of the meal worthy of a mention is

1) The baby beetroot and goats cheese salad. A must-try if you are ever there.

2) The 2009 bottle of Vouvray we ordered. It was a very chalky wine to begin with on its own but took on depths of flavour with the Escabeche and scallops and really grew on us to become a yummy accompaniment to our meal

3) The desserts of a Chocolate Marquis and Bombe Alaska were really indulgent. Pity I could only watch on as my colleagues powered through it. I was pleased enough with my petit fors, but if I am ever back again, I will leave room for dessert there.

Hilton Adelaide





We traveled to Hilton Adelaide for work this time, but I sure wished we had more time for play.

 

Plump Bed, Natural lighting, inviting furnishings, what more would you need from a home away from home?



The pool was a gorgeous outdoor one, but no one was game enough to brave this cold weather to swim in it.




The view from the hotel's deck/ barbeque area




In room spa. Samples of Peter Thomas Roth products if you have been lazy in packing your own. They also had a menu of beauty items you can purchase/ borrow from the hotel if you have forgotten to bring your own. This included a GHD Hair Straightener!




In room dining. I ordered a beautiful chilled red wine which came in a little decanter. And SA grain-fed beef sans the Rosemary Chats but a large bowl of greens instead. I'd have prefered a bit of avocado or Havarti cheese in my salad, but hey it was a lot more healthy this way I suppose.




In Room Indulgence. A Pot of Haigh's Hot Chocolate. It wasn't as rich as Lindt, and not very sweet at all, but full of chocolatey goodness to be sure!




Chocolatey Goodness continues: The Hilton Haighs Chocolate Martini made with real Haighs chocolate flakes, tequila, Kahlua and 87% Mozart chocolate liquer, this drink alone is worth flying down to the hotel for.

Fooding in KL



Sakae sushi at Paradigm Mall: Cha soba, Sakae Blossom salmon sushi, Sakae cawamushi. Oishiii!!!





Wooh Pin Fish Head Noodles in Danau Desa is so well known for their milk-based broth, that they only sell four varieties of their noodle. This one pictured above is the fish paste rice vermicelli for those of you who prefer to be elegant when cnsuming your meal and not suck on fried fish heads. At RM9, the price is well worth it because the portions are bigger than your average noodles from hawker stalls



This drink is called Michael Jackson. It's black, it's white, get it? It's really black grass jelly mixed with sweet soy bean milk so its very refreshing in a hot country like Malaysia



At a Chinese wet market: The infamous Laksa adapted by the local chinese into Curry Mee (Mine with Fishballs for RM5) and a cup of mixed tea and coffee, also known as 'Cham'

At a typical Mamak indian restaurant, this plate of Mee Goreng and frothy teh tarik costs just slightly less than RM5.





Wantan Mee! A childhood favourite of egg noodles tossed in a dark soy sauce, garnished with sweet slices of roasted pork and a bowl of wontons cooked in broth on the side.




Pork noodles. This version held back on the pork innards and focussed on only the mince. Otherwise, I think you'd also get some chopped liver and coagulated pig's blood. I was less adventurous and asked for an additional egg instead, dropped into your boiling hot stock at the end so that it is still runny when you dig in.



 More often than not, these dishes I have savoured above can be ordered too from swankier establishments in air-conditioned shopping centres nowadays in Malaysia. The board above sums up the lure of why these places have become so popular. I guess, patting off beads of sweat will never be a good look, but will always be what you'd face when dining at the local stalls and chinese coffee shops (kopitiam).

It was a very satisfying trip back home and I know I have displayed my weakness for noodles in this post. The challenge is to now try and fit back into a non-carb loaded brunch every morning. Sighz.