Fish Curry, My Version

Admittedly, our family eats too much meat. We love our steak, pork sinigang, beef nilaga and puchero, fried pork chop and the list goes on and on. So I am trying to make a conscious effort to include more fish dishes in our menu.

I decided to try my hand in cooking fish curry. It seemed like a winning recipe as I mulled over how to prepare this. Fish, coconut milk, curry and spices - ahh, I could sense a winner here.  Note that I am not a good cook. Ok, maybe I'm a bad one since I've failed a lot in the cooking department.  But you can't fault me for trying which frustrates my brother a bit because he and my dad are ultimately the guinea pigs.

However this time around, I was able to come up with a yummy yet fairly quick meal.  My brother liked it so much that he brought some to his workplace. Because I am not one of those stingy cooks who don't like sharing recipes or cooking techniques, here's the recipe. Not that I'll be sharing a lot of recipes, hahaha. Hoping this will help another trying-hard-wanna-be cook out there like me.

Assorted Bread at Plaza Athenee's Breakfast Buffet

I don't really eat breakfast on ordinary days especially if it's a work day. I know it's not the best or healthiest way to start the day but I just can't seem to eat quickly and head off to the office. I eat terribly slow and eating fast makes me dizzy, hahaha. Usually, it's just a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice if I'm in a rush. My work mates have been telling me to just give them my breakfast coupons since a lot of them are not consumed during my trip. They do have a point, you know. Hey, but weekends are a different story. I do take time to enjoy the breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Check out the variety of bread and pastries available at the Plaza Athenee in Bangkok. Absolutely yummy!

Simple Flower Arrangement #1

Hi friends! During my stay at the Metropole, I chanced upon this very simple flower arrangement. It's beautiful and looks so easy to do. I'm really not the Mertha Stewart type of lady but this arrangement is do-able. A bowl, water, roses and voila- a nice and simple arrangement. Imagine this atop your console at your foyer or even in your powder room.

Happy Wednessday!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

S&R Sale

You know that when the "ber" months start that it is officially the beginning of Christmas season in the Philippines. If you are not from the Philippines, you'd think that it's too early but Filipinos love the Christmas season, all the reunions and parties as well as the gift-giving. If you are like some people (not me, hahaha) who prepare and shop way in advance, I suggest you troop over to the S&R sale. It starts on Sept. 14 and ends on Sept. 18.

The last time I was there, my friends went "Corelle-crazy". It was 50% off so they got at least 2 boxes and some even more.

Another best seller was the steel cabinets that could easily go in the garage or utility room. If you want to have a clutter-free and organized garage, I suggest that you get this.

There are so many, many other stuff so don't waste time because you don't want to choose from the "latak" (what's left over).

What are the items that you shop for at the S&R sale?

P.S. If were to strategize, I would go there a day or two earlier then have items reserved, especially if they are big items.  The steel cabinet goes out really quickly. Also, a shopping list would be good.

Metropole's Lovely Red Bathroom

Look at this red bathroom.  This was taken at the Metropole in Hanoi a few years ago at the hotel's new wing.  Never thought a red bathroom would look gorgeous.

I just love the fact that they didn't paint the entire space red but instead combined it with the gray and white marble.  The color scheme of red, black and white is the same for the rooms.

The mirror also gives the space a larger feel.

If I ever embark on a bathroom makeover, this will be my design peg.

A Thorny Tree, Adulterers Beware!

Back in those days in Cambodia, lovers caught in an adulterous relationship were made to strip down to their birthday suit and climb a tree full of thorns as punishment.

The thorns are not too obvious and look rather small at first glance but if you focus on the right side of the photo, you'll see how nasty these thorns are. Imagine climbing a tree like this. It must have been a bloody affair.

This type of punishment may no longer be practiced but then again it shouldn't take a thorny tree to deter one's actions in doing something that will eventually lead to destruction of one's self, home and work life.

Proverbs 6:32 - But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. (NLT)

Location:Siem Reap, Cambodia

Potugese Feijoada

I've never been to Lisbon or anywhere near Portugal. But I did get to taste a sample of Portugese cuisine while in Timor Leste. My friend D says Portugese cuisine is the best in the world. Wow, was I intrigued. Ok, I definitely had to try it.

Well, it came earlier than expected as I accidentally stumbled upon a place that serves affordable Portugese dishes. It was so far from my hotel, The Discovery Inn, that I had to walk approximately ten steps outside my hotel's main door. Hahaha. The food at the hotel was already getting boring and I needed a change. So there I was next door. Talk about saving on taxi fare.

There weren't many people so I chose a table by the glass window. Surprised to see a menu that wasn't quite familiar, the server suggested I try the special for the day, if I were hungry. Hungry??? I am always hungry. As long as it had rice I'd be a happy camper.  She said the feijoada (pronounced as fey-jwah-duh) was a complete meal. Let's go for it.

When the dish arrived, it looked similar to our fabada served at home. The taste was similar but I think this is a souped-up version of the fabada. It had different meats-pork, beef plus the morcillos and ham- or was it bacon. Let's not forget the white beans, folks. The sauce was thick and tasty. It seemed that it was stewed for quite a while because the meats were tender and the dish was so flavorful. I was so satisfied with the dish that I finished every morsel of rice and 3/4 of the feijoada. That's a lot for me if you know how I eat.

Ahhh, this was a perfect way to end the day. Me and the feijoada. Happy to have been introduced to you. It was definitely not disappointing.