Abby's Birthday Treat at Churrasco

Last night, we celebrated Abby's birthday by having a Brazilian buffet dinner at Churrasco. The restaurant is located in Katong Village which is a bit far from where we would normally go.

After heading to Eunos, Em-J, Choy and I then had a bit of trouble locating the bus stop since the directions from the web were a bit inaccurate. It took us nearly half an hour before we were able to finally board the elusive bus. After four stops, we then alighted and armed with Google maps, we managed to find the restaurant. By this time, we were already hungry which is a good thing. We prepared to take on the meat feast like we should.

Here's the birthday girl:

The interiors were simple. Feels like walking into a living room that was converted into a big dining space. The place was also a bit warm, probably because the servers walk around with the food and you really don't want to be served with cold meat.

We also tried the Brazilian soda. Don't know what it's called.

I haven't been to a Brazilian restaurant so I don't have a benchmark to compare it with. You walk in and head to the salad bar to fill your plate with salad and carbs (rice, pasta, bread). You then head back to your table and wait for the passadors with the different meat dishes from sausages, fish, chicken bacon, steaks, beef hams and even chicken hearts!

Amongst the many selections, this is the surprise runaway winner of the night. Grilled Pineapple with Brown Sugar Glaze. I nearly skipped it, good thing Ching recommended that Abby try it which got me curious.

Here we are, enjoying the night!

Thanks Abby for the wonder and filling treat! Happy happy birthday!!!

Marché

Em-J and I were supposed to go to Shan's BBQ party at Bedok but his schedule was a bit tight and the place was quite far so we opted to have just a quick dinner at 313. I chose Marché since Choy, Tin and I had lunch there last Saturday and I was craving for their food again.

We arrived at a little past 8 and the queue was crazy long. Em-J was asking if I really wanted to wait and I do.

Marché opened at 313@Somerset just last December. It seats a total of 400 guests and serves fresh, healthy and organic food. It's a concept restaurant and dining in here is indeed an experience. You get transported to Switzerland once you head down to the main dining area.

If you want a quick fix, you can choose from freshly baked breads right by the entrance or get a grilled sandwich.

This is the main entrance of the restaurant. You then have to head down to the dining area where you get greeted by cute animals.

Once inside, you are given a Marché Restaurant card which you have to use to purchase your meals ala Streetlife. This I think is a stroke of genius on the part of the restaurant as you unknowingly spend more than you would care to. :p

The interiors are impressive and lovely. You really get to enjoy your food as the interiors evoke a sense of serenity. (I wasn't able to take a lot of pictures as I was told that they don't allow it. I had to use my mobile phone for most of the pictures here so some might be a bit blurred.)

They offer a wide range of healthy food selections. Choy, Tin and I didn't know what to order first as everything seemed to be appetizing. Good thing I already knew what to order today as Em-J wasn't really one to make any decisions.

Highlights are fresh seafood, homemade ravioli, wood-fired pizza, Swiss Rosti, grilled meats and sausages, roasted chicken, paella, fresh salads, savoury crepes.

Here's what we had:

Pork Knuckle, crispy and juicy.

Must try.

SGD 18.90

Sirloin Steak, very tender and tasty.

Must try.

SGD 16.90

Fresh fruit juice.

SGD 5.90 each

Waffle with Fruit and Ice Cream, one of my favorites. If I wasn't so full, I would've ordered another one.

Must Have!

Waffle - SGD 7.50

Ice Cream - SGD 4.90

and of course plain rice which you can order from the soup counter.

I was also able to try the following:

Soup - Must Try. (SGD 3.50)

Margaritta Pizza - Skip It. Nothing special and seriously lacked toppings. (SGD 16.90)

Seafood Paella - Skip It. Unless you're really craving for one. (SGD 15.90)

Coarse Pork Sausage, Garlic Pork Sausage  - Skip It. They are quite tasty but I don't think they're worth it.  (SGD 6.90 each)

Savoury Crepe - Must Try. I will go back if only for this. (SGD 10.90)

When to best go? Just before lunch time. Also, be prepared to queue a lot. I wasn't able to try their Swiss Rosti till now since that kitchen is always busy. The steaks and pork knuckle are also snatched up pretty quickly so order them immediately once they're available.

Can't Wait!!!

An Exciting 2010 Ahead!

There's so much to look forward to and so much to be happy about this coming year and let me enumerate them:

1. Clarice will be visiting us third week of January! Yey!


2. The Chinese New Year equals a long weekend. Here, where holidays are few and far between, this is surely one that I anticipate the most.


3. Flying back to Manila this April!

4. A trip to the beach. Boracay, Phuket or even Galera. I'm okay so long as it's the beach.

5. Legally Blonde this September. Reserve your tickets, now na! Haha!

6. A trip to Macau and Hong Kong. 

7. Chicago The Musical this April!

8. The Lion King this September.

9. Lastly, me, back to blogging!

Routine

I've been here for 2 weeks now and I can say I've settled quite easily.  I've visited a few times last year and it has helped a lot in terms of how living is like here. The only thing that I'm still having difficulty with is having to wake up so early.  I feel as if I'm back in school because I need to be up so early.  I'm always looking forward to weekends cause I can stay in bed way longer.

I'm up at 6:30 so I can prepare my brown bag and have breakfast as well.  By 7:25, I should be on my way since the bus arrives at around 7:30.  I get to the MRT station at 7:45 where there will be a 4 minute wait for the train to arrive.  By 8:40 I'll start my 10-minute walk to the office.  I get there before 9.

I have no official work load yet since I'm still immersing so I can't say if I'm gonna be busy.  I just hope I manage my time well.  The only thing I like about my schedule is the fact that I can still pass by the mall after my shift.  I usually end up at the supermarket.  I don't know why but I just love going to supermarkets.  I'm there almost everyday.

Also, I swore to stick to my diet once I get here.  I've tried but from time to time I still slip back.  The smell of local food is just too good to pass up.  I also saw this bread and I think it's perfect for my diet.

The bread slices are too thin but it's packed.  I just got this on my way home this evening so I don't know if it's good. 

My thoughts are all over the place.  Hehe.

Send-Off

Last Friday, I bade goodbye to Sykes.  It's been sad thinking that come Monday, I'll no longer be reporting to our Ortigas office, my place of work for nearly four years.  What's more saddening is the realization that my friends and I will no longer be sharing a laugh over spam, sisig, Quickly, Yoohoo and Ministop's chicken.

Frankly, I didn't expect to feel so sad but during my last few days, if it's even possible, my team and I have grown much closer.  They truly have been the best one could ever hope for.  Sure, we've had our share of arguments here and there but it has never gotten in the way of our relationship as friends.

We had our last dinner at Tramway.  Some of them also decided to tag along with me at the airport.  I also received a few presents to remember them by. Thanks much.

The slippers from the team and Aidz that Chammy tried in vain to hide

Boxers and a few pairs of socks were what Oliver gave me

PJs from Clarice

My sister and Joanne also surprised me with this tumbler

team picture

Joanne and Micah also dropped by and decided to tag along with my brother who was bringing me to the airport.

Diet. Out the Window.

The mindless eating during the holidays made me gain a bit of weight. This is a cause of concern for me since the pain in my lower back is once more starting to rear its ugly head. I swore to stick to my "abs diet" last January but I haven't been as successful.

First off, we started the year by having a filling buffet at Royal Plaza. We then had to spend our team fund at Dampa during the 2nd week. Clarice also treated us out at Max's while celebrating a mini-success. The 3rd week, we discovered Kenny's feast and we just had to eat there twice. I also went back to Singapore where we celebrated Abby's birthday at an eat-all-you-can dinner at Sakura.

The 4th week, Yuth had our favorite chicken curry prepared at his restaurant, Khao Pad. Add to that our countless trips to McDonald's and Dairy Queen. Craving for a late night meal, Portia, Selle and I went to Mang Inasal at around 3 in the morning where I had three hefty servings of rice!

I haven't been as successful this February. Our team went to Tagaytay and the trip wouldn't be complete without having Bulalo and Mushroom Burger. Clarice discovered Sisig Hooray and we became addicted it to that I had to eat there three days straight. Over the weekend, I met up with Jencarps and we had lunch at Cyma and then desserts at Crepes and Cream. Come Tuesday, I met up with Rhommel and we finally had our breakfast buffet at Richmonde.

This weekend, Micah and I met up with Joanne at Trinoma. We had dessert crepes at Crazy Crepes which is way way better than Crepes and Cream. Craving for old fashioned style chicken, we then had dinner at Savory.

I have a couple more buffets to go to. After that, I swear to then go on a diet.

In Pain

My back problem that had me confined and bedridden for three days a couple of years ago is back, full force.  I woke up feeling a slight pain in my lower back which escalated by mid-afternoon.  The effort of standing up is painful and it travels down to my right leg.  

My brother who I live with is flying off for a vacation which leaves me home alone.  And worse, I also have a plane to catch this afternoon and I'm travelling alone.  I'm scared.  

Mangoes and Oranges

This thank you has long been overdue, nevertheless, I'd like to say my piece.  I ordered the Coconut and Mango cheesecake from Rob last December.  He delivered it to our office and gave it as a gift. 

The cheesecake was wonderful and I'm not saying that because I feel obliged.  It really is one of the most delicious cheesecake I've ever tried.  The cake's texture was very smooth and though a bit unusual, the coconut complimented it well.  Weighing almost a kilo, you truly get your money's worth!  I couldn't stop talking about it that I had to ask my brother who just got discharged from his second throat operation to try it out!

Selle and I also had an affinity with Minute Maid ever since it was introduced last December.  I, however, found the Premium Minute Maid kind in Singapore.  It tastes just like the one you get in your in-flight meals.  A true contrast to the sweet Minute Maid pulpy orange.  I liked it so much that I just had to take some home with me. 

Knowing my love for orange juices, Clarice gave me our newest find.  Chuvaness blogged about it and so did Lori.  I'm also a fan.  I finished the big bottle in one sitting.  I also took home some, I'm not sure if my sister liked it but who wouldn't?  It's as fresh as you can get. 

I also tried out Florida's Natural since the one pictured above doesn't have the pulp bits, unfortunately, my throat still hurts after drinking it.  

MegaMac

All the Mega McMeals...

are bound to make someone FAT...

Lookback: 2008

Today marks the beginning of another year of uncertainties.  It is both exciting and scary.  I can't find a phrase more fitting to describe what I'm feeling today than Forrest Gump's line: Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.  

I'd like to make a list of things that stood out the past year and I'm curious as to what this list would look like next year: 

1. Both my brother and I have been confined. (I hate to be sick.) 

2. Em-J, Willie and Rhommel, all members of the QM Emerson leadership team resigned leaving Clarice and I all alone. 

3. If 2007 was filled with many theater events, 2008 was the exact opposite for me.  I've been swamped that I can only keep on promising to watch a show to no avail. 

4. Rhommel and I started and ended our business this year.

5. 706-PINK

6. Addicted to Frozen Yogurts! (For 2007, McDonald's shakes remained to be my addiction)

7. Chili Peppers!

8. Attended service at VCF. 

9. Visited Baguio and loved it!

10. Had the chance to travel again, something that I promised to do the previous year.

11. Weekends at Malabon. 

12. New laptops for Rhommel and me. 

13. First time addiction to a teleserye.  (what's happened to me?)

14. Solving the Rubik's cube for the first time.

15. Lost a friend, gained new ones and lastly, found old ones.