Interesting scarf by A'N'D

Always love A'N'D!!! Love their sense of humour and smart mind! Came across with their latest new design with "illusion". This one you can keep your hair short and occasionally enjoy another hair style by using the scarf :P

My Bangkok Trip: Cooking Class @ Baipai

Friends have arranged a cooking class at Baipai this time. This is my first time to learn cooking at Bangkok. We have picked the afternoon section and this last for around 4 hrs. Depends on number of people, they can give a better deal if you go with a big group. With a group of 9 people, we had paid around baht2000 for this class per head. Total 4 dishes will be taught: papaya salad, deep fried spring roll, chicken in red curry and stir fried beef in chilli sauce.

First of all, we learnt how to make a red chili paste. Never know it's being grounded intensive with a mix of 2 types of chili. Depends on the chili level, you can put a little or more chili into the grounder.

After awhile, the paste will be ready for use.

The chili has been contributing to the sauce of this red curry dish!

Teacher is trying to teach us how to make the "substance" for putting inside the spring roll.

The sauce to go with spring rolls...we always just go get a ready made one from supermarket. Actually it's very easy to make...can be ready in 15mins!!!

Spring roll is being sealed with special "glue", ie: egg yoke!!!

Student trying to make 4 rolls by themselves (and they can get to eat them afterward :P)

Deep frying in process.

Ready!!! with some decor!!! Sorry mine looked a bit messy coz the shell was really cripsy!!!

Lastly we had made the papaya salad. I always wonder how they shred the papaya into such tiny snappy pieces! Now I know the special skill! :D

My Bangkok Trip: Thai Chai

This is my latest new favourite after the Bangkok trip! Thai Chai you can find anywhere at most thai food restaurant. I been trying a few at different spots and the one available at GreyHound Cafe is the best. They called it as Thai Tea Granita It taste super strong!!! Moreover, they have this innovative way to make the drink more interesting. Talking about GreyHound Cafe, originally it was just a fashion brand and then they started to develop the cafe side business. They have this concept of "Life is a journey, full of pictures, places, stories and good tasting recipes" which I can't agree anymore!!!

I have ordered a spagetti made in Thai style...it's actually chili with the taste of tom yum! Really impressive. Too bad the stomach has limited space, I can't get to try out more different food..."rumour" said their chicken wings is also very nice!!! Also I wish I can try out their Chinese Plum + Sprite Float! :P They now have a couple of outlets around in Bangkok, check out their website and find the one close by you next time! http://www.greyhoundcafe.co.th/main.php

My Bangkok Trip: Baan Klang Nam

Friends living at Bangkok has taken us to this place one time, we have totally fallen in love with it!!! Yes again! Frequent visiting "Baan Klang Nam" at the riverside (Chao Phraya river). With the ambiance which is very relaxing, plus natural breeze coming along non-stop (yes, it's all open without any air con, which is one of the main reason I like it there so much), almost all tables in there having a great view of the river life.

Tom yum soup, raw shrimp, pad thai are quite the must eat item...they all taste very authentic! People working there are friendly and smart. They do serve you on the spot and knowing when you'll need them. As for price, even though it has become quite a tourism spot, they haven't marked up so much, so that everyone can go try their food. From Siam to this outlet, it's only around Baht110 if traffic is smooth. http://www.baanklangnam.net/ 288 Soi 14 Rama III Road, Bangkok 10120 Tel.: +66 (0) 2292 2037, +66 (0) 2292 0175

My Bangkok Trip: Colorful ice cream

iberry has been one of my frequent visiting place whenever I hv chance to go to Bangkok. The owner has been working so hard on the biz and it has been expanding well since 2005. IBerry always have tones of different favor for both ice cream and sobert. One of my all time favorite is their "plum sobert", unfortunately they dun hv it this time. There have been so many changes and I could only find an outlet at the foodhall at Paragon this time during my last minute shopping before heading to airport (phewwww)!!!

So amazing they have this new favor: "Roselle sobert"!!! Which is my latest favorite taste! Apparently Thailand is one of the place which have roselle being grown. What I like about iBerry is they are innovative enough to have many new favor invented from time to time. Sakura...Roselle...Gooseberry...etc, they are all the latest taste which sounds "exotic" to me!

Too bad I was in a rush and I really wanna have a scoop of durian ice-cream before leaving this lovely country. See you again next time my dear iBerry!!!

My Bangkok Trip: encounter with Dean & Deluca again

I love Dean & Deluca. This is too lovely that this New York Chic has opened up a Dean & Deluca cafe at Bangkok. It is located in the new Mahanakhon building right outside of Chong Nonsi BTS. The design of this cafe is modern and minimal, a bit like art exhibition place at France (probably due to their light installation from the ceiling?!). The high ceiling setting also gives a spacious feeling.

My favorite pancakes! Only available on weekend. Quite a big portion so better go with a bunch of good friends or family members who share similar vibes; chit chat and relax.

The deli like counter full of different choice of food!!! Range from bread/sandwich, danish, salad and even Thai curry. I dunno what i should have coz there are just too many choices!!! I wish I go there everyday during the trip and try them all out!

There is this little grocery available at the side of the cafe. Choice from coffee beans to red vinegar and olive oil. Love this presentation with neat rack and nice packing. Love their spirit!!! At the moment, there are total 3 branches in Bangkok. Check out their page on Facebook for more information http://www.facebook.com/ddbkk

My Taipei trip: 5

Walking down Yongkang Street (famous for yummy food), deep inside the last bit which is quite quiet, I saw this interesting eating place which looks like a Japanese isakaya. I went inside and it's actually serving Taiwanese cuisine with a nostalgic yet cozy setting. This place called James Kitchen (大隱酒食).

Owner James is a very friendly person. He said he has built this place as according to the house he used to live when he was a kids, and he been cooking what his mum used to cook for him. Guess his mum was an excellent housewife and mother! No wonder this place has such nostalgic feel. The utensils being used in the restaurant are raw pottery, which he had been collecting from the old days. You can tell they been handmade one by one, with some "human touch" existing somewhere on each piece.

This fried clams was super good (this is full portion)!!! Never seen such big juicy clams before.

Whereas this 虱目魚 is a special kind of fish only available in Taiwan. The stomach part is quite smooth, it goes really well with the lime sauce. There are so many dishes I wanna order such as 蔥香豬油飯, 涼拌魚皮,結醬白切肉, 炸蚵酥...etc! It'll be nice to come here with a bunch of good friends, eating, drinking, chatting and laughing all night long! 大隱酒食 Address: 65 Yongkang St, Taipei City (台北市永康街65號) Telephone: (02) 2343-2275 Open: Daily from evening until around midnight, Close on Monday