the blue ribbon

Last thursday was an experience that i will never forget. attending a pastry demo as the assistant of chef fabrice danniel from le cordon bleu is no easy task. although all i did was assist in preparing the ingredients and ensuring that the quantities were right and what ever pans and bowls were washed and cleaned for his use, there was this level of stress and a feeling that any action you make is extremely crucial as not only do i represent TAS but also assisting a chef who is about to be the master chef for le cordon bleu's academy in bangkok.

I realized that attending a pastry demo is not just about watching the chef professionally execute his skills but to visualize what the chef is about to do next, what tools will he be using and why did he use this method instead of another. Of course this not only applies to pastry making but to any form of culinary demo. therefore i was always trying to think one step in advance what tools will he need or what will he be doing next and after a while i got the feel of it.

The art of pastry making and desserts have always been a great interest to me, however pursuing the culinary arts as a career is not what i have in mind. Well, one day when there's a chance i will love to attend the pastry making course at le cordon bleu.

je veux shopping

All the irritating projects are now passé man. The time has come for me to start revising for the coming exams and have more me time to relax and do more baking. Oh my, i have the opportunity to be the assistant of chef fabrice danniel for a pastry demo at the raffles hotel on 25 january. For your info he is a pastry chef from le cordon bleu culinary school in paris and i am delighted, many thanks to TAS.

Seriously need some tee shirts. Those hanging in my closet are aging and the saddest thing is that there are no design that catches my eye in Singapore. Somehow all the designs now are so catered to the uncivilized group of teens in the city state and if you still do not know who i am referring to then please do yourself a favor and die. On the other hand i do admit that i am a very fussy person but hey, everyone to his style.

There was a few articles on the Singapore Girl in the Sunday times just last week, speaking of how tough the job is and that the image should be do away for a more modern one. In my opinion its total rubbish. How can the Singapore Girl image, a priceless symbol and icon of Singapore Airlines be do away with when she represents the prestige and style of the airline's service.

Marketing professionals have also expressed that they felt the airline should change the sarong kebaya to a business suit like those worn by British Airways, Cathay Pacific and even Lufthansa. Looks like these professionals are really losing it. Forget about keeping up with times in terms of uniforms or image, the Singapore Girl is something even the subject of marketing have no say in. After 35 years of branding, that image still represents the era of luxurious air travel which the airline is still delivering today.

The kebaya represents the airline indirectly, it's a uniform that differentiates the air stewardess from others in the industry. Seeing the kabaya is equivalent to seeing Singapore Airlines, when an air stewardess walks into the airport in the kebaya, attention is drawn to her as people recognize the prestige and style of the airline. Do away with the kebaya is almost similar to folding the airline back into Malayan Airlines. When i see the kebaya, it tells me "do not mess with me, i am one of the best in this industry".

There was also another issue on how tough it was being a Singapore Girl, well nobody said it was gonna be easy in the first place, let alone working for an airline recognized throughout the world with words such as prestige and luxurious attached to it. If you think it was an easy job being a singapore Girl, think again man. It's all about the image of the airline and i believe that all the little rules regarding the actions and behavior of the Singapore Girl is unnecessary, it's about discipline and how one carries oneself in the eyes of the public and even in the air. It's about being different from other cabin crews.

Stewardess who disregard these rules are nothing but self centered people who do not deserve the name of being the Singapore Girl as they do not think of the image and years of reputation that have been earned. These stewardess do not think of how their small irresponsible actions can cause harm to the prestigious image of the airline in the eyes of passengers and the public. These rules serves to safeguard the image of the airline, it wasn't meant for the convenience of individuals but meant for those who are worthy to be called the Singapore Girl; those who recognize that the airline's image is of greatest importance as compared to complaining about the rules when they don the kebaya.~

Bonne Annee

Finally met up with my friends who went to shanghai with me last year during the semester holidays. After several occasions where busy me could not make an appearance, i was finally able to reserve this day and date. Although there was only a few of us but nevertheless such gatherings are important, with each rendezvous including some others.

We had dinner at out of the pan and i had this black pepper beef which was really good. While waiting for the food to arrive we had a glance over to this table next to the fountain and they were eating some deliciously sinful waffles with berries. The verdict for dessert have been passed. ~

Mont blanc covered the "V" tea room in a blanket of berries and strawberry yogurt when ian chanted an ancient spell from the book of tralalalala. but seriously the place was classic and cozy, i simply love the decor and love the masquerade masks displayed around the room. I have always had this twinkle for masquerades especially when it happens to be held in Venice. One day i'll fly away and attend the annual Venice carnival and really splurge on an extravagant costume.

The colours and patterns, shades and styles. Dazzling and mysterious like an era long forgotten by time when people dance and sing all night. Imagine the lights at night under the dark cloudless sky with light breezes passing by and a full moon shining down. The city of Venice glows gloriously~

With the long weekend at the beginning of the month, i attempted at making mushroom risotto and it was ideal since the weather turned cold with heavy showers in the evening. Warm tasty risotto definitely warmed up our hearts. I enjoy eating mushrooms especially shitake, but the super markets sell only those from china and the flavour is not even a quarter of those from japan. Sad~