Monthly Archives: October 2008

What A Day … It Gotta Be Better Tomorrow & After

Posted on October 9, 2008 | Leave a comment

I am happy today ended better than the day itself.

Done for the Day… At Least For Me

April joined me, … she had earlier walked in to check if I am feeling fine, she offered me a hug. Ha!  I told her not to talk to me, I didn’t need a hug and just standing by me was more than enough.  I had taken a breather from class, I felt I needed to scream but in class my side of the class hardly talked, we worked that way.  Even if we did, it was talking to our own selves and between ourselves.  She pulled out a chair to sit, and I sat next to her and we both sat facing the glass panes … She told me later after class she was trying to make small talk to distract me and make me feel better, but apparently whatever she tried to say seemed to make me feel worse.  I told her I wasn’t thinking much then, I felt heavy in the heart and just needed some space for breather, and I just didn’t want to do another piece of work in class.  That was how lousy I felt …  I returned to class, still feeling heavy, there was no outlet to release my pent up frustration.

It was 1pm.  We had just cleaned up.  Chef Philippe asked for a batch of Royal Icing for the class and for us to do piping before lunch at 1.30pm.  In fact now lunch starts about 2pm with the bigger group of students and addition of 1 extra class in level 1 Cuisine and level 1 Baking & Pastry Arts.  I whispered to Sarah, I did not want to prep Royal Icing, … she was not in the best shape too.  Waited.  Look like no one intended to do it, I told her I am just gonna do it so we got some time to practice rather than prep and pack up, she agreed to help.  Let’s go.

~  A Whole Cake To Ourselves and Eat It!

Lunch – I left my name tag to reserve seats for some of us, when I got back to the table, my name tag went missing and no one claimed to have seen it.  I knew someone was pulling a fast one on me, and I wasn’t in the mood to find out who, I got out of the lunch room to look for Elheme.  I told her my name tag would surface later but I needed a name tag in case I didn’t get back before I returned to class.  She obliged immediately.  I was back in lunch room and presentation was in progress.  2.10pm.  For the first time, Sarah played a joke, and she was hoping to make me feel better … now I have 2 name tags?

I was seated at the same table as April, Sarah, Jill, Amber and Elizabeth.  We were done with food, there was no more mousse cake at the serving table, we decided to share a whole Cocoa Raspberry mousse cake among overselves.  We ate more than usual and just wanted to sit there forever.  I popped in 4 macaroons and 2 slices of cakes … definitely signs of stress.

I Don’t Want to Do Anymore Work

We were back in class, we really didn’t want to do anymore work.  Chef came in, said nothing and left the lab, we guess he knew we were really done with the day.  But coz Chef said nothing, we continued piping, I started piping on the side of our table, Sarah joined in and I could see she was having fun and we just need to be naughty some time.  But piping by the side of table was certainly more fun than on the table top.  We thought of cleaning just our table top and leaving all the Royal Icing on the sides at the end of the day and … that thought just made us laugh.  This point Krystine and Jill joined in and we took their pix to capture evidence of “guilty” faces if we should decide to leave the sides of the table uncleaned… ha ha ha.

~

The Day Just Couldn’t Be Worse

Earlier in the day, we were pouring chocolate icing over the mousse cake.   I did it in level 1 before.  I did mine after Sarah, both of us partnered each other for the week with few hiccups.  Sarah handled me a ladle and I poured the icing over the mousse cake.  Alas!  It wasn’t enough to complete icing the 2 sides.  I must have poured lobe-sided.  Then I added a second ladle of icing which Chef had advised against, I should have the first ladle full to get it done one time.  Then 1 thing led to the next.  I let my first foul up affected me and the next thing, I scrapped the icing off with some mousse off the top of the cake while leveling off the excess.  That feeling was real sxxxx.  You are not thinking of what you are doing?  I heard Chef said.  Indeed, I was the last person to use the icing, I should have just poured whatever is remaining in the pot directly onto the cake.  Gosh.  I just never thought of messing up something I did in level 1.

Next, we completed the chocolate ribbons to put on the cake.  I just did not want to see my cake again.  We cleared our table.  Lifting off the cake from the rack, I was careful not to mess up this time, I guess too careful and seeing the cake just made me foul up again.  Centralising the cake on the cake board, using 1 finger to let the cake drop nicely.  It did.  Relief!  Then, I felt my knuckles touched something cold…  It was Sarah’s nicely iced cake sitting on my right.  I couldn’t believe it!  Sarah was just so cool about it that I felt many times worse – she had felt frustrated earlier about her ribbons and had mentioned to me at least she got her one thing right – her cake!!  I decided that was the last thing I wanted to do in the lab for the day.  Anyway, Sarah and I completed what we were supposed to do with the cake and put back into the chiller.  I told Sarah that was it, I needed to get out …

~

Sitting at the stone table after class, Sarah, April and I were laughing from our sugar high … we chatted till evening class came.  The chat helped definitely.  I was still apologetic over her cake …  Before we left for the day … Tomorrow will be a better day, we both hope.

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Posted in Baking & Pastry Arts, Day to Day

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Done with First Go at Pastillage

Posted on October 9, 2008 | 4 Comments

This entry and previous entry should be read in totality  …  (My previous account of air brushing my pastillage http://bakingjoysinhouston.com/2008/10/03/getting-out-of-hand-with-pastillage/)

I am so happy and relieved my first go at pastillage ended up like a “show piece”.  Compared to my air brushing, I think I fared better at gluing them together.  Just say that I finished it just before lunch at the Culinary Institute while waiting for lunch to be ready, and had a relaxing lunch yesterday.  A short moment earlier and the day earlier, I stared at all the coloured pieces and couldn’t make out how I was to piece them together.  When Chef Philippe said we got to finish by Tuesday, my mind was automatically set to “just gotta do it and make it happen” mode, the pieces just came together … I believed I really got divine help, coz the final “show piece” was beyond my imagination when I first completed air brushing the pastillage.  The after effect at the end of last friday when pastillage was air brushed – I needed a dose of caffaeine to sooth my nerve, and the after effect of yesterday – when the pastillage pieces came together – I was so relieved and I managed a long sleep after.  Retrospectively, I have to admit it was fun though I needed more feel in colours and air brushing.  Anyway, it got done.  Yes!

The “show piece” was only for practice, we started working on it when the Culinary Institute had not fully recovered the power post Ike.  We will need to do one for the level 3 final in a couple of weeks.  I seriously need to do some work in air brushing. 

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Birthdays on Halloween ~

Posted on October 7, 2008 | 3 Comments

31 October means Halloween to many in US, back home in Singapore, Halloween does not hold significant meaning.  For me, it is One Special Day worth celebrating.

This year, I celebrate the birthdays of 2 Very Important Persons (a.k.a VIPs).

~

BK sent me his flight confirmation on Sunday before his overseas reservist to Darwin, Australia.  During one of our skype calls, I casually asked if he would fly to Houston before his business trip to Boston so that we can celebrate his birthday … Why not?  So now he is flying my way so that I can celebrate his birthday on 31 Oct.  How cool!  His reservist is from today till 28 Oct.  He had planned to leave Singapore for Houston on 31 Oct, Houston being 13 hours behind Singapore, he would arrive into Houston on 31 Oct afternoon, but SQ doesn’t fly direct on Friday.  So he rescheduled his flight a day earlier and now he will arrive into Houston on 30 Oct afternoon.  His meeting in Boston will start on Monday 3 Nov and his current schedule will see him arrive at the hotel around midnight ;0  So he will be with me in Houston for more than 1 day, it is effectively 3 days with the current schedule.  He left it to me to plan … will make it easy pace for him as his trip to Houston would have taken him straight from a 3 week reservist training to Houston and straight into 2 weeks of training before he visits me in Houston again for the week of my graduation.  He will leave immediately on the day after my graduation back to Singapore before another week of training in Phuket.  A hectic 2 months for him indeed.  He promised to be at home when I finally leave Houston to return to Singapore.  Time really flies … I have put aside my emotion to leave Houston soon at the back of my mind.  I have not planned for 31 Oct, still thinking … but if weather permits we would go for a picnic brunch on 1 Nov.  Back to nature, nice.

Then, on 31 Oct decades ago, another was born.  Joyeux Anniversaire! … ;p  Promise I will be good … ha ha ha.

Wishing both men Love, Joy and Great Fun … May Your Dreams Come True! 

…  Till 31 October 2008.

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Back to My Future

Posted on October 7, 2008 | 1 Comment

Bumped into Kimberly Evans this afternoon along the corridor at the Culinary Institute, she said to me “Send me your resume“.  I reminded her home and career location for me is in Singapore, she remembered that???  I was impressed, the first time we met was last Thursday in the resource centre where we were doing some research for buffet, she introduced herself, asked if we were to graduate in Nov and gave each of us a letter on assistance for career placement.  Then I had told her it may not apply to me as I am not looking for any position in Houston or US, she was open to international assistance as well.  Well that was it then, a super brief conversation and I wouldn’t even think she remembered me and what we spoke. 

“I didn’t know you give classes as well?” … Beg her pardon as as I “gate-crashed” her academic class looking for Jennifer to hand her her level 1 result, without realizing Kimberly was the instructor and was in the middle of lesson.  Her background was in Hospitality and Restaurant Management.

Anyway, I do have some ideas what I would like to do in future, at least in 4 year’s time frame.  In the mean time I build up my technical skills and financial resources.

Back in my apartment earlier, I updated my resume and stared at it long and hard, rather I thought hard.  I considered my background and my interests and here goes:

Career Objectives
 Be an asset in a dynamic environment to drive business success
 Apprentice with mentor chefs to advance personal technical skills in pastry arts
 Nurture and inspire continuity and growth in pastry arts industry in Singapore and regional markets

In my career, I aim to be an asset, to continuously advance myself in personal learning and growth, and be a positive influence to my circle.  This resonates with my life mission I had set in January … which led me to take drastic actions in my career and my life.  My Life Mission is to inspire and nurture lifelong growth in individuals through joy and laughter in learning.  I believe strongly in sharing positivities, I believe in bringing joy, smiles and laughters to my circle … not plain blind optimism.  I believe when one enjoys what one is learning whether through structured methods of instruction or pure awareness, personal growth and the circle of influence deepen.  It is perfectly fine to recognise and admit ”I don’t know” and get to know and understand, apply and make it a habit.

Whatever future holds, I hold the belief life is kind to all who give and receive.  I believe in a dynamic balance - while I focus on giving, I receive in more ways than one, and continuously.  That I am blessed.

Too philosophical?  I contemplate life a lot, I made my choices.

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Posted in About Me & Stuff, CIAML Special

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The Flavour of Home and Asia … All in A Day

Posted on October 5, 2008 | 2 Comments

Today I am going to be good and stay put in my apartment.  I am exhausted -

This morning BK woke me up at 8am, I had 5 missed calls.  I heard the rings but refused to answer coz I needed my uninterrupted sleep, then I thought I had better answer since it is so continuous in case it was a call from my family.  When I realised it was nothing urgent, I got really grumpy coz I really needed the sleep.  On the other end of the line, I heard some familiar voices, he was with my friends celebrating Claude’s and Miang’s birthdays at Waraku in Singapore, he had nearly forgotten about it himself and forgot to update me they were meeting up.  Claude was my schoolmate since we were 10 till 16, Miang was my classmate since we were 13-16 and also my ex-colleague at Serono … 3 of us were also part of the First Aid, Footdrill and Nursing competition squad of 5 with Katherine and Liane since secondary school … the few of us shared a close friendship for a long time since.  We make it a point since our 20s to meet up for everyone’s birthday and other important occasions.  BK asked me if I wanted a skype webcam call, … my gosh, I just woke up!!! ;( I freshened up a little and returned the call via skypeout, we spoke briefly as the call was a little truncated.

I have a couple of things to do today, stock up on necessities, do my laundry and do my homework.

Lastly, I was out for a whole day of food and more food yesterday, today I am really exhausted.  I would usually last the day better reading and nua-ing (ie. do-ing nothing, Chinese dialect colloquial) than out for a full day.

~  “Hawker Fare” At Bear Creek Park 

I was amazed at the activities at the park, I was also amazed there is such a nice park pretty close to where I live off 290/beltway 8.  Garren gave me a ride, he had earlier emailed a few of us from Singapore about the Hawker Fare 2008 organised by Malaysian Singaporean Association of Houston (MSAH).  I have only met Garren and David before and he would introduce me to other Singaporeans he got to know when he came to Houston since June.  During the drive into the park, there was a stretch of open air zoo – I think this is the first time I have seen a real Bison Bull or American Buffalo, the first image I had was from the children’s ABC music VCD which depicted B for Bison (gosh, I learnt B for boy).  Yesterday’s weather was perfect to bask in the sun, it was cool too.  It was atmospheric – there was a game of soccer on- going, family picnics, cycling, group activities in the pavilions etc.  I read that the park is about 31 sq km.  I did not see, but I read that “The park includes nearly three-dozen soccer fields. There are also scenic hiking and biking trails, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, picnic facilities and several pavilions that can be reserved. A Golf World annex offers three courses.” … also “There is a 2 mile paved jogging trail, lots of shaded picnic tables and grills along with the animals for the kids to see. The other side of the park has shelters and lots of trees…”.  We were to find Paviilion 6, from a distance we saw a huge pavilion with lots of people, that must be it. 

I was introduced to some Singaporeans and we decided to buy a few dishes to share.  We can’t really differentiate between Singaporeans or Malaysians – some are Malaysians who took up Singapore PR when their family came to Singapore to work in earlier years or they had come to Singapore to study, like BK.  Some have taken on citizenship of other countries but have families in Singapore.  Most of the Singaporeans I met in Houston are working in the energy sector.  According to Garren, Spore is the hub for oil and gas in Asia Pacific, #3 behind Houston then Dubai.

 ~  About Hawker Fare from Home

Food in Singapore is tasty, at least to me.  Sometimes the variation in Malaysia tastes better coz of stronger taste.  Singapore food is not particularly healthy but can be depending on the choice of food.  Most of us love fatty food like Char Kway Teow or fried rice noodle, Laksa or some sort of light coconut curry white noodles, Chai Tau Kway or fried savory radish cake – I love the black sauce type … Nasi Lemak which is Malay for coconut rice and some side dishes.  Once Izumi, my Japanese friend, visited me in Singapore and we went for hawker fare, she got sick from the oily food and needed to be put on drip, it was so drama … our diet was too different from the simple, low oil diet she was used to.  Dishes with lard are now replaced with vegetable oil, one can request for more veg etc.   So when I heard there is gonna be a Hawker Fare, I was tempted but was also skeptical since I don’t miss Singapore food that simply don’t taste like it.  I was more interested to meet up with fellow Singaporeans.

"Char Kway Teow" man John Lim & LindaThe food variety was pretty good at the Hawker Fare.  According to John Lim, vice-president for MSAH, who was the guy cooking the Char Kway Teow and wearing a black apron printed ”Danger Men Cooking“, other than a store that was operated by Banana Leaf Restaurant, the other stores were home cooks.  Some of them at the association tested the recipes before the actual day, including the Char Kway Teow we had.

Satay.  Meat skewers with peanut sauce.  This may be the Malaysian variation, the peanut sauce I had back home is a fine paste with no chunky peanut.  The dish is usually served with ketuput (rice in pandan leaves), cucumber pieces and onions (apparently to counter the carcinogenic properties of BBQ).  Chicken satays were sold out by half past 12.  Back home, I also like the lamb and beef satay, not so much the pork satay.  No all satays taste the same, I only buy satays from one particular store at Ang Mo Kio.

~  You look familiar?

“You look familiar…” …  In my mind, I was thinking, yah, I have a common face ;) “You were from SJC ?” …   Err, yes.  “You were a prefect?” … Err, yes.  My goodness, someone knows me from the crowd.  SJC = St Joseph’s Convent, the secondary or middle/high school I attended 20 years ago.  She is Lilian, the younger sis of my ex-classmate Vivian, and 2 years my junior in school.  “You lost weight? … you were from canoeing right?” … I clarified I only lost weight when I came to Houston, never really lost my muscle mass from canoeing days though I have shrunk indeed, I am the same height as she last knew me in secondary school ;[  Lilian is now in her 36 weeks of pregnancy and may deliver any time.  "Vivian will be here in 2 week's time..."  Wow fancy meeting an ex-classmate in Houston, when we didn't even bump into each other in Singapore.  So Singapore is not that small after all ;p  But it is a small world.

 

~  Next Stop, Panera Bread

Linda, George, Garren and I decided to go for coffee.  We chose Panera bread over Starbucks.  I don't fancy Starbucks after the various cafes I have been to in Houston, I have not been to a Panera bread outlet to sample their menu.   Linda and George are now Canadian citizens, they left Singapore in 2000.  Now home for them is in Pearland, with their pet Scottie.  Interesting, Linda is now teaching Maths at Regan High School at Heights area along 14th Str.  Time passed quickly, by the time we knew it , it was already 7 ... we decided to adjourn for dinner together.  

~  Next Stop, Dinner at House of Bowls @ Bellaire

~ A Yummilicious Dinner @ House of Bowls with Linda & George, David & Garren, and me.

~ A yummilicious dinner@ House of Bowls with Linda & George, David & Garren, and me.

Dinner at House of Bowls was the best Asian dinner I have had in Houston.  Not that I have tried many.  Eating out at Asian places, or even eating out, wasn’t in my original schedule at all, especially at outlets that served dishes that looked like food from home but I have to make do in taste.  The dishes here must be cooked by a Hong Konger, I think, the taste was stronger and more flavourful.  We ordered the following dishes - 1.  Prawn with spring onions, with rice; 2.  Stir-fried Hor Fun (flat noodles) with sotong (squids); 3.  Rice Cake, Korean style (but tasted more HK style) – I like this dish; 4.  Beef Ramen, Japanese style ( yummy beef slices, but soup base a tad too peppery); 5.  Cantonese Chicken Porridge.

~ Last Stop, Cafe 101 

A Taiwanese dessert place – I like Bubble Milk Tea with pearls or what may be known as tapioca pearls.  We have this drink in Singapore, but usually such outlet doesn’t open late like in Houston, here it opens till past midnight.

Enough activities to last a long while.

~ Oops, My Supper @ My Apartment …

It was past 12.  I wasn’t hungry but I decided to munch on the bagels I bought from Panera Bread.  Finished not one, but two bagels - one chocolate, one cranberry.  Nice.  I sure ate a lot for last 12 hours.

~ Cranberry Bagel and Chocolate Bagel from Panera Bread

~ Cranberry Bagel and Chocolate Bagel from Panera Bread

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Posted in About Food, About Me & Stuff, About Singapore, Day to Day

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