I know.. i'm as surprise as everyone that i'll been sitting down, and writing this...! But i figure a summarize posts has been customary since we started this blog, regardless of how empty and lonely our blog has became.
So here's to filling the blank for the many months of us missing in action!
I know we’ve stopped writing for so long, but so did half of the floggers out there, I notice. Why? Is it because there is a lack of interesting restaurant of late? Is it because everyone is so busy with their lives that blogging suddenly takes a back seat? Quite the contrary I have explored quite some amazing new restaurants in KL lately, there’s no denying that competition gets stiffer in town and stiffer means better for us consumers, but not so good too for us restaurateur. So… depends how I want to look at it.
With that aside, what have Augustdiners been up to? Ever since we’ve stopped blogging for some time, we were quite surprise that some people recognize us as Augustdiners (I mean, wow…and we are just no-bodies in the food blogging world)
So many exciting experiences/journeys/happenings this year, I would like to say that it’s an amazing year for me. Of course I wished to accomplish more in life, of course I want to be that much richer, at least in line with the economy inflations and country growth, of course I would have loved to contribute more to voluntary works and charities, or maybe find the right guy, get married, have babies like what most of my friends seems to be doing right now. But well… I shall leave all these to year 2013.
Friends of mine would know that I love travelling to bits. And I had a good opportunity to do so this year (and still not burnt all my annual leave yet! Amazing isn’t it?!)
1/Me in Singapore TWG
2/ Was here for a friend's hens party!
3/ I love Cocotte's French Bistro with live jazz/bossanova band concept! Food is up-to-par too, located in Wanderlust hotel.
4/ Of course there is the customary photo with the MBS
5/ Got a table @ 1altitude for an easy night out with Amazing 360* view of Singapore
6/ There was also butters that was pretty cool fun. Brought in some props for photo-sake
7/ How i wish we have such huge belvederes in KL!!! Or do we? I hardly club nowadays i'm totally out of touch
8/ It's also the first time i've participate a hen's night with guys as well. But the bride insist as these were her very good friends.
Then it was TOKYO, group of friends planned this trip for months only to almost cancel it few days before the trip due to the worry on the radiation effect having to hear lots of stories around us. We only decided to go ahead 2 days prior the trip, and im glad we did. One couple actually backed out, another decided the very last minute and surprised us at the airport lounge! It was all very funny thinking back how we consulted many sources to ensure it is "SAFE" to visit. I.e. 2 embassies(singapore+ Malaysia)- my friend didnt trust Malaysia info too much, many online forums, and even consulted one of the editor in a newspaper.
Many articles were circulated within our japan crews and much discussion of to go and not to go... *roll eyes*
I never get sick Japan. If you get the opportunity, do visit japan and experience their 4 seasons, as each season has its own beauty and lovely weather! We have a friend who studied there, and loves food, so naturally she knows all the best places to eat so we left it to her hands
This place serve some really amazing Gyudon!!! I'm not joking! First thing i want to have when i return to Tokyo would be this for sure (after ippudo ramen that is! which is also a must must try!! Go to the one at roppongi, it opens till late, like 5am)
Can i also mention that Tokyo is a shopping wonderland!! Especially GINZA *swoon**
I was in Shiseido with my friends @ Ginza having fun trying on some make up.
by trying I meant it not in the sense of trying on make up on your face. This white ipad-like technology allows us to tap in the code we want, and they will automatically sense and apply it on your face at all the right places (on the screen!) It's an eye-opener. In this photo, im using a pinkish red lipstick and light blue eye shadow
Located in Shibuya, Omotesando Ukai Tei is pretty well known for their teppanyaki, probably because it is a michelin star restaurant. Do you know that Tokyo surpass Paris with the most michelin-star rated restaurants (the paragon of restaurant awards in the culinary world)?
Us waiting for our seats
Kobe beef, noms!
My lovely food lover friends
And then there is this controversial 3-Michelin Star rated restaurant, Ryugin. There has been great comments about them as much as the negative ones. Myself i was a bit dissapointed as i came with high expectations. There were definitely some hit and some misses, many dishes maybe slightly too experimental out of my comfort zone
But no one can deny of Chef Yamamoto's brilliant and famous Minus 196 degree celcius candy apple. It's absolutely mindblowing, whimsical, and a delight to look at and i just cant get it out of my mind.
Just very delicate with it as my friend my gleefully holding it up for pictures, the apple came crashing down and fell on the floor =.=
Fellow friends
Us @ a Ramen Shop.
One negative thing about travelling in a large group in Japan is the difficulty in finding the restaurant of our choice to fit all of us in. A lot of good restaurant only cater up to 7-10 pax. Bearing that in mind, we've booked these restaurants 1-2 months in advance.
When in Harajuku, one must have these crepes!
It is also in Tokyo i've discovered the most amazing gelato!! Grom is origin from Turin from Italy. Even Sarah Jessica Parker agrees. Can someone pleaseeee bring this in to KL, i'll be your best best friend :)
BALI was a super impromptu trip with my siblings. I've written a few entries about it such as our comfortable Annora Villa and Naughty Nuri which serves pretty finger licking good pork ribs as well as the really cool Potato Head Beach Club. It's a pity we didnt get to explore more of bali's cuisine as it was just a weekend trip. Sunlight, Breezy Beach, and Good Food- something we could never said no to.
P.S. sorry i meant to finish this post by first week of the year, but *sigh* what do you know, it's already 9th day of the year and i'm still on part 1.
Coming up.. my other travelling trips to sabah, bangkok, guangzhou, x'mas in paris, switzerland, germany, amsterdam, holland and new year's in london and many others. All which i can't wait to share, please stay tuned to part 2!!
