My Ping in TotalPing.com

Jumat, 17 Juli 2009

Feast for the Senses...




Last week, we (aunts/uncles/cousins/grandparents/hubby/I) celebrated my maternal grandfather's 88th birthday. It was truly a fabulous time, and a Feast for the Senses!

My mom is one of nine brothers & sisters, and although she lives in Brazil, my aunts/uncles all live in Oz, as do my maternal grandparents. Growing up in Brazil, there weren't many 'Brazilians' of Chinese heritage, and I was often mistaken for a Japanese-Brazilian (Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan). So growing up I was not often exposed to Chinese culture, people and food (not like I am now). As previously mentioned, my family gatherings revolve around food, and lots of it...

My aunt's 'char siu' (Chinese barbeque pork - but a million times nicer than the kind you can buy from those 'roast duck/pork/etc' restaurants)

My grandma's 'famous' Yam & Belly Pork' dish (Chinese)

Uncle's Chickpea & Saffron Stew (US Food & Wine named him in the top 10 “hottest chefs alive”)

Uncle's (again) Roast Duck & Pork (Chinese) -


Grandaunt's Nonya (Malaysian) Zong Zi (glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves)

Stuffed roast pork

Another aunt's Sambal Fish (Malaysian)

Lemon Meringue - my cousin, who recently returned from her honeymoon in Europe, made this amazing dessert...this had us literally breaking into song...(well, one person, who shall remain nameless, haha)


My aunt's 'croquembouche' of red bean buns (Chinese with a Western spin),


Haha, how cute is that?

My aunt's and mom all (but one) grew up in England after they left Malaysia in 1969, so they are all heavily 'British-influenced'.

I didn't get time to take a picture of my outfit that day, but I may reprise it today/this weekend and take a photo...

www.style.com

Minggu, 12 Juli 2009

Mary had a little lamb...

its fleece was grey as...slush?

Last year I posted on my Spijkers en Spijkers Eileen Mohair coat, which I bought in both black & grey. In this cold & grey Winter, I am flogging it again, and feel like a (grey) wooly lamb when wearing it (a very warm and comfy one).

click to enlarge for details



Spijkers en Spijkers Eileen Mohair coat
Dries Van Noten patent grey wedge sneakers


Rabu, 08 Juli 2009

Fabulous weekend away...


We were greeted with homemade meringues & coffee at the Gourmet Retreat where we stayed overnight for a friend's amazing birthday celebration...


The gorgeous Gourmet Retreat had an 'Aspen' ski lodge feel to it, beautiful views of the vineyards, open fires & comfy lounges...

For larger/clearer (non-polaroid) pic - click HERE

For the drive, I wore my Chloe jewelled stripe top I've had for a few years, a pair of David Lawrence
navy wool man-style pants & Dries Van Noten patent wedges...


After a few amazing cocktails (made with homemade Lemon Curd) - we went to our rooms to get dressed for dinner. I wore my Rick Owens silk dress & beaded Dries Van Noten sandals.



www.style.com

i.e. the same outfit HERE (tried to poladroid it, but it cropped the shoes off!)


13 bottles of French Champagne (mostly vintage) + 1 magnum bottle of champagne + 1 Salmanazar bottle of a our friends' Flagship Shiraz (i.e. 9000ml or the equivalent of 12 standard bottles of wine!) + numerous Lemon & Basil cocktails (yum!) + 20 friends = fun! (not so fun the next morning)


Delicious 9-course degustation by chef Hogg...


Surprise
! What was a milestone birthday celebration turned into a wedding celebration, when our friends tearfully announced they had secretly gotten married the day before! There was squealing, tears, cheers & feet stomping (uhm, that was me).


The beautiful view certainly helped us nurse our hangover on the next morning, when we ate breakfast in the amazing retreat's kitchen


Vegemite = an 'Aussie' cultural icon, also a spread I just cannot eat


It was truly a perfect & amazing weekend...

Senin, 06 Juli 2009

My Dr Zhivago coat...


Art always serves beauty, and beauty is the joy of possessing form, and form is the key to organic life since no living thing can exist without it.

Doctor Zhivago
Chapter 14, Section 12

This 'fur' coat is undoubtedly my best vintage purchase ever. On my way between courts (in my law clerking days, 8 years ago), I decided (on a whim) to drop into a vintage store I had often seen but had never entered. Whilst scanning the kaleidoscope of colours within it, I found it, a diamond in the rough...I seriously cannot describe my excitement on seeing it, the soft large fur cuffs & collar, the big 'marbley' buttons, the body of the coat (I still don't know what it is, ponyhair?) was so soft, and the coat so heavy, and all in pristine condition. Best of all, I seriously could not believe the price, I think my fingers were shaking when paying for it, worried they would discover it was a mistake and demand more money from me...It was all of $60! I have dubbed it my 'Dr Zhivago coat'.


Vintage coat (shame my pics don't do it justice)
Marlova cashmere tank dress (not pictured)
Metallicus grey marle leggings
Chloe Silverado Wedges



J'adore these Chloe Silverado Wedges, and how delicate the wedge is from behind, beautifully sculpted so it's not too chunky:





How gorgeous is Plum Sykes in her Couture Couture coat? Such a cute outfit!

Chloe Fall Winter 2006