The Naked Grape, Pinot Noir

The Naked Grape - Pinot Noir, 12% vol. ($13.95)

Our first Pinot Noir grapes were these from The Naked Grape Wine (from California, USA); inexpensively priced and exclusively sold at the NTUC Fairprice.

The medium bodied red tasted more towards the sweet end than the dry; is rich with flavors of black cherry and blueberry, so much you could taste the fruits in the sip. It is really quite good, unless you preferred drier and spicier blend - then it would be their Cabernet Sauvignon, which we would love to try next.

This Pinot Noir brew garnered several Gold Awards between year 2011 and 2013, including some Pinot Noir of the Year award. Worth giving the bottle a try.

Saboten, 勝博殿

Tenderloin Katsu ($24++)

Salmon Katsu Set ($22++)

Saboten pride itself of being the "Best Tonkatsu Restaurant in Singapore". Well, maybe yes, maybe not. We can't help comparing the meal with Tampopo's Black Pig Loin Tokusen which we missed - and we were adamant that no pork beats that of a Kurobuta.

That aside, Saboten is a winner with their Tonkatsu sesame sauce that compliments the breaded pork cutlet remarkably! Top-grade sesame seeds are served, surely. Quality miso soup for free refill too.

The partially cooked salmon drew me with its pinkish hue, but it only goes with their chunky Tatar sauce, not with their Tonkatsu sauce. So for the benefit of having the Tonkatsu sauce, my next order here will be a pork cutlet. Am adamant about this too.

Lee Kui (Ah Hoi) - the Specialties

Fried Platter ($50++)

(Popiah, Fish Tofu, Crab balls, Pork and Liver roll)

Back to 李貴 for some of their Teochew specialties as we felt their Chinese New Year's menu fails to exhibit the kitchen's full potential - we left the last dinner with a little sense of lost.

Tonight's snacking session on 4 of their signature dishes proved rewarding, and i would really recommend their Yam Ring - it is a masterpiece; the best that i had.

 Teochew Chilled Pork Jello ($25++) 

Oyster Omelet ($25++)

Yam Basket ($28++)

JCO Baby Donuts

J.Pops Baby Donuts, 2 dozen ($13.10)

Someone stole a bite, before Ric could take this shot; the colorful tray can be quite tempting, yah?

Just when i'm getting pukish over the cloying effects from full-sized donuts, JCO baby donuts came round and savage the ruined relation. Remembered my first bite of JCO with repulsion, while Ric stood by in apprehension.

"... ... ... Yah. Nice! Can buy. I like it! Not that sweet and heavy; it's really quite nice!"

So this shot is taken of our second purchase from JCO; and i am so into donuts again.

About Time (2013)

About Time Official Trailer

It's Valentine's Day and i want a romance story. Been a long time since a movie touch me; so much i want to pen it. And very rarely, a British production.

About Time is a well-acted and written story about time-travel, family and love; but doesn't make you wish to travel back in time to change your life. Think you want to relive any moments to make your life perfect? The movie simply inspires you to "Try to live everyday as if it's was the final day. My extraordinary, ordinary life." Some imperfect moments too, can be beautifully memorable - being drenched by strong wind and rain at your outdoor wedding...

If there's an opportunity, i would love catching this again - the second half of the philosophical movie, actually. The original movie soundtracks are nice too, listen to them here.

Valentine's under the Moonlight

Bandstand at the Singapore Botanic Garden

I would theme this as a romantic evening.

In the natural setting of the Singapore Botanic Garden while being serenaded under a moon lit sky by the sweet singing from Wendy Chin, the "Karen Carpenter of Singapore"; music accompanied by Jordan & Friends - this is my idea of Valentine's Day.

Bergerac Chateau Le Fournier Red Gutes 2009, 13% vol

Simple meal; a red bottle. A little wind moves the cloud and the moon sees us... By the light of the moon, we cuddled up to chat, or sway to the melody of "Top of the World".