Transit City

For so many reasons, London just seems to be a transit city. So many people have called London home, but only for a small pocket of time in their lives. Some come, lured by the opportunities the City holds, others, to etch out a better living; Or, some, in possession of the choice to pursue higher education in this crazy, yet wonderful city I've called home for 3 years.

I'll never forget returning home from summer break and hearing numerous 'Oh, it's good to have you back' everywhere I went, from people from all walks of life. It felt so strange, yet so right. London was just that. A transit city. Yet, a transit city that people somehow find each other and form friendships that may or may not outlive the future geographical distance that might span between them.

I've found great friends during my three years here. Friends supportive of what I want to do (i.e. eat all the stuff I bake- successes and failures), friends who listen to my constant ramblings and friends who are there to hold me up when I've had a drink (or two) too many. And I do hope that geography will never take its toll.

But graduating from university represents my step away from my transit city. Small steps (since LCB means a few more months here). I guess its that moment of real adulthood beckoning, so enticing, so liberating, yet so scary. I'm glad mummy came.

Pictures: Graduation Celebration Dinner at Homage (The Waldorf Hilton)

Nobu with Mum ♥

Mummy's here in London! Went to the very acclaimed Nobu for lunch today after school and I really have to say that it did live up to expectations after all :) She had the spicy seafood udon which was pretty unusual while I had the bento box. I found a new favourite in the yellowtail sashimi which (I realised today) was pretty much massacred by the other restaurants that I frequent. The miso cod fish too, was in a class of its own - the marriage of all the flavours, steeped in some darn amazing marinade for 3 days was crazily yummy.

We shared the chocolate bento box for desert and all I can say is :):)



























































O! and I really had to take a picture of this. How cute is this!! If I ever drove a car, it'd be one of these for sure!

Meringues: Practical 2

Life's pretty much in limbo right now- waiting for the results (still pretty much the dialectic between 'tell me now' and 'ignorance is bliss'), waiting for my fairy job-mother to toss me some amazing job offer too good to refuse, waiting for the movers to come.

Waiting is very tiring.

But I like to think I live in the moment, for the moment- and to be finally living the dream I've had since forever is pure ecstasy. Started school at LCB 2 weeks ago and already testing various heating points of sugar and making meringues.

Yes, meringues. I never really understood how people just eat the whole blob of snow white composite. But, you know how sometimes, one defining moment can alter staunchly held convictions? YUP. the pairing of the piped meringues sandwiched by a layer of chantilly cream was tres tres yum.

The Elvie

So, back when I still had exams and all my flatmates were far done and happily going for afternoon teas at the Berkeley (yes. poor me), my flatmate came back one day with a little marzipan Alexander McQueen bag courtesy of the place. A quick net-a-porter check also became a reality check - at 974 pounds, I truly believe that was the closest I was going to get to the McQueen. Besides, the colour in marzipan looked a whole lot better.

But I do love the resemblance and it actually looked darn cute. And it being the closest I could get to a McQueen, I refused to chuck it in the bin (it was in my fridge for a good 2 weeks), until the same flatmate declared that it was either I ate it or he'd chuck it out.

Out it went, but I've now immortalised it.
Yay Me!

The Dark Side

I don't want to grow older.
Because I don't want to have to say goodbye to the people I love.

Dream and watch the world go by

It's a very painful feeling to have- knowing that the whole world can afford to laze on the grass while you know that while you can do that for now, you still have one more paper. The solitaire, set-way apart from the rest, the beacuse-the-admin-hates-history-students paper.

But of course, having a very hectic 3 papers before that, struggling to get the act together again and again, having various take-out meals over the past few weeks, I decided to just forget about the darn exams for the time being. To just eat well and not worry. To just dream and watch the world go by.

The Patisserie near my place dreamt up an ingenious idea- of packing tea sets in pretty bags, complete with maps of the gardens around our area. Picnic-ing without having to worry about what to bring- now, what's not to like!

The Orangery

I've heard rave reviews of The Orangery from one of the flatmates, who insists that it is a fantastic place for tea and can definitely hold its place amongst the giants right here in London. So, with the ever fickle weather ruining plans for an outdoor picnic, J and I decided that we should celebrate Pau's birthday at The Orangery!

You never really believe in love at first sight till you experience it for yourself. And I think now I'm a fervent believer. Everything made it perfect. From the charming maître d', to the unpretentious decor - simple, white and pristine, the pieces just fell in place!

And the cakes, oh the cakes. We had the traditional scone set, a banana walnut cake and a belgian chocolate cake to share. I don't believe I can ever feel the same way about cakes again.

So yes, I've finally moved on from my last obsession, to this new one. Double Yum.