Holy moly it is already mid-September!!! My blogging game has certainly not been strong of late, largely because work and life has been beating me within an inch of my life. Okay okay, that's a bit dramatic, but literally... there's just been so much going on lately that I feel like I hardly have time to breath.
Or am I just not utilizing time effectively? Hmmmm đ¤
So much has occurred over the course of the past two weeks that it's hard for me to encapsulate all of it within one feature. There was the start of school last week (epic), the sixteenth year commemoration of September 11, the beginning of Fall, the closure of a ton of adult-related financial admin that we needed to take care of for our imminent move, tons of reorganization at work, little man turning nine months and all the doctor visits and jabs that accompanied that...
For now, however, I just want to take a moment to breath, and enjoy a little night out on the town with hubs and some friends. We treated ourselves to an intimate night with Dale Talde and friends at the pop-up restaurant at Southstreet Seaport Lab! It was a lovely affair which I would highly recommend. The entire menu is completely curated personally by the featured chef (they do a monthly rotation). I knew Dale Talde from two seasons of Top Chef and felt confident that he would deliver. Boy did he ever!!! We were so full afterwards we had to do takeaways for both couples.... something that is almost unprecedented. In his own words, the menu was created as an ode to South Asian street food (an obvious choice given Dale's roots). "I've been up since 4am," uttered a very tired chef when he swing by our table. To that I doth my cap to him and say "Bravo Chef." đ˝đ
Glow-in-the-dark capri suns!! Childhood made better #ThursdayKitchen #EastVillage
Mapo Tofu with tortilla chips. Reminded me of our Chinese Food take-out in Ireland
Korean tapas here we come!
Happy Monday y'all!!!
It's been one heck of a month and life has been busier than ever. I have loads of updates for you, including a preview into our new home!!!
For now, however, this little mamma just wants to drink a little Capri Sun pouch, filled with glow-in-the dark Soju in the East Village with her girlfriends. Enjoying the moment, Korean tapas style.
We've all done it right?
If you haven't been to Thursday Kitchen in the East Village (424 East 9th Street), I definitely recommend you check it out (think of it as "New Korean" with French cuisine training). The seafood kimchi paella is absolutely delightful and the delicious cocktails simply speak for themselves! See the recent New York Times article review here. Plus, I think these guys are onto something here. Doesn't the weekend basically kick in right around Thursday? Or, as my girlfriend calls it, "Friday Junior?" That's when you start to see light at the end of the tunnel, am I right?
Deep breath.
Sometimes, what is simplest can also be the happiest. Plus.... how can I say no to spicy and flavorful mapo tofu and tortilla chips? đĽđĽđĽ
Some lovely sweets to cap off the evening! Simply perfection!!#ChefThomasKellermann #RelaisChâteaux #HotelBurgWernberg #KastellGourmet
Happy Wednesday!
For a little mid-week âpick-me-up,â I thought that Iâd share some of our recent gourmet indulgence in Wenberg-Koblitz, at the Hotel Burg Wernberg. The entire experience was right up there with our date night in Heidelberg (also in a castle would you believe! I guess that's Germany for ya).
Okay okay, so by recent I mean nearly a year ago when we ventured upon a Fairy Tale wedding in Germany for a dear friend â nevertheless, it was definitely one of the more impressive degustation experiences I have had to date, right at a Relais Chateaux hotel (which also happened to be a castle!) called the Wernberg Castlel. Everything was sheer perfection at hotel's two-starred Michelin Restaurant called the Kastell (aka Castle in German)... from the âMenu Kellermann,â a tribute to the Michelin-awarded Grand Chef Thomas Kellerman (who even came out and graciously greeted us at the end of our meal!).
You know that yours truly is always a fan of the delightfully unexpected â such as the lightly smoked pigeon with rhubarb celery and pecan nut⌠or, best or all, the grand finale â a beautifully crafted piece of chocolate soufflĂŠ with Szechuan pepper, whiskey ice cream, cranberries, pistachio, and ginger!!! Seriously the perfect balance of East meets West, and mouth-wateringly delectable. In fact, even as I type this, I canât help but lick my lips just a little.
Besides, who wouldnât want to stay at a Relais Chateux castle-hotel located in the heart of the Bavarian country-side in Germany? With plenty of that cherished old-world charm, itâs an easy distance from Munich and Prague⌠an absolute delight! Perfect for a little hubby-and-me time before we headed to the wedding festivities in Bamberg, Germany.
P.S. True story, leave it to hubs to then wake up at 6am to visit a nearby concentration camp. âItâs a historical site,â he explained. That it might be⌠but â well, mamma was basically approaching the end of her fourth month of pregnancy at that stage with baby #2 (see my elegant expecting series here), and would rather have her breakfast in bed, thank you very much!
Hereâs to more castles, gourmet destinations, summer travels, historical architectures, Michelin Grand chefs, and family holidays ahead! (Although these days itâs difficult to imagine a family holiday in the same sentence as a Relais Chateux/Michelin restaurant, as Iâve just put a five months old to bed for his second nap of the day, but mamma can dream!!).
Chocolate soufflĂŠ with Szechuan pepper, whiskey ice cream, cranberries, pistachio, and ginger! #nomnomnom
Sweetbread with sud of grapefruit seer wine tarragon and smoked potato cream #RelaisChâteaux #Michelin #Bavaria #Germany
A little post-gourmet digestif (plus some fire-side reads!) #DÊgustation #perfection #RelaisChâteaux #Michelin
As I get older, I find that nothing beats quality time with your girlfriends, I find it both inspiring and revitalizing! #GirlPower #InspirationalWomen
Check here for more of my thoughts on the Executive Chic-Look and Style Ă la Sheryl Sandberg
Well well, hello to you too Tuesday! It might still feel like the start of the week but believe me when I say.... I will literally blink and this week will be over!
Well, in answer to your question.... Arizona... in the valley of the sun right next to the great city of Phoenix, to be exact. I was there meeting some work colleagues at the tail end of March, and we decided to make it a ladies power lunch outing (plus Spa retreat!) out of the whole excursion. I've only been to Arizona once before -- years ago when a friend and I visited the Grand Canyon, but have certainly not explored the area that is Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surroundings. Let me just tell you, it is simply gorgeous! Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, for starters, is a top-notch boutique resort and spa (which had its origins in Tennis would you have guessed). Upon arrival (straight from the airport, we don't mess around!!), I was absolutely taken by the serenity and beauty of the property (part desert chic and part Silicon Valley savvy). In some respects the landscaping, decor, and overall vibe reminded me of my time in the deserts of Dubai and Oman (more on that another time), and in other respects the clean beauty and stylish simplicity of the area made me think of the Rosewood Sand Hill, in particular of my sunny lunch at the Rosewood Madera almost three years ago.
My dining companions were already sipping on bubbles and waiting for me (they had flown straight in from NYC and I from Naples, Florida) by the time I drove in (literally it's no more than a 15-20 minute ride from the airport!!), and we were quickly escorted to an outdoor table on the patio with the most breathtaking views of the Camelback Mountain. Glasses clinked, cocktails flowed, and the rest was history! Mamma had the fresh catch of the day and it basically disappeared in ten nano seconds). All was delicious, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how fabulous the desserts were. The last time I had this much fun chowing on sweets was at the Untitled at Whitney Museum with another group of girlfriends. What is it with us ladies and our desserts eh? Extra laps in the pool later to pay for our sins!
We even took a little tour of the kitchen afterwards (how could you not after such fantastic farm to table fare)? The pictures speak for themselves, and I can certainly see why this is a popular destination wedding and event spot with the beautiful and airy venue space.
All to say, now I just need to plan a return trip back to the hotel, pronto, this time we'll be sure to book one of their private, newly renovated and refurbished suites! After all, mama desperately needs another break.... I tell ya, life of the never-ending saga when you're caring for two little munchkins -- it truly is something else. As a friend recently puts it, it's literally like Groundhog Day! Good thing there are travel days like these to break up that torrid routine!!!
Now, back to dreaming of more sunny days with flowing cocktails, great friends, and beautiful views Ă la Paradise Valley.
Sigh.... Well it WAS morning when I started writing this post anyhow. This week has gone by in a giffy hasn't it! Tomorrow mamma leaves for Arizona bright and early, and I still can't get over how much needs to be done before my imminent departure (although truth be told I feel ultra lucky just to be getting away at all!). Hard to believe that this time last week I was flying back from my whirlwind visit in NYC before flying back to Florida. Incidentally we've been getting loads of questions re: when we'll be back to the northeast, and the answer is -- soon!!!! I can't believe that March is practically over and Spring is finally here! Really, where did the time go?
Also hard to believe that this time last year mamma had just wrapped up her crazy San Francisco, New Zealand, and Miami tour de force! In honor of all of that, and the Four Seasons (where yours truly will be calling home at the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North the next few days in sunny Arizona!) -- I'm walking down memory to the Four Seasons San Francisco (see I told you I'd be doing this quite frequently this month didn't I!)... where we enjoyed one very memorable luncheon right upon landing. Well, I had just landed the night before anyways, hubs and our big guy had gotten there a few days earlier, just following the Super Bowl!
I've always had a fondness for this particular Four Seasons in the Bay Area... Not only is it located on one of my favorite streets (on Market Street) in San Francisco (look all the way down and you'll see the iconic Ferry Building at the Embarcadero!), but it's also right next to the hustle and bustle of Union Square, where one of my besties lives (can you say, perfect crash pad?).
This was my second time dining at MKT (the first time featured here), and I just love the open windows and the fantastic views straight into union square. The food is prepared simply but deliciously -- always fresh ingredients with a local twist (very SF) -- and it is never super crowded or noisy for an enjoyable conversation. Can you also tell from the photos that it was Chinese New Year? Sure brings up great memories of our recent Chinese New Year celebrations right here in Florida! The year of the monkey to celebrate my little monkey. To think, I wasn't even pregnant with Baby #2 at that stage! (Though we were definitely working on it). So much has changed since then... it feels like a lifetime ago.
Well hello my lovelies. Despite my grand ambitions of writing each day of this week (ha! What was I thinking?), I only just managed to slide in for Sunday⌠which I hope you're all enjoying!
Over in downtown Manhattan, weâve been mostly shuffling from in-door activity to in-door activity due to the dreary weather. On top of that, our entire household has been feeling a bit down w/one form of sickness or another (call it the post-preschool blues). Little man kicked-off the trend last week, coughing straight into all of our faces, as toddlers do, and now weâve all got something. Yikes.
But onwards to happier days! This week marked our eight year wedding anniversary! Eight!!!!! Can you believe it. Somehow, the number 8 elicits more excitement for me than even the number 10, perhaps because eight just happens to be super auspicious among us Asians.
We were originally hoping to get away somewhere, but when it became too logistically challenging, we decided to treat ourselves to a fancy meal instead. Remember how we celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary at MASA? Well, this time around we decided to head right next door to Per Se (the irony was not lost on us).
In fact, Per Se holds a special meaning for both of us (me in particular), as that was where I had my bridal shower more than eight years ago (on August 23rd, 2008 to be exact!!). Iâll have to share some photos from that day on the blog sometime⌠it felt like ages ago. Which also reminds me, I'm super late in sharing our 7 year wedding anniversary trip from Woodstock! Sight... so much to do, so little time.
So whatâs it like being married for so long you ask? Ha.
In some ways, I feel no different than when we first met in 2005. I suppose thatâs a good thing, right? Amazingly (or is it alarmingly?), against all odds -- I still find hubs incredibly charming, handsome, and all in all a great laugh and super fun to be around (when he's awake that is). Of course, three whole years of parenthood has made us a bit more weathered and certainly infinitely more exhausted (and to think, we have another baby on his way to meet all of us in less than two months!).
Truth be told, if I were to pick any other partner in the whole wide world to share this adventure with, it would most certainly be him. What can I say? I've found my match. Sure, weâre not as spontaneous as we used to be (itâs all relative I suppose⌠gone are the old days when we can just pick up for the weekend and fly to Malta). That said, I think that we still lead a pretty special life, and more importantly â weâre actually creating MORE life together!!
Imagine that.
Happy weekend you guys⌠and I hope that you all tune in for the second presidential debate tonight. Iâve a feeling that itâs going to be a good one.
Nom nom salt and pepper wings!! I could have easily done with two orders #BEEtiful
Okay okay, so Iâll be the first to admit that I havenât been as on top of my food critic game as I would have liked to be â part of it attributed to being preggo for the second time around and thereby not as mobile as I'm accustomed to be, and the other part due to the everyday challenges of work and well, just chasing around a defiant toddler (who recently turned 3!), which can hold you back at the best of times, let alone during your third trimester.
That said, I recently went to a place called the Lucky Bee (right here in my own hood!) on 252 Broome Street and absolutely loved it. My girlfriend (@maragon25) actually introduced me to the spot (see NYT feature here), and I must say that my mood was instantly enlivened the moment I stepped into the resto â decked out in flamingo pink, with enough vibrancy and exuberance to uplift any measure of post-work duress in the name of Happy Hour.
The menu is very South-Asian Street-style, which I dig. If you arrive early enough (which we did), you even get half-off salt-and-pepper chicken wings, which were off-the-wall delicious. My other favorite was the betal leaf of crab meat with peanut & chili paste (w/a mix of cilantro and kaffir lime). Oh right, and letâs not forget the crispy pork belly buns and grilled squid w/sunchokes⌠OMG my mouth is watering already. Did I mention that the chef (Matty Bennett), was also previously at the Fat Radish?
While I loved the whole farm-to-table approach to Thai food concept, Iâm also a big fan of some of their fun and creative cocktails (of course, mamma mostly stuck with virgin, but itâs always fun to hold your own coconut in the middle of a work-week).
Bottom-line, I would definitely check this place out if you get the chance!! It was buzzing w/people when we were there last week, pun intended!
Oh, and I was so pleased to celebrate my girlfriendâs birthday before she headed off to Germany for Oktoberfest. Lucky gal.
Sometimes, the moon and the stars line up⌠and just when youâre schlepping your preggo-self to a maternity check-up, you get to treat yourself afterwards to an impromptu lunch at Sushi Yusada!!
This is one of those âpinch me momentsâ in life where I realize how lucky it is that I live in Manhattan â where I have access to such magical gems, and can actually just âswing byâ Yasuda that hope that they can seat me without a reservation.
Turns out â not only did they have a seat, but I got a great seat right at the chefâs table!!! Would you believe.
Aside from the uni (which was an obvious choice), yours truly also went with âebi matcha-ageâ (flash fried prawns with matcha green tea powder) and Chilean sea bass âdai-ginjo kasu-sakeâ (marinated in sake reduction), topped with eel, and followed by green-tea ice cream. Okay okay, so I might have gone a tad big overboard, but I figured, itâs not every-day that you get to eat at Yasuda!!!
Interesting side-note⌠did you know that they donât tip at Yasuda? Iâve only been here once (maybe twice) before, and I donât quite recall this concept. Talk about a win win!
Okay in truth, my obsession with mille-feuille aka mille-crepes, or crepe cakes as theyâre sometimes referred to, is not actually specific to pregnancy alone. It just so happens that a sweet-tooth is somewhat more justifiable (in my book, at least) when youâre seven months pregnant! (See my obsession here with all things cronuts and Dominique Ansel during my first pregnancy).
That said, the recent opening of the Westfield World Trade Center Mall, down where mamma's office is located, is truly dangerous with a capital D!!! For one thing, the entire third floor is now occupied by Eataly (swoon swoon! Weâll get to that later). Moreover... downstairs, there is now officially a Lady M Pastry CafĂŠ! Thereâs no sit-down space (unlike some of the other Lady M locations throughout the city), but just close enough for mamma to sneak in and grab a slice of cake when she needs a little sugar pick-me-up in the afternoon. #perfection
The word "mille," in French, means thousands, and mille-feuille/ mille-crepe, is effectively thin layers of crepe interspersed with crème fillings. I tell ya, whoever invented this savory confection is simply sheer genius, and I should also bill them for my inevitable trainer/juice-cleanse bills, but thatâs a whole other story! (Likely as a follow-up post baby).
For now⌠to quote the late and always entertaining Lady Antoinette, âlet them eat cake!!!â
Really, both were organic and seamless developments that have been a long time coming. If you follow us on Instagram, either on Rockshic, Rockshic Eats, or City Baby Dining, you would have definitely witnessed all of the above. However, if Instagram is not your thing (and letâs face it, I canât blame you, since I personally am still warming up to the idea of Snap Chat, I know I know⌠how technologically backward of me!), then this may be news for you and you might DELIGHTED to know about new developments of City Baby Dining abroad and Luxe Recess.
Nevertheless, what better way to kick-start both facets with an update from Windy Welly? I wonât lie, I still miss our beautiful abode â the dreamy penthouse on Evans Bay, and our idyllic lifestyle there. Sure we were both wretchedly tired and jetlagged, and munchkin was peaking in what could only be described as his âterrible twoâsâ⌠but now, looking back, and as the weather here in NYC is so gloomy and dreary, I canât help but pine after our halcyon days back in Wellington.
Plus⌠the fabulous eats! I forget the actual trivia, but I believe that per capita Wellington has something like the highest density of restaurants per capita of any major city we know, and I can certainly attest to this fact. Every day it seemed like we were on the brink of a new discovery, and Zibibbo is just one of many such culinary delights that I am happy to fill you in about. A couple of highlights from the evening â pizza from their wood-fired oven with fresh basil and mozzarella (a fail-safe combo in my book), Wairarapa lamb with spiced aubergine, Sicilian caponata, salsa verde, and pinor noir jus (yum), and Waitoa chicken (butter pochae3d with roasted cauliflower, Riesling lyonnaise, cauliflower tahnini topped with fried herbs). Okay I must stop because I am on the cusp of midnight snacking and we all know where that leads us to.
For more baby-friendly info, you can check out the full feature here on City Baby Dining (under our new â The Traveling Baby Diner section!). Until then⌠enjoy the pics and I promise to deliver better and more frequent updates of our culinary adventures on the road and overseas!!
Based in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Rock Shic is an excerpt taken from my personal lookbook of real people around the world. It is a combination of aesthetics, fashion, lifestyle, and travel. I also offer personalized Lookbook Consulting and Styling upon request. Please contact me at rockshic (at) gmail (dot) com. Services include: Wardrobe Analysis, Closet Organization, and Personal Shopping.
