Wanderlust

Less than 24 hours to my first paper for finals and I'm already teetering on the brink of insanity. Coupled with a slight wanderlust that sees me reading online itineraries and dreaming about my Christmas holiday.

8 days till the semester is over.
18 days till I'm out of the country for a well-deserved break.

And also I have plenty of books to read.

Till then! Snuggling up with my books
Zhujun

Okay Not To Be Okay

Sometimes, I start off the day on a really good note. And then some random and probably insignificant incident comes to ruin everything, leaving me feeling like some deflated balloon.

Need to start getting my act back together again.

I hate having expectations because I can never manage them properly. Sometimes I feel like maybe I'm not cut out to deal with people because I always pin my hopes too high. Maybe I should just live in a hole :/

Parco Cafe

Some random outfits over the past week or so!

First time wearing my heart-backed dress teehee

My favourite outfit for school! Wish I could wear it everyday!

 Top: Denim tie top from Bangkok.

 Bottom: Aztec gradient bandage skirt from ASOS. 

Bag: Satchel from Bangkok. 

Added a cutesy moustache! My bag can haz moustache!!!

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Met up with my favourite girl for our monthly dates on a Friday night. I love nights like this when each of us take turns to bring the other restaurant/cafe explorin'! I love feeling like an explorer teehee!

This time Celes brought me to a nice cafe tucked in a corner at Raeburn Park. It was so difficult to find, especially in the dark. So I would suggest you take a cab into the estate unless you want to walk up an appetite! Reservations were made beforehand so we were ushered in with minimal waiting time.

The set up of the cafe was BEAUTIFUL! It was designed to look like a glass house, with glass ceilings, full length windows and even carpet grass! I felt like I was going for a picnic! I heard that it looks even more stunning in the day, so I will be visiting again. (psst, their brunch menu looks really tantalising. Think Truffle Eggs Benedict!)

Pretty date for the night. Meet my bestgirlfriend/confidant/dreambuddy/travelbuddy! I LOVE YOU!

While deciding on our entrees, the staff served us bread and dip. Was really surprised when they came carrying a paper bag on a plate. The waiter open the bag and small puffs of steam came out from the bag. Such a cute presentation. The bread had this amazing cake-like texture and we really loved it. The dip was special too. They gave us the usual vinaigrette/olive oil, as well as laksa dip! It went amazingly well with the bread. 

I really appreciate it when restaurants are meticulous with tiny details like the quality of bread served. It really builds on to the climax which are our main courses.

We ordered 2 mains, a drink and a dessert to share.

This drink cannot be found on the menu and I really cannot remember its name! But I think if you mention about the 'secret drink' to the waiters they'll be glad to tell you! 

I have never seen SO many pieces of fruit in a glass of drink, they were really generous in making it. It made me so happy just looking at it :D

Pizza Parco

Tomato, Mozzarella, Parma Ham, Hoshimeji Mushroom

and Black Truffle

$22

 We were slightly disappointed when we saw that they didn't serve truffle fries (Me and C's latest obsession), so when we saw this item, we couldn't resist!

It turned out really nice! I like how the taste of truffle wasn't too overwhelming and we could still taste the balanced saltiness of the parma ham. The crust was a tad bit too hard those, I was so afraid my knife would hit the plate really loudly.

Mezzelune di Wagyu

Homemade Braised Wagyu Beef Cheek Half-moon Ravioli

served with Taleggio and Demiglace Sauce

$24

We were fooled by the description on the menu, thinking it would be served in a well-sized portion. We  couldn't stop laughing when the dish arrived with 6 tiny parcels of ravioli. Okay, most of the time I was laughing at C's shocked expression.

That being said, this was THE highlight of my meal. The tiny parcels really pack a punch! Its amazing how the little pinched of beef inside the ravioli can contain so much flavour! If you're a beef lover like me and aren't afraid of the rustic, beefy taste, this dish is made for you!!

Parco Caffe Tiramisu

Classic Italian Lady Finger Tiramisu, Kahlua Liquor and Mascarpone

$12

We ended of our meal with a lovely tiramisu. We wanted to try their highly raved creme brulee but sadly, they don't serve it anymore. The tiramisu did not disappoint though! I hate how some tiramisu's taste like a boring old chocolate cake. But this one was done nicely, perfect balance of coffee liquor, cream and cake. LOVE it.

Le satisfied portrait.

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Rushing out my backlog of readings, I hate being laggy on schoolwork:(

Random picture of ECP supper with my lalachutchutgonggong gang one random night. I love random supper eat-outs

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Luv,

Zhujun

Today a friend made me laugh, a few times. It made my day.

A couple of days ago, I was feeling a bit down because things weren't going my way. Many circumstances weren't in my favour and I was feeling a bit dejected.

I think it takes inspiration to keep me on my feet. Most of the time I find this inspiration from reading. It helps clear my mind and gives me my drive. I read about all the things that were out there for me to explore, and I didn't want to be restrained by all the negativity in my head. There are so many things out there waiting for me to complete! Maybe that's why I've been feeling an empty void in my chest. Because there wasn't any drive left in me.

Now I've found it back, everyday has been something to look forward to.

Little things that I previously would have overlooked because I'm so caught up in my little cloud of depression, these little things can make me feel so happy throughout the day.

I want to hold on this passion and drive.

Luv,

Zhujun

Stretchy-wetchy

My hell of a long day is finally over!

I swore my heart nearly missed a beat when I realized I filled myself to the brim with things to complete/attend.

A full day in school starting at a ridiculous (and probably should be made illegal) 10.00am. Which meant that I had to crawl out of bed at 7-freaking-a.m. As if that's not enough, the weather was being annoying chilly. The perfect sweater/stay-in-bed weather >:( Right after classes, had to rush down to Caldecott for tuition, because we all now how packed A2 buses can get. SOOO satisfied when I got a seat. I walked all the way to the TH bus stop so that it wouldn't be too squishy:) Then after tuition, rushed home for a quick dinner (annoying soggy Nasi Lemak!) and then rushed to my driving lessons.

WHAT A DAY!

Couldn't have made it if I didn't get coffee from The Deck.

On the way home from tuition, I met an old friend from Chung Cheng who was just coming home from NS. We talked the whole trainride back. I think sometimes when you suddenly reconnect with people you haven't met in a while, you start becoming a little self-reflective. As though everything was left from where the 2 of you last met.

We were talking about University admission interviews, which reminded me of how I screwed up my SMU interview a year ago. Needless to say, I got rejected. HEART SHATTERED!

On the point of interviews, I plainly suck at them. Sometimes when friends bring up examples of interview questions, I amaze myself with the things I can come up with in my head. But when it boils down to being seated infront of a panel of interviewers, my mind is a blank sheet and I'm reduced to a nervous, blabbering idiot.

Spontaneity does not work well with me. And especially since I can't really handle speaking confidently infront of a stranger. I'm no stranger to my own mind, but placed outside of that, I look like I cannot form opinions of my own.

This is bad. This is bad because I know how this is going to reflect badly on me in the future. It's not like I don't want to change the way I present myself. It's not like I choose to camouflage into the surroundings. Its just that I'm so comfortable with the idea of taking the backseat that it becomes so difficult to make the effort to stand out, to project myself. Then again this is all about stepping out of my comfort zone. I'm going to start with baby steps and hopefully something will grow out of this.

Really have no idea why I'm writing all of this down. It's just for today, it's annoying the crap out of me. Too tired, meh...

Choupinette

Weekends are make for brunch. There should no more compelling a reason to leave your bed.

I love brunch!

There is nothing more enticing than the idea of having breakfast when you should be doing lunch. Brunch in itself is a cheeky rebellion of whirlwind weeks. Let's have breakfast at 2.p.m just because we can :)

The thought of enjoying a quiet afternoon sipping juice/tea, digging into runny yolks, the scent of fresh bread contrasted with cold slabs of butter. Nothing could be better than this.

Brunch is special to me. Brunch is therefore labelled as reserved quality time to spend with the people I love.

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I read many positive reviews of Choupinette (especially for their Eggs Benedict!), and I happen to past by the place everyday to school so I was really looking forward to trying the place out. So during the summer break, I met up with Shermaine (Ruffly!) for a brunch date. The cafe struck me as unpretentious and warm. I felt like I was eating at a friend's house. I loved the baskets of fresh bread that hung from the walls. For me, the ambience of a restaurant is as important as the quality of the food served. Dining is an experience of the senses.

What made me happy when I saw menu was that 2 drinks were included in every set! Meaning juice + coffee/tea. I have this annoying habit of finishing my drinks even before my meals arrive. They are psychic, I like!

We ordered an Eggs Benedict and The English Coq to share.

I had very high expectations of this dish and it didn't disappoint. Though Ruffly felt that the Hollandaise was a tad too sour. The crux of this dish, in my opinion, (besides the egg getting poached properly) is having the English muffin/bread that sits under all that glory, remain crispy. They got that one right!

I wasn't impressed with The English Coq though. The bread was lovely. But the butter that came along was measly, so Ruffly and I had to ration it among ourselves. The scrambled eggs weren't moist the way I like it. I feel that getting the right consistency for scrambled eggs sometimes require more skill than poaching an egg. The redeeming factor of the dish was perhaps the sauteed mushrooms. They were flavourful.

Had some space left in out tummies for dessert! Ruffly was really excited, especially since she's a pretty good baker herself. Even before we ordered out main dishes, she was already eyeing the dessert display :)

Ruffly got the Lemon Meringe Tart for herself. She was disappointed though, because the sourness was too overwhelming. But the browned meringue on the top was so pretty!

I got a Creme Brulee for myself and I loved it!

I love the sharp snap when the back of the spoon cracks the hardened caramel. Its a yummy sound!

Although I really want to come down again to try the other items on their menu (The Eggs Royale on the table beside us looked so goooood!), but Ruffly and I have another brunch date to Prive and I can't wait :D

Great food and luv!

Zhujun

Baked Chicken Breast Meatballs

The new school term has started and we're just about into our 4th week now. Its abit hard to say goodbye to freshman year but then again there are so many new experiences that I'm looking forward to. I'm so glad that school has started.

Summer break has been a refreshing one. Met alot of new people from all the activities that I joined. Mainly Arts Camp Committee, Arts Bash Committee and Temasek Hall Orientation Camp as an OGL. I still feel strangle mingling with new people but I think I'm slowly getting the hang of it and starting to warm up abit faster to them. I know its weird that at the age of 20, I still struggle with meeting new people.

I know I've been going on and on about how the break would be spent cooking up a storm in the kitchen, but being the Queen of Procrastination plus my family doesn't have a maid to clean up after me, it's so easy to make excuses to not cook.

I think this was sometime in July when I was on a healthy-streak. I refused to eat outside food because (blushes) I wanted to fit better into my new clothes from Bangkok and outside food as we know, is unhealthy. I came across this recipe from Blogilates (I think) for baked meatballs, so I thought "Why not?"

Easy peasey! Just dump grounded chicken breast, salt, a whole lot of herbs, dry oats and mix them all up!

I had so much fun moulding them into little balls. It was like playing 'masak-masak' when I was little, just that I can actually eat the end product! Oh and do remember to lightly coat the tin pans with olive butter so that they won't stick!

I made so much extra that I brought them to LICK for lunch. Finished them off with a glass of yogurt drink and a slice of watermelon:)

They turned out rather well, despite not adding any oil whatsoever. But it being chicken breast, the meat was a tad bit dry. Oh and it tastes really good with Tobasco sauce!

Enough is never enough, and thin is never thin enough.
I know my friends judge me when I refuse to eat rice or fried stuff. But yes I am frivilous like that hehe.


I'll try to keep up with my backlog when I get through with my readings.
Have a great week ahead!


Luv,
Zhujun