Red, White and Tippsy

I had so many stomach-churning moments at work this week that Friday couldn't come any sooner. For date night, S and I took the F to Carroll Gardens for dinner at Nightingale 9. We both love Vietnamese - in fact our first date, 9 years ago was at a Vietnamese restaurant. So while we anticipated Nightingale 9 to be less than authentic, we didn't quite expect to add chili sauce to every dish to bring about any sense of flavour. The only respite was a caramelised pork belly dish served with sticky rice - we licked that bowl clean!

Swedish Midsommar and Beautiful Friendships

Lat weekend was our first in the city since returning from Kuala Lumpur a few days before. A week on and I am finally over my jet lag - which I fear gets harder and harder to overcome as I grow older. While there seemed to be one errand after another to run, we squeezed in plenty of galavanting around the city. 

After work on solstice Friday, we celebrated Swedish Midsommar with a picnic in Battery Park City with close friends, Vanessa, Kate, and our families. First order of business was the meticulous making of flower crowns. While the photos may indicate otherwise, I have much to learn when it comes to the art of crown-making! Lucky for me, all was forgiven post a couple of glasses of O.P. Anderson aquavit:

The traditional Swedish maypole

Helan går

A Colourful Jaunt Through DC

We were in DC for Memorial Day weekend. I packed extremely light and colourfully - almost to a fault.

What follows is evidence that DC is so pretty, as well as that travelling with bright pieces can be a great alternative to sticking with neutrals. 

Brunch at Hundred Acres

Greetings from Kuala Lumpur!

I am back at my parents' place together with the fiance and my future in-laws to organise all things wedding-related for our nuptials later this year.

Wedding saree shopping yesterday was a success and today we continue trousseau accumulation with a visit to the jewelers. I am trying to instagram when I get the chance - mostly it's been all the good food I've been indulging in. since if there's anything Malaysians like to do best is eat - but I am attempting to diversify! 

If you've been following my posts there, you'd know of the mille crepe cake my brother surprised me with at an intimate dinner my parents hosted on the weekend. Which brought the birthday cake count this year to five! While I think that's way more cake that necessary for a 30-something, I am not shy to say that celebrations usually extend LONG past the actual day in my neck of the woods.

This year, it began on on my birthday eve with a lovely Sunday brunch in the enclosed garden room at Hundred Acres. 

No Ordinary Monday

Today's the 10th anniversary of my 21st birthday and I am eating cake!

From my Instagram

The fiancé surprised me at dinner last night with Momofuku's Birthday Cake - which is frankly the best birthday cake I've ever had.

I squealed when I saw it in the fridge - since the only other time I've had it is when I blew out candles on a gigantic version of it a year before:

While I have to be at work today, S and I will celebrate with a fancy schmancy dinner once I clock off. Even though this year's celebration is decidedly low-key, I am looking forward to a couple more birthday dinners with girlfriends this week - culminating with a trip home to Kuala Lumpur, where there will be more food, wine and cake.  Lots and lots of cake.

I couldn't be more blessed.

The Scent of Summer

For the last Friday of May, S and I had date night at another Jean George stalwart - ABC Kitchen. I reckon this place serves one of the best brunches in the city and I had been meaning to take S to dinner there for a long time. We strolled down there on that warm spring evening for a late meal. 

We started off with a plate of fresh ricotta with strawberry compote. While this is an appetizer, the inherent sweetness meant it could certainly pass for dessert. I am never one to say no to starting my meal with dessert - as long as we end with it too. Since we over-ordered, it took a bit of restraint to not finish off everything on the plate so we could doggy-bag a little with us. While not necessarily "fresh",  I can attest to it's deliciousness even a couple days on. 

NYC Social - June

I am a Gemini which makes June my favourite month of the year. I have been craving for a little bit of heat, which is here long last. All that warm weather deprivation makes me want to indulge that little bit more - more wine, more relaxing, more outdoor time and naturally, more shopping. If you are in NYC this month, here's how you can indulge too:  

1. Alvin Ailey at Lincoln Center: June 12 - 16

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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre will take up residence at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center this month for the first time in 10 years.  The acclaimed contemporary dance company will perform seven shows, which you can see snippets of here. When not at the Lincoln Center, the company performs its touring and regular season at the NY City Center. Purchase tickets for the limited run here.

2. Museum Mile Festival: June 12

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The only thing better than free museum entry is late hours AND free museum entry. From 6-9pm on the 12th, one can sample the museums along 5th avenue from The Met on 82nd Street to El Museo De Bario on 104th. The strip will also be closed to traffic - where there will be street performers and live music. Tip: the event only goes for 3 hours so strategise which museums to visit wisely. Visit the website for more information. 

3. Jazz Age Lawn Party - June 15 & 16 and August 17 & 18

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It's all about Gatsby this summer so dust of your flapper getup and art deco accessories for this annual shindig at Governor's Island. There will be plenty of jazz, prohibition-era cocktails and enough drop waist dresses to drive any 20s enthusiast into a frenzy. When you need to take a break from swing dancing, marvel at the array of vintage cars and stalls selling antique goods. This is a very popular event so get your tickets in advance here.