Lasagne (Chef Massimo’s mother’s recipe)

They had debated for weeks whether to put this on the menu as it might be “too simple” of a dish. But alas, the simple things are always the best, and what better than his mama’s recipe. His exact words were “If they don’t like it, they can f*ck themselves”. And that’s why I love him!

My other highly recommended dish (I always order on the corporate card) is the Bistecchina – Seared fillet of beef medallions with wild rocket leaves, shaved Reggiano and lemon dressing.

And who can forget our favorite part of the meal? Dolce!

Chocolate fondant with banana ice cream and dried coconut.

Need I say more?

With the opening of the members only pool club, it makes people watching more entertaining than ever!

Of course I’m a member, darling.

It was a crisp, sunny Saturday afternoon. You could sit by the window alcove with the weekend papers and watch the world go by without a worry in the world, and every once in a while our dreamy-eyed waiter David will stop by for a friendly chat.

The tarts were exceptional – the menu done by Greg Burge (ex Aqua Dining and Rockpool catering), the layers of pastry so light and buttery, incredibly flaky when you bite into it, accompanied by sweet flavours such as caramelized onions and fig. The pizza was mediocre, it would’ve been better if it were prepared fresh upon ordering. The salad I loved, with my biased opinion because fig and prosciutto are one of my favorite combinations of flavours. The polenta muffin was very special, and a god-send to anyone with a wheat allergy – the texture was crumbly but the favours were sharp and the saltiness of bacon perfectly well balanced.

Tart of caramelized onions, fig and walnut

Prosciutto, fig and walnut raddichio salad

Gorgonzola pizza with olives

Polenta muffin with bacon & cheese

And on the house from our favorite waiter: Pear, honey and hazelnut mousse cake – just delectible, David.

How Saturdays should be – now if only I could pair this with a glass of Louis Roderer rosé…

Robuchon a Galera at Hotel Lisboa – Joel Robuchon being one of my favorite chefs… this was one of the places I couldn’t wait to try! A lot of friends have commented that this restaurant is much better than its Hong Kong counterpart (which is probably over-trendy with less focus on the food).

Warm egg cocotte with spinach, truffle and parsley toast, Chicken soup jelly with Fois Gras, Onion tartin with Sliced black truffle

Papilotte of silver cod with black truffle and baby artichoke and leek - cooked to perfection in a paper bag, cream sauce dressed at the table, and the flesh of the fish just falls to the touch of the fork. mmmm

The mille feuille (my favorite dessert of all time) with very fresh pastry and vanilla cream, the floating island with chestnut ice cream

The Peninsula Spa

“Exclusive poolside lunch featuring Naturally Peninsula light and healthy cuisine” – Poached salmon in vegetable broth

H One @ IFC

Steamed White Asparagus, Italian “Sunny Side Up” Egg, Shaved Parmesan, White Truffle Oil

Agnes b – Le pain grille

High tea set – very cute, relaxing environment perfect for a girly chat over a hot cup. I went with my grandmother!

Da Domenico -10 Hysan Ave, 10-12, G/F Sunning Plaza, Causeway Bay

Their famous Lobster linguini – to die for. A cute trattoria styled Italian restaurant I visited with my boss. I snapped this photo during his smoke break!

Ingredients:
Silken Tofu (ready to eat out of the pack)
Wakame (soaked)
Corn Kernels
Edamame beans (boiled and shelled)
1 tbsp Soy or Tamari
1 tsp Mirin
1 tsp Rice vinegar
Yuzu and Japanese sesame dressing (Drizzle to taste)

For some reason I totally forgot to add my edamame beans into the salad before I left the house yesterday morning. You should also add bonito flakes and toasted sesame seeds for added texture. This is very quick to prepare before running out of the house in the morning.

Oh… by the way, my diet’s going quite well! I can fit into my pants again!

The Corn and Basil soup from Plan B by Becasse today, was AMAZING, and only $5 for a large bowl!

I also bought the Coronation Chicken Sandwich, and the BLT for my colleagues. They both said it tasted amazing, but I wasn’t quick enough with the camera before it was both wolfed down. (so it’s got to be good!) Sandwiches are $8 each. (photo link here)

Plan B are best known for their Wagyu Burgers – but alas, not part of the current diet plan, girlfriend!

In December the Merivale Group CEO Justin Hemmes will open his new pleasure precinct called Ivy – $150 million worth of bars, restaurants, pools, nightclubs, retail and ultra-exclusive hotel suites covering three city office blocks in the Sydney CBD.

The Ivy will have a pool surrounded by outdoor bars, a couple of nightclubs, a day spa, ballroom for 1000, teppanyaki grill, sushi train, burger bar, wine bar and deli, Italian restaurant and more bars. The entire ground floor will be retail outlets and two laneways will divide two buildings.

Two purpose-built party penthouses will occupy the top and penultimate floors of the five-storey building at 320 George Street. Each will be 350sq m, with staffed cocktail bars, a pool, spa, lounge room, dining area, bathrooms and bedroom – all for a cool $4000 to $5000 a night.

Being Asian I have been typecasted to work in the Japanese restaurant wearing a [slutty] kimono styled dress of some sort. Perhaps I can pretend to be Japanese at the same time, since most customers think I’m from Japan anyway!

I was serving Tara Reid and didn’t even know it – I mentioned to someone that the ‘old woman’ I was serving looked strangely like a very old version of Tara, only to find out that it WAS Tara. Check out this photo of her arriving at Sydney Airport! Makes you think twice before you party til dawn.

Other Celebrity Sightings of the week: