Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Corner View - Rain


Courtesy of Mr. Paradis and the good people of Singapore.


As you all know I am congenitally averse to inclement weather.  Whether actual or virtual.  So this was the ONLY picture on this subject that I was able to dig up.  And no, the young lady was not hiding her eyes because of the relentlessly pounding precipitation, but more to conceal herself from the prying I-lens of a certain foreign interloper.

Stay dry and stay warm Chicos!





Find more Corner Views:  jane ian - bonnie - joyce - kim - kay -trinsch - ritva - francesca - state of bliss cabrizette - isabelle - janis -kari - jgy - lise - cate - otli - dorte - b -sophie - mcgillicutty - sunnymama -daan - ibb - pienduzz - kelleyn - ninjasammi - theresa - cherry b - juliette -shokoofeh - cole - grey lemon -lucylaine - lynn - skywriting - anna -dorit - conny - l´atelier - kamana -anne marie - rosamaría - victoria -tikjewit - juniper - annabel - andrea -valerie - merel soisses - mlle paradiscacahuete - wander chow - barbara -emily - tally - nadine - matilda - don -flowtops - susanna - tania - dana -ingrid - tzivia - mezza - lollipop - mari


Monday, November 29, 2010

Books Good Enough to Eat: OTTOLENGHI



I don't really need to say alot here.


The pictures say it all.


Yotam Ottolenghi has a small but excellent chain of "deli's" in London.  I have only ever been to the  one in Notting Hill.


The food is heavenly.  Impeccably light and fresh.  And FLAVORFUL.


These photos come from his two cookbooks, "Plenty" (Pics, Jonathan Lovekin)  and just,


Ottolenghi.  (Pics:  Richard Learoyd)


Wasn't I right?


No need for words.


How happy could you make someone at Christmas?   VERY VERY HAPPY!

(Read more about Ottolenghi's recipes and books here, here, and here!  And check out the website and beautiful blog here.)




Sunday, November 28, 2010

Beginning at the Beginning - Book Week


Hi Everybody!  How was the weekend?  How was Thanksgiving?  And following on from my last post, are you ready for Christmas?

Me, honestly, not at all!  I was so not ready for Thanksgiving and of course, here in L.A. we are not getting any of the usual "signs of the season" weather-wise.  Despite apparently record cold and wind, our skies have been crystalline clear by day and luminous.  (Sigh!)  The mild weather and the light I am exceedingly grateful for, since as some of you know, I am not a fan of cold and gloomy weather.  But I digress.


This week I'm going to do a series of posts around books.  We hear more and more these days that what makes us human beings truly "happy" is not so much THINGS really, as EXPERIENCES.  So since we're all thinking about giving THINGS and creating happy experiences at the moment, what better than a book - which can be both: a beautiful thing sitting on a shelf or table, with nice weight and a comforting solidity in our hands, and opened, becomes a multitude of experiences we might never otherwise have, and sometimes really smells good too!  (Have you had books whose smells you've loved?)  The book above was one of my favorites as a kid.   It can be found at the usual online places as well as Anthropologie.   It is a Penguin series. 

P.S. You don't really need me to remind you, but how nice to share this happy experience by reading a lovely book with someone that you love - or that you want to love you.  

P.P.S.  If you go online to Anthropologie you can DONATE this book to a library via "Reader to Reader".  More about this here.




Friday, November 26, 2010

And Now....... For the Weekend



Let the Festive Season begin!  Are you ready?





Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!!!



Enjoy your family today!  How about a walk after your turkey?




Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Corner View - Taking A Different Perspective


Wow.  This one could have been very deep!   So many ways to explore this idea.  But I want to keep it short and sweet (unlike my Singapore foodie post!).  And let the pictures do most of the talking but just with little captions in haiku.  I think they are just a personal as my Singapore foodie post, but from a completely different perspective.

What do you think of that?



Is it my old life?
I am neither here nor there.
Postcards to myself.

*******


Strange lurking shadows
In a bowl of sweet fruit.  Why?
My life is not gray.

*********



I lay my head down
To dream.  Not in a boudoir.
But a log cabin.

********




Find more Corner Views:  jane ian - bonnie - joyce - kim - kay -trinsch - ritva - francesca - state of bliss cabrizette - isabelle - janis -kari - jgy - lise - cate - otli - dorte - b -sophie - mcgillicutty - sunnymama -daan - ibb - pienduzz - kelleyn - ninjasammi - theresa - cherry b - juliette -shokoofeh - cole - grey lemon -lucylaine - lynn - skywriting - anna -dorit - conny - l´atelier - kamana -anne marie - rosamaría - victoria -tikjewit - juniper - annabel - andrea -valerie - merel soisses - mlle paradiscacahuete - wander chow - barbara -emily - tally - nadine - matilda - don -flowtops - susanna - tania - dana -ingrid - tzivia - mezza - lollipop - mari



Monday, November 22, 2010

HRH Prince Charles - Mind the Harmony



Did you see "Harmony" this past Friday night on NBC?  If you did, would you recommend it to friends?  Would you like to see it again?  Would you like to know more?

And if you didn't, would you be interested?  Hey!  You're in luck!

Here's a link to the NBC website, where you can see the whole thing for free.  Also: a link to the website for the program, and the book that goes with it.  I thought "Harmony" was lovely, and contrary to the NYTimes review, I don't think the Prince was too posh sounding to get his message across.  In fact, he was disarmingly earnest and the strength, depth, and longevity of his commitment to the environment and environmental issues is impressive and persuasive.  In fact, there is more to this short and moving movie (43 minutes long) than just the Prince.  It's a wonderful illustration of why many kinds of people should care, and how they can work together in their own best interests.

Here also, is a link to the Guardian UK's review of the program.  It is a great example of critical thinking, if you feel you need some guidance in sorting out how you feel or want to think about the environment and "tree huggers" like Prince Charles.  I don't think any of us is pure, or has all the answers, and it is "cool" in our culture today, (and valid!), for people to point out failings or outright "kookiness" in the some of the Prince's thinking.  Kooky ideas aside, and taking into account my own experiences of the natural world, I think it would be hard to argue with his conviction that we have a pressing responsibility to ourselves and those who come after us, to truly CARE for this wonderful asset that we call Mother Earth.  And a responsibility to challenge attitudes that insist that it is not very cool to "mind awfully" as the Prince does, about these things.

The picture comes from a (St. Martin's Press, 2000) book called "Highgrove", a history in pictures of the organic garden that the Prince has grown on his Gloucestershire estate since 1980.  The photo above is of the Terrace Garden and Thyme Walk.  (Photos taken by Andrew Lawson and Christopher Simon Sykes but no attribution for individual photos given).  If you are not an environmentalist already, starting your own garden, or visiting this one might just turn you into one!  The garden is open to the public during the summer months.  Here is a link for that.

I want to get there very soon because now that William is getting married Highgrove might pass on to him and become a very different place.  A garden is such a personal reflection of its owner that it rarely endures beyond the time when that gardener has to move on, for whatever reasons.  

I think it's a gorgeous garden and the Prince is a wonderful example to us all.  And you?  Any thoughts?





Sunday, November 21, 2010

So How Was Your Weekend?



Do anything special?  See anything good?






Thursday, November 18, 2010

Weekend Wishes



Is anyone else out there as in love with this picture as I am?  It's odd to me that with as many images of the Beatles that have been out there and filled up our lives over the years that I've never seen this one before, or I don't recall it. And it's a wonderful picture.   I feel like this photo embodies everything that was/is so positive about the Beatles and why they are the music of a generation, and a music and personalities who continue to inspire succeeding generations. I just love the openness and gentleness and easiness of the faces that that they present to the world.  (Especially George's.)  Obviously the Apple people think that it's special too.  And any minute they'll be coming along telling me to tear my own version down!

Have a great weekend everybody!






Tuesday, November 16, 2010

All Singapore, All Week. EATING. Corner View


OK if you didn't know if before, you will realize it by the end of this post, one of the reasons to go to Singapore, is because of the EATING.  If you like Chinese food, if you like Indian food, if you like Malaysian food, if you like any Asian food, and if you like all those foods mixed together, you will L-O-----V--E Singapore.  And if you like plenty of company when you eat, and you spend 24/7 thinking about what you are going to eat NEXT, you will think that you have died and gone to heaven.  


So, a strange thing about this heaven.....or, I mean, a particularly lovely little corner of this particular heaven......is that it is ALSO KNOWN AS.........The SUN-TEC SINGAPORE CONVENTION CENTER!

   Have you ever, EVER in your life, gone to a CONVENTION CENTER for the sole purpose of eating?  Breakfast?  


Well then, it may be that you have NEVER LIVED!


And you need probably, to hop on a plane and go to Singapore.


You may or may not know that Singapore's powers-that-be have determined over time that it is in the Singaporeans' and their visitors' interest to have access to cheap, fresh, wholesomely prepared and sanitarily purveyed restaurant food.  Across this enterprising city state, in a wholesale campaign, hawker stalls have been brought in from the sweltery dusty roadside, had roofs put over them, and air conditioning added, and brought into line with strict regulations.  Turned into chain restaurants under a grouping of corporate entities, you can find them every 1/2 a mile or so, taking up whole city blocks, or occupying the whole basements of department stores, malls and airports, or lending charm and vitality to yes, Convention Centers!  The quality of "Food Republic"offerings is excellent, as you can tell by the fact that it is packed!  (Of course I took these pictures on a weekend, which means the Food Courts were probably a little especially packed.)  But I'm talking about a Food Court.  FOOD COURT.  Not like any food courts you have ever known before.


OK.  What is this?  Mostly tofu.  You choose a style of noodle soup that you would like (I chose Malaysian Laksa with coconut curry broth - (and sorry, priorities, EATING - NO PICTURES!) and you fill your bowl with all the bits and bobs that you would like to have floating in it.  You are charged about 50 cents for each item that you want to add to your bowl and since this is a "tofu" stand most of the items are tofu in some form or another, many deep fried.  The colorful things on the right are peppers and eggplant stuffed with tofu.  Some are tofu rolled with seaweed or chicken, some are fishcake, some have minced mushrooms, and then you can also choose vegetables and mushrooms and garnishes like basil or coriander to sprinkle on top.  The TOFU is the sweetest, tenderest, silkiest, most flavorful and dimensional tofu you have tasted in your life.  It gives easily to your tooth but it is moist and slightly chewy and juicy with the flavors of the broth and whatever else it is cooked with.  SO YUMMY!  (Note to self:  Must get on plane and fly STRAIGHT back for more noodle soup and tofu!  Pronto!  I mean NOW!)


Deep fried grouper anybody?  I think this is a Malaysian specialty.  There's surely some spicy sauce (or two or three) to pour over it.  Award winning grouper.


Not sure, just enjoy the picture.  There were about 8 or 10 stalls in this food court.  This is a normal number.


This is a toast stall.   That tall yellow cone on the right?  It is BUTTER.  For your TOAST.  Most stalls specialize in one thing.  One stall served all the drinks in the food court, from Red Bull to Masala tea.  One stall served "Pratas".  The Prata stall was THE MOST POPULAR food stall in the joint on a Saturday morning.  "What are 'Pratas'?" - you might ask?  (Because I did.)  They are PARATHAS - Indian-style fried flat breads served with curries.  Do Singaporeans know something that we do not know?  Are we missing out?  Why ESPECIALLY is it necessary and GOOD to line up at the PRATA stall first thing on a Saturday morning?  (Note to self:  Remember to try those PRATAS!)


Before or after: DUMPLINGS!!!!!!  OK, yes HEAVEN!  No need to wait around in some glary bright red banquet hall waiting for some grouchy lady with a cart and giant tongs to remember your existence and how VERY HUNGRY YOU ARE!!!!!  Just stand in line in front of this magical edifice of steaming bamboo.  Place your instructions in a pleasant but businesslike manner and VOILA!  Magical tender tasty succulent dumplings!  In a bamboo basket of your very own.  Order as many as you can carry and RUN to the nearest table.  The quality is excellent.  So fresh, so juicy.  No, REALLY it is!  I would tell you if it disappointed in any way.  I cannot.


Now we are on ORCHARD ROAD.  In the basement of Takashimaya.  Orchard Road thinks it's upper Fifth Avenue in New York.  (OK Upper Fifth Avenue on steroids.)  There is an Hermes Shop next to a Zara every half-mile.  That's in between the Chanel and the Louis Vuitton and the Bulgari and and and and (well there are also Swensens' and TGIFriday's and Seven-Elevens and Chili's, Starbucks and huh-uhhhhh??????)  But Takashimaya sells Repetto ballet flats and Belgian chocolates and Sheridan sheets (and everything Harrods) - all in one place!


AND: these little chicken kebabs with an automated dipping and grilling machine all their very own.


And these little fishes with puffy batter insides and even deeper within ..... could that be chocolate or (more likely) sweet bean paste?


Another Food Republic here, in case you missed something at the Convention Center.  Oh yeah, Thai food and a stall specializing in "Porridge".  Do you know what exactly "Porridge" is?  When I was growing up we called it "Juk" (or "Jook") and it is basically a giant stock pot full of rice and water and the carcass of some kind of poultry.  You can garnish it with anything you like (after you remove the carcass) especially soy sauce and green onions/black pepper and basically it is the soul food of Cantonese cooking.


Exotic fruit desserts anyone?  Durian pudding?  Not something I eat EVERY day!  You?


JUST IN CASE.... all this exoticness is getting just a little too exotic for you.......chips on a stick!


Or maybe better, Parisian brunch?  At Hediard, also on Orchard Road.  (Mr. Paradis makes a stand in favor of eggs and soldiers on behalf of the whole of the Western world.)


And finally.  Even in Singapore, all things come to an end.  (My Big Fat Crazy Singaporean Weekend.)  So now where are we?  At the Esplanade, across from the Marina Bay Sands Hotel with it's unbelievable 57th Floor swimming pool the size of two football fields laid end to end.....(Note Again to Self:  Book ONE WEEK D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-LY Here!)


We had tried to go to Geylang, where the best branch of this restaurant is reputed to be.  But Mr. Paradis had an accident while he was taking a picture of a BEAUTIFUL temple.  And we ended up at the hospital for several hours.  (Blood everywhere and an interminable taxi ride - but EVERYONE was SO NICE!)  


When he was able to hobble back through the subway and malls and all the endless escalators, this seemed to be the most sensible and convenient-to-the-hotel option.  NO SIGNBOARD SEAFOOD for white pepper crab and a big platter of chili crab.  (Again no pictures.  Sorry!  I only remember to take the picture AFTER the plate gets all messy and less appetizing.)  To be honest, it was not the life-changing experience I had hoped for.  But it was good.  And it is what Singapore is FAMOUS for. 

So I'll let you decide for yourself.  But.  You might just have to have it!



Find more Corner Views:  jane ian - bonnie - joyce - kim - kay -trinsch - ritva - francesca - state of bliss cabrizette - isabelle - janis -kari - jgy - lise - cate - otli - dorte - b -sophie - mcgillicutty - sunnymama -daan - ibb - pienduzz - kelleyn - ninjasammi - theresa - cherry b - juliette -shokoofeh - cole - grey lemon -lucylaine - lynn - skywriting - anna -dorit - conny - l´atelier - kamana -anne marie - rosamaría - victoria -tikjewit - juniper - annabel - andrea -valerie - merel soisses - mlle paradiscacahuete - wander chow - barbara -emily - tally - nadine - matilda - don -flowtops - susanna - tania - dana -ingrid - tzivia - mezza - lollipop - mari





Monday, November 15, 2010

Singapore - Part Two


At the time that we were in Singapore (just over 2 weeks ago!) , Diwali was just a week away.  In Little India the 


anticipation was palpable.  The streets were filling with shoppers out looking for their holiday


sweets, saris, jewelry.


And decorations!


Is it because we're in Singapore, or because times are changing?  When we were in Mysore four years ago (pictures here), it was all about real flower garlands in massive quantities it seemed, for ornamenting the house.  In 2010, in this part of the world, plastic garlands rule,


and ceramic backlit tchotchkes.  Hey guess you can't stop progress!  (And Mr. Paradis and I did find these somehow fascinating.  Tacky or.....sublime?  Both???????)


The temple located between Serangoon Road (Little India's main thoroughfare see first pic top)
and Farrer Park, where the market below can be found, still has that whimsical, slightly wild feel that many gardens and temples in India have.  Which is reassuring.  There is something about the randomness of the inhabited landscape in India that has a strong appeal for some of us.  Have you been to India?  Do you feel that?   It's surprising, it's jarring, but somehow it keeps you on your toes and your senses in a state of hyper-sensitivity.  It makes you feel really alive.


Although much of Singapore is colorful, something about the India aesthetic seems to mean that a couple extra notes of color sophistication seems to be layered on.


I have to call on that cliche of "kaleidoscopic feast for the senses"


to describe it.  More is definitely more.  And I LOVE IT!


LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN!!!! 

  (Most of these photos were taken on an I-Phone.  Not bad huh?)





Sunday, November 14, 2010

All Singapore, All Week - Part One


So I'm just going to do it.  This week I'll break my colorful Singapore pictures up into three posts for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  I also have a bazillion pictures of food which are less photogenic and more for hard-core foodies (-or Chinese people - is there a difference?).  Probably I'll just select a few and post them next week.

Too bad Singapore is at like THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD!  Or I'd be popping over there every other week.  One kind of thinks, being in LA, that since one is on the Pacific Rim, Singapore could be/should be CLOSE.   But No.  NOT EVEN. I think that even on Singapore Air from L.A., it is necessary to make a stop in Japan, or the Phillipines on the way. It's a long flight.

But I digress.  Some people will go to Singapore and come back with that "meh - eh - what's the big deal?" kind of reaction to it.  But I have a feeling that they are not foodies, and that they don't venture out beyond the malls and the high rises, the redeveloped water and riverfronts and the Raffles-Centric Disney-esque Singapore.  In effect, aside from ALL the Chinese people, it could feel very much like you never left home.  But PLEASE PEEPS!  If you're going to go so far out of your way, DO go only a little off the beaten track, and you will be richly rewarded!  This is not the sanitized squeaky-clean police state you might imagine full of sanctimonious English-accented Chinese yuppies.  It is a varied, vibrant, pleasant-tempered metropolis that could fulfill some of your craziest dreams of Asia.  If you are THAT type.  (Which I am, and I DO!) 


So.  Barely two (excellently maintained and run and easy to get around ALL IN ENGLISH) subway stops away from City Hall is Bugis,  


where the Muslim quarter can be found, and the gently gentrifying Haji Lane




with it's arty little shops




and Egyptian cafes.........



Buildings in the neighborhood are being done up and refreshed.


And here too, is the archetypal travel photo of the bicycle against a yellow wall - it could be anywhere, France, Tuscany, Prague, Hong Kong....but it never stops being beautiful does it?


At the end of the street


is a very popular Chinese noodle shop, because in Singapore you are never far from one.


The people eating here seemed very happy to me, if a little surprised that their noodle-eating might be found to be photo-genic.


But the whiff of the mid-east prevails, in restaurants with ornate tiling and ranks of hookahs,


wafts of sandlewood and incense


exotic and vividly colored and sequined garments, Indonesian batiked and densely printed fabrics...


rugs, electronics and Mom and Pop toy stores can be found here.


All in the shadow of a gleaming dome topped mosque and the tidy, green, sheltering Malaysian Cultural Center with it's joyful mynah birds in song.  It is quiet, the pace is slow and contemplative, you will be welcomed into shops but never harassed into them, people will regard you with curiosity and often sweet little conspiratorial smiles.  You could learn to like this place quite alot!  I certainly did.

Next time, Little India and Chinatown.