Bangalore, India

Barcelona in Singapore

Reverse progression - a yummy dessert.

Savory veal meatball stew

Bev and Oscar - my patrons

Fois gras and pigeon - stuffed up goose and a little urban bird

Chef Santomaria at work.

Thanks to the generous invite from friends Bev and Oscar Postma, I experienced a culinary delight for lunch today. Famous Spanish chef Santi Santamaria and a team from of chefs and sommiliers from his 2 and 3 Michelein star restaurants in Spain are doing a gig at the St. Regis here in Singapore this week. The special a...lmuerzo con mucho vino made this gray day very bright. we had the Catalan menu featuring fois gras, pigeon, Costa Brava fish, Ecudella and a fresh fruity dessert. The spanish cava, white and two reds where superb.A double esspresso got me ready to go back to the office after the 2 1/2 hour lunch. Muy Bien y muchos gracias a mi amigos Oscar y Bev!

Is He Back?

I have fallen to Facebook, a new job, a new condo and too many things on my plate. But in light of some of my less rechno friends, family members and just plain blog fans, I will try to resurrect this humble journal.

Here is the last 12 months in a nutshell.

Found out I was leaving my job, decided to stay in Asia, negotiated package, left old job, started to look for new job, enjoyed hiatus, ate, drank, ate some more, had checkup, found I needed to have my colon removed, studied up on the options, had some job interviews, got a part time gig consulting, consulted, had brother for a visit, went to Bangkok, interviewed some more, got job offer (almost didn't), had colon removed, recovered, started work, worked, moved to new condo, went to HK a few times, settling in to work, fashion not food, going on first US biz trip....

Ok, are we all up to date now?

I will try pictures next time!!!!!

Ciao

Lambusan, San Remigio, Cebu Project

The rice, in giant sacks, sits in Myrna's Mom's living room. Nephew James hides behind the bags.

Myrna's Dad starts to work as James continues to "help".

Dad and sister Tessie start to weigh out the rice portions

James continues to add value to the process

Kraft products delivered. The sorting process begins. This time James and his brother Ramram help out. "One for me...one for the kids"

Tang, Cheeze Whiz, Oreo...Oh My!

The crowd gathers at the front door on the 24th, eager to get their booty.

Parents and kids anxiously await their call

The banner looks great, even wit a few errors. The kids are happy.

The drawing book was a hit. This little boydrew the saddest picture. Life without enough food is not easy.

Others drew pictures of their town.

Many of the adults fish locally of the Dads are seamen, gone on cargo ships 6 months at a crack.

Another happy rural scene

Great shot of the local fishing boats.

One little girl drew her dream home.

Astro Boy to the rescue

A thanks to all the donors from Myrna and family - Mom, Dad, Myrna, Joey, Dadad, Tessie, RamRam, Steven, Noel, Ann, Sophia, Noelani, Liza, Joven, Gingging, Romie, Raymont, Jay, Trisha and Lanz

And of course the well known Lambusanian, Clarc Kent Topal!

I'll be Back!

Job changes, travel and other general tumult have caused me to be very remiss about updating this blog. I have also gotten onto Facebook and have posted a lot there. I will try to update this site soon though so hang in there. In the meantime, get on Facebook and add me as a friend!
Tod

Hong Kong Kung Foo

About a month ago we went to Hong Kong for the weekend. It's about a 4 hour flight from Singapore. In my opinion, Hong Kong is to Singapore what New York City is to Toronto. Both are big but Hong Kong really has a big city feel. We stayed at the, not so lovely from outside, Sheraton Kowloon. We had a nice room facing the bay looking out to the Hong Kong side.
Next door was the famous Peninsula Hotel. Probably the most well known of the grand hotels in Hong Kong. We will see a bit more later.

The view from our room at night. HK is aglow with more neon than Vegas. I was really irked by the fact that one of the biggest, most intricate of the neon signs was on the AIG building. The electricity alone to run that sign is costing me (and all you other American tax payers) a small fortune. TURN IT OFF!!!!!!!!

Sophia posing in Kowloon with HK in the background.

One morning I took a walk (along with throngs of Chinese tourists) on the "Avenue or Stars". The HK take on Hollywood Blvd.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_of_Stars,_Hong_Kong

There I saw the stars of all the famous HK celebs, some you may know. Quick, name any movie staring Li Tit????? (He was an HK star in the 30's and 40's)

Fung Bo Bo? No, not one of the Pandas in the DC Zoo! You may remember her from such hit as the 1988 classic "Woman Prison" and how could forget the 1960 drama, "The Woman Who Saved Her Adoptive Mother". I do believe the pinnacle of her career was "The Jade Ring and the Powerful Monster".

Check out her many, many other films here
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/fung_bo_bo.htm

Ok, this guy you do know of. The Boss...not Springsteen...Lee. Did you know that he also was born in the USA?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee

He's so famous he got a star and a statue! All say I couldn't stop humming the Karl Douglas classic Kung Foo Fighting. ...

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting, those cats were fast as lightning. In fact it was a little bit frightening, but they fought with expert timing. There were funky China men from funky Chinatown.
There was funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chong. He said, here comes the big boss, let's get it on!

A classic!

But of course, the man who is today, Mr. Hong Kong is Jackie Chan. I swear that in the 3 days we were there I saw him on TV, in the newspaper, doing endorsements, at the wax museum and the Ave. of Stars. He is omnipresent.

Everyone want a piece of Jackie!

Next it was time to hop onto the Twinkling Star and take the short but famous trip across from Kowloon the HK. http://www.starferry.com.hk/

After Singapore, the HK chill was very welcome.

Ready to dock on the HK side. The trip is about 5 minutes.

Why, there is Jackie again, at the base of Victoria Peak, welcoming the tourists.

I'd kick his butt in an instant!

Riding the old Peak Tram. It's been there for 120 years.
http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/home.asp

It was a little foggy for the perfect view, but what the heck.

Mountains, buildings, water, HK has it all.

Everyone wanted a piece of me that day.

After lunch we had to join the queue for what turned out to be the most awesome Portuguese Egg Cup on the planet. We have some decent ones in Singapore but these were unbelievable. I could go for one right now.

Need any traditional Chinese medicines?

Or perhaps a nice steak.......

HK is new and old all rolled into a very tight crowded space.

Maybe you'd rather have seafood?

The Auntie was catching a quick lunch between sales.

Sophia, overwhelmed by the fumes, was ready to move on.

But not before finding some of her favorite flowers, hydrangeas.

Later we met up with Noah's classmate and India traveling buddy, Blake, and his friend Ezra. We had a nice dinner together and I was lucky enough to join them for a boys night in HK. Fortunately no pictures of the evening exist....as far as you know.

Next day I got on a junk. It was in the Hong Kong History Museum. A really good museum, well worth a visit.

These guys carrying these things.

And the giant Moon cake shrine was there too.

Sophia at the controls of an old trolley.

These ladies must have caught a cold.

That afternoon we waited in line for a table at the very famous high tea at the Peninsula.

It was a lovely experience and we were looking very glamorous.

One more spot of Ceylon and we were ready to eat our scones and wrap up a nice weekend.