I know I have been failing to update this blog because I work was so dragging. Besides, I was away from vacation – to Phuket. When I have the chance, I will post the pictures and say my heart out on the things I have thought about in life.

Last night and tonight, the moon is extraordinarily big and bright. According to the news, this is one of the nights where the moon is close to the earth. How I wish it could be closer so I can take a picture of its magnificent craters! Too bad I do not have my 300mm lens here in Malaysia and to those who have 500mm, I bet you can take a full frame of the luna’s craters. I should have taken shots of the moon when the night was still young. Anyway, these shots, for me, are amazing.

Moon So Bright

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Nessun Dorma

I received a message on Facebook recommending this video. This is an excerpt from a short gay film submitted to Asia-Europe Foundation Short Films Contest. The film is so short that the final movie has to be 3 minutes short only. It is a story of a same-sex couple struggling for their relationship as the other man is about to have a baby on his heterosexual partner and the other needs to go to Europe to progress with European studies.

Be amazed how Filipino artists and directors showcase one of our talents.

Tired of chasing Ken, Paul meets him one last time before leaving on a journey to Europe in search for a better place to dream and love.

The film explores the love and relationship struggles of Asian gay men caused by social constraints. It describes their aspirations for Europe, where there is a culture of acceptance and open-mindedness, as well as support from governments in the form of legal same-sex partnerships.

Nessun Dorma is a famous Italian aria from Puccini’s opera “Turandot” that depicts an unknown prince’s unrequited love. In the film, the aria is used to mirror Paul’s wailing for a love that cannot be fulfilled.

This is an entry submission to the Asia-Europe Foundation Short Films Contest.

Watami has been around for some time around. It started, obviously in Japan and has expanded its original food and beverage line to other areas and industries such as nursing care, organic farming agricultural, ecological initiatives as well as building of schools in Cambodia. Here in Watami in Malaysia, they serve an array of authentic Japanese flavor and experience. So when you dine here, you are just not eating Japanese food, but you are also like in Japan, enjoying how Japanese eat and how they eat their food.

They recently introduced their set meals for 2 to 4 persons starts from RM 40++ per person. You can choose from any of the set menus available or order a la carte. The price range is about RM 25 to 50 ++ per serving.

Entrance

We were invited at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur branch and I was in awe when I entered the restaurant. The place is filled with warm lights, dark brown glossy wood furniture and soft couches. It feels like a zen-ish ambience without the bamboos and water.

Interior

One of the best things here is that you are just not here to enjoy the food, but also, to dine in with your friends or partner. People just do not look for quality food, but they also look for a good setting where they can mingle and talk. Also, if you are holding a small party, you can always call them in advance to book their VIP rooms.

So, let’s go with the food.

Watami Salad

Watami Salad – crisp greens with redonions, corns, cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, shredded cucumber, shrimp,teriyaki chicken, nori, flying fish roe and fried wanton tossed with Tuna Mayoand Sesame Cream dressing. I have been avoiding myself from consuming mayonnaise because of the fat content but when you talk about Japanese mayo, can we just forget the caloric content for now?

Gomoku Kamameshi

Gomoko Kamameshi – a traditional steel pot rice dish cooked tableside with bonito, carrot, shimeiji mushrooms, tofupouches, root vegetables and topped with salmon, shrimp, scallops, chicken and flying fish roes in broth. This is served uncooked and it cooks for about 20 minutes or you can just wait until the burning white charcoal. It has this sticky white rice that it is very pleasing to your mouth and you can actually smell the aroma from the steam, while it is being cooked on your table.

Gyuniku Sukiyaki Nabe

As expected, sukiyaki has always been part of the Japanese menu. Watami’s sukiyaki sauce comes from Japan so it never goes wrong. It has always been the same taste as it is controlled and packed from Japan. The sweet and salty distinct sukiyaki sauce is very different compared to the other sukiyakis I have tasted before.

Preparing Sukiyaki

I always like to mix the beaten egg onto the sukiyaki while it is cooking. Maybe next time, I shall dip the beef or mushroom to the raw beaten egg for a more authentic Japanese experience.

Anago Tempura Maki

Anago Tempura Maki – sea eel tempura roll. With the size of this maki, it is hard to eat this in one piece.

Wafu Pizza

Wafu Pizza – pizza topped with Teriyaki Chicken. Yes! They have a pizza. It is not the usual Italian or New York pizza but the crust is very soft, more like a soft and very thin dough. Again, you can never go wrong with the teriyaki sauce.

Hotate Butter Yaki

Hotate Butter Yaki – a Watami signature dish of oven-baked scallops and shimeji mushrooms on sizzling hot plate, topped with butter. This is my favorite. A fusion of lime and butter on scallops. This is like one of those side dishes or appetizers that can be your main dish if served in a bigger plate.

Chicken Katsu Tamago Toji

Chicken Katsu Tamago Toli – chicken cutlets with scambled egg sauce. This is served on the same mini-stove to keep the sauce warm. For around 3-5 minutes when it starts to boil, just pour the beaten egg and enjoy the awesome katsu tamago toji.

Passion Fruit, Lychee and Iced Tea

They serve big mugs for your refreshments, warm sake and other beverages.

Ichigo Creamy Parfait

What happens when the dessert is served? Everyone gets so excited! Too bad I was not able to take pictures of the other desserts that were served like the Green Tea Tiramisu.

More details on Watami can be found at http://www.watami.com.my or you can call their branches for reservations:

A few moments ago, the delivery guy came in. I was very skeptical to see what was inside the plastic because, again, from what I mentioned, I never ordered anything from Digi. If it was a new mobile phone, THANK GOD… but it was not!

Xlim Tummy from Digi

Hahaha. Maybe the universe knows that I am trying to lose weight. Yes, these are slimming capsules to relieve constipation and to reduce body weight. I have not read any reviews regarding this but maybe the reason they sent me 120 capsules of these is to make a review out of it.

Seriously, I could not remember that I ordered these, signed up for a free pack nor paid for slimming capsules. Besides, at the moment, I am finishing the Animal Cuts I bought which actually works very well!

When you google it, according to the Digi site, they currently have a promotion that they are providing 15% discount off when you buy the Xlim Tummy value pack at any Caring Pharmacy stores all over Malaysia!

Terms & Conditions:
• Only available at Caring Pharmacy outlets in Malaysia.
• Please call to make prior reservations.
• Offer not valid with other on-going offers, discounts or promotions.
• Please present your DiGi Mobile to enjoy the promotion.

Behringer C1U and Samson Pop Filter

At last! After a few years of dreaming of having this, I finally made a decision of buying the Behringer C-1U USB condenser microphone and the Samson Pop filter. The image here is taken from Amazon so I am just missing one piece, the mic swivel stand. So, when I tested it earlier, I was holding the microphone using my hand.

The sound quality is very good! I had to remove the 60 hz hum and put a very minimal studio reverb. This is the first time that I am not phasing nor putting any vocal enhancements on the covers because the quality of the sound it produced is so acoustic and awesome, you feel like you’re recording in a studio!

Anyway, while I was waiting for my laundry to be done, I was looking for some old minus one on my tracklist and I saw this Martin Nievera’s rendition of Please Don’t Ask Me. I have always been singing ballad songs but never I could have imagined that this would be so mellow that it would challenge my artificial voice on upper chest tone and falsetto.

Maybe this weekend, I will record a video with it, not just a plain black background with lyrics running through the screen.

CREATIVITY OVERLOAD!

I have always believed that Google Plus will be competing with Facebook. It might take a while but it has a very powerful collaboration tool linked with your Google Products. If they have something like a WordPress platform, I could have used it as well.

It is just interesting why would there be a big white space at the right? Ah! It is for facebook window. Hahaha!

What are you waiting for? +1 me

Lounge

With the modern spacious loft ambiance of the restaurant, it is nice to dine here with your partner especially that even during the noon, the place is filled with warm lights and you get the feeling of dining in a high-rise apartment away from your home.

The Unlimited Flavous of the Ocean (Part I)

The Unlimited Flavours of the Ocean (Part I) as themed for these new choice of menu, you can get a 4-course meal which includes the amuse bouche, appetizer, main and dessert at RM 79.90++. Also, with every purchase of the set meal, you can also a glass of Frontera Chardonnay wine at RM 15++ or a bottle for RM 75++. If you want to try just a few from the selection, the price ranges from RM 11.90++ to RM 39.90++ as a la carte.

So let us start from the appetizer down to the dessert.

Amuse Bouche Oyster Shot

Fresh oyster with lime and mango shot. RM 11.90. I am not a big fan of clams and oyster. But the way how the mango and lime killed the odor of the fresh oyster rocked this shot! Maybe next time, I will pour it into my mouth rather than a finesse-etiquette use of fork.

Seafood and Tomato

Slow braised seafood and fresh tomato soup. RM 16.90. With freshly squeezed tomato and herbs, this is a nice appetizer. Not the usual salty soup you will find.

Scallops

Pan seared scallops, green peas puree and fried sweet potato chips. RM 23.90. It was my first time to taste a fried sweet potato and it was nice. The fish was fried perfectly, oh wait, it was pan seared

King Prawns

Sautéed prawns, Saffron butter rice and young mango salad. RM 37.90. I guess the cost of the shrimp tossed this dish a bit far from your usual budget. Prawns are nice but I am more into protein meat.

Red Snapper

Pan fried red snapper with couscous and lemon butter. RM 39.90. This looks like a replica of sea creature on a sand. The couscous was a mimic of white sand, the leaves are from the sea weeds and the chicken-tasting red snapper in lemon butter sauce was great! This was my favorite!

Stuffed Squid

Baked squid stuffed with herbs rice, served with okra and seafood gumbo. RM 25.90. Did I say that one of two kinds of vegetables I do not eat is okra? Lady fingers have its own way of producing a slimy liquid which engrosses my taste buds. But even the okra was part of the dish or for me, being part of the plating, the squid stuffing was done nicely. It looks like it is the squid itself but with added carbs from the rice and herbs.

Brulee

Rich custard base topped with a hard layer of burn caramel. RM 13.90. Recommended serving is for two or I guess I have just been avoiding myself with too much sugar and fat. But I highly suggested this to be part of their main menu. Not that it is part of the seafood dish launch but the creme wasn’t too sweet nor bland, it was just enough. The added vanilla ice cream on top, though adding more calories to it, compliments the mild creamy and sweet taste of the creme brulee.

Buah Melaka

Palm sugar dumpling served with coconut ice cream. RM 12.90. This interests me because this is a local cuisine. I was hesistant to taste it because of the palm sugar, not that it was obviously sweet, but I just had my orthodontic braces adjusted yesterday and when I poked it with a fork, it was kind of hard. But nevertheless, the buah was very nice, very Malay in food profile. Much more when they added the coconut ice cream.

For more info on their branches, visit their website, http://www.atheapartment.com. The menu is available 11 AM onwards at KLCC and 6PM onwards at The Curve. Below are shots taken inside the restaurant and bar of The Apartment at The Curve.