Ho! Ho! Ho!

Looking at those wrappers reminds me that another year is coming to an end (yes, I bought those at IKEA last year...)

A pretty budget Christmas as I was only required prepared only 3 presents, with one already given to the intended recipient. Didn't even get anything for the niece and nephews considering that they have pretty much everything in the world (including my dad's iPad that I've been eyeing on!) I could probably get something for baby Dylan but he's only 2 weeks old, so maybe next year :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!

Carefully.

Finally fixed up my ancient iBookG4 in preparation for a new challenge. I must say, the challenge was something forcefully thrust towards me, leaving me no choice but to accept it as there's nothing I can do to change the fact. Not a bad thing, really. I am actually looking forward to the changes in environment and the unfamiliar waters.

Many unexpected situation happened lately but fortunately, most are relatively positive (or at least something I could steer towards positivity).

I can't wait for Christmas! Was apparently promised a luxury and awesome Christmas Eve dinner so we'll see if that actually happens :)

P/S: Katharine McPhee's Christmas album on repeat loop!

Hoping For More.

Nothing beats the comfort of hearty home-cooked food and a glass of wine after a tiring day at work. No doubt, it was a lengthy and sweaty preparation but the process and the bickering made everything worthwhile. That's the joy of cooking for the people you know who'll appreciate your efforts and the money you spent.

Wine was the theme of the night. Beef Stroganoff were simmered in New Zealand Riesling, pears were poached in France Côtes du Rhône, and Austrian Blaufränkisch vom Heideboden to wash it all down. Damn alcoholics.

What's next on the menu?

What's Going On?

So what happened throughout the month of September and October (so far)?

I went Down Under. Melbourne was more like a family trip; flew with my brother's family and hung out with my cousin sis. And while I was there, how could I not fly further south to Auckland? Finally, there are some development in that city! The feeling is different each time I go back and this time around, I bunked at my ex-housemate's place at St. Helier's Bay. It was a nice change as compared to staying in the CBD. Wished I was there a little longer as I wanted to visit more vineyards!

I drove up to Penang for the 3rd time this year. Fortunately for my passengers and myself, dogs and other possible roadkill stayed away. Mom had been saying that she wanted to go to Penang for the longest time (the last being about 10years ago) and trust me, she had an awesome time with all the food and shopping. We basically ate and shop all the way from Ipoh to Penang and back to Ipoh!

This has gotta be the MOST complete CDL family portrait ever! Am very grateful to have these people helping us out!

You know you probably need to buy some new ceramics when all that's available for you to use for mise en place are kids' plastic plates. I was in the mood for some hearty soups so I made minestrone. It's been awhile since I cooked for leisure. It's an adventure that I would love to start doing again sometime soon :)

And then there's a new restaurant to explore and a birthday to celebrate (on 10.10.10 no less!). Great food from Leonardo's at Jalan Bangkung but I can't say the same about their wines. Was quite disappointed with the Pinot Noir and the Gewürztraminer. It's basically 2 different types of wines (red and white) but both tasted the same - plain alcohol taste without any flavour whatsoever. Aside from the wines, the rest was all good. Happy Birthday :)

IKEA-spree.

Table, bookcases, rug and sexy red couch. Tiring but absolutely fun. Can't wait to see the finished products. Probably too painful for the eyes...

Seriously?

Currently, I was given 2 options in order to get Sexy fixed; 1) RM6000 at Quill Automobiles, and 2) wait 3 months for spare parts to arrive at the other car workshop, price unsure yet.

Do I seriously have to either pay that much or wait that long? Can't I get offered a better choice? :(

Full of Excitement.

I need to clarify that it wasn't exactly an impromptu trip (judging on photos, some people thought I went to Penang to have a not-so-secret tryst!). It was planned work-related trip, albeit very briefly.

Second trip to That Little Wine Bar was as exciting as the first. Were running late so it was an absolute rush to get there before it closes. It was a quiet Monday night and since the bar wasn't crowded, I took the opportunity to snap some photos. Really love the relaxing ambience and the service, and of course the wine selections. Tried a glass of French Côtes de Gascogne Rive-Haute and I liked it so much, I bought a whole new bottle to bring home. Also brought back the remaining half bottle of Austrian Blaufränkisch vom Heideboden. The reds are amazing with the bloody yummy Beef Carpaccio. Ah, what a life.

What could be better than a cup of coffee in the morning? Nothing, really. Piccolo Latte, which is basically an oversized espresso macchiato, from Kopi Cine in Stewart Lane was a great 'wake up drink' after a sleepless night (more on that later). I like how they place the raw sugar cubs in a Chinese teacup and it really suit the whole setting of the cafe. Food was awesome but it's pretty pricey. Well, anything for a feeling I couldn't get in KL!

There are also some work needs to be done. It's hard to concentrate when you are at some beach-side bistro in Batu Ferringhi overlooking the vast sea (or when there are 2 bottles of beer on your work table...). Me on the beach, it's a very rare sight. Actually came here on a friend's recommendation. It was hot and bright and whatever negative feelings the beach is supposed to give. Not a very conducive environment to get things done and seriously, why do I even consider working while on holiday? :p

And now, the reason for my sleepless night:

First road trip with Sexy and this happened. Totaled my front bumper, fog lights, number plate, the engine protective panel at the bottom, and a whole lot of others after I smashed a stray dog to million pieces at high speed on the eerily dark highway, just approximately 44km before reaching Penang. It was the most horrible sight I've ever seen and the most traumatic experience ever. Contacted BMW Roadside Assistance but it was not very useful for my situation so I decided to continue with the journey. It was a stinky and painfully slow drag drive to the ultimate destination and it was no doubt, filled with guilt (for me). Poor doggie, I am so so sorry! I hope that little prayer brought you to heaven :`\

Sent Sexy to Auto Bavaria Penang the next morning to get the damage assessed (why so many S..). Fortunately, it is nearby Tune Hotel so I didn't have to drag it too far. Got the panels and fog light removed, bumper clipped together, a replacement number plate, and some other checks. The temporary fixtures would last till I reach KL to get it fixed.

And so I went to my dealer this morning. Did a thorough assessment and let's just say, expensive car equals to expensive maintenance. Think VERY expensive maintenance. Gah, I want to cry.

Jeng Jeng Jeng!

Hope I reach there before they close!

All Over Again.

We're on the hunt!

We've got our first office politics casualty. It sucks that it had to turn out that way. At times like these, I really need all the hands and help I can get but sometimes, things are just not under my control. Neither am I gonna blame anyone for what has happened for I believe we were all guilty of judging, which probably would have led to that particular conclusion.

Wished that it would have ended more peacefully though. Hope it served as a lesson to all of us.

Wondering.

It's been 2 months since I brought Sexy (I have to give it a new name! [Edward C.?]) home but I haven't really gotten the opportunity to rev up his beautiful engine. Been taking lots of highways to my destinations with the sole intention to test it out but it's just not far enough.

Got a little carried away at work today and if it's not just plain talk, I might just bring him up north to Ipoh (for dimsum!).

Still waiting for my complimentary Garmin GPS to arrive from Germany. It's here! Getting it fixed next week. Though I just still don't understand why they can't just bring it in together with the car..

World Cup 2010.

WC partners in crime

It has finally came to an end. During this whole month, I've gained lots of new experience, strengthened friendships and definitely, definitely gained weight from all those late night snacking and boozing.

This morning's game between Spain and The Netherlands were pretty annoying because non scored a goal, until the 112th minute. The game ended with Spain winning 1 - 0. Paul the Octopus had predicted Spain's triumph and it was only a matter of time to prove it. And Spain did before making us stressing our heads off! The game ended at 5am and unfortunately, 2 of my other colleagues and I had to start our shift at 7.30am. So here I am, staying awake by blogging to kill time before heading off to the shower.

Honestly, this is my first time staying up to watch a game I am not entirely interested at. I figured that since it comes only 4 years once, why not? I like the company and all the silly things we do when we watch the games. It's memorable and to think back, it was really hilarious too.

Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did :)

All Things RED!

Out of the red blue, I decided to try my luck on baking a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Took the first recipe that pops out of my google and went off to buy ingredients (it was a lie. I found it at night and went the next morning. Anyway...). Didn't really keep track but I kinda figured that I spent about RM100ish for everything I needed. That freaking bottle of buttermilk cost me RM19!

I never really liked baking because I hate the fact that every measurements has to be precise. It sucks big time especially when you just spent your entire savings on ingredients just to find out that in the end after all the sweat and tears, your cake flops and everything goes down the trash.

For the first time, I succeed in baking from scratch! There are still plenty of the ingredients left so I am definitely whipping up a new batch, improvising it with the favourable feedback I received from the most critical bunch of people I've ever met!

Yums!

I first heard of macaroons a couple of years back when one of my brothers mentioned that he bought some extremely overpriced from somewhere high class. I had my very first taste of macaroons last year in Hong Kong, when my other brother bought some back to the hotel. At HK$20 apiece, I simply could not comprehend how a tiny little pastry cost so much. Boy, was I amazed with it. I thought it was supposed to be entirely crispy but it was instead, a mix of crispy and chewy texture. I miss the Jasmine tea macaroon I had in FHA!

I don't know about you but I've noticed the sudden bloom of 'macaroon cafes' in town. It seems like everyone is making and selling these. Time to kick those potong kaki diabetes inducing cupcakes off the market, eh? Well, not to say macaroons are any better because it's definitely sweet and have hefty colourings too. Not like many people cared anyway because macaroons are the new cupcakes!

Maybe I should start selling 'em at my cafe too. Coffee really balances out the sweetness!

Sigh.

It was an enlightening and amazing part of my life, being able to learn about coffee and the F&B industry in general. We started off the cafe with a brand of coffee beans relatively unknown in Malaysia, then to our horror became so commercialized within these few years, it just isn't funny anymore. Throughout the years, I've learn quite abit about coffee and grown to appreciate it.

We used to 'consider' Sucky Bucky Starbucks as a major competitor but now THEY are simply way beyond our league. If you think they are good, well, then you probably haven't tried anything else. Boutique cafes are blossoming sporadically around KL/PJ, and the awareness and knowledge of a good cuppa is on the rise. We've come so far and with us as the local distributor of a modest brand of quality coffee beans, our time is now.

But I don't feel excited anymore.

Less than a year ago, I was asked if I would venture into something on my own (find a new job etc.) I firmly and confidently said 'NO'. I couldn't find a reason why I needed to. I was comfortable, I know what I was doing, probably to a point of complacency, but anyway, I was happy.

Unexpectedly, few months later I was offered a plan I simply could not reject. Unlike coffee, which I had to groom my passion the moment I got into the business, this new project involves something I am always passionate about. It's gonna be tough to start all over but I know it will be a great journey.

What's left to do now is resign. Well, I can't really totally resign but I definitely have to sort out my priorities. Selfish as it may sound, but I've got to do what I've got to do. Time is not exactly on my side now so I've got to get it sorted out real quick!

Suckers.

It was supposed to be an innocent and harmful gathering to watch Netherlands' kick Denmark's butt in FIFA World Cup. We were apparently supposed to leave after the match (around 9.30pm). Instead, we staggered out from the bar at 2am!

I seriously don't remember how many buckets and shots we had. Actually you know what, I rather not know. The figures are too frightening, plus it was a Monday night! No wonder the servers were giving good service. Who spends that much on a Monday?

It was nice to hang out with my colleagues friends for some bonding session. Only at times like these you'll see your otherwise sane friends go insane :D

May.

Time for a monthly recap already? Seriously? Let's see if I remember what I did in the month of May up till today.

It was a great start for a new month as I've finally fulfilled my longtime urge to drive up north to Penang and satisfy my food cravings. It was exhausting because we left KL after work and the random rain on the highway slowed our journey. The next day was Labour's Day so I got pretty disappointed when we realised that some eateries were closed. So much for satisfying my cravings. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the brief roadtrip, the company, the small amount of food I consumed, and thankful that we found the awesome winebar.

Then there's the annual Bliques gathering in Daorae, Sri Hartamas. It's annual because we ex-collegemates usually gathers when Yen Ling comes back from Auckland. Only at times like this that one realises that time really flies because you'll ask questions like "When was the last time we met? Last year? Are you serious?!". In fact, the last time all of us really gathered was in 2008 in New Paris. I think...

Amid the tensed political standoff, we courageously fly in to Bangkok for our long planned 'shopping spree'. On Chiams advice, we changed our pre-booked accommodation in Pratunam to Sukhumvit. That was a very wise decision because it puts us significantly away from the protest area, which was getting more chaotic when we were there. The hotel was actually quite nice :) At Sukhumvit, our freedom were not constrained and we managed to do what we wanted to. It was sometimes nerve-wracking, especially when our taxi got unknowingly into the protest area but all in all, it was exciting and memorable. It was a blessing for us because on the day we left, the standoff sorta went very out of control.

I've heard a lot about it but that was the very first time I drank Jägerbomb, with an interesting set-up by Tom, Dick and Harry's. Anyway, the Jägermeister shot with Red Bull made it taste like some yucky cough mixture. I do like the aftertaste and if you offer to buy, I'll take the drink but you won't find me buying a bottle of Jägermeister from the duty free shops!

I waited for this day to come since the day I requested for it at the showroom. I would say now that it was a risk worth taking because Sexy is just so damn sexy. It was a model and colour not common in Malaysia. In fact, I decided on the colour simply by looking at photos on the internet! It was a risk I had taken and fortunately when it arrived, I did not have to make the tearful call and drown my sorrows.

Meiyinkong's back! We didn't manage to catch up much the last time she came back so this time around, we made sure we made plans. So Pinchos it is. We polished a massive tapas platter (Serrano ham, cheeses, olives, and salami) along with a basket of bruschetta and a bottle of Spanish white just between the 3 of us while waiting for Lavania to turn up. Then its more tapas; Chorizo Con Setas (Spanish stew with Chorizo sausages, mushroom and potatoes), grilled prawns with Serrano ham, olives, and grilled rabbit, washed down with a jug of diluted Sangria. When that's done, we left for BarItalia because they have a nice rooftop bar. Unfortunately, their drinks menu are quite limited. I mean, they have a long list but its mostly bottles. So after a drink each and hilarious 'those were the days' chat, we head off to The Ceylon Bar for a jug of Long Island Iced Tea. By the time I get home, it was 3.30am!

Discovered a new competitor in town. Well, I didn't really. A customer kinda mentioned it to me so I decided that since it's a holiday, I HAD to drag someone to check out the calories-laden place with me. Sharing is caring, so calories should be shared too! We shared the Red Velvet cake, which was moist but too stingy with the cream cheese frosting. Hey, I was okay with that level of frosting but someone just want to build up on extra calories. So anyway, we also had 4 mini macaroons which was way too generous with the sugar! Coffee was decent, definitely better than any other cafes around. Tried the cappuccino (with a little free pour latte [he]art) and Cafe Con Leche, an interesting Cuban breakfast coffee. The interior of the cafe is really nice but as mentioned, if only it was an outdoor place. I would sit under the shade for sure. With mist fan blowing to my face :)

Phew!

I guess I would have to say that we were pretty lucky to leave Bangkok just in time before the violence escalated. This news article snapshot was taken on the morning prior to our flight. We didn't know the Thai government were planning a large scale road closure and crackdown on the protest area at 3pm on that particular day. Fortunately, we managed to book a taxi the night before to send us to the airport at 2pm (5 hours prior to the scheduled departure). The airport was quite crowded probably because everyone was trying to get out of the Thai capital!

During our short stay in Bangkok we saw numerous tyre barricades, thick black smokes from burning tyres, road closures, troops marching pass us, army trucks and guardpost, infamous red shirts protesters, experienced an emergency curfew and watched lots of news regarding the situation. Anxious at times but absolutely a priceless experience! Don't think I will ever forget this eventful Bangkok trip, ever!

The perfect ending for the holiday happened when I was told by the salesman that the red hot sexy ride will be officially mine by next week. It was ordered and personalized (possibly less than a handful of Crimson Red 1Series in Malaysia!) in January and arrived at the showroom from Germany just 2 days ago. Can't wait to rev it up!

Sorry for the glare, mom :p

The Moment of Truth.

Ok, I just can't be bothered anymore with the current situation in Bangkok. Never in my life I get so agitated with another country's political scene. To be honest, I log on to Bangkok Post in recent weeks more often than I read The Star! Ah, to hell with it.

I've already amended the flight departure date (from April to May) and booked into another hotel (Citin Pratunam to Kingston Suites) just to avoid getting too close to the protest sites. Secretly I am excited because we got an upgrade in terms on accommodation :p

3 more days till departure. Fingers crossed!

So Good!

A simple pre-roadtrip google by yours truly brought us to this amazing European wine bar in Penang, aptly named That Little Wine Bar. It has everything that I always wanted/dreamed of if I were to open a wine bar - colonial house, soft lighting, nice music, well stocked cellar, friendly hostesses, good food. It gives out the homely and relaxed vibes and that's not something that you usually experience from a wine bar. I was totally blown away the moment I stepped into the place!

If I could, I would stay a little longer considering the effort the trip takes. I was insistent on staying in the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel in Batu Ferringhi but alas, I can never get my way when it comes to a certain argument. Sigh. It was a luxurious yet casual hotel and had definitely stirred up the 'we should have!' temptation the moment we parked the car. It was too late for that so compromise was the next best thing. The next time we head up to Penang, it's gonna be Hard Rock Hotel for at least 1 night. No buts or maybe. I can't wait :D

Yums!

things KL-ites do for food... (image taken from here)

The much-awaited Penang FOOD TRAIL is happening tomorrow! Will be driving up north after work and hopefully arrive in time before the crazy rush hour traffic. Wouldn't wanna mess with Penang drivers... lalalalala

Recap.

Ahhh, it's almost the end of April. I am not gonna mention how time flies because I am sure everyone felt it already. My eventful month is coming to an end, with the completion of 3 out of 4 scheduled events. The last and much awaited Bangkok trip had to be postponed to May because of the current political situation in the Thai capital. Few days ago we were in a dilemma and made the half-hearted decisive call to MAS. Today, I am kinda relieved that we postponed it because it doesn't seem like a peaceful resolution is in sight.

Here's a recap of my April:

Well, apparently it's no longer a taboo to take photos in the cemetery anymore. The attendance for this year's Tomb Sweeping Day had increased, as seen on the photo on the left. My relatives from Sabah, all my nephews and nieces, and the adults were there to pay their respect. I know what you are thinking; it looked like we were having a picnic instead of tomb sweeping! Regardless, it was a family-bonding session :)

Our other, more frequent family-bonding session are BBQ parties at my house. The latest installment of the belly-hugging BBQ was held in conjunction with my cousin sis' birthday/farewell. It started raining in the evening but to my (and everyone's) relief, the sky cleared up not long after. I decided to be a little more adventurous with the menu and with some help (my kitchen were spared of trashing, thank God!), introduced a couple of new BBQ dishes; beef ribs galbi, pork and vegetable kebabs with apple sauce, and lamb cutlets with red wine sauce. Very fine dining :)~

The last time I went down to Singapore was probably back in year 2007, when Yohei came for a visit. Can anyone tell me how Singaporeans managed to build/restore 3 new malls in the heart of Orchard central in such a short period of time?? Anyway, the trip down was business-related; to attend FHA2010 exhibition in Singapore Expo. It was massive, informative, tiring and everything in between. Spanning 8 halls, we took 2 days to check out things related to our respective industries as well as learning and discovering new things. Seriously, one can just go there hungry and leave with a satisfied stomach. And probably a broken ankle...

Met up with Chloe for dinner at Tonkichi in Orchard Central and drinks at Wine Connection (nguiyifan, they are in BKK too!!!!) in Robertson Walk. Yummy dinner, awesome wine and amazing price! Oh, how can I possibly forget the bewitching That CD Shop. I always knew they have nice and niche CD collections but I didn't expect myself to fall hopelessly into their trap.

See you next month, Bangkok *fingers crossed*

Chillax.

40% balance and all it took was 3 person to finish it all up. Or rather, 5% for the guy and 35% for the girls. We didn't have to pay a single cent because I have that bottle of 42Below in custody at Skybar. Well, they didn't bring us the bill so we assumed that its FOC... (and I was even forced to bring the 2 unopened Sprite home!)

It was a breezy, clear sky night so the view of KLCC was amazing. Now that the bottle is already empty, I doubt I'll go Skybar anytime soon. It's pretty costly and not as cosy as Luna.

Yum!

Was given this awesome cookbook for my birthday. Haven't got the time to look at the recipes but managed to skim through the book and saw some interesting photos (hence, interesting recipes?).

What I need to do now is wait. Wait till my parents are away on a holiday, wait till the kitchen is not occupied and of course, wait till I have some guinea pigs friends to test out the food.

Oh damn. I suddenly miss that hearty lamb stew I made last year for Adventure Cooking ver2.0.

I Love April.

April is gonna a pretty eventful month for my schedule. First on the list, Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day) on this coming Sunday. The day usually begins at 5.30am, and by 6-ish we should be at the market in SS17 buying some breakfast for my grandparents. Everyone gathers at the cemetery around 7.30am to prepare offerings and all the necessary things. Once my grandparents are done eating, it'll be our turn. In my opinion, it's more like a picnic than a Qing Ming for us :p Maybe I'll try to take some photos of that day. Hopefully nothing unexpected turn up on my images :s

Next, it'll be a BBQ I'm organizing for my cousin sister, who will be leaving for Melbourne to secure her PR. It's been raining alot lately so I hope the sky clears up on that day! I am sure everyone is getting pretty bored with what I've always prepared for the barbie so I am trying to develop new recipes. Suggestions welcome!

On the work side, I will be leaving for Singapore on the 20th for FHA2010 with my brother, Karen and Yi Fan (who have her own stuffs to check out). FHA is Asia's Largest Food and Hospitality Trade Event so that will be pretty interesting. Countless food sampling, lol. And maybe some Clarke Quay for relaxation and de-stress......

Last up, the highly awaited and anticipated trip to BANGKOK! Where should I even start?? Food, glorious food. Massage after massage. Shopping, hmmmm, we'll see. Hope to see you soon, Chiams!

Mr. Departure Lounge

By now, everyone and anyone who has me/CDL in their Facebook would know about our barista taking the '2nd Runner-Up' and 'Best Cappuccino' awards in the Malaysia Barista Championship 2010. We're so proud of Yee's achievements, especially since he entered the coffee industry for less than 6 months! Judges commented that they don't see his passion but they are obviously blind because they failed to see that he came this far in such a short period of time.

The event itself is very enlightening for most of us as it was our first time attending such competitions. However, we were also quite disappointed with how the event was organized. In my opinion, it could have ended earlier but somehow it dragged on for an extra few agonizing hours. Nevertheless, I had lotsa fun cheering for Mr. Departure Lounge.

As pre-competition encouragement, I promised Yee that I'll buy bubblies to celebrate if he gets any of the top 3 awards. Well, you know how ridiculously expensive champagnes can be so I bought sparkling wine instead. And an extra bottle of Merlot too! Both were a nice compliment to the Korean BBQ celebration dinner.

Both the plaques are on CDL's (Solaris Mont Kiara) counter-top so if you wanna admire it, drop by and buy a cup of 'MBC 2010 Best Cappuccino'. We might even let you touch the plaques too :p

MBC 2010

The 2nd Malaysia Barista Championship 2010 is happening tomorrow at KDU and I am proud to announce that CDL's barista is one of the 15 qualified contestants!

As a final push, few of us had spent extra 6 few hours after work to help him rehearse his presentation as well as a time trial. With the help of Mark Chandler, we brought the competition stage to the outlet. I won't be able to attend the competition tomorrow so the mock up was really enlightening.

I am not in the position to reveal much as the competition has yet to begin but I am just going to say that 'The Signature Drink' is very nice.

All the best, JhYee!

Celebration.

Opps, how could I forget to mention that Yohei has finally graduated from cooking school?

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hope you had a blast at the one night stand standing bar and don't forget to get your Facebook account (we're hoping that you'll miss the deadline so we can open the Moet, heheheh).

Happy St. Paddy's!

Well, not that I know the significance of this particular day aside from a perfectly marketable day for Guinness and other Irish pubs..

The very first time I've ever came to know about St. Patrick's Day was back in 2006, in Auckland. I vaguely remembered a group of us was trying to get into an Irish pub for some green beers. For some reason, we didn't managed to and in the end went back to the apartment for some Lion Red instead (I think!)

4 years later, I finally managed to get the long overdue green beer, albeit in KL at Craft Brews. The good news is its available all year long. The bad, it tastes so-so.

Last Sunday (14/March) was the official opening of CDL's Uptown outlet (which we relocated from Aman Suria). The event itself was awesome as many family members, friends and customers turned up to show their support. On the same day, we officially launched CDL's partnership with Western Australia's Five Senses Coffee and invited Mark Chandler of Five Senses Coffee and a two-time WA Barista Champion as the guest of honour. He's a very experienced Barista and we are fortunate to have him here to conduct a short Barista training for all the staffs, including myself.

Hopefully, this will be the stepping stone for us to roast our own coffee beans in the future!

Eventful Day.

Of all days, it rained on Friday (yesterday), the day where I've made plans to have a small gathering with few close friends for a belated birthday do at Traders Hotel's Sky Bar. Though the rain had stopped by the time I get off work, the traffic was inevitably a pain in the ass. The route that would've taken me home in less than 15 minutes dragged on to almost an hour. With the clock ticking closer to my Sky Bar reservation time, I was so anxious that I finished up my noodles in 5 minutes, showered and dressed up within 10 minutes, and left the house soon after.

Alas, sometimes shit happens. Of all things in the world, I wouldn't have predicted that someone would crash their car into mine. Not especially when I was obeying the traffic lights, goddamnit. I was running late and this had to happen. I swore I would snap her (the driver) head off if I had to cancel the gathering. With zero experience on handling crash situations, I made calls to my oldest brother, concluded that I'll report to the police the next morning, brushed off call men, drove home to get the keys to mom's sleek black horse and finally continued my journey to Kepong by taking the alternative road!

The incident made us late for our reservation at Sky Bar and we had to endure bitchy servers and sucky seats before a bottle of 42 Below vodka snared us a table by the glass panel, with view overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers. The timing couldn't be anymore perfect as alcohol was what I needed to calm the nerves. If only they sell shots. I would've taken a few! The gathering was awesome and would love to do it again sometime soon.

That was the calm before the storm. I woke up this morning with the intention of going to work then taking few hours off to get the police report done. That was intention. In reality, I spend the WHOLE morning sorting out the report, making calls and trying to settle the case amicably. For god's sake, I am the victim here but it felt as if I was in the wrong! In total, I spent 6 hours doing things that would've been settled within 2 hours.

To think of it, I am glad that I have that bottle of vodka in custody as I'll probably need it pretty soon. Sky Bar, anyone?

All Over Again.

an invitation for you guys!

The new outlet is finally up and running for the very first time today. I was told that it was a very very busy afternoon but somehow between the havoc, they managed to receive favourable feedback and compliments from the customers. Not bad for the new boy in town!

We've officially switched coffee beans and I went to work bracing for customer's verbal attack. Most regular customers were quite skeptical towards the new beans but some were quite impressed. Frankly, the beans are not good for brewed coffee. Savour an espresso and you'll know why we snub Illy. Hah.

Now that it's back to 2 outlet, work will be, sigh, never ending. Would've love to plan some holidays but I worry about the uncertainties at work. We're so short-handed that if any existing employee quits, I'll probably have to work at both outlets so... definitely no further travel plans. Yet.

So before I get super-glued to work, I managed to squeeze in some time to have some pre-birthday fun last week :) Dinner and drinks at Changkat Bukit Bintang was amazing (THANK YOU!) and for some reason, it was less crowded than expected. Then later, I went to Zouk for the first time. Clubbing in Malaysia means going home with hair and clothes reeked with cigarette smoke that you won't be able to wash off for the next 3 days!

I was told to wait a little longer because it couldn't arrive on time. Frankly, what's a few more days when I was told to wait since October last year, right? I was however, surprised with the size and quality of it. THANK YOU, both of you.