My Love For You (2)

I wore back my old shoes,

A dream I fear to fail,
Memories I fear lost hail,

How am I to tell you?
Undying oath I will cherish you,
Renouncing all that i once knew,
To draw a larger and more beautiful view,
I am sorry, you said, it was already due,
No need to hold, there was no morning dew,
God knows you Love me NOT even a few.

Here and then, I sort not to forget,
Even with my soul, i will raise my bet,
Repeating this path, i will not regret,
Engraving it to my heart that i had set.

Does it fit?
Or does it need changes a bit?

Yesterday was no better,
Other days do not matter,
Unifying was just a dream latter.

Keeping my old shoes clean,
Neither to be torn nor to be seen,
Over the years, I will stay as lean,
Without you, what does life means?

Menu 2: QUAK QUAK!!

Okay, this is our second class, and our menu so happened to be DUCK!!
I just thought of something useful of this blog rather than input personal stuff...
Might be useful to some...
DUCK TIPS:
1) Always serve Medium - hence inner temperature is roughly 60-65ºC
2) Always cut diagonal 45º and slice 45º this will make a big difference on the texture of the duck breast when consuming it.. also it is more presentable
3) There seems to be some miss understanding among students of what is gastrique sauce... gastrique sauce is reduction of vinegar and stocks... additional of citrus jus are variations with different names. Tada!!

p.s. sorry for taking the picture late to some guys.. i was late myself... only 1 stove working with a terrible oven and poor time management...my bad!

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Cons:
§ Duck looks dry (try brushing it with oil, it shines and moists the dish)
§ Try to lay the asparagus at the bottom instead the top (it will be less messy but make sure we can see the tip of the asparagus, but if u insist on putting, i think 1 should do since its a garnish, if not garnish, then put in below)

Pros:
§ I imagine this is quite professionally done
§ colourful
§ Good use of ingredients
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Cons:
§ Risotto is very dry :(
§ Risotto colur not tempting :(
§ The asparagus seems to be more striking than the main dish
§ Vege portion is a little too big (but i think its because i took the picture late)

Pros:
§ Simple yet presentable

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Cons:
§ Your balls are not tempting :(
§ Should show some meat colour (present it slanting a little bit)
§ The sauce is still watery

Pros:
§ I like your "Unique Ball" Idea
§ Simple yet presentable

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Cons:
§ Poor choices of colour
§ Need to improve on how to slice asparagus skin (looks like squarish)

Pros:
§ The sauce texture looks tempting
§ Simple yet presentable

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Cons:
§ Presentation look like Inter-Galactic Space War
§ Asparagus presentation looks unnatural
§ Extreamly Oily jus in shooter glass (probably to fuel the starships)
§ Poor colour combinations
§ Sauces are not properly displayed (looks like explosion of fighters)

Pros:
§ Good Effort in wrapping but color is bad
§ Feel like watching and eating ANIME

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Cons:
§ Try coat carrots with little oil herbs
§ Risotto looks a little undercook and dry
§ Duck look overcook
§ Everything is too congested in the middle
§ Wait... is that curry leave as presentation?

Pros:
§ Overall is Presentable

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Cons:
§ Western Nasi Briyani.....with duck

Pros:
§ Presentable and great money for Steven's Corner and Murni

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Cons:
§ Risotto is way too sticky and not tempting
§ There are two sauces on the plate for 1 cooking method
§ Plating is messy
§ Poor colour contras

Pros:
§ Chef Sauji tried it

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Cons:
§ The garnishing will be better if in between orange and duck
§ Tip of asparagus is slightly over cook

Pros:
§ Best Presentation AWARD!!
§ Neat and Tidy!
§ Great Effort

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Cons:
§ What Happened to your duck?
§ Sauce not bright
§ Too much Starch (Starchy Tower of Pisa)
§ Height is for main course not starch items
§ Poor Choices of colour
§ PLate was not cleaned of debris

Pros:
§ Still thinking...

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Cons:
§ From your website, i sense the taste will be a little oily to the tongue, but cabbage save your life
§ Garnish stalk is too long at the bottom
§ Try not to serve just one mushroom and one carrot

Pros:
§ Great effort in wrapping the starch
§ Sauce is well presented

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Cons:
§ It makes more sense if you place the foam at the braised red cabbage
§ Is that a diamond shape carrot (you watched alice in wonderland leh)?

Pros:
§ 1st Runner-up for Presentation (could have been no.1 lor)
§ Sauce Presentation is the best

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Cons:
§ One part colourful, One part dull (opportunity costs)
§ Doneness is slightly overcook
§ Volcanic Idea (with larva at the side)

Pros:
§ Great Effort
§ Good Plating
§ Involve many cooking techniques

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So after taking all the pictures of your plate... i finally came to realise i did not took mine... HAHAHHAA!!!
heres my self-evalutaion...
Cons:
§ poor choice of colour
§ Risotto is salty
§ Red cabbage should be darker (according to Chef Sauji)

Pros:
§ Presentable

Le Festin

French lyrics:

Les rêves des amoureux sont comm’(e) le bon vin
Ils donn(ent) de la joie ou bien du chagrin
Affaibli par la faim je suis malheureux
Volant en chemin tout ce que je peux
Car rien n’est gratuit dans la vie

L’espoir est un plat bien trop vite consommé
A sauter les repas je suis habitué
Un voleur solitaire est triste à nourrir
A un jeu si amer je n’peux réussir
Car rien n’est gratuit dans…

La vie… Jamais on ne me dira
Que la course aux étoiles; ça n’est pas pour moi
Laissez moi vous émerveiller et prendre mon en vol
Nous allons en fin nous régaler

La fêt(e) va enfin commencer
Sortez les bouteilles; finis les ennuis
Je dresse la table, de ma nouvell(e) vie
Je suis heureux à l’idée de ce nouveau destin
Une vie à me cacher et puis libre enfin
Le festin est sur mon chemin

Une vie à me cacher et puis libre enfin
Le festin est sur mon chemin


English lyrics:

Dreams are to lovers as wine is to friends
Carried through lifetimes, (and) spilled now and then
I am driven by hunger, so saddened to be
Thieving in darkness; I know you’re not pleased
But nothing worth eating is free

My hope is a banquet impatiently downed
Impossibly full, now I’ll probably drown
Many thieves’ lives are lonely with one mouth to feed
If giving means taking, I’ll never succeed
For nothing worth stealing is…

Free at last; won’t be undersold
Surviving isn’t living; won’t eat what I’m told
Let me free, I’ll astonish you; I’m planning to fly
I won’t let this party just pass me by

The banquet is now underway, so…
Bring out the bottles; a new tale has spun
In clearing this table, my new life’s begun
I am nervous, excited; (oh) just read the marquee!
A lifetime of hiding; I’m suddenly free!
My dinner is waiting for me

A lifetime of hiding; I’m suddenly free!
My dinner is waiting for me

A Valentine's Gift

Valentine's GIFT

I had given my heart to you, but Not to linger you said,
I had given my time to you, but Not to waste it you said,
I had given my thoughts to you, but Not to think to much you said,
So this is a gift that i had never given to any special girl,

A friendly hug and a kiss on your cheek,

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

The usual CNY

Chinese New Year

As usual, for almost 23yrs, i hardly have a chance to have a Family Dinner..
Mom work.. Dad work.. My grandma used to cook until she passed away many years back.. so i took over her job... but then.. what is the point now..

On the 29th of the lunar calander, we celebrate while my mom is working outside... she so happened having dinner at a resaurant at bukit bintang, so we took the opportunity to eat there.. just my bro and his wife, my dad..myself and my mom...

We ordered the food as she was about to arrive, thinking we would have nice dinner and chat.. but not just quite as i thought.. when she arrived the food just on time to reach our family table, but she was not... ITs her duty to settle her things... she have "leg problem" but she have to walk here and there... She make sure customers are satisfied before she eats..

She came to us and say, "Eat eat... dont wait for me. I still got things to do..." then we begin to eat without her on the table.. When she do have time,, the food is already cold.. i took some pictures... but there werent a single whole family picture... HAHAH!!

I know could do something about this... i know i can.. I took too long. I took too much time... To my mother, we will have a REAL FAMILY GATHERING soon.. I PROMISE YOU..

Just another God Damn New Year...

The Flying Frog Tool (1)

There was a pond where a frog lived hapily. Its name was BULL. Bull lived like any normal frog would, waking up in the morning looking for flies to fill his stomach and then go back to sleep. His routine repeats everday, until one day.. Bull declared that his current life was boring.. perhaps there were something out there, an adventure lies before him. After a long thought, he packed his little leafy bag of water on his back and a venus fly trap with a few flies in it placed on his waist. He leaped out of his little pond not knowing where he would be heading.

So Bull travel out heading where the sun was that morning. As he travelled he met new friends, and new adventures everyday. Though the journey was tough for a little frog but he was optimistic because what he experiencing was amazing. To solve his supplies, he replenished his water from rains and drains, feed as he travel.

But an adventure soon become terror. As Bull was so focus gazing on the field of colourful trees, he accidentally fell into a well. He was not injured only, the height was not reachable for him. At first, Bull tried to leap and stick to the side of the well, but it was too slippery. After many attempts , he quitted and planned for a new method to escape from the well.

Weeks, had past. Bull's luck failed him. His sanity had left him only with a glimpse of his past. Day by day, Bull can only lok upon the sky. Sometimes, he can see birds flew over the well. But that is something that he can't do.. But at least along his crazy attempt, he did found a method to feed. He just have to leap and hold on to a crack on the wall and wait for mosquitoes.

One fine day, a fly came by. Bull await the moment for the little fly to come closer.. then in an instant he stick his sticky tongue out and caught the fly. "My lucky day!", he thought. Then from nowhere, he heard a different chinese accent and voice talking to him. "Let me go and I promise I will do anything that you wish."

Bull stood for a moment...
"This is just a flick of my imagination", says Bull with the fly in his mouth.

"No, i am quite real. Let me go and all your wildest imagination can be true"

But Bull was still unsure. He stood still for a moment again. Then the voice return to his ears.

"I never break a promise. I will fulfill your dreams."

Dreams? Bull had forgoten about it. "Okay, cut it out! Show yourself!" Bull demanded.

"How can i show myself when i'm in your mouth?" replied the voice.

Bull, feeling much better now, hesistated, but released the fly after it repeatedly begging for it and making fussy noises.

"Look, the only reason i let you go is because i don't like noisy food... You don't know what it's like to have a stomach that acts like a subwoofer! So beat it!" Bull submerge into the well but was stopped by the fly.

"Hey, don't look down on flies. We can do wonders!" fly retorts!
"Like what?" Bull raised his voice. "Do you see anything that you can or might help here? I am a frog that once had a dream to leave a pond, now had his dream amended to leave this forsaken well! And Your ARE ONE TINY FLY!!" and Bull sank deep.

Fly kept quite as it looked at Bull diving into the well. Fly sensed Bull's tears flowing out, as if Bull's tears was the main contribution to the well's reservoir. Fly flew away... Bull, continue his routine as a sad FROG. Alone with a shattered dream. But, it was only 2 weeks later the fly returned to the well with a surprise!!

"As promised, I have returned. Hey frog, you wish to get out from this well, right? Hence, as a token for not eating me, i present you my latest invention! A tool that will have your name carved into the halls of Fame... on your... frog Hall of Fame or whatever your species call it. THE FLYING FROG TOOL!!" Fly raised its wings and arms high proudly as it speaks.

"Okay, so you have return. You have kept your promise. Now, stop disturbing to me and... and...Just leave me be",Bull said a with despair tone.

"At least try out my invention. It won't harm you to try...",pestered fly.

"Fine! Where is it?"

Upon that, fly blew a loud whistle. Then, there were noises and voices at the top of the well that echoes all the way down the well. The suddenly two large object resembling wings of birds was lowered down by spiders and stopped before the surface of the water. The wings was 12 inches long and very light. It was made of thin rattan and silk from silk worms. There was a handle where frog can slip in his hands.

"Slip this into your hand and start flapping!", says the fly.

Neophobia, but Bull did as told. He put his hand in and he began to flap his 'wings'. He failed to lift at first but after a few shots, he got a hang of it... He began to lift himself up... In split seconds, Bull's recovered from his despair. He felt life had returned to his miserable life. His smile was so awesome that it can blind fly for seconds!

As he 'flap' pass the mouth of the well, Bull saw a community of insects and bugs. All were cheering for the Great Escape. Bull, tears of joy was felt.. it went in deep, not just Bull, but everyone...

After the long 'Hi', 'Thanks' and 'Bye', finally, Bull and Fly were alone...

"Thanks... i never thought that this moment can be real forever. I know i will be lost forever in the well, if you didn't came to rescue...", Bull awkwardly express his gratitude to fly.

"Well, you can thank me properly. What is your name?" ask fly.

"Bull, as in Bullfrog James, ... just Bull will do", replied Bull.

"Well, Bull nice to meet you. My name is Shirnie. Shirnie GreenBottle", answered Shirnie the fly.

Bull went silent, shocked and replied "Shirnie? You're a girl!? Well, quite hard to differentiate especially your size."

With a dull face Shirnie replied "Thanks for the compliment and i was expecting a thank you, Bull. So where are you heading now?"

"I now go where the wind blows. These pair of wings that you gave me will bring me further. Hey, why don't we go there together. I promise i wont eat you or your relatives.. i'll be a mosquitarian.." requested Bull.

To be continue

Jan 28, 2010 Seabass

Our 1st class with Chef Sauji
Main Course: Seabass
Cooking Method: Poach, Grill, Panfry, Stuff, Pappilot
Sauce : Americanne, Holandaise, Beurre Blanc

Dish Name:

Cons
• Portion size a little big
• Vegetables overlap each other

Pros
• Sauce looks tempting

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Vegetables over cook except for carrots
• Presentation is very “Space Cop Gaban”
• Sauce lack of “life”

Pros
• Happy Meal

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Sauce is rough and thick
• Lack of colours
• Poor colour contras

Pros
• Presentable
• Good portioning

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Vegetables look messy like asteroid field
• Lack of colour contras
• Too little sauce
• Sauce too watery
• Fish portioning is a little big
• Fish looks dry
• Crust is slightly burn

Pros
• Efficient use of ingredient

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Fish looks like serving as a cake
• Fish too thin hence portioning too little
• Carrots look like deformed cocktail sausages
• Starch meal – Potato Season
• Lack of Colour
• Fish is dry

Pros
• Sauce texture is excellent
• Effort
• Many cooking techniques involve

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Sauce too light
• Cherry tomato slightly overcook
• Did not fulfil requirement of two vegetables

Pros
• Simple and nice
• Efforts

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Too little crust (wrong concept of garnishing)
• Vegetables overcook and soggy
• Fish looks dry
• Potato and sauce is the same colour
• Poor cherry tomato presentation
• Portioning a little less

Pros
• Presentable
• Used all given ingredient

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Plate not suitable for this presentation
• Sauce too less for two cooking methods
• Should have two different sauces

Pros
• Involve many cooking techniques
• Effort
• Good sauce texture
• Great colour contras

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Fish is crushed
• Carrots are longer than fish
• Mash potato and sauce has same colour
• Messy presentation
• Vegetables are not appealing
• More mushroom would be nice

Pros
• Good portioning
• Lively colour

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Cherry tomato way overcook
• Sauce is too little
• Portioning is for starter
• Lack of colour

Pros
• Presentable
• Great puree texture

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Dish Name:

Cons
• Messy sauce presentation
• Repeated use of vegetables i.e. mushroom
• Lack of colour

Pros
• Effort
• Fish looks juicy

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Dish Name:

Cons
• All vegetables are like “Scorching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

Pros
• Effort
• Sauce texture looks tempting
• Good portioning

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Dish Name: Herbs and Almond Crust Seabass accompanied with Mash Potato, Mushroom Ragout. and Tomato Confit, served with Lemon Beurre Blanc Sauce

Cons
• Burn at the bottom part of the fish
• Garlic confit looks a little undercook
• Over work on mash potato
• Poor plating
• Too little sauce

Pros
• Good colour contras
• Effort
• Efficient use of ingredients

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M.I.T Boom!!

Me in Taylor's Boom!!

Hours ago, i just got a boom by Pn(Mrs).Siti. She asked me a question that i think i have lost track to...

I told her that i am going to Maldives for internship. She had that funny look, but she question a little before booming me.

It goes like this:

Pn Siti: So why did you choose Maldives?
Me : Well, its sinking in 10 yrs. If i dont go now, i might never have the chance ever..

Pn Siti: Sounds like a holiday..

Me : Yar. I really need a rest. I mean i pushed hard in the begining. really need a good holiday.

Now, here comes the boom!!

Pn Siti: James, you are 31yrs old, why r u slowing down...? There are 9 more yrs before you reach 40, and you are slowing down...I am very dissapointed with you. With your current academic results and skills, you can go further... but yet you are slowing down....

I did not explain my curret emotional distress. but she is totally right... i forgot where i stand... i forgot my footstep... i forgot my purpose... i forgot the reason... i forgot my dream...

Her words hit me hard just now... i think i will climb back very soon... i think i can sleep better tonight... i belief i can go further now...

For the girl that I love so much, she is as important... but i think she would want me to focus on "these" rather than her.. If she is reading this, i belief i just put a smile on her face.

For Pn. Siti, THANK YOU for getting me back on track..