My Passionate Home Cooked Food

I enjoy baking and cooking different types of food at home. Normally we cook Italian and British food at home, though I could cook some indian or chinese sometimes, it take a lot of preparation and the chinese ingredients are expensive here. I always think my Mum cooks the most amazing chinese food. However, I discovered that my Mum tends to put some pork and nice real meat stock inside the food, but John doesn’t like much pork because it is too fatty and greasy he said.

As John nowadays can eat some beef and it is cold winter snow day. I decided to make some Jamie Oliver’s recipes. Beef stew is the easiest winter food. It tastes meaty with different herbs. You can eat with some garlic bread or some Jasmine rice. Superb!

I always cook Bacon Asparagus Tortelloni and it is the quick and health dish, but delicious. Asparagus needs to be careful, hot water 3 minutes, and ice water for 1 minutes, then fried with garlic and butter 1 minutes. It will be the most crunchy tasty Asparagus ever. Trust me. I think I know different herbs and meat combination since I learned so much from the chef from TV.

I made some of the scones from James Martin’s dessert book, eat with clotted cream and Jam! As the dessert expert John said it was the most moist inside, crunchy outside and delicious scone ever, and better than a lot of shops are selling. It gave me so much joy and confident about my cooking.

The pumpkin pie we normally make at the weekend. I just made some chocolate cookies yesterday. I love cooking and I think it is nothing happier than people you love eating well and enjoying the food.

Good food, good music and good accompanies, then Happy Day!

Celebrated New Year Eve in London Eye

Miwa’s boyfriend Haruki flew from Japan to celebrate New Year Eve with us, so we decided to have New year dinner, then went to see the firework in London. We took Haruki to eat the amazing fresh-made Gourmet burger because he likes beef like I do.

We managed to find some seats in one of them in Soho, and surprisingly, all the restaurants were not full at all except some of them in the tourist places in Leicester Square. After the giant burgers and chips, we walked down to the pub near St James Park, ordered some champaign and desserts to get our mood started.

At 11 pm, we stood behind the House of the Parliament, and it was so cold about minus 3-4 degrees outside with a full moon. The firework was last 10 minutes, and it was magnificent and so colourful. News said that there were about 250,000 people witnessing the countdown and the firework. The funny things is after the firework, it was snowing for 5 minutes. What else you can get in a night! We had an extremely good time in New Year Eve. Goodbye 2009, another new year has come.

Happy New Year to all of you, and wish you and me will have a lot fortune and luck in 2010. Picture of firework is from Dailymail News.

日本好友美和的男友山野春树专门从日本飞来英国4天和我们一起渡过元旦新年。我们决定去伦敦眼一年一次倒数和看烟花。春树第2次到返伦敦,这次我们带他去吃超级棒的牛肉汉堡包。一个汉堡包有7-8寸高,超级新鲜美味!

约翰老说新年一定哪里都爆满,我们6点在soho找到位置坐了下来,吃完我们就走去汉金殿后面的公园,找了间酒吧开了香槟庆祝新年,因为外面实在冷,零下3-5度,所以我们要找个温暖的地方坐下来,喝喝香槟把新年气氛调动起来。我们聊天到11点,出发去霸位置看烟花!外面已经人山人海。

烟花放了10分钟,伦敦的烟花实在不同,颜色五彩缤纷。报道说,当晚估计有25万人在这里看倒数和烟花。当晚晴空万理,也是满月。烟花结束后,最兴奋的是开始下雪。下了10分钟大大的雪,我们就各自回家了。告别2009年,走向美好的2010年。谢谢大家陪伴我度过这么多年。同时祝福大家都过个好年,祈祷2010年你我都运气连连,开心无限。 烟花照片是在dailynew网上载录下来。

Winter Shoes Collection

Recently I have bought some winter boots because I don’t have much winter boots. But now I think I have enough for this winter and keep my feet warm and satisfied. I need to save up from now. No more new shoes or clothes. Happy New Year soon and wish best of all.

We are heading to have New Year dinner with friends to celebrate 2010. Which shoes should I wear tonight? It is raining outside, maybe I will wear the blue boots.

冬季鞋
最近买了很多冬季的鞋子和靴子,冬天我没有太多的鞋子,所以最近疯狂的买了很多。不过买到很多自己比较满意的鞋子。让我这个冬天的脚可以暖暖一下。爱鞋的我是否保护我的鞋子,不过过了这个冬天,我要好好存钱了,再不能买任何东西。祝大家新年如意。我也祝自己新年好运气,一切顺心顺意。今晚和朋友吃年饭,我在想我该穿那双鞋子?外面下着雨,或许我穿蓝色短靴子吧。

Vapiano Italian Restaurant in London

Vapiano is franchise Italian restaurant in Europe and the State. My friend Kevin took me there when we were working together. From their website page, it is described the restaurant is ‘Somewhere between the nicest of fast casual and hippest of casual dining restaurants is Vapiano’.

The interior design is clean modern, open-space, casual with high standard quality food, especially there is fresh basil plant in every single table. Pasta is home-made, and it cooks in front of you, so it makes sure all fresh. It comes with a big portion as well, and you can choose your pasta types. My favourite pasta is Scampi E Spinaci, which is king prawn with pesto and baby spinach and Salsiccia Con Fichi , which is spicy Italian sausage with fresh figs. (both £8.50,  I just made it sound so fancy, did I? ) They are the best. Pizza is making in front of you including the dough, crispy edge with interesting filling.

Price is incredible cheap and so reasonable. Pasta and pizza starts from £6. Dessert from £3 – £5. All the staff and chef speak Italian. It is a friendly and self-service restaurant, so suitable for a quick lunch and dinner place, but also somewhere you can enjoy hang out with your friends.

We have been there many times and it is always my favourite quick Italian health restaurant. You can see more restaurant picture and memu here. 4.5 stars out of 5 for sure and highly recommended. We always went to the one behind Topshop in Oxford Street, you can not miss it.

Vapiano是一个在欧洲和美国十分流行的意大利连锁餐厅,在牛津街Topshop后面是我们经常去的地方。朋友介绍我去,之后我就几乎是他们的常客。店里装修十分时尚及现代,干净又整洁。每台桌面上都有一盆新鲜的Basil香叶,随时需要随时栽放在你的意大利面里。所有的意大利面都是厨师每天新鲜制作,所以十分新鲜美味。有8-10种意大利面条给你选择,我最喜欢的2道是 ‘菠菜大虾意大利面’ 或是 ’新鲜无花果加意大利辣香肠‘ 超级是我的最爱,价格十分诱人,才8镑多,大大分量加新鲜原料。pizza也是新鲜到连馅底的面粉都是现场撮然后加下原料的。

价格实在便宜,这么新鲜好的餐厅意大利面从6镑起,甜点也是3-5镑。所有的东西都是现场炒和煮给你看,你可以学到东西又可以吃到好吃的意大利菜,当然所有的厨师也是意大利人,都说意大利话。不仅是自助式服务,健康,简单快捷的意大利餐厅。假如你赶时间又想吃个健康的意大利菜,Vapiano绝对是我首选。你可以从这里看到 菜单更多图片。绝对推荐4.5星!

Christmas Day

I think we did pretty good on Christmas food even though it was our first time to cook Christmas dinner. The food was very tasty and nothing went wrong, so I was very pleased with them. Then we watched some movies and went to have a walk in the park. In boxing day, we went out in Westfield, but it was so crowed, so we went to have a walk in Holland park. To be honest, we did eat so much food and I am a little bit sick of food or eating out, which is unusual for me, because I am always in love with food. (was it sound too weird?) It did remind of me so much like the Chinese New Year – family and food.

I do think I need to on diet soon. But overall, I am quite happy with this Christmas holiday. I forgot to mention that I was so excited to receive so many Christmas gifts. 2010 is coming as well as our big day. Afterwards, we will move into new house hopefully in February. Hope everything is going smoothly and well. Wish everyone had a good Christmas.

我想今年的圣诞过的还是不错,虽然是我们第1次煮圣诞大餐,但一切都准备的紧紧有条。食物十分美味,我十分满足我们的烹饪技术。圣诞当天我们吃了大餐然后就去公园散步。晚上看这电影渡过,好像就像我们的中国新年吃吃喝喝然后无所事事。Boxing Day我们去商场逛街吃饭,啊?实在太多人购减价货品,我们就走了,去另一个公园散步。圣诞实在吃太多东西了,现在看到食物再美味,或想到出去吃饭都怕。

我想是时候减肥了,总而言之,这个圣诞过得还是乐姿姿的。我们的大子日即将到来,过年后我们还要搬去新的房子,希望一切顺利和开心。祝福大家也有个美好的圣诞节。

Mew’s gig in Shepherd’s Bush Empire

MEW's gig

My friend Syrinx had introduced Mew‘s since March, and we love every single album they produced. John bought their tickets when I was in China, and because we booked that early, we got two fantastic seats ever.I never like standing because I am too short. Beside, I don’t like people jumping and sweating on me. (lol)

It was a cold raining night. We went there earlier by half an hour queueing for good seats. It was literately only 50 meters away from the band in the sitting seat first line. The warm-up band was ok, also touring with Mew in the UK.  The concert hall was full of young people and many scandinavia fans too.

Jonas Bjerre has incredible high voice and it combines with their music perfectly. He wore a causal white shirt and jeans. Jonas didn’t say much, but said it was their last performance in the UK, and it was kind of sad. I guess UK fans were passionate and crazy about their music and properly they didn’t expect like that.  The background animation was fantastic as well. It’s said that Jonas had designed all of them –  they were scary, weird and unusual. (I heard those images were from Jonas’s dreams). It was certainly creative, and so their music.

They performed most popular and well-known songs, such as ‘ Special, 156, Am I wry, no and The Zookeeper’s boy etc’. I don’t think two hours of their performance was enough, and of course, we wish them to perform all their songs, which is impossible.

The atmosphere, the quality of their performance, and most important – their music were superb. And the enjoyment was far beyond words that could describe. Mew played ‘Comforting Sounds‘ to be their last song, which was sad and emotional, and it was a perfect ending.

I found the black and white picture from Mew‘s official website, which I can see myself and John in the first line of Level one! (haha)

La Roux – In For the Kill

la-roux

Even I am not a huge electronic pop fan, I heard some songs from Florence + The Machine and Ladyhawke. They are ok, but not really my music taste. However, La Roux‘s new album is outstanding and it worths recommending.

I realise that some music or album you need to listen more than one time, then will love it. Or even play in in different period. First time listen maybe a little bit judgemental, second time might feel interesting. Some music you wont’ be instantly loved it, but maybe second or third time. I do remember I didn’t like Keane’s third album ‘ Perfect Symmetry’ many months, but I love it so much one day after I listened them again.

I love all the songs in the whole album, especially song called ‘In for the Kill‘ ,’I’m not your toy’ and ‘Cover my eyes‘ but the whole album is amazing.

Morocco Food Review

Morocco Spice

I haven’t seen Miwa from Japan since I returned from China, so we went out on Saturday night. All of my good friends love eating and trying various nationality food in London. We discovered a restaurant in Soho called Maison Touareg .

I haven’t tried Morocco food before and I know the food is very popular and delicious. It is famous for their lamb and chicken. John can eat chicken, and I love lamb, so we give it a try.

Food is absolutely delicious and interestingly, you also can order those water-pipe (nor sure the real name.) I gave it 4 stars out of 5. Price is reasonable. Appetite is from £3, main course from £12, and wine is from £17. Each we paid £18, not bad indeed.

All About Music – Alternative Rock

More new music

The Temper Trap

I always love to add new music into my Ipod. An Alternative band from Australia called The Temper Trap’s ‘ Condition’ is absolutely delightful to listen. The famous song ‘ Sweet Disposition’ is so hit and become the sound of 2009 according to BBC. When I listened their first song, I thought it is definitely a British Rock band, surprisingly they are from Australia. Also, They became so famous because this amazing album in the UK, then well-known in Australia afterwards.

Every single song in the Album are my favourite.

Green Day

We haven’t heard Greenday releasing new albums for such a long time. Even though I am not a huge Greenday fan, the new album called 21st Century Breakdown is fantastic. The album is not only random music, but actually tell a story. It is divided into three acts, each loosely following a young couple, Christian and Gloria, as they’re confronted with a manipulative, authoritative culture according from Culturebully. Would it be great that when you’re listening songs, you can imagine a movie?

It seems they wrote many songs for Heroes and Soldiers. I still love some of their songs, and never feel tired of them. Some of their songs always make me feel sad –  I call it as the rebellious sadness.

There are many favourite pieces in the album:

  • 21 Guns
  • !Viva La Gloria!
  • Peacemaker
  • ?Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl)
  • Restless Heart Syndrome

Muse

Great news that Muse released the New album called ” The Resistance” in September. It is more alternative + classical music combination. Great album and I’ve been listening since Sept.

They are all on the tour. Muse and Green day’s gigs are so expensive (£50), and also performed in O2 and Wembley stadium –  too big! We saw Muse in HK, and it was great, same price but you can see them so clear. However, they are too big in the UK, I don’t think they will perform in a small concert then. Pity!

I can’t wait to go to see MEW’s concert next week. One privilege living in London is to see many concerts regardless singers are superb or unnoticeable.

Halloween – Soul meets body

09 Halloween

My ex-colleagues asked me to attend her house Halloween Party, so I was so excited about it. We all dressed up and I was a fashionable devil. And Rachel was a zombie ‘Alice in wonderland’. Men all dressed up as zombie women, it was awesome and crazy.

I had a lot of fun and friends were very crazy when it comes to party. Sometimes I do think I am too old for partying anymore, and I just don’t have the energy keep drinking and dancing…Urg. I am officially admitting I am getting old.

So I left at 9:30, then went to take the tube back home with my scary make-up on. You can imagine that how many people were staring at me in that time. Some looked at me and had a question mark in their head; some came to say fantastic to me; and some were laughing and thinking so halloween. I don’t care slightly at all…it was fun to dress up and had a good time with my friend.

It’s my first being crazy in Halloween here. I do miss my old party time of halloween with Yuki and Jenie in GZ. Here are more crazy pictures.

前同事们叫我去他们家过万圣节派对,所以周5晚我太兴奋了。我打扮成女魔鬼,Rachel打扮成死去的《艾丽斯在田野里》,男的全部扮成女鬼。朋友们都太鬼马了,扮得十分诡异,玩得也超级疯狂。我玩得很开心,不过觉得老了,现在玩就点都觉得没有精力了。所以9点多就回家。搭地铁回家时候,因为赶时间,脸上的装还没有卸,有些人已迷惑的神情看着我;有些在我面前说真好看;有些对着我在笑。哈哈,真过瘾,这是我英国第一次去参加万圣节派对,不过想念广州时候和李宁姐妹们一起疯狂万圣节的时候。这里更多的疯狂照片