The Mussel Guys Restaurant

28 Feb'2010

Hubby wanted to check out Orchard Central.

As it was around lunch time, we decided to patronise one of the restaurants in Orchard Central.

Saw a couple of nice restaurants : hubby wanted to try the Vietnamese restaurant but it looked like fine dining and having Eugene with us is a definite no-no - he might get into his 'throwing' mood.

I really didn't want any Asian food, what with all the Chinese New Year dinners.

We walked past a western restaurant called 'The Mussel Guys' ( I like mussels) and decided to head in to try.

After settling down and while looking at the menu, hubby said that this seemed to be the same restaurant that we had dined before in Vivo City. He asked the waiter and indeed it is. Oh shucks! (pun intended)

We had dined at their branch in Vivo City (had some set lunch, did not order any mussels though) and it was definitely a ' no going back a second time'.

Alamak, how? we had already sat down and water served. Ok lah, give another try, maybe the cook here in Orchard Central will be better.

 

Nice view

 

 

There was a promotion going on for the mussels menu - 1 for 1.


We ordered the Belgium mussels. Ha ha ha ha ha..... I can only laugh......no wonder they are giving a promo of 1 for 1. Look at the miserable amount of mussels. It cost $19.90!

When people eat Belgium mussels, it's usually a mountain full of it, overflowing in fact but that's in Europe only I guess. On a positive note, the mussels were succulent and the gravy not too bad though it could have been better.

This was the free plate of mussels : we chose the Cheese Baked Mussels

It's not bad - just not that flavourful.

Soup was just ok.

Hubby ordered the black squid ink seafood spaghetti. I didn't expect much but it turned out rather good.

Overall, the food is ok AT THIS BRANCH - Orchard Central. I just find that the food are not that flavourful. You don't get that 'wah, shiok' feeling. You don't feel that you're getting your money's worth .


Do not go to the one at Vivo City. I can only remember that I will not go back again - so it must be terrible food.

I had also just checked the reviews for this restaurant - almost all are negative reviews at the VIVO CITY branch.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

 Will you come back? Eugene's expression said it all.

Ouch ! I Got Bitten !

24 Feb'2010

Eugene got bitten by one of the kids in his playgroup.

When I went to fetch Eugene, the teacher asked if Eugene has got sensitive skin as he has got a big red patch on his face.

I looked at it - hmm.... there were 2 half circles, looked more like a bite mark. The teacher said that she is not aware of any of the kids biting Eugene. The assistant said that all the kids like to hug and kiss Eugene. I guess that kid got carried away.

Yes, I've seen for mysef that most of the kids like to come around Eugene and try to hug and kiss him. The hugging is ok but I don't really like other kids trying to kiss him, especially on the lips.

When I do see any of the kids trying to kiss him, I would usually try to prevent it by pretending to clean Eugene's face with a tissue paper and leading him away. Don't want to appear too rude mah, especially if the parents or grand-parents are around and also don't want to hurt the other kid's feelings.



This picture was taken a day later after the bite. So the redness has gone down a bit, but the bite marks are still there.

Was trying to get another pic of the marks, but Eugene was figeting all the time and snap his lips instead.

Look at that nice juicy, bee-stung lips. No wonder everybody wants to kiss him. ha ha.

Hot Cover

Eugene do not like the heat and glare of the sun - I think paranoid is more likely.

When it's hot,  he will pull the cover over his head and if it's really fiercely glaring, he will pull the cover as much as he could to try to cover his body too.

 

Boy ah, how to go NS like this ?

 

Chinese New Year - Visit 6

21 Feb'2010

Met up with 2 long time friends.

Q is back in S'pore for the Chinese New Year before returning to Dubai.

KK bought a 2 bedroom condominium on the 18th floor at City Square Residence. I was busy talking and keeping an eye on Eugene that I forgot to take some photos of KK's new home.

I like the master bedroom. Full length bay windows on 2 walls with unobstructed view - can imagine looking out and seeing the lights of the city below or the twinkling of the stars above.

Must be so, I can't describe it, the feeling when it is raining and to see the rain coming down from the sky, lying in bed and feeling that there's just you with the rain outside cocooning you from the world - feeling safe and secure.


That's KK carrying Eugene.

'Wonder-Group' Chinese New Year Gathering 2010

20 Feb'2010

A Chinese New Year gathering with my groupie.

It was rather last minute to get (almost) everybody  together. Everyone have their own agenda - some going away for holidays and some going back to their hometown.


(click on collages for full view)

The obligatory 'Lo-hei'.

Yummy 'Pen-Cai' 盆菜 or 'Poon Choi (in Cantonese)'

Extracted from Daniel's Food Diary

It was said that Pen Cai (Poon Choi) was invented when Mongol troops invaded Song China. To feed the fleeing Emperor who escaped to Guangdong, the locals collected all their best food available. After cooking it, they put it in wooden washing basins as there wasn’t a bowl big enough for the army, coiling the term ‘pen cai’ (vegetables in a basin).

Most would attribute the popularity of the dish to the Hakkas, who contributed root vegetables like yam and tapioca to the dish.

As to what are the actual ingredients that go into it, there are really no hard and fast rules. Almost anything goes! The Cantonese are known to serve the basin with expensive seafood like abalone, scallops, dried oysters, mushrooms, duck, chicken meat and ham. Other versions could include ginseng, dried eel, fish maw, prawns and beancurd.

The main difficulty is not in cooking, but presenting. Every ingredient has to be layered and stacked up properly. Chicken and duck meat are usually placed on the top, implying that birds return to the nests. Though those who know would reach for the bottom where the gravy trickles over the ingredients.

We had our 'Pen-Cai' at :

Lao Beijing

Plaza Singapura

Next stop : PS Cafe at Palais Renaissance

Yummy cakes. Prices averaging about $12-14 per cake, rather ex I feel, though the size is bigger than the usual slice.

Guess the feet and hands.

 

The lush greenery outside is actually the garden of the Thai Embassy - hmm..... not very safe and secure for the embassy isn't it? 

There is another PS.Cafe at Dempsey which I prefer.

Chinese New Year - Visit 5 (Foot Reflexology)

20 Feb 2010

Eugene getting a foot massage from Uncle B.

Waahhh........ so shiok.........

*

Al Jarreau Love Love Love!

I like Jazz, different kind of jazz - big band jazz, old fashion jazz, some acid jazz.....

I just love AL JARREAU - especially when he scats.



Al Jarreau did this variation of the song "Try A Little Tenderness" - absolutely fantastic.

This is the only video I can find of this song and unfortunately it's not the complete song.





Link:




Another great song by Al Jarreau : "We're In This Love Together"

Bath Sarong

Mommy, you wrapped it wrongly! You've got to wrap it like daddy, at the waist.

Can you believe it, this boy can see the difference in the wrapping and it have to be like daddy (he kept pointing at hubby's towel and we finally figured it out)

 

 Yes, that's it.

 

kissing my duckie......

 

Chinese New Year - Visit 4

16 Feb'2010

Don't Play Play, this is serious.....

 

Reminds me when I was young, playing tikam.

I joined the kids to play too, ha ha...

The young banker was quite upset with me because I kept predicting the correct animals and my 20 cents turned into a dollar.

"Are you psychic or something?"

(actually, if I concentrate and "feel", I can usually predict it correctly but usually only for 3 times)

so, I just randomly placed my bets and lost.

   

Chinese New Year - Visit 3

15 Feb'2010

My dad's youngest brother, Uncle J

 

Uncle J's eldest son

 

 Mom with Uncle J's wife

A kiss for you .....

  

 I used to stay here with my grandparents, parents and Uncle J.

Up until today, I still remember an episode with Uncle J. 

When I was young, I think between 5-7 years old, I was good at dancing the A-go-go and Cha-cha (yes, yes, I am that old!). 

One day, Uncle J wanted me to dance, but I refused, and he took out a ruler to threaten me. Of cos, he wasn't going to beat me but at that time, I didn't know mah - I was so scared that I started crying and clinging onto my mother. I still do remember my mom and Uncle J having a smile on their face - most probaby trying to suppress their laughter.

Chinese New Year - Visit 2

14 Feb'2010

 At my parents' place.



My mom with eldest grand-son.

 

My dad with all of my bro's kids.

  

My bro with Eugene

  

 

  

Swing time

  

  

 

 With my Sis-in-law and youngest son.

less serious...

  

more serious?

  

Chinese New Year - Visit 1

14 Feb'2010

After visiting my in-laws, we went over to visit hubby's grand-ma at Aunt L's house.



Cousin N (in green) absolutely adores Eugene. And he's so good at taking care of Eugene. When Eugene have his nose snot coming out, N took a piece of tissue to wipe Eugene's nose.
For a young boy, that's very good.

 

Hubby's sis looking great in that dress

  

Baby L in her father's arm.

  

  

  

  

  

Colouring time!