Hediard - for the love of CROISSANTS!

Lately i have been craving for a good croissant. An addiction i picked up after my trip to Seoul earlier this year. How does one know a good croissant when she sees one ? I only know that the first time i sank my teeth into the deceptively simple looking croissant served up in Hediard's "H" breakfast set, it was love at first bite. Crumbling at the slightest touch, buttery and suitably moist. You could enjoy it plain in between sips of freshly squeezed orange juice or add to the decadence by pairing it with generous lashings of orange marmalade or any assortment of jams you might fancy. The thought of jam oozing out with each bite is just so enticing i never fail to feel scrumptiously satisfied after devouring 2 freshly baked ones.

The 25 seater cafe is decked out in its signature red & black interior. I always make sure to ask for the seat next to the window to enjoy the natural sunlight streaming in on a lazy sunday morning. Just call at least one day in advance and the staff would be more than willing to oblige. Alternatively, you can book a table via their website online.

The shop next door carries a bewildering range of chocolates, soups, teas, coffees, jams, chutneys and wines... you can even find sugared violets here which can be added to your teas. I had the opportunity to discover a lovely wooden chest housing individually packed teas of 10-12 flavours. Elegant to a hilt when served up next to artfully displayed tea time treats, this makes for an elegant showcase for that perfect tete a tete when hosting for a small party at home / in the office. You can even find pre-packed containers of chocolate fondue mixture that can be popped into the microwave as a quick treat for two. A good dessert option thats easy to prepare after that nice candlelight dinner with that special someone in your life.

I have yet to find the time to try out its 3 course $25 lunch sets. But till then i shall continue to swing by this lovely cafe when my croissant cravings start a calling. The pictures seen here are from the website. Until i find the time to upload my photos, these shall have to suffice for now.
A Bientot & Bon Appetit !

Check them out - http://www.hediard.com.sg/

Seoul Searching in Spring

My recent trip to Seoul gave me the perfect opportunity to do some soul searching (pun intended). Seoul is a city of contradictions with the old and new co-existing side by side. Despite the hectic pace this city is moving at, it is still deeply rooted in its culture and cuisine. Age old temples and palaces co-exist with skyscrapers in this bustling city. At noon, be prepared for swarms of hungry office workds in a mad scramble for sustenance!

Being my first solo trip abroad , I had the blessings of discovering one of the most accessible and cosiest of guesthouses. Located at Insadong - a cobblestoned quaint little area filled with art galleries, cafes and arty shops, one can easily while away a whole day just traipsing through the winding alleys on this street. YEHA GUESTHOUSE is just right behind Ssamziegil building - shopping haven for ladies out there ! A treasure trove of shops that peddle a wide variety of trinkets and accessories amidst handmade crafts. The owner Mr Cho also owns the YEHA CERAMIC shop across the street. They even presented me a lovely handmade teacup set as a parting gift. http://www.yehadoye.com/KR/guest/guest_index.jsp

Cafes are aplenty in Seoul, be it to rest your tired feet or take cover from the sudden downpour, you have much to much to choose from. Be it the upmarket and very posh PASCUCI or the commonplace STARBUCKS, COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF, the sheer variety of cafes out there is mind boggling. For one with a lovely european feel, visit MIAM MIAM in the Gangnam area. CAFE SOBAHN serves up house grown greens during lunch & dinner. Do not miss out on their piping hot and velvety pumpkin latte.

Insadong has many lovely cafes worth checking out - CHASARANG (aka tea of love) is a modern concept teahouse imparting a very organic feel from the wood and paper interiors and furniture. The next cafe is a traditional shop with a cute name "MOON BIRD THINKS ONLY OF THE MOON". It took me quite a while to find this hidden gem near the Yeha guesthouse. Both serve up traditional fare like jujube / citron tea with side dish of puffed rice cakes to complete the afternoon treat. For breakfast, I popped over to the "LIME TREE CAFE" serving up American sandwiches with hearty heaps of fresh veggies, notably the crunchy ice cold lettuce.

Bakeries serve wonderful croissants and dreamy creations of strawberry confections during March - the season for irresistibly sweet STRAWBERRIES. Bakery chains like PARIS CROISSANT and TOUR LES JOURS serve up scrumptiously flaky croissants. Just pop them into the oven for breakfast, add slices of fresh strawberries, finish off with a light drizzle of honey. Accompanied by locally produced yoghurt and bergamot scented earl grey tea on the side. Simply divine!

Do not miss the uber chic LEE-UM SAMSUNG MUSUEM located at the Itaewon district. Get your hands on the sleek PDA guide and discover the history behind the porcelain versus bronze treasures and modern art in this ultra modern facility.

Check out the stationery dept at the massive underground KYOBO bookstore and get caught up in the variety of locally designed creations that will leave you spoilt for choice. Handphone accessories and straps abound, notebooks of every color & print vye for your attention. I spent a good 2 hours browsing through the dept.. and left reluctantly with a bag of goodies that I am having trouble parting with. Now, which ones should i keep for myself and which ones do I give away as souvenirs ? Conundrum, conundrum, conundrum...

I definitely left my heart and soul in this bustling city of the old & new. I will endeavour to revisit this city in its splendid glory in the coming summer,autumn & winter.

Giddy on Ghibli !

Chancing upon the documentary on Hayao Miyazaki's museum opened the floodgates of memories and emotions from my very first encounter with the work of this genius animator. SPIRITED AWAY, the internationally acclaimed hit animation was a godsend creation! The graphic details in this film were a sensual and visual feast all at once and intrigued me on many levels. It was interesting to note that European architecture heavily influenced the scenes in his works, for eg. in Kiki the Witch & Howl's Moving Castle. Watch the documentary of his museum on crunchyroll.com and you will get the picture. Another genius at work is composer Joe Hisaishi, who composed the music on this film which tugs at your very heartstrings, check out the title tracks on HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE & TALES OF THE EARTHSEA. I liken watching his films to reading the works of Roald Dahl my favourite author in my childhood years. I still pick up his books now & then when i need a lighthearted moment. They seem to bring out an innate joy that one has forgotten over the years... They bring out the child in you and and momentarily free one from the shackles of adulthood. If you open your heart enough you might just break into a genuine smile of joy. Both their works will definitely outlive them in the generations to come... for now, my dream is to step foot in Miyazaki's museum and relive my childhood through his make-believe world of wonderful journeys!

http://http//www.onlineghibli.com/films.php