Meeting up with Dr Yeap

On 13th March, I brought GK along when I accompanied Da-Sao for her 12th week's pregnancy check-up. In the previous visit, Dr Yeap mentioned about wanting to meet my boys whom she delivered eight years ago, and there they are:

When I showed this pic to my MIL and hubby, they were stunned! Cos' Dr Yeap looked very different now.... So much prettier and smaller by at least 2 sizes.... I remembered in year 2000, when MIL accompanied me for my pregnancy check-up, we were commenting about how auntie-looking and plump Dr Yeap was...hahaha..... And now 8 years plus liao, she looks very chio liao....

Btw, in this visit, Da-Sao's baby is already 7.3 cm, last visit (in her 8th week was 4.2 cm). So far so good, she really can eat and sleep very well, and can really see her putting on weight. Good for her, she looks better when she put on weight, otherwise, too skinny liao. I remembered she told me she was only 41 kg nia when she came to Singapore, now I think she got 45 kg liao...

Farrer Gathering 9 - James' Wedding

Yesterday was James' big day and a time for our Farrer friends to gather again!

It was held at the Meritus Mandarin, Mandarin Court, 35th Floor, with 17 tables.

Though there were a total of 18 of us being invited but 3 did not turn up.

Something frustrating happened last night....

The dinner reception started on time at 8.30 pm, after all the guests have seated. But it took the wedding couple 45 mins to march in....

It just so happened that at that time, there was a power failure, and hence, the audio system could not work... and thus, there were no music for the march-in... And the air-con system was not working too.... and everyone, were like getting impatient due to the long-wait and the stuffiness of the room...Think the power trip was caused by the construction works carried out in the hotel.

The emcees (one of them was our Farrer friends, Rappa) had to come up to stage a few times, to send his apologies to the guests on behalf of the couple.

It was only about the 9.15 pm, then we saw James and Evonne coming in.... and due to the delay, we ended our dinner about 11.15 pm.....

Handsome James and Beautiful Evonne!

The cover of the menu - looked very classy!

The gift - A plastic coaster.

Cheers to Farrer team!

Photos:

http://luvina76.multiply.com/photos/album/46/Farrer_Gathering_9_at_James_Wedding_8_March_09

Pastamania

Yesterday was at Bishan Junction 8. It has been donkey years since I stepped into this shopping mall. So far, the difference I observed is the expansion of the mall, now seems bigger...


GK were craving for pizzas for lunch. We tried to look out for Pizza Hut in the mall, but we spotted Pastamania instead. We decided to eat in this restaurant as I have never eaten before and have always wanting to try....


We order the followings:

Spicy Chicken pasta - wooh... it was really spicy for us... my hubby ate until he perspired... We also order the tomato soup... but not to our expection... still prefers Pizza Hut's summer soup

I had this Spinach tortellini...I was expecting to see the pasta have spinaches spreaded over the dish, but only to realise that this dish actually has the spinach all smashed (like mashed potato) like that, and stuffed inside the pasta which were wrapped like wantons... By the time I finished up the whole dish, I was beginning to have the wanting-to-puke feeling... My hubby suggested that this dish would taste better if serve with cream gravy instead of tomatoes...

For the kids, they had their Hawaiian pizza.... I find the pizza quite dry... still prefers the one at Bento Box... that was really cheezy...

Overall, the food at this restuarant is so-so only... will only patronize when there are not other better options... : (

A Belated Birthday Treat at the Buona Pizza Bar & Ristorante

We gave a belated birthday treat for my buddy last Friday at an Italian restaurant which my hubby has patronized before, and he highly-recommended that we should try out the cuisine.

Snapshots of what we ate :

Spinach Salad (with blue cheese) and Appetizer

Mushroom Soup - For mushroom lovers, you gonna fall in love with this...

Main Course - Black Pepper Tenderloin Steak... Steak taste good...and the Baby Potatoes too!

Buono Pizza - with a lot of leaves on it.... A refreshing and healthy-looking pizza!

Seafood Pasta... generous serving of clams, mussels, prawns and a crayfish

Despite the ulu location, the restaurant really served nice yummy food and it was almost full house between 6 pm - 9 pm.... I enjoyed all of the dishes... and I am sure my buddy enjoyed too!

'Happy Belated Birthday to You, my dear friend! And thank you for showing us to your favourite hideout at Casuarina Road after the meal!'

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Below are some some article reviews of this restaurant:

Jaime Ee
Sat, May 26, 2007The Business Times

Buono Bar & Ristorante
IF you translate his name into English, Salvatore Buono would be known as Mr Good. That's what his last name means in Italian, and right now, Mr Good is doing, well, good, in this quiet little residential neighbourhood in Serangoon Gardens.
Open just a month or so ago, Buono is located in a spacious corner shophouse in a less than quaint row of commercial units that include a scrap metal business and a shop filled with dilapidated kiddie rides.
Mr Buono readily admits that he was inspired by the success of other Italian eateries that have open up in residential areas like La Braceria in Greenleaf Park, or Valentino's in Rifle Range Road in Upper Bukit Timah. While Serangoon Gardens may not have the same trendy vibe, Buono's has already garnered enough buzz to be almost packed to the gills on weekends.
Mr Buono used to run the Italian restaurant Naxos in China Square for two years before the landlord decided to up his rent by 50 per cent when his lease expired last December. While the restaurant was doing well, 'we were working just to cover the rent', he says. It didn't make sense and he started looking for cheaper premises.
As it turned out, the Serangoon location had actually been rented by a fellow Italian - a food supplier who used the premises as a warehouse and had plans to open a gourmet market and cafe there. 'But at that time, competition in the food business was very tough, so he decided to give up and return to Italy,' says Mr Buono. Rental was cheap, so while Mr Buono was looking for newpremises, he used the shophouse as a place to store his restaurant equipment.
Unable to find a suitable location at the right price, he got to thinking, why not open his restaurant at Lichfield Road itself? Sure, it might not have the buzz of a more central location, but the rent would be much lower and he would be able to offer his food at a lower price as well.
So that was it. Buono is now furnished with pretty much all the furniture from the old restaurant - it's got a casual, tropical feel from its hard wood tables and chairs, and enough al fresco tables for diners to enjoy the cool evening breeze. There's also a brick oven where pizzas are assembled from scratch and baked.
And the food? As the name says, it's all pretty good. Pizzas are of the delicate, thin crust variety - go for the house special Buono ($20), which boasts a creamy sauce mixed with home made sausages and mozzarella cheese topped with arugula. A $10 seafood soup is generous with clams, prawns and mussels, and made on the spot for that fresh clean flavour.
The swordfish carpaccio ($15) is overly sour but an interesting take on ceviche - a large portion of fish is arranged in a timbale with chopped avocado to temper the sourness. Lamb chops with gorgonzola sauce ($27) are unusual but very good. The food has a uniqueness about it that you won't find in other Italian eateries - but its appeal is also its genuinely friendly owner and soon to be permanent resident.
Because it's still new and still has some kinks to iron out, the restaurant can get very warm due to the underpowered airconditioner, but that is supposed to be rectified soon. But that aside, one reckons that foodies looking for an enjoyable dining experience are ready to welcome Mr Buono to the neighbourhood.

BUONO PIZZA BAR & RISTORANTE

27 Lichfield Road.Tel: 6733-5646

(extracted from http://wineanddine.asiaone.com)
===========================================================
Having recently relocated to Serangoon Gardens from Chinatown Square , Buono is optimistic in winning the hearts of food-lovers through its expertise in Italian food. Even though it is situated in the residential areas, Buono is determined to make a name for itself through word of mouth by ensuring that every customer has a pleasant and rewarding Italian experience such that they will bring their loved ones along the next time. With such a positive attitude in providing great food with service, Buono can look forward to rays of shimmering success in no time.
The Vibe A simple and unpretentious setting, the wooden tables and chairs exudes a rustic feel. Buono adopts an open concept to showcase the process of pizza making. Diners can watch the chef prepare their pizzas at the oven while partaking their meal. There is a private room available and is cozily furnished with lots of cushions for an inviting and relaxed atmosphere.
The Food Begin your meal with an appetizer that will not fail to whet your appetite. The Portbello Mushrooms ($13) promise to trigger your senses. Baked with crab meat and finished with a rich gorgonzola sauce, the succulent mushrooms, which are infused with a strong cheese taste, are extremely flavourful. However, the Pesce Spada Carpaccio ($15), a dish of thinly sliced raw sword fish seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and dressed with avocado and sweet cherry tomatoes, was a rather bland and did not leave an impression.
If there is one thing that you have to try at Buono, be sure to make the Buono Pizza ($20) your choice. Watch the chef masterfully knead the dough, sprinkle generous amounts of ingredients and finally pull out the piping hot and aromatic pizza from the oven before your eyes. The Buono Pizza is made using pork sausages, mushrooms, rocket salad and mozzarella cheese on a bed of cream sauce. An extremely large portion that is almost good enough for up to four persons, the thin-crust pizza, is crispy and delicious.
Another highly recommended dish is the Ravioli Crustaceus ($22). A home-made dish stuffed with crab meat, crayfish and prawns, and doused in a delectable seafood sauce, it is a dish that will definitely delight your taste buds. Slightly spicy to give it an extra oomph, the ravioli is of the right texture and goes remarkably well with the savory seafood gravy.
If you are a meat-lover, the Filetto ($29) will also serve you well. A beef tenderloin served with red wine sauce and potatoes at the side, the meat is grilled to perfection such that it is slightly charred on the outside to create a roasty aroma but retains the juicy effervescence on the inside.
The Service A meticulous attempt is made to ensure that customers enjoy a satisfying meal. The service staff values feedback and takes pride in catering to the needs of the customers. With such attentiveness showered on diners and a positive attitude in ensuring that everything goes right for the customer, Buono wins its customers over through “heart-work”.
The SD Food Advisor's take on Buono It is advisable for diners to drive, as Buono is located quite a distance from the main road. However, if you live around the area, you will definitely be pleased to know that Buono has brought a spread of tasty Italian cuisines into the heartlands, nearer to you. Through sheer passion in offering diners a place for delectable Italian cuisines, Buono has definitely taken the right step towards success.

(extracted from http://www.streetdirectory.com)

An old photo taken in 31 Aug 2000

This morning my colleague was sorting out some old photos in our office, and found this!

Hahaha... this was one of the two and only photos which I took in office during my pregancy...

I had found myself so ugly looking during that period, so have avoided taking photos, and aiya, kena caught in this one... taken during a farewell party for another colleague...

The other photo is not found yet, but i remembered I purposely stood behind when taking that group photo, to hide my tummy from being captured... *lol*

This picture was taken in 31 Aug 2000, i counted back and realised that i should be in my 15th/16th week of pregnancy... and my tummy so big......

Pioneer MRT station

Finally, the long-awaited MRT for my estate is in operation now!

It was opened on 28 Feb 09 (Sat), and this morning, I was feeling excited; I don't have to squeeze with the crowd in the feeder bus or at the Boon Lay MRT station liao!

This morning, I took my first train ride from this station. It was only within 5 mins walk from my home, so convenient and it was a refreshing experience too, to see that the platform was not crowded at all and could easily get seats....

So, I reached my office at 7.25 am happily this morning!

Feeling so good! Yeh yeh yeh!

Annie's Bday Celebration - 28 Feb 08

Last Sat, we gathered at Ngee Ann City's Coca Steamboat for dinner as part of birthday celebration for Annie.

That was my 3rd visit to Coca; 1st visit was in 1999, in Bangkok, 2nd visit was around 2007 at Concourse (now closed down liao).

After several years apart, I still find that Coca steamboat's food variety very limited and expensive...The buffet charge for that day was $35++, but it did not include any drinks or desserts...

I don't think I would patronise Coca anymore (unless someone's giving me free treat)!

But overall, the experience on last Sat was still good as i enjoyed the companionship of my family and buddies, for being able to meet up with each other, together with all our kids, and dining outdoor...

GK was asking for desserts, so Dad proposed to go Coffee Bean for their favourite coffee and cheesecakes...

Princess Jacie staring hard at GK... think she's trying to test her observation skills in spotting the differences... wahahaha....

More photos:
http://luvina76.multiply.com/photos/album/45/Annies_Bday_Celebration_-_28_Feb_2009

Lunch Out

MIL was away to Genting with Andy on last Thursday and returned on Saturday late evening.

Hence, I have to take leave to look after my kids on Thursday and Friday. But unfortunately, G was down viral infection causing him to suffer from stomach flu and fever since Wednesday night. I brought G to see a doctor and apply as child MC on that day.

Luckily, after much rests and taking a dose of the medication, he was okay by the Thursday night.. phew!

On Friday, G returned to school. Dad was also on his day-off, so we decided to bring them out for lunch at Jurong Point after school dismissal.

But when we reached Jurong Point, we were not able to settle down on which eatery for lunch...

Dad wanted BK, G wanted Ramen at Ajisen and K wanted Pizza at Pizza Hut...

After some time, Dad gave in.... and let both of them to discuss and decide on one eatery...but both GK were persistent to stick to Ajisen and Pizza Hut respectively... and that really made Dad blow his top while standing outside the Pizza Hut restaurant...

In the end, Dad commanded everyone to head to the Kopitiam and he wanted to have the say on what to have for lunch...

GK went sulking.....

But luckily, when we took a flight of escalator up to level 2, we saw the Bento Box..

Ahah! Bingo! This eatery had both Ramen and Pizza! I was delighted as the kids will not get disappointed then.

K enjoying his pizza!

Smiling face! Yippee! The ham and pineapple was overly-cheezy than Pizza Hut's. Hence, making the pizza smelling very unpleasant to me... But for K, he enjoyed! So long is pizza, he'd love em!

G ordered a bowl of Chicken Ramen

Enjoying... Quite a big bowl... The soup was more tastier compared to Ajisen's.

Cheers to Bento Box!