Chilling at the Long Bar

   After an evening of soul-searching and laughter at the play "For Better or For Worse", the wifey and I decided to continue our "pak tor" session. We made our way to our favourite hotel, the Raffles. Raffles has always held special significance for us, because it was here where we held our solemnization and wedding almost five years ago. How time flies.

   Raffles is known the world over for the Singapore Sling and the place that created it - the Long Bar. It's been quite some time since I last came here. The atmosphere was as I remembered; welcoming, homely and relaxing. We went to the upper deck and found a spot at the back of the room. The "live" band played many songs that we could sing along to. And boy, were they good. In fact I'd wager that they'd beat any Singapore Idol hands down. I wanted to drag the wifey to the dance floor but sadly she refused. Maybe she wasn't intoxicated enough. Next time perhaps... ;)

For Better or For Worse

   We continue the practice of increasing our CQ this week with a visit to Checkpoint Theatre's "For Better or For Worse". This play, written by Faith Ng, portrays the love-hate marriage of Gerald and Swen. The challenges and heartaches faced by this couple would be all too familiar to a lot of Singaporean families. The play is all at once heart-wrenching and insightful, yet extremely comical at times. It makes one ponder the meaning of "true love" or whether there is even such a thing.

   At the end of the day, it is indeed "for better or for worse; till death do us part". And the only way to "part" prematurely is to "kill one another" as Gerald jokingly tells his daughter Samantha. It sounds ridiculous at first, in this age of divorce and separation, but I feel that there is some meaning in it. It may not be the case right at the beginning, but I feel that, if you really love your spouse,cliché as it may be, you'll eventually find yourself married to the person "you cannot live without".

Copellia

   The wifey decided that this is to be the season of cultivating our CQ (Cultural Quotion); and not just any culture, it has to got to be the "atas" ang mo kind. Well, it suited me just fine. Thus we found ourselves at the Esplanade Theater, after a hearty meal, waiting for "Copellia" to commence. 

   To the uninitiated, "Copellia" is a light-hearted and comical ballet staged by the Singapore Dance Theatre. It is based on the book by Charles Nuitter which tells the story of two lovers, Franz and Swanilda. Franz, being a hot-blooded youth, is also intrigued by Dr Coppelius' "daughter", Copellia, who only appears at her window, reading a book. Swanilda and her friends sneek into Dr Coppelius' house and discover many life-sized dolls; one of which was Copellia. When discovered by Dr Coppelius, her friends run away leaving Swanilda to hide in Copellia's closet. She thus decides to pretend to be Copellia. Meanwhile, Franz is tricked into a slumber when drinking with Dr Coppelius. He attempts to transfer Franz's "life force" into Copellia only to find the "doll" coming to life. Swanilda, in the guise of Copellia, then wakes Franz and they escape. In the end, all is well when the lovers reconcile with Dr Coppelius.

Rare Footage of the wifey in spectacles

   This ballet is suited for families with young children. And indeed, there were many families with children. The set was really well done and although the dancers' technique weren't perfect, it was a good effort. In fact I must applaud the performers for bringing out the humour in certain scenes. there were indeed a few good laughs. If there's anything to gripe about, it would be the behavior of the audience. I can accept the clapping at the most  awkward moments (this is afterall Singapore) but I really wanted to hush the woman and he daughter who were whispering throughout the show (in Mandarin no less!).

   Nevertheless, it was an enchanting experience. All thanks to the wifey who suddenly had the inspiration to catch a ballet performance. If you're looking for an introduction to the ballet art form, You won't go wrong by choosing "Copellia".

My (Not So) Humble House

   When presented with "fine dining" one would usually think of western cuisine. "My Humble House" on the other hand, presents fine Chinese cuisine with a contemporary twist. The TungLok Group's first "artistic restaurant" aims to revolutionize the "art of dining. Being the foodies that we are, it comes as no surprise that I would find myself and the wifey at the corner table of this avant garde restaurant.

   We ordered the dinner set. The menu consisted of items with exotic names such as "The Heart of Soul", "Sensuous Comfort", and "Tropical Sunset". Starting off the evening was Grilled Oyster with French Wasabi, Japanese Teriyaki and Vinegar Sauce. The melt-in-your-mouth texture coupled with crispness of the grill reminds one of foie gras as an entree in a French meal. It was also the first time we had bird's nest in pumpkin soup. I felt the only dishes that were really "Chinese" were the wild sea fish in chicken broth and the fried rice with smoked duck. I must commend them on the exquisite preparation of the fish. The broth was thick yet sweet; the fish really fresh and tender with none of the usual taste of the sea. Other than these two, the rest were a blend of East meets West, with the Western palate taking dominance. Finally, the desert was "to die for". The mint sorbet was an excellent choice to go with the herbal gelo. The sprinkling of berries and pomelo bits complimented the ensemble perfectly.

Main Course: Oven-baked Lobster with Cheese and Cream

Sorbet and Jello to die for

  This is certainly a place to go should you want to try your palate at "Chinese fine dining". The quality of food is excellent. The ambiance would've been good except for a family gathering which was making a tad too much noise. Fortunately the manager made up for it with an apology. However be prepared to cough up some dough. The dinner set together with pu-er tea put us back by about 120 per person.