Le Comptoir du Relais Saint Germain, Paris

Our Sunday afternoon continued on......after tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cakes we ventured into to Le Marais part of the city for some shopping. Yes I know, judging fr the picture above, u could see who was the impatient one.

Look Right then Left and Right once again before hopping on the road. We were looking specifically for some vintage shops to purchase vintage stuffs of coz. Poor JS was tagging along, but he's really sweet for being our photographer for the afternoon :)))))))

Eric caught the eyes of a chick hahahahaha. Good shot hahahaha.

I've forgotten wat were we discussing. There's like so much to be discussed whenever one is around him. Of life philosophies to the next project and creations, feelings, thoughts, outlooks. Yes JS alwiz tells me that successful ppl talk about plans, where else the other group of people will just talk about other people. That's so true!!!

Don't u just lurve the Metro signange? So belle-epoque!!! Yeah simple things like this makes me smile. It could be the nose of aromatic coffee with buttery croissants, or the greenish nose of falling autumn leaves, to the intense beautiful smell coming fr the bakery, the sights of imperfect trees lining the streets, the damaged walls full of graffitis. I can't describe exactly what will make me smile, it's just so impromptu.

But most of all, I realised I lurve talking to myself. It's a habit since I was young. So I've been talking to myself, asking and answering my own questions. Most of the time it's so hilarious to receive response fr strangers who were also tourists themselves.

Monkey: "Oh my gawd.....this is so brilliant!!! When was this thing built?"
Stranger: "I think it's called the amphitheatre. Built around AD 90."
Monkey: "geeeee thanks for the info."

While hiking a certain tiny ancient hill
Monkey: "arghhhhh this is so difficult....I think I am gonna give up *huff puff*"
Old Stranger with walking stick: "Oh come on now young lady, I'll wait for you."
Monkey: "Hahahahaha thanks. Think I'm gonna sit on this rock and catch up with my breath, while my housemate must have already been up at the top laughing at me."


and for dinner, we decided to try our luck at the yummy bistro runs by the famous French MasterChef jury *since 2010* Yves Camdeborde. Known as the father of Bistronomy, he's quite a celebrity. However he has left the reality show in 2014 to pursue his business goals and dreams.

Le Comptoir du Relais is open 7 days a week and this was like our 3rd visit and coincidence has it that it's always a Sunday. To book a table on weeknights require reservation months in advance. No Kidding and this ain't no fancy restaurant. It's a bistro. Weeknights have got only one service/seatings which is at 8.30pm with no menu. So basically u eat wat Chef Camdeborde prepares in the kitchen.

While on weekends, they don't take reservations, so hundreds and hundreds of folks will queue up for a table here bcoz it's on a first come first serve basis. There's a food and drinks menu for both Saturdays and Sundays.

We must have been that lucky bcoz the moment we arrived, we got a nice table. It has been our lucky day so far....we managed to do and gotten watever we wanted on that day. Hehehehehehe.

Le Comptoir du Relais serves mostly biologic and natural wines. I must say the wine list is pretty decent and we found some beautiful bottles :))))

Foie Gras on toast. It was really good with specks of sea salt. Just enough and balanced. Creamie and rich.


a cold appetizer of roots vegetables, green tomatoes, cheese with a souffle on the side. Really refreshing to start off our dinner.

Another typical french bistro food - escargots. With lots of garlic butter and parsley. The taste isn't as wat u've imagined, it's just green with a good texture. And mop down those garlic butter with lots of bread :)))) yumsssss

Assortment of hams and gherkins...and yes more butter!!! hahahaha the butter here is just too good!!

Grilled lobster salad with crunchy green apples, avocados and lettuces. The lobster was grilled just right and slightly rare on the inside. Sweet and rich in taste, balanced with the sourness from the green apple. So lovely.

Service was really quick, friendly and precise!!! We were happy diners the entire nite hahahaha


our main course of crispy pork served with velvety mash. 
So so so awesome, the coarsely chopped parts of the pork were wrapped in its own diaphragm, fried in animal fats. I know really sinful but darn good!!!



we couldn't decide on the desserts so we chose the classics. Creme Brulee and Tarte Tartine!!!! Yumssss. Check out the crispy burns.....

Hahahaha they immediately bonded and got to have a pic together. The friendly head staff who was so fun and jovial. Singing and creating conversation with us.

When we were done with out dinner, there was still a long queue outside waiting for a table. It's not a big place but they certainly have big HEARTS and serve gusty French food.

It was full moon that evening!!! Truly our lucky day, and we walked another few more KM to burn off all the calories and wines *hic*

JS framed this pic so well with the tree branches, it almost looked like an eye :)))))

and we walked and walked and walked until it's almost midnite when we returned back to our hotel. We went home feeling contented for such a beautiful day spent together. However I must say the tummies were definitely way more happier....kekekeke.

I would suggest to visit Le Comptoir du Relais on weekends for dinner. Best time would be from 6.30pm onwards. If you would like to drop by for lunch, it's 7 days a week non stop service from 12 noon onwards. For weekdays it's non-stop until 6pm only.

Le Comptoir du Relais
9 Carrefou de l'Odeon,
75006 Paris, France.
Tel: +33 1 4427 0797
Nearest tube station would be "Odeon"

Angelina Cafe, Paris

Monkey and Eric Choong
It was really a very short notice, 24 hours before. We found that we will be in Paris the same time and decided to catch up for tea. Monkey was on her vacation and just landed from Malaysia not too long ago while the famed and notable celebrity fashion designer the Si Fu of them all, Eric was in Paris for his show, awards and exhibition.

Yea it was soooo difficult to catch up in KL but it only took a few text messages to set a meeting time and place 10,500km away in the city of Love.


and so like the rest of the foodie, we queued up for a table at the exceptional and the place to be for tea - Angelina Cafe. This was also the tearoom where Madame Coco Chanel had her yummy drinks and cakes.

That very same morning, when we walked past, for the first time when it comes to pastries and cakes department, JS stopped, reversed and went back to the display window to check out the strawberry cakes. Monkey was like "Yeah wat?"

JS: "Look at those cakes!!!! all the strawberries are in perfect uniform size."
Monkey: "Yes they are very beautiful."

the beauty about staying around Opera area is, everything is just within walking distance away.....from sights, to great eats, to cafes, to shopping *Vendome and St. Honore* and all the great departmental stores are just within reach. But it's also very dangerous and damaging to pockets. Oh well, when u are on holiday, push all these behind.

Founded in 1903, Angelina Cafe celebrated 110th anniversary last year. Famed for their hot chocolate drinks and iconic mont blanc with towering high whipped chestnuts paste.


He insisted that he's not a chocolate person but he wanted to try the hot chocolate drinks. Yes that's the way to be, be adventurous and everything is experimental that will truly become an experience to remember. Whether u like it or not, u can decide later. That is life :)))

and so he had his hot chocolate. Creamie velvety and rich with an intense chocolatie yummyness. It's composed of 3 selected cocoa from Cote d'Ivoire, Niger and Ghana. Eric conquered that it's really good.


So we ordered a few to share and no Mont Blanc. It ran out!!! Nevermind there will be next time.


Eric: "Can we finish all of these?"




I know that looks like a lot but we finished everything. Hohohohohohoho coz it's so yummy!!!

She looked disappointed. Guess she found out that they ran out of Mont Blanc too!!!! hahahahaha

The grand epoque mirror next to us was really useful. Apart from checking my makeup, and Eric checkin his reflections, we used it for Wefie!!!

After filling our tummy, it's time to take a long stroll. Afterall it was a beautiful afternoon :))))

Eric: "Hey Monkey, stop posing around!!!"

I don't care, I'm in Paris and nobody knows me. Hahahahaha.

Was it a plane? Was it a bird????
Nope we were just admiring the Notre Dame
 

Thank you to Mr. JS for all the beautiful pics. He should consider photography seriously, as in a professional way. Just like cooking, many friends encouraged him to startup a F&B business to which he replied, it's much more fun cooking for friends instead.

So I guess same goes for his photography works. For pleasure and for friends :))))))

and my dearie Eric, thank you for spending time with us. It was a beautiful day, not to mention shopping for vintage stuffs...kekekekeke....

Asia Magic Gala

Monkey & Baby Wei
she looked like an 8 year old...
now u know why u are BABY Wei
since we've forgotten the art of cam-whoring with digital camera...
we got one of the guest seat in front to snap our pic :P
theme of the nite: Red Carpet Glamour
and we were there for.....
ERIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GAWD ERIC!!!!
your collection was so awesome it smashed my heart!!!
we heart heart heart Andrea Fonseka the host's pair of sexay stilettos
reminded me of Victoria Beckham

presentation started with Kirana's collection by Sharifah Kirana
everyone gasped at the final piece coz it was worn by no other than
supermodel AI TOMINAGA!!!!!!
Sharifah Kirana in shocking blonde super short hair
so edgy!!!!
and *held our breathe*.....this is it....the launch of Eric's Pret-a-porter 2010
lil ballerinas came out
*oh just realised that's Mahadzir Lokman's head*
OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!
I LURVE IT ALL~~~~

Eric got his inspiration fr Audrey Hepburn whom he adores tremendously
GAH!!! I want!!!!!
each piece has a name attributed to Audrey's character in her movies
the one on the left is Chiquita and Ella *my favourite*
all models fr Beijing, China
dun u think the one wearing Chiquita looks like Sammi Cheng?

GASP!!!! mermaid wedding gown!!!!!

with ivory Italian avant garde lace and silk duchesse satin!!!!!
in fact there were more but I was too speechless and motionless to snap any pic for u ppl

Oh Eric u DID IT AGAIN!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS
and thank u for having us :)))))))))))))
show proceeded with a Korean designer - Jo Myung Rye
with all her "hangbok" inspired dresses

she was rather shy though!
Next was a China chinese designer - Bo TAO

his designs are very diverse...
some were organic some were futuristic
flirty sexay fun
his final dress made up a chinese character...
*I can't read*
hmmm wat was his theme???
Mr. BO TAO!!!

the last presentation was by an Indonesian designer - IKA

Ai Tominaga wore one of her dresses
she was so elegant and with such poise..
lurve the body structure and her moves..
can't blame the crowd when everyone clap like nobody's biz!!!
*including this Monkey*

IKA
*actually IKA = squid in japanese*
Andrea looked so diff here :P

Tonite was one of the best creation by far...
Read bout the other BEST MIFA I've attended *here*
:)))))))))))))))))