Barcelona......

Sorry......we are a bit lacking in terms of posting
Barcelona is our current destination
it's been 4 AWESOME weeks here in Europe
:D


every morning we wake up early for a sumptuous breakfast
before tottering around our current city by foot
coz that's the only way u'll discover wonderful corners, secrets and people


despite all the walks, I've gained a lot of weight from over-indulgence
:D and wines and champagnes and all sorts of sweets!!!!!


then we'll try to finish all the sight seeing and photography by 4pm
coz that's the time u lose sunlight and winter is soon approaching
walking back to our hotel from where we've wandered ain't an easy feat
once back in the comfort of our hotel, JS and Monkey will take turns to shower
before heading out for yummy dinner


usually we'll decide to walk home to our hotel after dinner
in order to burn FAT!!!!
kekekekekekekekkeek
sometimes it takes 10 mins
it could be as long as 45 mins walk but we know it's good for us
most of the time I walked home tipsy in my heels


once back in the warm hotel, Monkey and JS again take turns to process photos and blog bout our advendutures...
so u see, it's been a pretty hectic and busy holiday to keep u guys posted
:D but we enjoyed every bit of it and hope u did too as u read our wonderful journeys


:))))))))))

Goyard

Our first week in Paris was already quite "koyak"
nothing works harder than our plastic....
plastic credit cards that is....
everything is at least 30% to 40% cheaper so how not to buy????


and now on week 4 in Europe we are having storage problem
tsk tsk tsk may need to courier/ship some stuffs back
and JS already shipped most of his wines purchases back home
T_T

his happiest purchase and gift
:P
don't think many STRAIGHT men would walk into a boutique and get themselves 2 bags
really....not that many


pics taken from our hotel
Lutetia Hotel a wonderful classic hotel decorated by designer Sonia Rykiel
celebrating its 101th years old
yes it is old,elegant and yet modern classic
if u r wondering....nope we haven't seen any ghosts here yet

Edmond Goyard started as a trunkmaker in Paris, who took over from his father 
and they are still the famous LEGENDARY trunkmaker in the world

yes Goyard has got a long long long LONG long long history 
dated back to his grandfather's time....


the family runs a long LONG long 2 centuries old business of transportation of woods by the rivers in Burgundy
however Edmond Goyard himself was born in Paris after the grandpa decided to move everyone to Paris

they were located at this very same address since 1853
cool eh?
Lot number 233 at the famous shopping strip of Rue Saint Honore
*our fav shopping strip :D*

 the distinctive yellow paper for all Goyard's packaging

it has got the initial "Y" monogram formed by three chevrons
also in the shape of tree - symbolised the family's business, which was related to trees

a messenger bag which JS got for himself
in a very nice BLUE color


Goyard sells all colors at an additional of 30% except black, tan and brown
JS was so infatuated by this bag

he even showed it to me how he can carry it so well
esp to work -_-


JS: "Hey hey...look look!!!! so cun rite? I can store my ipad, my document and other lapsap in."
Monkey: "Yes it's very nice but so exp!!!! I can buy a Chanel at that price ady!!!"

its stitching were all handmade
if it's not for the timeframe of 6 weeks, JS would have gotten it monogrammed with his initials
basically it's custom made upon request with your chosen font, initials, colors, design.......

and what about this?
the famous YELLOW Goyard???

 Look at its perfect stitches

 think I'm beginning to fall in lurve with this brand

this one is Monkey's gift to JS
and he already started using it with pride

 nice really nice :)))))))))

hmmm I dun think u can carry both like that without looking like a walking Goyard advertisement board
kekekekekekekekekeke
I'll post my purchase soon ok but I guess u already have a sneak peak from the first pic


in the mean time, will keep u guys posted on our whereabouts :))))
can't wait to explore Barcelona tomorrow morning
wooohooooo!!!!!!

L'Arpege by Alain Passard *3 Michelin Stars*

All dressed up to go!!!!
It's nice to be able to play dress-up here in Paris
coz no one will tell u that u are over-dressed!!!! *more like under-dressed*
and Men are usually required to wear a jacket to get into restaurants
preferably with shirt and tie too :P

Dinner usually begins with canapes to tantalise ur tastebuds
above were some finely prepared sweet sauteed vegetables from the garden of Alain Passard
yes he has got his own garden and ingredients are shipped in on a daily basis

Amuse Bouche of an egg
not just any egg but a hot and cold egg with spices
the top was some cold mousse with spices while the yolk was warm

beautiful creamie butter from Brittany
I dunno why the best butter and oysters have to come fr there
makes us wanna explore Brittany now....:)))))

carpaccio of Dublin Bay Prawns served with caviar
the raw prawns were so finely prepared with some chopped fennel/spring onions/leeks liked vege
drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and generous helping of caviar
so so so yummy!!!!
the balance taste of sweetness fr the prawns and savoury caviar

Spinach with carrot puree drizzled with toasted sesame
served on the side was lemon and beetroot marmarlade
For your info, Chef Alain Passard is a vegetarian so he is extremely good with VEGETABLES!!!!

Vegetables Ravioli in apple consomme that made me cried for more
U'll never thought that vegetables can be created this way
it's texture was as good as meat ravioli with the rich silkiness of the fillings
the skin was tissue paper thin!!!!
how did he do that???????

this ain't normal pasta
but it's a celeriac pasta with shavings of white truffles which is in season right now
celeriac is a root vegetable with a distinctive taste, it was shaven to looked like pasta
and cooked like one too!!!!!

Lobster with thinly shaved turnip and some honey garden leaves, served with a funky sweet and sour sauce
yes all the vegetables are from his garden

can't see the lobster? allow me to unveil.......

Ta-Da!!!!!!! they were seated neatly in the dome
the portion proved ain't enuff when it was this delicious
but then we have so many courses lining up for this degustation celebrating his 25th anniversary of this restaurant

Alain Passard is a true artist
he paints *all his paintings adorn the wall of the restaurant*
he does gardening
he plays the saxophone
and he writes.....
would love to have his books if they have in english version
:)))))))))))))

Celeriac Risotto with White Truffles from Alba
such generous shavings of truffles...
white truffles is more subtle than the black version
its mild taste is meant to be enjoyed delicately
they are more rare and highly prized

some beautifully roasted root vegetables
they were so so so sweet!!!!!

a whole TURBOT fish!!!!!
presented before being prepared for us

the waiting staff then prepared all the delicate parts of the fish

including the fins!!!!

served with french potatoes and leeks

the chicken also came at the same time :))))))
seriously the World's Best Chicken!!!!
I came back to this restaurant this year for this dish!!!!!
steamed baked in the oven with hay

"Madame, would u like Chicken, Hay or ME?"
well of coz he didn't say it :P kekekekekeke


prollie he was screaming inside to get the photography to be done quickly
as the Le Creuset pot is darn heavy with this chicken innit
not to mention it's soooooo HOT!!!!!! that it's burning his hands :P

Chicken then prepared with different yummy parts including the wings!!!!
served with candid onions, leeks, black radish, quiche and tomatoes


the best chicken in the world has a crunchy fragrant skin
its meat was so juicy it's like having chinese salt-baked chicken
but a thousand times better :P

another dish of mixed beets and some roots vege which I've never had before
roasted till it's tender with some crunch
served with semolina

the highlight of the evening was this baby!!!!
Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux by Henri Jayer, vintage 1995
a very highly highly HIGHLY sought after winemaker


the Man said "A Great Wine is crafted in the vineyard, not in the cellar"
hence he believed in small parcel of lands (1.01 hectares)
and very minimalist approach to achieve the purity and elegance of a pinot noir


he makes only 3,500 bottles a year
and his last vintage before he passed away, 2001 sells for USD 3,800
so the only chance we can drink this wine is here in France!!!!
coz we don't think we can get this anywhere else at a lower price

it was so precious we got the label laminated!!!!
for remembrance :D

later towards the evening, I found another book by Alain Passard
a comicbook of him!!!!!
this guy actually can draw anything!!!!!
but the book is in french :(((((((

Gruyere cheese which was aged for 3 years
I only had a very very tiny piece to accommodate the medley of desserts later :D

 for desserts we had a sweet wine

 a 1982 port which was so good, I had so much that this Monkey walked home tipsy
:D heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
plus we had a bottle of white earlier - which we forgot to snap a pic

the petit four is so grand :D
with macaroons, mini apple tarts, cakes, nougat, pralines, chocolates....

 the REAL desserts!!!!
apple tart with nuts
the brown round thing were shaved apples shaped into roses

 the famous Millefeuille
which I'll kill for one slice!!!!

 Finally a Nut Souffle with chocolates
*burped!!!!*

Truly an enjoyable experience at Alain Passard
definitely not a place for meat eater
there isn't read meat on its menu, only white meat
and more yummy vegetables from his garden


it is amazing how Alain Passard can achieve 3 Michelin Stars with vegetables as his main theme
his beautiful garden is 230km away fr Paris
everything was grown organically and he forbad the use of machine
apparently the only "machine" they have at the garden is a horse
kekekekekekekeke which was used to plough the soil


we'll definitely return here again
:)))))))))


L'Arpege by Alain Passard *3 Michelin Stars*
84, Rue de Varenne,
75007 Paris.
Tel: +33 01 4705 0906
www.alain-passard.com