*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

Sunday Dinner Spread

We had a fabulous homemade dinner on Sunday. While still lounging around on Devil's Dyke, Yukiko texted Olduvai to say she had bought some mussels and would like us to join her for dinner if we didn't already have dinner plans. We were planning to have a homecooked dinner anyway, so it was just perfect. The more the merrier! Seriously, eating alone is just depressing. Companionship and good conversation are all integral to a good meal.

Our dinner spread consisted of mussels, baked pork ribs, mixed salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil, baguette and dessert.

The mussels were SO easy to make. The tedious part really was identifying, one by one, which mussels were still alive by having to tap them and making sure they clam up. Then we had to scrub them individually as well. Mind-numbingly boring task. But after that was done, all we had to do was put them in a pot [fyi - Brits call it a 'saucepan'], put in 200ml of white wine together with some garlic cloves, chopped tomatoes and a bunch of basil leaves. Cook for about 4 minutes and it's done!

The mussels were really fresh and it tasted fantastic with the fresh flavours from the wine, tomatoes and basil.

Olduvai's baked spare ribs were great and satisfied my meat craving.

Our dessert platter had the absolutely divine Duchy's chocolate tart. It's seriously good with its dark bitter taste and the buttery shortcrust pastry. I ate far more than I should, but what the heck. The strawberries, grapes and English plums were the healthy desserts. And lastly, some Stilton and Gongozola cheese - but we kinda passed that over in the end 'cos the chocolate tart was too tempting.

Needless to say, we were completely stuffed!

Devil's Dyke

On Sunday, we decided to take it a little easier by going up to Devil’s Dyke for a picnic. This time it was just Olduvai and myself as Yukiko had a lunch appointment. So us two gourmets trotted off to the supermarket and got some food for our picnic.

Then we took Bus 77, an open top bus, to our destination! The open top buses are used only in summer and what a treat it was! I felt like I was going on a tour! I love feeling the wind in my face and the sun on my skin in such glorious weather!

For our picnic, we had a baguette, Stilton cheese, green grapes, roast chicken drumsticks, salad, two apples, and tuna pasta with butter beans (made by Olduvai). OK, we didn’t eat ALL of it – as much as we would have liked to, we couldn’t! And of course we didn’t dump the food – we had other uses for them, details of which will appear in the next post. Anyway, we also bought the Observer – the Sunday edition of the Guardian, a newspaper we both hold in high regard for its quality of writing – for our reading pleasure up on the Dyke.

The views we were accorded of the West Sussex countryside were gorgeous! Cows and sheep dotted the green open pastures that spread for miles below us. There were other holiday makers there as well to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery. But there was enough space for everyone without it feeling too claustrophobic.

There were many people paragliding and Zorbing there as well. It was fun watching the paragliders take off and land. The one I photographed here was rather inexperienced, and once airborne, didn’t quite know how to catch the wind to stay high in the sky. He gradually went farther and farther down and ended up right smack in the middle of a farm down below. Poor guy. We wondered how he was going to make his way up again!

A herd of free-ranging black cows were grazing close by and two got up close and personal with some of the people. I had never come so close to cows before. But I didn’t really want to touch them as they were very dirty! Their faces were full of snot and there were so many flies buzzing around them! I’m not that into bovine creatures anyway, except when they're on the dinner table. Hee.

Anyway, a very lovely afternoon spent in quiet and soul-nourishing surroundings.

Beachy Head Coastal Walk

Got my fix of countryside and exercise! I hate not being to do much outdoor stuff in London. But thankfully last weekend I managed to get my fix at Beachy Head. Olduvai, her friend Yukiko and I did a long coastal walk from Beachy Head to South Downs. We walked for a good 12.8km along the towering chalk cliffs that hug the southeastern coast of the UK and were treated to fantastic views of the sea shimmering in the sunlight, undulating green fields, and open fields where cows and sheep grazed. LOVED IT.

Had a pub lunch before the long walk. The gigantic guiness, steak and mushroom pie was fantastic! I've been eating way too many pies in the UK for my own good. This pie was made with shortcrust pastry - that's the way I like my pies to be made!

Then one of the waitresses came round with a whole plethora of sauces and dips. I was very thrilled. Haha. I went for the mustard seeds, some mint sauce and some chutney. OK, doesn't really go but just felt like something sweet. I wished I could have tried a bit of everything though!

Beachy Head Lighthouse

Wind-swept flowers

Along the way at Birling Gap, I treated myself to ice cream. Heehee.

We started way beyond what you can see from this photo. We were dog tired at the end of the day, but what a fantastic day it was!

Finally we reach the South Downs where other walkers are heading to their cars and for us, the bus to take us back to Brighton.

Saw a green phone booth near the bus stop at South Downs. Was amused 'cos it's the only green one I've seen so far in the UK!

Greenwich Market Food Stalls

While at Greenwich on Saturday, I popped into Greenwich Market to have a look. The small market has stalls selling arts and craft, pottery, clothes, jewellery, bags, and other interesting knick-knacks. There is also a small food section where I'm always happen to stumble upon!

Bread from local bakeries

Caribbean cuisine

Homemade jams and vinegar

Brazilian desserts

Delicious cakes

Antipasti

Wild mushrooms

Portuguese delights

Winehouse Wannabe

Spotted this Amy Winehouse wannabe at Greenwich on Saturday complete with the beehive hair, cat's eye make-up and vintage wear. It was bizarre. Couldn't really take a better shop as she was literally just in front of me and I couldn't make it too obvious that I was photographing her!

The Brits have a really unhealthy and disturbing obsession with their celebs. Every day in the free tabloids, I'll be reading about Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty (the loser that Kate Moss dated), Mischa Barton (so bland and boring), Sienna Miller (whose claim to fame is probably only by dating famous men - she looks so ordinary!), and Posh & Becks who are possibly the most annoying ones of all. Like can't Posh stop pouting for once?

And oh, there's also the never ending reality series Big Brother which is so dumb. It's the first time I've ever watched it, and one episode was more than enough for me. It's ridiculous and downright boring watching all these dumb contestants. One of them fashions herself after - of all the people in the world to choose from - Victoria Beckham aka Posh Spice. This contestant is the most earnest wannabe I've ever seen. So earnest that it comes across at pathetic with her attempts to emulate her idol in everything from her looks, hairstyle, clothes and accessories. Very disturbing.

But hey, it makes for interesting fodder and sights for the rest of us.

Supposedly Me

You Have a Choleric Temperament

You are a person of great enthusiasm - easily excited by many things. Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life. You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation. You posses a sharp and keen intellect. Your mind is your primary weapon. Strong willed, nothing can keep you down. Your energy can break down any wall. You're an instantly passionate person - and this passion gives you an intoxicating power over others. At your worst, you are a narcissist. Full of yourself and even proud of your faults. Stubborn and opinionated, you know what you think is right. End of discussion. A bit of a misanthrope, you often see others as weak, ignorant, and inferior.

Reading

I haven’t had much to write about really, ‘cos I haven’t been doing anything much. Apart from work, I haven’t been up to much. Not much in terms of the eating front at all – I’m saving up to eat good meals in Paris, come next month! Nothing on the social front either – no money to go socialise.

OK, went for a pub quiz with my colleagues last Tuesday for a social nightout and another evening of drinking on Thursday night for a colleague’s last day in the company. I don’t understand how the English can drink on an empty stomach. These people don’t seem to need dinner before they start drinking. Worse – they drink throughout the night without food! I just can’t do it. I need to have food! So that also means I never end up staying into the wee hours of the night, which is a good thing really. Anyway, I always have to rush to get the last few trains, else I’ll have to end up taking a taxi home. That’s a total no-no as it’s so expensive!

There are no men in my social sphere either. I had promised some friends I’d date with abandon in London, but I guess I really am quite hopeless when it comes to that. Haha.

In any case, I spent the weekend paddling in Reading, a small city to the west of London and about 35min by the fast overland trains from Paddington station. My friend picked me up in an open canoe! How cool’s that? It’s the first time I’ve ever been picked up in a canoe! Then we paddled back to the canoe club. He said it was alright if I didn’t paddle, but the paddler in me just can’t bring myself to be a passenger and have someone carry my weight! So I took up the extra oar in the boat and started paddling as well.

Then at the boat house, I changed into my paddling gear and had a go at the kayak. This was a very lightweight, flat water kayak, and one would need to know how to balance in it to paddle in it. I used to paddle in such kayaks back in junior college, so that’s really quite a long time ago! But like cycling, one doesn’t really forget how to paddle. It took a couple of minutes to get used to the instability of the kayak, but I was off in a short while. On Sunday, I paddled again in this canoe and my friend took me farther down the Thames. It was so peaceful and tranquil as we paddled down the river lined with natural vegetation, with ducks, geese, swans, and grebes frolicking in the water. I was also lucky enough to see one kingfisher, which my friend says are now low in numbers.

We paddled through streams which ran through the back gardens of lovely houses that lined the banks. And it was just fantastic. I had a great time. Wouldn’t it be great if I could paddle my way around the world? I love paddling and being around water!

The canal runs through the back of the Oracle Shopping Centre, one of the main shopping centres along Broad Street.

I like the name of this gift shop.

One of the shopping streets in Reading

Getting a different perspective from the canoe

The canal opens into the Thames River. There were many yachts, canoes and kayaks going up and down the river.

Giving Thanks

This morning an email sent by the MD stunned everyone - a colleague had died in a cycling accident either over the weekend or just this very morning. I had even spoken to this lady before. It's so sad that it's a life cut short.

Then later in the day, a friend tells me her father has cancer.

Such sobering thoughts that remind me to give thanks that I'm alive and well.

Hove Farmers Market

Olduvai and I checked out the Farmers Market in Hove which takes place on the first Sunday of each month. I was expecting more stalls but nonetheless, still good fun with the trying out of different locally made cheeses.

Potted chilli plants and herbs like mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary etc were on sale. I want my own herb garden one day!

Locally made cheeses

Freshly made bread

Cakes and pastries

For all chilli fans

And the most lethal of all the chillis - dragon's blood. I tried it and my mouth was spewing fire after only a TINY (and I stress tiny) drop of it on my tongue. I love the name though...just reminds me of Harry Potter.

Temporary Thames Dragon

Took part in a dragonboat race on Saturday 21 July organised by the Thames Dragon dragonboat team (the team that I'm joining). It was held at the London Regatta Centre and in the background you see aeroplanes parked at the London City Airport.

And here you see, moi, the temporary Thames Dragon.

A Little Bored

Hmm…it’s been awhile since I last posted. Actually there hasn’t been much to tell really…I haven’t been doing anything very exciting. Last weekend I went outrigger canoeing on Saturday morning, spent a bit of the afternoon in Camden market with a friend from the dragonboat team where I saw the weirdest people around in London. All that goth!

It’s crazy – there was this bald middle-aged man who had tattoos all around his head, face, neck and torso and had his nose, eyebrows, ears, and nipples pierced. He was wearing a black fish-net long-sleeve shirt (if it can even be called that) with a black patent skirt. Yes, you read correct, SKIRT. And he wore platforms boots which were – no kidding – about 25cm high. They were the tallest pair of platforms I had ever seen. Honestly, I don’t know how he walked in them. He was kinda stomping around in those huge-ass footwear. I mean, you can all sorts of people dressed in weird get-ups in Camden, but this one really takes the cake – for now. I’m sure I’ll see more if I go to Camden often enough. Though interesting to see all the people dressed up in goth, it’s not my kinda thing, so I doubt I’ll go there very much.

Then headed to the O2 arena to have a look. Nothing very much there except for restaurants with massive queues – all pre-concert goers. Scissors Sister was performing that night so we saw lots of gay and lesbian couples. I wouldn’t bother going there for dinner. Eating somewhere beforehand and then heading to the concert would be a better option. And the restaurants there don’t seem fantastic either.

Sunday morning saw me at dragonboat practice at the London Regatta Centre. After practice, went to have dimsum with a teammate and some of her friends. The restaurant, Lotus, is located at Crossharbour DLR station. Food was pretty good and it was cheap! For £7 each (albeit with a 10% discount) we ate a lot! Definitely want to go back again for my dimsum fix.
Then it was back to home to do household chores like laundry and cleaning up of the place.

Meanwhile, work’s been fine. I think work’s less stressful here. No complains there! If only it came with more pay…

Gosh, I feel like my life is so unexciting. Need to find more free and less expensive stuff to do in London! But at least this weekend I have a weekend at Brighton to look forward to. Going to visit olduvai again and we already have our weekend menu planned! I just love how organised we are when it comes to eating matters. :p