gracielynneflores

The magic of sitting at the bar

December. Whether you intentionally seek it or not, the end of the year is always a reflective time. What is often an occasion to get together might be a time of solitude for others…especially for those who are away from home. If you find yourself playing Love Actually or Bridget Jones’ Diary on repeat mode,Continue reading “The magic of sitting at the bar”

Shrimps on Bingin Beach

Once in awhile, I miss Bali – not party central Seminyak or the “i’m trying to find myself” Ubud… but the cliffs down south. And don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for all that. But Bingin beach, is my respite when I need to get away from it all. Before 2015,Continue reading “Shrimps on Bingin Beach”

Satsuma on the M9

Mandarin oranges have long been a symbol of good luck. For this purpose, oranges are typically exchanged during Chinese New Year at house visits. Walking around Chinatown in NYC during Chinese New Year, the exuberance of the lion dance remind me of the gatherings we had back in Singapore: lo hei (tossing of yusheng) forContinue reading “Satsuma on the M9”

I used to hate being Filipino until…

Food has always been a big part of my life. My earliest childhood memory was choking on fishbones. Perhaps I was curious. Perhaps I was greedy. I learnt later in life that it was abit of both. Growing up in Singapore as a Filipino, I was in a constant identity crisis. While my parents areContinue reading “I used to hate being Filipino until…”

An open invitation

I’ve been dreaming about dinner parties lately; how it would transpire and what we would eat. So here is a prediction of one of many dinners, serving as a reminder for when the time comes – to share the joys of eating with you. My day would begin in meditation, as I set an intentionContinue reading “An open invitation”

Chicken schnitzel with stale bread crumbs

If you did anything with bread crumbs, let it be a schnitzel. The crumbs create a protective layer over the meat when cooking, keeping it moist and tender on the inside with a crispy texture on the outside. If you’d like a healthy alternative to fried chicken, this one’s for you. Ingredients (Makes 2) 6Continue reading “Chicken schnitzel with stale bread crumbs”

Adobo aka Filipino pork stew

Every Filipino household in the >7,000 islands of the Philippines has a different version of Adobo. Adobo is a well loved Filipino dish that transforms fatty meat, soy sauce and vinegar into a rich, dark caramel of sweet and acid through the cooking process. Adobo is traditionally made with pork belly but you can useContinue reading “Adobo aka Filipino pork stew”

Negroni, with love

Negroni is one of those classic drinks that you order at a dimly lit bar at 1am down a dark alley with only less than 10 seats (I write this as I reminisce Christmas of 2017 in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo). I love a good Negroni. Other than good quality ingredients, there is definitely a science andContinue reading “Negroni, with love”

Espresso martini

If you’re needing a perk me up for those early or late Zoom chats, an espresso martini is always a good choice. Paul and I made it our excuse for a fun day of cocktails which ended with a delightful homemade coq au vin (with some courage, I will post this after I’ve sought forgivenessContinue reading “Espresso martini”

Jayne’s Christmas Cookies

Christmas might threaten to make a weekly appearance in your household once you know how fuss free these cookies are. Jayne (my mother in law) makes this for the Feldhausen Christmas annually, and I haven’t been able to hold back from a pre-dinner cheeky snack (even with all the cheesecurds, pretzels and cold cuts!). AboveContinue reading “Jayne’s Christmas Cookies”