Stories – A plate full of wonder

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”

What the old man saw that I didn’t

Nick was running late. It was 8.10 am in Sheffield. I wasn’t the one in need of a full English breakfast today. I was all dressed, ready for a ridiculous run that I probably overpromised my unconditioned heart. It was beautiful outside, the sun in its full glory; a rarity in north England. My phoneContinue reading “What the old man saw that I didn’t”

Missed cricket matches, Shiva’s mango, the spice connection – An ode to Sri Lankan cooking

If a Sri Lankan friend sacrifices a cricket match for an afternoon of cooking, you can be certain that he is a friend for life. So, when Nishan invited (and I might have pestered) me to his home to cook with Shashi and their Ammi (mother) that afternoon, I couldn’t refuse. Traditional are the toolsContinue reading “Missed cricket matches, Shiva’s mango, the spice connection – An ode to Sri Lankan cooking”

Tuk tuk drivers, aunties and monks – An intro into Sri Lankan culture

If Lewis Hamilton was placed beside a tuk tuk on the roads of Sri Lanka, it is not difficult to comprehend that the not so famous “uncle” on his tuk tuk will be the definite winner with a smug on his face. Sri Lankan drivers have a certain trait passed down by generations or perhapsContinue reading “Tuk tuk drivers, aunties and monks – An intro into Sri Lankan culture”

The 0555 train to Ella

Monks. Chanting in the background; dawn falls upon Colombo.The fruit stall vendor. Having been there all night, surrenders to a good bargain on his oranges.Colombo fort train station. A quiet bustle of activity. Locals and tourists yawning to their early morning decisions.Train to Ella. Proclaiming it’s arrival, fresh and ready to take on the rushingContinue reading “The 0555 train to Ella”

Meditations on bread

And on the 13th day, “Teaser” was born. Born out of commitment, love and a bread challenge, Teaser and his parents (Paul and me) have taken on the painstaking, time consuming but very satisfying art that is sourdough bread. This art begins with a deep inhalation and then an evolutionary process taking the elements ofContinue reading “Meditations on bread”