jBlog

Here’s to you boss…

jason — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:19:57 +0000

…may you rest in peace

RIP Granny…

Celtics Anthem

jason — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:40:26 +0000

Again I don’t normally post videos in my blog and I’m really not that into gangsta rap. But with a title like “Who are we (The Celtics!), let’s just say I’m willing to bend the rules a little. So here’s the video by some rap band called N.B.S (I dunno who they are, dun ask me ~shrugs shoulders~).

With a current 3-2 lead against the Lakers, I’m crossing my fingers that the Celtics will take the series in six games and become champs. But this will be tough given that it will take place at Staples Centre in California. I guess I am just going to continue believing, and donning my Celtic tees while screaming “Beat L.A.!! Beat L.A.!! Beat L.A.!!”.

First reap

jason — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:36:02 +0000

Finally after months of failed attempts and numerous plant sacrifices, Lyn and I (mostly, if not all Lyn) reaped our first green, the wild rocket. Never mind that the leaves are really tiny and almost unnoticeable on our plate of pasta but hey, this to us is victory. With our new home up and ready in the next few months, we are hoping to start our planting projects including setting up a complete controlled environment with customised lamps and adopt methods like hydroponics. Yes, things are going to get exciting..

Left: Our tasty, yet bitter and spicy wild rocket | Right: Our wild rocket playing the role of Wally in this dinner dish

Sandwiched, a pop-up concept

jason — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:32:53 +0000

During our business trip in New York, JC and I experienced a pop-up cafe at the Whitney Museum of American Art called Sandwiched to learn about the concept. For the benefit of the unsure, pop-ups in general are concepts where retail or F&B establishments temporarily showcase their products or cuisine for a short period of time. In this case, Sandwiched is a pop-up cafe by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group serving simple to complex sandwiches (surprise surprise) located at the basement of the museum until the fall of 2010.

Left and right: The interior of Sandwiched

While the reviews were rave (I think) and concept interesting, it was quite a misadventure for us given that we feel somewhat ripped off for the food provided. However, in their defence, we weren’t really that hungry during the visit and decided on a simple bread with peanut butter and jelly. Even so, our high expectations collapsed when the sandwich looked like something we could have easily prepared at home.

Left and right: The sandwich

What we received was as good as it gets, no gimmicks, no garnishing, no nothing for about US$5 or so (I can’t recall the exact price). I know…ouch. While I know I won’t be returning to New York anytime soon, I think I just might give them another chance if travel permits. But this time round, I am going to order something bigger..much bigger..

I like the less is more design

More photos in my Flickr album here.

Standard Chartered’s Breeze, a breathe of fresh air

jason — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 07:00:05 +0000

When I was invited to a bloggers’ preview on Standard Chartered’s new iPhone application, Breeze, I thought to myself, “Oh, just another bank with an iPhone application with the usual bells and whistles”. As skeptical as I was, I agreed to the event thinking that there could be something to wow users, though I still maintained my initial opinion. Having used both DBS and OCBC iPhone applications, my take back have always been the same…just normal.

But after yesterday’s event at The Queen and Mangosteen at Vivocity, a lesson was reinforced in me – never judge before getting the full picture. After speaking to the developers and marketeers about the application over breakfast (I kinda think its more like lunch), I discovered that the people behind Breeze were really passionate. In fact, Breeze was their brain child, beginning from the first idea, to the conceptualisation and finally the launch of their first version. This is not an application that was thought of by some scholar or the very senior management in the bank and then passed down the corporate food chain until some poor fella got arrowed. The people behind Breeze are dead serious. I’m talking about lit up eyes, ‘why didn’t I think of that’ moments and a sense of excitement when a blogger posted a question or suggestion.

I always feel that there is no better way to fully commit to a project than believing in it first..with all their heart. After listening to their presentation and upon installing the programme in my iPhone, the first page I encountered was really welcoming. There is no corporate feel other than the colours and the bank’s logo, which we all know can be a real turnoff, and everything else had the consumer in mind. The first four buttons were straight forward and do not require someone with a doctorate in rocket science to navigate around the application. You can easily locate the nearest ATM, the latest promotion or call the bank for queries. However, the only area I didn’t venture into, is the login page since I don’t bank with Standard Chartered. This is where the demonstration comes in.

Left: The start page | Right: Offer page

Left: Login page | Right: Working with Google Maps to locate branches, ATMs and AXS machines

Apart from the usual logging in and quick services allowing you move your money around and pay bills, one function that completely beats the heck out of other Bank’s services is the e-Cheques. All you need to do is to key in that person’s name via the iPhone application, fill in the amount, click send and voila!!…the bank will help you mail the cheque…for free!! This is perhaps the first chequing service of its kind and it kind of blew me away. Of course, I will leave the usual initial application details out of this post since you can find more about it on their website. They even added some cute but interesting play functions such as shaking the iPhone left or right to get to a page or a night and day wallpaper. Yes, the Breeze developers aren’t boring.

Left and Right: Standard Chartered’s Aman giving the 20 or so bloggers a walk through and taking questions

At the end of the day, I must admit that I was glad to have attended the event. The folks behind the application were genuine, eager and kept dropping nuggets of their next plan. Having said that, there are some considerations such as the possibility of an Android version, but I believe as every project go, they should take one step at a time. If their passion is any indication of where Breeze is heading, all I can say to the other banks is watch out….they will kick your ass if you don’t put the consumers first…

More photos in my Flickr album here.

The colours of their markets

jason — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:01:08 +0000

Sure it may not be our regular kind of market but I guess I am a sucker for such establishments abroad. Similar to the Chelsea Market, I am quite taken with the Fairway Market and Citarella in New York, and how the folks there display their products. Somehow the colours do pop out and the cluttered products seemed pretty creative. Yes..I stand corrected – I am a sucker…gosh~ Here are some of the photos I managed pick up there:

Left: A butcher hanging aged beef at Citarella | Right: Pink marshmallows

Left: Pretty cakes | Right: They even sell Chinese sausages

Left and right: Colours, colours, colours

Left: My favourite rack there | Right: Even the coffee display looks good

Left: From olives to pickles to other preserved stuff | Right: And they even have ready made food

More photos in my Flickr album here.

The Sunday Night Dinner in Astoria…on a Wednesday

jason — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:16:40 +0000

Mostly known to be part of the anti-restaurant scene, Supperclubs are usually formed by an individual or a group of friends who have a passion in home cooking (while others are professionals), and want to showcase their no-frills cuisine to a selected few at an economical rate. To add to the informal setting, such parties usually taken place in their homes where a full suite of kitchen appliances await. Heck, even their crockery do not match. As such supperclubs go, the ones in New York have been on the steady rise especially during the economic downturn that plagued us as far back as a few years ago.

Due to their secrecy, it can take a while for interested parties to discover one. If the world wide web does not help, there is always the good ‘ol word of mouth which more often than not will lead you to a popular or quality supperclub (or both). In my case, I was thankful to have watched Jamie’s America a couple of months back where his New York trip took him to one of such parties by hosts Tamara and Zora. If Jamie Oliver was there, it has to be good and I’m game for it.

Armed with only a few information, I searched the net and stumbled upon their website, The Sunday Night Dinner in Astoria a few days later. With that a few quick emails got me a reservation for four and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves in Astoria and meeting Tamara herself. Due to her busy schedule, Tamara could only make time for two dinners a fortnight (or a month) and I was thankful that one of her dinners was planned to coincide with my trip in New York. I am not too certain what happened to Zora but a quick chat with Tamara led me to believe that they both moved on to pursue their individual interests.

Left: Everyone can bring a bottle of wine for all to share | Right: We start off with a little appetiser

Left and right: The setting is very informal with us helping ourselves to everything, even the wine glass is a measuring cup

Left and right: Tamara preparing the main dish for the night, lamb

We began sitting ourselves down at the table and passed around the dishes consisting of salads, greens and naan. Soon after, we were presented with a huge bowl of sliced lamb and ate to our hearts content. As the dinner progressed, the living turned dining room filled with strangers and acquaintances chatted into the night.

Left: My table with me goofing off | Right: The small little set up of about 20 to 30 people

Left: Naan | Right: Greens..

Left: …greens… | Right: …and more greens

Left: Tamara’s cousin (I think) presenting the lamb and my colleague from the New York office, Rose Mary with a Kodak moment | Right: A slightly overexposed close up shot of the lamb

I managed to catch up with Tamara during her break and discussed about Jamie Oliver. That was when she recounted how she and Zora were smitten by him during his visit, yes everyone loves him don’t they? Upon learning that Lyn (my boo) was upset for not being there to savour her cuisine, she took out a book she and Zora recently published, wrote a note, signed it and told me to pass it to her. What a sweet gesture… .

Left: The book… | Right: …with Tamara’s note to Lyn

After a few post dinner drinks, we looked at the watch and figured its best we head back to New York City before its too late for us to catch a cab. Yes, I am proud to say I have finally attended a supperclub dinner. While the food was not exactly fantastic, the entire experience left me smiling and wanting to bring Lyn the next time we visit New York. Until then, its just going to be Lyn’s cooking…which is not that bad from the way I see it..

More photos in my Flickr album here.

The return of the flavoured Kit Kats

jason — Wed, 26 May 2010 04:24:07 +0000

If you don’t already know, I am a fan of flavoured Kit Kats. So when I popped over to Narita Airport during my stopover while on my way back home from New York, I decided to go a little crazy. Not to the point of buying boxes given that I have spent more than I have set aside during my trip, but enough to ease my cravings for a while. No more stealing flavoured Kit Kats from my colleagues for a while..

Yeeeeah!!

High Key

jason — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:00:06 +0000

Readers who are not on my Facebook would know that I am currently undergoing a two-week high key In Camp Training (ICT) at Kranji Camp. Thankfully for scheduled posts, I do try to keep my blog updated as often as I can during absence. With me spending another four nights in camp this week beginning yesterday night (yes I would have already been in camp by the time you read this), it is back to scheduling again.

Thankfully this ICT will end a day shorter due to Vesak Day (whoopie!!) and I will be back home on Thursday, but that would also mean spending more time in camp as my commanding officer is one heck of a ‘on’ guy. Yeah it sucks for a person who not only just got married but spent two weeks away from the wife late last month because of my business trip…

See you all on Thursday, if I have enough energy to update. Till then…Majulah Singapura!!

Its like packing to go abroad

Charming Chelsea Market

jason — Sun, 23 May 2010 11:33:18 +0000

Recently, I found myself fascinated with the charm of retail and food & beverage establishments housed in an old building or structure. I can’t really explain why the old and simple ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of approach can give such a stylistic appeal. So you can imagine how awed was I when I visited the Chelsea Market in New York last month. Yes I am a sucker when it comes to something like this ~shrugs shoulders~.

While I think it could be a result of my interest in ‘old skool’ designs and how it could be better if the visual imperfection of a fading building is retained (of course at the same time keeping the structure sound), I guess its just safe to attribute that feeling to being abroad. Yeah, that might play a part…

I won’t go into the history like how it once housed National Biscuit Company in the 1890s since you can read it here. Neither will I give you a list of its outlets as its all available here. But what I can provide are photos of what I captured during my visit there, I think you might fall for it too

Left: The old building | Right: Offices upstairs

Left and right: A couple of cupcake and pastry shops

Left: A nice deli | Right: A farm to table restaurant, this one I like

Left: Nut shop | Right: Another deli

Left: Walking through the ‘ol building | Right: A plaque in remembrance of the old company

Left: One lady you should not piss off | Right: Listing of their tenants etched in metal, nice touch

Left: More of the insides | Right: Some Asian flavour there, I think this one is a tarot reading shop or something

Left: Their version of a kopitiam | Right: Don’t you love these old skool crates?

Left: We bought some nice and cheap wines there | Right: And we have a retail outlet there too

More photos in my Flickr album here.