Turkish Night @ the Ritz Carlton

I am not a fan of one-price all-you-can-eat buffet dinners.

So I must admit it was with some reservation that I decided to go to Turkish Delights (23 October to 4 November) at the Ritz Carlton.

I am delighted to declare that my doubts were totally dispelled. The wait staff was faultless. There was extensive range in their mezze, salads, sides, mains and (my personal favourite) desserts. There was uncompromised quality in every course of the meal.

I will go out on a limb on this one and say that the food was the best I have ever experienced. Even compared to my experience in Turkey!

Definitely no Turkish restaurant in Singapore produced food that even came close.

I am contemplating going one more time before the promotion ends next weekend.

Yes, that is truly how good it is!

Mummy Simone!

This sms just came in from the Bling Girl :

Our little (girl) rascal finally made a dramatic entrance by emergency C section at 410 today. All is good! Mummy is super sleepy.

Congratulations mummy and daddy!

Anniversary

In the beginning, there was ...

PIZZA PARTY

It has been a whole year ago that I started blogging. Wow.

Darren's dance

I have not seen him about in a long time. I am happy to learn that he has this regular gig. And I really like him in this drum solo.

Bellydance rivalry

It has been a quiet week around here. The mind has gone blank and I am unable to come up with anything original to write about.

Trying to find something interesting to discourse upon, I looked up the Bellydance scene in the old town where I once lived, not really expecting to find anything.

I was so wrong. And I take cold comfort in knowing that bellydance rivalry is the same anywhere...

Turkish Delights

23 October 2007 to 4 November 2007

To celebrate Turkey’s Republic Day on 29 October, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia will present culinary treasures from the Middle East at Greenhouse. Chefs Selami Guleryuz, Kemalettin Yalcin and Orzan Ozyurt from The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul will delight diners with a delectable selection of donner kebabs and Manti pasta, freshly baked pides and gözleme and traditional sweets such as baklava and Maras dondurmasi ice cream. In the evenings, guests may also enjoy the live barbeque station, exotic Middle eastern music and belly dancing. Turkish coffee and tea, ordered separately, complete the unique experience.

Every party of six or more diners will receive a complimentary bottle of Turkish wine, while stocks last. All diners also stand a chance to win a five-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, including a pair of return air tickets, airport transfers and a city tour.

For more information, please call +65 6434-5288 or email rc.sinrz.restaurantreservations@ritzcarlton.com.

Personal:

1. I will be going on Sunday October 28 for dinner.

2. Turkish Delights buffet dinner Sun-Thurs $52++, Fri/Sat $68++

3. Three sets of bellydance performance at 7:30, 8:15 and 9pm.

4. I have no idea who the performers are, so if any of you go earlier than I, do share.
(update: shimmy has kindly provided detailed information regarding entertainment in comments)

5. For additional information and update by 3aGurl , click here.

100 best dishes of Singapore

It came with the Sunday Times (October 14) - a special edition of Lifestyle listing the 100 best dishes in Singapore.

I read the supplement cover to cover. And then re-read it several times over.

I recognised 70% of the restaurants named.

Of that 70%, I've been to 80% of them.

I've eaten 80% of their recommendation.

I agree with their selection 90% of the time.

I feel I am such a gourmet.

I also feel I am such a gourmand.

Maybe I flatter myself with the above labels.

Maybe I am truly just a glutton indulging my compulsion.

Selamat Hari Raya

We caught the aidilfitri spirit.

Our idea of celebrating the festival is to get a few good friends together for a mini medley of Indonesian-peranakan favourites:

Satay
Ketupat
Sambal Eggs
Sayur Lodeh with lontong
Rendang (no picture - rendang is not photogenic)
Kueh Lapis (no picture - it was polished off before I could get the camera)
Pecan Pie (just because)

Now the friends want to know what is planned for Deepavali.

My friends are optimistic forward-thinking kind of people :)

We will we will Raks you

Because it was a cool breezy Saturday night
Because it was Aidilfitri
Because it was Claribel's star performers

... Arabian Nights of the What's your move series, part of da:ns festival 2007, was a jam-packed event.

This has to be about the best attended and most fun bellydance event I have been to in a long while.

Read 3A Gurl's review of the event here.

audience participation led by Belinda

Claribel, principal of Claribel's Raks Sharki Studio
event participant of Arabian Nights

The superstars of Claribel's Raks Sharki Studio

Claribel's Raks Sharki Studio is located at:
153 King's Road,
#01-01 Farrer Court,
Room C, Clubhouse,
Singapore 266367

Tel: 64743459, 97972261
email: claribel_ng@hotmail.com
website: http://claribelstudio.com/

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

I love mutts of every stripe.

These kampong angin are permanent residents at the House on the Hill. They probably double up as the ever-alert security patrol too. (Not!)

From the looks of it, Scarface is the undisputed King of the Hill after having fought off many would-be usurpers.

The House on the Hill

The House on the Hill - outside

The House on the Hill - inside

The friends have been trying to get us to visit their home on the hill.

This is where they plan to live when they are done with the tiresome business of having to make a living in the hustling and bustling capital city.

Until then, this is their weekend getaway. A private retreat from prying eyes. A holiday home for friends who want to get away from it all just for a while. And occasionally, the place for lavish dinner parties with select company.

We finally made the trip. And we can understand why they are so proud of their home on the hill.

What are they saying?

We were looking for room 1218. Took us a while to figure out which way to turn. Do they put up directions like this to test our deductive-inductive capability?

This warning was displayed prominently at the hotel entrance. I decided I should not walk the short distance to the shopping mall next door. Doesn't quite inspire you to join me for a holiday here, does it?

Indonesian Feast

I don't know how the Indonesian friends manage putting together a dinner spread as elaborate as this to feed the friends. But I am deeply appreciative and totally in awe.

Friends at play

On a really quiet night, I find amusement in googling myself and my friends just to see where we might show up on the internet.

For example, here and here.