The Hokkaido Fish Market took over a show rental shop on the 4th floor of Square 2 not long ago, and I finally got round to trying it. A small place, with a similar concept to Sakuraya. They display their products (largely sushi and sashimi), you choose your pieces, pay up at the counter and they will slice it up for you so you can enjoy the sashimi at the premises. Sadly though, the selection wasn't great, not sure if it's always the case or because we went rather late at night.
 

We ordered two slabs of salmon sashimi, a slab of tamago and an unagi don. Honestly didn't think the unagi was any good, the sashimi and tamago are good when you have the craving (ohhh I have tamago cravings) and want huge amounts of it. It's not bad, decently fresh tasting salmon sashimi, but not something to run back for. I'm just glad there's another option around (and the feeling of stuffing 10 sashimi slices down in minutes without feeling any pain on the pocket).

Speaking of store-bought sashimi slabs, I have come to find that the best I've tried comes from Marketplace at Raffles City. Plus, you can also ask the guy at the counter to slice it for you, though there is no place to sit down and eat it, so bring it home and enjoy!

I've been pretty busy of late and haven't been blogging enough! Anyways we had an impromptu afternoon tea at Lawry's the Prime Rib and I didn't bring my camera out! That, coupled with bad lighting in Lawry's that makes my phone pictures even worse than normal, I've decided to upload just one picture and throw away the rest. They don't do the food justice.

 

I think quite unknown to many, Lawry's - normally associated with expensive steaks, has one of the cheapest afternoon tea sets in town! For $12, you get to choose one savoury and one sweet, along with coffee, tea, or juice. We tried the Prime Rib Yorkshire Roll Up and the Sauteed Cream of Mushroom with Garlic Bread for the savouries and the Hoemmade Scones and the Sweet of the Day (which was a pecan nut bread pudding with vanilla ice cream) for the sweets. (This is two sets by the way).

It's an extremely substantial tea set - the above picture shows the Yorkshire Roll - which is basically strips of Prime Rib rolled and packed into a yorkshire pudding. That portion alone is enough for lunch! And the yorkshire pudding was nice and buttery and with the beef and extra little pot of au jus in the centre... mmmm.

The bread pudding was also very, very good. A twist on the normal bread pudding with some spices and pecan chunks. The Sauteed Cream of Mushroom was very morish and scones small and crumbly.

 

 

What's more, you get to sit at the beautifully decorated Lawry's, and feel like you're transported to somewhere else like a fine dining room in some old grand house. A greta place to escape from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road on any day!

I don't know why more people haven't spoken about their Afternoon Tea. Not that I mind really - don't get too over-crowded!

 

This Christmas/Birthday, I've received my very first blue box! I'm so very, very elated about it. Yes, if anyone finds me lost on the streets one day, send me back home, return me to where I belong. Okay so here comes the funny part - I've ALWAYS wanted a charm bracelet (doesn't have to be Tiffany's) and I've always been torn between getting one for myself and waiting for someone (I mean, a special someone) to get one for me.

OKAY so here's a time for an unexpected confession that's as silly and realistic as a fairytale - that he'd somehow know that I want a charm bracelet and get me one without me saying anything. Totally girly, I know. But it's such a wonderful idea - to be able to add a charm whenever there's a special occasion or an experience you want to remember. And at the end of it you'll have a bracelet full of memories!

Anyways, since I've gotten one, I decided that this secret is now safe to be let out of the bag. I promise there isn't much more of this silliness (okay well, not thatt much more at least). It's very shiny and I can only collect it in a week because it's been sent for alterations to get some of the links cut off so it'll fit nicely :) This must be some sort of good karma - mere months after I get my mum her very first blue box I get my own. Oh, love.

The next on my never-ending quest for Japanese food - Itacho Sushi at Ion Orchard. We were so lost when presented with the variety that we went for one set (Ume) and ordered additional pieces of sushi on top of that.
 
 

Various kinds of sushi - swordfish, tuna, japanese flounder, and some others.
 

 

Here's the Roasted Scallop Sushi, Sea Salt Scallop Sushi and Conch Sushi. I love scallop sashimi sushi! I didn't try the conch sushi but apparent it's rather hard and crunchy and not very pleasant an eating experience. Look at the seafood draping over the rice! Makes me so happy. The actual amount of rice beneath each fish is only a tiny amount - which means that I can eat plenty of sushi before becoming full!
 
 
 

Sweet Shrimp Sakura Leaf Roll
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Salmon Roll (that comes as part of the Ume set)
 

 

Pumpkin tempure - the only fried dish we had (came as part of the set). I love pumpkin so it was all good!
 

 

Whole Sea Eel Sushi - I don't even know why they try to disguise this as sushi. There's that tiny lump of rice under the hugeeee eel that seems to stretch on forever, and we were just picking away at the eel itself until we got to the portion with the rice. So sweet and tasty - J. calls it fish bak kwa. Alright all the food went by in a wheeze because I was hungry and everything was yummy so it was like a sushi frenzy. I'm in Ion every alternate day and there's always long queues during lunch time. Lunkily, with my slightly weird eating hours, i got there at 11.30am and got a seat with ease. I like that the sushi comes in individual pieces instead of the usual pairs - it means that you don't have to have too much of one thing and you can still order it even if your partner doesn't want it. Definitely one of the better places in Ion to dine at and I'm coming back again very, very soon!  

My dad's Christmas present is settled! I don't know about everyone else but I generally find that guys are terribly hard to get things for. All the more so if they're old - what they need, they have. What they want, they have. How in the world are you supposed to get something they actually like that will be used?

I know some of my past attempts for my dad have been a random assortment of toys and pretty but useless things (like, a decision maker.) that are good for a moment's laugh but that's it. This year I've given up on finding funky stuff and went down the old route - a tie. My dad loves his ties - like the way a woman loves handbags or shoes. I suppose it's the only exciting thing in an outfit of white shirt + dark pants (his usual work get up). He has built in, pull-out tie racks. Enough said.

Thing about ties is that there are so, so many designs out there. I decided to get him one good one, rather than multiple not-so-good quality ties. He'd mentioned that he liked Zegna and Dunhill ties, so we headed to Paragon to look for one. I suppose service really made all the difference. In Zegna we were pretty much left alone, but when we stepped into Dunhill and the sales assistant saw us looking at ties, he immediately asked questions like "what colour shirts does he wear?" and "is he a conservative type?" and then proceeded to get us a white shirt and give recommendations, but was in no way pushy.





The people at Dunhill then wrapped it up nicely and it's now sitting under our Christmas tree :) Hope dad'll like it!

My mum still doesn't know I bought her earrings yet. I shall surprise her on the day itself hee.

Whew I'm glad the two most difficult people in the world are settled!

I haven't really figured out what I want for Christmas/ birthday this year. So far I've shortlisted these two potentials: Chanel pendant earrings with pearl from the Cruise 2009/2010 collection or the Miu Miu croc embossed wallet (but not in green... maybe the dusty pink similar to my bag).

Ho hmm ho hmm! Though I've realised my first love is still for my Balenciaga city and I feel like getting another. Oh dear!