Audi A4 2008: "String"

另一個「集體回憶」..
we liked playing these strings when we were kids.. it's amazing at how they can do it!!

Chanel's Mobile Art

Chanel's Mobile Art

a futuristic pavilion created by British Iraqi renowned architect Zaha Hadid, venue for Chanel's "Mobile Art" exhibition, is now in Hong Kong!! Hong Kong is the first of six international cities to exhibit the works of twenty international contemporary artists, including Sophie Calle, Nobuyoshi Araki, Stephen Shore, Yoko Ono, & Lee Bul.. this travelling exhibition will be opened to public from February 27 to April 5, 2008, & will then move on to other cities such as Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow & Paris, around the world from 2008 to 2010..

(from HK Ticketing 網頁)
流動藝術展於 Zaha Hadid 精心設計充滿未來感的展館中展示。 作為一次巡迴展出，它儼如一齣三維立體電影。

流動藝術展這種創新的概念來源於一次美學實驗。在過去的兩年中，CHANEL 的理念和視覺語言和20餘位來自全球的現代藝術家相結合。這些藝術家被邀請參觀 Mademoiselle Chanel 位於巴黎的公寓、 rue Cambon 以及製造 CHANEL 手袋的工作坊。

他們於極具代表性的 CHANEL 菱格紋手袋獨有之元素中取得靈感，自由創作他們的藝術作品。

我們將展現當代藝術中各種不同的表達方式：裝置藝術、雕塑、攝像、畫面、聲音等。

流動藝術展會讓參觀者以全新的方式在展館中遊覽：參觀者可以帶著MP3，通過“Soundwalk” 的錄音與每位藝術家進行全身心的交流，親身體驗藝術家們的裝置藝術。錄音內容包含了各藝術家的原創音樂，同時還伴有語音和環境音效。

流動藝術展是一種全新的藝術表達方式和一次特殊的體驗，其中包含了建築、藝術、音樂創作和時尚等多種元素。

如需進一步資料，請瀏覽 http://www.chanel-mobileart.com/

展覽場地： 香港中環天星停車場
展覽日期： 2008年2月27日至4月5日
票價: 免費入場 (快達票將收取每張門票$10顧客服務費)
錄音導賞：約35分鐘
備有以下各種語言選擇：廣東話、普通話、英文、韓文、法文

Chanel's Mobile Art exhibit


a rendering of the mobile pavilion for Chanel designed by Zaha Hadid

Piatto Vecchio Ristorante

Piatto Vecchio Ristorante
Date: February 14, 2008 (Thursday)
Address: 9301 Bathurst Street, Richmond Hill (Carrville & Bathurst)
Phone: (905) 884-8091
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri Noon-3 p.m. / Mon-Sat from 5:30 p.m. (Open Sundays for private functions)

we read about this restaurant from the newspaper recently & LG made reservation for dinner on Valentine's Day.. as we expected, they were serving "Valentines Menu"..



the prices seemed quite reasonable.. average price for a western restaurant..










LG had the Roasted Sweet Pepper Bisque as starter.. he said it could stimulate the appetite.. good to start..



we also had the Crab Cakes (Nova Scotia style crab cakes with a Wasabi mayo).. & we both loved the Wasabi mayo sauce.. it's really good for the crab cakes!! as said on the newspaper, the chef mixed Japanese Wasabi with Mayonnaise to make such a perfect sauce for the crab cakes!



we also tried their pasta.. Ravioli Con Funghi, that is Stuffed ravioli with ricotta served in a porcini mushroom cream.. the cream sauce was good, & together with the ravioli & mushroom tasted very good..




for Main Courses.. LG tried their steak & i had the salmon..
(left) Bistecca Alla Griglia.. Black Angus New York steak served with a Dijon peppercorn sauce
(right) Salmon Al forno.. Nova Scotia salmon filet with a goat's cheese & sundried tomato crust
..it tasted very good with the sundried tomato covering the salmon.. little bit sour sweet.. & it's a bit cripsy too..


Mocha Cappuccino Cheese Cake
..it's too sweet for us.. & there wasn't any "mocha" or "cappuccino" flavor in it.. a little bit disappointed..



we both liked the food (except the dessert).. i believe we'll come again to try their regular menu..

FYI: news clipping from Mingpao..
"up town訪尋美食傳統意菜創新意味"

from La Bamboche

cakes & tea bought from La Bamboche..

Pomme Fromage (Roasted Ontario Organic Apples, Brandy Butter, Vanilla, Cheese Mousseline)

Mattcha Cream (Mattcha Cream, Chocolate Cream (Guayaquil 64%, Caraibes 72%))

Chocolatine (White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Cream, Chocolate Genoise)

Sacher (Traditional Austrian Torte Dark Chocolate, Apricot Glaze)

Macarons
Lavender with chocolate filling & Apple

4 Flowers+infusion Tea
Calendula, Camomile, Rose Petal, Bee Pollen

La Bamboche

La Bamboche (blog)
Address: 4 Manor Road East, Toronto (Eglinton & Yonge)
Phone: (416) 481-6735
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-10pm / Fri-Sat 8am-11pm / Sun 8am-9pm



after seeing so many beautiful pics of the cakes from this cake shop at marz & dapan's blog, i've urged my friends to go there for brunch this sat.. the brunch is from 10am-2pm, & we arrived at ~12:30pm.. (the traffic was terrible at 404/DVP!!)

it's a small & cozy cafe.. & we all love the environment there.. so relaxing..
here's the Cafe Latte & Cappuccino we had..

Poached Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Bechamel Sauce, Toasted Brioche
Organic Salad with Citrus Thyme Vinaigrette
Roasted Baby Potatoes and Westphalia Ham

Poached Eggs with Mushroom and Goat Cheese, Bechamel Sauce, Toasted Brioche
Organic Salad with Citrus Thyme Vinaigrette
Roasted Baby Potatoes and Westphalia Ham

the blackberries were so sweet.. & the poached eggs were great..


there were 2 choices for desserts, Honey Citrus or Banana Caramel.. all 4 of us chose the Banana Caramel!!



they r also selling chocolates, cooking oil, spread, jam, cookies, bread & tea.. we couldn't resisit buy buy some cakes & tea to go!!

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu Korean Restaurant

Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu Korean Restaurant
Date: February 18, 2008 (Monday)
Address: 5445 Yonge Street, North York (Finch & Yonge)
Phone: (647) 430-7458

it's my first time being here.. i heard that it's very busy.. & yes, there were many people waiting in line during our dinner at that time (~6pm)..

here's the Korean Appetizers.. & the eggs were for us to add into the soup..

since i don't eat beef, instead of having the veggie one, i chose to have the Seafood Soon Tofu.. with Oyster, Shrimp, & Mussel.. it's still "boiling" when the food arrived at the table..

the rice came in a small wooden tub (木桶).. the server put the rice into the bowls in front of us.. & then filled the tub with some hot water.. as there were some rice inside the tub, like "飯焦"..




here's the menu.. there were not many choices but seems most were great!!

Bier Markt

Bier Markt
Date: February 17, 2008 (Sunday)
Address: 58 the Esplanade, Toronto (Front & Church)
Phone: (416) 862-7575

ZA told us about this Fondue Fest & i really wanna try.. & since it's long weekend, we went there on a Sunday night after the Auto Show (a busy day)!

the 1st thing we noticed was.. there are MANY choices of beer!! the server suggested two of them: Staropramen Lager & Fruli Strawberry Wheat..

the gents ordered Staropramen Lager from Czech Republic.. 5% alc/vol.. 233 calories/serving.. the server said it's good choice for those who like Heineken or Coors Light..






Fondue was the reason we came here.. so we started off with 2 Fondue appetizers.. they were both warm cheese fondues..
Cheese & Lager
appenzeller, emmental & raclette cheeses, Stella Artois Lager, asparagus, grape tomatoes, cornichon, fresh baguette..

Brie, Lobster & Pastis
imported French brie, Atlantic lobster, mini crab cakes, soft pretzel, fresh baguette..

since the Fondues were very rich.. we decided to have some "lighter" main courses.. we just ordered a pasta & mussels..
Shrimp & Moules Linguine
tiger shrimp, moules, roasted fennel, grape tomatoes, tomato lobster broth..

1 kilo Pot of Moules for $20..
they had Moules cooked in many differnt ways.. we picked a la Snob, which were made with leeks, fresh tomato, pernod, & lobster cream..




we dipped the bread into the mussels sauce..




we had fondue as desserts too..
Belgian Chocolate.. with dark chocolate, fresh fruit, berries & pastries..
..i like dark chocolate so i like this one more..

Hazelnut & Chocolate.. with milk chocolate, strawberries, bananas, biscotti, macaroons & caramel drizzle..
..very strong Hazelnut flavor..

it turned out that both came with the same set of food.. the server did mention that they were running out of "something" re the Chocolate Foudues.. i guess that's why..

the food were good.. especially the sauces.. but Z&A said that the Foudue at The Melting Pot is better.. i guess we'll have to pay a visit to the Buffalo's one sometime..



here's the menu for the Fondue Festival (from Jan. 23-Feb. 24)

Spring Villa Chinese Cuisine 渝園新閣

Spring Villa Chinese Cuisine 渝園新閣
Date: February 10, 2008 (Sunday)
Address: 7301 Woodbine Avenue, Markham (Denison & Woodbine)
Phone: (905) 940-2888

港式炸兩 & 五香炸龍鬚
五香炸龍鬚 was good.. not covered with lots of flour..

香煎蘿蔔糕 & 脆皮上素卷

鮮枝竹毛豆豆腐 & 野味汁鳳爪

渝園新閣蝦餃 & 汕頭靚粉果

馬蹄牛肉球 & 魚子蝦燒賣

臘味糯米卷 & 蠔皇义燒飽

蝦子芋絲餅

千層馬拉糕 & 馳名糖不甩


i like the 糖不甩.. & the food was good in general..