Cavalock and The Mystery of The Osiris Board

While the rest of the island (well, almost the rest) was queuing for a taste of In-N-Out Burger here for the first time, I was busy playing my version of American Pickers. Over the last week, I found me some really old stuff that I had forgotten for ages.

Gosh, I remember playing that Japanese button vehicle game for hours and hours, days and days, weeks and weeks. It totally enthralled little ol' me and I was about the same age as the kid on the box.

The van goes round the track and if you push a colored button on the side, it'll cause the same colored ones on the track to rise and turn the van, if it's on top of it.

The MAD magazine game. I think I only played that game once or twice. All the pieces and everything are still in the box. And no, I really don't see myself or my gaming buddies playing it anytime soon.

The Osiris Board is a really something else all together! It's not a boardgame but a fortune-telling 'device' that promises to predict the future. I did fiddle with it but I don't think I followed the instructions. I kinda did my own thing with it. ;)

And as promised, a selection of classic vintage cheongsam from the 1950s and 60s, belonging to my late mom and aunt. Quite possibly the slimmest ladies in town back then, I believe the outfits are American size 0 or 1. Really.

By the way, check out the floor's mosaic tiles, you sure as hell can't find anything like that anymore!

Cavalock and The Other Bedside Experience

Its been ages since I did some bedside reading before hitting the sack but last month I picked up David Lebovitz's The Sweet Life in Paris. A very entertaining and informative read, filled with his amusing insights as a gay American pastry chef and cookbook author living in the City of Lights.

Now if I had read this book before visiting Paris I would probably think twice about making that trip cos Lebovitz certainly doesn't paint a very flattering image of the Parisians. Yes, I know he's just exaggerating all their faults and idiosyncrasies. But still, ain't no smoke if there ain't no fire, if youse knows wat ah mean.

When I was in Paris last year I had a terrific time, almost none of the annoying little French quirks mentioned in the book crossed paths with me. Well, I said 'almost' cos I think the closest I got to experiencing anything like that was at the supermarket. That's when I found out that the checkout ladies don't bag your groceries instead they'll all just let them gather in a heap at the end of the checkout aisle (your groceries, not the checkout ladies). I guess I should count my lucky stars that's the extent of bad Parisian customer service Lebovitz talked about that I was privy to.

Writing this just makes me wanna go back to Paris but not for this!

But back to the book, I really enjoyed it and there are recipes at the end of every chapter although I think you should pick up his cookbooks if you are planning to try them out, cos there aren't any food porn in this book.

Check this out! Spotted it at Meidi-Ya and I don't think you can find it at the other supermarkets. I really can't imagine how carbonated coffee tastes like ... but I'm in no hurry to find out either.

Cavalock and The Ride Out West (Again)

Seems like these days I'm heading out to the west side of our little island more times than I can remember. This week, I was at The Rotisserie at The Rochester Mall, just a 5-minute walk from Buona Vista station. Never knew there was a hotel (Rochester) way out here. It's like a couple fancy skyscrapers in the middle of nowhere. Was there bout 2pm, that's after the lunch crowd so there was no problem getting a seat.

I know everyone's saying how good their roasted chicken is but I had the steak sandwich instead. Was bout S$12.50 and you get to pick two different salads side dishes, potato and coleslaw for me. Not a very thick slice of steak but still tasty enough. Like the bacon strips too.

I guess with it being just a short walk from the train station, I wouldn't mind trying out their breakfast menu one of these days.

Oh wow! Looking at one of my first few posts way back in July 2006, was just back from Japan. Sure wish the food, the people and just about everything Japanese right now. And in this July 2007 post, I actually spilled the (a little) beans on my origin! As for July 2008, me and the guys just got back from kicking some serious Aussie butt in Gen Con Australia! Damn, I miss those good ol' days....

Cavalock and The Family Vintage Vault

I have a new full-time job now and that's taking care of my elderly family members. And I have no siblings or cousins here, it's all up to me now. I'm not complaining bout it but sometimes I do miss that human contact with other people besides medical staff and the elderly.

For the record (geddit, record!), I really hated the Ray Conniff Singers!

Now my days start off like an episode of American Pickers or Pawn Stars as I head to my old family residence and go through tons (literally 'tons') of stuff. We are talking bout total retro vintage stuff from the 60s to the 80s, local and foreign. You see, my late uncle worked for a bank and he got to travel a lot, he was even posted to the U.S. (east coast and west coast) for most of the 70s. So while my mom and aunts were more into 'Rule, Britannia!', my uncle was more into Americana if you know what I mean.

Seriously, I have hundreds and hundreds of them

It's like walking into the House of Mystery (FYI old DC comic title), there's something something interesting as I rummage through the place. 90% of the time, it's stuff that I really don't think anyone would want, 10% of the time it's pure vintage gold.

Still in their original packaging!

I'm thinking of selling or donating them away but haven't decide exactly how yet. Just don't wanna throw them away that's all. I have already posted some of them on Facebook and the response has been pretty good.

Mint condition from the 70s, do you think anyone would want?

I posted the cheongsams on Facebook and more than a few ex-colleagues are already interested in them. Need I say, all still in excellent condition and they belonged to my late aunt and mom who were really, really slim.

Was told that it's about US size 0 or 1 but I could be wrong. :P

Now I guess the biggest collection in the house would be the cutlery and tableware, mostly from Europe I believe. What I really like or need is to get some of my family antiques like Chinese figurines and vases appraised. Anyone knows any?

Cavalock and The Very Happy Monkey

There's a new Japanese restaurant in town and it's situated right next to my fav Japanese supermarket. How could I not check out Yayoiken that's right next to Meidi-Ya supermarket at Liang Court?

Have actually been there twice and both times I ordered the Buta Yakiniku (pork) set meal (yah I know, boring) cos it was really good. Now the first time I had it, they apparently forgot to give me the dipping sauce. Oh, the above pix is from my second visit. Now I didn't know there was supposed to be any dipping sauce and I did remarked how much nicer it would be if they some dipping sauce. But having each mouthful of pork slice together with some bean sprout, that was the solution. The crunchy beans and tender pork made a truly tasty combo.

Now when I was there the second time, they gave me dipping sauce but I found it a little too sweet so I simply stuck with my bean sprouts and pork combo. Not bad for a S$9.90 set meal. A tie with my other favorite pork set meal.

And since I was at Meidi-Ya, here are some of new stuff I spotted on their shelves. Bailey's (non-alcoholic) flavored coffee creamers! Saw them in the food mags that downloaded a couple months ago but first time seeing them here. There's also some new popcorn from the US, they look very tempting too but I didn't buy any. :P

It's Father's Day and although I don't usually celebrate Father's or Mother's Day in my family (my late Mom always said 'Everyday's Mother's Day so don't need a special day'), I thought I'll just showcase some of the latest wildlife pix my 77 year-old Dad took over the last couple of weeks.

Believe it or not, we do have quite a healthy eagle population here on the island. More of my Dad's pix here and here. Oh, and here's the very happy monkey in the title!

Cavalock and The Return of The Omakase Order

Two omakase meals in a year? Oh yah, it's a new record cos usually it's one in like, 'never' years? Back at Hinoki at China Square Central but this time almost everything's different.

For starters, was there on a packed Saturday nite instead of a quiet weekday dinner like the last time. Reservations definitely needed on weekends. Had a table for four instead of a counter seats too so that's kinda new too.

Told the big guy Gary that I wanted more sushi and sashimi. Then I sat back with a cold beer and waited for the parade to begin. Maybe it's just luck but almost everything I had this time was different from the last which is a good thing I mean. No repeats and all that.

Since it was full house, the food took a little longer to arrive but since I had some really good company that night, the time just flew.

They were rather generous with the truffle oil during my previous visit. Well, they still do as I caught more than a whiff of it exuding from the above baked fish and at least one other dish. No major complaints just a bit getting used to some people I guess.

Oh, and all the dishes came in the order you see here in the pix, from top to bottom, like after the fish you got a nice little oyster dish.

Followed by yet another oyster, this time resting gently in my chawanmushi. The below serving of beef that came next was extraordinary tender. Maybe it was wagyu? I dunno, I forgot to ask.

Then came sushi and more sushi. All in all, another very excellent omakase meal. Oh yah, I had the green tea ice cream instead of the grape-flavored one like last time. A better choice I thought.

Cavalock and The Case of The Mysterious Emotional Restaurants

With hardly any time to try out any new joints, I figured I'll look back at one of my old posts, exactly five years to this day, another Sunday the 3rd of June and what was I blogging about? Oh yah, brunch at Glaze. Geez, been ages since I been there, not an easy place to go to without a set of wheels.

I thought I'll just share some 'interesting' pix I snapped over the last week. Hope they at least bring a smile or two. <^;^>

A Japanese magazine at Kinokuniya, I have no idea what an 'emotional' restaurant is but I sure would like to see the menu

Yes, for a mere S$100 you can get frozen foie gras at our local supermarkets 

Don't you wish real traffic cops ride bikes like these?

Am sure there's a message-in-a-bottle reference somewhere in there