The Global Gnome

Have I ever mentioned I have this obsession with Wes Anderson?  Starting from Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums all the way to Fantastic Mr. Fox.  There is not enough praises for his genius writing and directing.  All his films have a very realistic dark humor to it which all his viewer no doubt can relate to on some level.

He has a new movie out called Moonrise Kingdom, set to open the 2012 Cannes File Festival in mid-May.  Saw the trailer to it the other day.  It features the usual motley crew but this time it also features Edward Norton – another genius!

God know how long I have to wait before I can see it.

OK.  I have been incognito for exactly a month.  A lot has happened since the last post.  Mama and Papa Cheung arrived from Australia to look after me for a month after giving birth.  (1-2-3 Aweeee… yes, they are fantastic!)  So my parents came and the baby didn’t.  I was hoping they would arrive after the baby was born – Yes – Right – like the baby was going to listen to me.  Anyhow, it all worked out in the end and I got the perfect home birth I hoped for.  Except for the part that we (me and B (the new baby)) got admitted into hospital 2 days after the perfect home birth because B had jaundice.  So much has happened and topics which I hope I can back track in the coming weeks:

• Home birth
• Confinement practices and foods (aimed at helping a new mums recover from the rigours of pregnancy, labour and birth)
• Wes Anderson’s new movie, Moonrise Kingdom
• Acne’s leather overalls (where can I find them!  Now that I don’t have a big belly anymore.)

Think that’s about it.  Perhaps I can make better use of this time to catch-up on my sleep today.

It’s Valentine’s Day and from the title of my post you might think I received the ultimate pedicure as a present, OR I was getting the ultimate pedicure in preparation for our romantic date.  Yes – George has a foot fetish and would like to have dinner with my feet.  No – None all of the above.

What I am trying to do is to complete all my personal grooming and squeeze in as much treatments as I can before the mini-Sanchaz pops out.  So today, my indulgent (whoops – I mean necessity as I can’t touch my toes) treatment is a pedicure.

I was first introduced to the Cowshed range when I was commuting bi-weekly between London to New York  (the thought of that flight still sends shivers down my back).  It lasted a little under a year but at least I was flying business class (yes – and racked up enough frequent flyers to purchase a house).  Moving on.  Virgin Atlantic endorsed the Cowshed products on their Upper Class and their lounges (one of the best lounges in the world, we can go into a little more details in another post).  I always found the Cowshed body products very good so I was pleased to see they had opened various spas around London.  Their spas are white rustic, relaxed with very reasonably priced treatments.

I booked myself in for the Ultimate Cowshed Pedicure as a tester.  Result (see below)!!  The 75 min super duper uber pedicure was no disappointment.  In fact it has been one of the best pedicure I’ve had in London all for the bargain price of £55.  You have all the usual pedicure maintenance up to very high standards.  When I had the mask on my feet the therapist gave me a head and shoulder massage follow by a leg massage.  I usually rate a spa to be good if they provide you massage services while you have a mask waiting.  My feet were floating afterwards.  I will definitely go back there again to try another treatment.  I highly recommend Cowshed for those wanting an ultimate pedicure experience.  What are you waiting for?

No this is not another food post.  I visited the Thai Square Spa in London today.  This is my second visit and I am not sure how I feel about it.  The spa is very Thai and relaxing, the service is never unpleasant, the receptionist is always friendly but there is something I can’t put my fingers on.  Perhaps that is what you call “Feng Shui”?  OK.  Maybe I can put my fingers on it – on both visits (while I am pregnant) they recommend a treatment to me over the telephone only to be “highly” recommended to another treatment (with a higher price tag) when I get there.  Stating the treatment I originally booked for is not so “suitable” after all.  They also seem to short change me by about 10 mins both time.  That is a lot in massage time.  A little picky on my part perhaps?  Why did I go there again?  The massage therapist there is amazing!!  I can’t speak for non pregnancy massages but if you a pregnant lady wanting to release some tension with those extra weights, this is the place.  I have tried plenty of spas with varies price tags in both my pregnancies.   I’ve even tried the pregnancy treatments at the Chuan Spa and that was disappointing.  They might as well have gotten some feather dusters and tickle me for 90 mins.

Would I go to the Thai Square Spa again?  Unfortunately – Yes.  Perhaps I will update you again with the non pregnancy treatments.  I’m heading over to the Cowshed Spa next week.  Will let you know how that goes.

Europe is full of history and historical architecture.  It is all around you and you do get very unmindful when you live here.  You don’t usually take the time to appreciate it.  There is one thing in London though that I stop and appreciate every time I see it in our neighbourhood or when they come trotting past our house every week.  They are the Royal Artillery’s King’s Troop.  I believe “The Troop” is lead either out daily or weekly through their neighbourhood for a stroll.  We were one of the lucky few to be living on one of their strolling paths.

Today is a sad sad day.  Farewell Royal Artillery’s King’s Troop in St. John Wood (as they leave their home for the past 65 years).  You will be missed in our neighbourhood and we will definitely miss your weekly stroll past our house.  I am sure your new Woolwich resident will be much more comfortable and the community there will love you like we do.  Sniffle sniffle.

See them in action in our neighbourhood - The Troop.

You can find out more about The King’s Troop RHA or about their move to Woolwich on http://www.army.mod.uk/news/23796.aspx.

Today is the first of a number of significant events.  First day of the Lunar New Year (year of the Water Dragon), exactly 1 month before my expected due date (never mind only less than 2% of children are born on the predicted date) and the first day of my maternity leave starts here.

I got woken up at 6:30am as usual – so no change there.

The midwives came around last night and delivered all their equipments (we’re having a home birth) and ran us through the drill if it all kicks off.  I think that is when it dawned on George and I that we have not done anything in preparation for baby #2 and it can come anytime now.  George initiated “the list” and panic.  Both attributes he’s never shown before.

I am now in panic state and it is a race against time.  We have a list and a semi plan.  I really don’t think this belly is going to last another month.  I cannot get any bigger and at times I think it is going to drop while walking down the road.

The start of maternity leave is meant to be relaxing and full of self reflection – not to get through a list.

Anyone who’s been to Brazil (or South America) will be no stranger to Pao De Queijo.  They are a popular snack food sold by street vendors and the likes.  They have it for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, anytime really.  I was first introduced to it on a sunny London summer picnic (rare occasion).  I have been intrigued since.  I got the recipe from the internet and it was not too shabby for the first attempt.  It used a type of flour call “polvilho azedo” (Brazilian sour manioc starch).  I believe this is the same as tapioca starch/flour (but don’t quote me on it).  Luckily I live round the corner from a Portuguese deli and had no problems getting my hand on a packet.  The cheese is the key ingredient to this dish.  I used 3/4 mild cheddar and 1/4 mozzarella.  I like my cheese strong, so I think next time I need to either up it to strong cheddar or add a pungent Parmesan to the mix.

I present you my virgin Pao De Queijo:

Legend states making Pho broth at home is a waste of time.  I put that to the test.  After 5kg of beef bones, 1kg of beef chins and 4 hours of simmering, I got 1.5L of delicious broth.  Was it worth it?

YES – I would do it again but maybe not tomorrow.  I like the fact I know every ingredient that went in there and it was a labour of love.

Disappointingly (this is what happens when you live in London), it all went south when it came to assembling the Pho Bo.  I believe because of the floods in Asia it has prompted a shortage in Thai basil.  I went to 4 Asian grocers with no luck.  There was no lime or bean sprouts in the 2 supermarkets I visited.  I hunted for some Vietnamese Pho noodles only to find Thai ones (which is not the same!!).  I did managed to by some coriander (as a compromise) but managed to lost it when I got home (think I drop it in the supermarket).  Uneventfully, I made my half arse Pho Bo with my authentic broth.  The broth tasted delicious, everything else was slightly sacrilegious.  Thousand apologies to all the Vietnamese readers out there.  I still have 750ml of broth remaining.  Take 2.  In the mean time, I’m going out to the East End for a Pho Bo.

My little man planking.

Izakaya is one of my favourite types of eatery.  The atmosphere is always exciting and I love sitting at the sushi bar or the yakitori/kushiyaki bar and watch the hustle and bustle of the chefs.  It is such an art.  Just from watching the chefs, you can tell the love and the time they have devoted in perfecting the dishes they chosen to commit to.  Be it sushi, kushiyaki, tempura, etc..

Jin Kichi was recommended by one of my Japanese friend.  It is a little gem hidden in Hampstead.  It is so understated I literally walked pass it the first time.

I have travelled to all corners of the world for Japanese food and obviously the best is still in Japan but this is excellent for London standards and this price range.  Unless you are comparing this to Zuma (in London) where the targeted demographic is slightly different.  Zuma deserves an independent post so I won’t go into it in this now.

What attracted me to visit Jin Kichi on the first place is instead of a suchi bar like many Japanese establishments in the west it has a kushiyaki bar (or yakitori).  Just thinking about this brings me back to Omoide Yokocho (Piss Alley) in Japan.  Yes, Omoide Yokocho is not fine dining but the atmosphere just make this place so memorable.  Coming back to Jin Kichi, the food did not disappoint.  The kushiyaki chef with the iron fingers was amazing to watch.  Highly recommend this place for a casual izakaya outing with good food, good atmosphere and reasonably priced.  Here are some photos to make you salivate.

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