Snapshots of Singapore

Duxton hill //

Coffee at Group Therapy //

Delicious dim sum - fried carrot cake, char siew pastry, lotus leaf glutinous rice & many more //

Colorful tropical fruits //

Song Fa bak kut teh (pork rib soup) //

Yes, a Singaporean's heart is never too far from food and we are spoilt for choice here!

Wedding diary III - Attire

One thing I noticed about French weddings in general was the bride's simple approach & attitude towards the dress. It was not uncommon for a bride to wear Repettos and a loose slouchy dress, traipsing in the fields with her beau. I rather loved this attitude & while I enjoy seeing Singaporean brides with their huge princess-y elaborate gowns & grandiose ballrooms, I knew it was not what I wanted nor was it me. We just wanted everything to be simple & elegant. In fact, none of my 2 dresses had a single embellishment on them.

And instead of getting an elaborate updo, I chose to keep my hair natural. Some of my friends were worried I was being too slipshod haha.

Another thing I noticed about French weddings was the guests' attire. I have seen in Singapore, how some guests actually out-dress the bride at the dinner banquet, decked out in the sexiest gowns. I think that is pretty rude, seeing as it is the bride's day to shine.

My husband was amused & reassured me that no well-brought up French would think of usurping the bride's glory on her day by turning up in a long gown or a sexy dress. And it turned out to be true. We saw smart pantsuits, wrap dresses and sharp jackets; no one was there to see and be seen.

And with all the wedding stress, I was grateful that the dress I chose, a long simple column gown was not too simple after all :)

La Jasoupe

We were in Burgundy to attend a friend's wedding & thought to extend the stay over a long weekend because, quite frankly, we love any excuse for a holiday.

So we did some research online & found this charming holiday cottage called La Jasoupe near Beaune, the wine capital of the region. After a 4-hour drive from Paris, we were greeted by a huge shaggy dog and the owners who had just come back from holiday. They were kind enough to make dinner reservations on our behalf so we were not left stranded in Beaune on a Friday night. Which we quickly realised could have been our fate, as tourists and locals love dining out.

We were so pleased with our room that we didnt want to leave it ever! Well except to go to the pool which looked so inviting in the morning AND evening sun.

They even had chickens, rabbits and horses on the compound! 

I love the place so much. Every single detail was well thought of and perfect. Furnishings were vintage looking but modern. The breakfasts served were delicious. 

On the last day, we took a walk around the pond and felt so sad to leave!! Being Bordeaux fans, we tried to justify a trip to Burgundy the next time just to stay at this hotel again. Luckily Beaune is just nearby; it was breathtakingly beautiful. The unity in architecture was intact and well-preserved. Here we are at the Hospices de Beaune which was built by a chancellor in 1443 as a hospital for the poor.

Golden vineyards

The month of August is quiet in Paris... The city is practically dead and most Parisians are away on holiday. 

We spent some time in Normandy, as we do every summer with the family, just eating, walking by the beach, gardening and playing some sports. This weekend, we will be off to Burgundy for a friend's wedding. Plus the apartment needs to be emptied & packed for the renovation work in September... And next week I'm going home to Singapore for a whole month! 

Needless to say, this space might be empty for a while... But do check back from time to time as I will be launching my new blog very soon!

Have a great summer! xx

On holiday... See you soon!

Morning ritual

Train ride

Blissful weekend in the Mayenne

Pont des Arts

Chateau du Plessis-Bourré

We stayed at a friend's over the weekend & had the chance to visit this very charming castle.

Burning

Protection from the sun has taken on gargantuan proportions!

My summer loves - music, films, books, food!

On replay everyday... We love this track, with the windows down & the wind in our hair. What an excellent album!

French cinema really does have some great gems, especially in the form of actor Gerard Lanvin. One of my favorite French actors, he shines again in Amitiés Sincères. I love this film, it's right up there with Les Petits Mouchoirs and Le Prénom, both my favorite french films.

I realise that French films in general may lack a 'climax' or action or even romance often found in Hollywood movies but the acting is serious and so natural... They sound just like people I know! The actors here really carried the film through. On top of that, a good part of the film was filmed in L'Île du Ré, a beautiful island off the western coast of France. I have been dreaming to go there ever since I watched this film.

We also caught the avant-première of Jeune et Jolie last month which takes us through teenage prostitution with the beautiful Marine Vacth.. A must-see when it opens later this month.. Marine Vacth is so sensual inside.

And for reading... the latest issue of Kinfolk as well as old favorites and new discoveries.

And the perfect food to accompany it all: Fresh strawberries & cream from the market.

And the scorching weather has made it almost compulsory to eat cold food everyday. When I can't be bothered to cook, I boil soba noodles and add easy condiments.

Tokyo Eat

One of our top favorite restaurants in Paris, this is also where my husband and I had our first date 4 years ago. For him, it was une valeur sûre, an address where he felt the most comfortable with friends.

Nestled in the open terraces of the Palais de Tokyo museum, the café and restaurant are well-placed with a great view of the Eiffel without the price tag and frills of other restaurants boasting a similar view.

It is especially popular in summer, when Parisians flock here for dinner and drinks. The clientèle consists mainly of executives & young couples. 

One thing I love about this restaurant is the red plastic chairs! How cool are they? You immediately feel right at home because the vibe is laidback and relaxed.

To start, mojitos for us!

We normally take the melon and goat cheese salad but I wanted to try the mozzarella with marinated zucchini.

Fried fish with rice and Thai sauce!

And to end it off, always the cheesecake. Tokyo Eat has a in-house chef-patissier, whose only job is to make desserts. This is quite rare in Paris so their desserts are a must-try!

And to accompany the delicious food, a glittering tower & an in-house DJ.