Ferragamo Shoes

This is a staple in every working women’s wardrobe. It is a classic that says you have arrived. When my friends and I first graduated, we got our fair share of hand-me-downs from our mothers, aunts and cousins. Ferragamo shoes were always included to help us get started on our wardrobe. Not only are they well-made enough to withstand heavy usage, they are also very comfortable, requiring a minimal breaking-in period. These 3 pairs I bought with my own hard-earned money and I have come to love them much more than all my other shoes.

Loewe “Amazona” Bag

My trusty briefcase for work. It fulfils the basic requirement of a simple, functional, black bag. I was not into experimentation early on in my career so all my initial bags are black in colour.

Loewe bags are a favourite in my family because of its reliability and beauty. It is perfect for work trips as it has a zip top with a lock. My cousin has hers for almost a decade and it still looks as good as new. I own a large size version in black suede which requires absolutely no maintenance. I can even walk in the rain with it and the water brushes right off the bag. The finest grade leather is chosen and undergoes at least 6 intensive treatments to obtain its long-lasting sheen and durability. Hence, it needs no leather protectant.

So impressed with the first Loewe bag I own, I got a second casual bag in dark denim for weekends. I use it whenever I travel and its even washable.

Dior “Saddle” Bag

I have always wanted a Dior saddle bag ever since I saw Sarah Jessica Parker carry it on SATC. However, many others felt the same way I did then and I ended up getting the shove on the wait list. I finally got mine much later when I started work in a very sensible black monogram canvas. Regretfully, it is seldom used. However, I would still like to get my hands on a limited edition version.

Tajimaya Yakiniku

There's a new yakiniku restaurant at Vivocity that serves wagyu and US premium cut beef. For those of us hankering for the communal BBQ with our classmates, this is definitely a step-up from Seoul Garden. Primarily a beef based eatery, the only sashimi you will find on the menu is beef and liver.

I started with Yukke, chopped up beef sashimi topped with a raw egg and spring onions. The beef had a fresh clean taste with a little bite, definitely recommended. Next was the main course Seafood Moriawase set. Fresh giant scallops, prawns and squid in spicy seasoning. The set came with a salad in vinegar and sesame dressing, miso soup, potato croquette and garlic rice. The waiter told me the garlic rice was fried first with miso then sprinkled with chopped pan fried garlic, so the taste wouldn't overwhelm the dishes. I have to say, the waiters here are commendable. Not only with prompt service, they even helped me to grill the raw seafood.

Sun with Moon Japanese Dining

Got my hair done today at Wheelock and dropped by Sun with Moon for dinner. This place offers contemporary Japanese fare and the huge menu makes every repeat visit fresh. I ordered the Scallops with Shitake mushroom in a cream sauce drizzled with roe, which came in a shell on a bed of salt. Beef with Foie gras, that was served with grilled eggplant and winter melon dipped in teriyaki. Seafood okonomoyaki, which turned out to be the most "Blah" dish. For dessert, my perennial favourite Matcha ice-cream with red bean and Melon yogurt drink which turned out to be cubes of yogurt in the drink (like aloe vera). Sorry, wish I had pictures to share.

The Sandwich Shop

The Sandwich Shop opened an outlet in my office building this week. Which is great as I happen to love their food. My favourite thing is the sundried tomatoes that are baked into the bread. I had the massive all day breakfast sandwich for brunch. It had layers of mashed eggs, bacon strips, sausage chunks, lettuce & ketchup.

Organic Corn

My mom steamed some organically grown corn she bought over the weekend. It costs 6x the price of normal corn and is about 1.5x larger in size. I thought the price was meant to reflect its rareness (coz it's organically grown). So I was pleasantly surprised at how sweet and juicy it was when I bit into it. No need for butter here. Since it's special corn, it has to look pretty as well. With all the different colours grown naturally onto 1 cob.