A Peranakan Feast!

It was such a fun party over weekend. The friends flew into town to watch the play. We get to spend time doing things we love, and we get to eat some good food. I'm still recovering from being so sociable, but I'm glad to see everyone whom I've missed. 

Of course it had to be Violet Oon at Dempsey — it takes big groups, serves food fast, and is always decent, and probably the most important point, Choya could come along, and we could all be seated comfortably at their lovely al fresco patio. 

We didn't over-order but we had a spread. We had kueh pie tee, beef rendang, babi ponteh, udang chilli, chap chye, and liver balls, of course. 

We made it to dessert — three types — we had the kueh bingka, gula melaka tea cake with gula melaka ice-cream, pulot hitam with coconut ice-cream. The pulot hitam is pretty similar to a Thai dessert we all love — khao niao dum piek / ข้าวเหนียวดำเปียก. The friends loved this version. 

We were absolutely stuffed. Had a bit of leftovers that we decided to tapau home. Why waste food. Heh. We didn't bother to adjourn elsewhere for drinks. Nowadays, we do our drinking at dinner. It's a lot more convenient that way. 

On Stage, Murakami's 'End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland'

When I saw that Haruki Murakami's novel is going to be adapted into a play by Ako Takahashi, I was hoping it would come to town. It did! Wheeeeee. Well, it isn't as if I'm watching it for the author. I'm watching it because it's directed and choreographed by Philippe Decouflé.

[世界の終りとハードボイルド・ワンダーランド」が、フィリップ・ドゥクフレ演出.] 

We have 'End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland' on stage at the Esplanade Theatre. I don't think that I even cared that much about lead actors Tatsuya Fujiwara and Misato Morita. This play isn't that much of a narrative than it is of movement, and the creating of worlds. 

Adapting Murakami's worlds onto the stage is superbly technically demanding. Produced by HoriPro Inc, the staging was surreal and gorgeous. Screens, shadows and projections. That treadmill made me chuckle. So much effort went into creating the background, the different sets to take us from Tokyo to the World's End. 

I love the choreography! I love the unicorns! The dancers gave a wonderful show as they supported the transition between scenes. The Shadow was kinda cool too. 

Music is composed by Umitaro Abe, and he has many collaborations with pianist Mayu Gonta. She's also an accordionist and a vocalist. I love it that she was placed right on stage too, providing gorgeous accompaniment to the movement.

I'm never pleased with how Murakami depicts women in his stories. They are always a stereotype, or an afterthought. In this story, they don't even have a name. It's just The Librarian, who's also the Girl in the City, and the 17-year-old talented Chubby Girl who loves pink and dresses in pink. The stage adaptation made these characters stand out a little more. It allows Murakami's males and females to be slightly more palatable since the actors gave them some dimension, and made them more pleasant to watch on stage than what is read (and assumed) on paper.

Gorgeous Gifts of Zucchini, Tomatoes & Pesto!

We were soooo lucky to be blessed with so many gifts of food from our friends. We had so much things delivered over that would supply us for a few meals! Our friends came by to drop off a basket of items just flown in from Italy! 

There were oranges, grey zucchini (this species is also known as Lebanese squash or Mexican grey), cherry tomatoes and cooking tomatoes. Wow!

Then there was a big jar of homemade pesto all rich and thick from D and N. They grew so much basil at home that they made this huge batch of pesto and gave it to friends. We were lucky to be allocated a jar too. We love pesto, especially good iterations!!!

Roasted the zucchini and tomatoes. Easy prep for lunch. The husband had a tub of dal and prawn biryani, and those were heated up. The roasted tomatoes went well with the Indian spices. He had the roasted zucchini as a starter mixed with pesto. He loved lunch so much. 

There was plenty left and these would go into the fridge for the next two days. Gotta go get a slab of bread. Foccacia or ciabatta. The zucchini and tomatoes would go well with toasted bread and anchovies too. 

I wasn't going to have biryani. Made a pasta for myself. I made orecchiette with pork sausages (salsiccia toscana) because these go so well with pesto. The zucchini and tomatoes went well with my pasta too. Mmmm.