Turned 48

I'm really pleased to be quietly marking another year of being alive, and being healthy. Well, the insurance premiums have gone up, and around this time of the year, they're all due to be renewed. LOL That's the annual reminder of our mortality, and level of preparedness for the later years when we're unable to be as productive. 

Choya woke me up first thing in the morning. She hasn't dropped the habit of waking me up about four times a week, or whenever she feels like it. She's older too, and while her temperament remains steady, her little quirks change over time. She drops old habits and somehow acquires new ones. 

I went to the gym first thing in the morning. A strength-training workout was scheduled and I wasn't about to skip it. I'm determined to keep the muscles and as much strength as I can. I'm two years closer to the milestone 50. I should be more than halfway through my lifespan. I'm proactively taking steps to age nimbly. 

I love all the texts and the thoughts that the dear friends have sent. Meals and meet-ups this month will be spread out. In between the Lunar New Year festivities, no one has that much sufficient space. I get indigestion if I over-eat. I'm thankful for all the love though. 

Going by the lunar zodiac calendar, I'm an Earth Horse in the Year of Fire Horse arriving next week. I'm also an Aquarius. I read all these 'predictions' and stuff, but I don't bother with fengshui and zodiac things. I don't even do essential oils or sage smoke since inhaling them send me straight to A&E. If soothsayers and tarot cards rule my life, then I'll never know peace.

I think my life has turned out fairly fine without wearing lucky charms or collars or placing auspicious ornaments in my home, or decorating my flat in a certain manner. Simple and uncluttered are my mantra for most things. Colors, florals and sparkles are a tad frazzling for me. I'll wear my monotones, especially black. I'm most comfortable and confident in them. Again, I note my privileges. 

Hey 48. 

Cold Buckwheat Noodles at Mijin

Not that I care about how famous a Korean restaurant is in Singapore or in Seoul. But Mijin's menu appeals to me. Buckwheat noodles and easy dishes. As long as you can do pork, you'll have something to eat here. There's nothing complicated about the menu, and at least there're cold noodles.  

The lunch sets are great. I could dine solo. The perilla oil buckwheat noodles with bossam pork or pork cutlet is my default. They also offer salmon in the sets, so many people are pleased about the option of fish. Too bad that these sets aren't available at dinner. So you do need two people to share the portions. 

With M, we split a small portion of bossam pork (10 pieces), buckwheat spring onion pancake, and three pieces of steamed dumplings. And a portion of Mijin's signature cold buckwheat noodles. They honestly do the pork really well here, one of the better versions around. I love it because it's nothing fanciful, they do the food nicely, and my stomach is happy.

The downside — we're restricted to a one-hour dining slot. So if you're looking to catch up longer with a friend, you'd have to adjourn elsewhere. M and I wanted to chat, so we popped out to a quieter venue with easy wines. We skipped all the noisy bars right outside Mijin. Heh. My head couldn't deal with the crap music and loud convos tonight. Also, I wanted AC. This row of bars sits in an alley without a breeze. 

Breaded Beef :: Gyukatsu

Again, not fond of fried foods, but once in a bit, it's fine, especially if it's after a heavy gym class. We have been stopping by Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu at Raffles City. It's surprisingly okay. I'm okay with beef or pork, not hot about the breadcrumbs, but I can sort of get rid of it, so that's okay. 

I like how they place a little hotplate at the table for us to finish the beef to the done-ness we prefer. They usually do it more rare, but today, mine was almost well-done, so I didn't see the need to sear it any farther. Gyukatsu, as opposed to tonkatsu. 

I'm not interested in the choices of wagyu cuts. I always opt for the meal set of tenderloin and tongue. That mix is nice. Breaded beef. I couldn't quite ditch the batter. I only brushed away as much as I could, and ate the rest. I'm not interested in the other cuts of meat. A combination of tenderloin and the tongue works well for me. 

Husband tried the sirloin the other time, and decided to try my combination. He liked it too. The meat is leaner. Today, he added a minced fried patty. It was pretty much a burger. Heh.  

What's stuck in my mind is their miso soup. I generally ignore miso soups at chain restaurants or the smaller ones who use powder or middling miso paste. Bu this was quite a pleasant surprise. I didn't mind sipping a little. For a chain sited in a mall, they didn't stinge on the miso soup. They gave a version that's really quite decent.