So we had our first BBQ chicken, hotdog and beef patties this year and even though we didn’t have a regular BBQ pit set up yet, our friends had a make shift one with charcoal.  They had to use a  destaco  clamp to put the make shift BBQ together but they did a really good job. And since it was a charcoal BBQ we had to take turns to watch the fire in case it becomes too hot and burn the food.

I really think that there was a real difference in taste when it comes to charcoal BBQ and the gas type, you can taste the difference and the food seems to cook a lot faster.  I can’t wait to experiment more with the charcoal BBQ pit.  Hopefully, the weather will continue to stay warm – not too hot though – and not foggy that’s for sure.

The majority of our friends goes to Cuba or the Bahamas and some to Jamaica during the March break but we chose to go later, to avoid the crowd and also to have the beach almost to ourselves.  But we didn’t want to go where everyone has already been to, so we are choosing the turks and caicos resort , which came highly recommended by a family friend and my family doctor.

The Turks and Caicos Island is very near to Cuba – I was told and flight would be almost the same as if we were going to the Bahamas or to Cuba. I read that scenery was incredible and the sand were white, soft and clean – with turquoise water to dip into whenever you feel like it.  There are many towels, loungers and umbrellas and unlike the more popular spots like Cuba, you don’t have to wake up really early to put your towels on them so that you have a place to sun tan or just relax. They even have wifi around the pool area – so those of you who must have internet access, you won’t feel lost here.

There are many resorts you can choose from and as far as I can see, all the properties are pretty nice.  There is a special offer on some great hotels/resorts at this very moment and although it is not an all inclusive for all hotels, there are some offering the all inclusive if you check.  It’s a gorgeous place, and  great for a family vacation for folks  like us – with a huge water park and many beautiful attractions.  I can’t wait to try out their different cuisine.

Easter has always been a family thing for us – but we focus more on the kids than ourselves but this year with my girlfriend around, she bought gifts not only for Chloe but for Aunt Helena and Grampie as well.  She is too sweet – but she found some  patagonia down sweater sale  and knows that the weather here can stay cold for a while longer, so she had to get it for them and of course chocolates for everyone.  Aunt Helena cooked this year since Grammie isn’t around with us this year, it’s at times like that that we missed her most.  No one talked about it but I’m sure they feel the same way as us.  Aunt Helena made a potato and egg salad just like what Grammie used to make for me, I almost cried.

We had lemon meringue and a chocolate cake for dessert with ice cream as well.  Cantaloupe were very good too – sweet.

BBQ Pork ribs were really good as well.

Asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots for veggies.

Rappie pie and mashed potatoes.

Baked Hawaiian ham.

Veggies

And a game of pictionary to end the evening.  We had a really good time and lots to eat.

Meeting up with my investment banker every 6 months is pretty much a routine thing now and I loved our meetings because he is so funny sometimes but so smart.  I sometimes pick his brains on other investment that I have back home in Singapore and he would extend his help and contact my citibank’s private banker.  Mostly during these kind of lunch, we also get to meet other people from the bank and I’m glad i have a  business card printer  at the store to print out all my cards so that I have enough to exchange with others just like myself.  I think we’ve formed quite an exclusive network here – and we pretty much exchange ideas and throw each other our experiences to ponder on.

Usually, we meet up in the city but this time, they’ve decided to come visit me and like any true Asian – I played host to a few people that I’ve been networking with for the last 12 years. Amazing how time flies – anyway, we had brunch on their last day in town and we headed to Jungle Jim’s for breakfast.  Loved the service at Jungle Jim’s and loved their food.

So cheap and really value for money.

I showed them how one of my g/fs had her eggs the other day – and we all did the same that day – just to see how it tasted like. hahah!  yes, we can be funny sometimes too – and it was not all about work during these meetings.

Chinese New Year was yesterday and as usual, a few friends with chinese kids like mine loved to gather and preserved a little of our chinese tradition even though we are so far away from home.  So a fruit basket full of good wishes for the Zhu’s at the Chinese restaurant and hoping it will bring them good luck and lots of money at the restaurant.

Some traditional chinese goodies from home for tasting and sharing.

Chloe all dressed up in cheong sum bought by her kai mah Lina from Singapore.

Eating at the restaurant, special noodles cooked for her.

Eating her favorite fried chicken with chinese noodles.

I had the buffet – yummy!

And here Ms Jasmine chomping down the peking duck with gusto – just loved the way she tried everything.

The chinese kids.

Adele and Sarah.

There are many places in town where you can bring someone for a business lunch, just like when I had lunch with some powerful  San Diego Employment Attorney  last week.   If you’ve worked for a company in the States, you would know how important it is to know some powerful attorney because you want them to be there to help you out if you have trouble with your employers.

Of course, I didn’t need to use an attorney when my employers were from USA but it was good to know that I can count of these folks to help me out should I have any problems with my contract or pay or even if I was being treated unfairly being an Asian.  But like I said, I was pretty happy with the company that I had worked for many years ago.

Valentine’s Day is just round the corner and I’m sure you’ve been asked what you want to do on Valentine’s day.  Sometimes, I wonder why the men don’t take the initiative and be a little romantic even though one had been married for many years.  I know of a friend who had a blast one year – when the spouse bought some  cheap brass instruments  and blast the horns at their home during dinner with a few friends.  Being romantic need not be the classic candlelight dinner, being romantic can be  a lot of different ways and if music is something your spouse like, why not pick up a cheap musical instrument and surprise her with hamburgers in the garden, I think that could be very romantic too – serenading the wife or girlfriend.  This Valentine, don’t make the excuse of being together for so long, that you cannot inject some fun and spice into your life.  Come on ! you only lived once!

I love eating at the outlaws – Aunt Helena cooks lots of stuff to choose from and today she had thought that my g/f was visit – therefore, she had a feast brought out.  Unfortunately, my dear friend didn’t come – so I gotta eat extra and brought home some for her.  Appetizer of  oriental mix spring rolls and dumplings  - baked of course from M & M’s.

Garlic bread for starters.

Followed by very yummy lasagne.

Salad.

French bread.

Timbits was our contribution – heheh!

And a chocolate roll made by Aunt Helena.

Yummy!

And apple crumbled – they were yummy yummy!

Sometime during Christmas, we went up to the city because we were invited to an opening of a cigar bar in the city.  As a food blogger with lots of following, you get perks like this – and even though I’m no cigar smoker, I loved buying cigars for my father-in-law and my ex-boss from Spain.  Yes, I still keep in touch with him because he was so good to me when I worked for him – those were the 2 best years of my life.   Anyhow, coming back to the cigar bar – they had a  cigar auction  and it was awesome because I bought some good stuff just in time for Christmas presents.

Cigar bars are very common back home – for those who loved the cigar and wants to have a drink and try different kind of cigars.  My previous bosses were club members of various cigar bars and they used to entertain there a lot.  I met some very interesting and intelligent business people at these clubs.  If you haven’t been to a cigar bar before, you should check it out sometime when you get a chance.

Sunday lunches are precious to me because I get to go out and eat with the spouse and even though he doesn’t like food as much as I, I still think that it’s a good idea to sit together and have a meal.  Chloe loves eating out although she only eats either fish and chips or nuggets and chips – limited selection for her because she is still so fussy.

But she is happy to eat with daddy once a week because she is after all a daddy’s girl.

PB had his favorite fish chowder – and even then I don’t think it’s much.

Jin Jin had a veggie pasta.

We shared a bruschetta together.

I had a lasagne – but I had wanted a seafood one but don’t like the creamy texture, so I settled for a regular lasagne.

We shared a peanut butter cheesecake together.  Of course I had coffee and Jin Jin had earl grey tea and PB had water – Chloe had apple juice.

A year ago today, my brother-in-law decided that he had to stop drinking and get his life back together.   He drank all thru’ Christmas till New Year’s day and he knew that he had to get help.  Unfortunately, in our small town, we don’t have  alcohol treatment facilities  and when he went to the hospital to seek for help, the doctor told him that he didn’t have a spare bed to help him.  How tragic was that?  This town really needs a good alcohol treatment facility – not many – I’m just asking for one.  Can you imagine asking for help and being turned away.

Anyhow, fast forward a year later, my brother-in-law haven’t touched a drop of alcohol since and he is now driving again after 10 years.   Yes! 10 years!  We are all very proud of him but wished that he had an easier time when he needed help and that the rehab center in the hospital would be more sympathetic to people like him instead of turning him away.

Tomorrow, we celebrate his milestone – but it’s sad that my mother-in-law who passed away a month after he quit drinking isn’t here to share this happy moment.  Olivette, here’s to you ! both Richard and Chris are good boys ! you can rest in peace now.

Whenever we are in Halifax, we try to go for dim sum – and this trip I was hoping to order more because I had my sister from another come with me to the city.  But overall, it doesn’t seems like we’ve had a lot.  The hor fun was really good as usual but the kid just wouldn’t eat it.  PB ate some but not a lot – but the hor fun is by far the best I’ve had in Canada.

Then we had radish cake – pan fried – it doesn’t have a lot of small dried shrimp in them but it did have some mushrooms and chestnuts.

Fried wanton with mayo was something I wanted to try new – and it was ok – with a huge ball of shrimp in the middle.

We ordered 2 glutinous rice because the brat would only eat this – but alas, it came so late and the poor girl was starving and didn’t eat a lot.  This trip up to halifax – Chloe definitely didn’t eat a lot at all.

This is how the glutinous rice looked like.  The Great Wall in Halifax does have one of the best dim sum – authentic that I’ve eaten here in Canada.

Chloe eating with chopsticks of course – showing off.

And my special find this trip – was egg tarts – so yummy! to die for – they actually don’t have it anymore – but they specially made some for us.  So nice of  the people from The Great Wall. Located in downtown Halifax – Bedford Row – right off sackville street. Dim sum serves every sunday from 11.30am – 3pm but don’t be too late because all good stuff will be sold out if you are late.

We were invited to a Christmas party by a business acquaintance and it was not in town – but in the city.  We didn’t have any trouble getting there but I wished they had arranged for transport for us because we were not very familiar with that part of the city.  Anyhow, we made our own arrangements for transportation and even though it’s not quite like the  limo service tampa fl  , it was still pretty good.  I was all dressed up – for the party and didn’t want to be waiting for a cab – no way!  I wanted to party in style – the hotel rooms were paid for and so was the short air-flight that we took – but I don’t understand why they didn’t arrange for a limo for us – that baffles me really. After the party, there was no cab available to take us back to the hotel and once again, I wished a limo service was arranged, the next time we go for this kind of party, I’m going to make sure we have a limo service to and fro the party.

It is the spouse’s birthday today and I had totally forgotten about it.  Thanks to Facebook – hahahaha!!  which reminded me when i woke up.  Oh yes! i’m a bad wife ! what can I say – hahah!!  This year also marks the first that the spouse isn’t spending with his mother – my mother-in-law passed away suddenly this year and it’s the first of a lot of things with us.  Thank God for Aunts – for Aunt Helena baked him a cake and cooked a huge meal for him. To the people closest to me now – are these 3 – and I hope to spend more time with all of them.  For those of you – who have loved ones – make sure you make time for them.

Breakfast at Cora’s in Halifax rarely disappoints.  We went to the one located on Dresden Row next to Pete’s Frootique – you can’t missed it.  Cora served breakfast and lunch in this location only.  It was a late breakfast – about 11.30am actually when we arrived – we were on vacation – so no hurry. Chloe was with her favorite aunt.

I cannot remembered what this was called – but it certainly looked good.  This was Chloe’s aunt’s.

Chloe and PB shared a pancake – because this was only what she would eat.

PB’s breakfast – he’s easy to please.

And this was mine – I’m being very good – had lots of fruits and french toast – it was certainly yummy!

Chloe was all happy after breakfast – she had her energy back.

Cora’s kitchen

Nova Scotians are known for their love of cheese and PB loved his cheese, in fact he loved any kind of cheese and uses cheese for just about anything he eats.  From sandwiches to even chinese rice – yes, you heard right !  crazy but that’s how he would eat certain things – even my chinese noodles.    So this Christmas, I got him a perfect gift – guess what ?  a cheese making supplies  – yup! you heard right!  and I think he would really like it.  Now he can make all the cheese he wants and loved for a fraction of the price he pays for them.   Everything can be missing in our home but not cheese or cheese whiz – now, PB can have all the cheese he wants – with these cheese making supplies.  I am buying something he loved – I bet he would be really surprised this year – he said I can’t get anything he would like – lets just see what he says to this cheese making kit!

Peg’s on Main Street is still opened for business !  Yes! very much so – and the food are still as big a portion as ever!  so folks ! support your local business if you are in Yarmouth.  Located on Main Street – near the Tourist Promotion Board – you cannot missed it – it’s in a green long building and lots of parking.  And parking is also free too!  Since I haven’t had liver for a long time, I decided to try the liver at Peg’s.  It had 2 portions in the meal and a piece of garlic bread.  I would have preferred it to be chopped and stir-fried but this was still pretty good.  But I could only finished 1 portion because it was huge.

The kid had her usual pan fried fish with chips.

And PB had the Cordon Bleu – lots of chicken as you can see here.

And my sister from another mother had clams – they were really yummy!

Free ice cream for the kid after her meal.  Although there is only 1 waitress, the food came promptly and service was good.  At the moment Peg’s do not have a debit machine – so bring cash when you visit.  I do loved the food here – so support your local business.

It was a busy weekend for me – finally I’m able to sit down and have lunch on my own and I took my netbook along with me for lunch of course, so that I can watch my tvb drama while enjoying a bowl of seafood chowder at a local cafe here.  I got PB to  speed up my pc  so that when I watch my show on it without any lagging on the show.  I loathe it when my netbook cannot handle playing a avi. movie – and my one enjoyment of the day is being able to enjoy good food and a good show anywhere I am.  A little bit of home is a great comfort to someone so far away from home, so really my netbook or PC needs to be working properly without any freezing and crashing in the middle of my shows.

I know I’m more than a month late with some of the good food that we’ve eaten lately, but there is just so much that we’ve eaten of late – especially this summer.  But here it is – McGinnis Landing is situation in the hotel we stayed in during the cousin’s wedding in Moncton, the service was great, I feel that we didn’t tip them enough, the food was good – they had a good menu and of course the Sunday Brunch buffet is something they can brag about.  The whole family gathered there the morning after the wedding.  And these are my favorite people – Andrea, Troy and Aunt Renette.

Some more extended family, Guy, Simone, Lucy and Denise

The other Denise and Simone’s daughter.

My breakfast – of course, that wasn’t all i ate but the egg benedict was really good but a tat dry.

My breakfast from the day before, we arrived a day earlier to settle down.

Chloe’s breakfast from the day before too.

PB’s breakfast – to share with chloe.

Chloe’s waffle.

My favorite people in the entire world.

Aunt Carmen and Mario

All the aunts and Mario.

Aunt Mariette and her family.  We had a really good meal at Mcginnis Landing and I recommend it – we were so noisy, and they didn’t tell us to keep quiet and they were so good. The prices were fair too.

We were at PB’s cousin wedding in Moncton a month ago and we had a blast.  They had some finger food late in the evening after the wedding ceremony and speeches and we do liked the food – they were really tasty.  We didn’t eat much because it was already late and we had to bring Chloe back to the hotel to sleep -but it was overall a good snack – and can make a meal if you are very hungry.  Chloe had some plain Ritz crackers because she wouldn’t eat anything else.  Now some hot dog right about now would be very nice. hehe!  But who’ve heard of hotdogs during a wedding right?  but wait a minute one of PB’s friend had Macdonald’s for his wedding – now that was too funny – but he used to work at Macdonald’s so it’s not that strange at that time.