the way of the (green) tea . . . cake

Malc & my favourite desserts are green tea flavoured cakes and ice cream. So this weekend, I tried my hand at baking green tea cake.

Here are the steps I took to achieve a (nearly) perfect green tea cake:

Step 1: Search the internet for a green tea cake recipe
Step 2: Purchase good quality macha (green tea powder used for the tea ceremony)
Step 3: Purchase other ingredients
Step 4: (Try to) follow recipe
Step 5: Bake cake mixture in the oven
Step 6: Cross fingers that it will turn out to be edible
Step 7: Remove from oven and admire work
Step 8: The all-important taste test

icebreaker

This evening, Malc & I were invited to the reception for the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces' Icebreaker 'Shirase' currently berthed at the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Base in Sydney. The 'Shirase" is on its way home from a six month expedition of the Antartic.

Since it was in a navy facility, the security was a bit strict, Australian style. We had to enter via one particular gate (which was a much farther walk than from the Woolloomooloo entrance). At the gate, we had to surrender our invitation and then we had to be checked off from the guest list. And after that . . . well, we were left on our own to walk from the gate to 'Shirase.' No one was around to direct us, or even to make sure that we didn't wander off.

Boarding the ship, we were greeted by a line of sailors who gave us a polite salute, and then when we were on board we were greeted by another line of uniformed servers welcoming guests with drinks. Malc was pleasantly surprised when he sipped his drink, mizu-wari (whiskey with water) and I had cold mugicha (barley tea).

The reception was very laid back with five big tables laden with Japanese and Australian food. There was sushi, sashimi, smoked salmon, kara-age, oysters, crumbed calamari, sandwiches, cold cuts, etc. There were also tempura and yakitori stands. While Malc was smooching with members of the diplomatic corps, I made three rounds of the buffet tables and stands.

The "formal" pleasantries involved dignitaries breaking open a keg of sake, which, according to Malc, was very good quality. Sake was then served to the guests in traditional square wooden cups which also doubled as keepsakes.

the rebel in me . . .

*If the rebel in me
Can touch the rebel in you
And the rebel in you
Can touch the rebel in me
And the rebels we be
Is gonna set us free

Yesterday night, Malc & I went to watch Jimmy Cliff's one-night-only concert in Sydney. What a fantastic performance, Mr Cliff is an incredible musician and showman and is supported by a talented band.

The concert was in the State Theatre, which is rather "serious" venue to hold a reggae concert, but about half-way into the show, Jimmy had everybody up on their feet and dancing.

And fantastically, Jimmy gave 3 encores!

Addendum: Tuesday was also White Day, a unique Japanese 'special' day when guys reciprocate the Valentine's Day practice of women giving guys dark chocolates. During White Day, guys are supposed to give women white chocolates. So did I get chocolates . . . ? The only chocolates I got was a box of Malteesers that I bought myself at the theatre, although Malc did treat me to dinner before the concert.

*Jimmy Cliff, Rebel in Me, Live in the Studio CD, 1998

roll o'er the valley

Last Saturday was shaping up as a "nothing-to-do" day. There were no new real estate to view, kendo/iaido actvity or social commitment scheduled. So, Malc & I decided to drive to the Hunter Valley. After lunch, we filled our water bottle and drove off to the valley.

The drive was fantastic, well after we got out of Sydney, that is. The highway passes through the edges of the national forest, the Hawkesbury river and the coast. While driving, I was thinking of how much I will enjoy the drive back when I'll have my turn as passenger, then I realised that I will still be doing the driving on the return leg, because Malc might be over the limit from the wine tasting.

We arrived a bit late (and without a map) in Cessnock. So we headed off to the nearest "i" to get a map and some brochures. Our first stop was the McGuigan cellars (corner Broke and McDonalds Roads, Pokolbin, NSW) , which was in the same compound as the Hunter Valley Cheese Company. Malc tasted a few whites and decided on 2 bottles of Bin 9000 Semillon and, at $14 a bottle it was very good value. Afterwards, we trooped to the cheese store where it was my turn to do some tasting, I got a block of brie (for home) and a ploughman's lunch platter (for immediate consumption).

Our next, and last, stop was the Brokenwood cellars (401- 427 McDonalds Road, Pokolbin) and Malc first had some whites (not impressed) and then the Sangiovese (better).

And then, an uneventful (and beautiful) drive back to Sydney with our loot from the Hunter Valley.

Chinese at home

Last week, I received an email from my friend Lou who now lives in Greece. After reading my earlier blog on Noble Palace, she bemoaned the lack of good Chinese restaurants in Athens.

I agree with Lou that it is difficult to replicate Chinese restaurant dishes at home. The preparation and actual cooking takes a lot of time and work. And of course, then there is getting the taste just right. However, thanks to another good friend, Shogo, who shared this simple recipe to satisfy Chinese food cravings with minimal effort. According to Shogo, this recipe was taught to him by a Sichuan chef, when he was studying in Tianjin, who instructed him to share it with all his friends.

The Spicy Sichuan Eggplant Dish (called Yuxiang Qiezi in Chinese)

2 or 3 big eggplants

1 tablespoon of doubanjiang sauce (spicy chili bean sauce)

1 tablespoon of chili paste (Shogo recommends 'Guilin Chili Sauce' made by a company called Lee Kum Kee)

1/2 tablespoon of sugar

a little bit of rice wine (sake or Xiaoxing rice wine)

1/2 tablespoon of vinegar

1/2 tablespoon each of garlic, spring onion and ginger, all chopped.

1. Cut the eggplants into 10cm x 3-4cm chunks, and deep-fry them.
2. Leave a little bit of oil in the wok, then put in the garlic, spring onion, ginger, doubanjiang paste and chili paste and stir-fry. When fragrant, add the deep-fried eggplants.
3. Add the suger, sake and stir-fry.
4. Next, add the vinegar and stir fry for about a minute.
5. If there is a lot of sauce, you can thicken it by adding a water-cornflour mixture. Serve.

ole, ole, ole, ole ! ! !

The celebrations are still ongoing. . .

Last Sunday, Sydney FC won the inaugural A-League grand final. Congratulations to Sydney FC and to the runner-up, the Central Coast Mariners, what a fantastic performance!

Flashback

Last August, Malc & I took the plunge and purchased a Sydney FC platinum membership each. We watched almost all of the home games, braving the rain, cold, blowflies and the occasional disappointing performance by the team. We learned the players' names, did countless Mexican waves, welcomed guest player Kazu and joined in with the cheer squad. And we were there when Sydney FC booked its place in the grand final, defeating Adelaide United.

Match day

We had front row seats, just behind the home team bench. We were so near the action we could hear coach Pierre Littbarski shouting instructions during the match. The first half was nerve-wracking as the visitors continuously attacked the Sydney FC goal. Seriously, they should have had at least a goal during the first half.

After half-time, captain Dwight Yorke stepped up a gear and the precious goal came, relief and jubilation for all the home-team supporters! Both teams tried for more goals, but when the referee called time, the score stood at 1-0! And the stadium erupted, Sydney FC are the champions.

PS Sorry this post is a bit off-topic, but for what we spent on tickets, we could have dined twice at Tetsuya's (529 Kent Street, Sydney ph 02 9267 2900).

hunting & grazing

This morning, Malc & I went house-hunting for home no. 2. We started the day enthusiastically, with a list of properties carefully selected from the internet.

Unit no 1. Malc went alone (I was having a massage), Malc said he really liked the place BUT, the list price jumped overnight by $95,000 from the price listed on the webpage!

Unit no 2. Nice, roomy and quiet . . . except for the newly-laid, but cheap-looking carpet.

Unit no. 3. We arrived in front of the building, there was a guy in a suit on his mobile phone, seemingly unaware of our presence. 'Is he the agent?' Malc & I wondered. We rang the real estate office, it turned our Mr Suit was the agent, so after finally getting his attention, he herded us to the lift, pressed the floor and then stepped out! We were still recovering from the shock when the lift doors opened and we tentatively stepped out and found our way to the unit for sale. The agent showing off the unit was no better, handing out pamplets without much enthusiasm.

What a way to sell! These agents want us to part with our life-savings and a substantial portion of our income for the next 25 years and they couldn't even show a little bit of concern to their prospective buyers.

The morning's trauma was eased by brunch at our neighbourhood cafe, Cafe On Pyrmont (17 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Pyrmont ph (02) 9571 9500). They serve an all-day breakfast meal of bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, hash browns, freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee/tea for $8.

Bowled over

Yesterday was Bowling Night organised by the Social Committee at work. Our team (Michael, Ben, Lai, Malc & I) was singleminded in our pursuit of winning something, be it the highest scoring team prize or the wooden spoon.

However, we seemed to have suffered the same fate as the Australian swimming team losing Grant Hackett & Ian Thorpe before the Commonwealth Games. One week before the game, our team captain, Michael, was sidelined with a knee complaint and our star bowler, Ben, contracted a mysterious infection. So, with an understrength team, we bravely bowled and achieved our personal bests. At the end of the night, our scoresheet read:

Michael 115
Ben 98
Malc 93
Lyma 78
Lai 67

Mysteriously, even with Michael & Ben absent, they still scored the highest points. . .

Our thanks to the Social Committee for yet another fun-filled night. . . as usual, the bar tab was generous and the food, all I can say is, I’ve never had so many party pies and sausage rolls in one night . . . and didn't even make it to the calamari and spring rolls!

triple happiness

Our brief sojourn at the bush capital was for the christening of Joshua, Olivia & Jasmine, our good friends Marcia & Dan's adorable triplets.

To Joshua, Olivia & Jasmine, congratulations. And to Dan & Marcia, thanks for the inviting us, it was good to see you all again.

Nobility

Noble Palace (28 Corinna St, Phillip ph(02) 6282 8602) is where the Chinese Embassy folks take guests out to dinner, so this Canberra restaurant was a must during our weekend trip back to the capital.

The verdict? Definitely one of the better restaurants we've been to. The food was good (could be a bit more spicy) and the service was as good as it gets in Canberra.

Dishes: duck pancakes, hot & sour soup, vegetables and tofu in oyster sauce, shantung chicken, shredded beef with dried chili
Tasting panel: Lyma, Malc, Reiko, Miwa & Peter
Quote of the night courtesy of Peter: "does that have prawns in it?"