“Sky Park” Marina Bay Sands is located on three 200-meter-high skyscrapers, as if on three pillars. Here is the most expensive in the world of casinos, bars, restaurants, the largest outdoor swimming pool, 150 meters long and even the Museum of Modern Art.
Date/Time: 16th September 2011, 7 p.m. (roughly 3 hours)
Place: 黃金閣鮑翅海鮮酒家, Golden Court Abalone Restaurant
| 1st Bottle | LA CHABLISIENNE VIEILLES VIGNES CHABLIS |  |
| Varietal: Chardonnay | Winery/Producer:
La Chablisienne |
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| Type: White | Year: 2007 | |
| Cost: $24.95 | Region: Burgundy, France | |
| Food to pair: 蒜茸蒸有殼生蠔 | LCBO #: (V)215525 | |
| Remarks: Vieilles Vignes, or Old Vines, yield less fruit, but this precious fruit is endowed with greater concentration of flavours. This intense, consistently excellent Chardonnay presents aromas of sweet apple, chalk and citrus. This is classic Chablis: dry and steely, with a long, crisp finish. It would pair equally well with oysters on the half shell, or pasta with olive oil and crumbled goat cheese. | ||
| 2nd Bottle | DOG POINT VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 |  |
| Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc | Winery/Producer: Dog Point Vineyard | |
| Type: White | Year: 2010 | |
| Cost: $19.95 | Region: Marlborough, New Zealand | |
| Food to pair: 珊瑚百花蝦球 | LCBO #: (V)677450 | |
| Remarks: Intense, lively wine with lemon zest, gooseberry, green capsicum and a suggestion of passion fruit. Tangy, mouth-watering Sauvignon Blanc with character. Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). (Bob Campbell, MW, bobswinereviews.com, Jan. 2011). | ||
| 3rd Bottle | FEATHERSTONE BLACK SHEEP RIESLING 2010 |  |
| Varietal: Riesling | Winery/Producer: Featherstone Estate Winery | |
| Type: White | Year: 2010 | |
| Cost: $16.95 | Region: Ontario, Canada | |
| Food to pair: 椒鹽軟殼蚧 | LCBO #: (V)80234 | |
| Remarks: This is a stunning riesling, full of flavour, focused and complex. The fruit is harnessed to a broad line of bright, lively acidity, and the integration is seamless. The black sheep who helped make this should be proud of their work. Score – 4 1/2 Stars (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, rodphillipsonwine.com, Feb. 15, 2011) | ||
| 4th Bottle | Masi Campofiorin |  |
| Varietal: Pinot Noir | Winery/Producer: Masi Agricola S.P.A. | |
| Type: Red | Year: 2008 | |
| Cost: $17.95 | Region: Veneto, Italy | |
| Food to pair: 深井燒鴨 | LCBO #: 155051 | |
| Remarks: Ruby red colour; dry with a complex nose of plums, prunes, leather, cinnamon spice and violets; dry, medium-to full-bodied with generous fruit on the palate; well balanced with a nice backbone of spice and tannins. | ||
| 5th Bottle | CHANSON PÈRE & FILS LE BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR |  |
| Varietal: Pinot Noir | Winery/Producer: Chanson Pere & Fils | |
| Type: Red | Year: 2008 | |
| Cost: $18.95 | Region: Bourgogne, Burgundy, France | |
| Food to pair: 南乳香酥骨 | LCBO #: (V)50575 | |
| Remarks: Ruby red with purple tinges. Intense aromas of red berries ‘en confiture’ with a hint of spice. Lively with a well-integrated acidity. Well-balanced, harmonious, generous with well-shaped tannins. A super ‘everyday’ Burgundy, ideal with braised and roasted meats, as well as meat and sauced pasta dishes. | ||
Pairing Dishes
| 蒜茸蒸有殼生蠔 | 珊瑚百花蝦球 | 椒鹽軟殼蚧 |
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| 深井燒鴨 | 日式腐皮菜苗 | 南乳香酥骨 |
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Click here to see the complete menu.
Epilogue
The incident with Fernando in Barcelona concreted my thoughts. Live with simplicity and treat things with humour.
We live in a world where we like to complicate things and then try to find solution to them. It might seem naïve to have so much belief in people but using the famous words of Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, “Belief is the only damn thing we got. Not until we find another, we stay with it.”
I led a relatively interesting life. I always run into odd incidents. Like when I came back from Barcelona, sitting next to me was a gentleman of South Asian heritage. He had strong BO. I was going to launch a complaint and asked to change my seat. Then I also found out the button of my pants had fallen off and I might be in danger of my pants falling down if I moved. So the two things together will break even. You win some and you lose some.
Years ago during Christmas season, I was at Chapters. There was a Salvation Army alms stand and there were some young women standing by having their coffee break with coffee mugs. I thought those ladies were from Salvation Army and as I walked by, I put a quarter in one of the coffee mugs. Then I realized it was a mistake and I ran.
My travelling is not over yet. There will be new horizons to discover. There will be new Fernandos. Show some belief in people and treat life with humour and time will slip by without you knowing.
Until next time – Adios Amigos
(click here to see all pictures previously shown in this 13-part travelogue)
Enjoy…..
In case your family members are interested…..
Episode 10 Barcelona (II), I found a friend.
Our hotel was on top of the train station. There was no discount of activities there. The first day when we arrived, we asked for a recommended restaurant which we could test the tapas. We were referred to this little restaurant within walking distance from the hotel.
We sat down for lunch and we did not know what to order. Our server came. He was a tall, muscular man with a long face. He was in his 50s or 60s yet he had this lovely smile on him. Using my broken Spanish and whatever limited vocabulary; I asked him what was good. He said he understood French but no English.
I saw the little dishes of food on the counter and I ventured over to see them. We decided on paella, marinated mushroom, mussels, ham, and some other things. The paella tasted pre-cooked and the rest of the food was pretty standard. The server was nice to allow us to share our food. I also found an unusual dish which later I found out it was dried pig snout. This thing was so chewy that I almost broke my teeth in them.
Lunch was over, the little talk began. The server asked us where we were from and whether we were Japanese. We carried on our conversation with sign language and broken words. I finally broke down and stretched my hand and told him my name was David and he said his was Fernando. We made friends. Continue reading
Enjoy…..
Episode 9 Barcelona
The Zurich airport is just as messy as the one in Frankfurt. The walking is long from end to end. This airport also has a subway connecting different terminals like the one in Hong Kong. If you have to do connection here, please allow yourself ample time.
Barcelona sits in the region of Cataluña. The Spanish have some strong features of their own but they are more on the rustic side. Again, economy is not too successful and the country is struggling. Tourism is still very promising.
Barcelona is very much related to the sea. The buildings are mostly Gothic style. We did our usual tourist thing. Barcelona is proud of Picasso and Gaudi yet I was not in favour of such. Both of these gentlemen were usual thinkers and that would be it.
