Christmas Dinner @ Carcosa Seri Negara

It is way past Christmas - and I apologise for the long delay in posting this entry. It was in fact an entry that I've been meaning to write and share with you all, but kept forgetting about it until the good news came just couple weeks ago. For those who follow closely on our RedRibbon Days' blogs, you would be aware of the reopening of our favourite Carcosa Seri Negara hotel.

It was Friday, 24th Dec 2009. Our dinner started at approximately 7.00pm and we turned up gleefully excited and famished. Carcosa Seri Negara stood majestically handsome amidst the lush greenery surrounding it. It was supposed to be the last two night before it was closed down indefinitely for a major renovation. We were greeted and welcomed by the hotel manager, Ms. Caroline. Within minutes, we were ushered to our reserved table and we quietly and politely assume our seats. The restaurant was already packed by now - everyone seems merry and happily chatting away. The place was filled with merriment and laughter.

I suddenly realised that I am way under-dressed for the occasion (I couldn't be bothered to change into something "christmas-ty" as I had to rush there straight from work). I could only pretend to be immaculately dressed and hope someone will come in inadequately attired like me. Who was I kidding? The next group of people that walk in was dressed to the nines. They were all glowing from head to toe - with glittering dresses, accessories and gorgeous looking high-heels. My feet responded fast to that, and immediately, I pulled my dull looking black working heels underneath the table, hoping no one would spot the worn out shoes.

Drinks were served and I immediately gulped down half a glass of white wine - in hoping, it would numb my conscious state of mind. What was I thinking ? It was a french dining experience - and of course,everyone would be dressed up for it! D'oh!

Amuse bouche was served quickly - I peeked into the menu and it read "Fine de claire oyster, shallot of vinaigrette ad pumpernickel clive. (I may misspelt something here - as I have scribbled it down on a piece of used paper in a hurry).



I am always a big fan of oyster, so without much delay, I quickly slurp down the oyster on my plate. Yummy! (could be better if I have a glass of champagne!). The oyster was very fresh, and so smooth that without much chewing, I just had to swallow it.
Fine de claire oyster, shallot of vinaigrette ad pumpernickel clive

I would wish for more oyster, but it was a pre-set 5 course dinner, which means, it would make me seem like a glutton to order another serving of oyster. Our plates were quickly taken away, and within the next few minutes or so, our next course was served.


Foie gras terrine with glazed figs, brioche

The verdict ? I love my foie gras - and though this may not be the best foie gras I have ever eaten, it was actually not that bad. I'm very particular about foie gras and more often than not, they turned out to be too gamey for my liking. This was actually not too bad, especially when it is being accompanied by figs. The latter happen to be one of my favourite fruits - so anything that could go with it, wouldn't be that bad. I did not finish the foie gras. I would normally have more than what was served - but that night I've decided against it.

By now, I no longer care about what I was wearing and beginning to enjoy the night. It was getting merry, pianist was playing Christmas songs and yes, I had about two glass of wine and by now, I'm jolly and care less about what other people think, or what I really think. The wine served was a Sauvignon Blanc - something very light and a good match to what we were eating (considering we were eating everything sea-food-ish up to this point). Or perhaps it wasn't a fantastic wine, but I had to numb my senses at the start of the night - so even mediocre wine will be consumed without much hesitation.


Cream of Jerusalem artichoke with turnip and mussels

Ah ! Artichoke - another one of my favourite. Cook it the right way, it is absolutely divine. When the dish was brought to me, I was hoping that it will not disappoint me. I picked up my spoon and took a sip of the creamy broth. I can hear yummm and mmmm from the others, and indeed, I had to join in and mutter the soft yumm and mmm. The broth texture was smooth, and wasn't creamy ( I have no tolerance for creamy, buttery liquid). This was perfect, and the mussels made the broth sweet and the combination of artichoke and mussels was just mind-blowing. I wish I could slurp my plate, but it would seem rather inappropriate to do so in such fine restaurant. Well, I did not even spare a drop. We took the bread and salvage each drop. The plate was as good as unused.


Butter poached lobster, la ratte potato and white chocolate

What can I say ? This dish was even better than the previous ones! The lobster was fresh, and the potatoes and white chocolate was a good match. I had to admit, I was getting very full - and we are not even on our main course yet!


Turkey fillet baked in ginger bread - dark cherry & winter vegetables.

I had to admit - I can't say much for this dish as I was too full from all the other courses. I took a bite of the turkey though and it was indeed very tasty. Certainly something that I would devour if not for my already near-exploding stomach. Perfectly wrapped in the ginger bread, this dish looks absolutely pretty. The others devoured everything - and I only had space left for more wine.

Dessert was next and this time round, I managed to scoff down a few spoonfuls down my throat.



I was full and tipsy by now that I have completely forgotten to write down the name of this dessert. But I remembered clearly how indulging and divine it was when I ate the meringue and chocolate cake. I did not try the fruit cake (which was served with rum, if I'm not mistaken) but the others complimented it well.

After a satisfying meal (by now we are all very happy and full), we bid our farewell to Carcosa for the last time and I could almost remember ranting to the others about my unhappiness and discontentment on why such a beautiful building had to go through the whole renovation/ redevelopment crap. Blame it on the alcohol or the gastronomic meal that I just had - I thought to myself then, what a pity it would be to close it down and the Malaysia government should start preserving colonial buildings with historical value and this is definitely one of it.

Verdict : 7.5 stars out of 10

Now that Carcosa Seri Negara is back in business, I would have no qualms about getting this experience as a gift for Christmas this year!

social media and Malaysia

Of late, I've been reading a lot of SEO related articles and how social media is the new phenomenon of the internet. Every article I read seems to imply that old marketing (newspaper, billboards, radio ad etc) is now outdated and doesn't work anymore. Businesses (smaller organisations) could spent up to ten over thousands of dollars for such advertising gimmick but the ROI is certainly (in my point of view) not measurable.

The hype now is on social media such as twitter, facebook, blogs, online forums and so on and so forth. I have no qualms on following this trend - as it is much cheaper as opposed to traditional advertising. And the beauty of social media is like a virus, they spread very fast and they can be contagious. Social media is indeed in new way for businesses to advertise and be out there, especially if you are looking for prominent branding on the web. But I'm having doubts if it can really boost local business based in Malaysia (a developing country that is crawling behind not only in terms of technology but also many other things). Are malaysians ( and I'm not referring to ALL malaysians, of course) that savvy to at the forefront with the advancement of social media ? My point is there are in fact many big organisations out there ( even those of Fortune 500 companies) are still not social media conscious.

I read a book recently titled "The New Rules of Marketing & PR" and there was one particular sentence that makes me wonder - should a business like RedRibbon Days ignored all traditional marketing rules and focus on social media ? If Malaysians can't embrace the concept fully, and still inclined to traditional marketing rules ( I do have my point for saying so), how can a young fledging company like RedRibbon Days turn a blind eye to the old marketing rules?

As I mentioned before, traditional marketing is still very prominent in country like Malaysia. Our national newspaper (The Star) is as thick as a book, and every page you flip - you are bombarded with advertisement after advertisement. Billboards stretches along the highway - and you can practically see billboards no matter which direction you are coming from! Still on the same note, it will cost advertisers at least 20k (if not more) for a full-colored page advertisement in the national newspaper - yet businesses are still throwing money in the name of traditional AMP.

Unless you are a MNC or own a multi-billion organisation, then such money spent is certainly of no pinch to you, but for newly start up small-medium organisation - who wants to play the rules of AMP right, but do not have the money to do so, can we really afford to ignore traditional marketing and focus totally on social media?

time flies ?

Couple of weeks ago, I had some friends over at my place and we were whiling time away, talking about everything from alcohol, work to age. Some agreed that at my age, I can still check the early 30s box while some insisted it is about right to check on the mid 30s box.

At that point of time, my life flashed past my mind like a projector running a slideshow. I can see me as a kindergarden school girl with two pony tail, running around the school with friends - playing and quite frankly speaking, studying wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I was playful and mischievous. More often than not, teachers will complain to my parents that I am such a chatterbox and I do not pay attention in class. And of course, when I got home, I will get a good lashing from my parents - which of course fell on deaf ears.

Secondary school came and went. It was the best years of my life, I had to say. I was never the popular girl in my school - well, I don't give much thoughts to looks anyway at that point of time. I was in the best class (science stream) though I'm certainly not the brainiest! In fact, I consider myself lucky to be stream into the best science class. I was very active curricular wise, I was the president of the Geography club, committee member of few student clubs, recreation officer for Interact Club and of course, I'm still proud to be the school badminton player! Those are memories of my secondary days - etched deeply in me today. I believe, these involvement have somehow shape my confidence and decision making skills.

I left high school after graduation and the rest (college and university) - they are simply history.

Looking back, I've come such long way to where I am today. But the road ahead of me is now even further. So I was thinking to myself, time did not fly as fast as I thought - it still allows me to sit down and ponder about my past, my present and my future. Well, at least it is giving me the time to sit down here today, experience life and blog about my journey, my life.

The year of the tiger : 2010

14th February 2010 marks the start of a new year for the Chinese. According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, it is the year of the tiger. Curious about what the new year holds for me, I googled my zodiac sign (horse) and the predictions for this year.

And here's what I found :-

The Horse

Fun, charming and attractive sums up the Horse’s traits perfectly. They love parties and crowds and being the centre of attention. They can also be egotistical, hotheaded and impatient. The Horse is a considerate and protective friend and partner and when in his company, there will always be excitement around the next corner.

Forecast for 2010 The Year of the Tiger will be an exciting and lively year for the Horse. On the home and family front, there may be some changes with family members moving in, moving out or relocating to another location altogether. On the social front, the Horse will be in much demand with invitations to parties and gatherings increasing as the year moves on. Health wise, with such a busy year and added pressures, the Horse must ensure that he looks after his diet and gets adequate rest. Otherwise, irritability and heated arguments could arise unnecessarily. Those born under this sign will do exceptionally well career-wise this year. However, they must follow up leads and career openings with vigor in order to take advantage of the fast paced energy of the Tiger year. A word of caution for the Horse – they need to keep a careful eye on their finances as overspending could happen very easily. August through September will bring fantastic opportunities for those looking for love. March through May will be lucky for changing jobs or careers while November and December will bring fun and lively social gatherings.

Interesting Horse Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Golden Topaz
Special Flower: Rose
Best Hours: 11am-1pm
Season: Summer
Horoscope Colors: Orange, White, Yellow

So the reading says it is going to be a good year for me - how far its true, I don't know. I always believe we have to make the best for ourselves, but of course, with some positive encouragement as such, it will definitely boost my confidence further and I endeavour to make the best out of a good year.

Pilot for A Day

I always pride myself for being spontaneous and adventurous (well, sometimes). So when the time has finally arrived for me to do our Pilot for A Day experience - I immediately sign up for it and without any qualms - booked in a date and time. I eagerly awaited for the day to come and on the fateful day - I was up early and gleefully excited on the prospect of flying a plane for the first time!

I arrived nice and early and was shown around the hangar area - and get a glimpse of many private planes and jets of the rich and famous. I signed a disclaimer form, and was given a 15 minutes briefing by the Pilot of the day, Captain Dylan. He showed me the plane that we will be flying in, (a Cessna model) the mechanics of the plane and many other interesting parts of the plane that contributed to a plane's flying mechanism. I sat myself inside the plane and playfully manoeuvre the wheel! There were so many buttons and controls on the plane that I was beginning to get confuse.







The plane that flew with us on that day was a 2-seater model. It was small and almost looked like a toy-plane from afar. By now, I was starting to feel a bit "chickeny" - (def : chicken out ; back out at the last minute). It was after all my first flying experience - and it was only normal for me to feel - nervous. When Captain Dylan told me we are ready to fly, I quickly buckled up my seat belts and put on the head set. The engine started up - which startled me slightly and put me back to the reality. The engine came to a full force and just like a normal commercial plane, the Captain manoeuvre the plane to the take off area. He allowed me to take control of the plane this very instance - simply by keeping the wheel straight and follow the yellow line on the tarmac. It was fun! After few minutes on the wheel, instructions came in from tower control asking us to standby for take-off. For a minute or so, butterflies started fluttering around ferociously in my stomach. I swallowed my saliva so hard that I could literally hear it - to keep me from being nervous or paranoid. Gulp*

In less than 2 minutes after the tower gave us the green light to take off - the plane took off without much effort. The plane started climbing up and as usual, I was busy snapping away ! We went up above 1000 feet and after much communication between the tower and the pilot - the pilot turned to me and asked me to take control of the wheel. Without much hesitation, I put my hands on the wheel and start manoeuvring the plane. The wheel was so sensitive that it reacts to the slightest motion command. For a good few minutes, I had the vision of me in an immaculate pilot suit - the 4 stripes on my shoulder and sleeves. What a wonderful feeling that was !

The best part for me was when tower control gave instructions for us to stay longer on that level as there are some commercial planes flying past above us. To the pilot it wasn't much of a good news - as now he can't land the plane as planned. Having extra time on air, Captain Dylan decided to pull some stunts without giving me any warning beforehand. He suddenly plunged the plane and I felt my heart dropped and sudden pressure to my ear and I almost felt my head popping out from where they were! I knew this sounded insane - but I actually enjoyed that feeling. Seeing that I'm quite a dare-devil, Captain Dylan decided to pull out the other hidden stunts he has under his sleeves. He manoeuvred the plane so hard to the left and then to the right that it almost felt like a roller coaster ride! Captain Dylan normally doesn't do this to other customers - so he said. He only did it to me because of who I am- and he believes the Founder and CEO of RedRibbon Days should get a different treatment ; the challenge and experience should be heighten with hint of madness!



Thanks Captain - but I truly enjoyed the experience despite your best effort to see me go green.

After flying around for a good whole 20 minutes, the tower finally gave us clearance to start descending in preparation for landing. Once again, I was given the power to control the wheel to descend the plane. It was so much fun and I was so disappointed when I had to let the pilot take over the wheel as we are now ready to land the plane. The plane landed without a glitch and effortlessly. By now, my hands are eagerly waiting on the wheel and I can't wait to manoeuvre the plane to the parking bay.

I enjoyed the experience tremendously - and was extremely pleased with myself for doing it. It is definitely an experience not to be missed and an experience that everyone must experienced at least once in their lifetime. And after doing this experience, I know for sure, it will be the best and perfect gift for that someone special in your life.

A Great Start to 2010

2009 ended well for me and RedRibbon Days. 2009 has been quite a challenge on both personal and business level. For the latter, we have grown bigger. We had two new staff at our KL office branch and I'm pleased to have them onboard. Welcome Shiva & Theing!

On 8th January 2010, we had our first company dinner at EEST Restaurant @ The Westin, KL . It was a small and cosy gathering for us and it was such a good bonding experience for everyone in RRD. We had a bottle of champagne, (I would have ordered more than a bottle if I wasn't feeling ill! ), salmon sashimi, thai fish cakes, spring roll, and few main courses from grilled salmon to grilled king prawns. Unfortunately, I felt slightly ill after the entree but managed to push myself to stay on till the end of the dinner.

We had few round of games (good way for the attention to shift away from me because I was feeling ill and everyone around me looks seriously concerned and worried) after our Kris Kringle (gift exchange). My secret santa gave me a bottle of hand lotion which I have put it to good use. I felt better as the night goes on but I was truly hungry when I got home!

It was a first company dinner for us and seeing my staff happily enjoying themselves made me truly proud of where RRD is at today. We have come a long way from where we first started and definitely a moment as such spurred all kind of emotions deep inside. I believe I would have teared a little if not for the pain in my stomach. At that moment, I mentioned to Nik - I'm hoping one day, and I believe we will book out the whole place for our RedRibbon Days Annual Dinner. And this will be my goal and resolution for 2010.

To Nik and Ming Ne, my best business partners - you two are true assets of the company and thank you for believing in me. Working together with you both has been fun, exciting and I believe with our unique mix of abilities and skills, we will achieve our vision and goals very soon.

To Shiva & Theing, I sincerely welcome you to RedRibbon Days and I wish you all the best in your roles and enjoy your experience.

And to 2010, I'm looking forward to kick-start the year.