Support

I was so touched when I got the "guinea pig" support from LGM and Swee. In fact LGM has given her comments on the chicken pies and the best thing about her comments is she told me what she dislike and like. So in this way, I would know what to improve and what not to change.

Swee has also taken 2 of the chicken pies even though she has her "numbers" to watch and achieve. Since I know that the fillings is not great, told her to just try the pastry because I think the pastry is also very important when it comes to pie besides the fillings.

MFG on the other hand, even though my official taster, told me that maybe I should not give the pies to him if I don't think it is nice because he doesn't want to get a bad first impression. Humph... and huh? bad first impression? I would have thought bad first impression will actually do "good" because version 2 of this pie onwards will taste better. So I guess like LGM has put it, MFG is the VIP taster, and perhaps he should be arranged to try the ultimate version only. But still, I could do with some "support", couldn't I?

I have asked my cousin sis to try for me, but don't think anyone at home can give me much help. I still see same number of pies at home this morning. I will be throwing them away when mum is not looking. Soon...

Next round I should make lesser quantity so I don't have to throw so much away. Okay, actually I shouldn't think that way, I shall aim to achieve a perfect version the next round!

Thanks again to guinea pigs!!! ;)

Here are the comments for my notes:

LGM said overall edible
- Pastry not as hard as stone to throw (LOL), not fluffy and brown enough. Good thing about dough not super oily and actually melts in your mouth (I think this is because I used unsalted butter and not those pastry margarine)
- Chicken filling, don't use mince meat, use diced
- No sweet corn and peas

Swee said she took more than one bite
- Pastry okay, buttery and salty enough (not sure whether will be too soft after heated)
- Chicken filling a bit plain and dry, don't put onions that she can taste the texture and don't chop mushroom too fine.

Okay, anything else to add? Lets take a break and I shall deliver version 2.

Honey Mustard Chicken

I've kicked start TeaRoom savoury "Test Kitchen"... and here's the first thing I tried. A honey mustard chicken. This is a slow cook chicken recipe, sweeten by the honey which I love, but the mustard seeds were a bit much for me. However, BIL, both cousins said it was nice.

Great, but lets move on to something else.

keeping me going...

Something I got from my instructor of my recent cake decorating diploma course after I've written to update her on my progress. :)

Hi,

Great to hear from you and my apologies for the delay in responding. I just got back into Toronto today from the ICES Convention in Chicago where Tan See Fong and I both did demos. Very successful demos we both had.

As for your projects, they look “TERRIFIC”. Well done! It is quite an honor to have a student do such astounding work of art. Keep up the good work and remember, without a good student, there is no Sifu. Thanks for the kind words anyway. Greatly appreciated. Drop by and say hi sometimes when I am in KL and tell me all about your great projects!!!!

Take care.

Rosalind Chan,
CEO & Founder,
International Centre of Cake Artistry Sdn. Bhd.,
1-1 to 1-3A, Jalan PJU 5/15, Dataran Sunway,
Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 603-6140-8835
Fax: 603-6142-1501
Email: rosalindchan@rogers.com
Website: www.rosalindscakeartistry.com & www.2decoratecakes.com

Things that keep me going on...

I've got some very encouraging message recently...

This one after little bro's birthday cupcakes -

Hi I got your details from (little bro). I was leading the ngxm conference when (little bro)'s cupcakes were delivered. They were delicious but most of all I was impressed by the detailing on each cake.

I am writing to tell your how clearly your passion, pride and love of what you do show in your work. Hopefully I will have occasion to order from you soon (if ever in kl long enough!)

In the meantime if you see readers from strange places in Asia, it's just me ( in vietnam now) otherwise please introduce yourself if I am ever in a club where you are.

Regards
(my recently added FB friend)
Regional Group ...
FF Asia

(won't put full details here lah)


This one from the birthday gal of the Chanel handbag -

1st message

That was the most mazing birthday cake ever! Thank you thank you
One coll loves it so much she wanted her pic in front of it (the message was general enough anyway)

You really should make a name for yourself in the sweet pattiserie world...sure sell like hotcakes, pun intended :)

You could start a sweet shop and bloom into sweet chains....(TTB) BUNS hahaa

oh, it was very delicious too!
Thanks again dearie

mwah.

2nd message after my reply

oh goody i will call on you when i want personalised cakes!
mine was the best ever i have ever had in all my 33 years of existence :)

From one of the instructors at the cake decorating centre -

Whoa! didn’t know your orders have gone so far….can do branded stuff… nice Chanel bag…. Good work, Babe!

And I've got some great messages in the TeaRoom blog too :)

MFG sent me this - 甯屾湜浣犵殑澶㈡兂鑳芥棭鏃ュ鐝?) - Haha... which was later translated to this (no, I don't even know how to read those words) - “ hope your dream will come true very soon.”.

So now, must really look into my savory items!

TeaRoom the commercial plan is cancelled

Basically have no choice when your mother disapprove your plan in life you know.

I'll still be taking order from home, but the dream outlet will not be opened. sigh...

Thanks for your support.

Little Teddy Bear

Here's the teddy bear. Hopefully I'll be able to make one that's as cute as Forever Friends teddy soon. Full story at the TeaRoom blog.

Tea Menu

If you see this in the tea menu for TeaRoom, will you want to try?

Smoky Earl Grey Grand Classic Tea

Moroccan Mint Tea

Royal Orchid Classic Tea Blend

Vanilla/ Rum/ Strawberry/ Chocolate Solo Teas

... and these exclusive tea blends.

Emperor's White Garden

Snow Mountain

Grand Wedding

Tibetan Secret

Creme Brulee (!!!!)

Christmas Lights :) :)

Magic Flute


Looking forward to having tea with you at TeaRoom.

;)

that inspired me...

It was a rare opportunity that we went on a Europe trip last year without parents. We were MC, BIL, me and most of all, their first time away so far without parents, my cousin sister (occasionally nicked name as TLA in this blog) and brother. There was a lot of walking on our free and easy tour. It was like an adventure to the kids! Although tired, we always found ourselves enjoying immensely when we sank into comfortable environment at our pit-stop eatery places.

I was particularly in love with this place called The Caffettiera and my diary reads...

Our next mission was to locate a highly recommended tea room and the best galaterie in Rome... This was what the city guidebook said about the places: La Caffettiera Politician from the nearby parliament buildings lounge in the sumptuous tearoom of this temple to Neapolitan goodies, while lesser mortals bolt coffees at the bar. The rum baba reigns supreme, but ricotta lovers rave over the crunchy sfogliatella and rich pastiera.

We found the Caffettiera after walking passed a castle and the Pantheon. According to the guidebook, the Pantheon was built by Hadrian in AD 119-128 as a temple to the most important deities; the inscription on the pediment records a Pantheon build 100 years before by General Marcus Agrippa. The bronze doors are the original Roman ones. Inside, the Pantheon's glory lies in its dimensions. The diameter of the hemispherical dome is exactly equal to the height of the building. At the centre of the dome is the oculus, a circular hole 9m in diameter, a symbolic link between the temple and the heavens.

We were so tired by the time we reach the Caffetteira... we found a sofa seating area and the tea room was a fantastic place to hang out and unwind (not that we were done for the day yet). Their hot chocolate was superb, I had one with hot chilly pepper (ya... very special and spicy) and it's delicious! Alan's coffee was a but strong, but it looks really good! The cakes were great, we didn't get to try the recommended sfogliatella but the ones we ordered were just great. We spent more than one hour here and the best thing was no one bothered us and we didn't feel pressured at all to leave by the waiters. We spent lesser than at the earlier cafe we went and got so much more in return. Really highly recommended!

And so I thought, isn't TeaRoom a wonderful idea? Make that my dream...

Working on the dream

A quick post before I "start work"...

Completed my BC + BP combo last night. Feels great to have worked-out more than usual but I do have this pain on my left shoulder again, pain and not muscle pain.

After not joining combat for a long long time, especially Master C's, the class felt more interesting for me. Perhaps I should join this class only occasionally. As for pump, tough as usual. I had actually reduced weights for squat and chest track.

For the squat track, two reasons to reduce weight for me - instructor warned that the track IS tough; and instructor was using 11kgs, do I want to do the same? Of course I reduce to 10kgs lah. Lucky I made the right decision. Phew...

As for chest track, since I've worked my upper body in combat, I expect me to have less strength. And Carebear said we will be working from bottom up - and Hobbes Push Push track last Saturday sprang into my head - so reduced from my usual 6kgs to 5kgs only. (So, I'm pretty sure my shoulder pain is not because of pump).

Before joining class, I'd tried one of my own banana muffin (which cannot be called so, should call them choc chips muffins) and it was rather tasteless. So, the banana muffin recipe was not good (see comments under the banana chocolate chips muffin post) and I feel that I'm better when baking chocolate and cheese items. So perhaps I should stop baking banana muffins haha...

Anyways... I decided before class that I don't need to have dinner since I was feeling quite stuffed after eating the muffin. BUT, after pump, I was really hungry and in dire need of replenishing energy (to drive home). Ended up getting a mozzarella and vege toostie from O'Brien's before leaving TC.

Okay, I've decided to seriously look into my TeaRoom dream. So, first thing first, the location - ideally a neighbourhood type of environment, but with nearby offices. Not in the mall, at shoplots area but not Mont Kiara or Bangsar type of overly busy shoplots. Near to and convenient for all my friends so that they can drop-by all the time for a good gossip sessions (and of course to contribute to my "salary").

Any idea? Do share...

They are branded now...

Work has been suddenly hectic. Feeling extremely tired till I've not taken time to "decide". Nevertheless, this is so important that I must come on line to blog (besides making my moves in Scrabulous - been really lacking behind).

My little indulgences are not branded... The first indulgence I brand was the chocolate cake. This is one of the cakes I've been baking since high school (it's very long time ago trust me) and followed by the pineapple tarts.

The little wicked indulgences went to trainer, my earliest "customer" and number 1 supporter - now I've got Carebear to take over soon as #1 supporter I think. The pineapple tarts were also "trainer-inspired".

They were also Raya gifts to two of my ex-bosses. Farid ordered 3 small chocolate cakes, one for birthday, two for Raya (thank you very much babe for the biz). SuperSpicyBabe ordered a box of cupcakes - thanks, you are my #1 cupcake supporter, together with TD behind the scene I'm sure. (and I hope you like the choc cupcakes samples)

Brought a few pieces of the chocolate cakes to Axis today for my cake entertainment - thanks guys for your support (Stan and Eli, you would have to provide me with names of the others, I'm so bad in names).

Thank you! and I hope there will be an actual tea room somewhere, some time.

ps. I'm missing little bro and Hobbes here... what shall I give you?