albert.cuypmarkt

you're at amsterdam last weekend and this is the (in)famous market albert cuypmarkt...

 you're there in the late afternoon, almost the closing time yet they're still many people....

 you came here for some cheap yarn... lately you're into ring loom knitting and yarn at regular shop is extremely expensive

as you leave the market, you chanced into this signboard with all the old fashion and nostalgic enamel products that were familiar to you...

fish.head.curry

when MIL gives you a whole salmon, you decided to make the salmon fish head curry....

 simply because it doesn't take too long to cook the fish and it's a little spicy up for this autumn weather

dinner for one, simple bangkuang cha (stir fried jicama and carrot) with curry fish head and quinoa.
you have replaced rice with quinoa on your dinner for one occasion. it's just healthier and you don't need the carbs in the evening after all...

::bazaar::

middle east interior, bric-a-brac decoration, not as chic and elegant compare to the same outlet in rotterdam, but the food is above average, friendly price and cozy

colorful table

and bright tiles for the wall

same goes to the colorful plate - a portion of durum for him

and a piece of apple cake with a twist of middle east (date on top) and coffee for you.
but really you're eyeing or salivating on your friend's tunisia fish soup which looks really great and yummy!

::wrist.warmer::

currently loom knitting wrist warmer or fingerless gloves

 attempt to pull three different color threads together...

 and you quite like the color distribution and effect!

one already done, you are working on the next one to make it a pair and from then on, cold hands no more...^^
the weather is very stormy today, compare to the lovely indian summer of the weekend, today is really windy and grey... a wind with 160 km/h is currently sweeping over the lowland, thankfully it's alright at your area, you do feel the strength of the wind but it doesn't really matter when you're indoor all day...

kanro.寒露

you went back to the one and only restaurant for their renowned japanese kaiseki.

the amuse bouche to start with...

 zensai - seasonal appertizer

 dobin mushi - clear fish soup in a pot

 tsukuri - sashimi of sea bream, tuna and squid

yuzumiso-yaki - grilled salmon with yuzumiso

 hasami-age - deep fried king crab with lotus root served with two type of japanese salt

 shiizakana - grilled fillet of beef with mushroom sauce. the texture of the beef is great but it's just a tad too sweet for you....

shokuji - rice with yellow tail and burdock, pickles and miso soup

 mizukashi - back to front - chestnut ice cream, black sesame soy pudding, sharon fruit, fig, pumpkin cake

his photo taken at the beginning before you order your food, and you at the end  end the meal with these sweet delights in front of you ^^.
thanking God for the eleventh year!

::coffee::

shortly after the visit to the japanese garden,you came here for coffee,  a new coffee shop/cafe in the city...

 with bric-a-brac interior

 with free wifi... as you can see he's carried away....

 slow drip coffee for him (aeropress) and a normal espresso for you...

but apparently a small cup of espresso is not enough, you went on for another cup of cappuccino...

and you feel very cozy here looking out at the busy square and the fallen leaves on the ground...

::eleventh::

a short walk to autumn momoji.

 it's beautiful and surreal....

 especially when the foliage floating slowly from the tree to the ground....

 and you thanked God you have the moment to enjoy this beautiful autumn scene together despite of your recent busy work schedule

 to take a moment to celebrate the eleventh year of journey together....

 and many more to come....

it was a brief visit but you thoroughly enjoy it... this year unlike the years before, you just couldn't take time off due to your project even though you already have a destination that you really wish to visit.  you will save it for another occasion.
today, you thanked God for the eleventh year of marriage and you're counting your blessings...

loom.knitting

you didn't expect yourself to jump onto the loom knitting wagon but you did. you went out to look for the loom ring and apparently it's also a popular hobby at this time of the year. but you manage to find one set of rings at the discounted store along with some yarns...

the hat is ready in two days and you spent probably two or three hours on knitting. it's not perfect, single thread and probably not suitable for outdoor but what he has asked for is a hat to sleep, so the first result is acceptable in that matter....

you are not on your second project, now that you are familiar with the e-wrap, it goes really quick and you reckon this will ready in no time too... winter is coming soon, you got to dress yourself warm...

fig.love

your favorite autumn fruit is probably fig. but fig is so hard to get by in the lowland and if available in the supermarket they are probably too expensive..  you chanced into your local weekly market the other day while you're looking for loom knitting ring... and the fruit stall sells all your favorite fruits figs, sharon fruits and even dragon fruits for a very friendly price....

 so you're really happy with your breakfast again and stop relying on dried fig and dried apricot.  figs are lovely to just eat as they are... in my usual breakfast bowl...

 or even for lunch where you quart it and stuffed stilton blue cheese and a drizzle of marple syrup

simple and delicious with a slice home baked brown bread....

autumn.curry

 for the many years in the past you never really know what to do with pumpkins or butternut squash.  they are often in abundance starting end of september. they are also predominant in autumn scenes...

lately you discovered that pumpkin or butternut squash for that matter goes really well with curry. and this is probably the second or the third time you make this dish.  butternut squash chicken curry.

and serve it on the bed of quinoa.

minty.monday

you still have plenty of fresh mints supply....

thankfully a tad less busy this week but you still need to remain focus....

nasi.ulam

nasi ulam is a sort of rice mixed with herbs.  there're many variety but this is really nasi ulam your way. given that you are in the lowland, many herbs are not available but with a dear friend hauling some of them to you all the way, you're able to create a version of nasi ulam.

 it requires a lot of cutting, basically everything is julienne thinly.

 mixed it with the lightly warm right, and that's it!

 the first round was in a neatly presented way... look aside, taste is great, you can taste the herbs...

 second round presented in a messy way, with a dollop of sambal, equally yummy!

you love it, it's like having a fragrant fried rice without actually frying the mess out of it.
you will probably make another batch while you still have the herbs avail to you...

have a blessed week ahead!

::chilling::

you have many things in your mind for today but you're physically so tired that you have to take things easy hence you slept half of your day away. which's good because that's what you needed after all, to recover from a crazy long hour week.

 a friend come over  for some fresh air, so you met up for dinner and then hopped over here for dessert....

your mini tasting menu consists of 3 mini pieces of cake whilst the couple ordered 3 ordinary serving size and wiped their plates cleanned.

it's a nice setting to be completely out from your weekday routine. you feel relaxed after the catch up and you know you're ready for another week.

thankful.for.friday

TGIF. literally thanked God is friday.  you worked such an extremely long hours this week that you hardly have time to cook or eat.  it's also a matter of choice that you rather go to the gym and shake your body then spending time cooking.

 your mil dropped 荷叶饭 or 珍珠糯米鸡 to you last night, and it's your lunch....

 it's also the first time of the week where you could really sit down and enjoy your lunch....

feeling really tired but thankful for friday!