::pumpkin::

 autumn soup with pumpkin, chorizo

stir fry butternut squash with salted egg yolk, your very first attempt, the dish doesn't look appetizing but it's

 pumpkin chicken curry, a non spicy version

 pumpkin and fermented black bean stir fry with rice vermicelli

 pumpkin cinnamon rolls

 a perfect mid afternoon tea break with a cup of spicy dirty chai

 pumpkin bagels, another first attempt and you actually like it very well....

pumpkin chiffon cake, another attempt with pumpkin.
you learned to cook with pumpkin this month and also learned about the versatility of pumpkin not just limited to american pumpkin pie but a little bit of pumpkin puree can go a long way in baking and you also explore the pumpkin cooking possibility in both asian and western cuisine.
it's a fun autumn month to explore pumpkin.

mausoleum.of.theoderic

the tomb of theodoric was a bit of bogus. you're aware there's no mosaic as theodoric was trying to create an architecture for his own tribe. definitely not byzantime or romans. it's simple and precise with precision on the cut of the marble stones and definitely one of a kind in that era, perhaps simplicity is the best in comparison with the flourish mosaic?  the gothic design was rare at that time.

arian.baptisry

the city is a gem, there're plenty of lanes and streets that you haven't explored. this morning you went to a small monument just tucked in a small alley along via roma.  a baptistery of arian style. it has a cathedral next to it and a lovely courtyard. this is again another mosaic that depicts the baptism of Jesus. it's small but the breath taking dome mosaic depicting the baptism of Christ is astonish, artistic and the vivid display of Christ being baptized encircled by the 12 disciples.

from the town, you got hold of a book, because there're too many depictions of mosaic unexplained to you. as much as you know the bible and the stories, you would like to have a clearer accounts of the images.

baptisery.neon

a small baptistery with the image of the baptism of Jesus and his disciples standing around him. it is small, round dome with a baptism pool in the middle. this was built by bishop neon at a much later time and hence the baptistery is name after the bishop.

::foam::

a quick visit to foam after your elaborated lunch. you find it hard to appreciate the photography exhibition as they're not pure sense of photography.  but at least you learn some thing new from the brief visit.

***
the next few days will be scheduled posts from your summer vacation, there are not many backlog anymore. but that said, starting tomorrow you're exploring your new destination. it will be a short project that hopefully will yield more next year ^^
***

::celebration::

you came here to celebrate your twelve wedding anniversary. to start it off, you have a glass of rose champagne

 the restaurant has an impeccable decor and ambiance

 the interesting and playful amuse bouches

 house bread with caramelized goat milk which is so light and taste really well on a slice of warm bread

egg custard served in chawan mushi style very light, soft and yet crunchy and burst with the taste of the sea

first course - the langoustine served in an australia's lamington.  look wise is not as playful or delightful but the langoustine sashimi was delicate and silky

second course - australian abalone with blood sausage. the abalone and sausage matched well but the green bean/ginger syrup a odd combination to your taste

 third course - this is the most playful and delicious plate of octopus, scallops and a presentation of the sea. so clever and so interesting...

fourth course - after an intense plate, you're presented with a very zen plate of fillet of fish, it taste like your normal home cooked steam fish but without excess water. it has a woody taste as the fish was infused with pine wood and cooked in a constant temperature.  soft yet with texture and so good that you don't need the lemongrass mouse to go with it

fifth course - the only red meat. it's a fillet of quail.  it has a very earthy taste that balance the sea journey of the previous courses.  almost a perfect conclusion.

pre-dessert - you love your cauliflower and green sorbet that almost wiped your palate clean.  he has a red fruit pre-dessert that's equally yummy but you prefer yours for the uncommon combination.

sixth course - you had the avocado sorbet and he has the most amazing tom ga kai soup as dessert.  this was the best highlight for the dining experience here. it's an brilliant idea to make tom ga kai a dessert, who could think of a savory hearty thai soup in a dessert form and yet it's such a balanced dish with the chili oil.  this's mind blowing experience. you had both dessert as he couldn't take the spiciness of the chili oil, so you count it a blessing to have such a playful and delighted dessert.

 the coffee service come with the 3-tier of petit fours,

and the a red hot kiss to end the anniversary lunch. it has a very delightful scent of  rose and quite a perfect ending to the meal.
that said, this is not a cheap meal but you decided to treat yourselves a little special on your twelve wedding anniversary anyway.  the food has some playful, delightful moments with some wow factors but it also comes with some weird combination that not necessary bad but just not your preference.   the down side is the drink service is ridiculous expensive,
you're thankful that you are able to sample the meal here in this exquisite establishment and probably soon to reach a star restaurant in amsterdam. above all, you're thankful for the journey of twelve years together.

::twelve::

love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ^love never fails

爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈；爱是不嫉妒，不自吹自擂，不骄傲自大，不轻浮无礼，不自私自利，不轻易动怒，不怀怨记恨， 不喜爱不义，只喜爱真理； 凡事能包容，凡事有信心，凡事有盼望，凡事能忍耐。爱永不止息

the journey has never been easy, it's not a bed of roses either.  you quote 1 corinthians 13:1-8 not because you're spiritual or religious. you just know that your marriage would have gone a very different way if it's not based on this biblical truth. twelve year is not long but it is a journey, a milestone by itself. perhaps you have lost the romance and the passion of the early love, perhaps love has turned into a responsibility and accountability for one another. but it is this love that described in 1 corinthians 13 that surpasses all.

basilica.di.san.apollinare

two panels of mosaics, one tells the story of Jesus with his disciples, and the other entails mary and the ladies. this is theodric's intepretation of the gosple with a bit of arian culture.  this place is a structural building that buit next to his palace (?).   the palace is perhaps not true based on the book that you read.

galla.placidia

a visit in the evening, small pristine tomb that meant for herself but she was buried in rome at the end
this place is constructed for galla placidia the half sister of empoeror honorius who initiated the construction of many of ravenna's grandest buildings. mosaic was the oldest from ad430.

set aside the history, you like this place even though you visited in the night you're not afraid to be with the tombs.  the cupola depicts the four books of gospel and you know this is again  a depiction that very close to the early churches,  the mosaic is quite exquisite and decorated with fine details, very feminine too, fit for a noble lady like  galla placidia.

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the weather is getting more depressing by day. i am still not a fan of autumn or winter after living a decade in lowland.  hopefully my next project will come through very soon and then at least i have something to look forward to, the destination that is a little warmer and fully of sunshine hopefully.
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