Iggy's
Nothing beats a free lunch at Singapore's best restaurant, especially when stock markets are tumbling.
I had the privilege of dining at Iggy's - which also happens to be ranked 4th in Asia and among the world's top-100 eateries - last week.
Posh is the buzzword at the restaurant, which is tucked away at a cosy corner of Regent Hotel's third floor.
The waiters are well-trained to attend to the mostly rich clientele, and they can introduce the finer points of the limited menu with plenty of class and finesse.
Avant garde shelves and high society magazines line the walls of the dining hall.
The place doesn't have quite a romantic, homely ambience as Valentino's - feels more like a cutting-edge cuisine room.
Onto food...
Portions for the $45 set lunch were minute, but yummylicious! (yummy delicious)
I kicked off with a complimentary toufu, which was followed by a superbly cooked capellini starter served with tiny, stir-fried shrimps.
That was followed by their signature Iggy's Wagyu beef burger. Its tiny size reminded me of a BK Buger Buddies - a mini twin cheeseburger which I used to adore during my days at ACPS.
Sumptuous.
Dessert was the most memorable - champagne jelly and lime sorbet with elderberry foam.
I must learn how to make this. For it was simply sedap!
Back to Austerity
Gone are this blogger's days of indulgent living, of shopping in Milan and Monte Carlo, of excessive cabbing, extravagant meals and expensive clubbing.
He now needs to:
1. Take more buses and MRT trains.
2. Eat more of mum's cooking (which is better than posh restaurants on most days).
3. Go to ladies night with female friends to enjoy free drinks.
4. Meet more newsmakers to get FREE, nice contact lunches.
5. Hide his credit cards.
6. Watch rented or pirated movies.
7. Stay at home to watch drama serials, EPL and play Football Manager.
8. Hope for overseas media junkets, so he can travel FOC.
9. Shop at Giordano and G2000.
10. Pray more, play less.
What better way to mark the start of the Lunar 7th month than by catching 881?
Certainly, it beats burning joss paper.
The movie was much better than expected - it made the audience laugh (Geri?!?) and cry, and made me dance in my seat.
And for a brief moment, it made me want to be a getai singer.
Ok, for just a split second.
Enjoyed the cheesy, over-the-top, melodramatic acting, the typical Royston dark/sad/hopeless character portrayals, the glittery costumes and melodic, mainly Hokkien songs.
The sad ending also reminded me of another 7th month show I enjoyed - Cupid Love.
Yes, it's the ancient one with Chen Hanwei and Zhu Yin, the one with the classic song - Guang Huai Fang Shi.
Now I can't get that song outta my head...
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalms 46:10
What better way to do that than to spend the wee hours of Saturday morning with the cell in prayer.
To seek God's face collectively, and to commit our personal and church needs into His loving hands.
That was what the Lord lay on my heart a few months ago - the need for corporate intercession.
Most Christians are too busy to pray. Our schedules are flooded with 1001 things to do, and we have too many things that distract us from seeking God's face.
What is most needful is most neglected.
We simply do not have the time to just be still before the King of Kings, with no agenda except to spend time with Him.
So I thank the Lord for a most refreshing time.
A time when we can hear from Him without keeping track of time.
A time when Judah can catch the vision of why it exists.
A time when we can laugh, cry, rejoice and give thanks.
Indeed, prayer is the key to revival.
Are we desperate enough to go on our knees often enough?
