Tuesday, December 04, 2007

How Will I Ever Host Dinner Again?

After this gastronomic dinner, courtesy of our friend, Sam, I seriously wonder how I shall ever dare host dinner again. It's like ....after you eat Haagen Daz, will any other brand ever be good enough, or more importantly, WOULD you want to waste your calorie allowance on anything BUT the best?

Anyway, fellow guest, Jamie (not Oliver), handled this mean looking syringe with the aplomb and casualness of ....hmmm, either a doctor, nurse or druggie. Apparently she used to inject her dog. The fluid injected was grand marnier. My first time trying this combination.

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Grand Marnier Injected Strawberries


These plump juicy scallops were quickly poached in the same water used to cook the squid ink pasta.

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Freshly Poached Scallops

How decadent is THIS?!!! Black truffles, which cost like RM250 for 2 biji, at Mr Ho's. Apparently it's a lot cheaper in Dubai Airport. Hallo, anyone headed there? You there in Abu Dhabi, is Abu Dhabi close to Dubai?

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Freshly sliced truffles infused in truffle oil

Who, WHO unless you are a real gourmand and gourmet, I ask, would even dream of shrinking your own grapes??? These babies aren't your commercial raisins, they're actually grapes that have been dehydrated in a slow oven....and now swimming in muscat.

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Home dried grapes in Muscat Sauce

Pre-grilled egg plant. According to chef, use the Japanese kind because they have less seeds.

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Grilled Japanes Eggplant

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Grilled Shitake Mushrooms


Two bottles of Prosecco between three people later, (we were saving the vintage Moet, Verve Cliqout and GRAND VINTAGE Moet for dinner), dinner was ready, ...... the eggplant with pesto was gobbled down so quickly, I completely forgot to take a picture. But it was GOOD.

This potted crab, lovingly steamed and peeled by chef, (I think peeling crab for someone is one of the greatest sacrifices in life), marinated in butter, lemon, etc etc....is absolutely DEEEVINE!!!! The slight tang, butteriness, argh, shivers down my spine just recollecting it.


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Potted Crab on Toast


Not normally a fan of cold gazpacho type soups, I was really curious about the next offering, chilled moritomo tomatoes. Honestly, it was superb. Slightly tangy, sweet, savoury all at the same time, complemented by a light head induced by vintage champagne, it really was happy times.

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Chilled Moritomo Tomato Soup

The next dish, I think speaks for itself. Perfect. Al dente squid ink ...errr....not sure if it was vermicelli or what, tossed in the fish roe with a juicy scallop. I could eat this as a whole main. Very light and refreshing.

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Squid Ink Pasta with Ebiko and Poached Scallops

Well, DimSumintheCity, if you're reading this, guilty, on the charge of "eating oodles of this stuff". What to do, I don't seek it, it comes to me. Words can't even begin to describe one's happiness upon seeing a platter of these beauties.

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But we weren't to gobble the platter like a flock of vultures. We were elegantly served individual portions on this stunning muscat sauce.

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I don't even know when the chef had time to whip this up.

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Left over Pan Seared Foie Gras On Roasted Potatoes

Finally, the risotto with creamed leeks, shitake and truffles. I doubt I would ever have the patience to whip up a risotto, let alone present it like this. The combination of flavours was superb. Creamy, rich, and the aroma from the truffles..... [dreamy gaze]

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Risotto With Creamy Leeks, Shitake Mushroom and Truffles


And to finish it, and a perfect ending I might add, were these drunken strawberries. Any other dessert might actually have been too rich after this meal.

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Dessert - Grand Marnier Strawberries


What can I say, but a big THANK YOU!!!!! You are the best. Really, great company, superb food, great alcohol, what more can a person ask for!!!!














25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear fatboy,

I love to see your baking, especially cheese cakes. Hope I am not too much for asking the durian cheesecake and blueberry cheese cake recipes. Care to share?

fatboybakes said...

hi foodhunter, apologies, as i am supplying the durian cheesecake commercially, i dont think i can share the recipe at this point.

for blueberry cheesecake, you prefer chilled or baked?

MeiyeN said...

WOW, WOW, WOW! so fine... fine... dining!!!!!!!! you are so lucky.... and am so envy!

Precious Pea said...

WHAT??? Your fren is a 6-star hotel chef issit? Wow Wow Wow...everything looks soo delicious! Lucky you!

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

Can Sam be my friend too?

Anyway, you're a really great chef too, FBB, so if you're ever hosting dinner, I'll be at your doorstep before you can say foiegrasmardigrasjinglinona.

Anonymous said...

Dubai is 160km from AD, just a 1 1/2 hour drive. They sell it in the airport itself? At RM125 a pop, are slivers cheaper ah??

OK, I sek jou. I'll know what to bring as buah tangan when you invite me to your dinner party.. :D

Tracy Tan said...

aiyo - salivating just looking at the pictures. after reading your description, got pool of it on my feet lah.

i'd love to cook fine food like your post here but i think i'd rather just eat and enjoy rather than slave over the stove. but it is great that there are people who do it because of their passion. just like what you've done!

fatboybakes said...

tracy...hhahah, that soundsss sooooo wattt tatttt...."got pool of it on my feet"....EUGHHHHHHHHH

kat, wow, that is one helluva fruit hand to bring!

LL, we arent sharing sam with ANYONE ya hear, ANYONE!!!!

PP, well, you are on first name basis with MAX mah....

mei yen, yup, i'd be envious too, if i wasnt invited!!! hahahah!!!

HL said...

goodness! I can hear the geese honking in their graves! oodles falls desperately far off the mark!

great, great post. thoroughly enjoyed reading it and imagining myself joining in the feasting. i can feel the scallop bursting in my mouth. mmm. and the squid ink pasta with fish roe, looks fabulous!

Mandy said...

goodness! All that good food. I want to be Sam's friend too!

Anonymous said...

OH Oh~ The food looks fabulous. Your friend is a really good cook, all dished look absolutely great, leaving me salivating in front of the monitor.

fatboybakes said...

dimsum, hahahah, the image of geese honking from their liverless graves...is quite funny. yar, oodles hardly describes it, but we only had a piece each.

mandy, dont we all!!!

joanna, yup, someone already collected a pool of saliva at her feet...

daphne said...

i need new friends! haahaha.. That looks fantastic! u r very blessed!

Anonymous said...

Wow that was a feast! And made even more impressive by the fact that it was cooked at home! I just had a thought - the truffles do look a bit like Chinese mushrooms so why not use Chinese mushrooms but soak them in truffle oil? LOL.

Anonymous said...

There's an old Christian chorus that goes :

Love is something that you give it away,
Give it away, give it away,
Love is something that you give it away, and it comes rite back 2 you.

It's just like a copper penny,
Ya' hold on tight, u won't get any,
Spend it, lend it & give it away,
And it comes rite back 2 u.

if Love = Food + Friends, den substitute to above chorus ...

me wants to be SAM's fren too!!! Share-share!!!

No share, no fair!! boohoohoo!

wmw said...

What a fine spread! You and everyone else must have been overjoyed and filled with such happiness throughout this dinner. Now, that's the feeling that's not easy to come by :o)

Rarebeet said...

You are one lucky man!!! The food looks absolutely divine! Even better when it is prepared by a friend right? So talented. Can I be Sam's friend too???

LianneK said...

hahahhaa ... your friend spoilt the market lol

Krew said...

First of all:

Haagen Dazs isn't the best icecream.

Ben & Jerry's is.

Secondly:

Damn! I should've come for this!!!

Nicole said...

u're making me very very hungry at this point

Tummythoz said...

Lol! Looks like I've just step into 'Who wants to be Sam's friend' recruiting agency. So, still got space for 1 more?
Hey, I vaguely remember u were a great cook&host too. When can jog my memory?

teckiee said...

...how come still no update? I got a feeling you will be hosting Christmas luncheons and dinners.. waiting to see how you have made la ..Merry Christmas =)

MeiyeN said...

hey fbb.. you have been mia! merry xmas to you and your family! :)

G said...

Fu yohhh....wahlah fine dining ... lucky you!

Merry xmas and happy new year!

backStreetGluttons said...

Of course you can ! just make sure the drinks are on tap and coming !
Happy New Year to da Superpro Baker!