Sunday morning and The Mitchells vs. the Machines review

This morning after a walk to Bread and hearth, and the Keong Saik Bakery, I watched the Mitchells vs the Machines, that was released in Netflix instead of theatre release due to Covid situation. I like its originality and spirit. The Mitchells is a "weird" family who struggles with father-daughter relationship, with personality that sticks to their originality rather than trying to fit-it. Although it is not trying too hard to depicts the strangeness of the family, the sense I got is that each person in the family was just free to explore their individual passion, and try hard to live life. It also tries to depicts the machine with AI trying to take over the world, although I felt that was just the plot to provide the unifying purpose for the journey the family has undertaken to fix its broken relationships.

It's very therapeutic to do morning walk, and lately the summer wind in Singapore has made the early morning bearable. Perhaps the air is also fresher and clearer without the usual traffic.

Display case at Keong Saik Bakery

Early morning at Chinatown

View of People's Park Centre

Super quiet market during phase 2

Kopi-O Kosong from hawker's coffee the 1950's

Savoury butter croissant perfect breakfast item with coffee

It's a fitting family movie for a sunny Sunday morning.

Selections from the Bread and Hearth and Keong Saik Bakery with black coffee (Kopi-O)

Witches of the Orient

Yesterday I went and watched by myself the movie "The Witches of the Orient" at Oldham Theater, at Asian Film Archive, a new show I just discovered uring the semi-lock down that we are under right now. I woke up to the news that Hong Lim market is being closed for 2 weeks due to emergence of a new Covid19 cluster there... and I recall the romantique film being made by French moviemaker that is unique than Korean, Japanese, or American style of film making. The movie is semi-documentary although the story it depicted is true, about the trial and triumph of the women's volleyball team that went to dominate 1960's culminating in gold in Tokyo Olympics 1964.

Therapist Uncensored

 Recently I love learning podcast, especially some of very interesting one such as Ear Biscuits and Therapist Uncensored. The podcast explored relationship, attachment, and therapy.

The podcast I am listening now is about Attachment Avoidance and Difficulty Opening Up: trauma, avoidance with Robert T. Mueller. It talks about Avoidance as solution and self-deception, as well as how trauma shows up in our relationship, our childhood experiences, and that sometimes multiple trauma system interlocks. With Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP and Ann Kelley PhD. 

Sometimes working it out, while sitting with discomfort, and taking personal risk in safe environment.

I then recall some strong emotion for example, whether in terms on how my parents communicate to each other, or shows disagreement, or resolve conflict. Or in terms on my relationship with my ex-housemates at the end of my university years, and whether I have a lot of unresolved anger and fear in my heart about relationship. Or about my relationship with my ex-boyfriends, or with my ex-colleagues.

Does my past relationship make me just throw past relationship behind, and move on?

First fine dining out meal after June2021 semi-lock down

Finally, after 6 weeks of semi-lock down, I met up with AP for Japanese dinner. Been looking forward to this catch up! Last time we gathered for yakitori & izakaya-theme dinner at Yatagarasu for mine's and Ming's birthday celebration and the country went to lock-down prohibiting dining out when we were going to celebrate AP's birthday.

Sakemaru Artisan sake hideout is a nice place, even nicer now with spacious bubble around each dining group. We chose seats at counter, which is the best as we can see the chef in action! There are humongous display fridges lining up both sides of entrances full of sake selections, each with small accompanying notes.

As part of our mission to elevate the global standards of Saké, the SAKEMARU Artisan Sake Hideout is a concept dining experience to showcase our extensive range of exclusive artisanal Saké alongside modern Japanese Kappo-style cuisine here in Singapore.

The menu is interesting. The opening salvo was a raw-fish-in-season-that-i-forgot-the-name (shult?) that came seared perfectly with brown rich.

Firefly squid as starter: Seasoned well, and seared to perfection, the bite-sized squid came with tomatoes and mushroom all   

The fig mascarpone was unfortunately out of stock, but somehow the chef sent a complimentary order perhaps because detecting our disappointment when the hokkaido corn was also out of stock! Likely, out of his omakase supply :)

The fish somen was exquisite, it's light and the jelly-like broth complement the somen with fresh roe.

The best is ama-ebi which came large size, with raw golden egg yolk with soy-like sauce.

For main, we ordered simmered tender beef tongue. It came with squid-ink sauce, and tongue so tender, I didn't believe it's the body part. Unfortunately the taste is a bit bland, perhaps a bit overcooked?

For sake, we had a charafe of Kasaichiyo casareccio Omachi 50, which I enjoyed a lot. It is perfect as starter sake and has a pleasant floral like aroma. It goes down well especially with sashimi and light dishes.

We then ordered a bottle of Shirakiku Mirror Mirror Muraku Genshu, an Honjozo Junmai. It is a new conceptual sake made of apple yeast and black koji. Thus has a sourish taste, but goes down pleasant and dry. My friend spotted Shuhari which we would like to try - it's rare artisan sake from Okamoto village Yamadashiki Usunigori Nama.

Overall, I remember the chat, gossip with one of my bestest, and wisest friend in the world. We talked about our own blind spot, pacing in life and career, and shared some anecdotes about experiences working in different environment with slower pace, and about enterprise business applications.

Looking forward to next catch up!

A tremendous sense of gratitude for the night out.