Hangover...

Hangover...ain't exactly what I fancy after a drinking session. However if it does happen...I'll just down lots of watermelon juice, grab some milk thistle and head to bed.

However what I have in mind now is not the hangover after drinks. This new track by Taio Cruz featuring Flo Rida is playing in my head almost non stop. Addictive! And for my pals who are nursing a hangover...enjoy this MTV and then go grab your rest. Yeah...rest your liver!

Turkish Culinary and Cultural Week 2011

I've never been to Turkey but have read of its beautiful sceneries and awesome rich food. 2 days back I was invited to experience a little of Turkey at the launch of the Turkish Culinary & Cultural Week 2011 at the Royale Chulan Hotel.

In conjunction with the 88th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkey Tourism and Information Office in Malaysia will be celebrating the occasion by hosting the Turkish Culinary and Cultural Week. Head over to the Royale Chulan Hotel from now till Friday 4th November to experience Turkey. Throughout this Turkish Culinary and Cultural Week from 6:30p.m. till 9:00p.m. feast to Turkish delights at The Warisan Cafe prepared by chefs flown in from Turkey. Enjoy the buffet dinner at RM78++ per person.

Be entertained by energetic dancers and musicians also flown in from Turkey and be mesmerized by the Turkish craftsmen.

these ladies played and sang like angels

The musicians are awesome. My regret...I didn't record the performance. But you could check them out at the Lanai Lounge at the Royale Chulan Hotel. The very charming and energetic dancers will also be performing there.

I was rather mesmerized by the ancient art of ebru or paper marbling. Watch how paper marbling expert Mustafa Ekran draws on water using special paints that is made from animal and vegetable fats. Equally beautiful is Turkish caligraphy.

ebru master at work

put a paper over the tray

gently lift it up

art is transferred to the paper

Pretty picture done the traditional way "ebru"

special colours made with vegetable and animal fats

Some pretty crafts that I came across...and I learnt that the blue eye is in almost every house in Turkey because it is believed to ward off evil.

This year I actually started liking coffee. And if you love coffee like I do, the Turkish coffee is absolutely brilliant and is an art itself.

pretty Turkish lady who prepared our coffee

brewing a good Turkish coffee

Here's Aida of The Star enjoying her cuppa.

What's a press conference for the Turkish Culinary and Cultural Week without any food teasers? Here's some yummies...and I must say I love the Baklava. Its seriously sweet but its awesomely flavourful. Mind you this is quite laborious to make.

Some canapes made of ingredients that's found in many Turkish dishes.

This very rich cookies are awesome. They simple melt in your mouth and was really great with the Turkish coffee. Lost count of the number pieces I ate.

Yes ice cream. I become a lil girl when I see ice cream. See how the ice cream is being carved. Turkish ice cream is made from goats milk. It has a very interesting creamy texture and consistency, so much so our friend from Turkey entertained us with playing with the ice cream and it did not melt nor drip onto the floor.

playing with ice cream:P

Jess loved the ice cream so much. How many did we eat together ah?

X the happy child

love this with bits of pistachio. awesome maximus

Courtesy of the Turkish Tourism and Information Office and Etihad Airways, Cheah Ying from the Oriental Daily and writer Kee Hua Chee were the 2 lucky winners whose names were drawn to enjoy a 4 days 3 nights trip to Instanbul. Congras folks!

Meanwhile since I missed being the lucky draw winner...I shall now have to plan for my own trip to Turkey. 2012 perhaps? Fingers crossed...I should be there in 2012! Enjoy the following videos of magnificent Turkey.

And I'm heading in to the Royale Chulan Hotel to enjoy the yummy food at their Warisan Cafe to satisfy my curiosity till I make my way to Turkey.

Buddha Fruit Tongsui for General Wellbeing

This is a Goon family favourite (well at least Peter Goon's 3rd wife ~ my granny). She would make this pleasant sweet drink whenever the weather turns hot and cold like the current weird weather spell or whenever one of us shows symptoms of a flu bug.

This drink is believed to expel dry heat from one's body. What is dry heat? One of the symptoms would be a dry mouth and dry eyes. And its also present when you have dry cough. Lo Han Kuo assist in loosening the phelgm.

Albeit this drink is sweet, the sweetness comes from the fruit Lo Han Kuo which is naturally sweet. Its commonly used in many traditional soups.

The bitter sweet almond is also an excellent ingredient that is used to treat coughs.

Ingredients:

• 2 litres of water

• 2 lo han kuo (Buddha Fruit)

• 2 dried sweet dates (mat chou)

• 80g bitter sweet almonds (known as lam hang pak hang)

Instructions:

• Rinse all ingredients with water.

• Break the lo han kuo into half. Break the ball of seeds. Use the shell and the seeds inside.

• Place all in pot with water.

• Bring to boil.

• Then reduce fire to slow boil for an hour.

Serve warm although its equally delightful cold. The almonds are lightly crunchy and goes well with the soup.

And if one prefers savoury soup then you may add pork or chicken and boil following the above steps.

You may put in hard boiled eggs if you like. Granny used to put chicken eggs for the adults and quail eggs

for the kids. I opted not to put in eggs today as my tummy is still not keen on certain flavours ever since the viral fever.

Well there you go...an easy dessert good for the body and the soul.