The Oyster In My World...

Aptly named after the famed aphrodisiac, Ostrea's eminent outdoor patio offers an attractive option both for dining and people watching. Boasting a colossal menu of oyster dishes, dinner at Ostrea is sheer indulgence for fresh, plump oysters just do not come with Walmart price tags.

Shooter style, gratin, broiled, grilled, breaded, steamed, risotto-ed, we were hard pressed to make our choices for the oysters come in more ways than one can ever imagine. We finally concluded on the au naturel, gratin, breaded, steamed and risotto-ed ones.

Freshly shucked, the au naturel ones came slurpy and fresh, perfect with just a spot of tart lemon squirt. Lightly seasoned with soy sauce and a sprinkle of chopped chives, the steamed ones were a hit too as they were devoured in one gulp, mollusc and all. The gratin with its rich creamy sauce and brown crust will sit well with those with an aversion to raw oysters while the breaded ones with their thick crust enveloping pieces of anaemic-looking oysters were a forgettable lot.

There is something about greenish looking food (besides vegs) which I always associate with bile and that I can assure you was not a very pleasant thought for as luck would have it, I was duly presented with an odd-looking greenish risotto for my main. Fortunately, its taste was quite the contrary. Crammed with oysters and a generous dose of crispy bacon, I had to stop myself from licking the plate clean;)

Be prepared to put on your best behaviour at Ostrea for the people watching is a quid pro quo business.

Ostrea
Address: 3-10-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-6230-1100
Michelin: None

The Pretty Metamorphosis...

Adorned with the prettiest creatures of metamorphosis, the pre-fall collection of D&G duo, Domenico and Stefano, looks set to woo the little girl in every woman. I like that the collection is frivolous, pretty yet bears a distinctive D&G gothic touch that manages to steer it clear of going down the Laura Ashley path.

Partner it with a matching blouse and transform back to the youthful girlishness of yesteryears!

Three Is Not A Crowd...

No thanks to Rinya, I am now officially on a self imposed soba hiatus. The thought of the 16 coils (that was the minimal order!) of buckwheat noodles that my other half and I had to down is enough to send shivers down my spine. The irony of it all is that I had thought the soba looked so purr-fect all swirled up on the bamboo tray when I chanced upon the restaurant while out shopping at Roppongi Hills:(

This run-of-the-mill mall restaurant also serves up the perfunctory tempura but go only if you have 3 or more in your group if you do not want to contract soba-phobia. In this case, 3 is definitely not a crowd;)

Rinya
Address: 6-4-1 Roppongi, B2F Roppongi Hills Metro Hat Hollywood Plaza, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-3470-0551
Michelin: None

The "Fierce" Look...

Mary-Kate Olsen with my fave of the lot, Alexander Wang Coco Mini Studded Leather Bag

Bling, studs, bring 'em on!!! I love the latest trend of stud-embellished bags which say plenty of attitude and glam rocker-chic. Ironically, my first brush with these bags was earlier in the year when my company brought in some studded Miu Miu purses. I was not sold on the trend then as the giant studs were more rap chic than rock chic. Now with more designers grooving into the trend, the sky is the limit as these statement bags begun making their rounds onto many fashion magazines, celebrity weeklies and even the set of Gossip Girl.

Be & D Garbo Portfolio, Jimmy Choo Sky Nappa Studded Bag

Love it or hate it, for Fall, this "it" bag is here to stay...

A Slip Away Deal...

After a fortnight long of to and fro with outnet.com, I conceded defeat and decided to let go of this Pucci clutch which would have been the accessory to my monochrome wardrobe:(

Soba Sesame...

The al fresco dining area of Soba Giro is the first clue that this is not going to be your typical soba joint. Spanned by long wooden tables and benches in an all-American cookout style, this Italian owned resto with piped music in the background even manages to command a huge local following.

Visiting Soba Giro on a weekday evening, I was assuaged to see that the menu was not a wild mish-mash of east meets west. Instead it consisted of a rather standard fare of both hot and cold soba, sashimi and tempura. Given our usual voracious appetites, it was a no-brainer to go for all of the above:)

To be fair, this is not a sushi restaurant and as such, our hopes were not pinned on the sashimi which tasted fresh but slightly chewy. The tempura fared much better with its crispy platter that included a delicately battered shiso leaf, unusual but not unpleasant. What I found particularly enjoyable was the zaru soba with two types of dipping sauces. The tsuyu sauce was nothing out of the ordinary but the creamy goma or sesame dipping sauce was the nonpareil at Soba Giro. The essence from the grounded sesame seeds with its nutty rich flavours really make this sauce sing and it was no wonder that the Japanese in the crowd were deserting their traditional soba joints for this neoteric soba experience;-)

With the summer drawing to a close, make haste for zaru soba with its dipping sauces for they will soon be replaced by piping hot soy dashi broth.

Soba Giro
Address: 2-13-10 Nagatacho, 1F Prudential Plaza, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-3500-5720
Michelin: None

Urbanisation Boon Or Bane...

A desk bound job often breeds bad posture and I am living proof of that aspect of the bane of urbanisation. Ten minutes is about all I can muster before I slump back into my seat, legs tucked and shoulders hunched. Needless to say, a host of problems soon manifest themselves, though fortunately, nothing that a chiropractor can't put right.

Relying on word of mouth, my other half and moi decided to start ourselves on some therapy sessions at a neighbourhood chiropractor. Its bear mascot and "angel finger of bear" motto might not quite channel the right vibes but my soothed limbs bear testimony to its dexterous therapists as they mold and knead away the tight muscle knots on my back and shoulders. My grouse though was that not only did I have to bear with the therapist's incessant talking, I had also to respond fittingly to her questions throughout:( But all was forgiven as one by one, my sores were alleviated and in its place a rejuvenated new me!