#black truffle sea salt

[morethansalad]

Creamy Vegan Black Truffle Gnocchi

[ollimio]

Black Truffle Gnocchi A Northern Italian gnocchi dish with a rich, buttery cheese sauce is made with truffle oil, truffle salt, and shaved truffles.

[chelseaelliott]

Pasta - Black Truffle Gnocchi Truffle oil, truffle salt, and shaved truffles combine to create a Northern Italian gnocchi dish with a rich, buttery cheese sauce.

[buffetlicious]

Bring home or gift away mooncakes in this pink tower container from Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant (李白) in Sheraton Towers (喜来登酒店). Take your pick from Baked White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Egg Yolk (双黄白莲蓉), Baked White Lotus Seed Collagen Paste with Single Egg Yolk (单黄膠原蛋白白莲蓉), White Lotus Seed Paste with Oolong King Tea and Sunflower Seed (顶级乌龙茶葵花子白莲蓉), Baked White Lotus Seed Paste with Macademia Nut (夏威夷果仁白莲蓉) or Baked Mixed Nuts (伍仁月饼).

Or break away from the tradition baked mooncakes with these lovely Assorted Mini Snowskin Mooncakes (迷你月饼). With flavours like Champagne (香槟), Pandan Coconut Gula Melaka (班兰椰子椰糖), Lychee Martini (荔枝马天尼) and Sea Salt Truffle Dark Chocolate (黑菘露海盐), how can you resist opening your wallet/purse for them?

This limited-edition Jade 15 Treasures Premium Gift Set (玉楼黄金十五月) from Fullerton Hotel (富丽敦酒店) cost S$163.50 even after discount!!! Encased within is a giant baked mooncake, filled with white lotus seed paste and eight golden yolks to symbolise the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Fourteen mini baked mooncakes surround this centrepiece, each in a different flavour. Their crusts depict alternating images of a celestial hare, citron fruit, and firefly - signifying bliss, light and well wishes. In case you are interested to know what flavours it comes with, they are Red Lotus Seed Paste (红莲蓉), Orange (橙子), Jasmine (茉莉花), Coffee (咖啡), Rose (玫瑰), Mixed Nuts and Pineapple (混合坚果和菠萝), Black Dates (黑枣), Almond (杏仁), Pandan (班兰), Black Sesame (黑芝麻), Cranberry (蔓越莓), Red Bean (红豆), Osmanthus (桂花) and Green Tea (绿茶).

The Fullerton Classics Baked Mooncakes (富丽敦经典月饼) feature single and double yolks baked mooncakes with reduced sugar, alongside two new creations this year - the Premium Mixed Nuts Baked Mooncake (经典五仁月饼) and the Assam Tea with Lemon, Mung Bean and Raisin Baked Mooncake (阿萨姆茶柠檬丝绿豆馅葡萄干月饼). These mooncakes will be housed in a beautiful deep-red drawer box, emblazoned with a glistening gold imprint of the Fullerton Building’s Neoclassical façade, exuding timeless elegance and refined luxury.

Selected images courtesy of Sheraton Towers and Fullerton Hotel.

[imbiowaresbitch]

By the Shore, chapter 5

Cold

Dean sat at their table, sipping his beer, and met Cas’ eyes with a predatory smile as Cas rejoined him. Cas immediately drained his wine, looking decadently flushed and flustered, and Dean's smile softened. He reached across the table without thinking about it, and Cas instantly tangled their fingers together, meeting his eyes with a little smile of his own. 

“I pushed you too far, didn't I?” Cas murmured, half-apologetic, half-amused.

Dean smirked at him.

“Maybe just far enough…” he teased, and Cas chuckled, squeezing his hand gently. 

Their waiter appeared with their meals, not batting an eye at their wrinkled clothes and generally fucked out appearances, and Dean winked at Cas. Cas smiled serenely, untangling his fingers from Dean's to grab his knife and fork, and they dove into their meal. Dean had ordered a steak, ‘cause seriously, when was he gonna see Wagyu beef in Ladow’s back in Lebanon? It was served with a red wine mushroom sauce, and served with fries – though the menu called it pommes frites with sea salt and truffle oil – and blistered shishito peppers. 

Dean cut into the steak eagerly, and as the first bite seemed to melt on his tongue, his eyes closed with a soft moan of delight.

He heard Cas chuckle across from him, and held up a hand, keeping his eyes closed.

“Shhh… I'm having a private moment with the steak. I just need a second here…”

Cas snorted, and Dean chose to ignore him, savouring the incredible steak, cooked to perfection. He didn't even mind the mushrooms. Swallowing, he popped his eyes open and eagerly cut another bite of the steak, then paused. He cut a smaller, more delicate piece than the two-inch square he’d planned on cramming in his mouth, and carefully speared it on his fork. He held it out to Cas, waving the tines back and forth slowly.

“Cas? You gotta try this…”

Cas paused with his own fork halfway to his mouth, raising an eyebrow at Dean, then he completed the motion, humming happily at his black truffle risotto. He set his fork down and had a sip of his wine, then reached for Dean’s fork.

Dean swayed backward, a teasing grin on his face. 

“Come on, Cas,” he cajoled, letting a suggestive note filter through the words. “Use your mouth for me?”

Cas’ eyes darkened, and he leaned forward again, his hands folded primly in his lap, and let Dean feed him the tender morsel of steak. His blue eyes were locked on Dean’s the entire time, and Dean saw the surprise there when the flavour registered. He smiled in triumph.

Cas chewed slowly, then licked his lips.

“That's very good,” he acknowledged, and Dean rolled his eyes.

“Come on, buddy. It's the best thing you've ever tasted, right?” Dean argued, stabbing one of the peppers and taking a bite. The sweet-spicy burst on his tongue, and he groaned. “Holy shit, these are awesome. You gotta try one!”

Cas laughed at his enthusiasm, but he leaned back, shaking his head. 

“I'll pass for tonight, thanks.” He scooped up one of the scallops adorning his plate, carefully nibbling it from the fork. Dean shrugged, grabbing a fry, and Cas spoke up. “I think I'll taste the best thing ever back at our cabin…”

~~

Read the rest on AO3 here.

Thanks to @winchester-reload for the prompts!

[paldean-sandwich-rater]

A sandwich.

It contains ice cream, whipped cream, sponge cake, meat balls, broccoli, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rice, noodles, mac and cheese, bacon, beef jerky, dried fish, seaweed, one of every Pokemon berry, jam, olive oil, lotus, dragon fruit, ravioli, ramen, tempura, teriyaki chicken, macaroons, escargots, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, croquettes, pickles, apples, avocados, sausages, bell peppers, grapes, pizza, a donut, cheese, more cheese, even more cheese, mushrooms, mustard, olives, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, blueberries, a poached egg, chawanmushi, a red bean bun, mochi, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, french fries, takoyaki, pancakes, mackerel, salmon, coffee beans, spinach, a tiny bit of corn cream soup, ramensanga, fettucine alfredo, a plain bagel, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato, yam, potato, scallions, scallops, squid, crab stick, fish balls, fish cakes, oyster sauce, silken tofu, barley, cereal, paprika, oysters, red snapper, sea bass, plums, bean sprouts, garlic, string cheese, camembert, swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, yogurt, brinjal, a macdonald’s happy meal (without the toy and the packaging of course), truffles, caviar, tapioca balls, fried chicken, century eggs, cake sprinkles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk tea (just a tinge), coffee (also a tinge), pudding, pumpkin, honey, mutton, mashed potatoes, bananas, icelandic fermented shark that they bury in the ground for months, raisins, dried mangoes, a drop of water, jelly, nata de coco, prunes, roasted pork, rosemary, bee pollen, peas, deer meat, rabbit meat, fish maw, ham, turkey, m&ms, chub, fufu, watermelon, winter melon, rock melon, coffee jelly, cacao, carrots, blueberries, black tea, dumplings, carrot cake, beetroot, purple cabbage, corn, celery, edamame, red beans, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chickpeas, almonds, daikon, MSG, tamales, anchovies, tabbouleh, lions mane mushroom, chicken of the woods, kelp, octopus, durian, kimchi, crème fraîche, popcorn, cotton candy, everything bagel seasoning, capers, pears, marinara sauce, bittercress, butter cream, every single iteration of galarian curry, sushi, sashimi, kale and a very very specific ramen bowl (without the actual bowl) from a very particular shop located in Iwatodai.

And the top and bottom buns are somehow made from 50 different kinds of bread in a checker box pattern.

It comes with a picture.

Ingredients: I am not typing all of that out again. What the fuck.

Smell: You’ve taken an entire food court’s worth of food and made it into a sandwich. This isn’t even possible. Why am I considering this. 3/5

Taste: How do you eat this. 2/5

Texture: You get like 5 different foods every bite. This is not balanced. There is no harmony. This sandwich is the embodiment of disorder and chaos. 1/5

Presentation: The fact that this even looks sandwich adjacent is a fucking miracle. You don’t get full points though. Because I don’t like you. 3/5

Would Chunk Eat It?: He would eat maybe 1/50th of it. So no. 1/5

Final Score: 2/5

Critic’s Notes: Why would you waste this much food. Just host a party. Donate it. Something fucking anything I am begging at this point.

[ametrinember]

getting to kno u 🎵

tagged by the adorable @elfiepike. Thanks Nora! 🤗✨💜

🎶 last song I listened to: Went to my YouTube history and I see Cozy Summer Garden with Waterfalls by Cozy Nature Sound. 😹 I like to listen to a lot of relaxing soundscapes. The latest actual song I listened to was Klaxon by (G)I-dle. 🏝️

📺 currently watching: Finally watching Interview with the Vampire Season 1 with my homie! He is a BRO and is sharing his copy so we can watch beautiful messy vampires in all their high-def glory. Also watching Demon Slayer, Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan (bought and treasure an EXCELLENT fanart print of this series drawn by the wonderful @doipark), Island of the Sea Wolves nature documentary, The Bear, and Bob's Burgers.

🌶️ Sweet/Savory/Spicy?: From childhood I've always loved sweet and I've never been able to handle spicy. As an adult I'm appreciating savory and salty more and more. Truffle oil. Black lava salt. Pork belly. Roasted Vegetables.

🐾 Pets: 1 Silkie guinea pig named Éclair, 2 sheba guinea pigs named Truffle and Meringue, 1 corn snake named Satsuma, 1 hognose snake named The Earl Grey, 1 African bush snake named Rapscallion, 1 crested gecko named Cinnamon, and a colony of panda king isopods named The Panda Kingdom.

🤩 Current obsession: @elfiepike and @undergroundchu2 got me into Honkai Star Rail and it's thoroughly taken over my life. My pretty Kpop girl groups. Embroidery is one of my hobbies but I do it obsessively. Guinea pigs!!!

[splatoongamefiles]

Here's all the gear names in the new update

LONG ass post so under the cut:

HEADGEAR:

Long-Billed Cap, King Flip Mesh, Blowfish Newsie, Pilot Hat, Barrelfish Baseball Hat, Octoleet Goggles, Worker's Head Towel, El Rey Calamar, Zekko Cap, Ink-Guard Goggles, Teal Pinhole Shades, Green Pinhole Shades, Pink Pinhole Shades, Yellow Pinhole Shades, Patched Hat, Fugu Bell Hat, Hothouse Hat, Mountie Hat, Black FishFry Bandana, Squidfin Hook Cans, Matte Bike Helmet, Deca Tackle Visor Helmet, Barrelfish Headgear, Slipstream Helmet Pro, Slipstream Helmet, King Facemask, Motocross Nose Guard, Digi-Camo Forge Mask, Yamagiri Beanie, Sneaky Beanie, Tee Time Visor

CLOTHING:

North-Country Parka, Octoleet Armor, Dev Uniform, Cooler Jacket, Fresh Octo Tee, Chilly Mountain Coat, Takoroka Windcrusher, FA-01 Jacket, FA-01 Reversed, Pullover Coat, Birded Corduroy Jacket, Deep-Octo Satin Jacket, Zekko Redleaf Coat, Lemon Mountain Coat, Zekko Jade Coat, Light Bomber Jacket, Navy Eminence Jacket, Tumeric Zekko Coat, Custom Painted F-3 , White Leather F-3, Chili-Pepper Ski Jacket, Whale-Knit Sweater, Rockin' Leather Jacket, Kung-Fu Zip-Up, Panda Kung-Fu Zip-Up, Shirt with Blue Hoodie, Grape Hoodie, Hothouse Hoodie, Pink Hoodie, Olive Zekko Parka, Black Hoodie, Baby-Jelly Shirt & Tie, Prune Parashooter, Red Hula Punk with Tie, Dots-on-Dots Shirt, Toni K. Baseball Jersey, Barrelfish Baseball Uni, Short Knit Layers, Positive Longcuff Sweater, Annaki Yellow Cuff, Annaki Red Cuff, Octarian Retro, Takoroka Jersey, Octo Jumper Home, Pink Easy-Stripe Shirt, Inkopolis Squaps Jersey, Lime Easy-Stripe Shirt, Annaki Evolution Tee, Zekko Long Carrot Tee, Zekko Long Radish Tee, Black Cuttlegear LS, Takoroka Crazy Baseball LS, Red Cuttlegear LS, Khaki 16-Bit FishFry, Blue 16-Bit FishFry, Sharkfin Raglan, Black V-Neck Tee, White Deca Logo Tee, Half-Sleeve Sweater, King Jersey, Gray 8-Bit FishFry, White Urchin Rock Tee, Black Urchin Rock Tee, Wet Floor Band Tee, Squid Squad Band Tee, Navy Deca Logo Tee, Mister Shrug Tee, Chirpy Chips Band Tee, Hightide Era Band Tee, ω-3 Tee, Missus Shrug Tee, League Tee, Friend Tee, Tentatek Slogan Tee, Octoking HK Jersey, Dakro Nana Tee, Dakro Golden Tee, Black Velour Octoking Tee , Green Velour Octoking Tee, Slate Streetstyle Tee, Red Tentatek Tee, Blue Tentatek Tee, Squid Yellow Layered LS, White King Tank, Slash King Tank, Navy King Tank, Lob-Stars Jersey, Fishing Vest, Front-Zip Vest, Silver Tentatek Vest, Tentatek Slipstream Vest, Teal Body Warmer

SHOES:

Deepsea Leather Boots, Annaki Arachno Boots, New-Leaf Leather Boots, Tea-Green Hunting Boots, Octoleet Boots, Knockout Boots, Cream Basics, Shivery Squidkid III, Fried Squidkid III, Big Squidkid III, Chained DC Toejamz, Jeweled DC Toejamz, Swirled DC Toejamz, Trifecta Duck Boots, Trifecta Hi-Tops, Trifecta Sandals, Smoky Wingtips, Gray Yellow-Soled Wingtips, Inky Kid Clams, Musselforge Flip-Flops, Cyan Dakroniks, Black Dakroniks, Piranha Moccasins, White Norimaki 750s, Black Norimaki 750s, Gray Sea-Slug Hi-Tops, Orca Hi-Tops, Navy Enperrials, Amber Sea Slug Hi-Tops, Yellow Iromaki 750s, Honey & Orange Squidkid V, Sun & Shade Squidkid IV, Orca Woven Hi-Tops, Green Iromaki 750s, Purple Iromaki 750s, Red Iromaki 750s, Blue Iromaki 750s, Orange Iromaki 750s, Red Power Stripes, Blue Power Stripes, Toni Kensa Black Hi-Tops, Sesame Salt 270s, Black & Blue Squidkid V, Orca Passion Hi-Tops, Truffle Canvas Hi-Tops, Crab-Trap Squidkid III, Violet Trainers, Canary Trainers, Yellow-Mesh Sneakers, Orange-Mesh Sneakers, N-Pacer CaO, N-Pacer Ag, N-Pacer Au, Sea Slug Volt 95s, Athletic Arrows, OB Gaiter Waders, Noir Guppies, Birch Climbing Shoes, Green Lace-Ups, White Laceless Dakroniks, Blue Laceless Dakroniks, Suede Gray Lace-Ups, Suede Nation Lace-Ups, Suede Marine Lace-Ups, Toni Kensa Soccer Shoes, Stamina Cycling Shoes, Energy Cycling Shoes, Polka-Dot Slip-Ons, Burden of Floof

[morethansalad]

Vegan Caramelized Crunchy Sprout, White Wine, and Truffle Pasta (Vegan)

[gutz4gorey]

Associations for [Jamal]!

animal: vampire bat, scorpion, centipede

colors: blood red, plum purple, black

month: October

songs: “Little Miss Scare All” by Type O Negative, “Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge, “(You’re So) Physical” by Nine Inch Nails

number: 8

plants: belladonna, spider orchid, and mandrake

smells: clove cigarettes, motel sheets, palo santo

gemstone: obsidian, garnet, onyx

time of day: 12 am

season: fall

places: goth clubs, steakhouses, art studios

food: rare filet mignon, pomegranates, dark chocolate truffles

drinks: vintage red wine, overbrewed black tea, black cold brew

element: water

astro sign: scorpio

seasoning: sea salt, sesame oil, cayenne pepper

sky: cloudy

weather: rainy and windy

magic power: telekinesis

weapon: dagger

social media: no.

makeup product: lipstick

candy: truffles

travel: rowboat

art style: sculpting

fear: hemophobia

myth: persephone & hades

stationery: ink

emojis: 🫀🧛‍♀️🍷⚰️🩸

celestial body: pluto

[thechurchofsplatterdaysaints]

Stickers and candlewax on everything I own. Now I'm waking up to a sticky desk because someone was fucking around with dabs in the dark. Showing off all my smahts, Mahk.

(fuck off my Boston is solid)

Wish I could get paid to do any of the myriad useless things I'm adept at:

Fake band names

Always knowing when the dryer is about to stop

Judging from on high

Playing Jeopardy for blood (Geography category excluded)

Bill Cosby impression

Mixtapes

Cracking wise & giving guff (Gen. Malarkey)

80s commercial jingles

Question.

I desperately need speakers and don't have a lot of money to spend. Very sadly using Polk bookshelf speakers that have no power. Idk shit about anything so welcome all input. Are there any trustworthy names at lower price points? Is it possible to turn my Polks into pc speakers? Am I an idiot? (hush)

The new Black truffle sea salt Boursin is solid on a water cracker, iffy alone. There's a hint of funk. (Miss you Terry, love you)

[chaos-cousins]

Pelipper mail!

A sandwich.

It contains ice cream, whipped cream, sponge cake, meat balls, broccoli, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rice, noodles, mac and cheese, bacon, beef jerky, dried fish, seaweed, one of every Pokemon berry, jam, olive oil, lotus, dragon fruit, ravioli, ramen, tempura, teriyaki chicken, macaroons, escargots, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, croquettes, pickles, apples, avocados, sausages, bell peppers, grapes, pizza, a donut, cheese, more cheese, even more cheese, mushrooms, mustard, olives, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, blueberries, a poached egg, chawanmushi, a red bean bun, mochi, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, french fries, takoyaki, pancakes, mackerel, salmon, coffee beans, spinach, a tiny bit of corn cream soup, ramensanga, fettucine alfredo, a plain bagel, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato, yam, potato, scallions, scallops, squid, crab stick, fish balls, fish cakes, oyster sauce, silken tofu, barley, cereal, paprika, oysters, red snapper, sea bass, plums, bean sprouts, garlic, string cheese, camembert, swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, yogurt, brinjal, a macdonald’s happy meal (without the toy and the packaging of course), truffles, caviar, tapioca balls, fried chicken, century eggs, cake sprinkles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk tea (just a tinge), coffee (also a tinge), pudding, pumpkin, honey, mutton, mashed potatoes, bananas, icelandic fermented shark that they bury in the ground for months, raisins, dried mangoes, a drop of water, jelly, nata de coco, prunes, roasted pork, rosemary, bee pollen, peas, deer meat, rabbit meat, fish maw, ham, turkey, m&ms, chub, fufu, watermelon, winter melon, rock melon, coffee jelly, cacao, carrots, blueberries, black tea, dumplings, carrot cake, beetroot, purple cabbage, corn, celery, edamame, red beans, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chickpeas, almonds, daikon, MSG, tamales, anchovies, tabbouleh, lions mane mushroom, chicken of the woods, kelp, octopus, durian, kimchi, crème fraîche, popcorn, cotton candy, everything bagel seasoning, capers, pears, marinara sauce, bittercress, butter cream, every single iteration of galarian curry, sushi, sashimi, kale and a very very specific ramen bowl (without the actual bowl) from a very particular shop located in Iwatodai.

And the top and bottom buns are somehow made from 50 different kinds of bread in a checker box pattern.

What the actual fuck.

It has whipped cream on it. Disgusting.

THAT'S WHY ITS DISGUSTING????

No it's just the first thing I saw that grossed me out and you know I hate whipped cream

[ziodyne-amax]

Pelipper mail! (To kotone)

A sandwich.

It contains ice cream, whipped cream, sponge cake, meat balls, broccoli, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rice, noodles, mac and cheese, bacon, beef jerky, dried fish, seaweed, one of every Pokemon berry, jam, olive oil, lotus, dragon fruit, ravioli, ramen, tempura, teriyaki chicken, macaroons, escargots, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, croquettes, pickles, apples, avocados, sausages, bell peppers, grapes, pizza, a donut, cheese, more cheese, even more cheese, mushrooms, mustard, olives, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, blueberries, a poached egg, chawanmushi, a red bean bun, mochi, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, french fries, takoyaki, pancakes, mackerel, salmon, coffee beans, spinach, a tiny bit of corn cream soup, ramensanga, fettucine alfredo, a plain bagel, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato, yam, potato, scallions, scallops, squid, crab stick, fish balls, fish cakes, oyster sauce, silken tofu, barley, cereal, paprika, oysters, red snapper, sea bass, plums, bean sprouts, garlic, string cheese, camembert, swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, yogurt, brinjal, a macdonald’s happy meal (without the toy and the packaging of course), truffles, caviar, tapioca balls, fried chicken, century eggs, cake sprinkles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk tea (just a tinge), coffee (also a tinge), pudding, pumpkin, honey, mutton, mashed potatoes, bananas, icelandic fermented shark that they bury in the ground for months, raisins, dried mangoes, a drop of water, jelly, nata de coco, prunes, roasted pork, rosemary, bee pollen, peas, deer meat, rabbit meat, fish maw, ham, turkey, m&ms, chub, fufu, watermelon, winter melon, rock melon, coffee jelly, cacao, carrots, blueberries, black tea, dumplings, carrot cake, beetroot, purple cabbage, corn, celery, edamame, red beans, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chickpeas, almonds, daikon, MSG, tamales, anchovies, tabbouleh, lions mane mushroom, chicken of the woods, kelp, octopus, durian, kimchi, crème fraîche, popcorn, cotton candy, everything bagel seasoning, capers, pears, marinara sauce, bittercress, butter cream, every single iteration of galarian curry, sushi, sashimi, kale and a very very specific ramen bowl (without the actual bowl) from a very particular shop located in Iwatodai.

And the top and bottom buns are somehow made from 50 different kinds of bread in a checker box pattern.

I’m. I’m not even sure how you managed to fit all this. This is beautiful in its monstrosity…

[buffetlicious]

For the Braised Fried Fish Maw Seafood Treasure Soup, the staff portioned it into ten smaller bowls before serving it to us. Not sure if it is because I am holding a camera, but my bowl came with more chunks of crab meat and fish maw. Basically, a seafood soup thickened with starch so the ingredients seem to be suspended/frozen in the soup. Black vinegar and white pepper accompanied this soup so feel free to add some to it.

Well, the Roasted Crispy Chicken with Prawn Crackers was warm and tender to eat, it however wasn’t crispy at it. And just like everywhere else in Singapore, they referred to this deep-fried chicken as a roasted chicken. Sprinkle a bit of the salt & pepper before putting it into the mouth. A lacklustre dish but thank goodness, the prawn crackers were crispy though.

This Steamed Hybrid Garoupa in Hong Kong Style was cut into sections just before they served it to us. This hybrid grouper is probably a cross between the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and brown-marbled grouper or tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and given the Dragon Tiger Grouper (龙虎斑) name. The fish got to be very fresh to be steamed and cooked with just a simple condiment of soya sauce, julienned spring onions and cilantro leaves for garnish. The end result, sweet springy flesh with collagen like skin that is so good to eat.

The Braised Whole 10-Head Abalone with Sea Cucumber and Spinach was up next but the process of waiting for the next dish to be served was a long one as in-between the hosts are showing us video stories of the newly married couple and plus the live singing by the friends and band. Ten pieces each of the abalone and sea cucumber sitting atop a bed of blanched Popeye’s favourite green vegetable. Why 10 you may ask? Because a table usually seat ten people so the food portions are divided equally so each get a piece of everything (for the expensive ingredients that is). The only complaint for this dish is that the spinach is on the bitter side.

Like an overturned basket or nest, spilling out Deep-Fried Prawns with Black Truffle Mayonnaise Sauce. If there is anything to change for the presentation, I would move the red and green coral lettuces from under the eatable nest and placed it in the nest for a more dramatic effect. Anyway, these truffle gratings lend an aromatic and earthy fragrances to the classic mayo prawns topped with orange flying fish roe. My colleague and I detected a mild spicy hint of wasabi in it but another colleague said it is from the truffle and mayo combo. Differences aside, this is one dish I won’t mind having again.

I always love this noodle served at the end of the dinner courses just before dessert. The Braised Ee-Fu Noodles with Yellow Chives and Straw Mushrooms is a usual staple at wedding due to the fact it is also known as longevity noodles (寿面). Normally, I would consume more than a bowl of the yi mein (伊面) but that night I was already quite stuffed from the dishes served and I was leaving room for dessert. :D

By the time the last dish was up and the clock was ticking closer to 11pm. The warm Teochew Yam Paste with Gingko Nut and Coconut Milk with its gooey and smooth yam (taro) paste and whole gingko nuts smothered in thickened coconut milk is bursting with sweetness and a great comfort to many of us Singaporeans. I liked the fact that the chef tuned the sugar level to just sweet enough as I preferred mine not too saccharine. Anyway, I just had to ask for another bowl as it was just too good to pass up.

Dinner is now over and after shaking hands with the groom, bride and their respective parents, it is time to head to the train station to catch the train home.

[samaeljigoku]

❤️ 🍫 ◇◆Passione Chocolate Box◆◇ 🍫 ❤️

My little gift for Valentine's Day - If each member of Passione (and their Stands) had their own chocolate flavour! And what it would taste and look like. I also included Scolippi. This is silly and seems like it took a thousand years, but was super fun to make, so I hope you like them.

These were originally supposed to accompany a drawing of each. I really wish that could've happened, but I didn't have time. Sorry if I gave your favourite a flavour you don't like, but... I don't think some of these actually exist. Which ones would you try?

🍫═══◇◆◇◆Bucciarati Gang◆◇◆◇═══🍫

Giorno - Sakura Blossom ◆Royal purple wrapper with gold flowers. ◇In the shape of a large ladybug, coated with gold leaf. An experience of springtime and the metamorphosis of nature. Subtly sweet and elegant, yet somewhat haughty. Dried flower petals are baked in, and perhaps a stray butterfly wing.

Mista - Caramel ◆Blue wrapper with white lattice pattern. ◇Salty-sweet, topped with gold sugar crystals. You can always rely on this chocolate. Has a friendly, nostalgic flavour - like a summer's day by the sea. Pairs well with red wine, and can be split into six pieces.

Narancia - Orange ◆Violet wrapper with an orange band. ◇Coated with orange frosting. Has a punchy, fun, in-your-face vibe. Tastes like your favourite song, but the one that you love to annoy your friends with. Will make you happier, but won't make you better at math.

Bucciarati - Hazelnut Truffle ◆Metallic white wrapper with bronze houndstooth pattern. ◇Are you prepared for this one? Swanky, chic and delicious - the chocolate equivalent of haute couture. Tastes like gold and cashmere look. Has a glittery fondant zipper that can be cracked open. It would be easy to hide money or jewelry in the center.

Fugo - Black Forest Cherry ◆Dark purple harlequin-patterned wrapper. ◇One of two candies in existence with a Latin scientific name. Rich, darkly sweet and sinister. Smooth on the surface, but has an oddly poisonous-tasting center that pops violently if you dare bite into it. Eat with caution.

Abbacchio - Bittersweet ◆Metallic black wrapper. ◇Chocolate is the silky, midnight black of the cosmos, topped with an edible lavender ribbon. Has a harsh, dizzying, intense flavour that feels like it's twisting the fabric of time and space in reverse. Absolutely does not pair well with tea.

Trish - Strawberry ◆Pink wrapper with brown checks. ◇Bright pink, sweet chocolate that tastes like cupcake frosting, but also has a spicy cinnamon bite. Is topped with purple and yellow sprinkles. Kind of under-rated. Has a jelly center that can be oddly tough to chew, like taffy.

Coco Jumbo (Plus Polnareff) - Coconut Rose ◆Green tortoiseshell-patterned wrapper. ◇In the shape of a turtle. Outer shell is crusty and tastes a few decades old. Seems to have been tossed around in someone's pocket. The center, however, has a pleasant, romantic tropical flavour.

🍫═══◇◆◇◆La Squadra◆◇◆◇═══🍫

Ghiaccio - Mint Mocha ◆Light blue wrapper with white spirals. ◇Chocolate is pale, bluish and crystalline. Aggressively chilly in flavour, yet has zero chill. Z-e-r-o. Forces you awake like a series of icy slaps to the face. If the cold shock doesn't send you to the hospital, its deadly caffeine level will.

Melone - Yubari Melon ◆Green melon-patterned wrapper. ◇It seems wrong to be eating this chocolate in public. Creamy, divine exotic bliss. Likely laced with a aphrodisiac. Can be split into many square pieces if say, you wanted to share it with willing partners.

Risotto - Sanguinaccio Dolce ◆Metallic black wrapper with white stripes. ◇Traditional blood chocolate with a rice-based filling. Has razor-sharp edges. Despite its dark reputation, the salt and iron make it taste wholly unique. But you may still want to watch for stray needles, just in case.

Formaggio - Mascarpone ◆Gold wrapper with red dots. ◇Not to be underestimated. May be small but is loud in flavour, viciously tart and sweet. Chocolate is dotted with little holes so the mascarpone center can be seen. Cheese and chocolate may sound bizarre, but is a surprise here.

Prosciutto - Tiramisu ◆White wrapper with brown and blue stripes. ◇Classy, mature chocolate with a midnight sheen. Has a syrupy coffee center and hard sugar top glazed with a strange, eye-like pattern. Makes you feel 20 years older with each piece, so don't eat too many. Is best served ice-cold.

Pesci - Butterscotch ◆Black wrapper with green and pink hearts. ◇Bears an unfair reputation as a babyish, "kiddy" chocolate, but is still loved by almost everyone. Extremely mild, sweet and gentle in flavour, but has its moments of sudden, brittle toughness. Is topped with a cute little chocolate fishy.

Illuso - Marzipan ◆Half-brown, half-ivory wrapper. ◇Chocolate is glassy and sharp-edged, decorated with gold beads. A rich, pompous sort of flavour that tricks you into thinking it's nougat, but also makes you feel unworthy to eat it. May cause double-vision or hallucinations.

Gelato - Milk Chocolate ◆Light brown wrapper. ◇A simple pleasure, like chocolate ice cream. Pairs well with most other flavours, but is perfect with raspberry creme.

Sorbet - Raspberry Creme ◆Rose pink wrapper. ◇Subtle and cool but likeable. Pairs ideally with milk chocolate. Do NOT slice in half, or filling will bleed out everywhere.

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Tiziano - Amaretto ◆Ivory wrapper with a brown band. ◇Tastes of almond... or arsenic? An elegant trickery of the tongue, both medicine for the senses and poison for the heart. It's literally impossible to say anything bad about it.

Squalo - Sea Salt ◆Orange wrapper with blue wave pattern. ◇In the shape of a shark, and you are its prey. Tastes of violence - tart and sharp, like it's devouring the inside of your mouth. Combining this with amaretto might end somebody.

Carne - Marshmallow ◆Pastel pink wrapper. ◇A massive chunk of chocolate, bursting at the seams with marshmallow fluff that violently consumes your taste buds in an explosion of sweetness. May contain meat product of suspect origin.

Cioccolata - Green Tea ◆Light green wrapper with brown skull pattern. ◇The first candy in existence with a Latin scientific name. Tastes like the guts of a dead tree. Bitter and earthy, with a frothy, aerated center that tastes of mushrooms grown in old chocolate. Has a pale green coating that is likely mold.

Secco - Prosecco Cordial ◆Light brown wrapper with black stitch pattern. ◇A punch of pure sugar concealed in a hard gemstone shell. Raw, maddeningly sweet, instant tooth damage. Pairs amazingly with green tea, somehow. By the way, chocolate is bad for dogs.

Doppio - Checkerboard Cookie ◆Pink wrapper with purple and green checks. ◇Seems to be both chocolate and vanilla, actually tastes more like berry. Sweet and cute in appearance, with little cartoon frogs etched into each square, but is likely to chip a tooth. Not a telephone.

Diavolo - Dark Chocolate Ganache ◆Dark red wrapper with gold lattice pattern. ◇The ultimate sin. All the decadent, devilish delights of hell melted down to candy form, topped with dark chocolate horns. This chocolate really is monstrously evil and addictive. You'll relive the experience of it over and over... forever.

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Zucchero - White Chocolate ◆Light green wrapper with white spirals. ◇In the shape of a snail shell. Pale, sugary sweet and very soft, almost gelatin-like. The inside is strangely hollow and airy, seems to deflate when you eat it. Pairs nice with something spicy.

Sale - Chile Chocolate ◆Metallic orange wrapper with red stars. ◇Star-shaped with a dark red chile coating. Dry, salty and fiercely spicy. Pieces somehow get stuck in your mouth and burn like hell. Pairs best with white chocolate.

Luca - Pumpkin Spice ◆Metallic brown wrapper with green leaves. ◇Tastes fresh from an autumn garden, where the bodies definitely aren't hidden. Sweet at first, but has a sudden spiciness that hits you directly in the brain. Don't worry, the gaping hole in your noggin will go away. Eventually.

Scolippi - 100% Cacao ◆Stone grey wrapper. ◇Beware the astounding bitterness of the cold hard truth. The ghost of your decision to eat this will haunt you for the rest of your life. Hits your taste buds like a storm of rocks, but you'll never stop thinking about it.

Polpo - Squid Ink ◆Black wrapper with yellow squid logo. ◇Controversial, but proud of how weird it is. Is that a tentacle in the middle? Tastes like regular chocolate that's been sitting in the darkness of a musty bedroom for too long. PS: Try the new banana variant!

[chanoyu-to-wa]

Nampō Roku, Book 7 (68):  Serving Shōro [松露] During the Meal.

68) During the meal service, shōro [松露] were [sometimes] brought out¹.  This was a famous item [harvested] from the pine-barrens [around Hakata]².  [Ri]kyū was taught how to prepare them by an old man from the area -- because, among the various kinds of plants, there are some that are poisonous [so one must always be careful in this regard, especially when visiting an unfamiliar area]; [however, the old man told Rikyū that] shōro contain nothing poisonous³.

    Regardless of whether they are large or small, they are [first] lightly scored with a blade; and after being boiled [in broth], they should be eaten⁴.

    Because they can spoil easily, cases where [the shōro] have been infiltrated by rot must be identified, so it is said⁵.  That [spoiling] is certainly a possibility⁶.

    As for this old man, he was well known as the first chef of the port of Hakata; and this person was called Kamichi Tōgo.  He also practiced tea -- such was [Ri]kyū’s story⁷.

_________________________

¹Ryōri ni shōro wo dasu　[料理ニ松露ヲ出ス].

    Shōro [松露] is the Japanese name for the ectomycorrhizal fungus (a fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots of certain species of trees -- in this case Pinus thunbergii, the Japanese black pine, which populates the seaside pine-barrens of Kyūshū*) Rhizopogon roseolus, generally classified as a sort of truffle.  The truffle is the fruiting-body of the fungus.

    Immature shōro (which are considered more desirable) are pure white inside, while the mature truffles range from pink to reddish-brown to a pale violet-pink.  This variety of truffle can be up to 1-sun in diameter.

    When used as food, the truffles are washed with diluted salt water†, scored with a blade or sliced, and then either boiled in broth (as one ingredient in the nimono [煮物] course), grilled with salt (served as the yaki-mono [燒き物] course), or added to chawan-mushi [茶碗蒸し] (as the mushi-mono [蒸し物], served near the end of the meal‡). __________ *In the uplands, Rhizopogon roseolus is also associated with Pinus densiflora, the Japanese red pine.

†Apparently to disinfect the shōro, since they grew underground (and so would be considered inherently unclean).

    Saltwater, the reader will recall, was also used to disinfect the floor of the setchin.

    Apparently actual seawater was preferred for such purposes -- though it could be fabricated artificially by dissolving a quantity of sea salt in warm water, in places where natural seawater was not available locally.

‡In the more elaborate version of kaiseki-ryōri that became popular during the Edo period (and remains the usual way to serve this meal today).

²Ka no matsu-bara no meibutsu nari　[カノ松原ノ名物也].

    Ka no matsu-bara [かの松原], “those pine-barrens,” is referring to  the pine-barrens in the area of Hakata.

    Ka no matsu-bara meibutsu nari [かの松原の名物なり] means (the shōro) are a specialty of the pine-barrens of that area.

³Tokoro no rōjin, Kyū ni oshie-mōshikeru ha, subete kusabera-no-rui doku ari, shōro doku-nashi　[所ノ老人、休ニ教ヘ申ケルハ、スベテクサベラノ類毒アリ、松露毒ナシ].

    Tokoro no rojin [所の老人] means an old man of the area.  He was a native of Hakata.

    Kyū ni oshie-mōshikeru [休に教え申しける] means he taught Rikyū (about the shōro).

    Subete kusabera-no-rui doku ari [すべて草片の類毒あり]:  subete [すべて] means among every kind (of vegetables), within the entire category (of vegetables); kusabera-no-rui [草片の類]* means the category of vegetables that exist (referring to the seeds, roots, stems, leaves, bulbs or tubers, flowers, or fruits that could be used as vegetables); doku ari [毒あり] means poisonous (varieties) exist.

    Shōro doku-nashi [松露毒なし] means shōro have no poisons; shōro are nontoxic. ___________ *Again the kanji rui [類], which we find only in this group of entries dating from near the end of the seventeenth century.

⁴Sare-domo dai-shō tomo ni, sukoshi-zutsu katana-me wo irete, nite tabe-subeshi　[サレドモ大小トモニ、少ツヽ刀目ヲ入レテ、煮テ食スベシ].

    Sare-domo [然れども] means though (something) may be so, be things as they may -- in this case regardless of whether the shōro are large or small....

    Sukoshi-zutsu katana-me wo irete [少ずつ刀目を入れて] means the shōro are scored lightly with the blade of a knife.

    Nite [煮て] means after they have been boiled (in broth).

    Tabe-subeshi [食すべし] means they should be eaten.

⁵Shizen ni doku ni ataru ha, doku-ke komorite no koto nari to iu-iu　[自然ニ毒ニアタルハ、毒氣コモリテノコト也ト云〻].

    Because of the repeated use of doku [毒], which literally means poison, this sentence seems to contradict what we were told in footnote 3.  Here, however, doku is referring to the shōro having spoiled, having become rotten internally.

    Shizen ni doku ni ataru [自然に毒に當たるは] literally means (if the shōro) have naturally been stricken with toxicity.  Tanaka Senshō explains that this sentence means the shōro have gone bad*.

    Doku-ke komorite no koto [毒氣籠りてのこと] means that they have been infiltrated by poisons (in other words, started to deteriorate from within). __________ *In his commentary, he wrote:

Jissai, yo mo kono shōro wo chanoyu ni shiyō-shita ga, shin-sen nari to omou-shina de mo, watte-miru to, nakami ga fushoku shite-iru mono de, wari-ai ni fuhai ga hayai.  Yue ni marude ha chotto kiken ni omowareru. Shizen, hōchō-me wo ireta no ga anzen de aru. Doku-ke komoru to iu no ha, kono fushoku no ba-ai wo iu no de ha nai ka

[実際、予も此松露を茶の湯に使用したが、新鮮なりと思ふ品でも、割って見ると、中味が腐蝕して居るもので、割合に腐敗が早い。故に丸では一寸危険に思はれる。自然、庖丁目を入れたのが安全である。毒気篭ると云ふのは、此腐蝕の場合を云ふのではないか].

    This means, “once, when I actually going to use these shōro for chanoyu, even though I thought they were fresh, when I broke one open and inspected it, the inside was rotten.  They seem to spoil relatively quickly.  For this reason they seem to be at least a little dangerous.  Naturally, if a kitchen knife is pushed in, it will be safe [since doing so will reveal if it is spoiled on the inside].  The phrase doku-ke komorite [毒氣籠りて] refers to this situation where they have begun to spoil, doesn’t it?”

    In the last sentence, Tanaka cannot help but his doubts -- occasioned by the conflict between this sentence and what we were told in footnote 3.

⁶Sa mo aru-beshi　[サモアルベシ].

    Sa mo aru-beshi [さもあるべし] means “that (the shōro’s spoiling) is something that is certainly possible” -- so they should be checked carefully.

⁷Kono rōjin ha, Hakata-no-tsu dai-ichi no hōchō-nin, Kamichi Tōgo to iu-bito ni te, cha wo mo tatetari to Kyū no monogatari nari　[コノ老人ハ、博多ノ津第一ノ庖丁人、神治藤五ト云人ニテ、茶ヲモ立タリト休ノ物語也].

    Kono rōjin [この老人は] means the old man who taught Rikyu about shōro.

    Hakata no tsu [博多の津] means in the area of Hakata port.  The focus of the city-state was its harbor, and the main thoroughfare and ceremonial route ran from the great Enkaku-ji* directly across the whole enclave to the seawall and wharves.

    Dai-ichi no hōchō-nin [第一の庖丁人] means he was the first, or most esteemed, professional chef (in Hakata).

    Kamichi Tōgo to iu hito [神治藤五と云う人] means this person was known as Kamichi Tōgo†.

    Cha wo mo tatetari [茶をも立てたり] means Kamichi Tōgo also practiced chanoyu.

    To Kyū no monogatari nari [と休の物語なり] means this‡ was Rikyū’s story. __________ *According to Kanshū oshō-sama, the original Enkaku-ji stood on the site currently occupied by the Hakata train station.  The temple was burned down by the Imperial Army in the 1930s, apparently in retaliation for the refusal of the Abbot to hand over the original copy of the Nampō Roku.  (The Shū-un-an, at the Nanshū-ji in Sakai, was looted and burned down, again by the Imperial Army -- according to the highly placed monks I spoke with there -- around the same time.)

    The current Enkaku-ji was rebuilt during the 1950s, on ground obtained from the neighboring Shōfuku-ji (originally the parcel of land was a graveyard for non-tonsured individuals affiliated with the temple; it was located outside the temple walls).

†Shibayama Fugen’s toku-shu shahon gives his name as Kaminoya Jitōgo [神野治藤五].

    Tanaka, meanwhile, completely discredits Kamichi (as the name is written in the Enkaku-ji text), concluding that the family name should be pronounced either Kamiya or Kaminoya.  However, he also adds that, as a personal name, Jitōgo [治藤五] sounds very strange -- though he does not really offer us any alternatives.

‡Probably referring to the entire episode that is discussed in this entry; though, grammatically, it could simply refer to the statement that Kamichi Tōgo (or Kaminoya Jitōgo) practiced chanoyu.