Happee Monkee

I’ve been in Japan for four weeks now. Time sure flies. Sigh, yes, I do wonder where it all went. I was walking in Roppongi several weeks ago and I was intrigued by a large cooking school smacked in the middle of a shopping/ business complex. It didn’t look like it was for professionals but [...]

I’ve been curious of macarons for a long, long time. Long before MasterChef. Long before I visited Paris. I first spied it on Tastespotting – these curious, delightful, adorable, colourful little things – and liked what I saw (I’m so visual that I first eat my food by sight). Years passed and I had read [...]

It’s hot here in Malaysia and I’m just getting used to being sticky and smelly. I’m sitting in my childhood room, with me and my laptop on the bed feeling a little chillied out. It’s only my second day home but my tummy is already suffering a slight burn. I forget how much of the [...]

I decided to walk home from work on Monday. It was a gorgeous winter’s day and since it was only 3pm, there was plenty of time until the shops closed. I took a different route and scoured interesting looking shops. I love charming boutique stores with sit-and-sip neighbourhood cafes with little dogs sitting patiently at [...]

Wow, it’s been a while since I added a new post. Winter has only a month to go before spring arrives and I’ll be on a long vacation. A couple of weeks ago I sent an S.O.S. into the blogosphere inviting other food bloggers to write on Happee Monkee. Adriana from Baking Powders kindly obliged [...]

Making taro cake reminds me of when the women-folk in my family come together and chatter. My grandmother would be there, along with my mother’s sisters, and together they would do whatever women do best in a group – gossip. Someone would always bring up the past, and they would reminiscent of good and tough [...]

Have you seen or heard of the Umbilical Brothers? HOoooly Gabooshes, they are AWESOME! We came home from watching Hello Dolly the musical (another awesome production) and found The Umbilical Brothers on. You have to watch them live or on DVD when you get the chance. However, they aren’t very politically correct. In fact, they [...]

I’m going to do some shameless advertising now: … … … I need guest bloggers. There. I’ve said it. You see, I’m … (a) leaving for Malaysia/ Bali for a break and there will be a point where I will not be able to find the time/ motivation to blog and it’ll be sooooo quiet [...]

Today marks the first day of my niece’s life on earth.  Her parents have decided to name her Jolie, the french word for pretty. I haven’t met her and I can’t wait to. My first time as an aunt was when I was about 20 years-old and it’s 10 years since Bryan was born. Then [...]

This is The-Pie-That-Got-Away. It was one of my most beautiful creations. Like Gepetto, I was floating with pride and I wouldn’t let anyone touch it (at least until the next day to be photographed). I sighed after it. I lovingly gazed at it. I thought it was perfect from crust to the pointy tips of [...]