Woody Allen doesn’t just make comedies. Interiors is a serious, sombre look at the disintegration of an upper middle class family in New York. It is slow, austere and really goddamn sad. There is never any excess showing of emotion. In fact, all the characters hide everything, behind facades, under their behaviour and beneath their words. Color is so significant in the film. 99% of it is beige and grey or black and bits of white. (So me right now!) There’s only one character that is a counterpoint to everything else in the film, a sore thumb that markedly provides the contrast element as well as some semblance of humanity and sanity. Then there’s the lighting, always in the shadows. Anytime light is allowed, it feels like it’s showing you something you don’t want to see. Otherwise the characters live amongst the cobwebs, afraid of facing real life like vampires brooding at the rising sun. It’s so gloomy and difficult and wordy I had so much trouble at the start. But once it all started falling into place, I was sucked in until the end, a quiet whisper like death coming in the night. I didn’t even know it had ended.

Geraldine Page plays Eve, the character for whom the title is referring. She’s an interior designer who’s gone off the edge after her husband announces a trial separation. She’s got severe OCD, wanting to direct everything in her life, orchestrating, like a puppet master handling her children. She’s also suicidal, thinking that life is no longer worth living because it seems like it’s outta control. It’s devastating her 3 daughters and her poor husband who just want to get on but cannot find the release. The tenuous relationships between these characters seem to be creaking severely and it’s clear that everything’s gonna fall apart. All around each person, things don’t seem to be going right. Every interaction and plot element seems to point at the failure of this family. Why I don’t really know but it just is. It’s pretty bleak but pretty, if you like the cold, barrenness of life as I do. God, I hope I don’t become Eve.

It’s tough to get through the dialogue. I reckon much of it sounds somewhat pretentious but it’s necessary in depicting the characters and their self-absorbed “problems”, most of which are their own doing. Their dysfunction seems to rip everything apart and they almost seem to revel in being tortured and depressed. It’s almost nauseating to watch. Their on screen emotional turmoil is so disturbingly quiet and calm on the surface, but inside, it’s all asunder. Yet, I kept wondering why, why, why. Why put me through this near pointless exercise in a study of human emotions or lack thereof? A vacancy flailing at something but I’m not sure what.

I think the steez is uber though. Check out Eve in an awesome “ice gray” suit thing and then later in repose, prepped for death. If you look closely, there’s black tape sealing the gaps in the windows, all part of her plan to die by gas inhalation. Everything about her suggests she’s some sort of mournful soul that’s waiting for the grim reaper to take her. The excessive neatness of her hair, kept long in a bun and with a side parting made me think of the early Shakers, who happen to relate directly to her occupation. The last pic is the final scene, a closeup with each sister entering from the sides, all facing the right, wondering what to make of themselves now that they’re finally free.

Rose Bay is about 10 or 15 minutes from the city, away from the hustle and bustle and the hoons but it doesn’t display too much opulence despite its reputation as a well to do neighborhood. It’s understated, until you realize that those houses are actually really massive and there’s quite a lot of boats on the water. Still, you don’t notice it.

Pier sits atop an actual pier, jutting out onto Rose Bay itself. Glass lining either side, it’s incredibly subtle and elegant. On first glance, you wouldn’t think it’s necessarily home to a 3 hat diner. No you have to notice the idea behind how it’s sited and how it’s designed around the location itself. You’re dining almost out on the water, with a view that’s nondescript and perhaps unspectacular. You’re not going to see the opera house bathed in the glow of the city lights. It’s just a rather tranquil, minimalist approach to a restaurant. You feel like you’re almost on the water, but you’re completely dry. At once caught in some wonderful intermediary between land and sea, natural and man made.

Which is Pier from start to finish, every minutiae, every detail, every nuance. Some people won’t get it at all. They want the fireworks and the pizazz and the big bangs and the foams and the sperificacions and service that sucks up or whatever. No. Pier is for the people who appreciate the simple, underappreciated things in life. The delicate lightness of being. A certain refined sense of life beyond the ordinary brusqueness with which we approach things.

I suppose my opinion is clouded by several factors. One. I’ve just graduated culinary college and my parents came over for a visit. Two. I didn’t pay a cent HHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Three. I love seafood. Four. I’m into this quiet, suppressed expressionist vibe right now. Even then, you’d have to be really thick to not appreciate the flavors and the beauty on the plate.

I’m greeted by the waitstaff by name, a pleasant little surprise despite the obviousness of the situation. It shows I was expected and that they care. We sit at the table and get some still water whilst we browse the menu. As we eat, the restaurant fills up half full. Yet, they purposely keep all the customers on one side of the long room, allowing the other side to retain an unspoiled view of the boats on the bay awash in the light of the setting sun. Like a fading vesper hinting at what was to come.

We opted for the 8 course degu. With matching wines. Plus 6 oysters each. 3 rock, 3 coffin bay. Plus coffee. Damages were insane. Yet, it felt completely worth it. It was, I must confess, the best meal I have had to this point in my life. I sincerely hope it will not be the best ever. I know there is even better. Yet, I still feel Pier deserves its place in the culinary world as something beautiful and something I can truly appreciate. It’s so me. The fact that it’s seafood, the delicate nature, the thoughtfulness, the attention to detail… It’s no mind altering experience but it’s what a really awesome restaurant should be.

We start with oysters. I devour them before I remember to pull my camera. I went from left to right, rock then coffin then rock and so on. Starting au naturel, then adding lemon then mignonette at the end. They’re superbly fresh. But they’re also just oysters. I want moar!!!

First course was a canape straight from Thomas Keller. King salmon tartare with capers sitting on a cone made of wonton skin. The variation being the wonton skin swopped for the tuile in Keller’s original. The fish is fresh, you can tell with each firm little bite, despite the fact that it’s tiny little cubes. The capers lend this saltiness that is intended. As a palate opener and not as a dish in its own right. I realize this only after the meal. The ultra crisp wonton skin also adds to that effect as the gustatory actions are driven into work and attention. One side detail were the holders for these. Ours came in a set of three, whilst the people dining at other tables had a holder specifically designed for 2 cones because they were a couple. Another group had 2 sets of 2. If it were a holder with 4 cones, they’d have to pass it around, which would be silly.

2nd course was Carpaccio of John Dory with Tomato, Lime Vinaigrette, Cracked White Pepper and Soft Herbs. I loved the presentation. It led you on to start from the outside, untouched fish to the slices sitting within the dressing, giving the dish a certain evolution of flavor as you went along. It was delightful. I flipped each slice into a tiny little packet and placed it into the orifice. It is deceptively simple. Once in the mouth, you get a full burst of fish and herbs, brought on in no small part with a good dose of sea salt. The John Dory just strong enough to handle the herbs and still dominate in its own right. When I got to the dressing, it simply transgressed to the next level. The lime brightening up the palate and the oil helping the flavors to linger in the mouth just that bit longer. Every single apprehension I had was wiped away. Immediately I realized this was going to be so freakin’ awesome. I suppose it helped immensely that we started with a biggish white. A 2007 Castro Martin Albarino from Rias Baixas in Spain. Peaches and apples. Perfectly complimentary to the dish and so drinkable on its own.

3rd course. Tian of Spanner Crab with Scallop Ceviche, Pea Salad and Pea Jus. This upped the ante. The crab was sweet and tender. Delightful little morsels amplified in flavor with the very similar sweetness from the fresh peas. These were unbelievable. Then you get the textural link, with the crab and the pea jus provided a similar, brushy/hairy feeling at the top of the mouth. The scallop provided contrast with its smooth slickness. Then the matching Sauvignon Blanc gave it just the right acid kick.

4th course. Pan Roasted Scallops with Sauteed Veal Sweetbreads, Shimeji Mushrooms & Cauliflower Tofu. I usually baulk at repeat ingredients but this scallop and the one before felt like alternate universes. This was a course in full texture with increasing flavor. Perfectly roasted scallops just browned on the outside were given a splendid depth from the richness of the sweetbread and the savoryness of the mushroom jus. The cauliflower tofu reflected the scallops even more so and felt similar to the matching wine. Here, the wine matched in terms of viscosity, rather than flavor as the principle. Interesting and incredibly delicious.

5th course. Crispy Skinned Murray Cod wth Caramelised Witlof, Jamon Serrano, Dutch Carrots and Bitter Orange. Iberico would have swamped the fish, overpowering it. The mildly bitter/astringent aspect from the witlof and orange was countered by the fact that they were also sweet. The carrots also provided another sweet accent, only in high contrast crunchy versus creamy puree. The puree itself was beautifully scented with orange. The dish was sublime. A perfect marriage of multiple textures and flavors that seemed like a cohesive whole. Another added extra was the unremarkable pinot noir that lifted the dish all the more. Most whites would not have been able to take on the mantle this dish proffers. This dish exemplifies how well the sommelier works with head chefs Greg Doyle and Grant King.

6th course. This merged the savory and sweet worlds. Roquefort Cheesecake with Pear Gel, Celery, Maple Syrup, Fig and Grissini Sticks. I can’t explain fully why there isn’t a hint of blue in the cheese. Or how the thing was so damn good. Suffice to say that it was so damn good. The orangey dessert wine that went with this was phenom.

7th Course. A light as air Carrot Sponge. Possibly an aerated genoise served with some cream cheese, peanuts and cream cheese frosting. I remember the frosting having a sherbet-esque taste and how the sponge was lighter than souffle. Excuses for the blur photo! As an exercise in lightness, this was perfect, given we were almost at the end and getting full. Yet, despite the near nothingness, it was still full on flavor.

Last and final course. A spectacular finish from Katrina Kanetani. Rum Braised Bananas with Rum Sponge, Coconut Sorbet, Almond Brittle, Cocoa Powder and Tamarind Jelly. Resplendent in its marriage of textures, flavors and presented amazingly. This is one where you need a little bit of everything in one awesome mouthful. This came with a Chenin Blanc but I swiped that mostly with the carrot cake already!

And to finish for good, a cappuccino with some orange marshmallows!

Thanks Mom & Dad!

I probably should get the entire Woody Allen catalogue. 2 films in and I’m worried I want to become him, the wry wit and dry humor, the intellect, the style, the neuroses, the dating 17 year olds… At least that’s what he does in Manhattan, not what I want to do.

I love the film and I’m actually still only halfway through but I figure I’d write about it because I don’t need to see the finish to appreciate it. It’s good. I love the space. I love the black and white. If you wanted to know what NY was, you don’t gotta get some Lonely Planet or a wallpaper* guidebook. You should just watch this movie. It distills the essence of the city into a beautiful, poignant film about romance and the fickle attitude with which humans go about their lives in the concrete jungle of jungles.

I love the opening scene with the Gershwin and Allen narrating about how he’s going to open on his new book about the city. It’s splendid, dry and incisive. Makes me wanna drop everything and get a loft. Like the one scene where he’s talking to his 17 year old lover in his apartment. Because the film is shot in super widescreen, you get a full on view of everything and the city itself becomes a character. In the scene I’m talking about, the 2 characters are moving around within the apartment but the camera is still and they go from right to left to left to right, talking about their relationship and how silly it is. Then they finally exit through the circular stairs, brilliantly lit in the shot and utterly drawing in the sense of space and architecture that makes the city what it is. This is a scene which explains why loft living is so NY.

Then there’s the restaurants and the inimitable NY accents on a variety of people. I love how everyone’s busy, going to art shows, getting caught in the rain in central park, going to black tie events… Everyone’s rich and dapper and cool and interesting and they rattle on pretentiously about various personalities. So vacant, so existential, yet very modern and spirited.

Maybe in 10 years, I’ll get an address with a 10001 zip code.

I just caught a trailer of this documentary, which resembles 2001: A Space Odyssey in spirit. Koolhaas Houselife is basically a film by Ila Beka and Louise Lemoine, which follows the life of a housekeeper in one of the Dutchman’s houses in France.

Designed by OMA and built in 1998, the Maison a Bordeaux is in Bordeaux. That bit of nifty info came from my superior analytical ability. Its set on a hill and conceptually, its 3 houses in one, linked by a giant moving mechanical lift with no sides, moving very cleanly throughout. You can see that and much more in the following trailers.

One of Singapore’s most iconic buildings, the Pearlbank Apartments has been facing the threat of an enbloc sale for a good while now. In light of this, the building has also garnered particular attention from foreign press, including Wallpaper* and Form. My mate chanced upon this at Borders the other day flippin thru mags and alerted me.

As seen in Wallpaper*.

The interior view.

Once “the tallest apartment black in Southeast Asia”, the Pearlbank Apartments is a building that doesn’t deserve the ignominy of demolition. On the one hand, its really unique, being quite old but quite cool, something you would never associate with Singapore architecture much at all. The fact that its over 30 odd years old is testament to its longevity and character.

Also, if it ever goes enbloc, there is also the universal dread of it being replaced by a monstrosity that will look like shit, much like the other 90% of buildings in our tiny island nation. Corporate, faceless and probably really really ugly.

Stop the enblock party please.

When I can, I love to travel. Just something about a sense of temporary migration that appeals to the soul. Or perhaps a malfunctioning, obsolete gene forcing its way into my subconscious. Either way, that feeling was one reason why I found myself popping into a plane and flying up to the Gold Coast for 5 days before the ANZAC weekend. That and a lady friend of course.

The Cool Gray Coast.

The last time I went to the Gold Coast, I was 14 or 15 and dying to see the famed uncovered boobies that abound Australian beaches. Unfortunately, we didn’t even really go to the beach on our tour. I had the double misfortune of going on holiday with my parents and going on holiday with my parents in a package tour. Which pretty much meant I didn’t get to see the famed beach of boobies. Which sucks when you’re 14 or 15 and dying to see boobies after a decade and a half of conservative Asian appropriation.

I still didn’t get to see what I’d come to see half a lifetime ago as the pic above testifies. The fact that it was fall was probably to my undoing. It was pretty blustery down at the beach, which was a lovely long stretch, juxtaposed by a slew of tall buildings behind.

That’s the thing about the Gold Coast. It’s really just a long stretch of lovely sand beaches and not much else. Everything else is pretty much man made and man made for tourism. The place felt like what Vegas would be if it were at the beach. Tacky neon lights aplenty lit up the nighttime, which had an atmosphere perpetrated by the smell of tourists and an easy dollar. It was pretty much otherwise, quite dead. I would surmise summertime would be immensely more crowded with even more tourists and yet still retain a certain vacancy, even if it were diminished by the howls of obnoxious babies and children of parents who bring their kids on holiday.

Daytime was spent pretty much going for breakfast and then hitting a theme park before coming back for a nap, then dinner and bedtime. Sounds boring, I know. It wasn’t really. I enjoyed the theme parks and the lounging around. I’m not quite the party animal. Meals were largely terrible though. The theme parks serve expensive fast food that sucks whilst Surfer’s Paradise was filled with sub par restaurants. I knew there were probably better places to eat but unfortunately, I didn’t get to go to anywhere close to that. Instead, I relented to subjecting my tastebuds to mediocre and paltry experiences, safe in the knowledge that I’d get back to Sydney soon enough.

The Superman ride @ Movieworld.

The theme parks though, are fun enough. Movieworld is an ok pastiche of Warner Brothers related stuff, filled with stores and decent rides. The one above revolves around this idea of you getting into a train there being some kind of accident, only for you to get saved by… Superman himself, who pushes the train at lightspeed out of the tunnel and into the light. That initial blast apparently takes you to 4.2Gs because its superfast, then you drop immediately after, like 85 degrees or so. Its the biggest vertical loop you can see in the pic and whilst I neglected to include some scale references in my photo, it was high enough and fast enough to deliver a certain thrill.

Wet ‘n’ Wild was pretty fun too, basically a big waterpark, where there’s slides and tubes and water and bikinis. And the bikini’s didn’t automatically claim prominence either. Seaworld was a more languid exercise, with more marine life shows than rides. I didn’t even bother to take the coaster. I skipped out on Dreamworld and Whitewater world but I did drive and stop by for a looksee. Couple of the rides there certainly looked menacing.

On the final day of our trip, we also made a sojourn up to Tamborine Mountain, where we chanced upon a paraglider failing to take off and crashing into some kids as well as hanggliders narrowly missing some treetops. Also included was a trip to a “$1.1 million” glowworm cave, which was completely man made and about as big as a toilet in a hotel room. I then received a lecture in the help glowworms granted to cancer research and a treastise on environmentalism in a fake cave. Fascinating.

I have to say, the GC is one big bundle of bodaciousness. Between the shittiest fish n chips in the world and a barren beach, what else can could one ask for on a holiday?

Sometimes, my instincts hone me for the better by taking me to places which toughen me up. This trip has taught a valuable lesson aka “Who the fuck goes to the Gold Coast when its not Summer?”. One day, I will overcome my struggle with moron syndrome and disregard the wiles of women who tug at my sleeves in painted voices.

Melbourne was awesome. I suppose if you’re going with the perspective that you’re on holiday, then its always gonna be fun. So yea Melbourne was awesome.

I stayed at a backpackers which was alright. The only thing I really cared about was its location, right in the middle of town and within easy reach of transport and shops.

My first impressions of the city were architectural. The style is an interesting one that contrasts a distinct modernity with the older, more colonial style. Southern Cross station was quite enjoyable in this respect. Its massive and the roof resembles a dinosaur’s spine. Federation Square was pretty cool as well. A lot of the buildings certainly looked artishly modern. Sculptures were all over the place and very prominent. I remember these huge red and yellow square tubes that leaned over the highway as I left the city toward the airport. Sorry, didn’t take any pics, saving space and battery for BDO.

The mood of the city was different as well, in part due to the architecture. I was puzzled whenever I saw people driving, stuck in the middle of the street, just before they turned. I thought “Were all Melbournians such poor drivers?”. Then I realized it was their special, quaint system of turning because the middle of the roads have to allow for the trams so people have to sort of wait on the edge before turning. (Seeing it makes a lot more sense) The walkways were wide and the one thing I loved about the city was how easy a walking city it is. In contrast, Sydney is a fucking nightmare of hills. The vibe was distinctly laid back, no doubt abetted by the fact that it was Australia Day. The trams and horse carriages also lent an interesting feel to the city and everyone seemed like they were having fun.

I didn’t get to check out all the city had to offer, definitely didn’t eat at any top places but that’s all for the better, so I get to go down again hehe.

I enjoyed Espy @ St. Kilda immensely. My friend calls this “The place where any Melbourne act worth its salt goes to cut its teeth”. When I went down, I got to check out a band called Little Red, which plays with a very 50s backing melodies feel regardless of which of their 3 lead singers is on the mike. They call it Doo-Wop punk on their myspace. Very nice.

Cookie was awesome as well. Something like 15 types of absinthe and a bajillion beers just to start with. The competent bartender can also craft something special just for you. I could also just mention the fact they have Leffe and Erdinger on tap.

Shopping in general, I never got the feeling that there was just one store that was the best or anything like that. Instead, there’s just many small, cool shops and you just had to know where to go or maybe I was just clueless because I procrastinated over writing down addresses and printing a map.

Fitzroy – Nice vibe to the place. One long street, Brunswick, with some nice stores. Dropped into Fat which was the only fat I went to. Also had a kick ass Honey Pecan tart at Babka. My friend had a very impressive Tarte Tatin and I also had some very intense smoky Russian tea. The Shins played in the background as waitresses with kooky haircuts strut around. Mmm.

Flinders – Nice and tight. Chiodo was massive! Bobby’s Cuts was a nice space even if their selection of stuff was quite poor. Pity they didn’t have those YMC shoes in my size. Nice Hem & Haw stuffs there.

Alphaville – I liked this place. Their own stuff was cool.

Someday was quite lovely too, with Pam, Neigborhood stuff. I liked one of the Porter bags but didn’t feel like spending quite that much.

All in all, I loved the city and hope I’ll be back sooner rather than later. Cheers Melbourne!