從去年七月開始戴隱適美，不知不覺已過了一年。跟牙醫師做初步諮詢時，原本預計要戴二至三年才能達成矯正目標，沒想到過程非常順利，才一年就即將要結束療程。這次的體驗和效果都非常令人滿意（甚至有不少驚喜的部分），想把細節分享在這裡，給也許在考慮隱適美但仍猶豫不決的你。
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” 也不是特別刻意，但從去年末到今年初這段期間自然而然地讓自己下了線，在家烤甜點（原味和茶味 scones）、讀完一本書（”A Gentleman in Moscow”)、看了幾部電影（推薦 “Marriage Story”）。也花了一些時間，回顧了剛過去的這一年以及這十年。 仔細想想，發生了不少事情。 2009年。 大學畢業，從美國搬到上海，進入一家世界500強的美商公司做 MT。剛入職時經歷了在炎夏里騎腳踏車沿街推銷的銷售培訓，遇過直接將我的名片扔到門外的店家、也碰過請我坐下來吃冰淇淋聊政治的老闆。還記得某天在送貨時摔了一跤，貨散了，車頭也歪了，也只能爬起來拍拍屁股繼續往前。 後來進入公司總部做策略分析，花大把的時間與 Excel 和 Powerpoint 奮鬥，提著電腦四處奔波與客戶開會，飛北京深圳等大城市，也去湖南湘潭這樣的小地方，覺得這樣忙碌的自己似乎有點厲害。 不過逐漸地，在成為職業女強人的路上，我發現這條路不是我的。以為會沿著 corporate ladder 一步步往上爬，某天成為跨國大企業的 CEO，但坐在辦公室里打著電腦、在會議室里聽著同事爭論時，卻有 “我不應該出現在這里” 的強烈想法，像跑馬燈一樣在腦海裡來回循環。 2012年。 於是辭職，搬去了巴黎。 事後想想，真的很感謝當年的自己做了這個決定（過程在微信公眾號上分享過）。抵達人生地不熟的城市，一切從零開始，用當時還非常破爛的法語去銀行開戶、租房子、交朋友…然後，一頭栽入如萬花筒般精彩絕倫的甜點世界。 那真的是相當瘋狂的三年時光！ 每天都圍繞著甜點打轉。不是在做甜點，就是在構思甜點，或者去其他店裡吃別人創作的甜點，並巨細靡遺地將嘗過的味道記錄在部落格上。進入 Ferrandi-Paris 餐飲學院從打掃開始學起，經歷了廚房食物鏈里最底層的實習、正式成為甜點師、每天凌晨2:30起床、也有在米其林餐廳每天被主廚罵的日子。手上的傷總是舊的不去新的就來，但覺得穿著廚衣的自己相當帥氣，每學到一樣新東西就覺得離夢想更接近一步，絕對辛苦、但也真心快樂。 以前坐辦公室，才上班就想下班，才周一就想周五；在甜點廚房則完全相反，因為渴望多看、多學，甚至跟 chef 毛遂自薦要多上一天班（而且是晚上11點的大夜班），沒有加班費也毫無所謂。 一個人在國外，不論是生活或工作上難免遇到大小難題，有時覺得累，覺得想家，也曾在被窩里哭過。但說到底沒什麼解決不了的事，也沒有什麼一定必須如此的事，總之問題來一個解決一個。當時的感受：人生就是不停的過關斬將，不斷的 level up。…Continue Reading “2009 vs. 2019 十年的人生回顧”
Some thoughts after 6 months of getting back to full time pastry kitchen work.
![[Kyushu] Garden Terrace Miyazaki](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/L1164417.jpg)
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Garden Terrace Miyazaki
Add: 247-18 Shimoharacho, Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture
Tel: 0985-73-8888
Website: www.gt-miyazaki.co.jp
Price: 37,000~57,000 yen/night
Visited: Oct 2016
Please note that this was a complimentary stay arranged by the hotel.
Our last stop in Kyushu was Miyazaki, where we stayed at a most beautiful and serene hotel designed by famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Located on the site of a former factory, Garden Terrace Miyazaki is sheltered by a timber canopy, and entering its bamboo premises automatically imbues one with a sense of tranquility. How did I find out about this low profile hotel, you ask? Well, a friend had stayed at Garden Terrace Nagasaki (also designed by Kengo Kuma) on a recent trip and really loved it, and after doing some research I found out that it has a sister hotel in Miyazaki, and decided to give it a try…
Upon entering the hotel, we were first left upstairs to the second floor lounge for check-in. This space also functions as a club lounge for hotel guests, with complimentary snacks, drinks, and a small library.
I just finished a fun little project with Perrier-Jouët designing a Valentine’s dessert for their Blason Rosé. This is a gorgeous rose champagne with lovely notes of red fruits, so I decided to make a light strawberry cheesecake for the pairing. It’s a rare cheesecake that doesn’t need to be baked, the flavor and texture both heavenly light, combined with fresh strawberries and a hint of rose, it’s just perfect.
So, what do we need to make this strawberry cheesecake?
For the bottom:
- Cookie crumbs…100g
- Melted butter…10g
Procedure:
1. Mix cookie crumbs with melted butter and press the mixture at the bottom of the cake mold. I used house-baked cookies to make the crumbs, but you can simply buy graham crackers for this purpose.
2. Slice strawberries in half and arrange them neatly along the inside of the cake mold. Don’t forget to line the cake mold with clear plastic for easier unmolding later on.
![[Shanghai] Outmoded+ 極置家居](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/L1125187.jpg)
Outmoded+ 極置家居
Add: 141 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu / 复兴西路141号, 近永福路
Tel: 6054 2338 / 13816823632
Hours: 1:30-8pm
Website: www.weibo.com/outmodedplus
Visited: Feb 2015
I have been following Outmoded+ on weibo for a while and have always loved the tasteful interior design and decoration photos he shares. The style is very consistent – a short description followed by nine photos, always beautiful in composition. Only this time in Shanghai did I find out that the weibo writer, an interior designer himself, actually has a charming boutique on Fuxing Xi Lu displaying furniture, light fixtures, and random knickknacks, collected mostly from Europe. Whether you are looking to decorate your apartment or just want to look at some pretty things, this would be a lovely place to drop by.
![[Shanghai] Ataraxia Studio](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Untitled-4.jpg)
Ataraxia Studio
Add: Alley 351 Huashan Lu, No 19, 1F / 华山路 351弄19号1楼
Tel: 6271 6901
Hours: [Fri] 2-5pm [Sat-Sun] 1-5pm (closed Mon-Thu)
Price: 50RMB/coffee
Visited: Jan 2015
I haven’t visited Shanghai since moving to Paris in 2012, and upon returning two and a half years later, I’m delighted to find the city blossoming with not just hip new restaurants, but also small shops with their own attitudes. Ataraxia Studio, opened about 6 months ago in August 2014, is one such charming spot. Tucked all the way in the innermost corner of 351 Huashan Lu, this space houses a collection of tableware and furniture, many of which hand-carried back from Japan. The owner is a Shanghainese man who calls himself 管家 (the housekeeper), an interior/space designer who travels to Japan 6-7 times a year because he is so enamored with the culture and lifestyle there. His day job keeps him busy and brings in enough money so he can afford to open Ataraxia Studio only 3 days a week (Fri-Sun). It’s not really advertised, but he will also brew you a lovely cup of coffee from his next door kitchen if you’d like.
That’s right. But what for? Time for a little Q&A session… Woa, why are you moving to Paris? To learn baking and pastry arts. You know, tarts, cakes, breads, chocolates, ice-creams, all that sweet stuff. That’s kind of random. How did this decision come about? Random? Not really. I’ve always loved eating and making desserts, and…Continue Reading “Sugared & Spiced is moving…to Paris?!”
![[Shanghai] Mr. V](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Untitled-24.jpg)
Mr. V
Add: 93-C Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Xinle Lu / 襄阳北路93-C号，近新乐路
Tel: 6417 9928
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 9:30am-8pm [Sat-Sun] 10am-8pm
Website: www.mrvbanh-mi.com
Price: [banh mi] 25~37RMB [drinks] 10~32RMB [sets] 40~52RMB
Visited: May 2012
Please note that this is an arranged tasting.
Mr. V is not much more than a tiny stall with a tiny patio, but from its kitchen out pours some authentic Vietnamese sandwiches (a.k.a. banh mi) with traditional Vietnamese drinks to match. Could this be your new favorite lunch delivery?
