Baking Recipe: Caramel Pear Cheesecake or Tart or Pie

Oh look! Is that a cheesecake, nope I think it's a tart, or maybe a pie?!?!. Gosh.. I give up. Either way you look at it, I only have one word to sum it up.. Delish!! Don't you just love the combination of caramel and pear? Then add some fluffy cream cheese and to take the sweetness level down a notch, the caramel pear cheesecake is paired with an aromatic light gingersnap cookie base.

To digress for a bit before I jump down to just talking about food, how many of you follow the TV reality series The Bachelor or The Bachelorette? Honestly, I don't follow but I do watch it once a while when I am completely bored out of my mind. That got me thinking.. "Really?? Can people find their soul mate and love by just smooching or chatting to every single gal or guy???.. for real.. can you just find love in just 9 weeks or is it close to 3 months? All of the gals or dudes looks too good to be true right? Then pop the biggest question where I think most people would take forever until they are ultra sure about it". Call me a skeptic.. but my optimism level could only go so far sometimes. Hmmmph.. anyways that is just my crazy mind talking and I do think the latest bachelor, Ben Flajnik is pretty cute, nerdy cute? He's a wine maker from Sonoma. Not bad eh? Doesn't he reminds you a little like Josh Groban? Those dark wavy hair and 'innocent' eyes? I am beginning to think that I admire a certain type of man. Anyways, we shall see who's the lucky gal. Okay enough of my gibberish thoughts..

It was time I gave a spin to using digestives. Instead, I opted for gingersnap cookies and yes, they do sound slightly festive, but hey! I think I just found a way for you to switch up your gingersnaps. Sick and bored over with your Christmas cookies, make them into another dessert. Don't toss them out. Reading through my post right now, I sound like an info-mercial. LOL..

For recipe: Click on image + zoom

For those of you who cringe just thinking of gingersnaps, well don't. This is year 2012, time to open up to possibilities and new beginnings. I may not be overly crazy on gingersnaps, but I think I found a way to tone down the ginger-y taste by slathering a wicked amount of soft caramel spread bought from La Boulangerie. Their caramel spread is ultra smooth and soft. So soft that it was seriously tempting me to dip my finger into the jar just to feel the smooth texture.

Till then, and have you been keeping up to your New Year 2012 resolution? As for myself? I say "What resolution?!?!.. Just Live Life and Let Good Music Move You!!"

xx

Travel: Meeting Nami from Just One Cookbook and Japantown (8th November, 2011)

I am so excited to share with you this post as I have been planning this a long time with Nami @ Just One Cookbook. I'm sure her name is NO stranger to all of you food bloggers. If you don't know her, no worries. It's time for me to introduce her to you and do pop over her lovely website for some wicked Japanese and other Asian dishes recipes. Her recipes and step by step photos are easy to follow for any of you who is interested in Asian dishes.

Nami & Myself

A little about Nami and how it all began. I spontaneously dropped Nami an e-mail wondering if she will be attending Foodbuzz Festival 2011 and asked if she would love to meet up. Of course I looped in Elisabeth in this meet up as Elisabeth was staying back in SF for another 2 days. When she replied my e-mail, I was thrilled to know that she agreed to meet. So many e-mails sent to one another back and forth, and we nearly didn't even have the chance to meet up as Nami's daugther suddenly caught a cold. Nevertheless, all went well even though it was only for two hours and the meet up session was on.

The moment of meet, greet and get to know one another has left me constantly thinking of her. Few words to sum up Nami. She's a real sweet lady, courteous and genuinely friendly. I am truly honoured to have met her. Wished we had more time right Nami?

Elisabeth & Myself

Naturally, we went to a nearby bakery, have a cuppa and some freshly oven baked pastries and chat away. We walked to La Boulange Bakery, a French inspired bakery which is about 2-3  blocks walk up hill from Hotel Tomo.

It's like a "halo" shining above the sweet treats.. oh! my..



Left to Right: Cherry Raspberry, Hazelnut, Lemon, Chocolate, Coffee, Strawberry, Vanilla, Passionfruit Mango

I just couldn't resist. Had to snag a juicy plump tuna cheddar sandwich and box of  french macarons to try. I really liked them a lot. Especially the tuna sandwich. Maybe because it's one of my favourite sandwich of all time and it is served in a sour dough bun. A perfect breakfast of quick lunch. Delish!

Oh! I nearly forgot to tell you that I checked Elisabeth and myself into Hotel Tomo, in Japantown. To be specific it's located on 1800, Sutter Street. This is quite a quirky hotel, where each room interior decor is inspired between a cross of  what you see in IKEA with some hint of Japanese element.

Just another random shot I snapped..

Simple, comfortable, clean line furniture adorn the room. The focal wall on each room has a different anime themed wall paper. That to me was the unique part of the room. Plus after much hotel review reading from Trip Advisor, this hotel is highly recommended by a lot of families with children as they have a stay quiet along the corridors starting at 11:00pm policy and the area is generally a safe neighbourhood. Do take a note of this though. Hotel Tomo is not located in the middle of the city. There's a bus stop right outside the hotel and, you can take bus no. 2 or 3 which takes you down back to the city. Alternatively, you just walk 2 blocks to the right of the hotel towards Filmore Street and grab a bus no. 22 which takes you to Union Street, or all the way to Chestnut Street. There are lots to do and my favourite past time, is trying new food places. If I were to choose, I wouldn't mind staying in Hotel Tomo the next time round while I am in San Francisco. The staff is friendly and I am fortunate enough to have become close friends with Larissa, who's the customer service hotel manager. She a real sweet heart and we did manage to squeeze in some food adventure. Larissa, if you are reading this post, this is a shout out to you too!

Well, I hope you peeps have enjoyed my San Francisco posts so far. There are a couple more to go.. and I think those will interest you a lot too. Till then!!

xx