Shanghai. Style. Sharks?
Chrissy And Joachim
TMSK - review
A week late! But don't worry, we had to repay for the blog, and then Blogcast shut down the site for maintenance, so we have been MIA.
Last year, we went to TMSK for Valentine's day. Then, it all seemed so hip and chic. Xintiande's TMSK is the vision of Yang Hui Shan, a former Taiwanese actress, and like her profession alludes, the place seems trendy. The bar is made of colored glass, there is a colored pool, and the seating looks like a Baroque design on acid. The food is advertised as "New-Wave Chunkiness cuisine", which translates into tuna sandwiches (wtf?) and gluten cooked with bok choy. Goodbye to last year's lobster macaroni and Kobe.
That aside, TMSK was much worse than I remembered. They must have had the lights on brighter, because everything seemed a bit torn, worn, and just...off. It wasn't the picture-esq and oh-so-modern TMSK I knew. Minus one.
The menu...failed to impress. It didn't really seem to encompass "Shanghainese food" - it was lacking too many of Shanghai's signature cuisine. It was a bland hybrid of Chinese dishes, with afterthoughts of Western tastes. There was a tuna sandwich, consisting of two pieces of white bread, tuna smear, and lettuce, there was a pizza and a sorry-looking burger. Isn't this supposed to be one of Shanghai's premier restaurants? Its not the choice they put on their menu, its the way it was executed.
bread:
NOTE: they don't serve bread for free. Weird eh? Thus, we ordered a "bread basket" and were presented with three rolls looking very lonely on a massive black plate. The bread tasted good, but this "situation" shouldn't happened. Bread should be given complimentary, and if you order it, then you expect your money's worth and receive lots of yummy rolls.
spicy eggs:
pizza:
I opted for spicy eggs. We have had a similar dish at Lost Heaven, and it was divine. Joachim and I are both egg enthusiasts, and love all things spicy, so its pretty hard to go wrong with hard boiled eggs topped with chili sauces. The dish was good, but it didn't fit the atmosphere. It didn't belong in a glass-filled wonder wall, more like an everyday local Chinese restaurant. The dish wasn't formal enough. Joachim opted a pizza, because he figured that it would be a novelty. It wasn't. It was thin, like it was made on a tortilla, and the sauce was obviously from a can. They maybe loaded cheese on, but the cheese was just the shredded kind from Pines, and kind of slipped off. Honestly - it tasted like the kind I used to make myself for lunch in middle school, in the microwave. I was disappointed. It didn't taste bad on any level, but it was not appropriate.
custard:
The desert was a custard of some kind, but was overcooked. It was hard and stale, it lacked creaminess and moisture - a bust.
drinks:
The drinks are what saved the establishment from a lower rating. Each were innovative, forward-thinking, and served with pretty style.
If the stylish Yang Hui Shan saw the way TMSK had progressed, I doubt she would be less than pleased.
**** out of ******
(The three stars were a combination of how good it used to be (two points) and how each piece of food tasted decent (one))
Last year, we went to TMSK for Valentine's day. Then, it all seemed so hip and chic. Xintiande's TMSK is the vision of Yang Hui Shan, a former Taiwanese actress, and like her profession alludes, the place seems trendy. The bar is made of colored glass, there is a colored pool, and the seating looks like a Baroque design on acid. The food is advertised as "New-Wave Chunkiness cuisine", which translates into tuna sandwiches (wtf?) and gluten cooked with bok choy. Goodbye to last year's lobster macaroni and Kobe.
That aside, TMSK was much worse than I remembered. They must have had the lights on brighter, because everything seemed a bit torn, worn, and just...off. It wasn't the picture-esq and oh-so-modern TMSK I knew. Minus one.
The menu...failed to impress. It didn't really seem to encompass "Shanghainese food" - it was lacking too many of Shanghai's signature cuisine. It was a bland hybrid of Chinese dishes, with afterthoughts of Western tastes. There was a tuna sandwich, consisting of two pieces of white bread, tuna smear, and lettuce, there was a pizza and a sorry-looking burger. Isn't this supposed to be one of Shanghai's premier restaurants? Its not the choice they put on their menu, its the way it was executed.
bread:
NOTE: they don't serve bread for free. Weird eh? Thus, we ordered a "bread basket" and were presented with three rolls looking very lonely on a massive black plate. The bread tasted good, but this "situation" shouldn't happened. Bread should be given complimentary, and if you order it, then you expect your money's worth and receive lots of yummy rolls.
spicy eggs:
pizza:
I opted for spicy eggs. We have had a similar dish at Lost Heaven, and it was divine. Joachim and I are both egg enthusiasts, and love all things spicy, so its pretty hard to go wrong with hard boiled eggs topped with chili sauces. The dish was good, but it didn't fit the atmosphere. It didn't belong in a glass-filled wonder wall, more like an everyday local Chinese restaurant. The dish wasn't formal enough. Joachim opted a pizza, because he figured that it would be a novelty. It wasn't. It was thin, like it was made on a tortilla, and the sauce was obviously from a can. They maybe loaded cheese on, but the cheese was just the shredded kind from Pines, and kind of slipped off. Honestly - it tasted like the kind I used to make myself for lunch in middle school, in the microwave. I was disappointed. It didn't taste bad on any level, but it was not appropriate.
custard:
The desert was a custard of some kind, but was overcooked. It was hard and stale, it lacked creaminess and moisture - a bust.
drinks:
The drinks are what saved the establishment from a lower rating. Each were innovative, forward-thinking, and served with pretty style.
If the stylish Yang Hui Shan saw the way TMSK had progressed, I doubt she would be less than pleased.
**** out of ******
(The three stars were a combination of how good it used to be (two points) and how each piece of food tasted decent (one))
Lets Make a Sandwich!
NOTE: THIS WAS CREATED WHEN THE MUSIC VIDEO CAME OUT IN CHINA. I AM NOT THAT LATE ON GAGA NEWS
The Lady Gaga music video for "Telephone" transformed my would-be boring breakfast routine into the best day of my life. It was so exciting. I now know how to make a sandwich!
There is "The Pussy Wagon" from Kill Bill, and its all laden with Kill Bill references!! AH! I love Kill Bill, I have the extended JAPANENESE additions, and the soundtrack. AND as a present for handling life while being sick (junior year) I was able to get the yellow jacket and O-ren's kimono made...because doing your homework while knowing you look like an assassin is awesome. Yes.
She dances! (Duh..) but its STILL AWESOME. She dances as she teaches us how to make a sandwich. She dances after she kills all the fat people in a restaurant. NO one dances as well or psychotically as Gaga. She dances in jail. She dances in an Axel Rose outfit.
I WANT HER PARTIALLY DIED HAIR! I think in college I will do what she does, yellow and white TOGETHER and it will be AWESOME.
PLUS, she is my height and weight exactly, so i feel a strong bond. We are short TOGETHER! Short people are so under represented (no one wants to be short, dark and handsome) and to see some one making being 5'2" and scrawny-ish sexy is wonderful.
- Chrissy
The Lady Gaga music video for "Telephone" transformed my would-be boring breakfast routine into the best day of my life. It was so exciting. I now know how to make a sandwich!
There is "The Pussy Wagon" from Kill Bill, and its all laden with Kill Bill references!! AH! I love Kill Bill, I have the extended JAPANENESE additions, and the soundtrack. AND as a present for handling life while being sick (junior year) I was able to get the yellow jacket and O-ren's kimono made...because doing your homework while knowing you look like an assassin is awesome. Yes.
She dances! (Duh..) but its STILL AWESOME. She dances as she teaches us how to make a sandwich. She dances after she kills all the fat people in a restaurant. NO one dances as well or psychotically as Gaga. She dances in jail. She dances in an Axel Rose outfit.
I WANT HER PARTIALLY DIED HAIR! I think in college I will do what she does, yellow and white TOGETHER and it will be AWESOME.
PLUS, she is my height and weight exactly, so i feel a strong bond. We are short TOGETHER! Short people are so under represented (no one wants to be short, dark and handsome) and to see some one making being 5'2" and scrawny-ish sexy is wonderful.
- Chrissy
Senior Senior
We are seniors.
Today is senior skip day.
Which technically I shouldn't post on a blog...but the super intendant posted it on his blog so all the teachers would know that the seniors wouldn't be there -___-.
So to each his own.
So excited!
Last night was senior night- but during the day I had three tests which were in replica of my final exams so....not a good day! I also had to do my IB Chinese Oral, which basically consisted of me nervously talking and then going off in a tangent on why people should/shouldn't like tai chi, and it's healing properties. AIYO!
- Chrissy
P.S. I GOT INTO AMERICAN UNIVERSITY !!!!!!
IT IS ONLY, LIKE, MY DREAM SCHOOL !!!!!!
Today is senior skip day.
Which technically I shouldn't post on a blog...but the super intendant posted it on his blog so all the teachers would know that the seniors wouldn't be there -___-.
So to each his own.
So excited!
Last night was senior night- but during the day I had three tests which were in replica of my final exams so....not a good day! I also had to do my IB Chinese Oral, which basically consisted of me nervously talking and then going off in a tangent on why people should/shouldn't like tai chi, and it's healing properties. AIYO!
- Chrissy
P.S. I GOT INTO AMERICAN UNIVERSITY !!!!!!
IT IS ONLY, LIKE, MY DREAM SCHOOL !!!!!!
Mass Effect
Today when I got back from math, I had another wonderful surprise awaiting me on my Steam account!!!!!
It was:
MASS EFFECT ONE & TWO!!!
I am really really really happy! I can't wait to play them. To be honest, while Joachim and I have watched the trailers together I haven't played the game. However, the trailers were extremely impressive, and Joachim gushes about how cool it is and I know I will love them! SO HAPPY!
AHH!The only issue is time. With IB exams coming up, way too much work (welcome to Asia) and being under prepared in EVERYTHING neither one of us has much time to sacrifice. Aiyo.
- Chrissy
Avatar.
We finally got tickets to see Avatar in the ONE Imax theater in Shanghai. You would think for a city with a 21+ million population they would have more than one Imax theater, but no. Fail. We sent Joachim's driver to get tickets, a massive amount of time in advance... while we were at school...and they were the last ones left! Front row center, which actually wasn't as bad as it sounds. You could prop up your feet on the bar in front, and you could stretch out like you are on a lazy-boy.
Before the show we bought massive amounts of candy! What pigs we are! The amount would cost roughly 50+ euros, but it only was 120 kwai, or $20. We also took sushi into the movie theater, because we are just cool like that and you can do things like that in China. I think you should all be jealous that we were eating eel while watching the magical world of Avatar.
We were quite impressed with the CGI, and the land of those tall blue people. Everything had a jellyfish quality, it either glowed neon, had flowing tentacles, or was shaped in the bell shape of jellyfish. The neon ferns were reminiscent of the ET ride at Universal, Avatar's magical Billie Jean/Fern Gully land started reminding me of the old ET ride at Universal. You know, where behind deteriorating neon painted ferms, and purple smog lights, a colony of ETs awaits to jump about and sing happy songs? However, what was disappointing was the floating mountains and people calling them "unique to the movie." Hayao Miyazaki did that ages ago, 1986, in Castles in the Sky. A lot of the "natives vs. white man" could have been airlifted right from Dances with Wolves. CGI can only carry a movie so far, and the plot, dialogue, and characterization was a bit weak. While Star Wars IV also shares with Avatar in poor acting and dialogue, there is something so endearing and perfect about it. Avatar lacks this fifth element, it was hard to care about any of the protagonists, or feel sorrow at their death (Michelle Rodriguez is the exception). The movie was too long, it dragged on, and tried to fit too much in there.
However, I must say I had a great night
Before (silliness) :
- Chrissy
Bioshock is mine.
As I opened up my laptop I received the most wonderful surprise:
I am so happy. So so so so happy. When I popped open my laptop lid my Steam messaged me "you have a gift" next to two GIANT pictures of Big Daddies, I almost started jumping. Even though I have a Steam account with games, I usually just play on Joachim's account. But now I have Bioshock (1 & 2) ANYTIME and ANYWHERE.
I really love Bioshock, it's bad. It's to the point where on Fridays (and one Saturday) I just sit and play and play while Joachim....I don't know what he does. Maybe watches Supernatural. Or works on his Piezo sensor. Or sleeps....haha? I get really into it, Joachim tried to film me playing but I flipped a bitch and canned his attempts. Like I jump, and crouch, and shout and sort of shift positions as I play. I am such a noob, an embarrassment to myself.
But in all seriousness, I haven't been so happy in a long long time. BIOSHOCK!
Pictures of its awesomeness:
- Chrissy
I am so happy. So so so so happy. When I popped open my laptop lid my Steam messaged me "you have a gift" next to two GIANT pictures of Big Daddies, I almost started jumping. Even though I have a Steam account with games, I usually just play on Joachim's account. But now I have Bioshock (1 & 2) ANYTIME and ANYWHERE.
I really love Bioshock, it's bad. It's to the point where on Fridays (and one Saturday) I just sit and play and play while Joachim....I don't know what he does. Maybe watches Supernatural. Or works on his Piezo sensor. Or sleeps....haha? I get really into it, Joachim tried to film me playing but I flipped a bitch and canned his attempts. Like I jump, and crouch, and shout and sort of shift positions as I play. I am such a noob, an embarrassment to myself.
But in all seriousness, I haven't been so happy in a long long time. BIOSHOCK!
Pictures of its awesomeness:
- Chrissy
Oligopolies - Says the Dutch
"Yuup - What are examples of Oligopolies?" - Mr. Cheung
"Uhhh - Mexicans?" - Yuup van Engelshoven
Best Thing Ever.
- Chrissy
Today is a Nice Day!
Today Joachim came over to my house at two o'clock. We worked on our DT IAs, fun stuff DT. ITS OUR LAST IA! WOO-HOO!
I was so happy! I thought my life would be from Friday on our filled with blue skies and endless strolls in parks. But no. Its not. Three weeks start our bloody mock exams, which I am sure anyone who goes to SAS knows. Only, I didn't know that. I thought they were a year and a half away. I though I had ages! Don't be ignorant like I was, it will just cause heartack. I guess I should pay more attention...
... But it was a nice day regardless. We worked, we were stressed, there was Diet Coke and Sprite (green snow - ahaha). We went to House of Flour, which is filled with "indie" music, has art work on the walls, and has a delicious Greek salad with salmon. We ordered 3 desserts, because we are teenagers, and each were eating clouds of yumminess. The Death by Chocolate (cake) is a fine way to die, in my opinion, it is so dense and lux!
What a nice day. Equally productive and fun, I wish more Sundays were like this.
- Chrissy
Vacation
I don't want to be back in Shanghai. Vietnam was great, Cambodia was great. They are two of the best place I have ever been. Now I have to trade in my passion fruit, and tai chi on the beach for ...the IB. I was even able to watch TV!
But yes, I am back. Joachim is back as well, we both got in on Saturday. So...more blogging!
- Chrissy
But yes, I am back. Joachim is back as well, we both got in on Saturday. So...more blogging!
- Chrissy
JOACHIM GOT INTO U of I!
Joachim is a smart person.
He is an Illini.
AEROSPACE ENGINEER.
Maybe. Maybe we both are :O
- Chrissy.
He is an Illini.
AEROSPACE ENGINEER.
Maybe. Maybe we both are :O
- Chrissy.
