Showing posts with label Seiko Monster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seiko Monster. Show all posts

Saturday, 7 December 2013

A Farewell For A Friend

Our good friend and fellow watch enthusiast Professor Massi Landi is leaving our shores for a break in South Korea. So we thought it was a good idea to gather for a farewell dinner at the Peach Blossoms Restaurant at the Marina Mandarin Hotel.

And no, there was no color theme for pants this time around as many of use were coming from work - colorful pants a no-no for those working in the office. As usual, no short of spectacular timepieces on wrists. For starters, Massi's MIH.

For those who know not, the MIH is an Annual Calendar. Perhaps the most affordable Annual Calendar. But take a look at this MIH - can you tell me what is wrong with the display?
Massi's MIH photo MassiGTGMassiMIH01_zps5f14b7fc.jpg

A similar MIH was also worn by Jim. Now you can compare the display on both MIH.
Jim MIH photo MassiGTGJimMIH_zps190bec31.jpg

Then there is the Tudor Heritage Blue Chrono on a Nato strap.
Tudor photo MassiGTGHarryTudor_zpsdc576f7f.jpg

Almost always, you will find an IWC. And this time, the Regulateur.
IWC photo MassiGTGJokohIWC_zps2d60b0f2.jpg

And of course the Jaeger LeCoultre. This example is a vintage full calendar.
JLC Full Calendar photo MassiGTGStefanJLC_zps1dd65d4b.jpg

Then there is the Parmigiani Hebdomadaire - the 8 days power reserve in blue dial.
Parmigiani photo MassiGTGEddieParmigiani01_zps7cee7b88.jpg

Another P Brand watch - not one of my favorite brands. But I shall feature it here as it is worn by my friend Lionel.
Panerai photo MassiGTGLionelPanerai_zps75546a33.jpg

Lionel came double wristed. Here is the Seiko Blue Monster - the 100th Anniversary piece. On his mesh bracelet.
Lionel's Seiko photo MassiGTGLionelSeiko01_zpsa1d24330.jpg

Another vintage - The Rolex GMT Pepsi…
Rolex Pepsi photo MassiGTGLarryRolex_zps47fbb6ff.jpg

In a gathering like this, I am always certain I will find a watch I have not seen before. And in this case, a customized Mark II Pilot. A manual winding watch that looks like a regular Pilot.
Mark II photo MassiGTGDirkMarkII_zpsd7f19f61.jpg

A Patek Calendario ref 5135
Patek Calendria photo MassiGTGStefanoPatek01_zpsc16fedb6.jpg

And another friend came double wristed. First the Breguet.
Breguet photo MassiGTGKevinBreguet_zps88addd73.jpg

Then the Lange 1 Tourbillon. I failed as a photographer - the photos I took that night of this watch did not turn out well. But the watch is so beautiful that I cannot not post it here. So I am using an archived picture from my previous shots.
Lange 1 Tourbillon photo MassiGTGKevinLange_zps92149b5c.jpg

Probably one of the most beautiful watches for the night. And now the table shot.
Table Shot photo MassiGTGTableShot01_zps33098113.jpg

Notice how they all turned into a one-handed watch? Perfect timing. And now for the food. First Up was the Peking duck which was carved and presented. Then came the wasabe prawns.
Wasabe Prawns photo MassiGTGFoodWasabePrawns_zps5458832b.jpg

Next up the pork neck asparagus - a stir fry dish with very tender pork collar.
Pork Neck Asparagus photo MassiGTGFoodPorkNeckAsparagus_zps200a2581.jpg

The Kungpao chicken was excellent too. The chicken is lightly floured and then fried before the sauce coats the meat. Nicely crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Kungpao Chicken photo MassiGTGFoodKungpaoChicken_zpsa434f178.jpg

The spinach and shark's cartilage broth is another winner. The broth is slightly thicken by the shark cartilage and is silky smooth. The wolf berries add a nice sweet touch to the broth.
Spincah in Shark Cartilage Broth photo MassiGTGFoodSpinachSharkCartilageBroth_zpscb91f844.jpg

The clay pot seafood tofu was also braised to perfection.
Seafood Tofu photo MassiGTGFoodSeafoodTofu_zps651ba435.jpg

The bitter gourd with spare ribs and also a few other dishes like the ostrich meat, eggplant with minced pork.
Bittergourd Spareribs photo MassiGTGFoodBittergourdSpareribs_zpsb0deae63.jpg

And finally the Ee Fu Noodles with duck meat.
Ee Fu Noodles photo MassiGTGFoodEefuNoodles_zps11c9fdc7.jpg

And all too soon it was end of the night. We wish you safe journey Massi, Francesca and Ginevra. Enjoy Korea and we shall see you in one year's time. And who knows, we may come visit you there. Ciao!

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Pasarbella GTG - Monster Time!

The gang got together for another meal and to share our hobby for watches. This time around, we ended up in Turf City Pasarbella Mara Shabu Restaurant.

The Shabu Shabu Restaurant is at the far end of Pasarbella.
Pasarbella Shabu Shabu photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013RestShot01_zpsf0286bb9.jpg

They had arranged their table to accommodate us 20 pax ensuring we have a nice cosy and private corner.
Pasarbella Shabu Shabu photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013RestShot03_zpscf68f2e4.jpg

First up was the Spanish Suckling Pig seen here still in the oven...
Pasarbella Suckling Pig photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013FoodShot04_zps2432af3b.jpg

The Spanish Suckling Pig is from another stall in Pasarbella and the Argentinian chef told us he had oven baked it just in time for our GTG at 6.30pm.
Pasarbella Suckling Pig photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013FoodShot03_zps6b665372.jpg

The shabu shabu came in three soup base - mara (numbing spicy), shabu and sukiyaki. Featured here is the sukiyaki.
Pasarbella Shabu Shabu photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013FoodShot02_zpsbe7b8ca0.jpg

And the mara and shabu comes in a ying-yang pot. Meat consists of beef, chicken, pork shoulder, pork belly, tofu etc. My favorite was the udon noodles cooked in the mara soup base - thanks to Larry who discovered this combo.
Pasarbella Shabu Shabu photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013FoodShot01_zpsa43fcfa3.jpg

Dinner started promptly at 6.45pm… too hungry to wait for everyone so since this was a buffet, go help yourselves!
Pasarbella Kaki photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013GuysShot03_zpsa34b7ad3.jpg

Guys chatting over food and drinks.
Pasarbella Kaki photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013GuysShot04_zpsa6f9b7d7.jpg

Plenty of food to go around and plenty of conversation - guys catching up.
Pasarbella Shabu Shabu Kaki photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013GuysShot02_zps95d3667e.jpg

Theme was simple - any Seiko and any watch that tells time differently. So we had a few Seiko Monsters including a Snow Monster, two very interesting Hautlence Jumping hours and many more interesting pieces. Table shot of watches on display.
Pasarbella Table Shot photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013TableShot01_zps0c6ad45f.jpg

How often does one see two Hautlence coming together?
Pasarbella Hautlence photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot01_zps97cab27a.jpg

In fact you would have seen two Seiko with enamel dial but alas, someone fell sick but I have this wonderful shot of the watch.
Seiko Enamel Auto photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot14_zps0f8b2b3e.jpg

Then of course the Monsters… and the Tunas
Pasarbella Table Shot photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013TableShot02_zps942f9312.jpg
Pasarbella Table Shot photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013TableShot04_zps2ccab3b3.jpg

And probably the Monster of the Night - The Snow Monster...
Seiko Snow Monster photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot11_zps3950ff81.jpg

And another Seiko - the Laurel
Seiko Laurel photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot10_zps7a7c37a8.jpg

Then comes the unusual pieces… Jumping hours, Regulateur Dials, Dead Beat Seconds, Carousel/Tourbillon, Double Split Chrono, Single Handed... Can you spot the Goldpfeil Vincent Calabrese?
Pasarbella Table Shot photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013TableShot03_zps0154d1ed.jpg

First, a rather rare Swatch Diaphane One carousel watch.
Swatch Diapham photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot13_zps3400e5fe.jpg

And a two week old Habring Pilot DBS.
Habring Pilot DBS photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot06_zpsa71fe9c8.jpg

A single handed Luch from Belarus
Luch Belarus photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot09_zps95b6db89.jpg

A not so often seen IWC pocket watch
IWC Pocket Watch photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot05_zps3a93aa4f.jpg

A Lange Double Split Chrono
Lange Double Split Chrono photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot08_zps885f2229.jpg

And a PuristPro watch
Purist Watch photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013WatchShot12_zps0656c6a5.jpg

The gang stayed on chatting while others were busy exploring the watches.
Pasarbella Kaki photo PasarbellaGTG9Sep2013GuysShot01_zps2a5596b1.jpg

And all too soon it was already ten at night. Three and a half hours of great conversation around food and watches - what more can you ask for?