This is very Chinese indeed, most common to share dishes laid on the table in front of us. Everyone gets to dig into the dish to have a bite. Usually, for cleanliness sake, there is a spoon for every dish. This is good for variety and it is quite an interesting concept (not many Westerners can get used to) to establish communication within the big round table.

Something I crave for very often, is seafood because it’s generally more expensive in Melbourne. Whilst Josiah is not within my vicinity yet, I quickly savoured some before I get deprived of seafood as Josiah’s not a fan of seafood!

Of course I had to “attack” the head first. I know it’s kind of gross to have the head sitting on your plate of rice like that, but to me it’s really yummy!

Herbal steamed chicken.

Fried Kailan.

Egg Yolk Crabs.

Thankfully, I’m going for a pole-dance session here tomorrow so I get to exercise off the seafood in me!

Honestly, I’ve never had tangyuen before. It’s never been a family tradition.

Oh yum. Josiah, there are still some left for you!

Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers is the making and eating of tangyuan (湯圓) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also Sweet Osmanthus flowers). (Source: Wikipedia)

My immediate family members and I went to support a charity organisation called Ray Of Hope, a joint social project of St.Peter’s Church, Ipoh and St.Augustine’s Church, Buntong, Ipoh. It is a nonprofit centre (since 2001) to train and help children with learning disabilities within the age group of 6 – 19 years old.

The charity dinner was in collaboration with Marche Restaurant at The Curve, PJ (Malaysia). 20% of sales for the day went to Ray Of Hope.

European market-style, you have a passport and you stamp whatever you order from stalls and pay at the checkout. Self-service.

The ambience is great with lots of Christmas decorations!

In fact, why is it that Kuala Lumpur has better Christmas ambience than in Melbourne? I wonder why!

My sister the poser queen Spent my last few days with her.

Everything is fresh!

You can queue up and wait 5 minutes for your food.

Food’s yummy, of course!

My family members.

Grilled salmon, mashed potatoes and some salad.

Garlic bruschetta and pesto.

Donations in exchange for balloons, anyone?

Love the waitresses’ cute outfits!

Ohhhhh scary!

My Godma, Datin Mary Yeoh, founder of Ray Of Hope.

She also led the carollers.

Joy to the world!!!

Bishop Ng Moon Hing.

Us sisters with Godparents Datuk Dr. Yeoh Beng San and Datin Mary Yeoh.

Love family dinners. Missed them a lot while I was in Melbourne. Though my sister and I are both married, we still come  together as a family once again like old times without the husbands. We’re mummy and daddy’s little girls once again.