2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix - Pit Lane Experience

ABBEY: What if you're given a chance to see the garages of Formula 1 cars? Would you forfeit it? I almost did. Good thing we got a final reminder letter that I won a pair of ticket for the event. And it must be redeemed online on that day only. It is not that I ignored the congratulatory mail, but it was in the spam inbox. We registered hurriedly and got our tickets. 

The event is on the eve of 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix. We entered Gate 1 at 7:30PM and just in time the party kicked off. Performers from around the world render their acts; live bands, buskers like human topiaries and Invisible Man, and the "drummer boys" (Wicked Aura). It was nostalgia; we're in the same zone last 2012 and there we were again.

At quarter past nine, the walk commenced. We were in Turn 1. The view is spectacular. Now I know why the ticket price is premium. You can have good snaps on this place. Then we came to the garages and pit. The mechanics are busy with the preparation for practice session the next day. We even saw some team practicing their routine in changing the tires.

From the Red Bull, Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel emerged. Just like his car, he was too fast to avoid being mugged by shutterbugs. He did signed some autographs and pose for snap, but lightning-quick giving me a blur picture of him :) We also took snaps on the starting point and then headed home.

WILL: Tuesday night while doing my routine of checking emails, my eyes got bigger when I saw a congratulatory email from Singapore F1. Gosh we won a pair of ticket for Thursday Pit Lane experience. Gosh, we are so blessed! Haha! 

F1 revving engines is addictive. I like racing and the risk that comes with it, the adrenaline and the energy. So when Abbey and I decided not to go for this year, we are quite sad but we need to stand our decision. Even though we do not bought any ticket for 2015 race, Singapore F1 still gave us a chance to feel the F1 fever.

We queued around 7PM watched the performances of Carlos Castano, Fungkimunkees and listen to the beat of Wicked Aura and take some photos with The Living Topiary. Thousands of people were chilling, drinking and merry making before the gate to the Pit Stop finally opens its doors to the public.

When I stepped to the track, our Fan Zone memories came back to me. When I can get to see again F1 from the Fan Stand? Huhu! Anyways, we walked and checked one by one the Pit Stop of every cars. And for a bonus, Sebastian Vettel came out from nowhere, say hi to the fans and run out from the crowd. Haha!

Thanks again Singapore F1 for this. Hopefully next year you got a better performers at Padang stage..  

JBM Coffee & Dining (Modern European Restaurant) - One Raffles Place Mall

ABBEY: Just like in life, in the corporate world, people come and go. One of my colleague and friend is migrating to NZ and we decided to meet at JBM Coffee and Dining (One Raffles Place).

They are offering one-for-one deal for their pastas, wine, and chicken. We ordered Golden Hen; half-spring chicken, cooked in garlic, potatoes and butter. It's a big serving but I managed to finish it all by myself. The meat is soft and tasty. The garlic juice blends with thin butter sauce which made it more flavourful. It costs 23SGD but was made half because of the promo.

WILL: Looking for a French Cuisine that will not break your bank? Head over to JBM Coffee and Dining at One Raffles Place Mall.

We were there to celebrate one of the main event in our friend’s life. For a dinner, we reserved a table via pm on their facebook page. Yeah! You read it right, they accepting reservations from their page. A mini get-together of Oracle Data Administrators. So cool!

We ordered their promotion of 1-for-1 Golden Hen (U.P. $23). It’s true! It’s a Golden Hen but she was already cooked so she won’t lay golden eggs, haha!, but she is there to fuel-up our empty stomach. The buttery flavour aroma made my stomach to grumble even further, but we need to wait for one more colleague for us to start.

So when she came, I picked urgently my fork and savour on my half chicken. The taste is so yummy. Every inch of it is so tender. But the sad truth is you need to consume it as fast as you can before the butter freeze in front of you.

This is a night of reminiscing, merriment and goodbyes. Till next time Aiz. See you in New Zealand.

Chicken Fajitas Recipe

Fajitas wrap:

Tostillas

Bell peppers cut into strips ( yellow, green, and red)

- this will give good appearance as well

Sour cream

Salsa

1 large onion cut into strips

Chicken marinade:

Chicken breasts (1/2 inch thick)

Cumin

Chilli powder

Jalapeno

1 lime

Cilantro (finely chopped)

Mix all the ingredients for marinate in a bowl and put the chicken. It can be marinated overnight for better taste.

To cook it, put a tablespoon of oil in a pan and some salt in the chicken. When the oil began to smoke, put the chicken in the pan and let it be seared for 2-3 minutes on each side.The trick is to wrap the chicken in aluminum foil after cooking until ready to serve. The chicken will continue to cook with the heat and all the moisture will be locked inside.

After cooking the chicken, add a couple of tablespoon of oil in the same pan and saute bell peppers and onion for a couple of minutes and then set aside

This is optional: heat your sizzling plates.

While waiting, cut the chicken to strips, put it on the plate along with the veggies.

Put some sauce collected in the chicken to the plate for the sizzling effect.

Top with sour cream and salsa.

Heat your tostillas and serve.

VERDICT
WILL: Don't you deny it that you are thinking you can eat that everytime you are seeing a photos of foods while you are surfing the world wide web. Well, I am also guilty of it. So when I saw restaurants like Chili's and Stewords River Boat offering chicken fajitas, I immediately googled for recipe. So here, my greatest man cooked for me. Haha.

Saw him how to do it and it seems easy. But never dare and too lazy to do it on my own. :) The taste is awesome. The aroma filled our home and it is really nice. Lime, sour cream and salsa sauce is really perfect combination. Chicken is so tender.

Try to do this guys.