Just a dream…

This is a follow-up to yesterday’s post in which I was telling everybody how, when I found out that Melissa would be going to Wellington, I started to try and make friends with some people there. I think there were two ladies – not very young ones, if I remember correctly, and one was no longer living in New Zealand even…but we never really got to know one another well and it all just fizzled out after a while.

I can’t remember exactly how I got acquainted with Pierre Wibawa…but we eventually became great blogger-friends and are regulars in each other’s blogs. I guess I found his blog somehow and started commenting and he returned the gesture…and eventually, we also became friends on Facebook. So even though we have not actually met, we do know quite a bit of each other already.

Born of an Indonesian-Chinese father and a Korean mother, he’s on his way to becoming a doctor in a few months’ time…and seems very artistically inclined. He plays the guitar and what amazes me the most would be his culinary skills. If you browse through his blog and look at the things he has cooked, I bet you will end up salivating profusely, that’s for sure. His works of art would definitely put my miserable kampung-style endeavours to shame and that’s putting it mildly.

I’ve always hoped that one day, I would be able to go over to Wellington and get myself invited to one of his exquisite dinners…but it certainly looks like it will remain what it is – just a dream. One consolation, however, is that I’ve got him and Melissa acquainted with each other and the other day, he had very kindly invited her over to his place for dinner.

This was the menu for the evening…

…and these were the appetisers or starters – the Tuna & Crudo Prosciutto with Pea Wasabi, Celeriac and Salmon Roe…

…and the Saute` Roasted Duck & Scallop with Chinese Ginger & Spring Onion sticky sauce, Egg noodles and Crispy Duck skin.

For the entree, he had the Venison Shiraz and the works…

…but it seems that he was not too happy with this course and it would have to go back to the drawing board.

The main course was the Rosemary Roast Pork Belly with Orange & Manuka Honey reduction, Microsalads and Mash Spuds…

…which looks absolutely divine, I must say.

Lastly, for the dessert, he had Feijoa, Elderflower, Grapes & Apple Cider Jelly with Rock Melon Granita, Manuka Honey Tamarillo Sago & Edible African White Daisy…

Now, tell me…aren’t you all stunned by that? I must say that it absolutely took my breath away. Golly gee! That would certainly put a whole lot of professional chefs to shame, don’t you think?

Thanks so much, Pierre, for inviting Melissa over…and if anyone is interested, you can hop over to his blog to see his post on the dinner. I do hope we’ll get to meet one another some day, doc…but if, by any chance, you’re coming to Sibu, I am not going to cook dinner for you…ever! I wouldn’t want to disgrace myself! LOL!!!