Author Archives: sinyaw

King of Egg Custards

Posted on September 27, 2013 by sinyaw

Egg Custard is a Dim Sum classic. Every Dim Sum restaurants must offer this item. People criticize the fine points of egg custards like wine aficionados. There are the tradition style and the Portuguese style: baked hotter to allow a … Continue reading →

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First Contact

Posted on September 22, 2013 by sinyaw

A sub-genre in SciFi is about the first contact: the first time mankind meet an intelligent alien life form. Creativity blossoms in this sub-genre: what do they look like, how to they govern, how does mankind measure up, how can … Continue reading →

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Only in China!

Posted on September 18, 2013 by sinyaw

ChengDu’s summer can be scorching. Temperature can reach 100°F (40°C). As a Seattle resident who’s used to much milder weather, I cannot really imagine living here without air conditioning. Even for local that commute with a scooter, that blazing sun … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Witness to my life | Leave a comment

台北的小籠包

Posted on September 12, 2013 by sinyaw

August 30th, 2013 居然四天吃了四次小籠包. 客戶請吃鼎泰豐,這當然是經典之作. 還請人加了一整碗的薑絲. 小心夾起,一口咬破,湯汁溢出,滿口香氣. 餡,皮,醋,薑,混在一起. 太棒了. 鼎泰豐台北有好幾家,世界各角落也都有. 品質一致. 實數難得. 第二天晚上沒事,信步走到中正紀念堂後,看到杭州小籠包. 這家兒時騎著車來,坐在矮凳子上,來上兩籠,吃完走路,不當回事. 現在好像是個觀光景點了. 也好,等了個桌子(30分鐘),點上一籠,加幾個小菜,蒸臭豆腐是必然的. 吃的不亦樂乎. 口味好極了,但是懷舊的喜悅更高些. 下個晚上在喜來登的請客樓請客,又是江浙菜,看到小籠包,心頭一動,來PK吧. 小龍包的口味不錯,但醋太酸,整個平衡就不對了. 吃完略帶失望. 最後一天,誤了中飯,剛好不遠,就殺去了點水樓南京東路的旗艦店. 既已PK,當然點小籠包. 一包入口,長嘆一聲. 台北人實在太幸福了,區然能有如此美味. 這店還不用排隊,走進來點了就吃. 小籠包難吃的到處都是,這四家平心而論都好吃:包小,皮薄,餡香,汁多. 如果我想吃小籠包,這四家都是上上選. 今天我以老饕心評比: 杭州小籠口味好,性價比第一. 點水樓和鼎泰豐不相上下. 請客樓就點別的菜吧. 後記: 中秋前,鼎泰豐做芝麻酥餅.別忘了點.

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Monetary and Fiscal Policies

Posted on September 11, 2013 by sinyaw

The stock market is like an addict hooked on QE. Whenever there is a hint of it slowing down, stock price tumbles. Quantitative Easing (or pumping money into the society) is part of the monetary policy which regulate how much … Continue reading →

Posted in Peek into my mind | Leave a comment

Management by Playing Chicken

Posted on September 7, 2013 by sinyaw

Senior executives are frequently disconnected with reality. The most toxic manifestation of this disconnection is a phenomenon called “Management by Playing Chicken”: it causes company demises and also career derailments. The big shot is under duress, he examines the options … Continue reading →

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In Defense of Food

Posted on August 25, 2013 by sinyaw

Food is not the combination of its nutrients. A meal is not the combination of the foods. Michael Pollan attacked food science: it is really not much more than voodoo or, at best, tools for the food industry to make … Continue reading →

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Whidbey Island

Posted on August 19, 2013 by sinyaw

What make a place perfect to live? Most would dream about the same: beautiful natural view, easy access to civilization — stores, hospital, restaurants, etc., “just the right distance” to the neighbors, pleasant climate, infra-structure for hobbies, close to friends … Continue reading →

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$0 Parking Ticket

Posted on August 10, 2013 by sinyaw

To pay for street parking in Seattle, you get this sticker thing and put it on the side window facing the sidewalk, or the driver side window. We do it all the time (and complain about the high parking fees). … Continue reading →

Posted in Tour guides, Witness to my life | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Quit with Grace and Dignity

Posted on August 7, 2013 by sinyaw

Years ago, I wrote about the general etiquette on quitting. It was really autobiographical; I was resigning from my job then. The spirit of that process was simple: keep it professional. It is easier said than done. Since then, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Management Thoughts | 1 Comment