shabu shabu

after the blow out meal at yashin, we decided to do something more wallet-friendly. my supervisor had invited us to dinner to celebrate chinese new year and i took one look at the mister's shaggy head and decided it wouldn't do. fortuitously, tom, our mane man, is based near japan*centre. and the mister took one for the team while i napped that afternoon to pick up ingredients for shabu shabu after his haircut. we've been the grateful beneficiaries of many a monday night shabu shabu at our neighbours' in singers. their legendary hospitality knows no limit and we've been spoilt rotten by their shabu shabu with the best ingredients and bowl upon bowl of dipping sauce. but as we're eating for two, the mister was pragmatic and prioritised, throwing in some sashimi (finished before photo was taken) for good measure. that's also only half the beef he bought (ah the mister, he tries to ensure i don't go hungry) as my new year resolution is to not finish his food (for a change!) and i'm already failing miserably two months into 2015. the beauty of shabu shabu (as opposed to sukiyaki) lies in its simplicity, and how it's so clean and clean-tasting. will definitely be doing this again! also, as we didn't have steamboat on cny eve (went to ikeda with a spanish friend instead!) this was sort of steamboat-ish, at a pinch.