Quantcast
Channel: Entree Kibbles
Viewing all 3110 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Minced Meat Fishball Noodle - 發記肉脞魚圓面 @ Kovan Hawker Centre

June 30, 2013, 8:42 am
$
0
0
Frequent patrons of Kovan 209 food centre would have noticed the existence of three minced meat fishball noodle stalls in close proximity. 

That should not come as a surprise (it's common to find competitors setting up shop selling similar food whenever there is an extremely popular one close by anyway) except for one very interesting phenomenon; all three boasted a queue! 

Like many people who are unprepared when face with numerous options, i am flustered as to which to choose! My sister, a veteran customer of the hawker centre, faithfully suggested 發記. She added: "this one very lavish with pork lards"! 

No picture on pork lard since you can find plenty of them in my recent postings. Look closer into the above picture and i bet the hawk in you can still spot pieces of them. 

Anyway, I shall zoom into the fishballs which were listed prominently on the signboard - really nothing to scream about as the texture was more alike to fish cakes. Minced meat wise, it would be fairer to assess it as a whole package with the other ingredients.

Noodles - they were not too dry, not too soggy and generally well received by my mom and me. So far, it didn't appear that i was exceptionally enjoying my food. 

Truth is; i love their tasty combination of flavours arising from generous servings of pork lard, minced meat, fishballs, fish cakes, braised mushrooms, noodles and meat balls! 

=====

Location
209 Hougang Street 21, #01-05, 
Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre

Price
Minced Meat Fishball Noodle - S$3.50 a bowl 
↧
Search

Another Big Decision Made

July 1, 2013, 4:42 pm
$
0
0
I am not going to post this entry on facebook as i am damn sure of the repercussions; not that i would be charged in courts or such but there would be too many comments to reply too and i am too busy!!

"Busy with what" you might ask? 

Well, tying up the loose ends while serving my notice of resignation is definitely one of the busy things. Yes, your eyes did read it right; i have tendered my letter to leave and it was a hard decision made with ample considerations!

Differing from the last round, i am unable to enjoy the luxury of being unemployed this time. 

Where would i be going?
Look out for an update soon! :P
↧
↧

Joyce's Birthday & Cedele's Pear Hazelnut Chilled Cake!

July 3, 2013, 8:38 am
$
0
0
It's yet again another happy birthday post! Please accept my apology for the very obvious lack of food entries in recent days but my brain was working extremely hard on some urgent matters.

If it's of any comfort, i would give a short review of the cake we ordered for my elder sister's birthday; Pear Hazelnut chilled cake from Cedele. More on that later. 

As usual, the kids were delighted for the chance to sing happy birthday in both English and Mandarin. I honestly feel that birthdays revolve around kids; before the arrival of Jerald, i was hesitant to have a cake and blow candles on my birthday. Now, i am open to the idea simply because the kids love it! 

With both children kissing Joyce after the badly sung birthday song, this loving scene did touch a nerve that could possibly kick-start the paternal biological clock in my body. Thankfully, the many many incidents where they misbehave and throw tantrums remain fresh and crystal clear in my memory...

After those memorable recollections, I think i prefer a dog over a child.  

===== 

Okay, let's return to the pear hazelnut cake. Like many people, i totally adore the carrot cake from Cedele although i didn't raise any objection when my younger sister decided to order this instead. Never try, never know right?

My verdict is that i could never resist cream cheese, especially in their chilled form. And the frosting came with hazelnut, which made it even delicious given my love for nutella! There were some misses though; the dough was definitely not as "perfectly moist" as Cedele has described on their website and i feel that the supposedly flavour of fresh Packham Pears could be a tad stronger. 

No matter what, the Teo family enjoyed this Cedele cake way better than the Bengawan Solo cake we had for Jovyn's birthday. A question for everyone; Cedele is pronounced as Ce-de-li or Ce-del?

Looking forward to your answer!  
↧

Special Chicken Hot Pot (Claypot) - 生爆老干妈鸡堡 @ Wan Chai Hongkong Tea Room 湾仔香港奶茶店 [Sembawang Shopping Centre]

July 4, 2013, 8:24 am
$
0
0
For Joyce's birthday yesterday, i was all prepared to splurge on a good dinner but as the fantastic sister she has always been, it is the thought that really matters.

That explained why we were eventually seated at Wan Chai Hongkong Tea Room at Sembawang Shopping Centre. Now, it was not my first time to this particular Hongkong style cafe chain and i must admit my first two visits to its branch at IMM Jurong were hardly memorable as far as food is concerned.

However, i am more than willing to give it another chance. 

The deep fried eggplants with a generous sprinkling of meat floss started as a satisfying appetiser although i wonder how many people can actually resist the temptation of meat floss when egg plants are considered to be pretty much tasteless anyway.

Birthday girl's order was this baked seafood rice with wasabi cheese. I didn't want to appear too greedy so i took just a teeny weeny bite to test out; wasabi cheese was a delicious variant yet the dry bland ice destroyed it by being a severe mismatch for this dish. 

Mine - special chicken hot pot in claypot. 

Key question is why did i choose this when i am not even considered to be a chilli person? Trust me, with over fifteen types tagged under "claypot", only five or six were available! I didn't really have many choices to start with!

Chilli wise, this was the numbing type of spicy typical of Sichuan mala style albeit with a lower intensity. The chicken pieces were tender and most importantly, managed to lock in the essential mala essence. This brought to mind the Sichuan fish i had at S99, which was a great disappointment.

Given my lack of experience in spicy food, i am not sure if i am giving an fair review. Guess this would be a valid excuse to stake out those Sichuan mala restaurants located in Geylang for better exposure! 

=====

Location
604 Sembawang Road 
#03-12/13, Sembawang Shopping Centre

Price
Eggplants with Meat Floss - $6.50
Baked Seafood Rice with Wasabi Cheese - $9
Special Chicken Hot Pot - $9.80
[Subject to GST. No Service Charge]

Website 
↧

Last Day @ AIC (Agency for Integrated Care)

July 5, 2013, 8:54 am
$
0
0
04 July 2013 - My last day with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), a government linked outfit that totally blew me off with a culture that was unlike most government linked agencies.

Before you start thinking how bad it was, i am going to stop you right now by emphasizing i totally enjoyed my stay in AIC; environment was aligned to the desirable work-hard play-hard philosophy and the management embraced continuous learning that could come in various shapes and delightful forms!

Furthermore, i was blessed with jovial and cheerful colleagues who frequently peppered my surroundings with jokes (at times, sexual) and infectious laughter! Of course, i am also very grateful that they had been very patient and helpful with my occasional stupid questions regarding the healthcare industry.

So why did i choose to leave? 
- keeping mum - 

My decision to leave was after much consideration (with more episodes of hair dropping) and i can tell you; i feel an immense deep sense of guiltiness for leaving AIC. I am aware of the precious time and work spent on orienting newbies like myself, and to leave after a mere three months in a permanent position had never ever happened throughout my working life!

The guilt increases when fellow colleagues came by my cubicle to wish me all the best, despite my short stay in the organisation. They didn't have to and yet they took the effort to do so. Some even brought along tokens of appreciation; i didn't cry (i am a man okay) but deep in my heart, there were short moments i wondered if have made the correct decision.

Tugging my heart strings further were these touching messages!

For those AIC colleagues who chanced upon this post, i would like to express my deepest gratitude and also my most sincere apology to all of you...

Thank you so much and i am so sorry.

p.s. on a lighter note, besides missing this bunch of wonderful colleagues, i would also be missing the food and scenery (where i can almost accurately gauge the haze condition)! :(
↧
↧

Prawn Fritters (炸虾饼) @ Petaling Street, Chinatown [Kuala Lumpur]

July 7, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
Prawn fritter was one of my top ten favourite foods when i was a simple kampong kid and seeing these being freshly sold along the main street of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur brought back chunks of childhood memories!

Back then, the best place to get my little hands on the oily fritters was in this coffee shop at block 226, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Alas, the shop is no longer around and for a period of time, i actually had prawn fritters withdrawal syndrome every Sunday!

There are other stalls offering decent fritters; just that they are not comparable to what i was accustomed to. In my opinion, a decent prawn cracker (as Singaporeans tend to call it) must have a substantial filling (too thin doesn't quite cut it) with bean sprouts, had that crusty exterior yet maintaining a soft, tender interior and topped with at least two prawns. 

In addition to meeting the aforementioned conditions, the ones at Petaling Street warranted a purchase also because the stall appeared to be quite popular! I am not greedy and hence, only bought one to try out. 

At RM1.50 a piece, i was disappointed. The filling was mildly seasoned, lacking the flavourful content well associated with prawns and it was very, very greasy! Damn, i think i have reached the age when having too oily a diet would conjure images of eventually dying from heart diseases! 

=====

Location
Along Jalan Hang Lekir

Map
As above

Additional Information
Go in the daytime.

↧

The Best Tea Leaves Egg (茶葉蛋) at Genting Highlands [First World Hotel]! - Purple Cane Tea Art Centre

July 8, 2013, 8:51 am
$
0
0
Whenever someone brings up the topic of tea leaves eggs, my mind would involuntarily wonder off to Genting Highlands, where the cool weather makes it extremely comforting to savour the scalding hot hard boiled eggs. 

Problem is that there are many shops selling tea leaves eggs in Genting and most of them could not even fulfill the basic condition of a tea leaves egg; the high density of tea infusion which would greatly differentiate a tea leaves egg from a normal hardboiled egg!

So far, only one managed to meet the standard -  Purple Cane Tea Art Centre. 

Throughout the years, their tea leave eggs have maintained a consistently high level of standard; delicious with a noticeable tea fragrance and tasted rich of spices (Cinnamon, Star Anise etc)! Unlike other stalls that are out to make unscrupulous profits, the eggs in Purple Cane didn't feel like they have been re-cooked, re-boiled over and over again! 

There are health benefits to eating tea leaves eggs! Ingesting them is said to help in whetting one's appetite, dispersing alcohol and tonifying the liver. No matter what, please remember that moderation is always the key word for any health promoting product. 

=====

Location
Lot F/L 2A.27, Level T2A, 
First World Hotel, Genting Highlands 

Price
RM 7 for 5 Eggs

Website 

↧

Left 4 Dead 2 - Wan Li [The Great Wall of China]

July 10, 2013, 7:29 am
$
0
0
My curiosity for the dead is not only limited to hard and stiff cadavers; i am equally intrigued by stories of the undead known popularly as zombies. 

Therefore, two of my all-time favourite PC games were Left 4 Dead and its sequel Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2). Taking on the role of a survivor who has to escape from the zombies together with three comrades, it is a first-shooter game that generates a lot of jumping excitement, especially towards the finale for each campaign!

For a noob who continues to be ranked as the member with the highest incident of friendly fire, i have upgraded from an assault rifle to a sniper rifle.

Sickening it might sound but it feels extremely soothing to be able to zoom in, focus and pull the trigger for a perfect bloody headshot of the human-hungry undead!

Five years have passed since the game was launched in 2008 and yet, my interest for the game has never waned. Thanks to obsessed gamers who took the trouble to develop add-on campaigns for fans like me! 

There are many to choose from the workshop (accessible from the add-on function on the main game screen when you log in) and one particular one stuck out like a sore thumb; Wan Li, the Great Wall of China.

Having walked along the great wall in my trip to Beijing, it was a haunting image that greeted me this time when i logged in to Wan Li. 

It was devoid of any human except for the four survivors and the area was silent except for the eerie howling of the winter gale. It's like the calm before a big storm.

Not going to elaborate anymore as you should download it and experience the gameplay yourself! Just wondering, would anybody be able to develop a campaign based on Singapore; an urban city that seems perfect for a zombie outbreak? 

Think about it; familiar sights like HDB flats, Shenton Way with Lau Pat Sat or maybe Marina Bay Sands alongside Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer and Marina Barrage!  
↧
Search

Gurney Drive - Bringing Penang To You @ Causeway Point [Singapore]

July 12, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
"Bringing Penang to you" - I thought this was a rather bold statement given the love many Singaporeans have for Penang cuisine. Honestly, i could not remember much of its food as my last visit to the Malaysian state was eighteen years ago!

I was therefore hoping that this supposedly popular Gurney Drive restaurant would help to rekindle some of the memories.

Blended Ampla (Left) 
Bandung Chin Chow (Right)
Ampla is commonly known as Indian gooseberry and was said to contain the highest amount of vitamin C in the fruit family. The healthy drink had a flavour similar to blended bitter gourd and you either like it or detest it. Bandung Chin Chow was very well-received by the Gang of Four for its thick creaminess and was even awarded the title of "best bandung" by Alex!

Grilled Stingray
Don't expect too much out of this! The ones in Chomp Chomp would have beaten it with minimal effort. Having said that, i quite enjoyed the sweeter chilli which was also less spicy than the norm. 

Penang Side Dish Platter
Out of the mixture containing belachan chicken wings, lemon chicken, lor bak and cheese tofu, i was generally unimpressed with most except the cheesy tofu. To put it on a more comparable dimension, i am seldom put off by cheese tofu! 

For the lor bak, i found them to be strongly flavoured, meaty and couldn't quite decide whether i hate it or love it. I love the fulfilling bite of each piece but I could almost swear it was made of internal organs (the animal parts that i don't take).

Balacan Fried Rice
Presentation was so simple and plain; i was already condemning it in my mind. Bloody, it cost S$8.90 a plate and yet, it didn't exude the appeal that could have compelled me to eat it! 

To be fair, the rice was the star (although the side ingredients were so pathetically proportioned) and it didn't fail to spark an element of surprise; I particularly liked the strong pungent aftertaste typical of belachan. The best way to eat it (and not feeling short-changed) was to mix up everything!

=====

Did i manage to rekindle any memory?
Sadly, no. 

Location
1 Woodlands Square,
#05-12/13, Causeway Point

Price
Blended Ampla (Left) - S$4.80
Bandung Chin Chow (Right) - S$3.80
Grilled Stingray - S$8.20
Penang Side Dish Platter - S$13.90
Balacan Fried Rice - S$8.90
[Subject to GST and Service Charge]
↧
↧

Hot Pot (Steamboat & Barbecue) above the clouds @ Hotel First World [Genting Highlands]

July 13, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
The lower temperature at the highlands has commonly contributed to an increased popularity of hot pot (generally known as steamboat in this region) restaurants, as in the case of Cameron Highlands.

However, the same could not be said for the fun city above the clouds; Genting Highlands. From my understanding, the first and only full fledged steamboat eatery was operational merely a few years ago.

I am aware of its existence and had wanted to give it a try. In my honest opinion, nothing beats drinking and eating freshly cooked ingredients from a pot of boiling soup to warm the body! 

This hot pot restaurant went a step further by providing an external barbecue rim for BBQ lovers like me! To me, it is a perfect combination for the cool weather! 

For any all-you-can-eat buffet, the variety is of utmost importance. There is absolutely no point in paying over RM 30.00 a person and finding less than twenty types of ingredients for the hot pot. So before i touch on the quality, let's start with the variety. 

Buffet veterans would advise you to stay off the carbohydrates and concentrate on more expensive proteins like meat and seafood! Nonetheless, you have the choice of plain rice and various types of noodles. 

Vegetables are a no-no too although i agree they are an unfortunate necessity to having a healthier body and hopefully reducing hefty medical bills in the future. 

Take more bitter gourds which are antidiabetic; for your information, diabetics affect roughly 11% of the population in Singapore and is one of the top ten causes of deaths in Singapore.

Weirdly, you can choose to have more soup too from a selection of ABC, tom yum, curry fishball and chicken soup! I would have preferred to have them as part of my soup base selection in steamboat instead (on that day, i wasn't given an option and i assumed it was a standardised chicken soup across all customers). 

Wide miscellaneous assortment consisting of bite sized luncheon meat, sausages, fish balls, mushroom balls and other fishcake related products. What frustrated me were the missing labels that could have provided more insight on what they are! 

Ready-to-eat food were available for hungry souls who needed something to munch on in the midst of waiting. Nothing much; just deep fried chicken wings and fried rice (i didn't try any of them).

A number of basic sauces and condiments to dip your food. 

Eight types of free flow drinks (including plain water) to choose from! My favourite has to be the rose syrup drink that was nicely flavoured without being overly sweet. 

Now coming to the meat section! Meat lovers would be disappointed to find only four types of which three were chicken based (again, no label) and one was beef. No pork as the dining establishment served Muslim customers. I would talk about the meat later. 

There were more seafood compartments though with baby squids, cuttlefish, crabs, mussels, fish balls, prawns, fish meat, bamboo clams and other shellfishes. 

My review now. 

The prawns were not fresh and the cuttlefish together with the fishcake related food were rubbery and tasteless. Most importantly, the beef was not seasoned long enough resulting in a flavour that lacked essence. Chicken was marginally better although it was a chore to remove the bones.

There was a respite in the form of a teppanyaki station! You decide the proportion of eggs, greenies, mushrooms, bean sprouts and a staff member would whip up the dish for you!

It was definitely more savoury yet i am afraid it wasn't cream of the crop as well; my main aim was in fact the fried eggs. 

I didn't quite manage to eat across the varieties since Alex practically stopped eating after two bites and i had to finish all the ingredients myself! My tummy got so full; I could not stomach the fruits, the cooked food and the delicious display of creamy cakes. :(

=====

Speaking in my position as a meat lover, i am going to give this Restoran Hot Pot a miss in the future. To be fair, there was no attempt on my part to take on the veggies (doubt it would make much of a difference anyway)! 

Business operators from Cameron Highlands and Liang Seah area who wish to expand their operations, should seriously consider setting up shop in Genting Highlands! 

Location
Lot F/L 2.39, Floor T2, 
First World Plaza, Genting Highlands

Contact
+603 6436 0690


Price
Adult - RM 29.90
Child - RM 14.90
[Subject to Service Charge and Tax]
↧

The 5 Elements Boutique Hotel - A Review @ Chinatown [Jalan Sultan], Kuala Lumpur

July 14, 2013, 6:37 am
$
0
0
The scrooge in me would not spend more than fifty Singapore dollars a night for overseas accommodation unless i don't have a choice (limited selection etc), or some dumb ass offers to pay for it! Haha.

I would have gladly settled for the cheaper Citin Hotel in my recent trip to Kuala Lumpur but Alex fondly remembered walking past the 5 elements hotel the last time we were at Chinatown and proposed to foot the bill. Yeah!!

Guess the words "the five elements" - traditionally the Chinese philosophy for universal balance has had some effects on him especially pertaining to his stressful work.

Our "boarding" pass! Notice the strip of paper with many numbers? That's the password for the complementary in-room wifi! 

I hate hotel corridors; they are always so eerie!!! This reminded me of my posting on the ten taboos to note when staying in a hotel. For those who wish to know more, please click here. 

Room

Before i show you the room, anyone wants to guess what lies beyond the curtain?

Ta dah! It has always been my dream to have a bay window sofa in my house and although it was only a temporary stay, it was truthfully almost a dream come true! 

Those apartments facing us was a bit of an anti-climax; i can so imagine wrinkly looking old men and women standing outside every door and waving to us at night. Just to set things straight; nothing of that sort happened. 

Both of us preferred to veer our eyes to the other side; the scenic view of Chinatown where we can see modern developments in Chinatown and its historical structures. 

Night view if you are interested.

Finally, a peek of our comfortable room! Honestly, the vibe was really soothing and i had the impulse to just crawl onto the bed and sleep the day away! 

Other amenities include a huge wardrobe where you can stuff an entire month of clothing which doesn't make much sense for short stayers like me. 

Television was a 32-inch LCD and i counted at least four power outlets to charge our devices! Good news initially until i realised only one was working perfectly! 

Bathroom was okay; no bath tub though... What i particularly like was the Chinese-designed porcelain basin; a vibrant "flower" in a sea of plainness. 

Breakfast

The cafe to have our complimenary breakfast is located on level 1 where it overlooks the shophouses bordering central Chinatown. On Sundays, you can even find a bustling flea market lining the road. 

Selection was severely limited and i had to comment that despite the pleasant surprise for the room, i was greatly disappointed by the breakfast.

Easily one of the worst i had. 
And i am a passive eater.

====

Location
Lot 243, Jalan Sultan (Chinatown)

Map
As above.

Pricing
Deluxe (Normal Floor) - RM 197 in total

Website for Booking

↧

Mookata Thai Steamboat & BBQ - A Deal from deal.com.sg @ Pure Restaurant [Golden Mile Tower]

July 15, 2013, 7:51 am
$
0
0
That last mookata experience at Golden Mile complex left a deep impression on my palate and i could hardly contain my happiness when an ex-colleague suggested buying mookata deals from deal.com.sg for our occasional meet-up.

Place: The Pure Restaurant at Golden Mile Tower. Please note that it is tower, not complex! A lesson learnt the hard way as the hungry eight arrived at complex only to realise it should be tower! 

The price of S$30 for two persons included free flow Nestea brand green tea (no, it's not Singha beer)! Kon would be glad to hear this as he is a big water guzzler and can easily down a full mug in mere seconds! 

As every steamboat and BBQ device can accommodate up to a maximum of four persons, you are given the option to top up S$10 each (up to a maximum of two) to add more ingredients to the standard set. 

What goes into a standard set? There were bacon, pork belly, pork liver, chicken slice (black pepper or garlic), plain chicken slice, prawns and squid.

This photograph is not showing the full picture as we were already halfway through the plate when i took it! Other ingredients in the set included cabbage, beancurd, fishballs, crabmeat stick, vermicelli and enoki mushroom! Plain rice was separately charged at S$1 a bowl.

How could i forget the soul and essence of all mookata; raw pork lard!

Let's start the ball rolling and get the juicy fat melting! Unlike the charcoal powered mookata at complex (which i blogged about here), the one here was conveniently powered by handy gas canisters.

Maybe this would explain why the meat at Pure restaurant, despite the wider variety, lacked that special smoky flavour. Nonetheless, my friends and i were still very satisfied with our food! 

The less smokey environment was also less stinging for the eyes! Most importantly, you don't leave with that disgustingly bad smell all over your clothes, hair and body after the meal! 

Chilli wise, it was good but not as extraordinary as the one from complex; i bet this has something to do with the reduction of sesame seeds in Pure.

=====

Location
6001, Beach Road, 
#01-56, Golden Mile Tower

Map
As above

Reservation
Call 8666-6675 / 6291-0029

Menu
As above. 
↧

Funny Notice on the Coach

July 16, 2013, 8:31 am
$
0
0
I still remember the good old days when those accommodating uncles driving the long distance buses to Malaysia would allow passengers the flexibility to do whatever they want on the vehicle; save for having sex! 

Nowadays, times have changed. There are more notices and constant reminders would be blared from time to time, cautioning us not to litter, not to eat, not to drink in the sanitised bus and to vomit carefully into the plastic bags provided. 

Some operators took a step further by being even more detailed! For example, the Genting bus to Kuala Lumpur has a strange rule; no smelly food on board the bus. 

WTF! In my opinion, that can only relate to durians and smelly tofu. Other than that, does that mean i can safely have any other type of food while enjoying the scenic journey own the highlands?

I honestly thought so. 
↧
↧

Marvelicious Xiaolongbao (上海小籠包) @ Dragon-i Restaurant (龍的傳人) - Mid Valley City [Kuala Lumpur]

July 19, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
I have been complaining for quite a few years now that i am no longer impressed with food in general from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Singapore's nearest neighbour; Malaysia.

That opinion changed slightly in my most recent visit. There were actually two occasions but i would touch on each restaurant separately so as to give my utmost concentration; Dragon-i restaurant at mid valley city.

Why we were seated in dragon-i can be attributed to one mystical force; fate. Okay, there was another force in play; bowel force! I needed a clean toilet badly after lunch and asked Alex to wait for me at the lobby of cititel hotel. That bloody ass decided to take refuge at dragon-i instead! And we had lunch less than twenty minutes ago!

He explained later that he was attracted by the signature dish of the restaurant; the Shanghainese Steamed Meat Dumplings or xiaolongbao (XLB) as we like to call them.

Xiao Long Bao 
(上海小籠包)
Boy did we not regret ordering them! The XLBs were incredibly fantastic and i could even say, at the risk of receiving brickbats from many, that they were better than Crystal Jade or Imperial Treasure in Singapore! 

The thin doughskin for the XLBs at dragon-i were surprisingly not tasteless (usually the case for other XLBs where the filling seems to take the position as the only flavour spot). Of course, i can't deny that the filling continues to be part of the dining experience; a delicious ball of minced pork shank, ginger and gelatin half submerged in a pool of flavourful meat broth! 

Steamed Egg Yolk Custard Buns
(奶皇流沙包)
I always made it a point to have a basket of these on my table whenever i see it on the menu of a new restaurant i patronised as the flavour of the savoury sweet filling is very addictive!

Hmmm...... Buttery with a strong salty egg yolk intensity that would not sit well with lovers of liu shao bao who would likely seek a perfect balance. Another issue encountered; the dough was a bit too thick for my liking. 

Winter Melon and Longan 
with Sea Coconut 
Refreshing for the throat and i thought it was quite a steal at only 5 RM for a pretty luxurious concoction of winter melon, red dates, longan and sea coconut in a restaurant! 

=====

Location
Cititel Hotel, Main Lobby, 
Ground Floor, Mid Valley City, 
Kuala Lumpur

Price
Xiao Long Bao - RM 9.80
Egg Yolk Custard Buns - RM 8.00
The Drink - RM 5.00
[Subject to GST and Govt Tax]

Additional Information
Too troublesome to travel all the way up to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore? There is actually a branch at Johore Bahru (not sure if quality would be consistent though). You can find it at City Square Mall, Level 3, Lot J3-36.

↧

Vampify - Turn Yourself Into a Blood Thirsty Vampire Effortlessly!

July 20, 2013, 8:21 am
$
0
0
I am a fan of the horror genre; hardly shocking news given my curiousity for the paranormal and 'love' for exploring cemeteries / abandoned buildings! 

One particular branch that intrigues me is that of the immortal beings; vampires. There are numerous rumours on how to turn a hot-blooded human into a cold-blooded vampire but as usual, rumours are rumours with no conclusive evidence. 

With the advancement of technology, there is now a method for us to vampify ourselves, virtually! At the very least, this allows vampire buffs (note: fans of twilight movies etc) the opportunity to see how they look as the blood-thirsty being.

I had a fun time playing around with it and damn was i pleased with the results! My supposedly lifeless eyes were actually quite effective in portraying the right look! Guess i can audition for the halloween event this year! 

Mom was roped in as well to share in the fun! 

Horrifying right?! Hahahaha, the friendly image she built up over the years has basically broken apart with the above picture. It was more hilarious to view it over the app as the image would be animated and is capable of snarling and biting using that nice set of pointy canine teeth! 

It was even more comical for Alex! With his pair of large eyes, he appeared really harmless and would likely be bullied by other vampires.

Showing his fangs didn't help to increase the fear factor. In fact, girls would likely find him vulnerable and protect him at all costs! 

Still a bit too docile and similar to that of a retaliating dog! 

This was more like the real thing!

=====

Download it from Apple App Store for free! 


↧
Search

Happy Bee Farm & Insect World @ Genting Highlands [Malaysia]

July 21, 2013, 8:00 am
$
0
0
Despite being a frequent contributor to the financial health of the casinos at Genting Highlands, Alex seldom ventured beyond the themed resort and hence, had never visited mid-highland attractions like strawberry farm.

Enough has been said about the strawberry farm; so today, i am going to touch on a new attraction in Genting Highlands. The 'Happy Bee Farm and Insect World' that was opened for business earlier this year!

I was taken aback when the shuttle van brought us to the entrance; the facility was not as big as expected and i initially thought we could cover it within ten minutes (we eventually took forty). 

Unlike strawberry farm, admission is chargeable (RM 20 per adult)! I was a bit reluctant to fork out almost Singapore ten dollars for a small attraction but i figured the advantage is that i would be able to blog about it for everyone's benefit.

Here we go! 



My subject header indicated the bee farm and insect world; although seemingly separated, they are actually located in the same location with insect world taking the bulk space within the attraction. 


First stop - bees in action! Nothing beats having a whole panel of honeycombs staring right at you yet without the danger of being stung! 

It's connected to the great outdoors (via a skylight opening) where the bees forage from the flowers of the vast forest in Genting Highlands.

There are nearly 20,000 bee species in the world and showcased in this apiary are bees belonging to the species of Apis Mellifera. 

As usual, get ready to be overwhelmed by a whole lot of interesting information (for example, differences between queen bee, the drones and the worker bees) that remained in the brain cells for likely one or two days before they are forgotten, for good. 

Worker bees constitute the majority in a bee colony and you are wrong to assume they are male! There are three basic classifications of bees in a colony; the queen bee (obviously female), the worker bees (female) and drones (male). The drones have only two responsibilities; eat a lot and mate with the queen. Lucky guy.

Hornet nest! This brings back painful memories as i was hospitalised for a hornet attack back in my army days. Okay, i admit i have to bear some responsibilities for the attack. =X

Stingless bees (known as Trigona bees) are also known to be the smallest in the bee world. 

As the name suggests, trigona bees have no sting and you are free to get very near to them. Frankly, they look a bit like flies and bear no resemblance to their rounder yellow cousins. 

Kids would love this even though i do hope parents would educate their children properly that not all bees are stingless and those in Singapore can still inflict a pretty nasty sting! 

A guide was assigned to us and i am unsure if it was the norm since we were the only two customers in the entire attraction at that time. Anyway, he proceeded to remove the top cover to let us have a closer look at the hive's interior. 

Using synthetic bee cups would allow efficient collection of honey. At times, it is necessary as some species of bees cannot made beewax; an essential ingredient for honeycombs.

Want to have a taste of pure, unprocessed honey? The guide offered us fresh from the hive and we were surprised to find it amazingly light and not very very sweet. 

Just like IKEA, the effective use of space and layouts has resulted in a total of thirteen zones in the vicinity!

A number of artificial spots were available for group photo-taking, like this curtain of man-made waterfall.

Or battling with the gigantic beetle!

Tell me, what's your impression when you read the sign? That you can have some personal photo opportunities with living insects, similar to what i did at Cameron Highlands? That's what i thought too! 

No! It means you can take pictures of the insects while they remained caged up! I was so hoping to have this millipede crawling all over me with its hundreds of legs!

Manage to find the leaf frog?

Malaysia, ranked 67th in the world for land area, is blessed with a rich and diverse ecosystem. From this moment, be enthralled by the beauty of the insect world. 

Just a rough overview of the area which comprises of four zones. Rest assured, there is a hand drawn map i would append at the end of this post. 

Compared to beetles (numbering 400,000 species), butterflies paled as far as number is concerned with only 15,000 to 20,000 known species. 

Notwithstanding the figures, butterflies are the ones that hold an indisputable charm over humans with those slow fluttering wings and shimmering splashes of colours that give one the illusion of flying jewels.

Nothing's perfect, even in the natural world. Known as pyros, the above snout headed insect is nowhere related to butterflies.

Another weirdo; alligator fly. 

Children might find the exhibits boring as these insects were, simply put, dead specimens kept in boxes! Parents can consider persuading them to play with the gigantic ladybird while they continue to marvel at the butterflies, and beetles. 

These look plasticky but are in fact the real thing! 

Enough butterflies for you? What i have included above are just a few out of the many boxes displayed in the exhibit! We would have gladly spent more time in the attraction if not for the hurry to travel to Kuala Lumpur on the same day. 

In addition, having a personal guide looking at our every move and action can be rather unnerving. Not that i am complaining since he was actually a nice and accommodating guy.

Last peculiarity - the owl-faced butterfly! 

Zone 11 - the insect specimen's factory. The true definition of the word factory cannot be applied in this instance. 

I would much prefer to call this small space a workshop instead of a factory. To be scientifically more correct, it should rightfully be termed as a laboratory.

This is the place where staff members make the preparation to mount the insects for display. Bug collectors would know the steps involved and contrary to many people's perception, it is not as easy as just sticking pins.

Sign up for the mounting workshops if you are keen to learn more of the secrets and techniques! 

The thought flashing on my mind as i saw these insects was not of a conservationist. Sadly, i was wondering if they are palatable... 

Zone 12 - bring back some souvenirs! 

Imagine if the same thing is done in the zoo; you can freely buy live animals like that cute golden monkey perched on that tree branch and advance your fascination with it at the comfort of your own home! 

Those live beetles in the picture prior to the above costs around RM 200. Dead specimens of rare butterflies can even top the scale at RM 1,888!

My eyes can only feast on these cheaper ones that would not burn a hole in my pocket! 

Last zone is the retail outlet where you can part away with more money for honey products! I brushed away the temptation buy a few bottles given that i still have to travel to Kuala Lumpur and prefer to do so with a lighter baggage.

As promised, the hand-drawn map with the depiction of all thirteen zones / exhibits for your reference.

=====

Location
Lot 6452, Genting View Resorts, KM 11-3, 
Genting Highlands, 69000 Pahang, Malaysia

Map
As above.

Website

Price
Adult - RM 20
Child /Senior Citizen - RM 16
Family Package - RM 45

For Those Who Don't Drive
The map is as good as useless if you don't drive up to Genting Highlands. Happy bee farm and insect world is not in close proximity to Genting Skyway station and walking there is not an option for me! 

Contact Mr Edward Teon instead!!! This nice English speaking uncle would bring you to both strawberry farm and happy bee farm for only RM 4 per person! 

You can even engage him for longer day trips to Kuala Lumpur and Cameron Highlands using his van which can accommodate up to ten passengers. 

Additional Information
Enjoy drinking a hot cuppa strawberry coffee at the alfresco cafe near the entrance. 

Menu as above. We went for the honey of course!

As mentioned previously, our trip included a visit to the strawberry farm as well. For a more detailed posting on the attraction, please click here. 

↧

Whampoa Carrot Cake (Black Version) - The Long Wait Doesn't Justify! @ Whampoa Makan Place Hawker Centre

July 22, 2013, 6:46 am
$
0
0
Don't know what to have for breakfast in a hawker centre? Go for the stall with the longest queue and chances are you would not be disappointed! 

I did mention chances; occasionally, slip-up does happen and we have to take it in our stride. Easier said than done, especially when i waited close to an hour to secure a plate of black carrot cake from this stall known as Whampoa Carrot Cake.

At S$3 a portion, it wasn't as black as i expected even though i have specifically asked for additional sweet black sauce. Taste wise, it might sit well with the older generation in offering traditional carrot cake that focused on flavouring rather than sweetness, which would mean i should have ordered the white version instead. 

Frankly, i was kicking myself for wasting precious time on a plate of unsatisfying carrot cake! And i did realise towards the end why the queue was moving so slowly; it's a one-man show and the stall sells porridge for which the owner took a bloody long time to prepare, cook and serve! 

=====

Location
92, Whampoa Drive, #01-06, 
Whampoa Makan Place and Market

Price
S$3 a plate. 
↧
↧

Madam Kwan's Nasi Lemak - Truly Better than Grandma's @ Mid Valley Megamall [Kuala Lumpur]

July 23, 2013, 6:52 am
$
0
0
When Grandma's first appeared on Singapore's competitive food scene, i clearly remember a food reviewer from The Straits Times mentioning that its signature dish was roughly 80% the standard of Madam Kwan's nasi lemak. 

To think that i was already impressed by Grandma's nasi lemak; i really could not imagine how much better Madam Kwan's version would be! For those who are still confused, the recipe for Grandma's originates from Madam Kwan. 

In my most recent trip to Malaysia, i had the pleasure to finally get a taste of the epic nasi lemak from Madam Kwan, although an overseas branch was set up in Singapore (Vivocity) just two months ago. 

Secretly, just between us in this blog, i seriously don't see the point of paying an astronomical S$13.90 for a plate of nasi lemak when the same dish costs half that amount across the causeway! 

Anyway, to bring you back into the picture (literally), here's the nasi lemak awarded as the best in Malaysia. 

Let's begin with the miscellaneous; the acar which was burdened with too much salt and chilli. It had a slight Korean kimchi twist with the addition of cabbage. Nothing impressive in my opinion. 

The delicious stir fried onions from Grandma's continues to marvel me in my sleep and the same ones from Madam Kwan were just as good. I had a small complaint though; the chef could be less generous with the ikan bilis!

When it comes to the coconut rice of nasi lemak, some foodies see it as the main star and would discount the dish heavily for rice that lacks the distinctive coconut taste and aroma. 

Guess the one from Madam Kwan's would meet their criteria; I personally enjoyed the grain-by-grain texture of the rice and their deep infusion of coconut milk! 

Having said that, i am not very particular when it comes to rice. 

What sealed the deal eventually was the curry chicken! It was way better than Grandma's with an incredible creaminess that perfectly complemented the tender chicken meat! Even Alex, who resists spicy food, commented that it was terrific! 

Now, that's a rarity from a superbly picky person!

=====

Location
F-052, 1st Floor,
Mid Valley Megamall,
Kuala Lumpur

Price
Nasi Lemak - RM 16.90
[Subject to Service Charge and Govt Tax]
↧

Another Stopover Point - Ming Ang & its Super Delicious Ma Ti Su (or Heong Peah) @ Yong Peng, Malaysia

July 26, 2013, 7:26 am
$
0
0
In my many road trips to Peninsular Malaysia, there's one town the coach would definitely stop for a short 30-minute break; Yong Peng (永平). More often than not, the rest area would be scheduled at this place known as Lucky Garden.

No no no, i am not going to talk about lucky garden, for which many Singaporeans are familiar with. Topic today concentrates on another similar commercial entity just a few hundred meters; Ming Ang (明安熟食广场).

What's so special about this Ming Ang? Given its objective to serve as a comprehensive resting / toilet point for travellers (many of whom are Singaporeans); prices are in fact comparable to Lucky Garden, meaning overpriced!

But, it beats having to stopover at boring Lucky Garden every single time i travel up north to places like Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands etc. Plus, an alternative for food options is always welcome! 

By the way, i am loving the flavourful lor mai kai (glutinous rice chicken at RM 480 each) in Malaysia although the meat came complete with bones! The same could not be said of the big bun (RM 4.80); pathetic filling and thick with dough. 

However, the biggest draw for me is the stalls selling freshly baked sesame horse hoof pastries [also known as Ma Ti Su, Beh Teh Sor (馬蹄酥) or Heong Peah(香餅)]! I first chanced upon Ming Ang a few years ago and the aforementioned pastries were unforgettable!

There was another vendor selling pineapple cake in  and i bought a box simply because every piece cost less than S$1! A similar one would likely be in the range of S$2-3 in Singapore! 

My haul back to Singapore! Don't be mistaken; two packs of Heong Peah were missing from the picture. My record was eight packs. 

I could not remember exactly how much i paid for the Heong Peah; should be less than RM 10 a pack. In the case of the pineapple cakes, it RM 18.80 for twelve pieces. 

Personally, the pineapple cake was a total letdown! I could not accept the pastry flaking all over me as i gave a very gentle bite! Not only that, it was not buttery and the paste tasted nothing like the marvellous ones from Taiwan; strangely, the first thought that came to mind was Nonya style pineapple tarts.

Ahhh! The signature ma ti su; the appetising fragrance of freshly baked sesame seeds, those crunchy layers of paper thin crust that didn't overwhelm like many in the market and i just could not stop relishing the maltose filling that was, thankfully, not sickeningly sweet! 

=====

Location
lLot 1523, Batu 1/2, Jalan Muar, 
83700 Yong Peng, Johor

Directions
For motorists, just go your normal route to Lucky Garden but instead of stopping, continue driving ahead and you should see Ming Ang just two hundred meters away.

Coach-Takers
So far, i have come to the conclusion that almost all coaches under the brand name of Five Stars and Konsortium would stop at Lucky Garden. Coaches under Transtar and Grasslands seem to prefer Ming Ang more. 

Additional Information
As usual, there would be a supermarket stationed in Ming Ang where you can spend all your remaining ringgit on local foodstuffs for family, friends and colleagues back home.
↧

Olidfy 2 by - Speed Up the Ageing Process!

July 27, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
Ageing - growing old is a natural process in human life although many of us could not accept the reality, and would try all sorts of methods (orthodox or otherwise) to retain or revert to our youthful state. 

Therefore, i was assuming that the above iPhone application (heard it is on android too) would not be as popular as its terrifying 'Vampify' sibling. I am actually incorrect in my assumption; the app gained quite a strong following and there must be only one reason. 

To see the aged face of a friend or family member and to laugh heartily after that! In case you are wondering, the ah-ma in the picture is my elder sister who has always received compliments of appearing to be the youngest among us three siblings! 

No present for guessing who this smiling ah chek is! 

An option in the app allows the grouchy me to record a message, complete with animated expressions typical of an elderly person and then save it as a video file. Imagine playing it back in my twilight years! Those flashbacks would be so memorable!! 

You can also choose to age twenty, forty and up to sixty years in the free version! Pay a nominal fee to gain access to an additional century of pain, suffering and wrinkles. 

Alex, the sporty one, agreed to be the model showing the different phases in life; above is the future him with an extra twenty years to his boyish look. 

Him again, at the supposed age of sixty eight years old when he would have experienced life in its good and bad, bringing him relentless worries and also unmeasured happiness. 

Oh my god! I can so imagine him looking like this sixty years later; sitting with one leg on the chair, digging his nose and spitting anywhere he desires!

Fun? So what are you waiting for?
Download the app and enjoy the ageing process! 

^_^
↧
Viewing all 3110 articles
Browse latest View live
Search