Quantcast
Channel: Entree Kibbles
Viewing all 3111 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Graves of Tan Tock Seng (Singapore's Pionner), his Daughter-in-Law and Granddaughter-in-Law @ Outram [near Tiong Bahru]

August 21, 2013, 8:04 am
$
0
0
Drive, ride or even walk along this stretch of road and i bet most of you would not be observant enough to detect something that is out of sync with the entire surrounding.

For food lovers, there's a higher likelihood of noticing the famous Tiong Bahru Pau and Snack and wondering why is there a queue in such a rundown shop!

The rich history of Tiong Bahru and Outram is known to many (there's even a Tiong Bahru heritage trail) but what's more astonishing was finding the graves of arguably Singapore's most famous pioneer and that of his daughter in law and granddaughter in law in the area. 

A SLA (Singapore Land Authority) sign along the barred road leading to the graves mentioned that it is state land and no trespassing is allowed. Bloody conflicting messages by the government agencies; if i cannot enter, then what's point of having a trail in the first place endorsed by National Heritage Board?!

Only the sight of intimidating fence with barbed wire would discourage me from venturing further. In this case, the lack of those structures means i am free to 'get lost and find my way around'.

And damn was i shocked to see this humongous grave; imagine the loss of government revenue from selling this piece of prime land!

You can find many such graves in Bukit Brown although a size of this magnitude is still considered pretty rare in the century-old cemetery.  Notice the pool of water in that round cavity?

I found these eggs like stuff floating on top! Are they frog eggs which will transform into cute tadpoles or something that are of grave concern to the authorities recently? What was that something? The dengue-causing aedes mosquitoes!

Talking about mosquitoes, the ones in the graves vicinity were vicious in their blood hunt and in my opinion, placed second to the chasing types at Sungei Buloh wetland reserve.

My legs have never been that "red" from scratching for a long time. Moral of the story : always keep a packet of insect repellent sticker in my bag!!!! And wear long jeans!!!

Coming back, this is not the headstone for Tan Tock Seng (陈笃生)! The grave contained the remains of Tan Tock Seng's daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law; Madams Chua Seah Neo and Wuing Neo . Why daughter in laws and not his blood related children? Beats me even though the original intention was to have the land as a family burial plot! :(

Burial mound for the two ladies - the fengshui implication for this mound is more pronounced than the generic ones in Lim Chu Kang cemetery. The moat surrounding the mound would have ensured water flowing smoothly from the back of the tomb to the front when it rains; a sign of prosperity for the descendents of the deceased. 

Four stone lions fronted the grave as esteemed guardians of the tomb. Personally, they appeared to be lion hybrids with traits of dragons, fish and qilin; auspicious animals anyway. 

This puzzles me; it's common to reserve a space for the earth deity by the side of Chinese tombs but the Chinese characters are translated as mountain spirit instead. Why? It could be the custom at that time or that the praying for earth deity was not as widespread then; we have to keep in mind that this grave was dated year 1882.

Let's proceed to Tan Tock Seng's grave! I was hesitant in the beginning as i could still recollect the bad experience i had at Lim Chu Kang during the exploration of the jetty house! 

It's hardly comforting when i had to pray that no snake would suddenly slither towards me or drop from the towering trees around me! Adding to the fear factor was that i am very much alone! 

Oh.... That's small and barely reflective for the man who has contributed so much to Singapore's society; one of which is Tan Tan Seng hospital, the lion city's busiest! 

The stone lions were chubbier and cuter though. 

A laminated notice informed visitors to keep the premises clean. As you can see, the grave was situated on an elevated terrain facing a busy and confusing three-road intersection. 

Like his daughter and granddaughter-in-laws; it was once again the use of mountain spirit in place of earth deity. Of course, Tan Tock Seng passed much earlier. 

This great man died during the reign of Emperor Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty in 1850 when he was only 52 years old! Interestingly, he was originally buried somewhere else and moved to the current location around 1882. This move is quite fascinating as grave exhumation is a big taboo for Chinese unless there are strong reasons to do so. 

What will constitute as strong reasons? The mystic art of Fengshui is always the reason, especially when the move can help to improve the luck and fortune for the descendents. The dead can't say anything so the living shall decide.

More historical facts on the philanthropist can be found in this metal plaque. See, what's the point of having a no trespassing sign at the entrance when effort was made to install the information plaques for visitors?!

Awwwww.... so cute right?

Walking back as i cannot withstand the mosquitoes' siege anymore and maintaining a cautious stand as there was still the risk of encountering those slithering creatures! 

I felt there are more than meet the eyes to the stairs; they must have lead to somewhere in their heydays and it's unfortunate i could not travel back in time! 

Following on the above sentence, i could be right; notice the road up the slope? It used to lead to a school known as Gongshan School that was demolished back in 1988. As there was a bend at the corner, the steps by the side of the grave would have continued to the entrance of the school.

Exploration complete! Let's get a can of ice cold coke from the Shell Petrol Station right across the pedestrian bridge to quench the thirst and get some air-con!

=====

Location
Well, it is along Outram Road and super near to bus stop. 

Darn, it's hard to describe the exact location! Kindly refer to the above map as a better alternative. 

↧
Search

Jovyn - The Ultra Cutie Pie

August 22, 2013, 5:55 am
$
0
0
My top ten blog posts consist mainly of food entries and that's predictable given how passionate many people are towards their food! 

However, as far as facebook 'likes' are concerned, pictures of Jovyn have a much higher hit! Hence, this post would be esspecially dedicated to her; once again. 

That's the amazing thing about children; they grow so fast and develop a different look, a different character (for better or for worse) in just a few months and it's never that boring to show their progress pictorially!

She's getting more mischievous but on the good side, she is the little happy fruit in the family and never ceases to make us laugh even after a tiring day at work (that's her putting a ball underneath her t-shirt). 

Her energy is amazing and i can truthfully understand why men would mature so much after having kids! The way that bundle of energy works us can be physically more tiring than working a 12-hour shift.

Mentally though; my life has never felt so rich before.
And no, i am not in a rush to get my own kids!

Unless it is short gun! 
Wahahahahaha. 
↧
↧

Saizeriya Restorante E Caffe - As Good As I Remember @ City Square Mall [Singapore]

August 24, 2013, 4:06 am
$
0
0
Craving for specific stuff does encourage me to travel to certain places even though the location might be inconvenient. Without being my usual naggy self, i was actually craving for the mee siam at Royals Cafe last week. 

The branch is no longer there. 
=_=

Mom wasn't that keen to try Italian fusion cuisine at first but was eventually persuaded to enter Saizeriya after walking around the entire shopping mall without any decisive decision! 

It was lunch time yet the restaurant was less than half filled; an uncomfortable scenario that always makes me missed a beat or two. What if the quality has deteriorated and mom would not have enjoyed the food as much as i did in the past?

Thankfully, that was definitely not the case

Baby Octopus Arrabiata 
I have no idea how to eat this as there was no bread, nor pasta or rice in it. And as a soup, it was overly savoury and rich for our palates! It was a pity as the submerged baby octopuses did a great job in releasing their delicious seafoody flavour into the tomato-based soup. A tad too spicy but still manageable for me. 

Paella
Order this plainly because this is most related to the Asian cuisine mom is generally comfortable with and most importantly, she enjoys seafood! 

The taste was a bit too bland for paella and i thought it would be more appropriate for it to be tagged as a cheese baked rice. Nonetheless, mom quite liked the paella despite the cheese (she finds it fattening!) and for only S$6.90 nett; the chef sure was generous with the seafood ingredients! 

US Sirloin
A steak?! Shouldn't i go with more interesting Italian food like risotto, spaghetti etc?! I did mention at the beginning of the post that when the craving starts, i can hardly control my action. 

Served medium cooked, it was a straightforward slab of delicious beef steak that oozed natural meat juices without excessive fanfare. 

And I absolutely love it! 

Chocolate Fondant
If i am eating alone, i might have given this a miss even though i am a slave when it comes to sinful desserts! 

But, mom was with me to share the sin (and the fats)! The chocolate sponge cake was served piping hot, an essential criterion to truly enjoy fondant and was a delightful dessert to go with plain vanilla ice cream! 

Sadly, the melted chocolate in the middle didn't gush out like lava of a volcano. Having said that, it was as sweet, as creamy and as satisfying as it should. 

=====

Location
180 Kitchener Road,
#B2-55/56, City Square Mall

Website

Price
Baby Octopus Arrabiata - S$5.90
Paella - S$6.90
US Sirloin - S$11.90
Chocolate Fondant - S$5.90
[INCLUSIVE of GST and Service Charge]
↧

Black Carrot Cake from Fu Ming Cooked Food [福明熟食] @ Block 85 Redhill Food Centre

August 25, 2013, 8:44 am
$
0
0
What would you expect when even the grand old master of food blogging, Dr Leslie Tay from ieatishootipost.sg, gave his strong endorsement to this particular carrot cake stall at Redhill Food Centre; noting specifically that the "black carrot cake glistens with a sexy dark appeal"?

Frankly, i expected a lot and was looking forward to breaking my recent bad cycle of hardly impressive black carrot cake from numerous stalls in Singapore. While waiting for the carrot cake to be ready, i had to keep swallowing my saliva; would this be "the one"? 

No, i am afraid it's not. =_=|||

It was comparable with what i had at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Hawker Centre except that it was saltier and likely to appeal to the elderly generation that makes up a significant population in the redhill estate. Other than that, i am sure this is hardly deserving of the 4.5/5 rating.

Of course, as i have always emphasised, taste differs from one person to another and there's still the remote chance that things would just screw up occasionally. 

As for the "glistening with a sexy dark appeal", i think a picture says a thousand words. I have included two above and you shall make the necessary judgment call.

Thanks.

=====

Location
Block 85, Redhill Lane,
#01-49, Redhill Food Centre 

Price
Minimum S$2 a serving
I ordered for S$3

Additional Information
Although Fu Ming has the support from ieatishootipost.sg, it was another carrot cake stall within the same food centre that had a longer queue. Guess i have to be back again to try out this 'delicious fried carrot cake'! 
↧

Xue Hua Fei Cheng Tng (雪花飞清汤) @ Chinatown Complex Hawker Centre

August 26, 2013, 7:26 am
$
0
0
Back when i was working in the Agency for Integrated Care at Tanjong Pagar, i was literally pampered with cheap and supposedly good food that was merely a short five-minute walk from my workplace (MND building that is)! 

But, the convenience of such close proximity to the two notable food centres (Maxwell and Amoy for that matter) didn't stop me from venturing further into the Chinatown district where i frequently had lunches at Chinatown Complex hawker centre. 

Two particular stalls had that mystical hold over me; a hold so strong, so addictive that i found it very uneasy if i didn't patronise it at least once a week. One of them was Xue Hua Fei (雪花飞) that has been in operation since 1954; in mandarin, the name is translated as flying snowflakes! 

My walks to Chinatown Complex were mainly conducted under the merciless hot sun for which a sweat-soaked shirt would be the unwanted reward. Hence, what other dessert would be more suitable than a simple bowl of heat-soothing cheng tng!?

By the way (in case you are wondering), the "curse to visit at least once a week" was eventually broken when i resigned and moved out of MND. I went cold turkey for more than a month before driving all the way there to indulge again, together with my dearest mom! 

Just the sheer appearance of ice was already sufficient to cool me down by 49.49%! The broth was a traditional combination of what goes into Cheng Tng and resulted was a clear soup served with only two purposes in mind; to quench your thirst and cool your body.

Made up of typical traditional ingredients (think lotus seeds, white fungus, dried longans), this lacked the luxuries that some other Cheng Tng stalls have offered. Nonetheless, it was purely because of its uncomplicated plainness (and unexcessive sweetness) that got me hooked to it!

This was also one of the rare instances where i am actually loving the flavourful "liao" more than the "tng", especially the burst of good old sweetness whenever i bit into the lotus seeds! The above was the hot version for mom (included so that you can see the ingredients clearer).

=====

Location
Block 335, Smith Street, 
#02-19, Chinatown Complex Food Centre

Map of the Food Centre
The hawker centre is huge; please refer to the map diligently.

Price
Cheng Tng - S$1.50 a bowl
↧
↧

Naughty Jovyn!

August 28, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
Complaints from me of my adorable little niece have escalated in recent months; no doubt the effects of her moving along the line to the Monster Three's phase. 

Although i am relentless in my complaints, i am also aware that the balance to my grouches is that i can take a whole bunch of photographs which succinctly reflect the quiet, moody and dark side of Jovyn who is otherwise known to be a jovial kid. 

Her naughtiness can no longer be tolerated! And who else is more suitable but the daddy to act as the absolute disciplinarian!

She expressed her stubborn defiance (the stare by the way, was inherited from her mother) yet at the same time, Jovyn didn't dare to make any movement that could potentially aggravate the situation. 

Thankfully (for her, not us), the stalemate didn't drag for too long.

Awwww so sweet right? However, we must nip her naughtiness in the bud before it grows into a bigger problem as she grows older. Guess it's time to hit the many books i have on canine discipline. 

↧

Resurfacing of THE Black Carrot Cake [旺記四炒] at Block 156, Yishun Street 11 [Singapore]

August 29, 2013, 8:04 am
$
0
0
I have always lamented the closure of my favourite carrot cake stall at this particular kopitiam in Yishun, especially when my continuous search for one of a comparable standard has been largely unsuccessful.

Hence, you can imagine how delighted i was when i saw the empty stall being taken up once again! It was not managed by the same couple but i figured it was a good omen to have it at the same location on a nice Saturday morning! And given my recent disappointments with black carrot cake, i doubt it can get any worse.

Visually, this is the exact kind of black carrot cake i am always referring too; the darker infusion of black sweet sauce, the oilier shine, the gooey texture and the appearance of little charred bits.

Two things can be improved; uniformity with the dicing (i have always enjoyed smaller pieces) and to be more generous with the eggs (this is easily remedied by requesting for extra eggs; chargeable of course)! 

The feeling i got as i took a spoonful was similar to finding something precious that i lost a long time ago; the sweeter delicious initiation followed by the heavier wok hei flavour that concluded with tiny bursts of salty chai po! 

It wasn't 100% the same as the previous stall even though i can confidently say that as far as flavour is concerned, it was hovering above a comfortable 75%, which is way better than the ones i had in recent times! 

I am so going to have a plate all for myself this Saturday! 

=====

Location
Block 156, Yishun Street 11,
Within 156 Eating House

Price
Minimum S$2.50 a plate
↧

Blog Photographs used for 'Yuan' - A Publication by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations

August 30, 2013, 9:12 am
$
0
0
An A4-sized mailer was addressed to me yesterday by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations. Now, i hardly read Chinese nowadays (except for the evening tabloid) so i absentmindedly thought it must be something i accidentally signed up for when answering a survey. 

Upon tearing the envelope apart, i saw the cover page was showing a topic (Getai) related to a subject i am interested in; the Chinese ghost month! Woah, my luck was not bad; SOMEONE actually knew and sent the publication to me! 

While flipping through the pages, the above photograph caught my attention; the picture of a typical getai audience setup where the front row is always empty looked kind of familiar.... 

Next page - damn, i confirmed i snapped this photograph too! I even mentioned in this very blog that Liu Ling Ling looked very unflattering in that outfit! You may check out the post here. 

I am credited!!! *happy* Honestly, i have never been convinced of my photo-taking skills but this is indeed a boost to my confidence! 

Thanks for sending the publication to me, Corine! :)

↧
Search

Henderson Waves on a Sunday Morning [Part of Singapore's Southern Ridges]

August 31, 2013, 8:54 pm
$
0
0
Part of my recent routine to expose my parents to the many local attractions which they have yet to visit is to drag myself out of bed on most Sunday mornings! What to do, Sundays are when dad is mostly free and the brat (Jovyn) would also be in the good hands of her tiger mommy back in Sengkang.

Two Sundays ago, i brought the parents to Henderson Waves! They have seen the stunning structure while travelling along Henderson Road even though they have yet to step on it.

To reduce your carbon footprint, it would be recommended to take public transport or walk but when the persons in question (us for example) stay in Yishun, driving our 7 year-old Vios is the best option! For motorists, please park your vehicle at Telok Blangah Hill Park instead of the crowded Faber Hill.

Underbelly of the bridge as we trekked up the less-travelled vehicle route; guess some maintenance work is required to clean up the dirt. 

Residents immersed in their swordplay exercise; i assumed that such a scene would be uncommon in Singapore and i was proven wrong! Maybe i should make more attempts to wake up earlier on weekends to visit the parks. 

Walking on the highest pedestrian bridge (36 meters) in Singapore! The route was designed in a way that you would not be aware of what to expect in the beginning (except for that massive green backdrop) until you step deeper in.

Although the above photograph could not capture my parents' expression, they were actually in awe of the surroundings that opened up to them. 

On one side was the morning sun awakening from its slumber, blanketing the central business district in the far distance and the many public flats next to the park with its gentle orange hue. 

The other side was an entirely different world; mainly lush greenery with the aesthetically-unique condominium (Reflections at Keppel Bay) taking up the centrepiece role. 

Photographs of mom and dad. The reversal of roles has only just begun; in my younger days, my parents would try their best to make Sunday the family bonding day by bringing the three children brats to places like Sentosa, Sembawang Park. It's my turn now. :)

I had blogged on Henderson Waves in 2010 and it was, for a period of time, the place for the Gang of Four to chill out at night when most shops were closed for the day. A pity age is now catching up on us and night activities are frowned upon by the sleeping bugs in our bodies! 

Maybe we can consider camping on the bridge like this young man did. There is no rain shelter but it should be fun sleeping under the vast star-filled sky. 

What i hate to see is the inconsiderate actions of some of the users. Littering is unacceptable but to throw your rubbish on top of the beams is plain atrocious! How do you expect the cleaners to remove it?! Assholes!

Despite the no-smoking sign, cigarette butts were found on the timber deck. I have no issue with smokers; no matter what, it is their personal choice but it's frustrating to see such blatant displays of nonchalance!

On one hand, the use of surveillance cameras appeared ineffective while on the other hand, i have to understand that the park is public accessible 24 hours and it would not be easy to catch errant smokers and litterbugs. 

Enough of complaints! The 274-meter Henderson Waves is an important connection for the Southern Ridges; a 9-kilometer trail stretches from Mount Faber at Harbourfront to Kent Ridge, where my current workplace is. 

There is no step on the bridge, making it easier for the elderly and the handicapped to enjoy the facility and the accompanying views. 

Made of yellow balau wood, an all-weather timber material found in Southeast Asia, it can be quite unnerving for visitors who are afraid of height to notice the gap in between the slabs. 

Dad checking out the height and the "skeleton" of the bridge. 

These steel 'ribs' sculpts the bridge and gives it the artistic feel of a dancing wave that bounces from one park to the other. The ribs also act as shelters for park goers. 

Henderson Road - i personally enjoy driving down this road to Sentosa just to drive under the imposing Henderson Waves. Plus, traffic is usually smoother this way. :P 

Blossoming tree.

Ending this post with the complete curves from Mount Faber side. 

=====

Location and Map
Along Henderson Road. Nearest MRT station is Circle Line; Telok Blangah station
↧
↧

Kazan Japanese Cuisine - Lip Smacking Good Teriyaki Chicken Set @ Chinatown Complex Food Centre [Singapore]

September 2, 2013, 8:06 am
$
0
0
In the short three months that i worked for the Agency for Integrated Care at Tanjong Pagar, the cuisine i often had was Japanese and it came from an unassuming hawker stall located in Chinatown Complex! 

Kazan Japanese Cuisine - besides the ice cold Cheng Tng i previously mentioned, this was the other stall that enticed me to make the 10-minute walk to Chinatown under the hot sun at least twice a week (my record was four times in one week)! 

With over two hundred stalls in the food center (many of them reputable with a history older than me), it was literally fate that brought me to Kazan; the media write-ups attracted my attention after spending over ten minutes deciding what to have to satisfy my tummy. 

Faced with sixteen different selection of bento sets, i chose the one i am most comfortable with since young; the strongly recommended Teriyaki Chicken. In fact, if my memory didn't fail me, Teriyaki Chicken was actually my very first Japanese dish!

I practically love everything, except for maybe the raw vegetables. Even the pickles, which i usually left untouched, were great additions to the white Japanese rice topped with sprinklers of sesame seeds!

Key was obviously the teriyaki chicken itself; unlike the conventional grilled / broiled version, this was deep fried and way more delicious! The crispy crunch of the skin coupled with the fresh, tender chicken meat and the sweet teriyaki sauce were simply too good to be true!

I believe in saving the best for the last. 
A sinful indulgence of the chicken skin! 

Damn Yummy!

=====

Location
Block 335, Smith Street, #02-001, 
Chinatown Complex Food Centre

Opening Hours
Mondays to Fridays : 11.30am to 8.30pm
Sundays : 11am to 6pm
Closed on Saturdays

Price
Teriyaki Chicken Set - S$5.00

Menu (Partial)
As above. 

Additional Information
Every set comes with a complimentary serving of decent miso soup. 
↧

White-crested Laughingthrush - A Daring Bird Species @ Telok Blangah Hill Park

September 3, 2013, 8:00 am
$
0
0
On the way from Henderson Waves to the carpark at Telok Blangah Hill Park, my parents and I decided to take another route via the quiet exercise corner. 

It was relatively quiet till we heard a flurry of activity coming from the surrounding trees! Looking up, we saw no less than seven birds having a heated animated discussion that also involved jumping from one tree to another! 

Most of the times, i would stay silent in order to truly appreciate the sound of nature. But, i cannot stop my dad from mimicking their unique chirps!!! In a split second, the birds stopped their chatter and turned towards my dad.

Some of them even flew down to take a closer look! They must be wondering in their pea-sized brains why this "big bird" managed to sound like them. 

Unlike most birds i know, these White-crested Laughingthrush were daring yet apprehensive enough to hop closer to my dad, who was enjoying all the attention! 
↧

Mid-Autumn Festive Celebration 2013 - Mooncakes Decadence @ Takashimaya Square Basement 2 [Singapore]

September 4, 2013, 7:51 am
$
0
0
I was thinking of giving the annual mooncake fest at Takashimaya a miss this year as i doubt i have sufficient time to cover even a small section! In addition, i am quite sure the selection would not deviate much from last year.

However, mom has coincidentally scheduled an X-ray session in Orchard and being the filial son i tried my best to be, the decision was made to wake up earlier on Saturday to accompany her (and my sisters) after the X-ray.

It was a Saturday that didn't appear to be a Saturday; the crowd was pretty thin and unlike previous years, i could walk leisurely to each and every stall to sample as much as i desire! 

Big brands, as usual, took up the prime spots facing the main entrance. TWG was once again showcasing its tea-infused mooncakes; many of which continued to have yucky colours that do little to whet my appetite.

See what i meant? The name Illumination should have evoked romantic images of a glowing moon yet sitting in front of me were humongous charcoal pill lookalikes that could have resolved any severe diarrhea!

Presentation is incredibly important in marketing! Look at the above mooncakes under Home's Favourite; they screamed of rich opulence with that adoring golden powder shine!

Anyway, the true essence of the mid-autumn festival was to promote family togetherness and bonding. In the older days, they were easily achieved since there weren't much night activities and family nucleus was bigger. Now, it would likely be a challenge to get your child away from the computer / laptop / iphone etc just to admire the full moon and share a mooncake.

Awwww... memories of the piglets in bamboo cage! Actually, i am quite curious on how they came to be associated with the mid-autumn festival.

Frankly, these cute piglets were often displayed in my house as items offered to the ancestors and deities; strangely enough, my siblings and myself have never enjoyed the taste!

In a way, it was money saved for the family as mom simply bought lesser and lesser as time goes by! For the same price i would have paid for the fake piglets, I could have a luxurious plate of char siew made of real pork.

I was commenting to my colleagues the other day that my preference for the type of mooncakes changes with age; when i was younger, the obvious choice would be snowskin mooncakes.

Progressively, i came to the realisation that traditional mooncakes with their lotus paste filling and salted egg yolks are still the most delicious! Furthermore, they are cheaper!

Once again, please leave chocolates out of the picture! I don't recollect any stories where chocolates are part and parcel of the mooncake festival!

Look like pralines but these snowskin D24 durian minis are definitely not.

Packaging tea with mooncakes? In my opinion, the idea was to have tea with mooncakes which would help to dilute the sinful guilt of ingesting too much calories! For those who are unaware, a typical sized mooncake contains a whooping 1,000 calories! 

Such a healthy initiative could not be overlooked by profit making companies in health conscious Singapore; hence, i found a few vendors selling teapots, tea leaves alongside or together with mooncakes. Don't remember seeing that last year.

Teochew mooncake - i still could not get over the fact that a mooncake can appear to be so flaky and dry! 

Not even if you add an adorable teddy bear next to them! Well, i should not speak too fast; this kind of mooncakes could be my favourite another ten years down the road. 

Tai Chong Kok (大中国) mooncakes - the most famous mooncake bakery in Singapore with a history spanning over seventy five years! Those interested to know the prices can click, save and view the picture with more clarity.

Checking out the different types of mooncakes using innovative flavourings is not as fascinating as seeing the varied packaging from each vendor. Business students would understand that in many products, the packaging can constitute a substantial percentage of the cost price. 

Sadly, there was barely any excitement this year. 

Most useful would have to be the above packaging that acts as a cosmetic box with a photo frame. I am not so sure about you but in my family, we often recycle the boxes as storage for small items. 

Fish-shaped mooncakes; too adorable to be eaten!



Do feel free to sample! For the sake of my tummy and the promise to show my abs to my colleagues in two months time, i had to refrain myself!!!!

Nutritious mooncakes from Hua Ting - said to be rich in protein, fibre, anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids! Interesting although people who know me well would know i am not those consumers who are easily taken in by healthy messages. 

This setup by Swatow seafood restaurant was so classic! For better effect, the vendor should have the salespeople dressed in traditional Chinese costumes! 

Even though there's nothing outstanding from Kooi Kei's (鉅記) design, the image was reminiscent of those often used in advertising and propagandizing before the 80s.

Wing Wah (榮華), popular for their wives cake in Hong Kong, is once again back in Singapore for the mooncake fest. My gut feeling tells me it is only a matter of time before they set up an official branch in Singapore. 

Initially, i thought this was such a good deal; every one came in individual box and yet the price was tagged at only S$7! Upon a closer look, i realised they were all MINI mooncakes...

As a practical person, i find mini mooncakes very uneconomical! Freshness is an issue as i can always put them in the fridge. Hygiene is not an issue for normal sized moonkcakes too since i can always cut them into small pieces before passing them around. 

Egg custard mooncake! I took a teeny-weeny sample and found them to taste similar to custard buns (奶黄包). There's a major difference though; 奶黄包 normally costs less than S$1.50.

Walnut lotus with yolk? The diversification from non mooncake-related products is expected to continue with increased competition and pickier customers.

Last photograph for the day! 

=====

Location
Takashimaya Square, Basement 2 of 
Takashimaya Shopping Centre [Orchard]

List of Participating Vendors
As above



Duration
Till 19 September 2013

↧

Nikon D7100 - Does the DSLR Camera have a better deal in COMEX, IT Show, PC Show or SITEX? A BIG NO!

September 5, 2013, 8:25 am
$
0
0
As the saying goes, hold back all your IT purchases and buy them all in one shot at cheaper pricing during the quarterly computer trade fairs in Singapore, be it IT Show, SITEX, PC Show or the ongoing COMEX! 

That's NOT ENTIRELY TRUE and i am speaking from personal experience! 

As loyal readers are aware, i have been wanting to upgrade my DSLR camera for quite a while now but the model i had in mind (Nikon D7000) maintained a retail price that barely budged throughout the past one year! I waited and waited. The price did eventually drop; with the launch of D7100! 

Blooooooooody $#%&*%@! Anyway, i don't expect D7100 to have a massive reduction anytime in the near future and began sourcing for a good deal. That's when i visited the IT Expo last week.

Unlike the big four computer fairs, IT Expo was organised by Audio House (one single vendor) and i was very hesitant to fork out my hard-earned dough when COMEX 2013 is happening merely a week later. 

As a matter of comparison, you might want to refer to the above brochure for Nikon D7100 in this year COMEX (happening from 05 till 08 September 2013).

Now, refer to the handout for IT Expo a week ago. Same price, same free gifts yet the D7100 came with an extra S$100 direct deductible voucher (effectively reducing the price to S$2199), UV filter for the lens kit, wireless remote, another 32GB SDHC card AND an 8GB Toshiba WIFI card! 

Damn good deal right?! That's not all okay; instead of topping up S$159 for a 70-300mm lens, i managed to get the same lens for only S$101! Furthermore, the service staff threw in an additional battery and another UV filter for the extra lens! 

For all the extras, i am only paying S$2,300 for a Nikon D7100 at IT Expo. Of course i have to get it!!!!!!! And damn am i not regretting my decision!

The first picture taken by my new DSLR is dedicated to our utmost adorable brat; Jovyn the bulldog cheeked baby! 


↧
↧

Beach Road Scissors - Cut Hainanese Curry Rice [美芝律剪刀剪咖喱饭] @ 229 Jalan Besar [Near City Square Mall]

September 6, 2013, 7:50 am
$
0
0
Whenever we drove along Jalan Besar, the Great Kon was bound to pass the following comment: "We should really try this Hainanese curry rice!" We have had enough and decided to dine there last week! :P

Offering nothing but Hainanese curry rice, the shop still managed a roaring business that was obvious from the queue that never seemed to end when we were there! 

I can never get the concept of Hainanese curry rice; in my honest opinion, it is similar to the mixed vegetable rice (杂菜饭) sold in many coffee shops and food courts around the island. There is one key difference though; the number of dishes available are a lot more varied for mixed vegetable rice stalls. 

Since we are on dishes, i might as well mention that there are few notable must-haves in Hainanese curry rice; the cabbage, the braised pork, the deep fried pork cutlet (sadly, this was out of stock when Kon made the order) and of course, the curry that covered almost everything!

Other miscellaneous items can be treated as companions and not necessarily added onto the main plate. The ones we had (the lor tau pok and fish cake) were nothing to scream off and i could jolly well do without them.

Back to the main items, i was pleased to find the cabbage soft yet maintaining that satisfying crunch! The braised pork (known fondly as kong ba) lacked the fatty layers i enjoyed although the meat remained tender and flavourful. 

Curry sauce is basically the soul for the entire combination in Hainanese curry rice; this version sits well with me. The consistency was thick, creamy and didn't burn my tongue. To draw comparison to the popular one in Beo Crescent, the curry here was a tad heavier.

Whatever the case, it didn't stop my hungry stomach from sweeping everything down the throat! 

=====

Location
229 Jalan Besar

Map 
As above

Nearest MRT Station
Farrer Park MRT

Price
S$18 in total. The price depends on what you order. Please check out the price list i have appended below.

Menu / Price List
As above. 

↧

Another Payout from Nuffnang - Apparently Something Cool will Happen if i Blog about This!

September 7, 2013, 8:06 am
$
0
0
In normal circumstances, i would not have blogged about this but since Nuffnang Finance has taken the trouble to inform me via email that something cool will happen if i do; i figured this shall count as a post when i am overseas as you read this. 

So, here's it! The Nuffnang cheque with a paltry payout of S$301.34! I shall now hope that the cool thing that was mentioned refers to a more generous payout next time around.

*keeping my fingers crossed*
↧
Search

Li Xin Teochew Fish Ball Noodles [立兴潮州鱼圆面] @ Food Opera [ION Orchard]

September 8, 2013, 7:26 am
$
0
0
While i was checking out potential stalls to replace the used-to-be-my-family's-favourite fish ball noodles at Chong Pang Xiang Xiang, my younger sister was ferociously seeking other venues on her own!

According to her, the one stall that satisfies her craving at the moment belongs to this Li Xin Teochew Fish Ball Noodles located in Singapore's famous shopping belt; Orchard Road.

At S$5 a serving, the pricing was actually considered quite alright given the stall's prestigious location. In addition, i have never had so many fish balls (six big ones in total) in a bowl of soup! 

Surprisingly, i am not really a fish ball person; i place much higher emphasis on noodles rather than the fish balls. That aside, the fish balls in Li Xin were made freshly handmade twice a day (hence the uneven shape and texture) and they are made from yellowtail (not that it matters since i don't even know what fish were commonly used in the making of fish balls)! 

What i do know is that these yellowtail fish balls had an incredibly soft interior with a pleasantly rich fish flavouring that greatly differed from the disgusting fishiness radiated by some. Mom preferred a more solid bite though. 

Now coming to the noodles!!

Texture was a bit on the hard side but this shortcoming was covered up by the special chilli-tomato sauce mix; resulting in a combi that was simply delicious! Not to mention that there were also little bites of pork lard hidden within! 

Yummy!

=====

Location
2 Orchard Turn 
#B2-62 ION Orchard 
[Food Opera]

Price
S$5 a bowl
↧

Tombs of the Four Children [FOUND] - 1979 Geylang Bahru Murder

September 9, 2013, 8:29 am
$
0
0
I still remember what my hairdresser said when she heard i was visiting Lim Chu Kang cemetery during the inauspicious ghost month last year; "go check out the tombs of the children who were murdered in 1979. a lot of gamblers go there and pray for winning 4D numbers!"

Nothing beats a ghost story and a murder case to intrigue me to comb through Singapore's only operating burial ground. I failed in my attempt then but a friend who hails from Singapore Paranormal Investigation found the exact location and buzzed me on facebook! 

Maybe i should share a bit of the story to perk you up. 

Back in 1979, a horrific murder in Block 58 Geylang Bahru shocked the entire nation; four young siblings between the age of five and ten were found dead in the toilet of their one-room flat. The extent of the murderer's (or murderers') cruelty is disturbingly violent. Not only were the kids slashed and hacked to death (the eldest boy's arm was almost severed from the body), they were also stacked on top of one another as if they were mere trophies of war. 

Till now, the case remains a mystery.

Placed neatly in a row with all of them spotting the same design, it's actually very easy to spot the tombs although they were nothing like the beautifully and elaborately decorated version that i have heard from some people. 

Unlike other children tombs in the vicinity, traces of worship / gifts were found in the form of toys and sweets scattered around the four tombs. 

Tan Kok Soon - the second youngest child of the family. Not sure about you but i felt a despairing sense of pity and loss that his life was taken away so early! For those who are contemplating suicide, think of these kids here! They would love to grow up and enjoy life yet the option was not given to them...

Since it was the seventh lunar month when i took the pictures a few weeks ago, some of the temples had also organised rituals aimed at relieving the souls' suffering in this particular section. 

May the children rest in peace and may the murderer (or murderers) be brought to justice soon! Karma would make sure the blood debt is paid. 

Interested to read more of the murder case? Click here and here.

↧
↧

Mom's Birthday 2013

September 10, 2013, 7:51 am
$
0
0
Time passes really rapidly as one ages; it seems like only a few years have passed since mom celebrated her 39th birthday but that was in fact twenty years ago! 

The three children, including me, decided to take leave today on her actual birthday and drive her to Johore Bahru for a shopping cum massage trip! Shall blog on the food another day. 

We concluded the celebration by surprising her with a birthday cake that was secretly smuggled in from Malaysia. For those who are curious, it was bought from Lavender bakery and it tasted really delicious! 

As usual, the kids enjoyed birthdays the most! And the excitement peaks at the juncture when the candles are to be blown! 

A message for the mom

"Dear Mommy, i know i chatter nonstop but you know i am never one for mushy conversation. You might not have heard me say it for real but deep in my heart, i have always been appreciative and grateful for your unrelenting effort and loving care to bring the three of us up. 

You are the best mother i could ever ask for and all i ever hope for on your birthday is for you to live healthily and happily as long as possible. Okay, i know that's not sufficient; i would also pray that you win 4D and TOTO as often as possible!"

I love you mom!
Happy Birthday! :)
↧

Red Ring Wanton Mee @ Holland Drive [3-Minute Walk from Buona Vista MRT Station]

September 11, 2013, 8:53 am
$
0
0
I have been receiving rave reviews from three colleagues of a wanton noodles stall that used to be stationed in Holland Village so when i received news from another colleague of a cook-for-precisely-20-second wanton noodle stall in the same area, i assumed she was referring to the same stall. 

Wrong! 

RedRing Wanton Mee is a different story altogether - it has none of the historical legacy often trumpeted by hawkers as it was set up only in 2012 and the brainchild behind this venture was a young 25-year old Chemistry student from NUS! 

This begets the question; exactly what kind of special recipe does this store have that has enabled it to gain popularity in just one year? Answer: Passion in food with an in-depth knowledge of science and the correct use of technology.

Visually, things are not as complicated as i have seemingly mentioned in the above paragraph; the wanton mee was as normal as most stalls in the market (i thought the char siew was a bit too pale for my liking though).

Sorry for breaking your cycle but let's talk about the boiled wantons first. Unimpressive and you might be better off eliminating the wantons in wanton noodles for more slices of char siew.

The application of chemistry came into picture for the noodles; it was cooked for precisely twenty seconds (nothing more, nothing less) in boiling water using a Japanese-made noodle cooker. The technology adopted ensured that you get that QQ texture and minimal kee (akaline) taste. Personally, i am not that particular when it comes to kee-ness, so long it is not overly excessive!

Nothing prepared me for their char siew though. They were shockingly..... delicious!!!! Yes, this coming from a man who places charred bits as one criterion necessary in any char siew! 

Two things played a part to retain the juiciness and enhance the smokey flavour without the sinfully burnt caramelisation; use of the pig's prized cut and the purchase of yet another equipment. Whatever the case, i would love to get my hands on the machine just so my dad will stop nagging whenever he catches me digging into a plate of nicely caramelised char siew! 

Red Ring actually refers to the moat of thickened red sauce surrounding the noodles served to you. Made of fourteen secret ingredients, it was not as spicy as i expected (you can opt for a spicier level) and i thought it was similar to a tomato and chilli sauce mix. However, don't belittle it; the flavour is indeed one of a kind and goes extremely well with the 20-second noodles!

Oh, by the way, i am so loving the free flow pork lard! 

=====

Location
Block 46, Holland Drive
[Chiangs Swallow Coffeshop]
燕群餐室

Price
Minimal S$2.50. 
Note: Please go for S$3.00 as the serving for S$2.50 was way way way too pathetic! 

↧

Chendol In A Cup @ Kedai Nyonya Cendol [Number One Kopitiam], Malacca

September 12, 2013, 8:30 am
$
0
0
In my last visit to the heritage town of Malacca, i simply could not locate the chendol place that my ex-colleague claimed to be the best! 

Knowing how crazy she is over food (and the claim that she downed eight bowls of chendol from various shops in one day), i knew i must find it somehow, somewhat in my most recent trip! 

Based on her description, i think i came to the right place; Number One Kopitiam which is directly opposite the chicken rice stall that is next to the crowded and ever popular San Shu Gong confectionery in Jonker. 

But, it's cendol served in a cup, and not in a bowl. That's kind of an anti-climax, especially when i purposely broke away from my other friends who were happily shopping in air-conditioned malls and rushed down to the place on my last day! I eventually decided to order purely because i didn't want to waste my trip down. 

This delicious sight of gula melaka trickling down to the cup of coconut milk with red beans and green cendol had a mystical soothing effect on me and for a moment, i was actually looking forward to having a sip!

Until the server started using a spoon to mix up everything to ensure uniformity. =_= Hallo lady, i would very much like to stir and mix myself so that certain parts are rich with sweetness and others are rich in coconut! 

Despite the lack of excitement, i have to admit uniformity might not necessary be a bad thing. Having the lingering aroma of coconut added with the sweet, slightly burnt fragrance of gula melaka down the parched throat on a hot day was indeed a blissful affair! 

The verdict is not out yet.
Not till i get my cendol in a bowl! 

=====

Location
No 1, Jalan Hang Jebat
[Melaka]

Price
Cendol in a Cup - RM 3.50
↧
Viewing all 3111 articles
Browse latest View live
Search