Vegetarian Noodle Soup

Delicious noodle soup with broth sweeten by Sweet Potatoes, dried Mushrooms, canned Button Mushrooms, dried Bean Curd "Tau Pok" and leafy green Vegetables.

Toast to health...!

Less meat, go vegetarian sometime.

It help saves the environment too :)

Mamma Mia! (2008)

The Cathay Building with historical facade was where we catch Mamma Mia! the Movie in Cathay Grand theater.

Since i last visited the Old Cathay Building watching the "Pretty Woman" by Julia Roberts here, it has really been ages.

And i really liked it here.

At Cathay Building, it gave you the feeling of real movie-going where we could be reminiscent of how we used to go to a movie house instead of those cinema chains that mushrooms in almost every Shopping Mall now.



Mamma Mia! opens with a simple and transparent plot, yet an ebullient, fast-paced musical packed with ABBA’s feel-good anthems that capture the vibe of the whole movie. Breath-taking scenery from romantic Greece sets the scene.

As ardent fans of ABBA, the Swedish ’70s supergroup, this movie offers us gratifying moments with its joyous singing, dancing and comedic acts. Never a dull instantaneous with their chorus of ABBA Hits.

Inspired by the passion and love of life of the movie, it energized and cheers you up instantly. And it certainly does release our inner “Dancing Queen” as we tap our feets to the rhyme of the melodies.

Carl's Jr

Had our quick brunch at Carl's Jr Plaza Singapura before our movie date at Cathay Grand.

As this was our 1st visit of Jr, we approached the service counter and ordered their recommended Portobello Mushroom Burger Combo ($12.80) that comes with Fries and free-flow drink.

The soft bun of our palm-sized burger was sufficient to be shared between us. Their Charbroiled beef patty was comparable, or even the same thing as what we usually get from Burger King fast food outlets but at half the price there.

Its distinct merit lies in its spread of Portobello Mushroom.

We had exchanged our Fries with their Onion Rings.

Battered lightly with real Onion slices within, it was possibly the best of all fast food joints. And i could still smell my breath of Onions even after my many tries of washing it down with our iced Lemon Tea.

Easy Pasta

I've got almost the whole Saturday to myself as Ric was busy with work - yes, up to his ears.

Washing, cleaning, gardening, reading, tele-viewing and cooking. A repeat telecasts program of the benefits of eating Garlic showed up as i was channel-surfing.

Highlighting its beneficial effect of relieving the body from fatigue, treatment of disease and maintenance of health. Dates back to ancient civilization of Egypt, Garlic was a "performance enhancing" agent feed to slaves for the building of the pyramids.

And with mum craving for spaghetti noodles, i had immediately images of creating the dish with loads of chopped Garlic and Basil leaves from our garden.

2 balls of Garlic and 2 steams of Basil leave feed 3 persons. Simple 3 cooking steps (low heat):

1. Frying a Shallot and the bowl of Garlic till it slightly browned.

2. Add the minced Basil leaves to the cooked garlic and cook slightly.

3. Toss the cooked Spaghetti noodles with the aromatic mix.

The whole kitchen was smoldered with the full aroma of the Garlic and Basil leave. Mum enjoyed the dish and claim it's my best spaghetti cooking so far. Haha...

Try to prepare this simple and healthy dish for your busy loved ones, who may need this extra energy boosting food.

Pepper Lunch Express

Tonight being the first practice race prior to the actual F1 racing, saw the City Hall packed with energized crowds.

Howl of the F1 engines fills the evening air with much excitement and anticipation.

Beef Pepper Rice Set ($5.50)

My first taste of Pepper Lunch, in fact a Pepper dinner :) at Funan Digitalife IT Mall, level 5 food court where an express version of it was served, rather than in any of its restaurants.

On an iron plate, sizzling hot as the F1 racing, we mixed everything up and cooked with the pepper sauce provided - Ric was the cook.

Yum. And it was good, non as oily as fried rice but as fragrant and enjoyable with tasty and crunchy burned rice "Guo Ba"at the bottom of the iron plate.

We caught no sight of any F1 cars tonight but the holler of the F1 engines was not one to be forgotten so soon.

No amount of my screaming was audible as they came flooded by the waves of enraging car engines on the other side of the well barricaded tracks.

Demise...

She was in fact not any relatives of our family, but was closer and more concerned about us than most of our real blood relatives. For this, she well-deserved our sending her off today.

Having lost all family members in the bombing of the Japanese Occupation, she had embraced Grandma who has been kind to her, like sisters; taking our families as her own. She had then have a big family of her own with successful children and offspring of delightful grandchildren.

The news of her demise came as a shocking and sad news to us on the night of 22nd; she had passed on on the 21st, lung cancer of the 3rd stage that was diagnosed only during her last 2 weeks - her sufferings was short.

See you in heaven, Aunt Gan.
And may you now rest in peace.

Thank you for remembering us. We too remember you and loved you, but never had the chance to let you know.

Never forgetting your continual kindness to our families, especially to our sickly grandma. Your doting us with sweets and toys in our younger days was my fondest memory of you. A thank you was never enough for your kindest thoughts and loving heart.

Singapore F1 Grand Prix

As the days draw closer to the race date of 28th, you could really feel the Formula 1 Sports had never came that close to our Singapore doorsteps.

And we were indeed honored to be hosting the first night race of the Formula 1 history. This enchanting photo of the lighted Marina Bay Circuit Park bowl me over.

At Paragon Front Foyer today, i couldn't help fussing over this F1 racing car on display. Is it for real? Or just a display replica? We really couldn't tell, it was something totally alien to us.

It was not only when i saw this photo of McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain on the exact car, that i was convinced it was the real thing! Whew...w

Waraku at The Heeren

Waraku Japanese dining was offering a 50% discount in the form of return voucher for its opening special at the Heeren. We thus planned to have our fill today.

Ric was too busy to join us, so only mom was with me.

Una Don ($18.80++)

My lavish treat of Unagi Don for myself; for the first time i'm ordering a full piece of the Eel serving that left me utterly satisfied with the fishy taste and gooey texture. Meow... ...

Mom asked if i'm a cat reincarnated. Hahaha... maybe.

Also helping to finish up the Waraku Maki ($8.80++) and Tempura with Udon set ($14++) ordered for mom. This meal filled us to the brim and we could hardly eat anything for the rest of the day.

Timo - little Italian taste

Called up Chef Jun this morning to make sure he's cooking today before we deliberately planned a trip downtown to Maxwell FC for a late lunch.

I was anxious, Yes. Before Jun closes his stall on the 28th, i've got to have my fill of his cooking. Sadly to say, this is but my 2nd visit so far.

Cabonara Pasta ($5)

As according to Jun, ingredients were running out fast from his stall as he gets an intense repeat visits from his regulars.

Pizza dough ran out today. Italian sausages replaces Ham in my Cabonara, but i had no complaints - it was a delightful meal that i wouldn't regret saving all my carbohydrate for :)

Veggie Lasagna ($4.50 )

My first try of Green Lasagna was impressive! A completely healthy dish of Spinach and Carrot vegetables layered in thin Pasta sheets dripped with appetite whetting tomato sauces.

For all the Popeyes out there!!

Miss Clarity at Purvis

Roasted Chix Leg ($13.80+)

Perhaps the most pathetic sized piece of chicken leg i've ever been served in Clarity Cafe? The mushroom and potato fricassee was on the other hand plentiful, in an effort to make up for the short-charged.

Dues to its smaller size, the edges of the chicken drumstick was charry dry by the roasting process. This is so disappointing. The ones here can never compare with that of their Katong's outlet.

Beef Stew with Pasta ($12.80+)

No complaints with the stew, the slowly simmered boneless beef was all soft and juicy. Serving portion was generous too, and we had our choice of either rice, bread or pasta to go with the stew.

It was understood that all Miss Clarity branches are under different managements. The one here at Purvis was undoubtedly a let down.

From its sulking supervisors to un-chilled green salad; we would not subject ourselves through such ordeal again.

How i appreciate the warm service at their Katong branch instead.

Childhood Food Stuff - Dou Kee

Do you recognize this food?

I guess stall no. 01-15 at Amoy Street Food Centre is the only stall selling this food stuff now. We called it "Dou Kee" in Hokkien. It is actually seasoned Fish meat minced into paste with flour, wrapped in Bean Curd skin and deep fried. It was a memorable childhood snack we used to get for 20 cents/per piece from my primary school tuckshop; i had it almost everyday :)

A savory snack that goes well with either rice, porridge or noodle soup. We used to have it together with Yong Tou Foo noodles from the same stall, but managed by their old mother.

So if you are also missing this, you could get your constant supply from Amoy now. $6 for a 10 pieces take-away.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea, 九重葛 our most commonly seen roadside plants.

We see them everywhere; even as a child we knew them. In insignificant places, by the roadsides, pedestrian bridges, flyovers, beside lamp posts and bus stops, they flowered and withered unnoticed.

Upon closer look, these little flowers too reveal much beauty.

As my primary school teacher once pointed out to us, the actual flower of the plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by 3 or 6 colored leaves, which can comes in pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow.

It's an all year blooming plant, especially thriving in these weeks of blowing hot and cold (rain) climate.

This was the beautiful sight i chanced upon my way home today - a bed of violet blossom in the evening sun.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Chicken Rice ($3.30)

Had wanted to visit Timo after our 'Beautiful Sunday' concert by the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra, but they were sadly closed when we arrived at Maxwell Market by 5pm.

TianTian was surprisingly still in business at this hour and the stall owners were busy cooking; but we were spared the long lunch hours queue.

The chicken skin here was certainly additive. Our favourite Chicken feet were sold out, nonetheless. Prices all up by 30 cents recently.

Little Bali ~ Villa Frangipani

It's been a long while since our last visit here.

We have been visiting Little Bali when it was just a basic and modest Bali island-styled bar that gradually grew to today's vast expansion of luscious garden dining restaurant. Its unique ambience makes you forget instantly, that you are still in urban Singapore. Greenery in abundance with chic Bali arts decor, complete with the playing of traditional Balinese music in the background.

And this had always been the concept they had worked on since day 1 in business.

The dimly lighted garden dining area is ideal for business clients and courting couples. Great efforts had gone into setting up this perfectly relaxed and romantic, Dine & Wine environment.

As we settled down for wine'ing, we could not help being tantalised by the whiff of nice smelling aroma of food. It's making us hungry and we simply have to change our drinking option to one of dining also.

Special Thai Platters ($40++)

This delicious tasting platter consists of Thai Pineapple Rice, Pomelo Raisin Salad, Crayfish, Pandan Chicken, Soft Shell Crab, Stuffed Chicken Wings and lightly grilled Squids.

Everything was served warm and tasted wonderful, especially the Seafood items.

Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon ($42++)

Of its wide selection of beers, wines, exotic cocktails and spirits, this is our usual fare of their smoothing house pour; one sip is enough to totally unlock my thoughts and relaxed me almost immediately :))

One grouses though - their seating policy. When you come in small groups of 2, you would be assigned rather uncomfortable corner seats and be denial of your choice seating.

Customers had even been asked to shift tables to make way for the bigger group that comes in - this is a big taboo.

Crabbing at Ban Leong Wah Hoe

Chilli Crab = Singapore?

Yes, it seems that Chilli Crab had become a National dish of Singapore alongside with Hainanese Chicken Rice. It's the 2 dishes we would definitely show our overseas friends to.

Appro. 1kg of Sri Lankan Crab ($49.40+)

At Wah Hoe again, this feast served as a treat we shower on ourselves after being so very busy and stressed with the many work and home issues.

And after my crab drumstick tonight, i'm satisfied and need not crave for another one any sooner :)

But the chilli crab sauce certainly dehydrated us.

Wanton Mee of the North

A meeting in the afternoon at Woodlands brought us to the North. Any nice food here?

We were really unfamiliar with the North; Ric read about this modest Wanton Noodles at Blk 326 at Woodlands St. 32, so we were here to try it.

Wanton Noodle ($2.80)

Pricey? A little. But it really tasted delicious, well worth for a repeat visit.

Be there to catch them early. The stall closes early daily, almost right after lunch hours.

NIE Canteen Food

In the mood to explore new places of NTU. And having heard good things of the Western food and Chinese noodle stalls here, we try it today.

The NIE campus is situated together with the other academic entities of the Nanyang Technological University. And its canteen is located at Basement 1 of the Library Building.

Chicken Chop Set ($3)

The picture may look appealing but it doesn't, unless you prefer plainly tasting meat and cool potato mash.

The Western fare offered by NTU - Canteen14 still reigns.

Minced Meat Noodles with Mushrooms ($2.20)

The Chinese Noodle stall here offers big noodle serving; our order of Prawn Noodles ($2) comes with 5 fresh prawns in heavy broth of prawns' yolky taste.

The Minced Meat Noodle comes with big scoopful of minced meat that ensures you taste the meat on your every mouthful.

But do cross the road to Canteen A to get a better taste of Minced Meat Noodles; in term of noodle textures.

NUS - The Deck

Quick lunch at NUS today before meeting with boss in the afternoon; it's a longer meeting than expected but rather fruitful.

Yong Tou Foo ($3.10)

Been missing the Yong Tou Foo Laksa since my last visit here. So this is my 10-piece selections with noodles. The Laksa gravy still tastes as yummy.

Pork Katsu Don ($3.50)

With comparison comes competition, the Katsu Don here pales much to what we always have at NTU Canteen 14.

NTU - Japanese Food

Was busy tidying up my room for the re-painting work tomorrow, so dinner was simple at NTU. I like coming over to NTU, especially on weekends when everywhere else in the city became too crowded.

Planned to have the Western food but it's closed for dinner tonight. So we were at the Japanese stall again.

Unagi Don ($3.80)

Thick gooey piece of eel atop my bowlful of Japanese grains. I've always loved Unagi.

Chicken Teriyaki Don ($3.20)

Generous serving of Chicken pieces in sweet Teriyaki sauce for Ric. But, we feel its Chicken Katsu still fares better.

It's strange huh, that students here might be dying to get out of the boring hostel while we kept running here for makan. We love its tranquil surroundings. I enjoyed especially strolling in the cool evening breezes after meals here :)

Oh, and it's going to be a busy day tomorrow...

Tea Break @ Cafe Cartel

Cafe Cartel serves a rather economical Tea-time set that runs from 1:30-5:30pm, weekdays. The promotion - A big cup of Cappuccino comes free with any purchase of their cakes.

Aunt Amy Chewy Chocolate Fudge Cake ($5.20++)

Ric chooses this cake for me as he remembers i used to like Chocolate Fudge. But it seems that i'm more prone to Cheese cake nowadays - i'm that fickle-minded :)

But the sweet Chocolate Fudge cake here is indeed chewy as promised, its middle layer of brownie-like texture provides that nice chewy bite.

Longest Queue at Amoy Street

The queue starts as early as 1030am when Tai Seng Noodle House opens for the day at Amoy Street Food Centre.

Our queue position at 11am was still tolerable; still it was a long 20mins wait.

Do be forewarn that it was their popular braised pork rib noodle that's got sold out first, always.

The popularities of the stall lies in its ever generous food serving; the server simply top up your plate till it's almost running over. And it is quality food stuff we are talking about here.

Braised Pork Rib Noodles ($3)

Well braised chunky pieces of Pork Ribs, braised Taupok, plenty of vegetables, 7 fried wanton and another 6 wantons in soup.

Wanton Noodles ($3)

Aromatic roasted Char Siew, roasted pork with equally generous serving of vegetables and wantons.

I would definitely be hurrying back soon. Loved its pork ribs, char siew, fried wantons, noodles... everything.

Han's Bak Kut Teh

Established since 1963, it's one of the commanding food stalls here in East Coast Lagoon Food Village.


You can still see a steady queue at 韩家肉骨茶 stall during this late lunch hour of 2pm!

In spite of its name, its Bak Kut Teh (pork ribs soup) fares only average. The main attraction here is its Pork Leg (Pig's Trotters), 红焖猪脚 - A guaranteed item on every customer's order list here.

Braised Pork Leg, Pork Rib Soup, Braised Taupok & Vegetables, with 2 rice ($14.50)

The trotter exudes a lovely smoky sense and is well stewed to a delicious gooey tenderness in premium rich soy, garlic and spices.

With the juiciest stewed meat and softest skin, tendon, muscles and fat, this dish is certainly worth your occasional indulgence however health conscious you are.

Braised Pork Leg ($5.50)

You may request for a leaner portion but that defeat the purposes of eating trotters right? We are on a fatty quest :)
Oh, and for fats that simply melts in the mouth; i couldn't quit this. Couldn't resist mixing my rice with spoonfuls of the rich and oil-laden black soy gravy - helplessly sinful!