$3.99 Fish & Chips!

Manhattan Fish 'n Chips (normal priced at $10.90++)

T'is the deal by Manhattan Fish that shakes the town today!

A near hour wait in the queue and at the table before our crisp fried fish, dribble with garlic herb sauce arrived at the table - hot and still oozing warm air! Makes the wait worthwhile as we torn up the thick slab of succulent Dory!

Do a take-away to save you the long queues and 10% service charges BUT you'll miss out on the sizzling hot serving by the time you tug in ;)

from Tab to iPad

My first iPad, with Wi-Fi ($528)

In my brief trial on Ric's iPad 2, i got totally smitten by its awesome screen display and seamless interfacing. The screen was less glaring than my "super amoled"!? I was reading ever so comfortably; and never have i gotten attached to a glowing screen!

Within days, my iPad arrived!

Having overcome the initial glitches, or rather, not being able to perform some of the operations i enjoyed effortlessly on Android; a little more time is now spend on - transferring music, movies and files via iTunes. Limitations on Emailing and online video viewing using Adobe flash as well.

Holding up the 600g iPad is also an onerous pain; best to be supported on the lap, desk stand or on the tummy when you lie down viewing. The weighty toy gadget is never for bustle transiting - i was relieved as i clutches the weightless Note.

But, i now believe addiction to iPad. 

Its perfect graphics display is a piece of Art! In fact, the neck is still lightly aching from the long night hours spent reading and movie watching on the iPad! Hate to admit, but : I'm loving my iPad <3 <3 <3

God Hath Not Promised

This hymn is for Ric.

Because he's been overwhelmingly busy with work deadlines and commitments. Not being one who complain easily, it sure worries me when he does. I hope he finds renewed strength and faith in this hymn.

For you also.

1.  God hath not promised skies always blue,

Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

2.  God hath not promised we shall not know

Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear

Many a burden, many a care.

3.  God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain, rocky and steep,

Never a river, turbid and deep.

Roselyn Bruce sings "God hath not promised"

Bangladesh Stir-Fried Squid

Observing Bangladeshi cooking, i realized now the addition of cut Onions and Chili Padi spice up our usual Chinese cooking that uses mainly Garlic. Familiar ingredients make a turned around by this simple alteration. Try!  

INGREDIENTS:

4 Squids

10 Prawns (optional)

2 Onions

4 Green Chili Padi

4 cloves of Garlic

A dash of yellow Turmeric powder for color (optional)

Salt to taste

STEPS:

1. Pour Oil in a medium heated wok. Add in chopped Onions, Chili, Garlic and Salt to taste.

2. Add in Squids and a dash of Turmeric powder. Cover the wok to simmer a little, but take care not to overcook the squids lest it become rubbery.

3. Lastly, add in the Prawns, stir-fried till cooked.

4. Remove from wok. Serve with rice.

G7 Express Vietnamese Coffee

Iced G7 Classic ($3.80), Hot Creative ($2.80)

G7 attempts to capture the market with a re-packaging of the leisurely drank Vietnamese coffee as an "express" product doesn't sits well with us - it was like sipping a 3-in-1 coffee pack when done without the novelty of a Vietnamese Phin filter?

The bitter thick Iced Classic blend does better, drawing resemblance to Gloria Jeans Voltage Chiller albeit the solid ice cubes other than blended ice.

Trung Nguyen Creative 4 Coffee Powder, 250g ($9.20)

But no, their Creative blend is not from any 3-in-1 pack, it is from their coffee machine fed with Trung Nguyen Creative No. 4. It sells here and comes with a Phin coffee filter ($5) at just $0.60 more if you buy the pair together.

Shenton Way Power House

Mee Goreng ($3)

Could Stall 55 be conferred the title of "Best Mee Goreng in West Coast, Ayer Rajah Food Centre"? They could.

Definitely making every calories count for our occasional indulgence on this sinful dish - it's less cloying than it looks as the cook had his wok of noodles well-fired up! And i could empty the plate if the appetite wasn't shared with some equally tantalizing Indian rojak from Habib's.

Make Shake - Not War

Banana, Oreo Milkshake ($5.20, large) 

My earliest memory of milkshake was a cloying sweet one from McDonald's; keeping me far away from any future beverage named "Milkshake".

Make Shake changes all that with their mild sweetness and a drink so creamy thick it forms some semi-solid chunks before stirring it around - delightful! We had their Banana, Oreo and Earl Grey Tea single flavored milkshake and surprises ourselves that modestly plain Earl Grey Tea emerges our ultimate favourite.

If i have my last dollars now, i would spend on a milkshake rather than a milk tea or Frappe - that's how convert i am ;)

Milkshake with Malted Vanilla Ice-cream base

NO Coffee Creamer!

Carnation Evaporated Full Cream Milk, 400g ($1.60)

We are quitting all powder or liquid non dairy creamer like Coffee-mate after learning about its content. Ingredients that goes into the pack of creamer are MOSTLY synthetic with names requiring a dictionary to understand; and "hydrogenated" palm kernel oil might be the chief culprit!

In hydrogenation, the manufacturer could turn a liquid oil into solid with longer shelf life therefore increasing its portability. In such process, natural oils are converted into totally unnatural fats which are known to have serious health implications.

It was understood that what's not natural, when consumed into our body, is difficult to be remove by the body system! Akin to consuming plastic.

So we have make the switch to canned evaporated milk for our coffee; though it definitely doesn't taste as good as the creamer and needs refrigeration in the fridge; i guess we appreciate the healthier alternative.

Beyerdynamic DTX 300 p

Beyerdynamic Portable Stereo Headphone, Red ($59)

A real headphone after many years of being an ear phone user as i appreciate music quality on the move and willing to endure the slight heat discomfort over my ears - the main bother that puts me off headphones.

Beyerdynamic DTX 300p was a gift from Ric after the weekend IT show and seems to fit the bill after testing it out on classical, pop and rock pieces.

1. It is lightweight and comfortable (not too warm) to wear over long periods.
2. Firm and steady folding mechanism; stylish fit into the supplied soft case.
3. Block out noises pretty well without having the volume on high; i couldn't hear my Mom alright ;)
4. Sound is good; sufficient depth and roundness of produced music.

Thinking thrice going back to my convenient Sony earbuds!

FCX @ UTown

Fish & Co. Express

We were checking out food outlets in NUS University Town where we noticed Fish & Co. having an express station here - cheaper food in fast food settings.

Pretty affordable $4.95 value meals option which includes Fish & Chips! Let's try.

Grilled Fish Samba Combo, with mashed potato and coleslaw ($5.50)

Fried Chicken, with Garlic rice ($4.95)

Having an untimely craving for fried chicken wings, i refused to budge on anything else - just hot fried chicken wings satisfy me today! And it goes well with tangy Samba sauce from the grilled fish combo.

But we were baffled by the worse than norm grilled fish prepared. Should be complacent and stick to their good old Fish n Chips that other tables were enjoying :P

Voyage de La Vie

Booklet of Voyage de La Vie and ticket stubs

Are you interested in theatre, musicals, circus or acrobatics? For me, it's the latter.

Animal circus was no longer within reach for its cruelty; the closest i get to acrobats which really interest me would be the Olympics gymnastics - on TV.

But the 90-minutes Voyage de la Vie added clever theatre staging, effects and grace with agility in their stunts, making it a truly entertaining performance. The energy and athleticism of the cast are infectious and seems to rub on me as my Friday night got cheered up.

Watching acrobatics live, before your eye is a very real experience. Without mentioning the more difficult circus acts; nimble balls juggling skit is already mesmerizing! And when the performers somersault themselves across elevated gymnastic bars by balancing solely on their feet, i broke into spontaneous claps!

It wasn't a match to the scale, creativity and sophistication of leading Cirque du Soleil, but for the first circus theatre production created in Singapore, i believe the audience is well entertained tonight.

Sentosa Boardwalking

Leaving our car in VivoCity mall, we strolled across to Sentosa via the garden boardwalk - a leisure and quiet meandering with gentle breezes in the beautiful sunset. The return trip was rewarded with singing guitarist from Queens dining on the boardwalk; aaaargh... the romantic mood!

All were perfect as we were in full anticipation of catching the night resident show at Resorts World Sentosa; and a promise from Ric of a supper after :D

As i do not have my camera with me, these photos were shots from Samsung Note 8-megapixel, on Auto Sunset mode. How's it?

Eno-Oka Japanese Ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen ($11+)

Kimchi Ramen ($12+)

It isn't too bad but we think their Tonkotsu soup base could be better, else it's difficult to pay full price for the bowl when lower priced Ajisen does it so much better.

But we have no complain for their Cha shu sliced pork, loads of green onions and the centre-melting tamago. Not much to lose, considering this our discounted meal with Jigopoints from Jigocity.

Four Swiss Tunes

The Cuckoo by Royal Brass Quintet


Zurich March by Royal Brass Quintet

Attending an evening of brass chamber music at the YSTCM concert hall, i learned about the lively Four Swiss Tunes for Brass Quintet arranged by Elgar Howarth. And the individualistic Trombone was added to my list of favorite air instrument.

Played by the Conservatory Brass Quintet C, i had found the above YouTube video by the Royal Brass Quintet instead; enjoy.

Four Swiss Tunes
- Basie March
- The Cuckoo
- The Old Castle
- Zurich March

$2 Lor Mee @ Beo Crescent

Braised Noodle ($2)

We love noodles.
And are faithfully catching "Just Noodles" which airs on Ch 8 which brings us to the stalls of all our favourite noodles - in different forms and varieties. The cheapest bowl to the most luxurious, and also the most popular stall.

We believe tasty food in its simplest form.
So we visit the cheapest featured in Beo Crescent Blk 38A where Soon Heng, 01-84 operates at minimum profit to a $2 Lor Mee - loaded with ingredients in every mouthful albeit the absence of braised eggs.

And, i'm now hungry again...

亚坤, Ya Kun Kaya Toast in SP

Kaya Toast Set ($3.60)

Ya Kun now opens in foodcourt 2 of the Singapore Polytechnic.

Yes, where the McDonald's formerly resided.

Though located in a campus compound, prices here are only slightly lower than their city stores. But when the plump soft-boiled eggs were served and i took a sip of their aromatic Nanyang coffee, i find it all worthwhile :)

Coffee and Kaya Toast