Flor Patisserie

Strawberry Souffle ($7.30 x2), Lavender Earl Grey ($7), Earl Grey ($7 x2)

First try of a Japanese-styled patisserie serving authentic Japanese inspired French pastry - Flor . And it has been exquisite.

Especially lips-smacking is the Earl Grey with dark chocolate meringue and a surprising sweet banana within, which has been delightful! But tasting Lavender, instead of sniffing is a weird experience. Their last Wakakusayma ($7.60) - a green tea roll got snapped up right before us.

If the cakes were considered expensive, please at least have their Ice Cheese Tarts which come in several lovely flavors. We are having their Caramel and Mango. What impresses is their superbly fine and luscious cheese.

Will come back when we are feeling rich again :)

Ice Cheese Tarts, Mango ($3.40)

BEST! Laksa Yong Tau Foo!

Laksa Yong Tau Foo ($3.50)

As if their star Chicken Chop Curry Noodle wasn't enough to steal the limelight of Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, Cantonese Delights have to mind-blow us with their very excellent Laksa Yong Tau Foo!

All ingredients were stuffed with fish paste and freshly deep fried, save for the fishball and soft beancurd. Given our lighter taste buds, we were surprised how utterly tasty is each of their plump pieces! None cloying at all. We would say it's very shiok!

Many were having extra side order of their braised chicken feet also. But we ARE hurrying back for their Laksa Yong Tau Foo - an entire bowl for myself. No more sharing!

Braised Chicken Feet Noodle ($3.50)

Dessert Flower (2009)

Waris Dirie (portrayed by Liya Kebede, left) and Waris Dirie hug on the set of Desert Flower.

Sometimes, good films slip us by. And the "Dessert Flower" is such.

"Dessert Flower" was filmed based on the autobiography of Waris Dirie, an international supermodel who writes in 1997. What's extraordinary isn't her shot to fame, but the case of her circumcision. How can female be circumcise? We gasped!

Something that says "female genital mutilation". And the horrific act that follows on her wedding night...

I applauded Waris Dirie who in the prime of her career, chose to tell her shameful story - of a woman without female genitals, to help the woman in Somalia - where she came from, and woman all over the world.

The film leaves an unsettling effect, a long lingering heaviness about this inhumane custom that has no religious basis, but is still being practice in many African countries today.

Waris Dirie's autobiography, 1997

Read here for the Waris Dirie Story from the Reader's Digest, June 1999.

同心居, Special Shanghai Tim-Sum

Remember 同心居? The well-liked dumplings food stall at one far end corner of level 2 Commonwealth Avenue Food Centre? And they have moved to the Maxwell Road Food Centre which we are this evening.

Prices remain that of 2010, when we last visited. And food standard has even improved - it shall always be the venue for some meaty home-made dumplings; however much we wanted because of the affordable $$!    

Steam Dumplings, 8pcs ($4)

Pei Jing Hor Fun ($3)

Starbucks Venti-Sized Frappuccino 1-for-1

Venti-sized Strawberry Cheesecake and Tiramisu Frappuccino 

This is a personal delivery from Ric, after work. Sweet. Sweet.

Yes, both are for me! Taking them simultaneously give a good balance of sweet creaminess from the SCC and bitterness of the Tiramisu blended beverage. Half-way through; when the cup loses its chill, i placed it in the freezer and continue my enjoyment the next day - in its ice-cream state.

Frappuccino MUST be taken well chilled; and the venti-size is really too much in one go...!

Meat Balls with Pickled Lettuce, 菜心肉丸子

This is 1 of our 'most favorite' heritage dish; and the recipe was passed down by Grandma. So why hasn't this been blog earlier? You might laugh at my gluttony - Each time the dish was ready, i couldn't wait to tuck in! Photos can wait... Today, i exercise constraints. No joke.

A big bowl of rice always accompany the savory meat balls and gravy! I love this...!

INGREDIENTS:
200g       Minced Meat
1 clove   Garlic, chopped
1 can      China Pickled Canned Lettuce (drained, separate from canned liquid)
1 bowl    Water

MEAT MARINATING:
1 tbsp     Oyster sauce
2 tbsp     Corn Flour
Dash of Salt
Dash of Pepper
Dash of Sesame oil

STEPS:
1. Marinate minced meat with oyster sauce, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Add corn flour to the marinate meat. Mix well and leave aside for 30mins.
(During Grandma's time, she will mince the meat with some garlic, before marinating :)
3. Heat oil in wok, fry chopped garlic and pickled lettuce until fragrant.
4. Add canned pickled liquid and water.
5. Make meat balls out of minced meat with a spoon; placing them directly into the soup.
6. Leave soup to boil and check the meat for doneness.
7. Serve.

順發, Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh

Because of the story of Soon Huat - an imprisoned gang member turned Christian, and because we share the common faith, we decided to be extra critical of the brothers when we visit them today. Only then, it would be just. Of course, we kept our fingers crossed for them.

Food was served. And in God's full glory, we savored sincerity in their dishes and earnest service with brave smiles...!

Bak Kut Teh ($5.90)

Food prices were deliberately kept low and competitive.

Extra efforts in all ways possible - Ginseng slices found in their strong herbal broth; added Pig's liver, fried beancurd skin and straw mushroom to the Bak Kut Teh soup, and generous handful of fried cuttlefish and ladyfinger vegetable to the dried version! Succulent pork knuckles too!

 Dried Bak Kut Teh ($6.90)

To pick a bone from an egg, we say they should moderate things a little for purist customers who may find these a tad overwhelming.

You don't have to be here in support of prisoner rehabilitation, you can visit simply for the cause of good food. They deserve your anticipation.

Braised Knuckles ($6.90)

Fried Dough ($1.20), Braised Tow Pok ($0.80)

Crosta Pizza Delivery @ Crawford Lane

Latine Pizza, fresh Rucola packed separately ($24.20)

Ric returns to the waiting car as i catches strong whiff of Crosta Pizza's wood fired cooking, quite unmistakably. It smells deliciously wonderful!

Albeit the miserly seafood portion on their Capri (mixed seafood) pizza, ingredients used were fresh and rather top notch. I enjoyed their Latine piled with gorgonzola blue cheese and bitter crunchy rucola rocket.

That being said, we would patronize again when they are having a 50% deal. For it seems inappropriate for takeaways to charge restaurant prices? Even when they are very good takeaway pizza - never our regular P-huts or Canadian.

Supper Time @ Newton Circus

Grilled Chicken Wings ($1.30 x3), Oyster Omelet ($5)

Like any average Singaporean, our visit to the Newton Circus Food Centre can be more than 10 years back. Yes. Because the food centre has been known as a tourist trap for its touts and exorbitant prices. But with rising food cost all over the island, a meal here matches your spending in any air-conditioned food court.

There goes our prejudice. And welcoming us into the alfresco dining was an air of expectation and excitement - where we get to see polite touting activities and people-watch interesting group of tourist. Ignore the touting of tourist items like the expensive BBQ Seafood; choose your own seating, walk around and place your order from any preferred food stalls with clearly displayed price list. Enjoy yourself!

And we did have a good time, soaking up the vibrant vibe about the place.

While the inner courtyard offers several repeat of BBQ seafood, chicken wings, fried noodles and oyster omelette stalls with similar pricing, we decide on Hup Kee Fried Oyster, 合记炒蠔煎 (Stall 73) and R&B Express (Stall 72) for their grilled chicken. Fairly good food!

Tom Yum Kungfu @ Serangoon Gardens

Lemongass drink, Thai Tea, Thai Milk Tea

Famous for operating Thai Mookata steamboat in the evening, Tom Yum Kungfu kickoff with economical set lunches which come with a choice of Thai signature drinks and one side of either the Tom Yum soup or Popiah. We suggest you get the Popiah.

Tom Yum Soup

Thai Fried Chicken with Pineapple Rice (Set Lunch C: $9.90)

For a Mookata restaurant, it was great that fresh seafood remains their main ingredients in their day cooking and food wasn't overly salted. But we suspect that food has been pre-cooked as most were serve cooled. The Thai-Chinese noodle, Rad Na is something special and enjoyable while we wolfed down the Pineapple Rice.

It was great comfort in this quiet afternoon (something very different from their night buzzing) as we relax in the playing of Thai songs. Working to finish the Basil Chicken which tastes like stir-fried minced chicken, without the basil, is another thing. 

Basil Chicken (Set Lunch A: $7.90)

Kungfu Seafood Rad Na, Thai-Chinese Noodle with Popiah (Set Lunch B: $8.90)