Secret Recipe Cake Promotions Again!

White Chocolate Macadamia ($52+)

I always find it hard to forgo Secret Recipe 1-for-1 cake promotions; this time they were at it again, in a joint exercise with the Diners Card. The catch was that you've got to pick up the cake from their Woodlands Terrace Factory.

And Ric had diligently driven down yesterday.

This was the White Chocolate Macadamia with chunks of roasted macadamia nuts, creamy vanilla filling and thick white chocolate coating. It was a delightfully light and healthy cake; i had it for breakfast on another morning.

Chilled Strawberry Cheese ($52+)

Sinful cheese cakes was what we loved best, especially those with tangy strawberries or blueberries. This frozen cream cheese blended with strawberry was what i had wanted for the longest time! Perfect.

Layered in the likes of Neapolitan ice cream, my favourite portion would have to be the pinky strawberry :)

宏源, Hong Guan Cooked Food

This is quite a popular cze char stall at level 3 of the Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre for their Claypot Assam Curry Fish Head. I always love to have it, but not today... for i was without the appetite; so just watching the many neighbouring tables ordering it.

Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves

But the sambal sweet potato leaves is also one of their must have. It is especially yummy when served hot and eaten with plain rice!

Sweet and Sour Pork

Bitter Gourd Omelette

I haven't much appetite today dues to my over-eating for the past few days, while Ric who had just recovered from his gastric pain, gorged himself contentedly. Total cost for the meal of 3 dishes was $19 only, with rice. Enjoy.

Assam Fish Head ($17)

We came back a month later, and finally have their Assam Fish Head with crisp fried Prawn roll. It was another ordinary yet satisfying lunch with Ric.

Five Spices Prawn Roll, "Hae Cho" ($5)

正宗香港烧腊, Hong Kong Roast Duck!

Roasted Duck and Roasted Meat for 2 ($11)

Can we not talk but just tuck into the food?

I can't wait, my sweet roasted drumstick is bellowing...! This got to be one of my favourite places for Hong Kong roast! Try it!

The stall used to operate from a coffee shop in Bukit Batok West, Blk 109 but had since shifted into the Bukit Batok Community Club since last month.

If you are one of their faithful followers, end your search, you have found them ;)

Heng Heng Porridge & Rice

Heng Heng Porridge & Rice stall at Maxwell; and we were finally here after reading so much about their economical fare. Most importantly, we heard that they offered really value for money steamed fish - my fave!

Dishes with 3 bowls of Sweet Potato Porridge ($7.40)

But Ric wanted a simpler fare, often meaning one that doesn't take much effort or time to consume so he ordered the stir-fried mustard, 芥菜, preserved radish with egg, 菜浦蛋, fishcake and a steamed Pei Tor fish.

While these home-cooked fare was great, i unconsciously ogled at the steamed FISH HEAD from the uncle who was sharing our table... :'(

Steamed White-spotted rabbitfish Pei Tor, 白肚鱼 (white belly)

We Din Start the Fire...!

It was great home coming to a BBQ family gathering at the Labrador Park. As each family was tasked to prepare some food items, i was especially happy to see all missions accomplished!

This was 4th uncle and 4th aunt vigorously fanning up the charcoal; they were such great fire-starter, not forgetting 4th uncle wife and Nic, my brother ;)

This tray of straw mushrooms with lean pork wrap prepared by Nic and wife was surprisingly very good; without seasonings!

The barbecued Tau Pok by yours truly; though Mum concoct its shrimp paste + lemon juice mixes.

I love the fried bee hoon by our "Bee Hoon Specialist", my eldest Aunt.

Gelatinous Stingray fillet by Mum!

And these giant prawns by 4th uncle! They cost $20 for a kg, were large and scrumptious!

More food was in tonight's menu but my hands were messy with busy barbecuing, serving and eating! Plus, the dark environment isn't all conducive for photo shoots.

There were squids, garlic bread, fish cake, chicken wings, fish otah, satay, sotong balls, sausages and even a big chocolate cake! Boy, i was stuffed!

This was the loving Nic couple who initiated tonight's get-together; thank you! And they were keeping the sweetest secret from us ;) Congratulations!

Zibibbo Rosa by Brown Brothers ($24.55)

We boozed sweet sparkling red wine from Brown Brothers while the young teens had non-alcoholic drink from the Wild Vines, Strawberry White Zinfandel to be exact.

Chilled Ribena blackcurrant syrup drink also, for those who wished to stay sober.

My greatest discovery for the night? Toasting Marshmallows over the bbq fire.

Young cousin taught me the know how; and i spend the rest of the night burning my face, watching the fire. It was fun and delicious stuff that i missed out during school days ;)

We reached home, 12 midnight.

Back to Civilization..

Quite literally, our first steps back to civilization as we embarked on the SIA, the flight which shall takes us home Singapore. Alas, the front wheel of the SIA flight had to be replaced resulting to full 2 hours delay; all in the safe hands of our National flight carrier, i screened 4 movies on their newly equipped large 10.6" LCDs, completing the "X-Men: First Class" on our 6 hours journey from Beijing :)

For the next few weeks, i shall post backdate about our 9 days trip, the transportation, food, culture and shopping while i sorted out the photographs (by Sony NEX-3) and thoughts. The only regrets for the trip? We had not a taste of the much acclaimed Peking Roast Duck.

Vacuum packed Peking Duck on racks of supermarket.

Our strenuous "free & easy" holiday toughen us much physically that a walk to 2 supermarkets today, with full shopping bags left me wanting more; it was a stroll in the park compared with the distances we covered a day in Beijing!

Peace and calm reigned as i surveyed Singapore familiar streets, uncluttered by China's numerous road signs, overhead cables for trolleybuses, competitive bike riders and jaywalkers. Not that China was a backward country, on the contrary, their fast pace in economic development left many envious and we particularly loves visiting but living in Singapore's orderly society was more of comfort.

It's good to be back while i feasted on our cheaply affordable fresh fruits; we had witnessed the often reported inflation in China and it is quite true in Beijing city now.