"Auntie, have Special?"

Special Ice ($1.50)

It does seem embarrassing to ask, so Ric had me do the buying this time.

Nic and the wife had urged us to try this dessert that was not on the stall's normal menu (i later found it on their standard displayed board... my 'Sotong' brother).

The so-called "Special Ice" was actually a 'rojak' or 'supreme' mix of all the stall's available ingredients for their ice shavings - it does taste special as one part of the bowl has hints of Lychees, the other of Longans and yet another toss about gets you some milky icing with canned cocktail... haha..

We have had some daffy fun.

Dian Xiao Er Roasted Duck

Duck Roasted with Wild Ginseng, half duck ($24.80++)

Chinese Lettuce 麦菜 with Fermented Bean Curd ($8.30++)

While we agree that Dian Xiao Er roast duck doesn't come cheap, for every occasional indulgence we unregrettably fling off costing factor as we savor its symbolic herbal flavors infused into each well roasted duck; quite literally, we inundate our rice bowl with the duck sauce, always.. It is yummy.

And whenever Chinese Lettuce is on the menu we would surely order the green for its bitter crunch. 

Stewed Crocodile Meat with Sweet Almonds & Chuan Bei ($6.80++)

Ric developed slight coughing this morning, so i was all for the stewed crocodile meat soup brewed with 杏仁 and 川贝 that promise to moisture the lungs, drive dryness, eliminate phlegm and relieve cough.

Yes, i hear much less coughing after the meal ^*

Itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-Pineapples

On 3 Oct 2011.

My Ananas nanus or more commonly known as Dwarf Pineapple finally came forth with fruit after 2 years of grooming. Every morning i checked out the shoot and it seems to be raising up fast; maybe half an inch each day!

On 7 Nov 2011.

All in a month's time, dozens individual flowerets grow together to form the entire fruit. From the lowest row, purple flowerets bloom and dried up (you see blooming flowerets only at the top row now), forming the scales on the pineapple. 

Each scale on the pineapple is thus evidence of a separate flower, it's amazing. I didn't realize it was flowers until i saw visiting Hummingbird probe deeply into the purple blossoms, feeding on its nectar! 

Are now waiting for the fruit to ripen - hope to update with more photos and details.

The Real Gold - Moccona or Nescafe?

Moccona Continental Gold, 250g ($12.50)

Nescafe Gold Rich Aroma Coffee, 200g ($12.70)

Set a budget of $10-14 getting some coffee for the new office; deciding to do away with 3-in-1 mix all together this time. The budget for a 200g isn't too spendthrift yeah? Compared with most 100g pack at the same price range.

Moccona is definitely reliable with its balanced flavor and subtle aroma - selected!

And even before i decided with the Nescafe, Ric forewarn, "You'll be disappointed." Nescafe branding had never got its way with him. I baffled, "But, why are many people still buying it? And Nescafe is not cheap you know, even their 3-in-1?"

We tried. We will never again buy it. It was a cup of bitter tasting coffee with faintest hint of coffee aroma to speak of. Even the cheapest dried freeze coffee we had, of NTUC Fairprice Gold Premium Arabica tasted way better than this..

Olive Tree Restaurant

We were on a 1 day seminar at the Intercontinental Hotel Singapore, thrilled with the provision of a buffet lunch at their Olive Tree Restaurant! I almost couldn't tear myself away from the table when the clock struck 2pm for us to return to the seminar ballroom...

It's a shame no photos of the good food were taken cos my bosses were at the same table (this blogger identity was sworn to secrecy!); with any dining promotion, i shall certainly hurried back here with Ric - this trip had left some sparkling impression of the hotel and the Olive Tree.

Priced at $39.50++, the lunch buffet serves notable spread of fresh seafood (prawns, clams, mussels, clayfish; no oysters), local and international fare with roast lamb leg and juicy roast beef. Freshness of ingredients used in popular recipes made this buffet standout from the common others; good reviews you read online about here were all true.

And for once, ice-cream outperforms cake dishes up at buffets. Unalike to run-of-the-mill chocolate-strawberry-vanilla trio, they serve a grandstander of fine ice-cream that tastes of real fruits and nuts - in flavors of Pistachio, Melon, Pink Guava, Mango, Strawberry, Vanilla!

The courtyard dining hall was bright, spacious and quiet for a cozy up lunch while service at the serving counter was cheery as i recognized our celebrity chef, Chef Eric Neo who was all smiley, tossing nice tender squids for us all waiting in line at his live cooking station :)

Newton Meng Kee Prawn Noodle @ Jurong Island

Prawn Kway Teow Mee, dry ($3)

We were finally back to Oasis Sakra canteen for my hot hot Prawn Bee Hoon soup! Ric had offered to pack it when he entered the Jurong Island earlier but i refused to hear of it cos i love to have my soup hot hot hot!

Guys with heavier taste buds here often opted for the dry version which was ladled richly with fried shallot oil; it was equally bewitching! Slurp! Slurp! Slurp up!

(Entry to Singapore's Jurong Island govern by valid security passes)

Prawn Bee Hoon, soup ($3)