The Help (2011)

Ailileen, the domestic help listened on as her employee made racist remarks openly.

Living in our modern society, historic relationship between the Blacks and Whites during the Civil Rights era (America, early 1960s) felt like unreal reality. Over my growing up years, i've seen several 'slave films' but none nailed the discrimination quite as plainly, real and direct - with examples taken from normal homes in the communities.

It is baffling to note that while the Whites found it detestable to use the same toilet, drink from the same water fountain as the Blacks, they enjoyed being served hand and foot by them. Eating food prepared and having their children dressed and fed by the Blacks? There were such clear contradictions. 

Typically, such film is a tear-jerker but The Help was entertaining and engaging with light moments of levity for a dramatic relief. I was attuned to the subject matter and really enjoyed the movie.

Maybe it trivializes the extent of the actual discrimination and injustices without mentioning the common cases of sexual harassment, but the film was sufficed to set you thinking.

Semillon 2004, Cedar Creek Estate

Semillon 2004, 750ml.

For a change, it was nice and easy to have a sweet glass of whites.

The bottle aged Semillon grapes from The Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard & Winery, Queensland was dug up from the wine trove; and thankfully, it was quite decently mellowed, tasting slight dry; reminds you of fresh green apple as illustrated on the bottle.

'Kick' from its 12% vol. came in pretty late but sudden and so strong, it almost knocks me onto the table. Recovery was certain but took some time.

Guan Heng Wanton Noodle - Lost from Margaret Drive

It was utterly disappointing at the re-opening of the Bedok South Food Centre. Favorite stalls of Cuttlefish Kanggong, NiuJi Fried Prawn Noodles and Yong Tou Foo were all gone! The hawker centre had lost its signature dishes.

Wandering about like lost souls, until a familiar signboard (#01-30) glitzed our path - it's the missing wanton mee stall from the former Margaret Drive Hawker Centre!

Mushroom Chicken Feet Noodle ($3)

Char Siew Wanton Mee ($3)

It's been so long... like 4 years! And the hawker hasn't lost his touch; still dishing out chewy noodles with self-roasted red meat from a life-sized oven. Flavorsome Char Siew sauce doused the Wanton noodle instead of the usual light flavoring sauce.

We wanted to show support by making a purchase but clearly, a small queue had formed as we continued our dinner.

Good find.

Hope our many favorite stalls that had gone missing, may one day cross our paths again, soon.

Cold Pickled Cucumber

Cool as a cucumber. I could munch on this chilled plate of appetizer forever!

Whether as a small side dish or vegetable main, it is substantiate and help compliment a heavy meal. I'm sure this refreshing dish with slight tongue-biting sensation from the spices will be most desirable.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Japanese Cucumber, unpeeled
1 Chili, minced
1 clove Garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Sesame oil
1 tablespoon Oyster sauce
White Sesame seed (optional)

Basically, you just cut up the cucumber into bite size pieces. Mix the spices and seasonings before adding in the sliced cucumber. Serve chilled with a dash of sesame seeds.

Freshness Latest Burger

Iced Earl Grey ($2.50), Iced Genmai - Green Tea with Malt ($2)

My heart leaps at the thought of lunching at Freshness with Ric. It serves quality food in a most complacent environment; feels good.

Drinks came first while our burgers were being prepared. And while there's nothing special about Green Tea with Malt; it tasted simply of green tea, the Earl Grey was fragrant as Dilmah Elegant Earl Grey. Both healthily sugarless.

Cordon Bleu Chicken Burger + Jumbo Stuffed Cheese Beef Burger

Freshness latest burger were good. The Cordon Bleu Chicken was juicy. Crisp and hot from the fryer, it melted the Hokkaido cream cheese immediately!

We had bigger expectation for the beef burger but it looked vastly different from the Groupon promotional poster. No cream cheese, no thick beef slab. Just 2 thin beef patties.

Should we complain? But the burger actually tasted good; Freshness managed to prepare the patties with middle-rare tenderness - see the pinkish half-cooked meat. But maybe, it could have been even better?

QQ Noodle House, Bugis

Signature QQ Noodles, Char Siew Ramen ($5.50)

Deal.com for the twin set, $7.10

We were kind of unsettled at QQ. Maybe it was the 'China' feel about the place, or was it the noodles having the unusual hint of something we couldn't put a finger on? Ingredients were fresh, rather nice Char Siew actually. 

But only the minced pork with scallion oil serves to remind you that it's a bowl of Sarawak Kolo noodle you were having. 

Given an option, we would be at Jia Xiang or Yummy Tampines.