Latest Articles
April 5, 2017
This is the perfect meal for anyone who is on a low carb diet, and who likes tasty food without too much fuss. Crispy and succulent chicken thighs are paired up with a simple sauce, and enjoyed with sweet, caramelized roasted garlic. Leftover roast chicken keeps extremely well, and can be enjoyed in many other ways. Leftover chicken meat can be shredded and makes a delicious sandwich filling...
March 25, 2017
If you are a regular traveler to Bangkok, you would be familiar with Yentafo – a distinctively pink noodle dish in Thailand. The “pinkiness” comes from the fermented soybean paste added to the soup. It imparts a distinctive sweetness and essence to the broth. Although it’s not as popular as Thai Boat Noodles, yentafo is a staple choice of noodles amongst the locals. If you are not aware, Yentafo Kruengsonge is an authentic Thai yentafo brand with 28 outlets in Thailand and two in Laos. In Singapore, this is the third outlet after the opening of its first outlet at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard in November last year. The second outlet is at [email protected]
March 24, 2017
This recipe brings together 2 wonderful components - Victoria Sandwich Sponge and Roasted Strawberries. If you want to experiment with something a little different, plain Victoria sponge without any cream or fillings can be cut up into slices or squares, wrapped individually and make a very good snack for outdoor events such as concerts or picnics. The Roasted strawberries alone are also very delicious. However, nothing beats having Victoria sandwich sponge together with roasted strawberries. If you have guests coming over, this easy yet tempting dessert would be a pleasant surprise for them...
March 22, 2017
This delicious and comforting dish is simple as it is nutritious. Minced pork and turnip are braised in a thick and fragrant sauce before being doused over steaming white rice. Perfect for rainy days, and as a late night supper. Another upside to this dish is how versatile it can be. Minced pork can always be substituted with minced chicken or minced beef for a slightly different, but equally delicious meal. Likewise, daikon radish also makes an excellent substitute for the turnip. Having this mouthwatering dish over steaming Japanese rice provides a delightful alternative to the usual white jasmine rice as well...
March 21, 2017
Well known for their exquisite and excellent dim sum, Kai Garden has become the latest addition to my list of favorite Cantonese restaurants. The powerhouse duo responsible for expertly reinventing the Cantonese classics dishes are none other than Chef Fung Chi Keung and Chef Lau Chi Keung, both formerly colleagues from Paradise Group. Kai Garden is accented with modern and elegant deco-style touches, adopting gratuitous chinoiserie elements. The space is also deceptively large – with two dining rooms and 4 private rooms. An excellent start to the luncheon comes in the form of their Signature Crispy Peking Duck. Touted as the best Peking Duck in Singapore, it is not hard to understand why. Besides having the most delectable crispy skin, it is served with 5 unique wraps and 5 dipping sauces...
March 15, 2017
Whenever I pass by night markets or Chinese Medical halls, the aromatic whiffs of tea leaf egg never fails to make my tummy rumble. If you are unfamiliar with tea leaf eggs, they are a typical Chinese street food originated from China and found commonly all across China and Southeast Asia, especially Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. The eggs are cooked and simmered in a spiced tea broth. The spices use to flavor the tea broth usually consist of cinnamon, star anise and soy sauce. The use of black tea and dark soy sauce is what gives the tea leaf eggs their signature dark color...
March 10, 2017
Being an Asian, making spring rolls has always been a regular cooking activity at home. There’s nothing complicated in making them, perhaps the only part you’ll need a little practice is wrapping them nicely. When I came across these Firecracker Prawn Rolls from The Woks of Life, I was eager to try them. They are whole deshelled prawns marinated with a spicy chilli dressing and wrapped individually with spring roll wrappers. Because of their shape and color, they do resemble Chinese firecrackers, minus the explosion...
March 8, 2017
This soup is absolutely delicious and is loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals. So not only is this soup tasty and easy to make, it is also healthy and nutritious. What a wonderful combination. The exciting variations that come with this soup are equally mouthwatering and tantalizing. If you are not able to get your hands on butternut squash or sweet potato, you could substitute with either pumpkin and with normal potatoes...
March 1, 2017
Who likes Latte? Me! Who likes Chiffon cake? Me! This subtle coffee flavored chiffon cake is made for all coffee lovers out there. This fluffy and moist sponge cake goes so well with what else, but a warm cuppa latte. If you are caffeine intolerant, using decaffeinated coffee would be most ideal. In this day and age, health-conscious people and would avoid overly sweetened desserts and cakes. Like me. The level of sweetness errs towards the milder side so if you have a sweet tooth, you might need to adjust with more sugar...
February 28, 2017
Hansul Korean Dining Bar is the latest addition to hit the Korean themed dining scene in Tanjong Pagar. Officially opened in Jan 2017, entrepreneur / owner Haden Hee plans to revolutionize the Korean dining scene in our city.Hansul means ‘bottoms up’ in Korean and it houses the most extensive selection of Korean liqueurs in Singapore. In Korea, the drinking plus food culture is an essential element, most of the dining bars stay open till the wee hours and so does Hansul – the daily operating hours are from 5pm – 6am...
February 22, 2017
The final ingredient I've chosen from CAI’s omakase box is none other than these Chinese chives (Kochi). Filled with Vitamin E, B-carotene and Allicin, regular consumption of Chinese Chives can help to purify your blood, boost your immunity and has anti-aging properties. I’m a big fan of Chinese Chives, be it in dumplings or as stir-fry, it is a regular ingredient in my fridge. This Crispy Chives Pancakes recipe is modified from the popular Chinese Spring Onion / Green Onion Pancakes. In my humble opinion, the texture of a perfect Chinese pancake should be light, crispy and flaky all at the same time. It should be bursting with a substantial amount of the star ingredient – Chinese chives. This recipe is just that...
February 21, 2017
RedRing Treasures can now be found at Wisma Atria. This delightful noodle store had humble beginnings in Holland Drive and is renowned for its signature 'red sauce' doused on its noodles. Now, it is famous for its crispy fried chicken, pork and fish cutlets, and the countless variations that come with it. RedRing Treasures is made special by the fact that its signature sauce and cutlets were developed by a chemistry student. Thus adding a special X factor to its food. If you want to experience how science can be factored into culinary, look no further than RedRing Treasures...
February 17, 2017
The second ingredient I’ve chosen from CAI’s omakase box is the Butternut (Ishikawa). Butternut, also known as Butternut Squash, is high in B-carotene, Potassium and Dietary Fibre, Butternut prevents cold and infectious diseases, cancer, high blood pressure and skin problems. Taste wise, Butternut have a smooth texture with a nutty flavor. Although they are good for making soup, they are also perfect for stir-fry or deep fry...
February 16, 2017
Renowned Hong Kong bakery Tai Cheong Bakery has recently opened its doors at Holland Village. Serving their signature egg tarts, Tai Cheong Bakery in Holland Village is also dishing out a range of mouthwatering cha chaan teng dishes. For the unfamiliar, cha chaan tengs are Hong Kong style coffee shops which serve a range of rice, noodle and western style dishes. Reflecting the historical cultural mix of east and west that defines Hong Kong today...
February 14, 2017
Located at North Bridge Road (next to Liang Seah Street and opposite Bugis Junction), Blanco Beef Noodle has been on my food-to-try radar for a couple of months since I drove passed the store several times. Being a huge Hainanese beef noodles fan, I finally tried it last week. I was lucky to meet the brainchild behind Blanco Beef Noodle on that day of my visit and chatted briefly with him. A little background history on Blanco Beef Noodle. Firstly, they are not affiliated to Blanco Court Traditional Hainan Beef Noodles at Guillemard Road. The real reason behind the name is this Hainanese Beef Noodles store is situated at the defunct Blanco Court site, which was once a food mecca for some of the best local food in Singapore...
February 10, 2017
Banana cake is one of my favorite cakes I would make over and over again, it’s almost an obsession. Over the last couple of years, I’ve experimented with a few different hybrid from the original recipe and this Double Chocolate Banana Cake is the latest addition. Fudgy, moist and loaded with chocolatey flavor, they are incredibly easy to make and guarantee to satisfy any serious chocolate cravings you might have...
February 8, 2017
Besides having a rich comforting taste, Miso Soup is well known for its anticancer effects and positive beneficial enzymes which helps improve digestion. I love making my own miso soup as I could customize the taste to suit our palettes. Besides using the basic ingredients like wakame (kelp) and tofu, you could add in daikon, carrot or clams to heighten the umami-ness of the soup. The best part of making this quick and easy homemade miso soup is it’ll take you only 10 minutes from start to end. I’m using white miso paste for a delicately flavored taste. You could definitely use red miso too (or a blend of both white and red) if you prefer a darker and punchier soup...
February 3, 2017
If you love Japanese curry as much as I do, then you will like this Hamburg Cheese Curry Rice. Inspired by a curry restaurant we visited in Tokyo recently, this dish will appeal to both young and old alike. Japanese-style curry was inspired by the British during the Meiji era when India was under their colonial rule. Japan has since adapted the flavors and made it uniquely their own.
Instead of making the curry roux from scratch, pre-made instant curry blocks are widely available in all supermarkets, especially here in Singapore. The most popular brands are House Foods and S&B Foods. Japanese curry’s heat level is generally milder therefore, they are very popular with the kids too...
February 1, 2017
Since saying no to shark finning years ago, we have been carefully avoiding shark fin soup at wedding banquets and celebratory occasions. Consuming shark fin is cruel and unnecessary. In fact, shark fin itself is rather tasteless. The flavor comes mainly from the broth, which is made with chicken stock. Whenever I visit Hong Kong, I’d always come across this imitation shark fin soup 碗仔翅 sold by street hawkers. At HK$15 (approx. S$3) a bowl, they are shark-friendly and taste pretty genuine. Mung bean vermicelli or glass noodles is used instead to mimic the shark fin’s chewy and gelatinous texture...