January 13, 2017
Mention beef stew and immediately, a comforting image of soft chunks of meat with vegetables sitting in a bowl of rich, deeply flavored brown sauce comes to mind. Contrary to popular belief, using cheap lean cuts of meat is not necessary ideal for making beef stews. When there is not enough fat marbling in the meat, they’ll just turn dry and leathery and will never ever become tender no matter how long you cook it. Trust me, I’ve seen my failed beef stew days. Nowadays, I generally stay away from packaged meat labelled as “beef for stewing” which has zero vein of fat...
January 9, 2017
With Chinese New Year just three weeks away, it is time to plan ahead and make your reservation for reunion lunches and dinners. The year of the Rooster begins on 28 January this year and if you are looking for an innovative and inventive Chinese menu done with a great flair (that is not in a hotel), Blue Lotus would be the perfect venue. This critically acclaimed new age Chinese restaurant has creates its own unique and healthy version of Yu Sheng (Chinese Raw Fish Salad). Filled with up to 20 fresh ingredients and aptly named 十全十美 (Shi Quan Shi Mei), which literally translates to “completely perfect”, it is one of the most unique and tastiest Yu Sheng I’ve ever come across...
December 30, 2016
About a month ago, I’ve embarked on a 30 days-with-Huiji-Waist-Tonic Journey. Basically, I consumed a capful of the herbal tonic twice a day, for 30 days. Now, prior to this post, I’ve definitely heard of Huiji Waist Tonic and had always associated it as “something good” for the waist (as the name suggests). And I was not wrong. It helps to alleviate backache and strengthen your waist, especially vital for working adults constantly clocking in long hours at their desks...
December 28, 2016
Tapioca pearls also known as Sago is a popular ingredient in many Asian dessert recipes. Made from the pith of palm stems, these opaque little balls turn translucent when cooked. This soupy dessert is so easy to make and very perfect as a light and refreshing ending to any meal. The beauty of this Sago Pearls with Melon dessert is the ingredients are so interchangeable and versatile, there is absolutely no rules when it comes to the types of fruit used. If melon is not your thing, feel free to use mango, pomelo, watermelon, peach, etc...
December 23, 2016
Boasting top-class farming households with high-standards producers, Niigata prefecture is a treasury of seasonal fresh fishes, fruits and vegetables. Thanks to the good people from Niigata City Food Fair and hosting restaurant, Tóng Lè Private Dining, you do not have to travel all the way to Japan to sample some of their amazing produce. From 14 Dec to 31 Dec 2016, a special six-course menu has been carefully crafted by Chef Ken Ling who flew all the way to Niigata City to hand-pick the ingredients used.
I am extremely excited to sample the items from the dinner menu...
December 15, 2016
I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this hidden gem in Singapore. I’ve been to quite a fair share of restaurants at Tras Street (Singapore) but Kanda Wadatsumi had totally gone off my radar, until now. Perhaps it is the inconspicuous frontage, but once I stepped into the restaurant, the modern ivory-colored walls emanate an intimate surrounding that’s almost in stark contrast to the generic exterior. Kanda Wadatsumi flies its fishes in from Japan Fisheries and Tsukiji Market, and Wagyu beef from Japan Agriculture. A quick look at their lunch menu revealed a good selection of set lunches and Omakase course...
December 9, 2016
Pasta is always good and when paired with seafood, even better. Unless if you are allergic or simply not a fan of crustaceans. All hope is not lost as this tomato based dish is easily customized according to your own preference of ingredients. Right up to the type of pasta. The fanfare of this Spaghetti al Cartoccio is in its presentation. That being said, making a good tomato sauce is essential to the success of this dish. Today, I used Alce Nero Organic Pasta Sauce with Basil...
December 7, 2016
My Pistachio Cake with Irish Buttercream is this Christmas’ sleeper hit. I was pleasantly surprised by the 100% approval rate when I gave out this cake to my taste testers. While I admit there are many steps to making this cake, it is not as daunting as you would imagine. I actually completed this triple layer 8-inch cake over a span of 2 days. Reason being – I started baking them a tad too late in the day and it got pretty dark by the time I finished cooling off the 3 sponges. So I wrapped each sponge with cling wrap and keep them in a cool place. The next day, I continued with the frosting and finished assembling the cake...
December 3, 2016
This intimate, amiable bistro is Burp’s second outlet. Located in a quiet neighborhood at Tanjong Katong, I was eager to try out the items on their interesting, American-street food inspired menu. Burp Kitchen & Bar has a healthy selection of draft, craft and dark beers. If beer is not your poison, there is a good range of cocktails / mocktails for you to unwind. Feeling peckish, we opted a few of the recommended items from the menu...
