Tuesday 31 January 2012

Rive Gauche Patisserie: Cheese cake

"Light and Creamy daily baked cheese cake with crunchy cookie base..."

Upon knowing some of my friends who were yearning to pay a New Year visit to my humble house.
I was wondering what should I offer my thoughtful friends?
I mean I can't expect my guests to arrive with nothing to offer them right?

Being me, the best thing I can think of is getting cake I decided a cheesecake from Rive Gauche.
That's so me right? I can't help it I guess? I have a great weakness for cakes!

I was hoping to get a that coffee liquor infused mousse cake or more commonly known as Tiramisu. But on second thoughts, my friends weren't much of an alcohol cake fan like me... so I decided to give her a skip this time...

Rive Gauche's rendition of cheesecake may seem like you typical cheesecake but that's just superficial talk.  Mmm... How should I put it? A thick layer of fresh cream cheese that's light and airy sitting on a thick piece of cookie base. Yeah, that's how you phrase it.

If only I have a cheesecake for breakfast every morning... Life would be sooooo good...

I have tried many of Rive Gauche cakes. Besides the liquorish tiramisu, there's also Mont Blanc which I find it to be delightful with swills of french chestnuts puree and the ever popular french puff pastry, Napoleon cake. These are two of my all time favourites whenever I have the chance to get my hands on them!

Rive Gauche does have 3 other outlets mostly confined with the central area of Singapore. Takashimaya, Suntec and Plaza Singapura. But for me, I am just thankful that they decided to set up a shop within Tampines.

Well... What more can I say?
It's good to stay in the east! Particularly Tampines!

Tampines 1 #B1-13
10 Tampines Central 1, Singapore 529536
Tel: +65 6789 5518

Sunday 29 January 2012

Golden Mile Food Center

Golden Mile Food Center is like one of my favourite outspot to have my meals. Everything is there! You want pasta? Bento? Duck Rice? How about Muffin? Located along the long stretch of Beach Road, it's almost walking distance to Bugis! I say half an hour? Far? Well... Sometimes you need that long walk to burn off those calories right? Especially hawker food aren't exactly healthy to begin with :)

But most importantly... It's located in the EAST! I just love staying in Tampines! Well... You will know why soon...

 Japanese food don't always come cheap and much less serving good quality ingredients. But it's a different story at 日本料理 (#01-63). 日本料理 means Japanese Cuisine in Chinese.
Japanese Bento sets ranging from 5-6 bucks and my favourite Japanese Curry at $6? It's definitely cheaper than your average food court Japanese bento. A must come if you're wanna save and scrimp but still wanna enjoy a good meal :)

I had a hard time choosing from their signboard menu since more than half of them had a sticker with the "Best" on it... Seems like they got quite a lot of feedback about their food to dare openly declare their bento as best...
Katsu Bento Set ($5). The cutlet was fried on the spot. I like my food to be piping hot when it's served. Though the rice was bit cold...But all in all, I daresay it's one of those better Japanese Bentos I had.  Not the best though...since I had a similar rendition in Japan :) Which has been my benchmark for Katsu ever since which has to reflect the quality I am seeking right? 

There are also tons and tons of noodles stalls around the hawker center but a must try would be Ah Tee Ko Ko Mee (#01-88).
This is what my mummy grow up back in her old childhood days. Now why the name "Ko Ko Mee"? Back in the old days when policeman were still in shorts. It's pretty common to see hawkers selling noodles and other stuffs on moblie carts. And how do you get your customers to patronize you? You simply knock two bamboo sticks together of course which produces the sound "Ko Ko" Pretty straight forward right?

People who wants a bowl will just shout "Ah Tee" which simply mean Brother in Hokkien. Well, I guess there wasn't a woman selling noodles back then... Fast forward a few decades when your average Singaporean cops put on long pants...
You still have that same bowl of fishball noodles :) Without the Ko Ko rhythm that is. Sorry for the mess, I couldn't draw out my camera in time before my brother starts eating.
There's something about queue that I can always infer from. Either the place is famous for it's history or it's simply too good not to miss out! Nevertheless, I decided to try out a few bowls of of glutinous rice balls from Ah Balling Peanut Soup (01-75), just opposite of the Japanese Stall only :)
Again this was the only photo I had. My family finished all the tang yuan almost immediately. My favourite bowl was the almond paste. It was sweet and delightful. Somehow, I didn't have cravings for peanut soup today. As for their tang yuan, they have all the assorted flavors but the best was the black sesame. It's beyond words I tell you! 

If glutinous rice ball doesn't suit your taste, how about getting Muffins (#01-97)? 
Just look at the variety they sell! Blueberry, Walnut, Coconut, Cheese, Chocolate, Strawberry! "Mummy Mummy! Can I have one of everything? Pretty Please?" My mum ignored my silly request :( She can't stand my silliness at times :)
 These are for tomorrow's breakfast :) I can't wait to sink my teeth in my chocolate chips muffin!
There's another branch at Tampines? That's awesome! I foresee myself to pay a visit once a while to curb my muffin addictions. Hehehe, muffins are my weakness...

There's also a small bakery shop (#01-96)
Again... I pestered my mummy to buy one of everything... 
Heh, this time my mum pretended I didn't exist at all. LOL! 
How to resist freshly baked buns? There are many other great hawker stall within the building. Like the award winners of Makansutra, Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon (#01-101) and Mansaku Japanese Food (#01-93) or the ever popular Fried Kway Teow Mee (#01-91).

Food are still relatively cheaper than other food centers and much better in terms of variety and quality. I definitely will be back again to try that Japanese Curry! 

Till then, stay hungry always :)

Golden Mile Food Center
505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583

Saizeriya: Cheap but still good Italian food

When I think of Italian cuisine. The first place that would come to my mind has to be Pasta Brava @ Craig Road. Why?

Well, let's just say I have many fond memories over there and besides it's located within walking distance of Bonhuer Patisserie and Flor Patisserie! Two of my favourite places that I often hang out over cakes! Heh, sometimes it can get very hard to decide which Patisserie to visit...

But when I think of cheap but still good Italian cuisine. Then it has to be Saizeriya! Pastas under $10? Escargots under $7? Tiramisu under $6? You tell me where to find such a place that sells cheaper than them? Did I mention they don't charge their customers that extra 10% service charge?

Some of my friends love Saizeriya so much that they seem to be there perpetually! Mind you, my friends are quite a fussy eater so if they can keep going back to the same place means something about their quality right?
What happens if you have a friend who have yet to try escargots in their lifetime and you want them to try it but you don't wanna spend a bomb on eating some snails? Well... Bring them to Saizeriya of course!

Six well-cooked snail sitting in a broth of boiling garlicky sauce at $5.80. It's cheap that's for sure! Texture wise... Some say it taste like chicken while my dinner partner told me it taste like mussels? I leave it to you to decide how escargot should taste like...
Four perfectly honeyed marinated, lick smacking and not to mention worth those calories chicken wings ! To be honest, four is too little for me to enjoy! But who am I to complain since it's on the courtesy of my dining partner? Sharing would do just fine for me :)
Trust me, those wings are good I tell you! A must have if you're a chicken wing fan!
I am not a real fan of clams but somehow I always find myself getting the Asari clams spaghetti ($5.80) on almost every single visit. I always enjoy slurping the clam broth after eating clams after clams off their shells and slurping spaghetti like nobody's business!

Sooo... On one of my many visits, I got a bit bored and started to play with my clams shells...
17 were accounted :) My friends were like seriously? Edward is playing with his food? Tsk!
Mushroom and chicken spaghetti ($5.80).
Plain and simple but I have to say it's very filling even for a guy like me.

Personally I prefer the branch at Liang Court compared to City Square Mall. Not because there's a difference in service or food but because Tampopo Deli is located at Liang Court! Haiz...The thing I do in the name of cakes...

Just to take note, I never order their hamburger steaks. It's not worth even considering it if you ask me. Go for their pastas and starters and let's not forget about their desserts! I was informed that their Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream is awesome!

I wanted something green, a Genovese spaghetti ought to do the trick. But who knows, they ran out of it...

Oh well... Just have to come back the next time :)

Liang Court Shopping Centre #02-22
177 River Valley Road, Singapore 179030
Tel: +65 6337 9001
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm daily

Friday 27 January 2012

Chinese New Year: Countless reunions

Finally Chinese New Year is over! Wooohooo!!! Though I am still having my reunion dinners with some of my family and friends later part of the week? There's something nostalgic about having reunion dinner...

You can have it at a classy restuarant or at someone's house. You can have plain simple or with expensive ingredients and extensive banquets

But let me tell you. All these would be worthless if you aren't sharing all the joy with a group of people! At least that's how I think...

Soo... back to the story alright? Some of my friends were asking me what have I been doing for that past two days? Well, eating of course! Practically the whole two days non-stop :) I really love to eating that's for sure! I shall let the photos do the talking on my behalf just to prove my point of eating the whole day :)
 Simple and unpretentious lunch... Or is it...
With one whole heap of abalone strips covering this plate of broccoli...
Talk about unpretentious loh...
Whats CNY without this 3 beaut? Rabbit Fish. Don't ask me why they are call rabbit fish but they sure taste good. I love my fish plain steamed no sauce no oil!
Same place different time. By then, I got a bit sick of abalones especially when your family keep stuffing abalones on your bowl! Not to mention leftover abalones to finish. Handmade Fu Zhou Fishballs are my favourite loh! Never fail to bring joy in chew those savoury meatballs!

A few hours later...
I was found eating again! Curry chicken, mixed vegetables, duck and Japanese seaweed chicken?
I LIKED! Did I mention I down another plate of fried bee hoon :)

And a few hours later...
I had Steamboat, especially when you're eating outdoors! A pot of prawns, fu zhou fishballs, veggies, fish maw and all things good! SHIOK ARH! By then I already had 4 meals within an afternoon already but well. How to reject when you have a grandaunt whose dotes on you right? Just when I thought it was a simple affair since all the stuffs was dumped into the soup. That is till I took a peek inside the kitchen...
Trays of vegetables waiting for me? How naive I was but still I happily comply :) Did I mention there's wagyu beef too? There was a heap of those lying in the fridge awaiting for me...

A few hours later?
Not again I thought...
I didn't really managed to take photos of all the different meals I had because half the time, my family members are grumbling why am I snapping pictures and not digging into the food? They don't know it's for a greater cause, that is blogging!!!

It's not easy for one or two individual whipping up a feast and for some... They are in their silver age already? It never fails to amaze me that they still have the passion to wake up early in the morning to prepare the ingredients and still have the strength to saute a giant wok that weight maybe 3kg?

Why they still do it despite the labor intensive job? Not that we can't afford to go restaurants to enjoy our food over air con. At least we don't have to wash our own dishes right?

Out of love I guess?
Love does make people do ridiculous stuffs :)

From the way I am eating...
How not to grow fat!

Valentine is coming...
I wonder if she's free...

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Chinese New Year: A guide to eating snacks II :)

What a day!

Every single home visit was a joy! With another new addition to my REALLY HUGE EXTENDED FAMILY. I have been "promoted" to the status of 公.
Grand Uncle in Chinese. Mind you it's Big Grand Uncle for me hor since I am the eldest :)

Can you imagine how my grand nieces and nephews are gonna address my grandmother? 
Great Great Grand Aunt! WOW! 


But that's not the main point :) The main point is. I literally spent every single moment of today eating! Eating is truly my forte!  And so as promised yesterday, There will be more snacks to be added!
When I was much much younger. I could say that I fell in love eating letters. I always thought that love letter is something that someone imprinted some words onto an edible piece of letter and then roll it up. At least that was what mummy told me...

Let's just say that my mum always had a hard time with my inquisitiveness personality and the best part was I actually believe what my mum said until some time later. How naive I was...

Fast forward to the adolescent stage of mine, I still find myself pretty much in love with eating it. It's crispy and flaky. It's like eating paper crackers only better!
Flat version of love letters. My grandmother scolded me for playing with my food as I was arranging them in a circle. Flat or rolled... It's still taste the same.
Almond biscuits... Mmm, Almost all the household that I visited seem to have at least some snacks that has to do with almond. I mean who wants to hate almonds? I say who wants instead of who will because I do know of people who are allergic to the nut. It's fragrant and sweet :)  Just the way I like my almond biscuits to be :)
I don't really know the Malay or English name of this peanut filling snack but in Cantonese, it's call Got Zai.
Which in english literally means little Ingot. I guess it's very obvious how it was named since it does resemble an ingot :) 

My grandmother loves to tell stories of how when she was young, she would sit beside the table with her elder sister, watching their mummy knelling little ingots... How she would secretly stuff a few into her mouth without getting caught by her mummy but end up getting caned when she was caught... 

I guess that's one of those grandmother's stories that I actually enjoy listening to...
No one makes 腐竹白果, Dried beancurd and Ginkgo nuts soup better than my grandmother does! I could easily down six to ten bowls whenever my grandmother makes it. It's simply the best of the best!
What is Chinese New Year without a good bowl of 红糟鸡, Red Wine Chicken Stew. Don't be mistaken into thinking that the red wine used is some french grape wine. It's actually fermented glutinous rice with red rice bran mixture. A must have dish particularly if you're Hock Chew Nan or in English, people of Fu Zhou :)
I am not sure you notice but there's a chicken feet amidst the stew. The best part is that it comes with nails! hahahah! Just the way I love my chicken feet to be :)
A tray of assorted nuts, straight from the mama shop I suspect but you must be wandering what are those brown stuffs sitting in the middle right?
It's actually 年糕 or year cake if you wanna translate literally. This particular piece was part of a big steam cake which was sliced and pan fried. I really love it when it's fried with egg! I tell you the feeling is totally different! 

Bet you didn't know that my family made them very year right? It's all hand made, from knelling the sticky and starchy mixture all the way to maintaining the temperature of the oven...

CNY is the only time I would eat the chewy cake because for most of the time, it's used as a offering for the Chinese Gods and by the time it's done for offerings, there would be mounds growing all over the brown cake! Not sooo good right?

Day one of CNY has pass... I can't wait for dawn to come and begin another round of eating again! 

Monday 23 January 2012

Chinese New Year: A guide to eating snacks :)

It's Chinese New Year!

For some families, it's all about having a reunion dinner. Actually, I wanted to write up on my reunion dinner or I should say reunion meals. You see my family doesn't just eat once. We eat over a series of days! I have a really BIG extended family :) Maybe that will I will showcase to you after CNY luh :)

For children, it's all about getting the hong baos or red packets. Well... that's when a BIG extended family comes in. But well... Don't think I keep all the money for myself. I usually pass all of them to my parents for safekeeping, least I spend it all on cakes.

For me and my family, it's all about the food! My mum and I are very particular on CNY snacks.
One thing you can infer about the both of us. My mum is very fussy when it comes to eating :) Obviously right? Like mother like son :)

We have a few criteria before we even buy a tub much less pop them in our mouths. It need not be expensive or from hotel and restaurants. I don't go for brands when it comes to eating. But it must be home made or I should say hand made. It means no heavy mass production by machines. The only machines used should be the oven and the mixer. Nothing else!  It's labor intensive but well, being a baker myself...
It's all worthwhile when someone tells you that they really love what you baked :)
This tub of pineapple tarts best explained what I just said. It's all hand made and home made I tell you!
From making the pineapple jam all the way to rolling each and everyone of them into ping pong ball sizes! It's no easy feat I tell you! How I know? Well, it's because I was part of the whole process of it :) I can't tell you the recipe because if I do, I might have to kill you! You see, it's a family little secret :)

But to be honest, of all the pineapple tarts I tried before, none can beat my aunt's rendition. I am not suppose to reveal this so keep this yourself alright? One of the main ingredient is milk powder. What brand... U go figure out yourself. This additional ingredient gives the pineapple balls a fragrant smell and taste to the buttery experience. The pineapple jam to flour mixture is just right. It's almost inseparable... 

Knowing that one tub wasn't enough for me and how much my aunt dotes on this sweet little nephew, she decided to give me another 2 more tubs just for me and someone else :)  Yes, I promised someone that I will give one tub to try. Who? Go figure out yourself. 
I don't really know how this malay kueh (pastry in malay) got it's place among THE MUST HAVE CNY snacks category but who cares? Another hand made snack from my aunt's colleague. For this particular rendition, my mum and I agreed that too much coconut milk was added. Giving the kueh a strong fragrant smell but more dry aftertaste. It's decent alright but the coconut milk content could have been reduced... 

You know I don't wanna fall sick now least I miss out on other CNY snacks!
Cornflakes are nothing special if you have to ask me. It's really easy to make and the ingredient are literally off your supermarket's shelves. At least that was what I thought till I had a discussion with a master baker. It may seem easy judging from the ingredients but effort to glaze each and ever single cornflakes with honey to hold them together is by all means no easy feat! It's back breaking I tell you! I could taste a strong cashew nut taste amidst the honey coated cornflakes... 
Everyone loves sweet stuffs, particularly peanuts! But then again... I am someone who goes for quality over quantity. There's lots of peanuts and the the taste is strong... but I suspect that a low quality peanut brand was used. Mmm, it just doesn't taste and smell from what I expect but well like all not so nice CNY snacks, if it's doesn't taste good, eat less or none of it!

There's too much for me to cover and some of them requires me to do home visits before I get to taste them... I shall write another post once I manage to get my hands on them!

In the mean time, GONG XI FA CAI :)

Saturday 21 January 2012

Breakfast issues II: Toast Box

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast..

There is nothing better than to start a day with eating breakfast. Afterall, it's the first meal of the day...

After four days worth of junk for breakfast,  I kinda miss breakfast now as much as I am missing someone now...

An ideal breakfast should have eggs!
I mean what's breakfast without eggs? 
Hardly imaginable right? 
Runny half boiled eggs... I LIKED!
The old school Kaya Toast... Sweet coconut jam sandwiched by two toasty bread...
Ahhh! I LIKED LIKED!
Deep Fry a loaf of toast and you get french toast. Spread a layer of peanut butter and you get well... Peanut butter french toast! The freshly fried toast sure warm up the peanut butter, creating a melty and gooey texture to each bite! It's amazing I tell you! What's even better is it's been cut into little bite size treat! All I need to do is to pop one inside my mouth, no cutting required!

What can I say? I'm a lazy guy who goes for lazy breakfast!
Floss over french toast? The best combination if you ask me. Such a simple dish made extraordinary when combined... All the more I should have it for breakfast everyday!
Let's not forget our coffee and tea shall we?

There are many breakfast franchise spawning around Singapore. Ya Kun, Killiney Kopitiam and Toast Box. I don't really care which is the best so as long as they give me my breakfast! But the main problem about these franchise is that it's often packed which means you can literally eavesdrop next table conversations! 

I guess it's that rustic feel that you get that makes me back for more!   

As I am writing this post, I have this sudden craving for toast, eggs and coffee! Heh! I am such a glutton! 

Resorts World Sentosa #B1-203/204
26 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098138
Tel: +65 6686 3764

Friday 20 January 2012

Breakfast issues...

I love everything about my field attachment at Nexus Family Resource Center...
I have a extremely kind and patient supervisor...
I have a friend from my class who is attach there, to keep me company when I need one...
The pantry is literally just beside our table... Should have took a photo to show how close is close :P

But one thing I hate about my placement is...
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR MY BREAKFAST!

So... I end up always eating from the pantry to get that stomach of mine churning...
Love Letter anyone?
How about cornflakes baked with mummy's love :)

That was breakfast for four days... YES! FOUR FREAKING DAYS! See what I mean? I got a bit sick and tired of it honestly. Not that I'm complaining since I have food to munch on for the rest of the day while working :)

My friend and I have decided to stock up the pantry with more food. Since I think we have cleared half of them ever since we stepped food foot into the center. Heh... it's too bad that isn't a fridge or else I would have bought cakes for tea!

Time for another shopping sphere!
Till then, Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Chocolate Origin: The belated orientation

It's just my second day of the social work placement! And you know what? I am enjoying every single moment of it! I wish I never have to knock off from work! It's seriously fun I tell you!

Ohh, by the way, I am currently serving my industrial attachment at Nexus Family Resource Center, located within Changi Prison Link Center. I won't be working with the inmates directly though. It's more of the family of inmates. Nevertheless, it's interesting!

Apparently, yesterday was a hectic day for the staffs @ Nexus FRC... or I should call it Monday Blues syndrome. Although, they were busy crapping jokes from the way I observed...

Today, after our lunch, My friend and I accompanied our supervisor to buy milo and eggs... I thought the milo was for our office's pantry while the eggs were. Well... for her family household? I thought it was until this came along...
These aren't your typical milo. It's your typical milo with one raw egg! Yeah, your eyes didn't fool you that's for sure! Since we were forced into it... We have no other choice other than to finish it. It taste just plain weird!
I was really caught by surprise when our center manger bought one of my favourite cakes shop in Singapore, A 6 inch Chocolate Fudge Cake ($29) from Chocolate Origin! Look at that GLOSSY, THICK and SEXY Chocolate Ganache that surrounds the cake... I found myself in pure bliss! Chocolate Origin's rendition of fudge cake has an unusually thicker layer of fudge compared to others. To some, this is what they define chocolate fudge cakes. But to me... I call it a Chocolate Fudge Dream come true!

It's just like my friends say...
I can almost envisioned Edward having high tea in his work place...

Indeed I am! Hahaha! Envy me? Too bad! I am truly grateful for the staffs @ Nexus FRC for throwing a belated orientation for me and my friend :) I foresee a fruitful 2 months with them!

Block 4 Changi Village #01-2084
Singapore 500004
Tel: +65 6542 2939
Website: www.chocolate-origin.com
Opening Hours: Weekdays: 12pm-9pm
                         Weekends: 10.30am-9pm
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