FoodEx: The Lifestages of An Artisan Ice Cream

SALTED CARAMEL ARTISAN ICE CREAM
Location: Upper Thomson Road

Two scoops: Tim Tam-Horlicks and Salted Caramel

Yeah.. I inhaled the thing!

Voyage Night Festival 2011

Last year was better though..

Wicked in Singapore

DECEMBER 2011

MARINA BAY SANDS

ELPHABA
I'm limited:
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
(spoken) For both of us
(sung) Now it's up to you:

GLINDA
I've heard it said 
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow 
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

ELPHABA
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend:
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you:

GLINDA
Because I knew you:

BOTHI have been changed for good

ELPHABA
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

GLINDA
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

BOTH
And none of it seems to matter anymore

GLINDA ELPHABA
Like a comet pulled Like a ship blown
From orbit as it Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like By a wind off the
A stream that meets Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way Dropped by a 
Through the wood Bird in the wood

BOTH
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better?

GLINDA
And because I knew you:

ELPHABA
Because I knew you:

BOTH
Because I knew you:
I have been changed for good.

Forlino Italian Restaurant

My nth Birthday at Forlino..
Location: One Fullerton

Blue Crab Tomato Salad with Champagne Vinegar    

Veal Ossobuco Ravioli with Bone Marrow and Saffron Sauce    

Nettle & Buffalo Ricotta Cheese Tortelli with Tomato Sauce    

Wagyu Beef Cheek with 100% Chocolate & Red Wine Sauce    

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Happy 46th Birthday Singapore!!

Majulah!!!

Wine and Dine Singapore: Stellar @ 1-Altitude

Location: 1 Raffles Place, 62F

It's my sister Glai's nth birthday and we found yet another reason to indulge!

We come from a family who has an aptitude for high altitude dining , hence, we opted to celebrate her first birthday in Singapore at one of the country's city-overlooking places, Stellar @ 1-Altitude.  Despite the rants and raves I've seen in several blogs, our dining experience at Stellar gave us a new set of good memories. The food was great, service was great, and probably the only thing that needed improvement was the loo. Price is on the high-side but the overall experience is worth every ‘singy’ and all the inevitable calories.

What we had:

/Top left: Twice Baked Gruyere Souffle with Blue Cheese Dressing

Top Right: Pan-fried Foie Gras with Rhubarb and Cherry pickle

Bottom: Slow-cooked veal with Kurobuta Pork/

/Top Left: Polenta Cushion with Four Cheeses and Field Mushroom

Right: Chocolate Seduction - 100 points for the Hazelnut Mousse! Almond Lava cake is a bit crusty and no lava at all :,(

Bottom left: CHEERS! (Our first of the 3 bottles atop the Singapore CBD /

/Birthday girl (on the right) all smiles after receiving a surprise from our beloved SG friends and a visit from dear SE friends./

/More photos on FB/

Pic(k)s of the Week - A Day in a Life

Labels:

1. View from office window

2. Economy mixed rice stall

3. Ikea Cafe

4. Chocolate Sale at Cold Storage

5. Awfully Chocolate cupcakes

How Hot is it in Singapore?

Chili Dark Chocolate.
Bittersweet and spicy.

So HOT that it melts on-the-spot.

The Lion King Singapore

The Lion King is my all-time favourite Disney animated film and watching the musical at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre came with a very high expectation.

The production is undoubtedly one of the grandest I have seen but this theatre roar seemed to have missed the “fwar” factor.

Could it be the audio quality that didn’t give justice to the songs and the performers? I don’t claim to flaunt a sophisticated ear but even the cinemas are investing on heart pumping audio, why can’t they? Or if they did, my commoner ears did not sense it.

Or could it be the stage design that lacked the grandeur? Except for the creative backdrop execution, the overall set design subdued my “woah.” The mini Lion King show I’ve seen in Disneyland years back was even better in terms of set design.

These are just two things that needed improvement. On the bright side, the actors deserved a standing ovation. They were great (and definitely convincing). I had a wonderful time reliving my childhood for three hours. In fact, I cured my Lion King hangover by watching the animated film for the nth time the day after.

Btw, young Simba and Nala were portrayed by Pinoy kids.. Nice!

FoodEx: Beaming Beancurd

I wasn't particularly looking for a Beancurd House as I am already content with the grocery and soybean kiosks for my much-needed soya fix. I was too early for a meeting and so I looked for a nearby coffee shop to do some work while waiting. Out of curiosity (and the sight of the lovely egg tarts), I checked out this hole-in-a-wall store, Rochor Beancurd House, which became an instant favorite!

Presenting.. My 
recent
 discoveries:

1. Portuguese Egg Tart: Flaky crust, creamy custard filling. Just the right sweetness..

2. Tofu Fries: Crisp and softness in every bite! This lightly breaded tofu fingers is topped with a dash or two of cinnamon and chili powder. Never expected it to be so addicting!

3. Sweetened Bean Curd (Hot or Cold): Similar to our taho but without the sago. Silky smooth texture, sweetened by a light sugar syrup. So simple yet satisfying..

I have yet to try the other items on their menu.

How to maximize your Sunday respite

Today is Thurday--and so the countdown to weekend begins.. If you have already mapped out your weekend activities, then good for you.

Weekends, particularly Sundays, are rare opportunities to restore our sanity recharge prior to braving another work week. And while not all Sundays are created equal, here are some of the ways to maximize the official rest day of the week:

1. Sleep in.. just a 'little' longer. (Just a little or you'd be lethargic and unproductive throughout the day..)

2. Enjoy a hearty brunch with loved ones. (Best with strawberries, champagne, and dark chocolates!)

3. Control the urge to open work email. (Hide your planner under your bed, if you must)

4. Have a nice chat with someone 10 years older or 10 years younger. (Their insights are amazing!)

5. Join us @ The Feast:

Photocredit: Jessica Sespene

Wee Nam Kee: Best Chicken Rice in Singapore (?)

They say it's the best Chicken Rice in Singapore..

So off we went..

..and savored a double-dose of oily, ginger-y, chicken-y goodness.

I must say that this Hainanese Chicken is worth every calorie. And worth every cheap dollar spent.

I wonder if Wee Nam Kee in Manila is as good..?

__________________________________

Wee Nam Kee

275 Thomson Road #01-05 Novena Ville Singapore

...

Baby Boom

Hola!

I haven’t been updating recently because I have been busy vacationing, getting well, and preparing for another vacation. Well, what else would you do with 21.5 days of VL?? =)

While all of these happen in my life, Singapore is busy campaigning for increased “unguarded” intimacy among married couples. Apparently, they need to boost their population (with the hopes of displacing foreigners, eventually *sad*) by 1M in the next 20 years.

Weekends in Singapore: Saturday BBQ

Date: 08 January 2011

Location: Heart of Tampines and Pasir Ris

Photos (with permission): Lean Tibia 

It was a simple fellowship activity set for the married couples of LOJ Singapore. But since I happen to live where it was held (and they probably needed another person to gorge on the yummy leche flan), I was invited anyway.

The guests-of-honor were the Pasir Risians, Senkangites, Tampiners and Bedosians (originally Bedokers, until its 'locals' protested).

 

January marks the beginning of Diet Season—or so I thought..

We were hoping to take a photo of the caldereta but for some reason, it disappeared into oblivion. I just remembered someone yelling “Wag na kayo umasa, patatas nalang ang natira!”

Guess what happened next?

The potatoes followed suit,

with not even a trace of the sauce left.

So with only the bee-hon left for ta-pao, we decided to play the classic pinoy game: Pinoy Henyo (in Singlish: Yes, No-Lah, Can!!). The kids outscored the adults.

 Some of the basic questions were,

"Am I scared of it?"

"Is it found in school?"

"Do I hate it?"

"What is 'bawang' ?"

The 'aunties' then taught the fledglings another classic, Dr. Quack-Quack.

The kids had so much fun that everyone wanted to be Dr. Quack-Quack.

'Twas a lovely evening indeed.

(Tito Lean, this is a really good photo of the place.. gujab!)

Welcoming 2011

Moments from the SILOSO BEACH PARTY. 31.12.10

Arriving early in Sentosa to avoid the influx of party people.          

    

               

Hoping for a greater 2011.

       

       

Waiting for the countdown..

     

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 ..

Weekends in Singapore

My weekends are sacred. I intend to keep them stress-free as much as possible since I only get two precious respite days a week. Unlike almost everyone I know, I do my chores (laundry, ironing, cleaning) on weeknights so I can enjoy my anything-can-happen weekends.

Last Saturday, my sister and I decided to go biking in East Coast Park. Too bad it rained.. And since I was still recuperating from my week-long cough/cold episode, we just settled for our ultimate favourite McDonald’s afternoon break.

[But we really plan to visit the place regularly.]

Sharing some photos we took on one rainy afternoon..

Weekend Location: East Coast Park, Singapore

at S$ 6 / per hour +1 hour free on weekends..

Rent anything with wheels (bike, rollerblades, roller skates, etc)..