Mooncake & Tea Pairing

It is our tradition to give mooncakes to our clients and elderlies to show appreciation during Mid-Autumn Festival. Every year, my family and I are spoilt with varieties of mooncakes. As mooncakes are heartily heavy, we love to brew a pot of fine tea to balance the load, aid digestion and enhance the experience.

Below is Classic list Formulas for Matching Mooncakes with Tea:

Green Tea – Any sweet (i.e., lotus paste or yam mooncakes)

Pu'er – Savory (i.e., salted egg york mooncakes)

English Tea – Sweet (i.e., fusion sweet mooncakes)

Oolong Tea – Savory or nutty (5 nuts mooncakes) My family and I loves the Nanyang Tea series.

Cold Brew Carbonated Tea  – Cold Desserts (Snow skin mooncakes)

Molecular Gastronomy Food Science Event

Gastronomic Discoveries

The Seletar Mall engaged an event company to create a brilliant molecular gastronomy food science event at their level one Atrium. It started from late July till National Day holiday. Parents from all over Singapore brought their children to attend this fun event.

Participants spend about S$ 30 each to attend the event. And get to learn and taste science in a fun way for free!

Due to the popularity of this innovative edutaining event, the response was overwhelming. Participants had to wait for 2-3 hours during peak hours on weekend.

To fill up the time while waiting in the queue, some smart participants equipped themselves with books and power banks for their mobile games. Most patiently waited for 2 hours to get into the Gastronomic Discoveries event hall. Amazing to see some kids have the good discipline to behave well in the long queue.

It is easy to understand why people willingly waited as this is so much more experiential, engaging and educational than queueing hours for famous Char Kway Teow! :D We could see from their expression participants greatly anticipate to join the event.

 

The whole event journey is about half an hour but it is worth every minute of it! We learn from the mad-scientists the knowledge behind the interesting dishes we tasted and got absorbed in the fun fascinating science lab setting!

1st Station: Xbox Game - Fruit Ninja Game (for children)

2nd Station: Transparent dishes - Raindrop Fruit Desserts & Ravioli

 

3rd Station: Fruit Froth

4th Station: Litmus Test &/ Helium Sweet

5th Station: Spherification

 

Last Station: Nitrogenius Lab making ice cream burrito with pretty fluffy candy floss.

We got a stamp on our card for every station we completed and received a spoon as a reward!
I could see that everyone left the event feeling happy and fulfilled!

The best part about attending this superb memorable fun experiential event? - It is suitable for curious folks of every age! As an event trainer, organizer and designer, I must say the team of the event company – Ooffle – had really set a high bar with this innovative family event!

Mee Hoon Kuay

Sheng Mian Dry version

Sheng Mian Soup version at $3 a bowl

 Mee Koon Kway Dry version at $3 a bowl

Seletar Sheng Mian, Mee Hoon Kuay (Soup/Dry)
I love the chewy noodles and sweet broth. Customers need to queue for about 10 minutes or more during weekday off peak time. Most of the older folks prefer the soup version. The teenagers usually chose the dry Bee Hoon Kway version.

Located at the famous Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Hawker center where the recent viral video of an elderly uncle being bullied by a young couple. Do expect a long queue during peak hours.

Address:
Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Hawker Center /Market
Block 210 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh #01-05  Singapore 319210.

Opening Hours:
6.00am- 2.30pm. Closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ambience: 7 out of 10.
Hawker center.

Cleanliness: 7 out of 10

Remarks: For those who are driving, park at public car park nearby.

Coastal Settlement

It's been a while since I brought 83 year old Mum out for a date. Her idea of eating out is the standard Chinese round table restaurant or Zhi-char. Once in a while, I will bring her out for something unusual for her. I love to expose her to theme restaurants and see her expression. Hehee... As she puzzled why this queer restaurant owner picks up junks she looked around fondingly at the stuffs we used to have. Mum and I had an incredible time basking in the peace, greens and nostalgia of this unassuming house.

The Coastal Settlement 

Address:
200 Netheravon Rd, Singapore 508529 (Changi)
Opening hours: 10.30am - 12 midnight, closed on Monday.

The Charm of Karung-Guni Randomness

Green & Serene

Retro Cheeky Contrast

Hung Up Oldies

Almost every household used to have this TV

Mayo Dip, Luncheon Meat

Crispy without the oil. Addictive!

Portobello Mushroom Fries

Prawn Bisque
Would be much better if served warmer

Half  + Half = Double the fun! 
Prawn + Mushroom Beef Pizza

Yuzu Tart
Burst of freshness and textures...The ultimate finale of every ideal meal 

Ambience: 9 out of 10

Cleanliness: 9 out of 10

Remarks:
Uber-friendly to humans, pets and wheelchairs.
Warm helpful staffs (from the waiters to the valet drivers). The waiter volunteered to wheelchair my Mum to the handicap restroom with me. The valet driver offered to help me carry the wheelchair into my car. Excellent service!
Free private parking in the restaurant or public carpark at Turn House road.

Satay

In 2011, a survey reflected that Singaporeans prefer Satay as the communion food for Singles day celebration.

This special day is especially meaningful to me as I am the first to revere this occasion in Singapore. I planned a High Tea at Suntec on 11 November 2007, about 50 singles attended. We even invited a drum band to add energetic vibes to the party.

Although we just lose our Singlehood, my hubby and I wanted Satay for supper to commemorate Singles Day. We drove aimlessly in Geylang and found Satay in a very crowded yet unassuming Kopitiam.

Kwong Satay

Well-featured and recognized

Address:
Sin Lian Eating House, 549 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389504
(Junction of Lorong 29 Geylang, below Hotel Yew Lian)
Opening hours: 5pm - 10pm. Closed on Wednesday.

Satay sauce with visible peanut bits

Recommends:
1. Chicken Satay – XL chunks of tender juicy meat!

2. Pork Satay – Charcoal grilled. Soft and juciy. Similar to the Chicken Satay.

Ambience: 5 out of 10

Cleanliness: 7 out of 10

Celebrating 11.11

Remarks:
My hubby likes the Mutton Satay but I find a little tough.
This coffee shop also housed the famous Hokkien Mee, so be prepared to wait a while for seats. Road side parking available.

Simplified-Chinese-Betrothal

During my Chinese engagement party (过大礼), my boyfriend came to my home with the gifts to ask for my hand from my parents. Few older relatives from his family came with him to represent sincerity and respect towards my family regarding this marriage.

When they arrived,  my family accepted some the wedding goodies to show we have accepted the marriage proposal. In addition, my parents prepared some gifts as their blessings for us-the couple. My parents also gave Ang Baos to his relatives who helped to deliver the gifts.  My family cooked a feast to celebrate this joyful occasion, my mum prepared her famous Nonya Chicken Curry and Wuxiang.

Betrothal Basket - the essential icon for Chinese Engagement Ceremony
It can be purchased, borrowed or rented in Singapore.

We have simplified some of our Chinese engagement gifts so as to make it more practical for our lifestyle. We are sharing our Guodali list to encourage more Chinese couples to keep the Guodali tradition. Traditions do not have to be cumbersome or inflexible. It can be modernized while retaining it's original good meaning.

Gifts from the Groom's family.
They are presented inside the Chinese Betrothal Basket.

Bethrothal Gifts (Guo Da Li) Prepared by Groom’s family

• 8 - 24 cans of pig trotters (replaced Roasted Piglet, since we do not know how to cut it)

• 12 - 22 oranges (Oranges sounds like Gold in dialect)

• 2 bottles of red wine (we prefer to drink red wines than hard liquor)

• Boxes of wedding cakes (As the wedding cakes will be given to the relatives with the wedding invitation card, the total number of boxes required depending on the number of the relatives and families)
  Please refer to my post on Chinese Wedding Pastries for more details

• 2 Ang Baos

• A set of Gold Jewelleries that consists of 4 items (bracelet, ring, necklace and a pair of earrings)

Gifts from the Bride's family.
To be put in the Chinese Betrothal Basket and return to the Groom's family.

Hui Li (Return Ceremony) Prepared by Bride’s family

• Portion of the pig trotters, oranges, 1 Angbao and some boxes wedding cakes (to show the Bride has accepted this marriage proposal)

• 2 bottles of honey (wish that the couple's love will forever be healthy and sweet)

• Sweet food like Red Dates, Lotus Seeds and Longan (hope the couple's new life together will be sweet)

• Pants for the groom (pants sounds like good fortune in Cantonese)

• Red Bed sheet (wish the new family grow in numbers)

• Sewing box complete with needles, thread and scissors (wish the Bride to nurture the family)

• Ruler (wish the new family manage their new life together with prudence)

• Mirror and comb (wish the Bride and her family to be well-groomed and presentable)

Please note that all items are given in even numbers for auspicious sake.

Chinese Wedding Pastries

My fiance and I wanted to maintain Chinese traditions in our wedding. These traditions hold significant meanings and are part of our heritage.

Guodali  (过大礼) is a meaningful tradition in Chinese Betrothal custom.  The purpose of this custom is to show respect for the bride's family and sincerity in the proposal of the marriage.

Chinese wedding pastries (喜饼) are given to the bride during Guodali. Usually both families will compile the number of boxes of wedding cakes they need and order from the cake shop in advance. The groom will buy and collect the Chinese wedding cakes. He will bring it to bride's home along with other essential engagement gifts and 2 Angbaos.

As a gracious gesture to accept the marriage and reciprocate the kindness ( 回礼 ), the bride's family will keep some boxes of the wedding cakes and return some boxes back to the groom's family with betrothal gifts and 1 Angbao. The Chinese wedding pastries will then be given to the couple's relatives with the wedding invitation card. I will cover more details on the gifts for Guodali in my next post.

We ordered the Chinese wedding pastries (喜饼) for our marriage at one of the most popular Chinese bakery shops in Singapore.

Tai Thong Cake Shop 大同饼家

Address: 35, Mosque Street, Singapore 059513.
Opening hours: Mon- Sat, 8.30am - 6pm.
Closed on public holidays, 1 week for Chinese New Year holidays and moon cake festival.

Tai Thong is famous for their traditional moon cakes and Chinese wedding cakes. There are not many such traditional Chinese pastries shops left in Singapore. Tai Thong have evolved with times and bake western cookies like Cashew nut cookies, Whole Almond cookies and Macadamia nut cookies too. These cookies are available at S$4.50 per packet.

We chose to buy Tai Thong pastries as they do not use pork or lard. Tasty, light and healthy for our family and relatives!

4 varieties of pastries in a wedding box

The above Betrothal gift set includes: 1 Doushabing (豆沙饼) , 1 Longfengbing (龙凤饼) , 1 Lianrongbing (莲蓉饼)  and 1 Dourongbing  (豆蓉饼). Cost S$5.80 each box.

I hope more wedding couples will integrate this tradition in their wedding to keep our Chinese culture alive and support local traditional businesses.

Fried Hokkien Mee

Fu Le Fried Hokkien Mee

Address: Sunshine Plaza, 91 Bencoolen Street #01-54 Singapore 189652 (inside the building)

I met a lecturer friend at this small eatery while he was having a 4pm break. He and his colleagues  purposely came here after peak hours to enjoy Fried Hokkien Mee with peace. I saw what he was eating, it drew me to order a plate of golden Mee for myself.

Treasure found at Sunshine Plaza


Recommends:
1. Fu Le Hokkien Mee –  The signature dish which made them crowded! Light brown Hokkien mee which is flavorful, fragrant and moist without being soggy. More white thick noodles than yellow noodles. Set meal A consists of Fried Hokkien Mee and a drink (Ice Lemon Tea/ Lemonade) costs S$5.80

2. Fried Ngoh Hiang – Included in set meal (B) which costs S$7.80. 3 pieces of fried meat wrap comes with Hokkien Mee + a drink (Ice Lemon tea/ Lemonade).

Ambience: 6.5 out of 10

Cleanliness: 8 out of 10

Neat place + friendly staff

Remarks:
Well done for a one year old shop! Especially during noisy and busy during lunch hours. If possible, visit them during dinner time.

Street parking and indoor parking at Sunshine Plaza.

Prawn Mee 2

Naturally Addictive without MSG! At S$5 or $7, you get a healthy bowl of prawn mee without feeling thirsty or numbness on the mouth. Prawns are fresh! 

The Old Stall - Hokkien Street Famous Prawn Mee

(Hong Lim Food Centre)

Soup is naturally sweet!

Address: 

Hong Lim Complex 531A Upper Cross Street, #02-67, Singapore 051531

Opening hours: 8.30am - 3pm. Closed on Thursday.

Blk 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-58 Alexandra Village Singapore 150120.

Opening hours: 8am - 8pm

Traditional local recipe since 1943.

Recommends: 

1. Prawn Mee Soup –   The gold is in the soup! 

2. Curry powder –  They fried and grind the curry powder. Just right without being too peppery.

Ambience: 6 out of 10

Cleanliness: 7 out of 10

Remarks: 

They only serve with thick yellow noodles, kway teow or mee hoon. No mee kia or mee poh.

Salad

Feasting due to festivities often comes with an unwanted increase.. To counter the gain and guilt, I embarked on a diet on 2nd day of new year! Today I missed my breakfast. Instead of the usual Beef Hor Fun or Wanton Mee, I decided to settle for a bowl of salad for lunch. I've resigned to atone for my "sins" by munching plain veg like a cow for the next few weeks. But thank God, I chance upon this colorful salad stall at Amoy Street Food Market. Discovered that eating salad can be fun and economical too!

Roasted Pumpkin, Mushrooms, Sun-dried Tomatos, Pickled Onions
+ Carrot Orange with home-made Ceasar dressing.

The B Salad Kitchen

(Amoy Street Food Centre)

Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #01-37, Singapore 069111 (building)

Opening hours: 10am - 8pm. Monday - Friday (closed on public holidays)

Healthy choices

At $4.50, the salad comes with basic greens like lettuce, and 5 choices of toppings. Additional topping costs $0.50. Additional compound salad topping like poached chicken or smoked duck cost $1. Amazing price! Where else can we get smoked duck at $1?

10 exciting types of homemade dressing like Ceasar, Honey Mustard, Japanese Wafu, Thai Lemongrass, Teriyaki Mayo, Virgin Olive Oil & Balsamic to Red Wine Vinaigrette are available.

Enclave with lots of yummy food

Recommends: 

1. Sun dried tomatoes (Toppings) –  Rare find. Gives depth to your salad.  

2. Roasted Pumpkin (Toppings) –  Naturally sweet. Well-roasted, fragrant and soft.

3. Sweet Potato (Toppings) - Goodness of purple potato. Tender to bite.

4. Pickled Onion (Toppings) - Crunchy onion with zest. Makes your greens more appetizing!

5. Orange Carrot (Toppings) - Carrot soaked in orange love.

5. Sandwich - Price range from $5 - $7, with choice of 3 toppings. Black Olive bread or Ciabatta bread.

About 30 types of toppings to chose from!

Ambience: 6 out of 10

Cleanliness: 7 out of 10 (it's a hawker centre anyway)

Remarks: 

Fresh greens with interesting variety of toppings. We shall never be bored to diet daily as the toppings are changed regularly.

The stallholders are pleasant, humble and helpful people. As it is a hawker centre, we might have to raise our voice to inform the vendor on the toppings you have chosen, especially during busy lunch hours. 

Public parking lots along Amoy street and Telok Ayer street.

Sichuan Hot Pot

This Decemeber was a cold one for me, I was sneezing until a sweet lady suggested to wear socks to bed. Socks keep my feet warm throughout the night and works very well for me. 

Besides wearing socks, boyfriend has been setting up steamboat dates to prevent me from catching a chill. This is one of interesting restaurant which provides 3 types of soup within a pot. Customers can chose between single, duel or triple soup base pot. And the best is variety! From appetizers, seafood, meat, vegetables, there are 80 items on their steamboat buffet menu!

Shu Nince Sichuan Steamboat 新一蜀九香四川麻辣火鍋

Address: 25 Teck Chye Terrace, Singapore 545728 (shophouse along Teck Chye Food Street)

Tri-steam boat party
 

Recommends: 

1. Mala (Spicy) soup base –   Peppery and flavorful. Especially matching for luncheon meat, enoki sprouts and beef! 

2. Herbal Soup –  For those who prefers a healthier choice without the tears and numbness.

3. Condiments –  Variety of sauces to dip in. We love the sesame peanut sauce, ultra creamy, rich and fragrant. I mix this sauce with the cold noodles too.

Ambience: 8 out of 10

Cleanliness: 8 out of 10

Remarks: 

Clean, neat environment. Good variety of items to chose from. They have Potong ice-cream as desserts too.

The stove is running from piped gas, the heat can be volcano hot! Be careful not to leave the scoops in the pot for long. My boyfriend scaled his fingers! The clams can be more fresh. Laksa soup base is too thin to my liking. 

Limited public parking lots along the street in front of the restaurant. Valet parking available.

Beef Horfun

I was running a party at Beach road and discovered this gem by chance. I was  drawn into the restaurant by the warm simple ambience and friendly elderly servers. The food was too tempting, I only remembered to take 1 photo. Hehee

Prince Coffee House serves local fare like horfun and western food like steaks too.


Prince Coffee House Pte Ltd
Address: 249 Beach Road, Singapore 189757 (shophouse)


Recommends:
1. Beef Horfun –   Smooth and tender. Beef was well-cooked with love.

2. French Onion Soup –  Flavorful. Sorry I didn't take any photo for this as it was too tempting, I finished it before I recall the importance to photograph.

This Christmas, we could order Roast Turkey ($18 per kg), baked Cauliflower, Apple pie and Yam cake from them too.

Ambience: 8 out of 10

Cleanliness: 9 out of 10

Remarks:
Clean, neat environment.
Parking lots available along the streets and hotel opposite.

Durian

In our efforts to eat healthy, my boyfriend suggested fruits for supper. He brought me to this place. And I love his idea! Definately a better experience than the street durian I usually had.

Charming Toa Payoh

What impresses me about this durian shop:
~ Ample space around.
~ No sleazy brothels or hotels nearby.
~ Away from noisy dusty roads.

Sin Yee Wang Durian
Address: Blk 211 Lor 8 Toa Payoh #01-21, Toa Payoh, Singapore 310211 (HDB shop)

猫山王

Recommends:
1. Cat's mountain durian - about $15 for every kilogram. Boyfriend paid about $30 for one. 1 fruit is more than enough for 2 person to share.

2. Coconuts - Refreshing combination with the king of fruit!

Ambience: 6 out of 10

Cleanliness: 7 out of 10

Fruits galore

Remarks:
Besides durians, they have a wide selection of fruits like red flesh dragon fruit too.
Outdoor seating with a pail of water for washing hands by the drain.
Open air public carpark besides the block.

Prawn Noodles & Rojak

This is the 2nd time I visited this local restaurant. Excited to be here. I shall be back again!

 

Geylang Prawn Noodles

Address: 325 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534946 (shophouse)

 

Other branches:

Blk 682 Hougang Street 61 Singapore 530682 (inside Coffee Express)

 

 

Prawn Noodles, Dried and Soup Version

 

 

Recommends:

1. Dried Prawn Noodles –  Sweet tasty soup, not too prawny. They serve yellow thick noodles, kway teow or beehoon. I prefer to mix yellow noodles together with beehoon. You get to chose between pig's tail, pork ribs or just prawns alone.

 

2. Rojak –  Fresh ingredients was used to make variety of Wu-xiang, po-pia and prawn biscuits. Crunchy crispy good!

 

 

Crispy Chinese Rojak

Ambience: 8 out of 10

Cleanliness: 9 out of 10

Remarks:
Clean, neat environment with wooden interiors.
Parking lots available in front of the restaurant at Upper Paya Lebar Branch.
Open air public carpark besides Block 682.