Smell the coffee

The year of the Dragon - 2012

2012-01-31T07:29:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a Chinese New Year for me this year. Realised that I haven't taken any pictures at all and that's probably because I spent so much time socialising or catching up that I kind of neglected my blog. So the only picture that I have for CNY is a beautiful set of ang pows with gorgeous blossoms and the most fabulous colours other than red - fushia, purple, mandarin orange, pink and turquoise.

5 memorable colourful moments for me this Chinese New Year include

1. Getting invited to the beautiful home of a fellow blogger Nong Jia Niu. http://nongjianu.blogspot.com/. She is the first friend I've made online in a serendipity moment. She hails from my favourite family vacation town of Malacca and is one of those rare people who pays attention to the small but beautiful things in life.

2. Making authentic nonya laksa Katong style for the first time, from a receipe that I've kept for years but never got around to trying. It brought back the taste of the laksa I had when I was a little girl ( many many years ago ) from a little Katong shophouse.The only taste missing was fresh cockles which would have made it perfect. Lazy old me only got around to cooking it as my husband's sisters were visiting me for the first time this Chinese New Year. As they were good cooks, I had to find something different, risky as it was to try a new receipe.

3. Being visited by my daughter's school friends, all 9 of them for the first time. They were such a lovely lively bunch !

4. Getting to know the mum of my daughter's friend who introduce me to the Tibetan snow lotus and how a home made version of the drink can enhance the immunity of the body.

5. Having a delicious Chinese New Year lunch with my team mates and screaming Huat Ah ! as we toss for good fortune, health and happiness !

Chinese love letters made the traditional way

2012-01-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

I was snacking on some Chinese love letters while flipping through some old cookbooks in my collection and it was such a coincidence to come across this picture in the 1984 Female magazine receipe compilation. This was how old love letters were written, I mean made, over a hot charcoal stove in the backyard using a special mould while sitting on a stool. Burnt fingers were common as the cooked batter had to be rolled quickly before it hardened. Also made with its own traditional mould over a charcoal stove were little kueh buloh, sponge cakes that were soft and fragrant. Nowadays, these are made with electric moulds, less painstaking and convenient but charcoal does make a difference in terms of the taste. I just love the moulds of traditional cakes and treats and they form such an important part of our heritage. Such moulds include that for making ang koo kuehs, Chinese mooncakes, Kembang Goyang (rose shaped fritters), Peranakan apom Berkuah and more. A shopkeeper in Joo Chiat told me that traditional handmade moulds such as the stainless steel Roti Jala maker were getting harder to find as the people who made them were getting older. The beautiful thing about traditional moulds - it gets better with age after years of seasoning. An Indian friend of mine has a family modified Morokoo maker that makes the most wonderful thin and crispy Morookoo. Isn't it wonderful to start your own traditional family cooking heritage this way ? I 've heard of sisters who look forward to festive times to cook traditional kuehs as it is a special time for bonding.

Vintage toy baby pianos

2012-01-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

Bought a vintage baby piano today at the flea market. Though it wasn't in tip top condition, I love its bright red colour and logo with roses. Even though the keys were faded, they still played reasonably well. This baby toy piano has been around for at least 40 years, considering that it was very popular as toys for kids in the 60s and 70s. I had one too while I was growing up though I can't remember whatever happened to mine. Shanghai, the place where it was made was also the first city in China to set up a piano factory in 1895 called the Shanghai Piano Company.For a city with a strong Western influence back then, it is not surprising that the piano first gained its popularity in China in the city of Shanghai.

Famous piano brands in the West are of course the Steinway and Baldwin but in the 60s and 70s, Japan and China began mass producing the piano as well. Kawai and Yamaha were the earliest piano brands to emerge from Japan . Similarly for the Pearl River brand in China. Today, the Pearl River piano factory in Kwangzhou is the largest piano manufacturer in the world. It is sad that many businesses in the West had to move their factories to China due to high labour costs including some very established piano names. There is a level of pride for a country to have its products made in the place of origin but competitively, well that's another story.

Flower windmills in Tiong Bahru

2012-01-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

Flower windmills give off such a happy vibe. Twirling in the wind in all their glorious colours. Don't know why but my heart lightens up whenever I see one and down at the Tiong Bahru area, there seems to be such a happy windmill culture going on. Spotted a number of them at the balconies of the beautiful Art Deco houses here. There were even a number of flower windmills just outside a children's education centre at Yong Siak Street in stunning colours. My favourite is the one in fushia pink.

Happy 2012 !

2012-01-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

I spent my New Year's Eve completely decluttering everything from my closet to the battle field in my daughters' rooms As I am an avid vintage flea market collector, I find it totally necessary to edit, recycle as well as to rotate the things that I have collected over the years, creating and displaying little vignettes at different corners of the house. No bungee jumping for me, just a clean slate to start the year and think of the upcoming projects I want to do.

Here's wishing one and all a very Happy 2012 ahead !

Vintage plastic wares

2011-12-31T18:30:00.000-08:00

A vintage butter dish reminiscent of the one I broke when I was a kid

A pretty three tier plastic ware made in Japan in the late 70s

A vintage Chinese New Year candy tray with compartments for different sweets and melon seeds

Well designed vintage ceramics and plastic ware from Europe and America are doing a thriving business on ebay today. There are also beautifully designed Japanese and Hong Kong vintage plastics of the 70s and 80s which were popular household items in Asia back in those days. Some of these early plastic wares such as the Chinese New Year candy trays from Hong Kong were very durable and had a nice "crystal cut" finishing which made them such beautiful collectibles. Also found a vintage butter dish which was similar to my mum's back in the 70s. I remember dropping and breaking it when I was a clumsy kid. Don't you think this vintage butter dish makes a lovely jewellery box ? It certainly has a unique star cut design which was the trend back then.

Cafe culture in Singapore

2011-12-30T05:04:00.000-08:00

Above and below : L'etoile cafe at Owen Road

Above : Sticky chocolate cake from Old School Delights .
Below : Cute chalkboard menu

New cafes seemed to have mushroomed all over Singapore in the most unexpected places. Hidden in an old shophouse off Race Course Road is L'etoile, a French Japanese inspired cafe that has a beautiful space on the second level. Vintage furniture such as an old dresser, a sewing machine table, antique looking clocks and comfy armchairs complete the look with nice, flowy lace curtains. I went there with my friends for lunch on a weekday but I wished that the menu had more to offer besides sandwiches plus coffee and tea. Had the smoked smoked duck on ciabatta and for someone not particularly crazy about bread, it was really fresh and good. Highly recommended though by a friend is their weekend brunch where French crepes with butter and sugar are available including a most delicious strawberry shortcake. Maybe on a weekend the next time.

L'etoile

160 Owen Road near Farrer Park MRT Station (closed on Monday)

And for a place closer to my home is Old School Delights, off Upper Thomson Road. It had a very familiar classroom environment complete with chalkboards as well as vintage toys and card games from the 70s and 80s. Remember Old Maid, Happy Family and Donkey ? Old School Delights ' signature dish is definitely the mee siam made with a special family rempah recipe. Love the menu handwritten in chalk especially the dinosaur drinking from a straw. There are 3 versions of Singapore dinosaur drinks available here - everyone's favourite Milo dinosaur including the Horlicks dinosaur and Bandung dinosaur. I couldn't resist the sticky chocolate cake though I do recommend sharing it with a friend as it is decadently rich.

Old School Delights

215M Upper Thomson Road

What is friction ?

2011-12-27T02:46:00.000-08:00

Love the decorative book shelf panels at a recent book fair at Suntec City, Singapore. They highlighted quotes on friction by famous authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Paul Therouse, Dorothy Allison and Virginia Woolf.

"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she were to write friction." This quote by Virginia Woolf reflected the status of the women of her time in 1929. Taken from her extended essay A Room of One's Own , it reflected a feminist point of view and a push for freedom for women writers in a literary world dominated by men.

Love another quote of hers that I can relate very well to.

" One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. "

Bakerzin Serangoon Village

2011-11-13T06:07:00.000-08:00

A moment of serendipity brought me to Serangoon Gardens one afternoon. I used to frequent this quaint and cosy place in Singapore when I was growing up. Every other Sunday evening, my family and I will head down to Tip Top Restaurant situated at a little corner and had the most delicious fish head curry. And if we ever wanted a fish head curry take away, it was placed in a big Milo tin. The restaurant has long gone and so are the second hand book store situated close to the defunct Paramount theatre. This was my favourite place for Beano and Archie comics and annuals, the magazine Movie News, Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie books.

Didn't realised that a little mall has sprouted at the former site of Paramount theatre. Called My Village, it is home to NTUC finest, a Japanese BBQ and Hong Kong restaurant, spas, amongst others. At the front of the mall was Bakerzin, popular for its cakes and pastries. On weekday afternoons from 2-5pm , you can enjoy a cake/pastry with any beverage in the menu for just $8.90. Had the Foret Noir commonly known as the Black Forest. It was a lovely cake layered with kirsh soaked chocolate, almond chocolate mousse, cream, the most luscious dark cherries and chocolate flakes. I ordered Moroccan mint tea with it and I must say I do look forward to another afternoon in this lovely part of Singapore again. Perhaps I 'll try the vintage Borshch restaurant, a landmark here amidst the changing landscape of eateries.

Swirls of Delight

2011-10-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

Had fun doing little swirls with a skewer the other day. It wasn't an art piece though it had the feel of it. In reality, it was golden yellow swirls of cheese amidst dark brown swirls of chocolate. Was making my daughter's favourite comfort food cheese brownies as she was pretty stressed from studying for her exams.

Han's black forest cake

2011-10-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Han's restaurant food chain reminds me a lot of an American diner . Set meals of either grilled or fried chicken chop, black pepper or minute steaks, fish and chips served with soup of the day, garlic bread, coffee or tea. I have very fond memories of the place as it was one of the cheaper options for family dining. Back in the late 80's, a black forest cake was only a staple of hotel coffee houses until Han made it accessible to the masses by introducing a cheaper version at only $1.40 per piece or $14 for a whole cake. It was the cake for many of our family birthday celebrations. Other memorable cakes in Han's selection that have not changed through the years are their peach tarts and rum balls . I haven't tasted their black forest cake in years and just had to when my friends and I drove pass one of their first restaurants at Upper Thomson. Had the black forest cake and a cup of tea and that special moment came back, even if it was for just a while.

In appreciation of Singapore Zi Char Cuisine

2011-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

Prawn noodles with bee hoon

Yong Tao Foo

Bitter goud ribs

Prawn paste chicken

Zi Char stalls are very much a part of the cuisine landscape in Singapore. Zi char means stir fry in Chinese and these stalls are commonly found in coffee shops, selling a variety of the most loved dishes in Singapore. There is no need for posh, fancy restaurants if you are on a budget as zi char stalls do serve what most Chinese restaurants do, but at cheaper prices without the air con and posh table settings. Some of Singapore's most loved zi char dishes include prawn paste chicken, Kung Pao chicken, pork ribs, steamed fish both Teochew and Cantonese style , hot plate beef, chilli and black pepper crabs, cereal prawns etc .

Tourists coming to Singapore should try the food at the hawker centres as well as that from zi char stalls at coffee shops. Savouring authentic local food in the countries we visit is always one of the best parts of travelling. One of the better zi char places that I love to patronise is the Kok Sen Restaurant in Chinatown. The yong tao foo and the prawn noodles bee hoon are really quite exceptional !

Kok Sen Restaurant
30 Keong Saik Road,
Singapore

Ann Siang Hill

2011-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like a tourist in my own country. Things in Singapore are moving so fast that if I haven't visited a place for a year or so, chances are things may have changed quite a bit . Was at Ann Siang Hill just yesterday and shops that I remember were just here not too long ago are gone. Swanky boutique hotels have popped up in this conservation area together with cafes and bistros which are quaint and charming. Nice to know that just down the road is the contrast of the bustling Maxwell Road Market, a famous Singaporean food place where the office crowd descends upon like a flock of seagulls during lunch.

Most of the elegantly restored shophouses at Ann Siang Road here were built between 1903 and 1941 and were once the traditional homes of clan associations and exclusive social clubs. A nice place for a stroll and to admire the little architectural details that adorn the buildings such as some original art noveau tiles on the exterior.

Provence

2011-09-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

Was rummaging through the shelves of my favourite second hand book store in Bras Basah complex and a hard cover book with a beautiful illustration caught my eye. A Table in Provence, Classic Recipes from the South of France was published in 1987 and chronicles Lesile Forbes ' culinary odyssey of Provence, in the kitchens of the people she met - gourmets, grandmothers, shop keepers and vine growers. Handwritten in manuscript and illustrated through the most charming drawings, it shows what makes southern French food so memorable - " terra cotta pots of basil and fennel, bundles of wild thyme, savory and rosemary from warm hilltops, bottles of fruity olive oil, ropes of white garlic and baskets of thumb nail-sizes clams." From truffle hunting in the Luberon to the rich variety of Provencal bread, from calissons, a famous almond and melon sweet meat to the most luscious recipes featuring aubergines, zucchinis, pumpkins and olives. All these paint a most inviting attraction to visit Provence for its beautiful countryside and to taste its rich produce.

Is Provence as lovely as she had described ?

Agnetha and Frida

2011-09-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

Agnetha

Frida

Love the handmade dolls I bought in Bangkok. I couldn't quite decide what to call them till someone commented on their eye shadow. Think I shall call them Agnetha and Frida after the girls from ABBA. They had the loveliest eye shadow in blue and purple as it was the rage back in the late 70's. It would not be possible to have a Beatles reunion but if ABBA were to have a get together concert one more time, it would be a blast !

Chinatown

2011-09-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Four areas in Chinatown were given conservation status on 7 July 1989. They are the areas of Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Bukit Pasoh and Tanjong Pagar. These consist mainly of 2 -3 storey shophouses of transitional, late and Art Deco shophouse style. Most of the buildings have been restored to its former glory but the thriving activites and way of life that I used to remember as a child have long been gone.

In September 1983, 500 street hawkers were removed from Chinatown's streets and many went into the Kreta Ayer Complex, but many other unlicensed ones disappeared from the scene.

The removal of rent control since the early 1990s has also forced many traditional businesses out of the old shophouses and in its place comes advertising agencies, marketing firms, lawyers' offices, pubs and restaurants.

Singapore's Chinatown is uncharacteristic of many Chinatowns elsewhere in the world. Clean and organised with offices and many shops selling tourist souvenirs. I miss the Chinatown that my mum and grandma used to go. The authorities certainly did well in terms of the cleaning up but sadly, the soul and spirit of most of the traditional enterprise got cleaned out as well.

Enamel ware from China

2011-09-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

Bought some Chinese enamel ware today from an old couple who had a little make shift stall at one of Chinatown's five foot way. They were selling off all sorts of Chinese enamel ware which were quite common in the 70s and 80s but are less so today. The old couple used to have a shop years back and these were their left over supplies. Somehow I appreciated the flower motifs on the enamel trays . It is quite common to see the bright red ones in some traditional Chinese wedding shops but these were more subtle. My black and white majie in those days used enamel ware very often, the larger trays for making the pink and white tang yuen as well as for drying food in the sun while the smaller ones were for steaming tou fu, fish and ribs. Seeing them makes me remember those days very fondly.

Mooncakes

2011-09-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Received a box of Grand Hyatt mezza nine mooncakes the other day that were really unusual. Little pieces of mooncakes in the shapes of Chinese chess pieces, laid over a tray and over a Chinese chess board. It was a real shame to have to eat it so I whipped out my camera for some shots of how beautiful it looked before passing it around to be devoured.

Happy Teacher's Day !

2011-08-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

Put together little packages of home made cookies for my daughters to give to their teachers. The bright yellow tags kind of matches the sunflowers at the residents' garden at my place. Some of my neighbours do have green fingers, unlike me.

Happy Teacher's Day to all teachers out there :)

Dempsey - PS Cafe and House

2011-08-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

House and PS Cafe are two of my favourite shabby chic places at Dempsey, though I have not been back there for a while till recently, on two occassions. PS Cafe looks like a posh cafe in New York overlooking the woods while House is like a spa cum high tea place.

Presentation of food at both places were great though the chef at House seems to be a little short on the salt for my main dish - fish in a broth of mussels and soba. Couldn't complain about the raspberry chocolate cake with vanilla custard as it had a wonderful nutty texture which goes well with the tart strawberry and the smooth custard. There was also a little promotional message on their place mat - vintage tea party from Thursday to Friday, 3 -5.30pm. Despite it being a weekday, there were lots of ladies , some obviously ladies of leisure indulging in food , tea and gossip. Wish I could live that sort of lifestyle. Nah....I would probably get bored after a while.

While at PS Cafe, I couldn't help admiring the 2 huge bouquets of hydrangeas near the door. Was disappointed when I got to the table as there was only a small vase with a single stalk of decaying chysanthemums. Dying flowers make me a little sad somehow so I kept looking at the hydrangeas instead. Had a miso cod fish with a salad at the side and it was delicious without making me feel guilty. But I did take quite a bit of french fries with triffle oil from my friend , not to mention the desserts that came after. My friend had lemon pudding while I had the ginger one and both came served with lots of cream and ice cream. Oh dear ! But I convinced myself that it was alright and I would go back to my down to earth porridge lunch the next day.

Bangkok Shopping

2011-08-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

Colourful ribbons at Platinum Fashion Mall (accessories floor)

A colourful stripey rubber ducky at the entrance of Siam Centre

A different expression for every toyboy (Siam Centre)

The courtyard of Siam Centre

A colourful montage of tiles at a shop in Siam Paragon

Bangkok is such an enjoyable place to be if you want a shopping and culinary experience. If you only have a few days to spare and shopping is a priority, there are many options depending on your budget. There's Chatuchak market (market is only fully open on weekends) , one of the largest indoor market where each lane is a treasure trove of bargains and unusual finds. Skip all the fake goods and you will see authentic Thai handmade treasures and quality clothes which costs so much less compared to department stalls and boutiques.

The best way to get here is to take the Skytrain to Mo Chit station which is only about five minutes walk away from the market. Finding your way from the station is easy - just follow the large crowd of people. But if there are at least four persons in your group, take a cab and use the meter. With everyone having different shopping interests, it is not easy to shop in a group at Chatuchak . Locating one another is difficult too as the lanes are like confusing little mazes. Best thing is to get a map at the information centre or even print it out from the web and arrange a meeting point. The map is also useful as you can zoom in on the category of goods you want to buy rather than meadering aimlessly. Alternatively, get to meet your friends at a stipulated time at the clocktower, one of the higher structures within the market which can be seen from most parts of Chatuchak.

For a more structured form of shopping, there is the Platinum Fashion Mall, where people take shopping seriously, judging at the way some actually lug luggage bags as shopping bags.
This massive wholesale mall is a source for retail shops all around Bangkok. Bargain hunters can still pay wholesale prices by purchasing a minimum of three and if you are lucky even two pieces from the same store. With more than 1,300 shops, you'll need at least four hours to get through the place and even blogshops and businesses from countries as far away as Russia actually come here to stock up. With floors dedicated to every category of goods - accessories, clothes, leather goods such as bags and shoes, it is the shopping mecca of Bangkok.

Platinum Fashion Mall
542/21-22 Petchaburi Road
Bangkok

But for a more upmarket shopping experience, there's Siam Centre where many established Thai fashion designers set up shop as well as Siam Discovery, a place that houses major international brands. Siam Centre and Siam Discovery are actually twin shopping malls, conveniently located at the BTS Skytrain Siam Station. They are just opposite Siam Paragon, adjacent to MBK Centre. I especially love the eateries and the beautiful big supermarket at Siam Paragon. Well, this is as much as I have discovered during my 3 days there.

Artistic touches in Bangkok

2011-08-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

Little artistic touches around Bangkok abound in many places. From a chandelier made of glass cups, blue orchids arranged in a tear drop to a simple but beautiful arrangement of flowers. It is difficult to shop, eat and take pictures at the same time but I do try.

Cafe shots in Bangkok

2011-08-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

Breakfast at the cafe at Novotel Silom, Bangkok

A leisurely breakfast and a chill / relax tea time are such real treats for me. I love nothing more than a nice pot of tea, scones, cake or cookie. More reasons to do so on a weekend and while I am on a holiday.

Tea time at Vanilla Brasserie at Siam Paragon

Cafe Doitung, Thailand

2011-08-14T02:13:00.000-07:00

Coffee with macadamia nuts and a chocolate muffin

Cafe Doitung at Chatuchak

Toys made from handwoven materials ( Phufa Occupation Incentive Project)

In Bangkok, couldn't help but notice some businesses set up to promote social causes, the most prominent of which was Cafe Doitung which has branches located in many places of interest in Thailand. Sold at these cafes-coffee from aromatic Arabica coffee beans as well as macadamia nuts, replacement crops for opium from the Golden Triangle.

The Golden Triangle is located where Thailand, Myammar and Laos joins and historically this place was known for the cultivation of opium. Since every modern city has its own coffee chain, the creation of Café DoiTung allows the farmers to capitalise on the value of coffee growing, giving them a sustainable alternative form of living. Playing a big part in this is the Thai royal family, especially the late mother of the King, Princess Srinagarindra who first set up the Mae Fah Laung Foundation to raise the quality of life for Thailand's ethnic minorities. This has since passed on to the King's daughter, her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Well loved by the Thai people, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also heads many other similar projects such as the Phufa Occupation Incentive Project which also helps to promote a sustainable way of life for villagers in other remote areas of Thailand.

Thai drinks

2011-08-14T01:08:00.000-07:00

A little cafe just behind an aromatherapy store

Thai style grass jelly with milk

Thai style grass jelly with brown sugar

Thai style ice Lemon tea with lemon grass (right) and lime with brown sugar (left)

Grass jelly is a popular drink in Asia. It is made from boiling the leaves and stalks of the Mesona chinensis plant (part of the mint family) with potassium carbonate and starch, then cooled to form a jelly like substance. Grass jelly has cooling (yin) properties and this makes it an ideal drink in hot Asian countries.

It is interesting to find how different countries in Asia serve grass jelly. In Singapore, black strands of grass jelly (known as chin chow locally) is commonly served with soya bean milk and locals call it the "Micheal Jackson drink". This is in reference to both his popular black or white song and his changing skin colour.

In Thailand, grass jelly is known as chao kuay and is commonly served with just ice and natural brown sugar or alternatively, with just milk and brown sugar. Had both the Thai versions at a very popular Chatuchak stall and it was refreshing after a long day of shopping.
Chatuchak Chao-Kuay Boran
(Section 3, Room 202 and 214, Soi 3, 02-542-0732, 08-6568-7025. Open Sat-Sun 10am-7pm)

Lemon grass is another popular herb in Thai cooking and even the ice lemon tea at McDonalds in Bangkok was flavoured with it. The herb is also useful for presentation. I loved the way my ice lemon tea was presented at a local Thai restaurant. It came with an orange straw and a lemon grass artistically cut at an angle. The beautiful colour combination makes it look like a carrot and celery stick from afar.

Another memorable "drinking hole" in Chatuchak is a cafe just behind an aromatherapy shop. After a whiff of the wonderful, calming scent of essential oils, relax with a refreshing blend of flowery tea on quaint garden benches with chill out music playing in the background.
Lann Cha
(Section 3, Room 122-123, Soi 3, 02-513-0145/6. Open Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9:30am-7pm).

Fly Now III Window Display (Bangkok)

2011-08-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a window display that caught my eye while I was at Siam Centre in Bangkok, a place that houses the best Thai local designers for clothes. This is the shop front of Fly Now III, and its styling can be best described as a surreal dreamscape where Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream meets the world of the Chronicles of Narnia. The clothes worn by the magical creatures exude an exotic mix of colours and playfulness. Couldn't really get the pictures I wanted due to the glare and reflection from the glass windows, but managed to take some shots from another of its branch at Siam Paragon. Strangely, my friend didn't like it at all due to the huge animal heads but I did.

Grey Hound at Siam Paragon

2011-08-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Had dinner with my friends at Another Hound by Greyhound (a mouthful of a name) located at Siam Paragon. The Greyhound version of Thai papaya salad comes in a much smaller portion than what we were used to, which is usually a mountain of papaya shreds. It was an elegant portion with little grapes and pineapples but there wasn't really much to share or to pass around. The mussels with tomatoes and basil came with 3 slices of bread, strategically placed to hold back the gravy. It had a nice sweet sour taste when eaten with the bread. The squid ink sphaghetti with scallops looked and tasted heavenly as the scallops were very fresh while the calamari tasted just right, without being over fried or oily.

The Greyhound chain is famous for its attention to details. Heard from friends who come regularly - its ice lemon tea is served with ice cubes made from frozen ice tea. This way, the drink will never taste diluted even if the ice melts. Unfortuately, we had dinner really late that Sunday night and they ran out of lemon tea ice cubes. But overall, it was a beautiful evening.

Handmade wooden chimes from Bangkok

2011-08-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

I am impressed by the creativity of the Thais. They have managed to embrace changes in today's modern world, yet retain the pride of their culture with energy and enterprise. Thai handicraft is renowned and their eye for quality control makes their exports competitive. Some of my favourite buys in Chatuchak include wood carvings of animals, skilfully put together as wind chimes of a different kind. A string that is simply yet deftly put together contols the movement of its parts - flappable wings on pigs, pecking chickens in a cage, etc. The lady who owns the shops designs and puts together these whimsical and enchanting wooden creatures that are skilfully carved by villagers. Souvenirs or toys with an artisan touch are really charming. Even my two daughters are amused and they now hang at different corners of the house.

Special Lights

2011-08-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Greyhound brand in Thailand started as a designer name in clothes. Since then, the brand has extended itself to cafes and fine dining. I've heard so much of it from my friends who frequent Bangkok so often that I had to visit the place myself. Wasn't so impressed by the exterior of "Another Hound by Greyhound" at Siam Paragon till I was led to a special dining room of chandeliers. They were not the kind of chandeliers that boast of the finest Sworovski crystals. Instead its brilliance lies in its non-conventional simplicity. Rings of steel with attached customised cut glass pieces of spoons, beer mugs, vinegar glasswares, wine goblets etc. It filled the room with a grandeur that is not stuffy but best described as elegantly beautiful and this also extended to its food presentation. More of that in another post as I would like to dedicate this post to the beauty of its lights.

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok

2011-08-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

It is one of the world 's largest indoor market selling a whole range of goods, from clothes, accessories, plants, household goods and ceramics to antiques, food and even pets. Divided into 27 sections with each section specialising in a category of goods, though the demarcation is never quite clear sometimes. Best part of Chatuchak is its organic growth and expansion through the years, with its origins as a smaller flea market in the 1940's for the locals to what it is today. According to its official website, the Chatuchak Weekend Market attracts around 30% tourists. I especially like the fact that locals and tourists get to shop at the same place which makes it more authentic.

I arrived in Bangkok last Saturday night and spent a day at Chatuchak on Sunday. Despite almost a day there, I managed to only cover section 2 -7 and not all 27 sections, a mere fraction of the market. I was multi-tasking along the way, taking pictures discreetly while trying to get a better price for my purchases, though I must say I am really bad at the art. Most of the time, I get to reduce the asking price by only 10% -15%. I could do better but bargaining takes time and I was anxious to see and buy more. Some people start from as low as 50% of the asking price, making their way from there.

Just as the stalls at Chatuchak were getting ready to close for the day at around 6pm, it started to pour. Despite being tired, I was enjoying myself way too much to want to call it a day. But alas ! Till the next time then. I will be back.

A succulent and juicy selection of fruits that will never turn rotten

A boxy selection of vintage inspired bags

Look out for the Thai designer section at Chatuchak

Beautiful fabrics for hats on hot days

Time out for a drink at the many stalls and cafes

Hanging ceramics of baby elephants

Toilet signs that are way more fun and colourful than M and W

Little custard puffs sold in bags

Glass bottled drinks are still popular in Thailand

Mango with glutinous rice, a Thai favourite

Smiling monks in a row (snapped discreetly)

Eating with locals at a side stall.

Spicy and delicious

Portraits of Thai royalty everywhere

Grilled street side chicken

Fried street side fish cakes

Too cute to eat cupcakes

2011-07-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes are such a sweet indulgence. Just looking at them makes you happy. One of my collegues was leaving and gave each one of us a cupcake. I simply love the penguin on top of a blue wave of frosting. Here they are in sitting in a box. Penguins, ladybird bugs and bumble bees. A visual treat before they are all given out.

Flea market finds

2011-07-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

I have not been flea marketing for quite sometime and I was really beginning to miss it. My already cluttered cupboards can surely take something more. But I was prepared to be a little more restrained than normal. Only if the things were beautiful and cheap.

Just like inflation these days, prices at the flea market seem to be on the upswing. In the past, there were many charming old couples who had personal vintage things to sell at reasonable prices but lately, many dealers seemed to have moved in, asking for rather high prices.

Met a new lady stall holder who had quite a number of beautiful things. A beautiful oriental vase with a strange pump top caught my eye. It turned out to be a Japanese water dispenser and written at the base -"Produced by Hario". It was one of the two bottles she had received as a wedding present in the 80's and though it was never used, she was willing to part with it for a reasonable price. Thought it was a good deal as the base really had a beautiful Japanese ceramic design and the pump was strong and clean. Hario, as I subsequently discovered means king of glass in Japanese and the Hario factory goes all the way back to 1921. Today, it produces coffee and tea makers which are stylish and modern. This vintage model was totally not in keeping with their present style but like all things old and vintage, I loved it ! The lady was at the stall was so nice that she even sold me a wooden tray with beautiful hand painted flowers for $2. Looks like I won't be able to shake off flea marketing just yet.

What a Fish !

2011-07-23T07:32:00.001-07:00

Fish laid out beautifully, no not at an exotic seaport but at NTUC Finest which has a fabulous selection of fish everyday and fresh oysters every weekend

I love eating fish ! Just steaming a fresh garoupa in black sauce, ginger and cilantro brings out the natural freshness of the fish. Lately, I 've been trying out more fish recipes to cut down on my meat intake and today, I oven grilled a trout for the first time with a cream sauce to go over it. Lisa, my elder daughter devoured almost the whole fish and spent the longest time at the table making sure every morsel is cleaned up. Ever since she was a baby, she took to fish like a kitten. At the age of six, she learned how to eat the eye of a curry fish head and since then, there was no turning back. Her younger sister would look totally grossed out and she loved it ! I would be at the crowded market every Saturday morning to get my week's supply of fish and though it is quite a hassle, it is worth the wait for the fish monger to get the fish cleaned. But if I want a more exotic fish like trout or whole salmon, NTUC finest at Thomson has a good selection.

For tropical water fish, there are pomfrets - Chinese pomfret, silver pomfret, golden pomfret and black pomfret, sea-bass - Chinese sea-bass and Japanese sea-bass, tilapia - a fish that is commonly farmed, rabbit fish, milk fish, threadfin, grey mullet, mackerals and even more names which I am still trying to figure out. There are also Chinese versions of the names which most fish mongers go by and that itself is another lesson. Oily fish on the other hand such as cod, salmon, trout, anchovies are found in colder waters and they are termed as oily fish because they contain a higher amount of fish fat. This fish fat is also known as Omega oils and are actually proven to be good brain food. One of my all time favourites is Singapore curry fish head which I think it is healthier and even more delicious when you substitute the high cholesterol coconut milk with fresh milk. Till today, I am still learning and experimenting with fish receipes much to Lisa's delight !

Beautiful chandelier

2011-07-23T07:20:00.000-07:00

I love this chandelier exhibit at the Tate Museum and it has got to be the most beautiful I 've ever seen. It has just the right amount of sparkles, baubles and flowers without going over the top. It makes a lovely statement even in a empty room.

The Golden Snitch

2011-07-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

It's the size of a huge walnut with the words " I Open at the Close ". It comes with wings which unfortunately do not fly and there is an option of enclosing a little clock. But I would rather use it in other ways. This is actually an earthly, abeit stiffer version of the Snitch, a little Harry Potter premium I received in conjunction with the last movie. If only it could fly...

The Last of the Harry Potter movies

2011-07-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

It is sad that it has come to an end. A movie saga spanning 10 years. Of all the movies, I love the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The first for being a charming introduction, Goblet of Fire for the dragons and the blossoming of the characters and the last for its truly epic ending including the unravelling of Snape.

Textiles at People's Park

2011-07-16T07:10:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for textiles in Singapore, the main place would be People's Park , a three storey building in Chinatown that has a whole second level of shops just selling textiles. There is no air-conditioning in the building which takes some getting used to for most people. However, I do feel very comfortable here as I have always been, even way back in the 70's while shopping with my mum. There have been so many changes in Singapore that it is getting increasingly difficult to find places that retain their original charm. What's more, it is so convenient to get to People's Park with the MRT just at its doorsteps. In the past, I used to take a bus with mum and would inevitably fall asleep during the long journey. These days, I still get carried away buying textiles and my favourites - pure linen and cotton voile. Cotton voile is one material that is so suitable for Singapore's humid climate and wearing it lightens my mood.

People's Park is also a favourite haunt of art and fashion design students as well as local designers. This is also the place that sells materials for Japanese arts and craft. Some shops carry a wide range of Japanese cotton with the most cute looking motiffs such as owls, red riding hood, dogs and cats, bird cages and more, materials suitable for handmade bags, dolls and fashion accessories. And if you need stuff such as buttons, zips and lace to complement your textiles, there are also a number of haberdasher shops in the same building. Besides Chinatown, other textile shops are found in Arab street where imported lace seems to be a specialty, Mustaffa Centre which sell predominantly chiffons for saris, Joo Chiat Complex in Geyland where Malay ladies love to shop for their baju kurung materials.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

2011-07-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

They say never judge a book by its cover but I must say this is really a lovely book, judging by its cover. I have not read it but since I bought my daughter the first book - the Mysterious Benedict Society, she has gone on to the sequel The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. It has one of the nicest book covers I 've seen in a long time with a quirky Lemony Snicket feel to it. And as the Harry Potter movie franchise comes to an end, this series of books might just be made into movies.

Movie Stars from the Dream Factory

2011-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Pictures taken from Twentieth Century Fox : Inside the Photo Archive

Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch (1954)

Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Cleopatra (1963)

France Nuyen in Satan Never Sleeps (1962)

Doris Day in Move Over Darling (1963)

Katharine Hepburn in Desk Set (1957)

Shirley MacLaine in What a Way to Go (1964)

Raquel Welch in One Million Years BC (1966)

Shirley Temple (1937)

Betty Grable in My Blue Heaven (1950)

Joanne Woodward in The Many Faces of Eve (1959)

Paul Newman in From the Terrace (1960)

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton relaxing on the set of Cleopatra (1963)

Deborah Kerr and Geogory Peck in Beloved Infidel (1959)

Back at an event in 2005, I won a huge coffee table book called The Twentieth Century Fox : Inside the Photo Archive.It features images from iconic and some lesser known movies which are now placed in a state-of-the-art storage on the Pico Boulevard Lot in Los Angeles. Today, I happened to chance on it while clearing out some books on my shelf and enjoyed flipping through the pictures once again.

The early years were really the Golden Era of Hollywood and images of movie stars such as Betty Grable, Marlene Dietrich, Susan Hayward, Gene Tierney, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn and more were featured. Familiar names if you were a fan of old movies. My favourite image is that of Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Cleopatra. She is seen twirling her hair in a bored yet quirky manner while Richard Burton looks on . I also love the outfit in the France Nuyen picture. This actress of French and Vietnameses descent made her name in The South Pacific (one of my dad's favourite movies) and the stage production of The World of Suzie Wong though the movie role eventually went to Nancy Kwan. Doesn't she look like the Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung in this picture ? Betty Grable, the number 1 pin-up girl for GIs during WW2, famous for her well proportioned legs. There is also Doris Day, the reigning star of romantic comedies in the 60's and she certainly looked tomboyish, fun and freckle faced back in those days. And who could forget Katharine Hepburn ? A strong feminist who defied public opinion to wear pants, something not accepted back then by society. This picture shows her in a wonderful spontaneous moment. These black and white pictures do have an enduring classic quality, both stylish and chic.

Cendol

2011-06-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Close-up of green little worms, I mean cendol

A big bag of cendol for $2

Gula Melaka, an aromatic coconut sugar

As far as I can remember, cendol in Singapore is not what it used to be. Back in my childhood days, the drink was rich due to the fresh coconut milk, the cendol was smooth and the gula melaka syrup was aromatic. Each spoonful of the dessert can be described as heavenly, a real treat on a very hot day. In contrast, the cendol commonly available at food courts and hawker centres in Singapore is diluted in taste, made worse by the use of packet or frozen coconut milk with a brown sugar syrup that substitutes for the gula melaka. This is what happens when things gets commercialised and hawkers get their dessert supplies from a few major suppliers. Everything taste the same, bland and generic with no passion and soul. Stalls are mere franchises run by employees.

The cendol in Malacca is much better but one must be careful about being too enthusiastic about the gula melaka. It doesn't help when a separate squeeze bottle of Gula Melaka is placed on every table. Just remember that less is more and too much of it can overpower the balance of the cendol. That is what happened to me the first time I tried cendol in Malacca. My mum told me the first cendol sellers in Singapore were the Indian street hawkers of the 50's and 60's. Till today, I still see the cendol drink sold by Indian stalls at the Tekka market though it looked more like a drink. The Chinese took it a step furthur and added extra little ingredients such as red bean, grass jelly (cincau), sweet corn, atap chee (fruit of the palm tree) together with the cendol.

Today, I bought a big packet of cendol at one of the market stalls in Tekka. The cendol looks more authentic than some of the ones I see at the supermarkets which usually has an intense bright green colour. Cendol is actually made with mung bean flour with green colouring from Pandan leaves added. The mixture is then passed through a sieve (just like the Playdol accessories my kids used to have back then). Tried putting together a home made cendol and it did taste better than the ones at food courts in Singapore though not as rich as the ones in Malacca. Well, at least the green little cendol worms weren't tasteless. In fact, it had a slight, smokey taste which was different. I also ensured that I used fresh coconut milk and real gula melaka. But it would have been much better if I had a ice shaver at home.

Decorative tiles in Malacca

2011-06-25T22:52:00.000-07:00

Art noveau tiles were used to decorate many Peranakan homes in Malacca back then. Till today, replicas are still made and houses and buildings still use them for little lovely touches.

Here's a example of how pretty they look when these tiles are used as highlights on a flight of steps.

Malacca - a quick little getaway

2011-06-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Besides food, there are stalls selling all kinds of goods including this one that sells decorative lights

Never leave Jonker Street without a box of durian puffs

Pineapple tarts are popular here though I find them a little too dry for my liking.

Home made ice popsicles in all kinds of flavours

Kueh balu (sponge cakes) freshly made with an oven outdoors

It is fun to eat at roadstalls as the atmosphere is truly casual and spontaneous not to mention that the food is great and cheap

A sign that says Nyonya cendol though it was actually selling prawn mee

Penang fried kway teow in Melaka

Steaming hot bamboo trays of tim sum

The Chinese interpretation of pancake in this advert - laughing mouth cake

Melaka fruit tea packaged in a very modern, Westernised way

An assortment of kuehs but my usual favourites, odeh odeh and rempah udang were unavailable

The start of Jonker Street also known as Jalan Hang Jebat

My family always make time for a little get away to Malacca, even if it is for 2-3 days. We love the fact that life is quite simple here and the food is great ! I can never get my kids or husband to shop for their clothes in Singapore as they dislike shopping immensely. So I do so with them only once a year in either Malacca or Kuala Lumpur before we make our way for lunch or dinner. Food is cheap and good and though the choice of shopping isn't as wide as in Singapore, you can often get genuine sales of up to 70% in department stores in Malacca. And of course, finish off the stay with a visit to the night market in Malacca on a Friday night.

Japanese cookbooks in English

2011-06-11T01:22:00.000-07:00

The Japanese are renowned for their quest for excellence and have always pursued their passion in their respective fields with vigour and pride. From high tech breakthoughs to their strive for beauty in everyday life, Japanese culture is amazing with the juxtapose of complexity and simplicity, tradition and edgy. And I am always amazed by the range of Japanese do it yourself books. If only they were available in English.

Fortunately, two excellent Japanese cookbooks which are in English are Harumi's Japanese Cooking and Keiko Ishida's Okashi - Sweet Treats made with Love. Harumi Kurihara is the Martha Stewart of Japan with a huge Japanese fanbase. Though not a professionally trained cook , she has elevated the art of everyday cooking with receipes that are elegant yet simple and delicious. Being a housewife herself, she understood the time constraints they have in taking care of the family. Harumi's Japanese Cooking was awarded the best cookbook of the year in 2004 at the 10th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, an amazing feat considering that hers was chosen from a pool of 5000 cookbooks from 67 countries.
What is unique about her book is that she breaks down the mystery of Japanese cooking even right from the basic step of making dashi - a fish based stock which is the heart of many Japanese dishes.Some of her receipes that I've tried include the simple somen noodle salad made from tinned tuna, somen, cucumber, mayonnaise and onion. Simple as it sounds , it is a real delicious treat.

Keiko Ishida on the other hand is a pastry chef trained in Paris who specialises in French deserts with a Japanese twist. She has taught in both Japan and Singapore and it is lovely to know that her English book was published here in Singapore. What makes her cookbook stand out among the many baking books out there is her use of Japanese ingredients such as green tea, red bean, black sesame etc with the French style of baking. I've never been able to make a really light and rich chocolate cake till I saw her receipe recommending that the egg white meringue be folded into the beaten butter, chocolate and sugar mixture using a whisk. All along, I've been folding in the egg white using a wooden spoon which I supposed has taken away some of the air in the mixture. This air is needed to make the cake light. It's just that simple and her chocolate cake receipe is my absolute favourite which I bake very often as treats for my family. I get great pleasure from the whiff of baked cakes and cookies in the comfort of my own home and the sight of my husband and daughters waiting anxiously for their tea time treats. Some wonderful receipes in this book include green tea chiffon cake, green tea tiramisu, almond snow balls, Keiko style mango puddings and of course my favourite chocolate cake.

Crabs - Singapore style

2011-06-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

The final dish, fried crabs stir fried with black pepper till it is fragrant and peppery

The crabs are dipped in tapioca flour before the deep fry process

Singapore is famous for its crab dishes, mainly chilli crabs and black pepper crabs. Chili crab was created in 1950 by Singapore chef, Cher Yam Tian who ran the Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant with her husband in Upper East Coast Road. Since then, this dish is widely found in restuarants and tze char places all over Singapore. Black pepper crabs on the other hand was created by Long Beach Seafood Restaurant in 1959.

When I first got married, chilli crab was the first dish I learnt from a famous Singapore cookbook, followed by paper wrap chicken. I still make paper wrap chicken during occassions when friends visit but less of chilli crabs which is a huge favourite of my husband. As he is not Chinese, the only crabs he ever tasted before we met were flower crabs in a curry sauce. He now loves chilli crabs and subsequently pepper crabs which we learnt to make without a receipe but by trial and error. In fact, there was a period of time when we ate crabs so very often. I was carrying my second kid at that time and according to some old wives' tale, eating too much crabs will cause the kid to pinch alot. I laughed it off , ignored it and continued eating it very regularly. Not sure if it was a coincidence but that kid actually grew up to be hell of a pincher. My elder daughter was a victim of the pinches.The old wives' tale could be true but it could also be due to her stubborn, naughty nature. It has been a long while since we indulged in some home cooked crabs but just last week, we bought some mud crabs and made a black pepper version of it. My kids relished it and they were really quiet at dinner time trying to concentrate on getting the meat out of those hard to reach places. It is really messy to eat crabs and the best place is really home where you don't have to worry that much about looking less elegant.

Bollywood Veggies

2011-06-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

You can tell if the bananas of a particular tree are edible from the way the flower hangs

Above: Pisang Seribu also known as a thousand fingers.

Above: I once grew a papaya tree in my mum's backyard and it was fruitless for years. Turned out it was a male papaya tree !

Above: Consuming too much laksa leaves actually curbs one's sexual drive. Apparently, monks grow a lot of these when they can (according to the tour guide on the farm)

Above: The colouring of the blue pea flower is commonly used in Peranakan kuehs

Great thing about having a blog is knowing how it reflects one's state of mind, how inspired or uninspired you are. Well, the latter describes the state I'm in. Maybe the best way is to get back to basics. To the grounded reality of a farm....in a city. Bollywood Veggies is a 10 hectare farm in Kranji owned by a Singaporean couple who yearn for a paradise lost in Singapore and wanted to demonstrate the viability of land sustainability. From growing around 90% of its own food in the 1960's to less than 10% today, Singapore is almost completely reliant on imported food. With most people living in high rise flats, house plants are the closest most Singaporeans have to growing something green, much less vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Bollywood Veggies is like a sanctuary for stressed out urbanites to explore the unappreciated countryside. This is great for a Taurean like me who relishes parks, open spaces and nature. Was there for an office retreat, not exactly what you call destressing but it is good to get away. We were given a farm tour and I felt just like a school kid on an excursion again. There is a wide variety available from long beans, sweet potatoes, papayas, yams to more exotic ones that are hardly heard of these days as well as a large variety of banana species, even inedible ones distinguished from the edible ones by flowers that grow upwards.

Also on site was a quaint, air-con cafe called Poison Ivy, named after the owner which serves food from the supplies of the farm. And what was also fun was a little culinary adventure we had in the kitchen where we learnt to make masala egg sandwiches, sweet potato leaves omelette and green papaya salad. My favourite was the masala egg sandwich which was made using mayonnise, curry powder and chopped up laksa leaves, all mixed together with a little salt and poured over cut hard boiled eggs on a slice of bread. Toast the bread and voila, an exotic sandwich that is simply yummy.

Bollywood Veggies, somewhere a little different for Singaporeans , away from the ubiquitous malls in the city. Address : 100 Neo Tiew Road, Singapore 719026 Open Wed-Sun 9am-6pm

Tekka market

2011-05-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

It's always a vibrant and colourful sight around Tekka market in Little India

Banana flowers on the right and some form of plant shoot on the left.

Pomegranates (bottom) make a very popular drink in India and it contains anti-0xidant properties. Heard from a friend that pormegranate juice adds a nice zest to salads.

Every other Sunday, I would make trip to Tekka market for my beef and curry supplies. Love the colourful sights and sounds all around. Just outside the market are stalls selling onions by the sacks and different kinds of egg plants for curries. Also saw some vegetables that got me curious. They appear to be big plant shoots of some kind while the other looks like huge flower blossoms from the banana tree. Wonder what sort of India dishes these vegetables make. I remember coming across a Nyoya receipe called Sambal Jantung Pisang which means Banana Blossom with Chilli Paste but am less familiar with Indian dishes except for my favourite fish head curry.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers ! No one knows what a mother goes through until you actually become one. Here's a little book in my collection called Mothers Please ! One Hundred poems for every mother. It celebrates motherhood in all its forms, from traditional ballads to works by poets great and little-known.

The Singing Kettle and the Purring Cat by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The singing kettle and the purring cat,

The gentle breathing of the cradled babe

The silence of the mother's love-bright eye

The tender smile answering its smile of sleep

To My Mother by George Barker

Most near, most dear, most loved and most fat,

Under the window where I often find her

Sitting as huge as Asia, seismic with laughter,

Gin and chicken helpless in her Iris hand,

Irresistible as Rabelais, but most tender for the lame dogs and hurt birds that surround her

She is like a procession no one can follow after

Be it like a little dog following a brass band

Mary, Mary by Roald Dahl

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow ?

I live with my brat in a high-rise flat,

So how in the world would I know.

Vintage English teapots

2011-05-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

I love English teapots especially floral ones but a monchrome black and white one caught my eye while flea marketing. At the base, it says "Handpainted Monarh England". What I like about it - it is a big fat teapot which can hold up to eight cups of tea, most convenient when friends visit. Tea is my favourite time of the day during weekends and as a child, I remember accompanying my mum on a house visit to her Eurasian friend. At precisely 4 o'clock, out came a golden little tea cart filled with cream cakes, scones and a beautiful tea set. I remember being completely enarmoured and pestered my mum to get one too but nothing came out of that. My husband loves tea time too but in a completely different way. He makes tea out of stainless steel mugs and even "tariks" (pulls) the tea by successive pouring from one container to the other to get a nice creamy foam, just like how Indian drink stall owners do it. I have offered him a beautiful tea pot to fill with tea but he prefers his good, o'le plain container. I can't complain cos he does make the nicest tea. Only when my friends visit do I pull out one of my many tea pots which just sits there in the display cupboard.

Vintage 70's Chinese cups

2011-05-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

Vintage Chinese cups featuring children at play are quite a hoot. People who grew up in the 70's will remember such cups. I found ten cups of the same whimsical design and couldn't help buying them as they were made of fine porcelain and were still in good condition. A sweet little Chinese girl is seen giving her doll a bath and her pet monkey wearing slippers and Chinese style short pants comes up to her offering a brush. The contrast of the sweet little girl and the funny little monkey puts a smile on my face.

Chinese notebooks

2011-05-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine has just come back from a holiday in China and gave me a little Chinese notebook as a souvenir. I chose the little sweet girl above cleaning her face with my favourite Chinese "Good morning" towel that was very popular back then and still is today among Chinese communities around the world. The notebooks were done in the art style prevalent during the Chinese cultural revolution (1966-1976) which featured drawings of mainly farmers, soldiers, factory workers pledging allegiance to Chairman Mao and his little Red Book. Not sure if these drawings were originally from that era or were drawn today to emulate the art style of the cultural revolution but they certainly had that distinctive retro Chinese look.

Durian Season once again !

2011-04-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

What a joyous scene for me ! Durian season has descended upon us. Beautiful red baskets of durians delivered by lorries to the fruit stall at Geylang early in the morning. You either hate it or you love it ! There is seldom anything in between.

The Royal Wedding - William and Kate 29.4.2001

2011-04-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

There were tourist souvenirs everywhere in London to commemorate the upcoming marriage of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton. But I bought a Mark and Spencer's tin box containing short bread as my souvenir as I loved the blue tin and the design. I also came across some cute little designs that were up for bidding for charity in the British magazine Living Etc. The designs do look a little more refreshing than the ubiquitous tourist types.

Around London

2011-04-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

The queen and her crown are part of the everyday landscape in Britain

With the prevalence of the mobile phone, these iconic British phone booths seem more decorative today than functional

An art installation that's both functional and beautiful

A nice day for a ride ! A row of bicycles for rent

Britain, Britain, Britain. Land of the unmistakable red phone booths and the crown that sits upon the head of the queen.

Tate Britain

2011-04-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

John Everett Millais : Ophelia 1851-2 Wilfred Knight : The Deluge 1920

Mark Gertler : Merry-Go-Round 1934

Edward Burra : The Snack Bar 1930

Tate Britain is the home of British art. They have just recently rehung their galleries so that even repeat visitors will get a fresh look at the Tate collection. The British art displays are divided and presented in several ways, with large areas displaying historic, twentieh century and contemporary British art while special displays keep in focus individual artists or a specific period of British art. Featured here are some of my favourites from Tate Britain.

Peter Doig : Echo Lake 1998

John Singer Sargent : Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose 1885-6

Lucian Freud : Girl with a Kitten 1947

Nebamun - the Life of an Egyptian accountant

2011-04-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

Officials in chariots as depicted in Nebamum 's tomb chapel

Desert hares are caught as feast food for the wealthy Nebamun

Below: Nebamun hunting in the mashes of the Nile. In ancient Egypt, fertile marshes were a place for rebirth and erotism. Above: Fishes and ducks found in these fertile marshes

Above: Egyptian ladies at Nebamun's party

Livestock lined up for inspection in Nebamun's world

And little British kids lined up against the glass as they scribble the answers to their British Museum assignment The life of an accountant in ancient Egypt was by no means monotonous or simple. These exquisite well preserved drawings were found in the tomb chapel of Nebamun, the accountant in charge of grain at the Temple of Amun at Thobes (modern Karuak ) who lived lavishly in his life time and as shown, hopefully in his afterlife. Nebamun is thought to have lived at around 1500 BC. Apparently, these paintings were hacked from the tomb wall and purchased by a British collector who in turn sold them to the British Museum in 1821. The location of this tomb chapel was never revealed and the collector died in poverty without ever revealing its source location.

And at the time while I was there, there were many British school kids who were frantically scribbing the answers for their quiz assignments during their school trip to the British museum. It was such a joy to hear them speak to each other. On seeing one of the many statues, a little boy exclaimed , " Look ! He's got nipples !"

Anthropologie London, King's Road

2011-04-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

From museums of human history and culture , I made a diversion to another form of anthropology, one that appeals to the senses in a modern way. It also gives me a much needed therapy of the retail sort. Anthropologie has in recent years established itself in London, in both Regent Street and King's Road and after an stimulating museum visit, it feels good to be visiting this lovely store. Just like how a museum curator has to visualise how an exhibit should be displayed, an Anthropologie store visualiser has to exercise great creativity and flair for the store's interior and window display. This time, a large number of green bottles hanging down in a cascading fashion, provides a lovely backdrop to the clothes on display.

Within the store, a hand written receipe for sponge cake on a blown up foolscape paper adds a nice whimsical and homely touch to the crockery which comes in beautiful colours and shapes. I bought a lovely cup with red and pink flowers and ensured that I wrapped it carefully within my suitcase. All went well till I got home. I had to drop it accidentally on the first day, breaking its handle. Hopefully, some super glue will do the trick. If you are in the vicinity of an Anthropologie shop, do drop by. As the British people love to say, "It's lovely !"

Antique Porcelain Ware at the British Museum

2011-04-15T06:21:00.000-07:00

French porcelain plate with chinoiserie decoration in gold and platinum, Sevres 1802

British made Japanese inspired ceramics

Below : Made in Sevres 1845 for use at the Chateau de Fontaine Bleau.

A pretty piece with gold plated butterflies

Chinese butterflies and sprigs, English Straffordshire, Wedgewood 1812-1829

Straffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent is the birthplace of Britain's thriving pottery industry which started in the 17th Century. And world renowned names as Royal Doulton, Wedgwood (founded by Josiah Wedgewood), Spode (founded by Josiah Spode) and Minton (founded by Thomas Minton) started at this place. The local abundance of coal and suitable clay gave it a lead start but the subsequent construction of the Trent and Mersey Canal allowed the import of china clay from Cornwall and facilitated the production furthur, cementing its position in Europe's pottery industry. Many of the made in Britain antique tea cups and saucers in the 1800s were made in this area.

Over in France, plates, cups and saucers used by the French royalty were specially made in a factory at Sevre. It supplied tableware with gold decorations to the royal households at the various palaces, bearing the monogram of the reigning monarch at the base together with the name of the place or chateau. But of course, royalty has ceased to exist in France with that chapter in French history dramatically chopped off.

I love tea cups, plates and tiles and spent a considerable time in this gallery admiring the antique pieces on display and learning of its origins. My friend once told me that he was invited to a friend's family dinner in France and prior to dinner, exquisite antique cups and plates were taken out to be admired before they were taken away. Dinner then commenced in another set of tableware. Not sure if he was pulling my leg but I would love to invited to such dinners.

The Old Royal Naval College

2011-04-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

The painting on the Ceiling below represents triumph of Peace and Liberty over Tyrany and pays tribute to William and Mary and British maritime power.

After my visit to the Greenwich Market, I proceeded to visit The Old Royal Naval College. It was built by Sir Christopher Wren during the reign of William and Queen Mary in 1694 for the relief and support of seamen and their dependants but as the nineteenth century wore on, the numbers of Pensioners declined and the Hospital finally closed in 1869. Soon after this, it became a naval training place for officers from around the world but this soon ended when they moved out in 1998.

One of the most beautiful feature of the old Royal Naval College was The Painted Hall, probably the finest dining hall in the Western world. It is decorated with stunning paintings by James Thornhill who took 19 years to finish it. He did such a fine job that he was eventually knighted. Today, visitors from the world come to see it in the day while at night, special event dinners are organised. During my visit, the hall was spectacularly lit by electric candlelights.The visual would be complete with a grand feast like in the Harry Potter movies. Though there wouldn't be magical flying objects, the scene would nevertheless be as spectacular !

Queen Victoria Cake

2011-04-14T10:02:00.001-07:00

Queen Victoria's favourite cake at tea-time is made up of two layers of fluffy sponge held together by cream and strawberry or rasberry jam. It is a cake that is very simple to make though a lot does depend on how well you know your oven. Apparently, Queen Victoria being the very pragmatic queen that she was, didn't see the need to make a variety of cakes at tea time. She simply had all her favourites combined - cake, strawberry jam and cream. All in one. How brilliant !

I had the Victorian sandwich cake for tea one afternoon at Greenwich, London and took a picture of it using my I- phone. It didn't look good due to the reflection of the cake cover but that improved with the application of the instagram apps.

Greenwich Market

2011-04-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Maritime Greenwich is now an official Unesco World Heritage Site with a large concentration of buildings of great architectural and historical significance. Located in the South East of London, I had to take the tube out of central London to the docklands and business district, walk through the Greenwich foot tunnel which led to a steep flight of stairs (the tunnel was under repair and lift was not in service) to get to Greenwich. And as I was panting away, cylists were able to lift their bikes over their shoulders to climb the stairs without any sign of fatigue.

My first stop was the Greenwich Market as it was almost three and I needed some form of sustenance. The intoxicating smell of seafood paella was wafting through the air and the choice was clear. A man in an apron was preparing it in a huge flat saucepan right in front of the window in a quaint little cafe . For an Asian, a taste of rice would be comforting. And as I was enjoying the food with a friend, in view were open shelves of French gourmet food displaying bottled Ratatouille, bouillabaisse and soup de poisson. I couldn’t resist my favourite config de canard with goose fat and bought a tin consisting of four duck drumsticks. Not exactly healthy but you only live once. And for dessert, the very sinful yet irresistible Brazilian churros at the market, freshly made, filled with caramel and chocolate within and coated with sugar and cinnamon outside. Enough sugar overload to prepare me for more heavy walking to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Park and the Old Royal Naval College.

Antique Tiles

2011-04-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Newly invented inlaid tiles of the 1850's were made to simulate mosaics

Tiles with Islamic inspired designs from Alhambra and the Moors in Spain (above)

Tiles tiles featuring Chinese designs (above) and Japanese threatrical tiles from Wedgewood and Sons, Stratfordshire 1875 (below)

There were quite a number of tile displays at the British museum and featured noticeably was Minton and Company. Minton entered into partnership with Michael Hollins in 1845 and formed the tile making firm of Minton Hollins & Co. which was at the forefront of a large newly developing market, supplying tiles and decorative finishes for walls and floors in churches, public buildings, grand palaces and domestic houses. One of my favourite type of tiles developed by the Minton company was the Art Nouveau majolica tiles which were exported world wide from Britain and were a favourite with the Peranakans in Singapore, Malacca and Penang in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

The exhibits at the British Museum also showed the trends in tile designs and how they were greatly influenced by innovation and culture. This ranges from the invention of inlaid tiles that could similate the Roman mosaics, the Moorish influence of the Alhambra palace in Spain to the Eastern influence of China and Japan.

Quirky favourites of mine at the British Museum

2011-04-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

They are not among the most famous exhibits at the British museum but after one too many Egyptian mummies, Assyrian antiquities and Greek statues, it was refreshing to see some quirky little displays, such as the old man in limestone holding a serpent staff (Mesoamerican culture), 19th century Alaskan craft using mammoth/walrus ivory and more.

The Great Court, British Museum

2011-04-13T03:39:00.000-07:00

The Great Court is a covered square at the centre of the British Museum. It opened in December 2000 with a fabulous roof of glass and steel construction consisting of 1656 uniquely shaped glass panes. Designed by Foster and Partners, it is the largest covered square in Europe and at the centre of the Great Court is the Reading Room vacated by the British Library. This Reading Room is now open to any member of the public who wishes to read there. I looked around in awe at the mix of modern and classical while sipping tea and munching cookies at the cafe of the Great Court. It was a nice moment to savour.

The British Museum

2011-04-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London and its collections are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world. It was founded in 1753 when physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) bequeath his entire collection of books, natural history specimens, prints, drawings and antiquities from Eygpt, Greeece, Rome, the Far East and the Americas to the nation. Today, it no longer houses the collection of natural history which is now under the British Museum of Natural History at South Kensington while its collection of books and manuscripts is now part of the independent British Library. Nevertheless, the Museum retains an extensive number of artefacts representing the cultures of the world, ancient and modern. It is especially renownned for its collection of antiquities from Egypt and Sudan, with Sir Hans Sloane's original collection enhanced by those confiscated by the British army after the defeat of Napoeon's French forces at the Battle of the Nile in 1801. The Museum also supported excavations in Egypt throughout the 20th Century until changes in antiquities laws in Egypt led to the suspension of policies allowing finds to be exported. Egytian mummies and coffins remain the most eagerly sought exhibits by visitors at the Museum. There is something about the curses of the mummies and stories of violent deaths of its excavators that hold the lure to visitors from all around the world. With its vast collection of ancient treasures, the British Museum is also a target of criticisms and controversy. The Elgin Marbles from Greece, the Benin Bronzes of Nigeria and the Rosetta Stone are among the most disputed objects in its collections and organisations have been formed demanding the return of these artefacts to their native countries.

The Michelin Building in Chelsea London

2011-04-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Stumbled upon the fashionable district of Chelsea London while looking for Anthropologie in King's Street. And right across the street from where I was standing was an exceptionally beautiful building. It had a very attractive art deco look about it with some Art Noveau touches and right at the top of the building was the word Michelin Tyre. At street level, there are a number of decorative tiles of famous racing cars of the time which used Michelin tyres and of course "Bibendum", the iconic Michelin man. It is no longer a functional Michelin building as it was sold to Sir Terence Conran, restaurateur and retailer and Paul Hamlyn, owner of the Octopus Publishing Group back in 1985. Jan 20th 2011 this year happened to be the 100th anniversary of the buidling.

Hotel Russell London

2011-04-12T07:07:00.000-07:00

The imposing terra cotta facade of Hotel Russell

The most eye-catching landmark of Russell Square is Hotel Russell, a magnificent example of Victorian architecture. It was the epitome of opulence with its red terra cotta facade complete with beautifully sculptured balconies, pillars and statues of cherubs. It was designed by architects who had a hand in the creation of the ill-fated Titanic. Apparently, the hotel's restaurant is nearly identical to the restaurant that was aboard the ship. They don't make buildings like they used to, do they ?

Portobello Market

2011-04-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

William and Kate's memobillia are the rage with the wedding on 29 April 2011

Well polished silverware that glistens

The clockmaker that never stops

Little vintage lights that cost 155 pounds each !

Springtime in Portobello Market

I love flea markets and even though I didn't really have the time to visit the Portobello market, a stroll through it made me happy as I made my way to the tube. There 's never a better time than at spring, when flowers are at their best and the weather just cool enough to lift the spirits.

Being a tourist destination near the posh Nottinghill area, things are not really a bargain here though there is a fine display of vintage wares. As I was rushing through, my pictures of vintage tea ware and toys were quite a blur. Next time then. On a Saturday when the flea market is at its liveliest !

Hydrangeas and other flowers at Claridges Hotel, London

2011-04-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

Pretty hydrangeas and peonies arranged in vases of varying heights in the lobby of The Claridges

Hydrangeas in various shades of lavender hues

The Claridges Hotel is an iconic Art Deco gem in Mayfair, London which has a long history of attracting European royalty, socialites and Hollywood stars. The hotel always features the most lavish flower bouquets according to the seasons and with spring, the flowers are at its most ravishing with sprays and abundant blooms of hydrangeas, roses and peonies.

Springtime in London 2011

2011-04-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

I have never experienced London in spring and it was beautiful ! I was lucky that the weather was cool and even sunny with a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius. Flowers were in bloom everywhere from tulips, gardenias, daffodils and even some cherry blossoms in white and pink.

British Bed and Breakfast

2011-04-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

Was in London for a couple of days and spent the first night in a bed and breakfast place called Crescent Hotel at Bloomsbury, near Russell Square. The charming thing about bed and breakfast is the warm hospitality one gets from a home cooked breakfast in the mornings to a living room filled with little touches of the owner's family such as pictures at the fireplace. With my love for anything antique or vintage, I couldn't help noticing a cast-iron stove at the corner of the dining room and engraved on it were the words "Patent Wellstood range".

Curious, I looked it up and discovered how this stove was run, using the enclosed burning of fuels like coal and wood. At that time, its manufacture was based on an imported innovation from America which made it cleaner and more efficient compared to the open fires commonly used in Europe. The factory that made it was in Bonnybridge, Scotland and it was opened by 3 partners, Ure, Smith and Wellstood in 1854. Though the oven wasn't used, it made the breakfast setting very cosy, a nice contrast to having one at a commercial cafe.

Vintage Pyrex ware Part 2

2011-04-03T03:56:00.001-07:00

Recently bought a set of green vintage 1970's spring blossom Pyrex mixing bowls. Will come in handy when I serve a huge fish head curry dish. Bought it from a guy who had earlier sold me a wooden rocking horse. He seemed reluctant to part with the set but did so eventually.

If I had got it from Ebay, the shipping costs will have cost me more than the mixing bowls itself.

Miniature Vintage Singer Sewing Machine

2011-04-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

Bought a miniature Singer sewing machine at the flea market recently. It wasn't functional but it looked so cute and dainty that I had to buy it. It came up only to my knees and if I can find a little elf doll to pose there like he was sewing, it could look like a scene from the classic story The Shoe Maker and the Elves".

Kampong Glam

2011-04-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

The Malay Heritage Centre, the former Istana Glam

The Kampong Glam area in Singapore has a nice, languid feel to it. With the iconic Sultan Mosque standing tall amidst the quaint old shops, it exudes an Islamic cultural vibe that is very refreshing in urban Singapore with street names like Arab street, Bussorah Street, Bali Lane, Badghad Street and Kandahar Lane.

It was in 1822 that Stamford Raffles drew a master plan for Singapore, assigning specific areas for different races to live in. Kampong Glam was allocated to the Malays, Bugis and the Arabs and the village derives its name from the glam trees found in abundance there. Prior to the master plan, Sultan Hussain Mohammed Shah ceded Singapore to the British East India Company on 2 August 1824 in exchange for cash and annual pensions. This area was given to the Sultan as his 'personal accommodation' after he signed the treaty. Hence Sultan Gate and its Istana became the seat of Malay Royalty in Singapore. In the years following, there were stories of in-fighting between the Sultan's descendants over the inheritance of the place and the case was brought to the public courts. In 1897, the Court of Singapore ruled that the land belonged to the Colony of Singapore and not to the Sultan's descendants though they were allowed to use it. They continued to do so and according to a friend who grew up in the area, the Istana soon fell into a state of great neglect.

Then in 1999, Kampong Glam was designated a conservation area and there were plans to convert the Istana into a Malay Heritage centre. A lawsuit was brought against the government but eventually it was settled with the Sultan's descendants getting $350, 000 a year for 30 years including resettlement benefits. The building has since been restored to its former glory and converted into a Malay heritage centre. Last weekend, after my little shopping at Haji Lane, I wandered around in the Kampong Glam Area like a tourist in my country. In the vicinity of the Malay Heritage Centre (Istana Glam) is Kandahar Lane. A row of colourful, restored shophouses caught my eye. One had a quirky name. Apparently, the Rich and Good Cake Shop is famous for its silky soft durian, pandan and mango Swiss rolls. There is also a halal Thai restaurant in the same row called Bumbu, a Chinese opera theme cafe and museum and a delicious nasi padang place called Warong Nasi Pariman along the same row. What an eclectic mix !

Also, at the nearby Arab Street, there are quaint little shops selling baskets, carpets, perfumes from the Middle Eastern and textiles. Some of the loveliest lace materials for evening gowns and wedding dresses can be found here. Dressmakers and even haute coutre houses come to Arab Street for the selection of fine fabrics, sequins, crystals and beads.

Certainly a nice place to spent a relaxing Sunday afternoon over a cup of tea halia (ginger tea) or tea tarik.

Elizabeth Taylor's vintage and classic ads

2011-03-28T05:49:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. She outlived them with her diamonds, husbands and all and earned her place as the last iconic star of the century. When the Hollywood roles got fewer, she took on a different path, that of a humanitarian, working tirelessly for the Aids cause.

Elizabeth Taylor passed away on the 23 March 2011 but her place in Hollywood history burns bright.

Besides the movies that made her legendary such as Cleopatra and Giant, she also graced a number of advertisements, from as recent as that of Violet Eyes launched last April 2010 to vintage ads from the 50's and 60's including Max Factor, Lux, Lustre Cream Shampoo and even Whitman chocolates.

The lady with the violent eyes - RIP.

Haji Lane shopping in Singapore

2011-03-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

Mall shopping is not quite my cup of tea. The shop mix in Singapore malls is becoming quite predictable that it makes on-line shopping increasingly attractive. However, I still love the feeling of seeing a product - the cut, colour, touch and feel of a fabric, how accessories dazzle in the light or how quaint homeware gives one a nice cosy feeling. This is especially true for independent shops and brands where creative touches to window displays, products and interiors make them irresistible.

Such a place is Haji Lane in Singapore where the shops display a strong streak of individuality. This place was once a narrow lane of run down shophouses until Comme des Garcons set up shop here some years back. Being a guerrilla Japanese brand, it had to set up shop for only one year, away from the usual fashion hub of the city before moving again.

The Comme des Garcons shop has since come and gone but other shops have moved in. Run down shophouses have now been repaired and restored and are now home to some of the loveliest shops in Singapore. My favourites in this area - the Sky Room, Soon Lee, Puck and the Blogshop. Whimsical touches are evident everywhere, from postboxes to window frames, from benches to walls and stairs. Some shopowners have their little pets around such as cats and little Jack Russell dogs giving it a sweet, personal touch. A nice, small indie shopping place with an easy, chill-out feel.

By Air Mail - Par Avion

2011-03-19T06:28:00.001-07:00

There's something romantic about writing a letter and sending it by Air Mail - Par Avion. The familiar blue and white envelope with the familiar chop looks very nostalgic now as we don't practise letter writing as often as we used to.

Some of the greatest love letters were written this way, especially during wars and times of separation. But today, the volume of letters going around the world have shrunk considerably. It is definitely more convenient to send an email. So how are love notes communicated ? Probably via emails and SMS. But the recent revival of the air mail in vintage and retro inspired designs brings back some of that good o'le sentimental feeling.

Some weeks back, I saw a little stash of blue and red envelopes at the bookshop and feeling a little nostalgic, I bought it just in case I would write a letter to a far away friend. I do have a penpal from New Zealand and we have been friends since we were 12 years old. She writes faithfully every year during Christmas with a card and a letter.

Well, it was raining this afternoon and for some strange reasons, I took these air mail envelopes out and created some little random pictures together with my other stash of quaint cafe pictures.

La Petite Cuisine

2011-03-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

Cream of brocolli

Confit de canard with potato gratin (below)

Potato Gratin

I 've always wanted to try my hand at French crusine and even bought a charming little book with a step by step guide. But before I do, think I should try out more of the real thing to see if I am on or entirely off the mark. So when a friend called to go for lunch, I suggested making our way to a little restaurant called La Petite Cuisine. The reviews I 've read so far were pretty good.

Just like its name, the place was really petite with only three or four tables inside. It was unpretentious and casual, with the cooking area just next to the dining area. Went for the confit de canard which came with the option of french fries or potato gratin. I chose the latter as I 've seen it in my receipe book and would like to find out how the taste was like.

The potato gratin was creamy, buttery, cheesey with a melt in your mouth taste. This potato dish is definitely worth trying at home because kids will love it. Moreover, the calories didn't matter to them.

As for the confit de canard, it was glorious ! The duck leg was crispy on the outside while moist and tender inside, going very well with the sauce that had a sharp and sweet taste. It could have been made with red wine vinegar. But this is one dish I won't be trying. Based on its taste, I'm sure it is a lot more complicated.

Will definitely come to this place again for lunch with my friends as there are more French dishes I've yet to try.

La Petite Cuisine

227, Upper Thomson Road

Adelphi Hotel (1863 -1973)

2011-03-05T02:16:00.000-08:00

The Adelphi Hotel in the 1950's

An Adelphi hotel postcard sent to Calgary, Canada

Always thought Raffles Hotel was the first and oldest hotel in Singapore till I saw a postcard at a stamp exhibition. On it was written - Adelphi Hotel, established 1863. That makes it the first in Singapore as the Raffles Hotel was established only in 1887.

According to a National Library article written by Marsita Omar, the Adelphi Hotel actually shifted three times. It was first situated at Commercial Square (the present Raffles Place) until its premise became too small for its expanding business. Then it moved to High Street and later to number 3 Coleman Street, the residence of Singapore's first-trained architect, George Drumgoole Coleman.

It was around 1904 that Messrs Sarkies, Johannes & Co. purchased the property and made improvements to the hotel. It was entirely rebuilt with 100 bedrooms that came with bathrooms attached. There was also the Billiard Room and a Reading Room on the ground floor. The Adelphi Hotel was a place rich in history. It was the place where General Yamashita met with Singapore's 400 community leaders in a bid to gain their confidence in the new regime. During the Japanese Occupation, the Adelphi Hotel was renamed the Nanto Hotel.

The article also mentioned that the Adelphi Hotel at Coleman Street was permanently closed in 1973 with the 25th June being its last business day. Eventually, the entire building was demolished in 1980 and replacing it was the Adelphi Complex. Sad. It could have been a great hotel restored to its former glory just like the Raffles. The conservation phase in Singapore just came too late to rescue this grand dame.

Little corners of my Home

2011-03-05T01:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some little corners of my home. Lately, I seem to be collecting little Eiffel towers. It all started when my friend wanted to throw away a little French bon-bon Eiffel tower glass container but I managed to "rescue" it. Then came a flea market find which costs me just $8. I love doing and redoing the little corners of my home. It costs very little and gives me the chance to rotate the stuff that I have stored away.

Vintage Pyrex and other ceramics

2011-03-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

A made in the US vintage Pyrex mixing bowl with yellow daisies

Yellow and brown flowers were popular back in the 60s and 70s

A made in Belgium spice bottle with a beautiful floral design

I started collecting some vintage Pyrex ceramics from the US and England as I like the flower motiffs as well as the bright colours of these wares. The yellow Pyrex mixing bowl with the yellow daisies is my favourite as the vibrant colour makes me happy. Though Pyrex wares are still around today, gone are its rich and beautiful colours. They come mostly in transparent glass and honestly, they can't get more boring than that. What happened to the gorgeous colours of pinks, yellows, greens and more ?

The Silk Road

2011-02-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

When I think of the Silk Road, I recall the days of the popular Japanese documentary series of the same name back in the 80's, tracing the actual journey of the greatest trading route in history. This memory comes along with the famous Silk Road tune by Kitaro. The Silk Road didn't refer to one single path but a collection of them. One thousand years back, they were crucial for cultural, commercial and technological exchange between traders, merchants, soldiers and nomads from Ancient China, India, Tibet, Persia and Mediterranean countries.

Silk wasn't the only commodity traded though it was one of the most highly prized for its vibrant colours and superior patterns and the secret of how it was made was highly guarded by the Chinese. The Silk Road exhibition in the Arts Science Museum traced the route covering Xi'an, the imperial capital of the Tang dyasty which held the secrets of sericulture (raising worms to make silk) to Turfan - famous for its night market of heady fragrances such as jasmine and rosewater, Samarkand - famous for the craft of papermaking to Baghdad - a hub of commerce and scholarship.

One of the exhibits at the museum - modern reproductions of Tang dynasty silk which are kept and preserved by the Japanese royal family. The repeating roundel patterns seen in the silk fabrics above is Persian in origin but Tang weavers often used it in their work. Lions paired within roundels were common motifs in ancient Iranian artwork and the Tang Chinese artists adapted this to include animals significant in their own culture such as mandarin ducks. There was a rich cultural and artistic exchange that took place over trading on the Silk Road.

The Art Science Museum at Marina Bay Sands Singapore

2011-02-27T04:35:00.000-08:00

The Art Science Museum has just opened at Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Designed by renowned architecture Moshe Safdie, it has been called the "Welcoming hand of Singapore." Safdie and his team crafted a series of 10 fingers that radiate out from the centre of the building. These fingers progress in both size and height around the centre of the building forming the third and fourth floors and the tallest finger stands 60 metres above ground. All in all, there are 21 gallery spaces totaling 50,000 square feet. On show now are 3 travelling exhibitions " Traveling the Silk Road", "Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds" and Genghis Khan : The Exhibition.

We all go a little kitsch sometimes

2011-02-20T05:09:00.000-08:00

In flea markets, one does come across the most kitsch objects. The ones from 70's and 80's China are very amusing and they don't neccesarily come cheap. I've seen an old couple selling porcelain figurines of Chinese kids in a series of athletic pursuits, from ping pong to gymnastics. Not surprising as these are games that the Chinese excel in.

Today, I chanced upon the most unusual kitsch figurine. Three Chinese boys with the most quaint hair styles, carrying a gigantic Chinese peach. The most eclectic and amusing kitsch figurine I 've seen in a long time. And I had to buy it. My daughters do think I buy the strangest thing.

Well, we all go a little kitsch sometimes.

Original Singapore dishes

2011-02-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Lunar New Year Raw Fish Salad

Singapore Yam Basket

Back in 1963, Singapore had four Heavenly chefs who created some of the country's most unique dishes. They were Master Chef Hooi Kok Wai, the late Mr. Tham Mui Kai, Mr. Sin Leong and Mr. Lau Yoke Pui. Hooi Kok Wai created the yam basket, one of my favourite Chinese restaurant dishes. It was like a bird's nest created from deep fried yam and in the middle, mushrooms, cashew nuts, prawns with vegetables like carrots and celery. This yam basket usually sits on top of a bed of deep fried rice vermicelli.

But the most famous dish from their collaboration must be the "Lunar New Year Raw Fish", which has now become a culinary favourite in Singapore. The popularity of this dish has even extended to Malaysia and Hong Kong. It is popularly eaten during the Chinese New Year period especially on the 7th day. Chinese wishes of luck, good health, prosperity and fortune are said aloud by everyone partaking in this dish while mixing in the sauces, raw fish ( salmon sashimi is commonly used these days ) and tossing all ingredients together with the chopsticks. The higher you go on the toss, the greater blessings you will receive. This dish certainly rakes in good profits for restaurants during this period.

Pineapple cup cakes

2011-02-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

Cupcakes with a heart of pineapple

Didn't manage to make any pineapple tarts this Chinese New Year but I did make something else. It involved less work and made use of the pineapple filling I had bought with the original intention of making tarts. I first put the pineapple filling in the cases, then poured the cup cake batter over it. Tasted not too bad for something improvised at the last minute because I felt a little lazy. Perhaps next time with some pretty cup cake yellow frosting flavoured with pineapple juice.

Street hawkers of old Singapore

2011-02-06T02:22:00.000-08:00

Street hawker stalls at Koek Lane, between Cuppage Centre and Orchard Plaza

Satay Club back then where Esplanade Theatres at the Bay stands

Ice balls flavoured with rose syrup and evaporated milk, a favourite of kids back in the 60's. Didn't matter that he was holding the ice ball with his bare hands

Home made ice cream from a tricycle.

A mobile form of hawking back in those days

The bustling Hock Lam street where it is not uncommon to see lawyers, judges and even ministers having their lunch as the High Court was just around the corner

Glutton's Square in the 70's came alive only after 6pm at a carpark just opposite Centrepoint Orchard

The famous Indian rojak at Waterloo Street

Hock Lam street was famous for its beef kway teow. Now, standing where it used to be - the Funan Digital Life Mall

A little heritage exhibition at the corner of Ang Mo Kio library caught my eye. Black and white pictures of the way it used to be brought back many pleasant memories and I count myself lucky to be born in the magical 60's, to witness the simple way of lfe before the great transformation came along, taking Singapore from the days of slow traffic and rich street life to the modern metropolitian city it is today. Back then, my parents brought me out alot in their Mini Cooper, going to different places for great hawker food. I still remember the original Katong laksa man serving his delicious bowls of laksa from the corner of a coffee shop. Despite many conflicting stories of who originated the Katong laksa today, I am very sure he was the one as there weren't anyone else like him in the Katong vicinity. He didn't have a proper stall , operating only with a big pot of gravy, a stool and some other containers containing noodles, bowls and spoons. But most importantly, he made do with what he had. He cooked the noodles by pouring the gravy into it and then pouring it out again, repeating it for a few times before putting in the gravy. Another efficient way he came up with was to cut the noodles which made it easier to handle. Though he lacked space and equipment, he made it up by his creativity.

Some of the streets featured in the exhibition include Hock Lam Street, home of the original Teochew version of beef noodles. The stall lives on today at Purvis street, run by the daughter of the original hawker. Glutton's Square on the other hand is a car park that came to life only at night with hawkers selling their food from a push cart. My favourites were the Hokkien mee and the cuttlefish kangkong. The food was so good that my parents overlooked the fact that each hawker washed his plates in a small pail of water. In fact, the dirtier the premise, the better the food. Yes, those were the days.

Architecture in Singapore

2011-02-03T17:00:00.001-08:00

It is a human habit to take for granted one's own environment and to look to other places and countries as having "greener and more beautiful pastures". Didn't realised that Singapore is actually quite beautiful. Most people say it is a great place to live if only the weather was better. When I travel, the first thing that strikes me when I touch down back in Singapore is how clean and green it is compared to other modern cities. And with all the fanfare about how fabulous the skyline of Singapore has become with the opening of new developments in Marina Bay, I much prefer the conservation buildings all around. I love the juxtapose of new with the old as it brings out a beautiful contrast.

Singapore has gone through quite a number of architectural trends which can be divided into these phases , pre-war and post war, modern and post-modern. Pre-war buildings consist of a mixture of colonial British architecture which includes black and white bungalows, neoclassical and renaissance colonial government buildings such as the Supreme Court, City Hall, the Post Office (now the Fullerton Hotel), beautiful Peranakan houses, landmark buildings of worship such as St Andrew's cathedral and shophouses while post war, we see the emergence of art deco buildings such as the Asia Insurance Building. Then came the modern phase marked by "cookie cutter" standardised public housing. Aesthetically not pleasing but I suppose there wasn't much of a choice as there was a huge housing shortage for a growing Singapore, struggling after its separation from Malaysia. It was the most pragmatic thing to do. And when things really took off in Singapore , it ushered in an era of post-modern architecture with sky scrapers such as the OCBC building, designed by the world famous architect I. M Pei. During that time, corporations were trying to outdo each other in terms of how high their building would go compared to the other. Glad that silly era is over. Then came the conservation era which was about the rediscovery of Singapore's architectural heritage. It led to an active conservation programme and historial buildings such as the National Museum of Singapore as well as old crumbing Peranakan houses were beautifully restored.

And now, Singapore is in the phase of building iconic buildings which would put her on the world map such as the Esplanade (locals refer to as the Durian) and the latest Marina Bay Sands. These are modern signature builidings but as seemingly grand as they are, I still love the phase of restoring old buildings best. The above picture shows 2 buildings near the Doby Gaut MRT station. Don't you think they both look like vintage headboards for a bed or maybe the traditional headgear of a Polish or Russian dancer. Most likely, they were built during the art deco phase as they were in close proximity to the Cathay at Handy Road, one of the first art deco buildings in Singapore. My dad said the Cathay was once the tallest building in Singapore during those days and it made me laugh.

Magnolia Snack Bar and Hilda's

2011-02-03T02:18:00.000-08:00

Saw an old calendar tray last week at the flea market and it had the most memorable, iconic scene for me. Before the building Centrepoint at Orchard was built, it was the location of Singapore's first and oldest supermarket - Cold Storage. Like Robinsons, Cold Storage was a place where the most fashionable ladies from the expatriate community would shop for their groceries. On the upper floor was a boutique called Hilda's which imports beautiful dresses, buttons and accessories from England. Mum used to come here quite frequently and memories of me rummaging through drawers of buttons are still with me. I love recommending her buttons I found to match her material. Then she would take me to the Magnolia Snack Bar for vanilla and chocolate ice cream which comes in little stainless steel cups. If I was really good, I get to order an ice cream sundae. My favourite was the Merry Widow which was a really strange name for an ice cream but it made me remember it even more after all these years.

Best of all, my school was just behind, up a little road called Emerald Hill . It was fun to know that right at the school door's steps was the iconic retail stretch of Singapore. A great distraction and diversion from our studies back in those days.

Then came the time to tear the buildings down for Centrepoint in 1983. I was sad to see the Magnolia Snack Bar and Hilda's go but with all modernisation, it was inevitable.

I wonder if anyone else has nice memories of this place ?

Silicon Baking Pans

2011-02-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

I love silicon ! Not in the way some people associate silicon with - that is for personal body and facial enhancements. I am talking about a silicon baking pan which enhances the thrill of the baking process, ensuring the cake comes off easily and beautifully. Over the years, I have been using springform and aluminium pans for my baking and the clip on the former tends to get a little wonky after a few uses while the latter requires one to line the tin first. Just yesterday, I made a birthday cake for my mum using the silicon baking pan for the first time. Overturning the cake is one anxious moment because the joy of the whole baking process can be ruined with one bad turn. Silicon baking pans make it easier due to its flexibility. They may be a little more expensive but they are well worth it for the long run.

Chinese New Year in Chinatown Singapore

2011-01-30T05:50:00.000-08:00

It has been raining continuously for the past three days, dampening the spirits of those who want to make use of the last weekend to buy all their festive goods before Chinese New Year.
It didn’t stop me and I was lucky enough to get a little respite from the bad weather when I reached there yesterday. The rain stopped just in time and business was just starting to pick up for the stall keepers. As expected , there was red everywhere, a sure sign of Chinese New Year with stalls selling candies, melon seeds, cookies, decorations, plum blossoms and more.
Food that takes on the sounds of Chinese words of luck, prosperity, abundance, fortune are the kinds of food favored by the Chinese during this time. Eg tangerines have the same sound as “gold” which is associated with wealth and they are exchanged between families during house visits. Another favourite - pineapple tarts. In Chinese, they are called “wang lie” conveying the sound of the words “fortune is coming”.

There were many stalls selling Taiwanese mo-chi and jelly sweets, favourites of little kids who can never seem to get enough of a sugar overload. Candied fruit and melon seed of all kinds too are popular for the Chinese New Year platter, called the “tray of togetherness”. Traditionally, this tray is made up of eight compartments, each of which is filled with a special food item of significance to the New Year season. The candied melon symbolizes growth and good health; red melon seed are dyed red to symbolize joy and happiness, coconut means togetherness and peanuts present the wish of long life.

And something that is very popular with Singaporeans especially at this time of the year is “bak kwa”. These are barbequed meat pieces that have been marinated to give a sweet and salty flavour. Some popular brands have people queuing up for hours just to get hold of these juicy, delectable morsels.

And just as I was leaving, drops of rain began coming down. I felt lucky for that afternoon though I do empathize with the Chinese stall holders here who do need to sell off their wares soon within this short time, just before Chinese New Year.

Singapore Girl

2011-01-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

We may just be a little tiny country in Asia but we are big in a lot of ways. I remember a conversation I had with an American years back in Los Angeles. When he asked me where I was from, I mentioned Singapore and he said "Oh, Singapore as in Singapore Girl ?"

"Yup!", I responded.

"That 's a very good airline but where is Singapore exactly, is it in China ?" he asked earnestly.

I do hope people from different parts of the world know where Singapore is today. The brand image of Singapore Girl is one of the first few we had after independence. Launched in 1972, she was one of the most iconic symbols in the world and today, she makes the news once again as SIA announced its plans to roll out its new fleet of advertisements , thrusting her back into the spotlight. She was languishing a little over the past few years, with her image taking a back seat to the gadgets and gizmos that have given SIA a competitive age. Yes, the seats are great and the in flight entertainment superb but it is nice to balance it with the soul of the company. Nothing endures better than one strong image. I do remember those great advertisements of the earlier days where she treads the world in her iconic sarong kebaya with the theme song playing gently in the background. In the late 80's, these ads would play almost every night after the news on Ch 5 and I actually looked forward to the country she visits each time.

Singapore Girl, you're a great way to fly !

Diana, Princess of Wales

2011-01-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, one does come across a gem of a find when least expected. Stumbled upon a stamp fair and exhibition one Sunday afternoon and while browsing through some vintage first day covers at a stall, I came across a portrait collection of stamps commemorating Princess Diana's 21st birthday way back in 1982. I was a little amused by a chubby kid who was manning the stall. He was oblivious to my interest as he was concentrating on his playstation game. A gentleman came over and said " That collection is one of my favourites but I am letting it go." I asked him why, as he could pass it on to his kids. We both looked at the kid and he said , " All he cares about are video games. He has no interest whatsoever in my stamps ! "

It was obvious. Kids these days are all into gadgets and gizmos. So should I buy it ?

The Princess Diana era has passed and looking back, it was one of the most dramatic and riveting modern real life soap opera story that held the world's attention for almost two decades. From her days as a nursery school teacher to the most lavish wedding televised live throughout the world, from her two pregnancies and royal world tours to her very much publicised rift with the firm (royal family). These included marriage breakdown, divorce, community work, wealthy suitors and tragic death. And now, the world awaits for the wedding of her son Prince Harry and Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011.

He asked for a very reasonable price and I agreed. Looking at the collection, I am amazed at the number of states linked to Britain, all of which I believe now comes under the Commonwealth. Ascension, British Virgin Islands, The Gambia, Lesoto, Bahamas, Barbados, British Antarctic Territory, Cayman Islands, Mauritius, Pitcairn Islands, Swaziland, Soloman Islands, Tristan Da Cunha and Falkland Island Dependencies. Stamps give a sense of history and geography. If only the younger generation could appreciate it.

Ayam Masak Merah ( Spicy Red Chicken )

2011-01-20T03:01:00.000-08:00

Chicken meat takes on flavours of strong spices and condiments best. Beef and mutton on the other hand have strong flavours of their own and light seasoning is all that is needed. Here's a chicken receipe that is spicy and sourish and awakens the taste buds. One chicken cut into pieces A handful of dry chillies (12-15 ) 2 big onions 2 bulbs of garlic Add salt to the chicken (mix it well) and lightly fry the pieces till golden. The chicken pieces do not have to be throughly cooked at this stage. Remove from oil. Meanwhile, soak the dry chillies in hot water and remove the seeds if you like it less spicy. Blend it with the onions and garlic, adding a little water to make the process easier. Fry the blended chilly paste till you get a nice aroma. Then mix this fried chilli paste with the chicken pieces and fry altogether. Add two tablespoons of good quality tomato ketchup as well as sugar and salt to taste.

Spicy Meals

2011-01-12T06:25:00.000-08:00

I seem to be cooking a lot of Malay dishes lately such as beef rendang, sayur lodeh, achar and crispy prawn chilli. Even when I cook Chinese dishes for my family, there must be at least one spicy dish to make it complete. If ever we have to move abroad, at least we'll never miss Singapore at meal times. Cooking is a skill worth acquiring and I never realised that till a few years back. Better late than never.

Vintage Rocking Horse

2011-01-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

I have always loved looking at images of antique rocking horses but never would I imagine buying or even finding one in Singapore. Moreover, my place was getting quite crammed with flea market finds. It is one thing to buy an old pot or ornament but a rocking horse...oh what the heck ! It was the first Sunday of 2011 and the owner who has been collecting vintage over the years probably decided to do some spring cleaning of his own. He brought along some of his collection to a friend's shop including a beautiful orange typewriter, an antique calculating machine (before the invention of the small and compact calculator) and this rocking horse. And like a hound dog unleased on a hunting trip, I could smell this horse a mile off. Getting him home in a nonchalent, discreet manner was the next part of my scheme. Though my long suffering husband has been most patient with me so far, I was quite sure he would say something about it and the space it would take up. I would if we had reversed our roles. But before he could even open his mouth (which I could tell he was on the verge of), I changed the subject and told him about this wonderful confectionary that I had bought for him.

Meet Pal, my new friend sitting in the corner.

Mini-Bar Miniature

2011-01-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

Haven't been collecting miniatures for some time as I haven't really seen anything that I like.... until this 70's velvet retro mini-bar with the cutest telephone came along. The telephone functions as a light switch and looks like it came from the set of a spy movie ! I also love the litte detailing on the mirror with the word mini bar. Only thing missing is the light tube beneath the canopy and I will probably check out some light shops for it if I have the time.

It is ironic that I had just done some major decluttering of the house and was determined not to buy anything at all. But there it was ! Hidden beneath a collection of dolls, vases etc but I could see the beautiful canopy peering from behind the clutter as well as glimpses of velvet maroon chairs. So much for self-resolve. Good thing about spring cleaning in 2011 is that I now have more space for things that I love.

Apple Crumble

2011-01-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

I love moments of serendipity when one makes a little surprising discovery. And Chinatown is one of the last places where I would expect to find a wonderful little kiosk that bakes muffins and apple crumble amongst the stalls selling cookie cutter tourist souvenirs. It is run by a lady named Serene and her little bakery is aptly named Serenditpity.

Though I am not a fan of apple in pies, I love the combination of the crumble and the apple. The apple is made just right, not too sweet nor sour and the buttery crumble just melts in your mouth. The muffins taste great too especially the chocolate ones but I absolutely love the apple crumble which they bake only during weekends.

Serendipity Patisserie
Kiosk no 6 Trengganu Street (near Sago Street)

A flush of colour for 2011

2011-01-02T03:35:00.000-08:00

I've celebrated the merry season with glee and feasting and today, with a tinge of sadness, I 've taken down the Christmas tree. But just around the corner, in a month's time is Chinese New Year.

So, I'm making a cultural gear shift to Chinese and done up one of the corners of my house in bright colours, something that is not typical of me.

Bought a piece of art of a colourful Chinese opera performer, after which came a bright fushia, vintage inspired lamp shade and then a vase of Chinese chrysanthemums. Must say I'm not looking forward to the loud Chinese New Year music blasting at most public places but I am to the traditional festivities such as reunion dinners, ang pows and Chinese candies.