Peranakan Food - a closer look

I'm a glut! And that is why no diet plan ever works on me - not even the ones which purport to the be the most effective. ;) I can't help raving on and on about food. So here's another food-related post. I hope you folks are hungry! 

These are not just ANY Peranakan dishes, these are THE FIVE DISHES Jamie and I hold in very high regard. 

So to all Peranakan restaurants out there, you had better had your act together because you wouldn't want to have cranky Jamie and I cussing and swearing on wasted 'stomach space' after a meal at your restaurant. 

Chap Chye also known as Nonya mixed vegetables. This is pretty simply to cook - Vermicelli, gingko nuts, black fungus, mushrooms and cabbage. 

This is the single dish that in my opinion defines Peranakan cuisine - Ayam Buah Keluak - lots of hard work to mark, savory and ultimately delicious. The Buah Keluak (black nut) has to be cracked, it's flesh pounded and then stuffed back into the nut. 

Spicy Assam Fish - I didn't even know this was considered Peranakan food. I love it anyway! Did you know that many Asians believe fishermen should never ever flip the fish over because it brings them bad luck? Even today, many people who work in the marine industry prefer to remove the bone once done with one side of the flesh rather than flip it over! 

Kueh Salat  - this two layered cake is Jamie's favourite! But she's picky like that :P  So guys, only get her the ones from Bangawan solo! 

My favorite - the onde onde is one of the most fattening desserts in existence. These are panda-flavoured glutinous rice balls sprinkled with coconut on the outside and seasoned with a little salt. You will find gula Melaka hiding right inside.  It's such a joy to eat this lovely dessert - very much like Kinder Bueno ;)

Don't leave Singapore without trying these goodies! 

Ready for popiah?

 Hey guys!

Are you excited?

 I am!

I took some pictures of our "popiah and pizza area" just so if anyone gets lost, they would know what to look out for.

We could not reserve a function room, so we had to settle for a BBQ pit instead! But the fantastic part is it's only a few steps away from the pool! :D

Our BBQ pit is PIT B. (Yes, But we WILL NOT be having any BBQ - just popiah and pizza!) 

It's really simple to get here from Lorong Chuan MRT station. If you look closely, behind the pit, way in the background behind the cars, there's a huge concrete structure - that's Lorong Chuan MRT station. 

So basically, you just get out of the station, cross the road, walk through the guard house and you're here! 

Lorong Chuan is a really tiny station on the newly built circle line. It is only one stop away from Bishan interchange. If you choose to take the escalator all the way up, turn right till you see the guardhouse. If you choose to take the life up to the concourse level and then another lift/escalator, turn left till you see the guardhouse.

The name of the condominium is "The SpringBloom"

If the guard stops you, say you are here for the popiah party at BBQ pit B.

He might need you to fill in some form with your personal particulars since this is a residential estate. 

When you get through the guard house, turn right, and you'll see the pit!

If you still find yourself lost, 

call either Jamie or myself.

we'll be sending out our contact numbers nearing the date via e-mail. 

So watch that!

The Pool Deck is right above! :)

[Left side of the picture] 

I love this shot so I just had to include it! :)

a sneak peak of our pool! :) 

the evening light was beautiful and I could not resist sneaking in a few more shots!

That's me! :)

xoxo

see you there soon!

If you have not RSVP-ed yet,

DO SO NOW!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176381565757159

Some fantastic festivals of the world (July)

As we celebrate gastronomical delights at the annual Singapore Food Festival in Singapore this month, let's not forget the other amazing festivals around the world. Of course there are TONS (July seems to be THE month for festivals!) but I'm just going to highlight some of the more interesting ones :)

Festival of San Fermin

When: July 6
Where: Pamplona, Navarre, Spain

Supposedly Spain's most famous fiesta, the festival of San Fermin, (or the Pamplona Bull Run) is a week-long colourful, riotous celebration involving the running of the bulls, bullfighting and other traditional folkloric events. During this San Fermín festival week, the bulls are let loose in the streets every morning and they run from various points to the bullring, while thousands of brave (and crazy??!) men run alongside them! That truly must be a sight to behold! Word has it that every few years, one of these spunky runners end up dead!

Me thinks this would be a fascinating festival to visit! I'm sure Liz would agree! Just gotta stay out of a bull's way! :)

credits: boston.com

Looks fabulously exciting!!! woot!

Balaruc-le-Vieux Medieval Festival

When: July 15th to 17th

Where: Balaruc-le-Vieux, France

Always wanted to experience life as King Arthur or Robin Hood did? Now you can! I've always wanted to visit a Medieval Festival, watch some jousting, medieval dancing, music and drama! And where else would you find knights in shining armour on horseback?

Not exactly a Knight in shining armour..but what the heck :p

Gion Matsuri

When: July 9

Where: Kyoto, Japan

Japan holds a very special place in my heart, and I've always loved Kyoto so I definitely had to include this :)  The Gion Matsuri, or festival of Yasaka Shrine, is easily the most famous festival in Japan. It is celebrated throughout July and two of the most popular events are the Yamaboko Junko (a procession of floats on July 17th) and Yoiyama (evening festivities when the streets are closed to traffic and come alive with food and drink vendors...yummy!). The floats are known to be huge and impressive, and definitely worth a trip to Kyoto, especially if you love Japanese food and culture (like me!)

credits: Virtual tourist

Planning to visit this festival? Don't forget to check out this Kyoto Guide!

Circus City Festival

When: July 12-23

Where: Peru,  Indianapolis, U.S.A.

Always wanted to run away to join a circus? Did you know that you actually could? :)

Affectionately known as "The World's Greatest Amateur Circus", young circus enthusiasts volunteer to train and present performances during the Circus City festival which occurs for 10 days in July each year. It features rides, games, food, entertainment, arts & crafts and much much more and highlights include the parade and of course, the circus performances featuring juggling, unicycles, trapeeze and highwire acts! This is truly old school circus stuff that you read about in Blyton books!! How lovely :)

                                          

                                                                                      credits: Perucircus.com

Now if only we had cool festivals like that in Singapore! For now, we'll just have to settle for the Food Festival, but next year...who knows :)

Love,

Jamie & Liz

4th of July Celebrations in Singapore!

The wonderful thing I really love about Singapore is that we celebrate just about everything - the Oktoberfest, St Patrick's Feast, Dragon Boat festival, just name the festival/event and someone out there is probably organizing something.

Opps! I just realize that today is Canada day, isn't it? Well we Singaporeans like the really BIG festivals, dont' we? I mean is Canada even a country anyway? :P

One of my favourite parts from South Park - the movie!

I'm just joking! Jamie and I really love Canada! I would trade my life here for a life in Canada if I could!  I ADORE CANADA! Canada was where Jamie and I saw the Northern lights for the first time in our lives and where we attended out first festival together (the winter carnival in Quebec). And the food, my, my, absolutely delicious, fresh produce... and don't get me started on the charming waiters I wouldn't mind tipping and tipping and tipping just to have him come to our table again. 

Anyway, here's a picture to prove just HOW MUCH we enjoyed ourselves in Canada! 

Jamie and I enjoying ourselves in Fort Mcmurray (known as the armpit of Canada!) If we liked Mcmurray so much, what more the rest of Canada? :)

But now that Canada day is almost over, here's the next big thing to look forward to, the fourth of July of course! The American Association of Singapore (now, now, is there even a Canadian Association of Singapore? :P) is organizing am Independence Day celebration in Sembawang - FREE OF CHARGE! THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS!

Join In The Festivity, even if you are Canadian! 

Have a good weekend everyone! 

Don't forget, the promotion at the Peranakan museum promotion runs till 3rd July 2011 (that's Youth day by the way! :)

xoxo

liz & Jamie

This time, the men GET it!

Guess what folks, since we are in the spirit of all things Peranakan, Jamie and I stumbled upon a wonderful offer we know you just can't reject ... especially if you of the MALE species!

The Peranakan Museum has this really awesome promotion ending on 3rd July where guys get to go in for FREE! No strings attached, you don't have to pay a penny! Accompanying ladies I'm afraid will have to pay $3 for entry into the museum. But that is still half the usual entry charge.

But you know what?  I say, get the guy and make him pay for your ticket! It doesn't matter who GETS it, it's who pays for it that counts, right ladies? :)

love,
liz and Jamie

tracing the footsteps of the baba-nonyas.

The way we cook, the ingredients we use, the food we eat, the cutlery we eat them with reveals a little about who we are and where we come from - we are not just what we eat, we eat what we are! So who needs the Peranakan museum?

I think we can learn a lot more about Peranakan culture by eating our way through it! haha! 

Alright, that was just a really bad excuse for gluts like Jamie and myself!

Last Sunday, some of us jalan jalan-ed Joo Chiat for some really good food. It was pouring at first and Jamie and I obviously had no wet weather plans for the group! Fortunately, lady luck shone down on us and as soon as our party arrived at Kim Choo Kueh Chang, the heavy downpour slowed to a trickle and before long, it was sunny again. How blessed we are!

Our First Stop: second floor of Kim Choo Kueh Chang. This lovely shophouse has a tiny weeny museum upstairs with a large collection of Peranakan handiwork. 

Nonya Delicacies: nonya chang, kueh salat, fish otah. 

Dumpling Demonstration: the all-knowing Raymond teaches us how to make dumplings.  

The large array of spices one needs to make yummy nonya chang. Mix this with chopped pieces of pork, melon and layer with rice. Then warp it with bamboo and pandan leaves before steaming it for 3 hours. 

Raymond's assistant is a miracle worker! Her fingers worked so quickly she had completed wrapping more than four dumplings in less than three minutes. 

Peranakan Porcelain  - Raymond mentioned that one would never ever find a dragon motif on Peranakan Procelain. The dragon stood for the emperor and Chinese Peranakans revered him! 

Beaded Slippers (male version): this is the prettiest pair of male slippers I've ever seen! The smaller the glass bead, the more expensive it is. This pair has one of the tiniest glass beads imported from the Czech Republic. A pair of beaded slippers takes more than 4 months to make. 

Vivian prepares to try on a Kebaya: Raymond was so lovely! He specially picked a fuchsia blouse and a dark red batik skirt for Vivian. I thought his choice suited Vivian really well. And I think Vivian is herself in love with the blouse! haha! :)

Doesn't she look absolutely gorgeous?

Okay, we just decided to act like Peranakan people while Jamie paid the bill! haha! 

Chin Mee Chin Coffeehouse: the oldest traditional coffeeshop in Singapore. It's famous for their sugar rolls and Kaya. Alas, it was close by the time we got there. But once again our lucky stars were shinning brightly and Arash finally got to try Kaya! 

Kaya for the First Time: Yinsheng tries Kaya for the first time! This guy has been in Singapore for three years and intends to stay here and W-HAT he hasn't tried KAYA!!!!!! HE LOVES IT THOUGH! <3

Arash tries Kaya for the first time: After catching Arash's expression when he first tried durian for the first time, I knew I had to get my camera ready for this moment. haha! He doesn't look like he enjoyed it, does it? But he was literally scooping kaya out of it's container the whole time. 

The "Original" Katong Laksa: the nonya version of course! 

150 East Coast Road: Easily my favourite stretch of residential houses in Singapore. These single storey terrace houses use to stand beside a sea wall as it was right next to a beach! They were built on raised ground to protect against the rising tides. 

Don't you just love the colours! 

Awfully Chocolate: Not Peranakan, but who cares! It's a Singaporean brand and it's delicious!
Click here to find out how this lovely chocolate place came to be! 

Arash and Yinsheng are please with their choice of a mint poached chocolate! Arash declares it the best after trying everybody's! Yinsheng however finds himself town between the decadent chooclate cupcake and the cold poached chooclate! Nevermind, Yinsheng, you can always come back for more! :)

Koon Seng Road: More restored shophouses. I was surprised to see real people living in these houses! 

The highlight (for me and probably Jamie too!): Dinner!!!! Guan Hoe Soon has been in the Joo Chiat area since 1953! And boy did it live up to our expectations. The food was delicious albeit slightly expensive. Jamie and I especially picked their Peranakan specialities - Ayam Buah Keluak, Nonya Chap Chye, Ikan Assam Goreng and Babi Bon Tay. 


Well, what else can I say? 


Burp!

An Arabian Night

Scheherazade's stories did not just enthrall Shahrayar, I've been a fan ever since I was told the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. And for years I've tried searching for an affordable copy of the entire collection to no avail - the cheapest cost a couple of thousand euros!  Anyway, before Jamie chops off my fingers for rambling too much, here's pictures from our version an Arabian Night!  

Venue: Nabins@Sultan Gate. Nabins, the owner seemed like a very friendly chap over facebook messaging! And boy does he have such a lovely restaurant.

Let's Get Seated. A fairly large group of 20 wonderful people turned up for the event and the people at Nabins had to find us a larger spot to get comfy. 

Good Food is best shared :) Rad, Jamie, Josephine, Annar and I started off our evening with hummus to share. 

Our meat Platter - chicken, lamb shank, koefte, dory fish, fries, basmaniti rice ... we had it all! 

Arash clearly enjoying himself! :) Well, okay. I made his pose for this like 5 times! haha.  But I'm sure he DID enjoy himself, yes Arash? :)

Scheherazade's stories all end with a cliffhanger and it seemed like our Arabian Night was no different. As soon as dinner was served, we learned from our waitress that the famed belly dancers from Dessert Roses were missing!!!!!!

Some of us ordered Sheesha as we waited, hoping to conjure beautiful, sexy belly-shaking mirages. :P

"You must learn how to leave your audience in suspense" the wise storyteller of the Arabian Nights had remarked.

Nabins certainly understands this well, and perhaps like King Shahrayar, some of us may be back on another night for more drinks, more food, and more Sheesha, hopeful that the belly dancers would be there this time.

Oh, I know I've gone on for too long. But I can't help being quite long winded! But before I shut my trap for good, allow me to share one of my favorite version of the Arabian Nights. I believe the entire film is on youtube! (: Enjoy, it's really worth watching!!!

Thank you to all the wonderful people who turned up!