Singapore Science Festival 2010

It's the month for science again! I'm a big supporter of science education, so I always go to the science fests. This year the biggest annual science event is called the Singapore Science Festival 2010. You may have known it in previous years as the National Science Month (2001-2009, titled Science.01 to Science.09).

X-periment! kicks off the science month with a three-day (30 Jul - 1 Aug) event at Marina Square central atrium. See liquid body armour, slime-making, chromatography, robots, virtual games, and chemical scent and flavour labs among others! I'll get to those in a while...

HK: Busy Suzie at 1881 Heritage

Our first dinner in Hong Kong proved to be one of the best. The Hong Kong Tourism Board arranged for us to dine at Busy Suzie, a Japanese robatayaki restaurant and bar. We were very privileged to have Chef Iwagami Yoshiaki serving our table.

Robatayaki has its origins in Sendai, northeastern Japan, where fishermen would cook their daily catch over an open fire using little more than their wooden oars. They would loudly announce when the food was cooked, and pass it using the oar to their customers. Those were makeshift beach restaurants, but Busy Suzie is a really hip and high-end interpretation of this.



Busy Suzie is located at Tsim Sha Tsui's 1881 Heritage, the historic Marine Police headquarters that's been transformed into a magnificent hotel-shopping-exhibition complex. It's stunningly beautiful at night.

The restaurant resides in the former lighthouse building where Hong Kong's typhoon warning signals were raised. The circular nature of the building really suits the restaurant. There's a terrace around it with white leather loungers for al fresco dining, and inside, the long curved robata counters ensconce hidden dining rooms.



Photo courtesy of Busy Suzie
Interior design is by French married duo Patrick Gilles and Dorothee Boissier (previously lead designers under Phillipe Stark). Lots of dark wood, bamboo walls and white paper lanterns by Isometrix. This is the private dining room that seats 12.

Founder Gilbert Yeung who also owns the dragon-i nightclub intended for Busy Suzie to be a stylish and fun place to put diners in an uplifted mood before a night out on the town.



Busy Suzie's chefs are all brought in from Japan. It's really hard work for the chefs, who kneel constantly on an elevated stage. They do all their work there - skewer items, bend over the grill to cook, and then plate each dish before finally serving it to diners via the wooden oar.

In front of them lie the ingredients ready to be used. Busy Suzie seeks to have the finest and freshest ingredients flown in daily from many parts of Japan. Let me show you what some of these are.



There's Hokkaido Crab...



Bounty of the sea - Kinki fish, abalone, crab, whelks and conches...

HK: Yee Shun Milk Company 義順牛奶公司

After my failed dim sum hunt, I continued on to the next target on my eating list. Yee Shun Milk Company at 513 Nathan Road. This is a must-try for people who like steamed milk desserts. I had several people recommending me this.



I realise I have actually eaten here on previous trips. This time I opted for the steamed milk with ginger juice (about HK$22), the cold version. It was blessed relief after traipsing around in the summer heat! Smooth and weightless, this milk pudding was even lighter than beancurd. The sweetness and ginger flavour is much more subtle in the cold version.



I could not resist a second bowl. The "double skin" milk puddings are their signature. I took one with lotus seeds (HK$25), a hot one this time. It's even smoother, and the sweetness comes through much more in the hot pudding than the cold one. There's a very thin film of "skin" on top that's barely there.

HK: I went out to look for dim sum, but found stinky tofu instead! Street food in Hong Kong

I really did not want to leave my comfy hotel room after we checked in. Look at the view from my window. That's Kowloon Park, so serene and peaceful amidst the heckling bustle of Tsim Sha Tsui. Just made me want to relax some more. But it seemed equally criminal not to make full use of our time exploring Hong Kong, and we had a few hours before dinner. Plus, I hadn't had lunch, although the delicious lychees from the hotel was fuel enough for the time being.

So off I went to look for Tim Ho Wan, the hole-in-the-wall dim sum joint with a one Michelin star rating. It's near Yau Ma Tei, just 3 MTR stops away. The hotel is just two blocks away from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR, so travelling was really easy.



I got off at Yau Ma Tei station and walked according to the map.

But I could not find it! Hey, how difficult can it be? Just look for the swarming hordes and long queues outside that famous green-worded signboard. Right? If I can find all my eating locations in Japan despite their weird address system, I should be able to find this.



I certainly got the street right, but there was no busy dim sum joint. Were they closed? OK, to be honest, I was probably distracted by the gun replica shops opposite. Man, these look almost real!

Oh well. I was really tired anyway, so I gave up. And given the mixed reviews on Openrice, maybe not finding Tim Ho Wan was a blessing in disguise. *sniff*  So I tell myself.

I walked around looking for an alternative lunch, taking in the busy sights of Mongkok, when suddenly I was hit by a horrific stench. Oh man, did a rubbish truck overturn nearby? Or did something die hidden somewhere it could not be removed?

Hello Hong Kong! Breakfast on CX and Staying at The Mira

OK here we go with my Hong Kong post series! This rowdy bunch touched down at noon last Friday, ready to begin our four days of fun. Let me first do a quick intro of the Singapore Blog Award 2010 winners who came for the trip hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. From left to right - Violet, Geck Geck, Gin, Pete, Darren, me, Lawrence, Sze Ping and Jerome. Elaine joined us the second day. Photo taken by Alvin of omy.sg, I think? I borrowed it from our HK Travellers Facebook page.



We did not come in this, of course.



We had a nice and very smooth flight on Cathay Pacific. Had to be bright and early at the airport - none of us got much sleep the night before, and some were still on Facebook excitedly saying, "see you in a few hours!"

But tired as I was, I could not sleep on the plane. Watched "How to Train Your Dragon" plus an episode of Scrubs or so.



Breakfast omelette that was not too bad. The alternative was congee, and I just had a hunch this would be better.



We soon arrived at The Mira (118 Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui), ranked among "Coolest New Hotels in the World" by Conde Nast Traveller. Love the vintage London cab parked out front with the licence plate "The Mira" - I hear it actually runs!

The hotel is named after a giant red star in the Cetus constellation. Mira also means "foresight" in Spanish and "perfect, peaceful and prosperous" in Latin. And by chance, my World of Warcraft main character is called Miraviel, and gamers there would always call me Mira.

Anticipation was high as most of us had seen its website which shows a really posh, stylish and modern hotel. Would the photos match what we would see?




Oh yes! Pretty much. The dark glass doors belie a spacious entrance with wavy designer accents. Everything here looks new - it was renovated last year and reopened in Sept 2009.


They ushered us to a secluded lounge area to process our check-in papers, and served us little cones of flavoured whipped cream, along with cold hand towels to help us freshen up.



The rooms are the epitome of contemporary chic, complete with original Arne Jacobsen egg chairs. Yes!



The hotel prides itself on being high tech - so at your work desk you have an array of gadgets including an all-in-one infotainment centre, and Bose speakers with iPod dock (it charges my iPhone too).



This is the all-in-one Sony Entertainment Centre, Blu-ray DVD player, and personal computer. You can surf, email, go on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, anything online using the huge screen TV as your monitor. Best of all - with the wireless keyboard, you can do all this from comfort of the luxurious bed.



They even give you a Nokia mobile phone that's cloned to your room phone - you can take it anywhere with you, and people can reach you by calling your room! That is freaking amazing. This feature is so new, most of us didn't realise it until the second day when Violet demonstrated it to us at lunch.

But wait, the geek in me in getting ahead of one of the most welcoming features.



A boatload of fresh, juicy sweet lychees, strawberries and trio of desserts greeted us in the room. We all felt so pampered! Surprise and delight the customer? Check!



I really liked the macarons (lemon and green tea respectively) too. Sweet but not sickeningly so, as some macarons tend to be.



Full set of cutlery and plates, some minibar snacks and drinks all loaded in the drawer in front of the TV.



The room is really spacious by Hong Kong standards. The glass partitions between bedroom and bathroom adds an air of openness in more ways than one.



But of course, you can also have the silver shutters down for privacy if you wish. There are even controls for mood lighting, and a TV (I haven't quite figured out where it is, but I'm not one to find TV useful in a bath).



Rainbath! Nuff said!



The pampering continues via Salvatore Ferragamo "Tuscan Soul" bath goodies. These smell so divine!



Gorgeous mirrored vanity area - I learned too late that the top where the supplies are actually slides to cover the sink! So you and your partner can share the grooming space if need be. Nice touch!



Loved the bathrobes - silky soft on the outside, and absorbent terry cotton on the inside. Wear them inside out if you prefer!

Oh yes, forgot to mention the award-winning MiraSpa, an 18,000 square feet haven with indoor infinity-edge pool and fitness centre.



And in the early evenings, they give you a chocolate truffle as part of the turn-down service. The first night we had a black truffle (as in Périgord) flavoured chocolate truffle. I'd been wondering when someone would make something like that. Mushrooms and chocolate? It's a little odd, and not everyone likes it, but I do think it works. The second night we had chili truffles and the third night, vanilla (very white chocolate-like) ones.



Look who snuck along for the ride? Hubby insisted Yoda come along for company. Well, I did leave for Hong Kong on his birthday, and it was just too bad he couldn't come along and ENJOY THIS STUNNING SETUP!

Oh well. OK, food posts will start after this. After my CNNgo deadlines (tomorrow!).

Can I just show you the luscious lychees again? These became my lunch. We were all describing how they spurt with juice each time you bite into them! It's unforgiveable unthinkable to leave these untouched!

Happy birthday Nadine and hubby!

Happy 4th birthday, Nadine! And happy birthday to hubby too! I still find it miraculous that both of you share the same birthday.  You are, and always will be, your daddy's best birthday present!

I leave for Hong Kong with a slightly heavy heart today, but we're all quite happy to celebrate the birthdays a day earlier. Nadine got her favourite foods - chicken wings, pasta and ice cream. I gave hubby the eeePC Touch that I won at the Singapore Blog Awards. It's a pretty zippy machine, he says.

Fabulous Feasting in Hong Kong!

Photo from Discoverhongkong.com

As a food blogger, I love to plan my holidays and trips around food. I did that for Japan in 2007 and now I have a chance to do that for Hong Kong! I am leaving tomorrow morning for Hong Kong with the rest of the Singapore Blog Award 2010 winners (by the way, you can win a trip to Hong Kong too).

However, I am not that familiar with Hong Kong eateries as my last trip was like ten years ago, or so it feels! I do know I want to try the legendary Mak's Noodles and Kau Kee's beef brisket noodles. Would love to squeeze in some good old dim sum - should I brave the queues at Tim Ho Wan (awarded one Michelin star!), Lin Heung or Fu Sing? Or should I head for luxury dim sum at Lung King Heen (Four Seasons Hotel) or Golden Leaf (Conrad Hotel)? What about that Bo Innovation - molecular gastronomy, Asian style?

National Day Weekend Staycation at Grand Mercure Roxy - Free Spa Treatment promo!

Don't feel like getting out of the country but want a beachside holiday this long National Day weekend? The Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel near the East Coast is offering a special weekend staycation deal to celebrate Singapore's 45th birthday. It's great for couples or families. A one-night stay (S$148++) on a Friday, Saturday or Public Holiday in a Superior Room (single/twin) comes with breakfast and a bag of goodies for the kids. It's valid from now til 15 August 2010, but you must book five days ahead.

The hotel kindly invited us to experience the package, so here's what the rooms look like. My family and I do like the Grand Mercure Roxy since its refurbishment some years back, because it's clean and comfy. Service is also always very prompt and pleasant. You may also have seen photos from when we stayed here last year.

Singapore Food Festival: Wonders of Cantonese Cuisine

If you love Cantonese food, you might like to check out the Singapore Food Festival 2010 fringe events at Kreta Ayer Square in Chinatown. There's a food expo where you can taste signature dishes from different restaurants, a family recipe cooking competition, and an attempt to make Singapore's Longest Chee Cheong Fun. All happening this weekend (24-25 July) and it's free and open to the public.

1) Cantonese Cuisine Food Expo
Date: 24th & 25th July 2010, Saturday & Sunday
Time: 11.00am to 9.00pm

Here are some of the dishes that will be available at the food expo. Most of these will be sold in individual portions. You can also try these dishes a la minute at the restaurants themselves.


From Da Dong Restaurant (By Fatty Weng) at 39 Smith Street, Singapore 058952 (tel: +65 6221-3822):
- Fatty Weng Baked Pork Ribs (above) - sweet and juicy!
- Fried Prawns with Shredded Coconut
- Da Dong Famous Chicken Bun
- Glutinous Rice with Chicken



From Moi Lum Restaurant at 38 Maxwell Road, Airview Building, #01-01/02, Singapore 069116 (tel: +65 6226-2283):
- Cashew Nut Chicken (above) - nutty crunch in the crispy batter!
- Clay pot Beef Brisket
- Crab Meat Fish Maw Soup

Fantastic Brownies from BakedAndEaten.Com!

These are some of the most delicious brownies my family and I have tasted. Hubby pronounced these the best brownies he's ever had in Singapore. Beautifully dense, rich and chocolatey. They are from BakedAndEaten.com - a one-girl bakery run by Charmaine who handmakes brownies using the best ingredients she can get. Chocolate from France and Belgium, premium french butter, unbleached flour, sugar, gourmet cocoa powder and fresh eggs. Very simply, she believes good ingredients make brownies taste better.

Charmaine sent me a batch of brownies for me to try and give some feedback. To be honest, I was a little skeptical at first as I'd never heard of this outfit before. But boy, I am glad I gave it a go!

She has three flavours - chocolate walnut, dark chocolate cranberry and swirled cheese. All of them are great in their own way. My favourite is the cranberry one. It's got that beautiful tinge of bitterness from dark chocolate that marries the sweetness well. And a lot of cranberries inside. I like that the brownies are not toothachingly sweet either.



The brownies come in a simple clear plastic case like this. A box of eight pieces costs S$20, and a single piece costs S$3. The portions are kept smaller, so you don't get too satiated or jelak (they ARE seriously very rich). I think they make excellent gifts for friends who love sweet treats.

Charmaine makes these brownies in a halal-certified kitchen called Whisk and Fold. So Muslim customers can enjoy these brownies too. She makes a limited number each week, usually on Monday or Tuesday, so get your orders to her by Sunday, and you'll be able to enjoy brownies by midweek. More ordering and delivery details here. You can contact Charmaine via email or phone (tel: +65 9781 4169).

Oh, and the brownies are best eaten warm, but personally I prefer them cold, straight out of the fridge! Yummy!


BAKEDANDEATEN.COM
Email: bakedandeaten@gmail.com
Mobile: +65 9781 4169

Singapore Food Festival Launches With Clarke Quay Food Street

Hurray! The Singapore Food Festival is officially open! One of the most sought after core events is the Clarke Quay Food Street that transforms Read Bridge into a bustling foodie destination in the evenings. This year, you can taste signature dishes from the major Chinese dialect groups at more than 30 stalls under one roof.



A dash of Chinese opera, auspicious noise from lion dances and festive confetti completed the guests-of-honour opening ceremony sequence. And we're off to eat!



We tried to cover as many interesting dishes as possible. I won't show all the stalls (will leave some for you to discover), but here are some highlights.

Lim Hai Sheng's Carrot Cake drew a long queue, just like its heartland stall in Ang Mo Kio. But it is really worth it. The carrot cake is moist, savoury and has generous amounts of chye poh (preserved radish) that you can see and taste!

Note that payment is by a special edition Food Festival Kopitiam cashcard - you'll see the notice on top of every stall. No cash will be accepted, so get the card (available at both ends of the bridge) before you start queueing up at any stall!

Free Tickets to Makansutra SFF Culinary Master Classes!

UPDATE: All tickets have been spoken for. Thanks for the quick responses!

Hey everyone, Makansutra has kindly given me some tickets to give out for the Singapore Food Festival Culinary Master Classes. They are worth $55-$80 each, so email me if you would like them. But hurry, some of them are for this Saturday, and the invitation needs to be sent out tomorrow.

Two tickets for each master class

Date: 17 July (Saturday) -- TAKEN
Time: 9.30am - 11.30am
Dishes Demonstrated: Cantonese Classics with Heavenly Chefs
Chefs: Mr. Sin Leong, Mr. Hooi Kok Wai
Price: $80
Location: Singapore Tourism Board Auditorium
Address: Level 2, 1 Orchard Spring Lane

Date: 17 July (Saturday) -- TAKEN
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Dishes Demonstrated: Heng Hwa Dishes
Chefs: Mr Li Jin Kun (Xing Hua Hometown Cuisine Restaurant)
Price: $55
Location: Lau Pa Sat
Address: 18 Raffles Quay

Date: 19 July (Monday) -- TAKEN
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Dishes Demonstrated: Hokkien Dishes
Chef: Mr Goh Eng Gee (Bee Heong Palace Restaurant)
Price: $80
Location: Bee Heong Restaurant
Address: 132 - 134 Telok Ayer Restaurant

Enjoy!

Toa Payoh Hwa Heng Beef Noodle - Remember Odeon Beef Noodles?

Many of us may be too young to know the famous Odeon beef noodle stall (Hwa Heng Hainanese Beef Noodles) that was opposite the old Odeon theatre at North Bridge Road. Many a romantic date at the movies back then was accompanied by a good bowl of piping hot beef noodles here. The stall was demolished but the two sons continued the family business in food courts - first in the now-defunct Scotts Picnic Food Court at the basement of Scotts Shopping Centre, and now at ION Orchard (others are probably franchised outlets).

Thanks to Andrew who shared with us this incredible find at 27 Maude Road, I was able to taste the original Odeon beef noodles. The stall is run by the younger of the two brothers who own the business. And the prices remain old school - just S$3 for this bowl of mixed beef noodles. What a steal! They also have dry noodles, beef tendon noodles and such.

The stock is brewed for 5-6 hours with 10 herbs. Beautifully smooth, robust and fortifying. It's the perfect broth for a rainy afternoon. I was glad I braved the rain sans umbrella to come here.



And what really made the meal complete was the chili sauce with cincaluk. Now, for the longest time, I have never understood how cincaluk pairs well with beef noodles. It just seems like a total clash. Until I tasted the one here. It is so refined, so different and tailor-made for this dish, that it completely changes the taste and transforms it into a new sensory experience.

I don't know how they do it but this is the way. You can't just dump any mass-produced cincaluk onto some chili paste and hope for it to work, like they do at most beef noodle places these days.

I did not take a photo of the chili sauce per se, but you can see it vaguely in the background here.



Mr Kian and his daughter run the stall at this very old and rustic coffee shop in the midst of a semi-industrial area full of workshops for car repairs, bicycle parts and even fishing equipment. I forgot what time they open in the morning (I think 11am) but take note that they close at 3pm. Come for lunch, not dinner here!

TOA PAYOH HWA HENG BEEF NOODLES
Yeap Coffee Shop
27 Maude Road 
Singapore 208342
Mr Kian - +65 9621-5180 (mobile)
Ms Kian - +65 9368-1278 (mobile)
Open Tues-Sun (closed Mondays) around 11am til 3pm
Moved to:

Bendemeer Market Food Centre, 

Block 29 Bendemeer Road, #01-01, 

Singapore 330029. 

Tel: 9368-1278  

Open Wed to Fri: 10.30am - 5.30pm 

Sat and Sun: 10.30am - 2.30pm 

Closed on Mon and Tues