Grain.com.sg - Delicious Healthy Meals Delivered in 15 Minutes (CBD Area)

If you work in the CBD, especially in the Marina Bay area, you know what it's like when lunchtime approaches. It's a battle with the rest of the workforce for food. Long queues, less than healthy dishes, or stuff that is just way too pricey. You may have to walk pretty far to get to your favourite options. Food delivery services? Sure, if you don't mind awful greasy fare or food that doesn't travel well.

The young and talented folks behind Grain.com.sg knew this. They came up with a dream concept - healthy but tasty and interesting dishes delivered to you under 15 minutes upon ordering online. How do they do that? I followed the team on their run one day, and documented the story on Yahoo and Makansutra.

https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/grain-health-15-mobile-mins-104349049.html

http://www.makansutra.com/stories/3/1272/AGrainofHealthin15MobileMins

Most of these meals cost just an average of S$10.90 with no delivery charge, and you can even opt to add cold-pressed juices at S$5.50 per bottle. It's a balanced meal with complex carbs (e.g. black rice, couscous, quinoa) and fresh ingredients prepared with healthier techniques. They're also getting more requests for warm Asian food, so you'll see stuff like Ginseng Chicken Soup (above) among the 50-60 dishes they have on rotation. I love their website. Take a look at what's available today - grain.com.sg

My Awesome Aide de Camp Camera Bag: The Valencia Travel Tote Goes Everywhere With Me Now!

April 2014 in London for the inaugural Chowzter Awards.

This was the first time I traveled with the Aide de Camp's fabulous Valencia travel tote/camera bag, which I wrote about earlier here. I absolutely LOVE this bag. It's since traveled with me from New York to New Orleans, back to Boston, London and Singapore, then Sydney (Australia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Telunas (Indonesia). I put this baby through some serious tests!

And this Thursday, Nov 13, they are coming with me to San Francisco! Yes, there is no other cabin bag I will use when I travel. It's the best camera bag that I've ever come across.




Aide de Camp makes seriously stylish camera bags that are both a thing of beauty and function. Before this, we either had to settle for practical but uninspiring bags and backpacks, or cool bags that weren't very useful or protective for cameras.

My Valencia tote comes with an inner bag that doubles up as a lightweight handbag. It's perfect when you reach your destination and just need a smaller and simpler bag for casual outings. I actually use this inner bag almost every day here, for my events and outings with friends. I love the detachable shoulder strap - strong neoprene that is so easy on the shoulder.

Masterchef Australia judge George Calombaris in Singapore: That HubaliciousSG Dinner with LifetimeAsia

Last week, I got a taste of how popular Masterchef Australia judge and chef George Calombaris is. I had arrived five minutes early at Hotel Jen Singapore (formerly Traders Hotel) for the sold out Hubalicious dinner hosted by Lifetime Asia, and the line for getting in was already snaking out the function room area.

People showing up early for dinner in Singapore always raises eyebrows. We are famous for being wedding dinner late. Or at least fashionably ten minutes late. Being early means all pretenses are out the window; they really want to see George!

Ultimate Hawker Fest (22 Nov 2014): Heritage Comfort Food for Charity at Suntec City

The Ultimate Hawker Fest is back for the third year celebrating Singapore’s Hawker Heritage as part of Singapore’s Jubilee (SG50) celebrations. This event has been known to pull together the best names in the industry, and also amp up normal recipes to "ultimate" versions. But best of all, this indulgence is done in the name of charity. All profits will go to 32,000 beneficiaries under Touch Community Service, regardless of race and religion.

So what will we get to see this year?

- Pioneer stalls by multi-generation hawkers: stalls helmed by chefs from the second, third and fourth generations of pioneers. Examples include Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh and Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery being passed to second and third generations respectively. In addition, Crocodile King by Tony Tee is making a comeback, offering nutritious crocodile soup only available for the festival.

- Traditional fare made with the finest ingredients: ‘ultimate’ versions of the original dish. Examples include Elongated Glutinous Rice with Abalone by Geng Shu Mei Shi Shi Jia, 100 days corn fed Anxin Chicken Rice and Foie Gras Rojak by Onaka.

- New generation hawkers and chefs: Douglas Ng of Fishball Story, Gerald and Julyn of Penang Kia, and Wee and Adrian of Old Bibik Beef Rendang will be present at the festival. Their passion for food has moved them to leave comfy jobs in other sectors to join the culinary industry.

- Celebrity chefs: Eric Neo (from Intercontinental Hotel), Tan Yong Hua (Restaurant HOME), Melvin Lim (Ramada and Days Hotels Singapore) and Shen Tan will be cooking local dishes such as Otah, Roast Duck, Nasi Lemak etc.





This year, more than 20 hawkers and chefs have been handpicked by well-known food bloggers, Maureen Ow (www.MissTamChiak.com; centre), Derrick Tan (www.SgFoodOnFoot.com; right) and Ian Low (TheSilverChef.blogspot.sg; left) to create the Ultimate menu.

I know they have worked tirelessly and really hard to put together a marvellous line-up of remarkable hawkers and dishes. So do drop by and support the hawkers who have also taken precious time off their business to showcase their ultimate recipes here.

Date: 22 November 2014, Saturday
Time: 11am to 5pm
Venue: Suntec Convention Centre Halls 401 and 402
Buy coupons at www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg


All photos courtesy of Ultimate Hawker Fest