Pampering the youth

Tertiary students in Singapore are pampered these days- and there's no reason why they shouldn't be since they are the country's only asset. I can't think of any campus that I have been to which I can say is on par with universities in Singapore, in terms of food. Anyway, I could be bias. Look at this restaurant located in one of the universities here.

Although it doesn't offer Japanese food, it's got a nice ambience like any restaurant outside campus. It serves Japanized Asian food- I interpret.

I haven't stopped going back there but each time,after my visit, I always ask the same question: If Tampopo Restaurant at the current Liang Court (beside Clark Quay) continues to offer customers the authentic short-staple sticky rice at similar price lines as this restaurant, why can't it?!

Gazpacho

The gazpacho offered in August this year at Donguri was especially beautiful and - special, because it didn't remind me of the gazpacho that I had in Seville. It tasted out-of-this-world, though, and visually, assuringly wholesome with a mound of fresh summer vegetables in the middle. I could taste olive oil in it, and was wondering if the chef had followed the recipe step-by-step...Ur...this is not an insult, it just tasted unique without the sourish tomato taste. And with all the lovely blossoms thrown in, it was rather 'painful' dipping my spoon into the vegetables.

Yum...So refreshing...

You can probably try this recipe found in elise.com and then dress it up the same way.

Whale meat, anyone?

October 21, 2008 (Tuesday): June this year, I was at the Japanese Association lounge browsing the Japanese magazine Dancyu ダンチュウ (June, p. 111) when I chanced upon this captivating ad on gourmet tours of Kyushu. It is so attractively illustrated and plied with such innocence that everything looks perfectly OK. I don't know what vets would say, especially my nephew, if he sees this. Having our New Year lunch with him at the Equinox has made me abandon my former favorite, the fois gras (Below: fois gras baked on grilled scallop, garnished with fish roe).

I have tasted the whale in Dotonburi, Osaka. My ex-company supplier, who tried to please my boss, treated me to the most unforgettable steam-boat feast. I naively asked how he managed to get whale meat and was told it was declared as a research object by his son-in-law, a researcher of some organization, who was there to share this 'delicacy'. Anyway, it tasted close to beef.

That was my first and last time eating the whale... especially when it looks so cute in this gourmet ad!

Marché

Oct 13, 2008 (Mon): A. had missed Sizzler, the healthy restaurant with a salad bar that used to be located at the far right-hand corner of Wisma Atria on the first floor. So when we discovered Marché one Sunday in Vivo City, where the roof-top garden and playground is, A.'s herbivorous instincts led him inside the restaurant. There was a line, but after 20 minutes, our turn came.

Like a typical Movenpick restaurant in Switzerland where the salad bar is a feature, we were sure we were going to tuck in. To our surprise, the 'healthy' atmosphere strongly signalled us to eat less than what we wanted. We piled the alfafa sprouts into our shallow bowls, then the rockets, lettuce, seeds, boiled potato cubes, carrots, etc. Beside the salad bar, we ordered our spaghetti, cooked by an Indian lady chef. We went to order our mushroom and potato soups and were told to wait five minutes for our pasta.

When pasta was ready, I was surprised it tasted like pasta in curry instead of tomato sauce. I didn't mind actually. A. suggested that we should go back again.

There were a lot there we have not tried: The meats, other soups, the rolls and breads, the wine and beers. We closed our meal with a glass of carrot juice which we shared.

You can be transformed into herbivores for SGD 35, with tax and surcharge, for two.

Go Thai

October 2, 2008 (Fri): It’s Friday evening. Picking up some organic veggie is has become a routine. I stopped by Vivo City, and decided to go for dinner first.

Stopping by Thai Accent was just a coincidence. I haven’t had Thai food since my last meal with a Thai friend at Baan Thai in Hanoi. This restaurant is popular-judging by the line outside. It was early evening, about 7 pm. We were ushered to sit at the corner of the raised level. It was a good table but the air-con was blowing too strongly. We asked to be seated at a corner where we could see the line outside-not so comfortable but we will not freeze.

The waiter and waitress who served us were very pleasant, attentive and efficient. We ordered a Thai green curry, stir-fried kang kong with fermented beans, a glass-noodle soup and a Tiger beer, which was served in well chilled glasses. The curry wasn’t spicy- and that’s good for us.

The veg was very good and rice was refillable. I don’t like egg tofu normally but the soup (without the tofu) was delicious.

With Amex card discount of 15%, the bill was SGD 45. Wow-good deal in this part of the city and excellent (!) for such service, ambience and food quality. I enjoyed the view overlooking the Sentosa casino, currently under construction.

A recommendable place for casual dining.

The Masonic Building

Oct 4, 2008 (Sun): This heritage trail on Hill Street is enjoyable. I’d start from the Singapore Philatelic Museum and end at Clark Quay’s Brewerkz (German brewery) or in Fort Canning Hill. The Peranakan Museum is spectacular as well. If you don’t feel like doing anything except to chat and enjoy a drink or have something to eat, Acte d’Amour (in the building) is the place to go.

Its history started in the colonial days and its ambience is British: The dimness of the lights, the architecture, the ornaments and so forth remind me of British pubs, including even the accents of some of its customers … If you're interested in its brief history, here's a piece written by Vernon Cornelius-Takahama:
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_167_2005-01-17.html


A. loves it; he wonders why he hasn’t known about it after all these years. It’s not advertised in tourist brochures. Does it still preserve the age-old secrets of its chapters? It is now so much easier to ask A. to come to this place for a meal than to ask him to go to the Japanese Association.

I’d not recommend western food at Acte d’Amour, except for its fish and chips.

Indian food is the best, although I didn’t find the mee goreng (stir-fried noodle in Malay style) too bad. Set lunches are at SGD 11.90 each, including a soup and a dessert. Perhaps even having a wine would be great. It’s a peaceful place to chat – and such places are rare in Singapore.

Monte do Castanheiro 2004

October 01, 2008 (Wed): Today is the break of Ramaddan, Hari Raya, and many Muslim families seem to be having fun outings.

Last night A. and I wondered what to pair with our dinner - spinach linguine, little grilled chicken wings and a tofu salad. I thought about the Monte do Castanheiro that was introduced to Singapore - frankly, I don't know when. It was very good recalling Portugal while sipping it, even if it didn't really match the salad and linguine.

Portugal is tranquil, laid-back, very historic and romantic. I recall strolling along Douro River, thoroughly soaking in the sunset at Pousada de Santa Marinha (Guimarães), picking up ripe big tangerines from the ground, exploring Coimbra and totally being gripped by the melancholic fado. I enjoyed getting lost in the oldest university of Europe in Coimbra. Portugal’s charm, simplicity and beauty are deeply edged in my memory. Two of my two trips there were worthwhile. I am thinking of going to Madeira and Lisboa (again)- it should be some time not so soon.

I'll have a week to remember Portugal while enjoying this vinho tinto from Alentejano. It's from Borba, famous for its reds. Unlike many of the indigenous varieties, this one is a blend of Trincadeia, Aragonez, Castelão, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a very silky texture, a lovely bouquet of fruit, sometimes I taste my favorite fruit, cherry, in it. Finally it exudes a hint of spices. It's got a good balance.