This is a big part of my life, through their hardwork they hold the family together, brought us up, and put my brother and I through schools up till a diploma for me. I’ve never (maybe I did, perhaps once or twice) told them how much I cherish and appreciate their love and will forever be grateful.

Since we move to Sengkang some 12 years ago, I rarely go visit them at the stall. Today, I did, for the last time.

If you haven’t tried or have tried and love the taste, please do try head down for one last time. The last day of operation is on 29 May 2012, Tuesday. They start business from 7am to around 2pm (while ingredients last) from Monday to Friday.

Coffee Shop at Blk 206 Toa Payoh North

Try it before its gone!

One of the Japanese restaurant at basement 1 of NEX, under the big umbrella of Shokutsu 10, a Japanese food street concept outlet by the people behind Kuriya and Shimbashi Soba, otherwise known as RE&S.

Kabe No Ana claims to be THE original Japanese spaghetti house established since 1953. With over 80 varieties in their menu, you ought to find something you would like to try in there.

Kabe No Ana - The Restaurant

The pasta is decent though some may say its a bit dry for their liking. Add S$5 to your pasta for their soup and bread set. The bread that comes with it is nice!

Corn Soup

Mentaiko Toast ~ Nice

Mentaiko Mayo Kinoko, S$15.90 (Cod Roe Flavored with Red Pepper Sauce and Mushroom Pasta)

Kabe No Ana
23 Serangoon Central
#B1-80 nex
Singapore 556083
Tel: 66348024
http://www.kabenoana.com.sg

Simba-shi Soba is known for its handmade soba made from fresh buckwheat seeds. These seeds are milled into flour and skillfully shaped by hand into fine strands of noodles by their Japanese Soba Masters at the restaurant daily. If you’re there at the right time, you’ll witness the making of soba through the display glass at the outlet.

Shimbashi Soba

Yuzu Kosho Kamo Seiro, S$20.80

Chilled noodle with sliced seasoned duck meat, wild vegetables, mushrooms and egg in duck broth, served with citrus-flavored chili.

Chikara Soba, S$15.80

Warm soup noodle with rice cakes, chicken, mushrooms and spring onions.

Some people likes it and enjoyed the fresh soba, while some find it a little too salty and felt it wasn’t worth the price. What about you?

Simba-Shi Soba
#B1-02 NEX
23 Serangoon Central
Tel: 6634 4786
http://www.sobaworld.com.sg

It’s the first in the world and New Zealand Natural piloted their cafe concept here in Singapore! New Zealand Natural first entered Singapore in year 2000 by Delinatural, after 10 years we now have a cafe serving wholesome, healthy and value for money food.

The center of attraction at the cafe, a NZ tree - Pohutakawa

The cafe is decorated and infused with much taste of New Zealand and New Zealand Natural. A cosy cafe for shoppers and ice-cream lovers to sit, rest and chill. Serving yummy soups, wraps filled with goodness, mouthwatering sandwiches and more.

Classic Cream of Mushroom Soup, S$3.90/ S$6.90

What can possibly go wrong with a classic cream of mushroom? But this, as shared by Chef Roland, its even harder to go wrong as its a combination of many premium mushrooms! A must try for mushroom lovers out there. Get the bowl as the cup size just isn’t going to be enough. If you’re there with a friend, give the Fabulous Pumpkin Soup a try too! You won’t regret.

Chinese Duck Wrap, S$10.90

Chinese Duck Wrap, the oriental taste amongst the choices of wraps at New Zealand Natural Cafe. Diced duck meat mixed with plum sauce and wrapped with cucumbers and green onions. Just like how its described on the menu, utterly delicious and highly addictive.

Chef Roland, consultant for New Zealand Natural Cafe

Chef Roland is the Executive Chef at Shangri-la Singapore and at other renowned 5-star hotels. Friend of the boss of New Zealand Natural Cafe, he personally crafted, planned and designed the menu, bringing 5-star quality food at affordable price. Roland trains and supervises the chef and kitchen staff at New Zealand Natural Cafe to ensure the quality is delivered.

Ice-cream Sundae

While you’re at New Zealand Natural Cafe, of course you got to wrap up your meal with some ice-cream or sundaes!

Ending this with a short clip created by team at Rediscover Singapore for New Zealand Natural Cafe.

New Zealand Natural Cafe
NEX, #02-12
Join them on Facebook
http://www.nzn.com.sg

And yes, we are now known as Dice Studio! That’s our signboard at our entrance. Nice?

Before we moved here, we were excited about the vast variety of food outlets around and the options we will have. Alas, when we finally settled and started going lunch daily, we realised options though plenty, it just isn’t as economy as compared to when we were at Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre. All of us miss Jia Yi Curry Fish Head stall very much. So grass isn’t always brighter nor greener on the other side. Ok, I talking cock liao.

So what have I been eating at Joo Chiat so far? Keeping a food diary on Facebook to help me keep track, and here I’ll share some of my hits and misses.

Makan @ Joo Chiat Part Uno

Thunder Tea Rice
at 328 Joo Chiat Road

This is my never go wrong meal. $4.50 and its wholesome, healthy and 101% filling. Love how every bite is crunchy and tasteful.

Don & Grill Bistro
at 348 Joo Chiat Road

I ate at Don & Grill for three times already within three weeks. Guess its one of my favorite place and standard lunch place if it was cheaper. My choice here? The teriyaki chicken bento. Looks good right?

5 Star Hainanese Chicken Rice
at 191 East Coast Road

I love Chicken Rice and will not miss eating it if its available where I’m dining. This is rather sad. Yes, its less oily but the taste and the chili just didn’t feel right. Should have walked few more steps down to Boon Tong Kee.

naive
at 99 East Coast Road

Walked passed this place and decided to give it a try. It was dinner time and the place was packed with young and old. Serving of the food looks good but the taste was so-so only.

If you’re around Joo Chiat, give me a ring we can meet for Teh Terik. :)

First stop was at Standing Sushi Bar at 1 Raffles Place, their first outlet. Though its still good, but I felt that the salmon sashimi was not as great as compared to those I had at 8Q. Perhaps its the quality of shipment that day? Still it was a good lunch, standing. :P

Sushi & Salmon Set Lunch, $16.80++

Not just your usual plain miso soup. I cleared the bowl.

See the difference between this and those I had at 8Q?

The Sushi Platter

Standing Sushi Bar at 1 Raffles Place

Standing Sushi Bar

1 Raffles Place #B1-02B
Find them on Facebook.

Dinner that day was at this new Japanese Restaurant at Plaza Singapura. Boy it sure changed a lot since I last went! That place used to be my daily hangout but now I seldom step foot in there. Things will change though, thanks to a monthly meeting I’ll be having from now on, I’ll get to go more often! ^_^

Sushi Bar at Itacho Sushi

Confusing order sheets

Took me sometime to figure out how these order sheets work! Kinda wasting paper imo. Would be less confusing and more environmental friendly if they could just take our orders instead. If you’re wondering how the ordering sheets work, note the numbers on the top left corner? If you’re ordering dish #110, take the “1-2″ sheet in white. If you’re ordering dish #1120, take the “11-14″ sheet in blue and so on. Confusing right? Haiz…

The table setup

Salmon ($3.60) and Octopus Sashimi ($3.60)

Scallop Sashimi ($6.00)

Whole Sea Eel Sushi ($6.00)

Crab Stick Sushi ($1.20)

Come to think of it, it wasn’t just sashimi overloaded that day! It was tamago overloaded too! Three types of roasted eggs during dinner! I’ll go back to Itacho Sushi just for these! Love them chilled!

Roasted Egg w/ Tobiko and Corn ($3.20)

Roasted Egg w/ Seaweed and Crab ($3.60)

Roasted Egg w/ Shrimp ($3.80)

Overall it was quite a good dinner at Itacho Sushi. There’s a private room in there that fits 16pax. Can consider for future gatherings/ events. Yes, I’m always on the look out for ideal space for events! Work’s inbuilt into my mind 24seven.

Itacho Sushi

Plaza Singapura #02-35
Find them on Facebook

Tokyo Bananas

Fluffy & Spongy Tokyo Bananas

Inside filled with real banana

Shiroi Koibito Chocolate (白い恋人)

Packs individually and sealed for freshness

This is heaven! ♥ ♥ ♥

So… who’s coming back from Tokyo soon?

Sushi Tei, Serangoon Garden

Salmon Sashimi, never the same after tasting Standing Sushi Bar

Cold Ramen with Sesame Sauce, hates the ginger!

Fried Ika. Felt kinda sick after clearing this plate.

It was quite a long lunch.

Miniature display at Dessert Bowl

Heavy dessert after a heavy lunch = sleepy me

Can you see why I love my Sol?

When we eat at Fish & Co, our order for the meal is almost standard. At times, we may take the seafood platter, but most of the time, our combi are as follow…

Fried Calamari aka Sotong
Over the years, the calamari rings get bigger and so does the crispiness of this dish. I like my sotong to be crunchy instead of chewy. That’s how these fried sotong tasted. I is sad whenever I see my sotong served like that.

Swordfish Collar
We both love the fragrant and crispy battered skin. Then I’ll clear most of the fleshy meat, and he’ll continue with chewing the bones. We love this a lot! Sometime when the chef overcook it, it may end up tasting like KFC crispy chicken! -_-”

Lemon & Butter Mussels
We love the old one better. This new serving of the mussels kinda lose the punch in the sauce and though the mussels were much more as compared to the previous version, it kinda lack the freshness and taste. May think twice the next time before we order this. Hope Fish & Co bring back the old recipe.

Diana, Eevon, my mum and many friends can’t stop thinking about it! Right? If you’ve not tried it, don’t miss the next pot luck gathering! This is going to be my default pot luck dish!

Say hello to Awesome Oraganic Soy + Seaweed Jello!

If you would like to make this simple and healthy dessert, read on…

Ingredients you’ll need to make this Awesome Dessert…

1. Brown Sugar Seaweed, 黑糖珊瑚草 also known as 黑糖海燕窝

This is only available at…

This is the only place I can find it. Tried many other organic/ vegetarian shops but failed to find it. If you know of any other places that sell this, please let me know!

2. Organic Soya Milk

You can use any brand you like. OR if you prefer, can use non-organic one too. But then it’ll not be as healthy and awesome! :P This you can buy from all leading supermarket.

3. Water

That’s it! Simple right? The steps to making it are even more shockingly simple!

1. Boil a pot of water, when the water is boiled, throw in the cubes of Brown Sugar Seaweed, stir and continue boiling till it dissolves. Taste the liquid, if its too sweet, add more boiling water, if its not sweet enough, add in another cube of Brown Sugar Seaweed. (This takes a little trial and error for the first time. I’d boiled the pack of 6 cubes of Brown Sugar Seaweed in approximately 1.8-2.4 litre of water. Depending on how sweet you want your jello to taste.)
2. After boiling, use a sieve with fine holes to sieve out the tiny black residues from the seaweed. Pour the liquid into containers that’ll fit into your fridge.
3. Leave the liquid to cool before refrigerating.
4. Leave it to solidify for few hours in the fridge. The amount of time needed depends on how concentrated your liquid is and how cold the temperature of your fridge is. :P
5. Once its done, scoop the jello and pour in your organic soya milk.
6. Serve cold or add some ice to chill it.

Here’s how it’ll look when served! Voice in the background is Diana’s!

That’s it! Your Awesome Oraganic Soy + Seaweed Jello is done! Go try it!

I’m having this everyday!

I can’t wait to have my own kitchen! I want to cook more and blog about it! This is so fun! Need to find someone to clean up the mess after I’m done cooking though. *hint hint abang*