Buangkok new hawker centre

Singapore - I drove to Buangkok to have a good lunch and was not disappointed.   I saw the youtube by Ohjib-san and also read very good reviews on this new hawker centre and wanted to try their food.  Queue, queue and more queues everywhere - I think word got around that this place is the next best place for good food.   Singaporeans always have a taste for good good.

This famous new Penang stall, we ordered the Penang Assam Laksa $5.50 and Char Kway Teow also $5.50.  They were systematic and gave our a queue number.  

Penang Assam Laksa is ready made so we have this first to eat.  While had to wait at least 30 mins for the Char Kway Teow because the chef had to individually cook each dish.

Penang Alley

Assam Laksa

Wow, wow! the Assam Laksa was really good - rich gravy and taste of fish, turmeric, was so flavour full and delicious.   

Char Kway Teow

Though it is smaller than most Char Kway Teow stall is was one of the best I have tried.  The provided a handsome serving of cockles (I did not eat it at all) - Edmund ate all of it.   Lots of pork lard - crispy pork lard which brought rich flavour to this disk.  The prawns when you bite into it is so fresh.  

Hummus and Pita 

This hummus with Pita cost $6 but looks a small portion but it was so creamy and yummy.  Similar to the taste I had in UAE and Israel, very good.   The pita is different like crispy tissue but still good enough to dipped into the hummus.   

Lamb Shawarma

It was filled with lots of lamb meat and very tasty, since Edmund does not eat - I single handedly finished this Shawarma.  I was stuffed and fulled but since I did not had breakfast and a 2hrs of workout - I was happy.

Sharing our table was a man (around early 30+) and I strike a conversation with him and he told me about all the food he had tried here before.  He has been to this hawker centre 20 times since it opened.  I don't blame him as there are many good food here.   He was telling me about the fried chicken wings, Lor mee and queues of 1hr waiting, chicken rice, roast pork store and he could go on and on about the food he had tasted here.

Last we had our Min Jiang Kuek - black charcoal sesame Min Jiang Kuek.  Lots of sesame and it was good that it was not finely grinned as you can taste the sesame seeds.

Min Jiang Kuek stall

 A good lunch - 

Bishan lawn bowl team

Singapore - I woke up early for lawn bowl and drove to indooor stadium for a roof-top lawn bowl game.   The weather was good with light drizzle but it clear and the sun shone brightly.  

time for lawn bowl

After Edmund and me, played a game reaching first to 11.  We had a friendly Bishan team competition.

2hrs of lawn bowling was enough for a good hearty lunch.

Post Christmas Lunch - the 3 Amigos

Singapore - I was at Mr Bucket @ Dempsey to get chocolates and the place is very inviting and the sales staff polite and friendly. 

They also had a lot of free tasting and this chocolatier was making for me a S'more.

Chocolatier at work

Final product S'more

From Dempsey, I drove to Nexmall.  It was good to see Edmund and Willy again - this time at the B2 of NexMall Food Junction.  Edmund treated us to his favourite Hokkien Mee and with some Timsum order by Willy it was a good and happy meal.  

Willy and Edmund

Good friends we treasure and build treasure of 'lego' memories together.   I have learnt never to missed an opportunity to meet up as life is short and at time unpredictable.   

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.” —G. Randolf

Pax prawn pasta for Christmas

 Singapore - With much effort he cooked up a delicious dish of pasta - yummy!

Pasta al Pomodoro

One of the best dishes he has cooked up.  The tomato sauce was delicious mixed with the prawns.  

Birthday cake

 Singapore - went to St Regis to collect my Birthday cake.....

Birthday cake

Beautiful Christmas tree 

Early morning lawn bowling

Singapore - It was a good early morning at 8am for lawn bowling at Kallang with Edmund.  I have been off form and not played for months - Edmund trounced me 2-0 games, he deserved the win for the commitment he has put in.

Edmund and I 

It was real fun and after that we went for breakfast at Katong.  

Edmund at the far end 

Sangong Charcoal Hot Pot

 Kuala Lumpur - Donny brought me to this mutton hot pot that specialises in using charcoal.  The stewed mutton pot was delicious.  We had braised mutton infused with a rich umami laden stew. The meat isn't super tender so there's some bite to it. Dip the meat with the fermented bean sauce that gives it a deeper flavour. The sauce is addictive when you pair it with the items in the pot, from the meat to the bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and shiitake mushrooms.

Charcoal braised mutton hot pot

full of braised mutton 

Lots of vegetables to add to this dish, and we ordered more mutton slices.

It was a delicious dinner especially with good friends to share the meal with.

Kanbe Ramen @ Mont Kiara

 Kuala Lumpur - Lesley brought me to this most famous Ramen in the whole of Kuala Lumpur - long queue lined up over the weekend but I was fortunate that today, we had a good seat and meal.

There are some basic tables against the wall while the seats at the counter look directly into the open kitchen.  

Free stuff 

These are small pots of bean sprouts both spicy and plain - delicious to fill your tummy as the chef prepares our Ramen.

Bean sprouts free flow

They even have a placard to teach you how to enjoy a bowl of dry ramen. 

Dry ramen

It was very delicious, add the sauce to taste but the thick slice pork was heavenly.  It was so succulent to the taste and the fat simply melted in my mouth.  The egg is cooked to perfection with the Japanese soft york.

Early morning walk with Edmund

Singapore - It was also fun to meet my friend Edmund and today was no different.  Woke up early at 6:30AM and drove to meet him.  

Today is Deepavali holiday in Singapore - Diwali is derived from the word “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes to symbolise the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Our morning walk is a celebration of our friendship, we walked around MacRitchie Reservoir and back, iPhone tracked it as 9.16km - after a good sweaty walk we have breakfast at Shunfu food court.  

The famous Mei Zhen Hakka Delicacies with their Abacus Yam Ball.

It was my first time trying at this stall.  At first glance it does not look appetising,  very gooey but yet firm with each bite.  It was also covered in a layer of glossy oil.  I found out too that the black stuff were black fungus.  This dish was topped up with fried shallots, dried shrimps and chopped spring onions. I asked the stall holder to put the chilli at the side, it added some spiciness to this dish.

Cherish the moment

Chinatown Complex Food Centre

 Singapore - After our meeting, Edmund and I went to Chinatown complex food centre for some delicious hawker food.

Edmund and I 

This was taken in front of the famous Michelin guide popiah stall.   Singaporeans are very familiar with this dish called Popiah. 

Singapore beloved dish

Next on our food hunt is Appam - something that both Edmund and I were yearning for and this Indian stall sells it.

Appam with coconut

Vada

Both tasted really good.   Now for some hearty hawker food.

Beef brisket noodle - does not taste good as the beef was tough to chew on.

Peanut soup 

HSBC mid autumn festival event

Singapore - I was invited to HSBC Mid-Autumn themed event, where Dr, Maxine Teo was.the keynote speaker to share on legacy planning concepts and also Maddy Barber, founder of Madly who will talk on crafting jewelry as life's significant milestone.

Dr. Maxine Teo as the speaker

Mozzarella, texture of basil and micro cress

Cream of mushroom

Free range chicken

This is the main course of chicken served with parsley potatoes, baby carrot and truffle jus.

Desert - Black lemon

Black lemon infusion panna cotta, orange marmalade and mandarin sorbet - very delicious desert.

UOB Opus by Prudential event

Singapore - My wife and I was invited to his UOB event @ Synthesis - a combination of good food and healthy living.  The theme for the event was 'Your Wellness, Your legacy'.   The guest speaker was Jacelyn Tay, one of Singapore famous actress and now owner of her own wellness centre.

Free flow bar counter

Speaker stage

This restaurant has a prepared stage for organising events.  The set up and the service was great - courteous waiters with watchful eyes to top up your drinks once it is near empty.  

Jacelyn Tay

She spoke about wellness and how the body can health itself with the right food and drinks.   Her message was 'Do No Harm' to your body.

Amuse Bouche

In French, "amuse bouche" means literally "it amuses the mouth." The French were using "amuse-bouche" as a word for appetisers.  It was so delicately presented with the 'Sour Plum Sorbet' with pickled mango & papaya; 'Cold Hainanese chicken Roulade' and lastly Miso Prawn Tartare with crispy pani puri shella with Kombu prawn.

Cold Appetisers

   'Slow cooked salmon'; pickled apple and celery salary with scallops and lastly Watermelon brick infused.   It was a tantalising experience for my taste buds with a burst of different textures and flavours.

Soup

 Brazilian mushroom consomme with chicken and pork Gyoza.   

Hot Appetiser

This was a Braised Risotto with 'Tea smoked' duck and Tea infused Egg Yolk

Entre

Prior to the event, we had to chose our Entre - fish, beef or vegetarian.  Well mine has to be beef - Australian wagyu beef striplion.  

Dessert

Tea-inspired medley desert with mousse infused with Opus legacy blend, strawberry inside the mousse, bandung sponge and Pu'er tea crumble.

chef