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Saturday, June 27, 2009
On a nice Saturday night, while the rest of the more happening people of our age are most probably getting themselves dead drunk at a club in town like Butter Factory and helping to promote the spread of the H1N1 virus in the process, we decided to take a drive down to Katong where there is a nice 24 hours Hong Kong Cafe.
In recent years, due to the increased pace of globalization, Singapore's population has become more cosmopolitan
As a result, it might explain the increase numbers of Hong Kong cafes you might witness blooming in your friendly neighbourhood or in town to pander to the needs of the increasingly diverse population in Singapore. With the reputation of Hong Kong as one of the "food" capitals of the world, you cannot go wrong by leveraging on the reputation of "indigenous" food from Hong Kong.
We ordered a cup of milk tea, a French toast and a bowl of instant noodled in curry sauce with sausages and beef tendon. Before reviewing our meal proper, a side note to this meal is that a meal like this in Hong Kong would probably cost you 25 HKD or around 5 SGD in an authentic Char Chan Teng (Coffeeshop). Paying 12 SGD for this meal in Singapore is more than anything else, paying for the novelty of these dishes rather than its actual worth. Nevertheless, it is good to have such diversity of choice in Singapore when it comes to food even if one has to pay more.
The milk tea was as authentic as it could get as you had to add the sugar (contained in those metallic containers)by yourself and it sure tasted like how I remembered it to be when I was in Hong Kong. Full marks for the milk tea's authenticity even though I am more fond of our humble teh tarik.
Having never tried curry noodles in Hong Kong before, I would not be able to gauge its authenticity. However, taste wise, it would satisfy your hunger but not necessarily perk you up.
The highlight of the night was the French toast with butter and marmalade syrup. The toast was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Together with the butter and marmalade syrup, the French toast formed a perfect blend with its condiments. A dish that is definitely worth trying!
Perhaps what really made our day was the ambience of the cafe in which we could feel that we were welcomed to sit down, order some snacks, enjoy the food, the night and a fair amount of quality conversation. The waitress served us promptly without showing her annoyance at our presence till almost 4am in the morning. Hence, the Hong Kong cafe at Katong village would be a place we would recommend if you prefer an alternative entertainment to clubbing on a Saturday.
Price of meal: 12 SGD
Price of petrol: not more than 15 SGD?
A meaningful discussion about life: Priceless
Address: 86 East Coast Road #01-09/10 Katong Village S(428788) Tel: 63451932
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD): 8 (for the milk tea's authenticity and the quality of the French toast. Can give the curry noodles a miss)
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD): 8
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD): 8
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Owning a car in Singapore is an expensive affair. So is having a car in Singapore a want or a need? This topic came up one fine evening by the founders under the cool moonlight. A 1.6L sedan in this land-scarce Republic costs around $60,000 and this does not include the road tax, carpark charges, countless ERP gentries, expensive petrol that you have to pay every day, month whilst owning this piece of metal. All these will add up to roughly an additional $500 to your monthly car installment. Not forgetting that your car faces a yearly depreciation of 4 figures or so. If owning a car is such an expensive affair, why are we seeing more and more Singaporeans heading to car showrooms at Leng Kee Rd, Ubi every weekends? Newer models enter the market every month to cater to the ever increasing demand for newer cars in the market. Why is the queue for car orders piling up every week and Singaporeans are willing to take on this extra financial burden? We aim to argue for the latter (of course, that does not mean that its a must for you to get one and have to cut your expenses for other things) We will argue that having a car will improve your quality of life in Singapore.
Car as a Want
A car is a luxury good in Singapore. The PAP government is discouraging car ownership by introducing various forms of costly disincentives such as the COE, Road Tax, Season Parking, ERP. You don't need a car in Singapore and if you do, you have to bear the high cost of ownership and maintenance. Moreover, there is an efficient, world class, public-orientated Public Transport System network connecting you from and to any place in Singapore (or so some higher mortals are claming for the lesser mortals). Nevermind the yearly profit that the bus and train companies are trying to squeeze out from you. Nevermind the fact that you have to wait 7 minutes for a train to arrive only to have to squeeze with the other 4 million Singaporeans shoulder to shoulder. Nevermind the fact that the bus driver does not understand the language you are speaking. Be a good citizen as the government is advocating, use public transport, free up the roads. Be contented. You do not need a car at all. But if that is so, then why are we facing the phenomenon as posited in the introduction?
Car as a Need
Having a car is increasingly becoming a necessity for some / most/ majority/ all Singaporeans who can afford one (here we are not going to discuss about the cost factor). If you want to improve your quality of life, you will need to have a car. If you want to spend some quality time with your family, loved ones, have a trip to the beach on weekends, you need to have a car. Good food are aplenty in Singapore as introduced in the media every now and then, but without a car, its difficult to get to these destinations. Imagine having to take a 80 minutes ride after changing from Bus to MRT to MRT to Bus from one end of the Republic to another just for a $5 chicken rice or ba chor mee. The thought of the journey would most probably kill off any motivation for the trip. There are numerous places in Singapore where the public transport system is not able to bring you to. There are places which are interestingly enough to visit and yet not having a car is preventing you from doing so. Buying a car is like buying yourself a form of great convenience. You are buying yourself time and a new life that is not constrained by the bus/train timing and waiting time for taxis.
Car as a Want
A car is a luxury good in Singapore. The PAP government is discouraging car ownership by introducing various forms of costly disincentives such as the COE, Road Tax, Season Parking, ERP. You don't need a car in Singapore and if you do, you have to bear the high cost of ownership and maintenance. Moreover, there is an efficient, world class, public-orientated Public Transport System network connecting you from and to any place in Singapore (or so some higher mortals are claming for the lesser mortals). Nevermind the yearly profit that the bus and train companies are trying to squeeze out from you. Nevermind the fact that you have to wait 7 minutes for a train to arrive only to have to squeeze with the other 4 million Singaporeans shoulder to shoulder. Nevermind the fact that the bus driver does not understand the language you are speaking. Be a good citizen as the government is advocating, use public transport, free up the roads. Be contented. You do not need a car at all. But if that is so, then why are we facing the phenomenon as posited in the introduction?
Car as a Need
Having a car is increasingly becoming a necessity for some / most/ majority/ all Singaporeans who can afford one (here we are not going to discuss about the cost factor). If you want to improve your quality of life, you will need to have a car. If you want to spend some quality time with your family, loved ones, have a trip to the beach on weekends, you need to have a car. Good food are aplenty in Singapore as introduced in the media every now and then, but without a car, its difficult to get to these destinations. Imagine having to take a 80 minutes ride after changing from Bus to MRT to MRT to Bus from one end of the Republic to another just for a $5 chicken rice or ba chor mee. The thought of the journey would most probably kill off any motivation for the trip. There are numerous places in Singapore where the public transport system is not able to bring you to. There are places which are interestingly enough to visit and yet not having a car is preventing you from doing so. Buying a car is like buying yourself a form of great convenience. You are buying yourself time and a new life that is not constrained by the bus/train timing and waiting time for taxis.
So should you buy a car then? Yes if you are affluent enough to be able to provide a just-as-comfortable-life for yourself and your family. A car will improve a person's quality of life in Singapore.
For those who frequent Upper Thompson Rd, Hua Nam Restaurant is no stranger to the community living there. It has been there since (as far back as I can recall) the early 1990s. On any typical sunday, the place will be crowded. When I went down during a late tuesday morning, the place was rather empty except for a few early lunch crowd.
The tim sum is reasonably alright but because that the crowd is sparse and during the time of day , the tim sum were only heated up upon ordering. Hence, when the food arrives, you don't get it smoky hot giving you that fresh- juicy taste. As a result, do take note that some of the food might stick to the surface of the metal plate.
In short, for what you can see above and 3 bowls porridge, it cost $22+-.
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD):6
A trip to the the United Kingdoms made me appreciate acutely the richness of the food culture in Singapore. Chinese, Malay, Indian, Italian, French ... You name it, you have it in Singapore. After a good rest, it was down to Old Airport Road food centre for a humble plate of Chay Kway Teow from the Lao Fu Zi stall. But alas!, it was closed by the time we reached. With a hungry stomach begging to be satisfied, it was straight for a another simple but humble dish we have in Singapore. The prawn noodles.
The prawn noodles contains elements from the Malay and Chinese food culture. Malay chilli spices mixed with Chinese noodles and a spicy based soup, it is another classic example of how food in Singapore is created from an amalgamation of two or more different cultures. Just like other local dishes like Chay Kway Teow and Fried Hokkien Mee, prawn noodles in Singapore is a food defined by its cultural hybridity.
The prawn noodle at Old Airport Road... What can I say? I would think that it leaves much to be desired. The chilli they used was not sweet enough and as a result, did not manage to create a good blend with the noodles, fried unions and pork lards. The flavor of the soup was not deep enough and can be improved as well.
However, the prawns were fresh and crunchy making up for the not as tasty noodles. Overall I would not say that it was bad. Just not good enough to leave me chirpy for the rest of the night. After a long journey home, this bowl of prawn noodle definitely raised my mood.
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD): 7 (not bad, raised my mood but it did not last for long)
Friday, June 12, 2009
A wise man once said, "Eating the right food can make or break a person's day;" and if that's really the case, then Popeyes Chicken will be one that makes not only your day, but your night as well. There is a proliferation of fried chicken restaurants in Singapore in the recent years, giving Singaporeans a wider variety of choice other than the more established Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) which opened its first outlet at Somerset in 1977. Some of these restaurants include Dallas Chicken & Ribs which started operation barely a year ago at Upper Cross Street and moved to Paradiz Center recently, Aronld's Fried Chicken located at City Plaza and Pasir Ris, and lastly,Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits which has two outlets in Singapore currently - One in Changi Airport Terminal 1 and the other at Singapore Flyer.
Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits - 3 Piece Chicken and Cajun Fries
In comparison with the more established KFC, Popeyes Chicken will come across as a refreshing alternative. If you were to dine in, you can smell the aroma of fried chicken the moment you stepped into the restaurant and that lingers onto you into your car and back home. As for the chicken parts, there is a high chance that they will be served pipping hot since the crowd is always there and the parts are fresh and juicy covered with a layer of crispy skin (read sinful but still have to eat). However, I believe that the Popeyes does not marinate their chicken. There is no sign of marinating spice or sauce seeping into the inner part of the meat unlike KFC chicken. Still, the meat is chewy and soft. Additionally, the breading of the chicken before frying is a super plus point since the skin is the first point of contact that defines the first impression of a fried chicken and the crispy skin uplifts MUD factor exponentially.
In terms of cost, Popeyes is slightly more expensive than KFC. For a 3 piece meal, which comes with a regular coke, their famous biscuits (which has a crispy crust outside and a bread-like soft on the inside and a small tub of strawberry jam) and crispy coated cajun fries costs $9.80. The parts given vary and they charge an addition 50 cents for a change of each chicken part. Overall, Popeyes chicken is getting your money worth. Good food, quality time with your loved ones by the river under the cool moonlight, what more can one ask for in life?
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD): 10
Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits - 3 Piece Chicken and Cajun Fries
In comparison with the more established KFC, Popeyes Chicken will come across as a refreshing alternative. If you were to dine in, you can smell the aroma of fried chicken the moment you stepped into the restaurant and that lingers onto you into your car and back home. As for the chicken parts, there is a high chance that they will be served pipping hot since the crowd is always there and the parts are fresh and juicy covered with a layer of crispy skin (read sinful but still have to eat). However, I believe that the Popeyes does not marinate their chicken. There is no sign of marinating spice or sauce seeping into the inner part of the meat unlike KFC chicken. Still, the meat is chewy and soft. Additionally, the breading of the chicken before frying is a super plus point since the skin is the first point of contact that defines the first impression of a fried chicken and the crispy skin uplifts MUD factor exponentially.
In terms of cost, Popeyes is slightly more expensive than KFC. For a 3 piece meal, which comes with a regular coke, their famous biscuits (which has a crispy crust outside and a bread-like soft on the inside and a small tub of strawberry jam) and crispy coated cajun fries costs $9.80. The parts given vary and they charge an addition 50 cents for a change of each chicken part. Overall, Popeyes chicken is getting your money worth. Good food, quality time with your loved ones by the river under the cool moonlight, what more can one ask for in life?
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD): 10
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Rojak is also known as the 'asian salad', (except that its much unhealthier compared the ang moh type) is a mixture of fruit, vegetables, you tiao, tau pok, cuttlefish blah blah blah.. you have the money, the stall owner will add whatever you want. In Singapore, other than the ang moh western type, the more ones selling are the Chinese rojak and Indian rojak.
Rojak - The Asian Salad
I'll just be straight forward about the rojak sold at Food Republic. Don't waste your $4 on this. This rojak while looks not-too-bad, its simply not-too-bad. You can be sure of getting better one at your friendly neighbourhood kopitiam cheaper and having a higher MUD.
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD):-0 (Yeah, after the so-so Curry Chicken)
Rojak - The Asian Salad
I'll just be straight forward about the rojak sold at Food Republic. Don't waste your $4 on this. This rojak while looks not-too-bad, its simply not-too-bad. You can be sure of getting better one at your friendly neighbourhood kopitiam cheaper and having a higher MUD.
Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD):-0 (Yeah, after the so-so Curry Chicken)
Food Republic | Wisma Atria
Today, CO and a friend, Alex took the evening to Food Republic at Wisma Atria for dinner and some light snack. Via the escalator, the first of stalls inside Food Republic is the Pow Sing Restaurant 報喜 and Alex decided to try their curry chicken rice.
Pow Sing Restaurant
Curry Chicken Rice
It took less than 5 minutes after the order for the food to arrive. Well, much to Alex's disappointment, the chicken was not hot as he expected. Every piece of chicken is firstly pre-cooked and upon ordering, they simply re-grill it again (not thoroughly enough though). The curry is neither spicy nor fragrant. Overall, the taste has been just so-so. For the price of $5.80 and the quality, this simply fills your stomach for the next 2 hours of Great Singapore Sale shopping at Orchard Road.
Mood Uplifting Determinant: 3
Monday, June 1, 2009
Food can affect the way you go about daily life. We am not talking about health food here where people would go at length telling you about how much carbohydrate intake you should have or whether this food product contains trans-fat or not. No. We are not interested in the food's health content. We are just interested in how well the food can improve our mood.
Since we are both quite hopeless with numbers, we came up with a more qualitative method of assessing how food affects our mood. The Mood Uplifting Determinant (MUD) ranges from 0 to 10. Description of the determinant as follows:
0 : Just like the humble chap chai peng (mixed vegetable rice) we find everywhere, a food with a MUD score of 0 is good enough to keep you alive but does not make you any happier or any worst off.
1-3: Mai hiam aye sai (okay if you don't mind). Food with a MUD score of 1-3 gets your stomach filled and set you off for the rest of the day.
4-6: Fills your stomach well and at the same time gives you greater satisfaction. The world seems a brighter place when you consum food with a MUD score of 4-6. Gone are the worries of the day and in comes positive thoughts and gives you much to cheer about for the rest of the day.
7-9: Think of this as the food equivalent of an instant performance enhancing drug. Not too long ago when one of the author of this blog was still serving his National Service, his course mate swore that MosBurger milk tea can make him run faster. Doubt it? Here is the evidence: After consuming MosBurger milk tea the day before the Combat Physical Fitness Test (CPFT), his friend passed the test in a record time. Food with a MUD score of 7-9 are like life's steroids, it increases your productivity and efficiency many fold. Definitely a food you have to try to boost your work rate for the day exponentially.
Like a Virgin Charting the Old Found Land Up North | Our Quest @ Taman Sentosa, Johor, Malaysia | 29 May 2009 Part II
0 comments at 5:42 AMIntroduction
Taman Sentosa, Johor, Malaysia - We've Arrived
So much has been said about Singapore's northern neighbour, Malaysia. Some of which include having nicer and more authentic food, prettier girls, having petty criminals stealing Singaporeans' beloved cars, robbery, rape, traffic enforcement officers with an open mind (see also here and here), so on and so forth. On 29 May 2009, the Founders of Good Food Good Mood - Mood Food Blog took the leap of faith to find out what lies up ahead in their quest for mood lifting food on the other side of the Causeway.
Taman Sentosa - A Street Down
The Founders
The CO and the XO.
What do you need for a trip like this?
Two person with some level of sanity. Its really easy to get lost when driving up North for the first time. The ability to maintain one's cool will certainly increasing the probability of coming back home in one-piece. Moreover, a sane mind prepares one for the worse. ie. car getting stolen, getting robbed, getting sold to some human-traffickers
On another note, during the drive there can be only one commander at any time. For the driver, you trust your navigator's instructions. For the navigator, you life lies in the hands behind the steering wheel. If possible, keep any guest and woman quiet in the backseat.
Secondly, you need an non-luxury car. Yes, you are right. We recommend you to drive a car somewhere between the range of SGD $0 and SGD $50,000. If you do not wish to worry every other second that your car is going to get stolen while you do your shopping, please drive a non-luxury car. If you only own a car somewhere around the range from a Lexus RX 300 to a Ferrari, we suggest that you rent a non-luxury car. (In any case, you can sell it off there when you're broke and report it lost later on).
The Ferrari that CO and XO could Afford
Thirdly, you need a good map. We suggest that you get one at a petrol station in JB. And get one that is as detailed as possible. A good map should be based on the state / region you are travelling in. Ie. Johor, KL etc. This map will include essential landmarks and details of smaller roads for you to follow through easily. At least when you report your own or rental car being stolen, or got robbed, you know where the police station is.
Non-Essential Items
Other minor non-essential-stuff you would like to bring along include a Passport, some money (we recommend at least RM 50 should you encounter traffic enforcement officers with an open-mind before you start your shopping), a woman and handphone.
Road Condition
A Summon Issued for non-display of a valid parking coupon
Malaysian drivers are way more friendly than Singaporean drivers. You can expect to change your lane abruptly without signaling, beat the red light and not anyone horning you. Word of advice, do anything but not get caught. Always obey traffic rules and place a parking coupon like you would as an obedient Singaporean.
Finding Your Way
Petrol Station like this is of great source of help
In Malaysia, getting your way to your destination is way easier than Singapore. Believe it or not, you will not encounter diversion or closure of roads due to ever-going constructions, road pavement in middle of no where. Signs are prominently placed. Even if you don't understand the language, worry no more. Just drive. Have faith in yourself and ask the locals. Petrol Stations staff is of great help.
Getting to Taman Sentosa
Taman Sentosa, Johor, Malaysia
Most Singaporeans go there for food in JB and Taman Sentosa offers a variety of good food. The food is much cheaper and taste more authentic. While they do not have your friendly health ministry messages, you can be quite certain that your mood level will rise. Nevertheless, if you are unsure of which shop / stall to patronise, simply look for a crowd inside the kopitiam or a queue. Herd-mentality seldom fail Singaporeans. We'll let the the pictures to do the talking.
Lemon Tea, Tea with Milk, Pig Organs Soup, Ipoh Kway Teow, Wanton Mee
Cars cars everywhere
Lady boss looking at CO
Taman Sentosa, Johor, Malaysia - We've Arrived
So much has been said about Singapore's northern neighbour, Malaysia. Some of which include having nicer and more authentic food, prettier girls, having petty criminals stealing Singaporeans' beloved cars, robbery, rape, traffic enforcement officers with an open mind (see also here and here), so on and so forth. On 29 May 2009, the Founders of Good Food Good Mood - Mood Food Blog took the leap of faith to find out what lies up ahead in their quest for mood lifting food on the other side of the Causeway.
Taman Sentosa - A Street Down
The Founders
The CO and the XO.
What do you need for a trip like this?
Two person with some level of sanity. Its really easy to get lost when driving up North for the first time. The ability to maintain one's cool will certainly increasing the probability of coming back home in one-piece. Moreover, a sane mind prepares one for the worse. ie. car getting stolen, getting robbed, getting sold to some human-traffickers
On another note, during the drive there can be only one commander at any time. For the driver, you trust your navigator's instructions. For the navigator, you life lies in the hands behind the steering wheel. If possible, keep any guest and woman quiet in the backseat.
Secondly, you need an non-luxury car. Yes, you are right. We recommend you to drive a car somewhere between the range of SGD $0 and SGD $50,000. If you do not wish to worry every other second that your car is going to get stolen while you do your shopping, please drive a non-luxury car. If you only own a car somewhere around the range from a Lexus RX 300 to a Ferrari, we suggest that you rent a non-luxury car. (In any case, you can sell it off there when you're broke and report it lost later on).
The Ferrari that CO and XO could Afford
Thirdly, you need a good map. We suggest that you get one at a petrol station in JB. And get one that is as detailed as possible. A good map should be based on the state / region you are travelling in. Ie. Johor, KL etc. This map will include essential landmarks and details of smaller roads for you to follow through easily. At least when you report your own or rental car being stolen, or got robbed, you know where the police station is.
Non-Essential Items
Other minor non-essential-stuff you would like to bring along include a Passport, some money (we recommend at least RM 50 should you encounter traffic enforcement officers with an open-mind before you start your shopping), a woman and handphone.
Road Condition
A Summon Issued for non-display of a valid parking coupon
Malaysian drivers are way more friendly than Singaporean drivers. You can expect to change your lane abruptly without signaling, beat the red light and not anyone horning you. Word of advice, do anything but not get caught. Always obey traffic rules and place a parking coupon like you would as an obedient Singaporean.
Finding Your Way
Petrol Station like this is of great source of help
In Malaysia, getting your way to your destination is way easier than Singapore. Believe it or not, you will not encounter diversion or closure of roads due to ever-going constructions, road pavement in middle of no where. Signs are prominently placed. Even if you don't understand the language, worry no more. Just drive. Have faith in yourself and ask the locals. Petrol Stations staff is of great help.
Getting to Taman Sentosa
Taman Sentosa, Johor, Malaysia
Most Singaporeans go there for food in JB and Taman Sentosa offers a variety of good food. The food is much cheaper and taste more authentic. While they do not have your friendly health ministry messages, you can be quite certain that your mood level will rise. Nevertheless, if you are unsure of which shop / stall to patronise, simply look for a crowd inside the kopitiam or a queue. Herd-mentality seldom fail Singaporeans. We'll let the the pictures to do the talking.
Lemon Tea, Tea with Milk, Pig Organs Soup, Ipoh Kway Teow, Wanton Mee
Cars cars everywhere
Lady boss looking at CO
Eating the right food can make or break a person's day.
Picture this scenario: You just had 2 absolutely mind boggling lectures that you understood nothing; went to the department office to collect your term essay and realized that you have gotten a B- despite spending 3 weeks of time, sweat, blood and tears on it. You get home, expected a sumptuous spread to erase memories of a bad day... But alas! On your dinner table, you see plain porridge with salted egg and salted vegetables for dinner because mum did not feel like cooking...
Under such circumstances, I am sure the thought of getting out of your pigeon hole, climbing to the highest level (to ensure there are no screw-ups in the jump) of your humble HDB block to take the plunge would have crossed your mind...
Many long suffering undergrads have found their own ways to deal with bad days. Some choose to party away at clubs like Zouk and Butter Factory, others choose to immerse themselves in games like DOTA and Counterstrike. The more healthy ones or some would argue, the masochistic ones would choose to run 10km or swim 2km to put the happenings of the day behind them.
For me however, I believe in the power of comfort food, food that can make you happy and keep you going when the going gets tough. Feeling down? bring in the Chay Kway Teows with the extra pork lard and cockles together with a good glass of Sugar Cane Juice(SCJ).
There is no problem food cannot solve. Happy eating people!
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