tans beef noodle

Mid April - I go to Hanoi for Vietnamese Food

2008-03-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

I will fly there for a holiday, May to Oct is rainy season, to see, hear, smell, touch and taste Vietnam.

I will go worship the body of Hanoi because he defeated two super powers - no easy feat particularly the last one. I have yet to find out if his body is in Hanoi.

Delicious spring rolls, dumplings, pho bo, etc come enter into my tunnel of love.

Speaking of which, I must loose some weigh or risk getting stuck in one of their tunnels. If given the chance I will go fire and strip their AK-47 to better understand how they work.

If you have info on where I must go and eat. Please drop me a line.

20 Mar 08 - Biz to close on Sat 22 Mar 08

2008-03-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

My stall will close on Sat 22 mar 08. It's a week earlier then I had originally announced.

Eventhough the shutters are going down on my stall for the last time, I will still maintain my tansbeefnoodle blog.

So come back and check out what's the latest food I had, thing I am doing, and thoughts in my mind. Write your comments so I know what you're eating, doing and thinking also.

Thanks for liking my family's Taiwanese beef noodle.
It was a pleasure serving you.

Best wishes,

Alaster

19 Mar 08 - An article about my beef noodle to appear in Sunday Times 23 Mar 08, well almost

2008-03-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Ms Tan Hsueh Yen, a food critic from Straits Times, came to try my beef noodle and pickled side dish. Later on she told me that she will write an article about my beef noodle - gave her high praise for it - which will appear in this Sunday Times edition.

She asked me lots of question about: who taught me how to cook it? Why did I decide to sell it? How long I took to master cooking it right? How long to boil the bones? Customers' response?

I answered all her questions.

She was sad to learn that I will discontinue my biz.

Nonetheless she said to keep her posted if I do start my food biz again.

I most certainly will.

Thanks, Ms H, for giving me a moment of "glory".

Thanks for liking my family's food enough to want to write an article in praise of it.

Backdated to 3 -10 Feb 08: Food galore in Taiwan ROC

2008-03-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hello I will update you on my delicious adventure during the Chinese New Year period in Taiwan.

Stay tuned....

Backdated to 28/01/08 - AWAS: Parking Meter or Parking Coupon?

2008-02-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

I just remember something which I believe is worth mentioning to Singaporeans who are driving up Malaysia to have a jalan jalan-cum-makan tour.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the authorities in Melaka have decided to remove the parking meter – free parking at last! YES!!

I found out subsequently that they had actually replaced the parking meter with parking coupon – no free parking. That was a downer!

So be prepared, if you are driving in Malaysia, to use parking coupons if the parking meters aren’t around. Otherwise kenna fine, then you know.

Heng er, I didn't kenna fine!

FYI: In Seremban they still use the parking meter.

Backdated to 28/01/08 - Anti-skid Braking System saves my day and limbs too

2008-02-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

We were on the N-S highway travelling south to Johore and Singapore. It was a rainny afternoon, a truck cut into my path last minute, just as I was stepping on the accelelator to speed up and overtake it. Immediately I had to floor the brakes hard. Thankfully the ABS kicked in automatically and prevented the car we were in from skidding when it braked suddenly. Incidentally that was what happened to the Ford Telstar - which skidded when I had to slam on the brakes (w/o ABS) on a rainny afternoon in 1994, and it did a 90-deg clockwise turn before coming to a stop - lousy car. Scared the living day lights out of me.

Ford cars have improved a lot nowadays.
Their Focus is a joy to drive.

ABS is God's gift to mankind and so is ESP also.

Backdated to 27/01/08 – Fatman Popiah, Melaka

2008-02-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

This stainless steel pushcart is located next Madam King’s departmental store along Jalan Bunya Raya. The father (a portly man) used to sell popiah for over ten years before his son took over. He would fill the popiah up with the usual ingredients, just before wrapping them all up in the moist & chewy floured-skin, he would drench them with two tablespoon of fragrant pork lard and crispy fat! Shocking!! But that makes his popiah very tasty! When I first saw him doing this in 1998, my eyes almost rolled out of my sockets. But after eating it, all is forgotten except its lovely divine texture and taste.

FYI: I prefer the popiah made by the father because it tasted really sinfully good!!

Eat already ah – triple steam!

Nonetheless credit must be given to his son because his popiah has improved since I ate the last one made by him several years ago.

Eat to believe.

Don’t take my word for it.

Backdated to 27/01/08 – I see red in Malacca

2008-02-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

The Malaysian govt. has done much to spruce Melaka up in order to make it more tourist-friendly. They have added footpath, wherever possible, to Melaka quaint narrow streets in order to make it safer for tourists to walk around. They have also added lights – red-colored lights – to illuminate the historic buildings there in the night. That made Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock in Chinatown looks like a “red light district” in my own personal opinion without being disrespectful to the local authority's there.

Then again the light up might be to add to the ambience of this historic place for the Chinese New Year celebration.

FYI: I stayed at Hotel Puri, an award winning three-star boutique hotel, which is owned by Singaporeans. I find the place affordable, cozy and nice. Speaking of hotel, many are sprouting up in Melaka due to lots of tourists flocking into it.

07/01/08 – KF Seetoh of Makansutra ate my Taiwanese Beef Noodle

2008-01-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

It was around 5.15pm when food guru K.F. Seetoh appeared and ordered a bowl of my beef noodle. I was delighted and honoured that he ate my beef noodle.

After he ate it, he said…

I shouldn’t disclose what he said since it was spoken in confidence besides I didn’t get his permission to divulge it. You’ll find out about what he thinks of my food eventually.

Many thanks for trying my beef noodle, Seetoh.

See you again.

BTW: I didn't wash the bowl and chopsticks that he ate with, and they are now (somewhat moldy) proudly displayed in my home's showcase. I plan to auction them off in e-bay to the highest bidder later after I have them DNA-certified that it is Seetoh’s saliva that’s on them. I am kidding here because I had washed them just like the other bowls. :o)

KF Seetoh pic is reproduced from www.makansutra.com.sg website

27/01/08 - Tangkak Beef Noodle, Melaka

2008-01-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

I read on the web that the original one is found in Tangkak, the others are copycats.

Nonetheless I give the "copycat" below a try because the Malaccans seem to like it.

restoran sup lembu tangkak
37, Jalan Merdeka,
Tmn Melaka Raya, Melaka.

All the same I can’t wait to try it.

Come back for my comments of it and pics of this dish….

Update: 28/01/08 – Apology didn’t have the chance to eat it when we were up there. But will do it the next time we are there.

29.12.07 - Found! Good Pho Bo in Singapore, Lor 42 Geyland Rd

2008-01-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

I believe I have found good Pho Bo in Singapore!

The beef slices are tender and flavorful. The broth is tasty and rich. Add fish sauce to it and it tastes even better. I like it.

After eating it I told one of the ladies "ang ong" which means "delicious" in Vietnamese and she smiled delightedly.

Price: $5.00 a bowl, I wish they gave me more noodles.
I will ask for it the next time round.

Com Tam Viet Nam
(Thai & Vietnamese Cuisine)
No 672, Lor 42 Geyland Road
Singapore 389599
Tel. 6748 0638
3.00pm – 3.00am

They got a Singapore Food Map Award for their fine culinary skill.

This Vietnamese food stall occupies the front corner of the coffeeshop. The Chinese-speaking Vietnamese ladies, who are married to local Singaporeans, run this joint. It is opposite the Rochor Soya Bean Curd stall.

P.S. I still think the Pho Bo I had in Salt Lake City cooked by a Vietnamese woman is the best that I have tried thus far but this one is still very good. Eat already your body feels good and I am doubtful if they added MSG, if any, into the soup.

Backdated to 24.12.07 – Lo Han Guo herbal drink, Melaka

2008-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

This guy’s Lo Han Guo (herbal) drink with longan pulp is very good. He has been in biz for over twenty years. It is concentrated and tasty. Drink it ice-cold on a hot day, after a meal, or just to wash away your “heatiness”. Guarantee you will come back again for another shot either immediately or on another day.

His pushcart is located next to an alley, next to a watch shop, in the front of Mimosa Hotel at Bunya Raya.

Bowl RM 1.00

Disposable cup RM2.00

Backdated to 22/12/07 - Burger King at Skudai Highway, Johore

2007-12-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

The Burger King Restaurant and Drive-in at the end of Skudai Highway, near a petrol kiosk which is just before the N-S
Highway toll plaza, it reminded me of the many drive-ins I have seen in USA.

We had some burgers there before hitting the N-S highway. Their Whopper tasted better – juicer – then those in Singapore surprisingly. I’ll eat more whoppers in Malaysia from now on because they just taste better. Singapore BK can learn from them on this one.

The onion rings were good too.

Backdated to 24.12.07 - Nancy's Kitchen in Melaka serves Nyonya Dishes

2007-12-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

Nancy Ktichen has been opened for biz serving Nonya dishes since 1998 and is situated in the heart of chinatown.

We had petai squid, chicken buah keluak, sambal blachan fried rice, chap chai, and four-angled bean cooked in blachan for lunch.

Her desert like ondah ondah is good too. The skin is soft and thin yet chewy, and the gula melaka (palm sugar) just oozes out when you bite into them. Steam eh!

Her nonya dumpling is like those my mom used to make.

She sells good blachan too, it is shrimpy without being salty.

Add: No. 7 Jln Hang Lekir (3^rd cross street where the Geographer Café is located) off Jln Tun Tan Cheng Lock in Chinatown itself.

Biz hrs: 11am – 5.30pm

Off: Tuesday

H/P: 013-618 3608

FYI: She travels to Singapore often to conduct cooking courses. She had her picture taken with Pres. SR Nathan when she was in Singapore and she even has a Singapore Flag hanging in her kitchen too.

Backdated to 23.12.07 - Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungei Duyung (seafood resturant), Melaka

2007-12-26T06:45:00.000-08:00

My friend’s Melakan colleague brought us to this place several years ago.

We had BBQ prawns, grilled stingray with sambal in banana leaf, sweet and sour fried sea bass, fried curry-battered squid, bamboo mollusk cooked with ginger, garlic and shallot, otah, and nasi lemak. It was alfresco dinning (at 7.30pm) and our table overlooked the mouth of Sg Duyung River, which emptied into the Melaka straits.

The BBQ prawns, fried curry-battered squid, and bamboo mollusk cooked with ginger, garlic and shallot were good.

However I prefer our sambal stingray to their grilled stingray with sambal in banana leaf. The sweet and sour fried sea bass wasn’t good like the one we had the last time round where the sweet n sour sauce had the right amount of sugar, vinegar, ketchup and chilli in it. Eat leow steam er! Also this time the sea bass flesh was soft and breaks apart when you dig into it – sign of a not-so-fresh fish. The otah otah tasted better too during our last trip too.

The bill came up to RM101 for 4pax.

Ok, it was reasonable.

Then again, if you go earlier like about 5.00pm before the crowd comes in (which was what we had done during one of our earlier trips there) the food might taste better because more attention is given to the cooking. QC suffers whenever there are a lot of orders waiting to be cooked.

Bring along mosquito repellent, as there are plenty of them to feed on you while you feed on the seafood.

How to get there: Drive into Jalan Bandar Hilir, turn left into Jln Bukit Senjuang, turn a sharp right (just before the roundabout) into Lorong Bukit Senjuang (goodness don’t drive up into St. John Fort), turn left into Jln Hujung Pasir (past Portuguese settlement), Jln Padang Temu, past Tan Kim Hock hotel, Newton Food Center (I find the food there ok), into Pasir Ujong, past a major cross junction, after awhile you will reach a concrete bridge – that is Sg Duyung flowing underneath it – slow down and turn right immediately just after the bridge, there is a signboard telling you of Suana Sungei Duyung.

FYI: I still find the freshness of the seafood in Taiwan to be unbeatable when compared to the ones offered at this restaurant.

Backdated to 22/12/07 - New Holiday Inn, Melaka

2007-12-26T06:41:00.001-08:00

The lovely brass tooling (1^st pic) adorns the wall of the front desk.

Holiday Inn, Melaka is a nice cozy 5-star hotel that recently opened its doors to guests in Oct 07. The surrounding is beautiful. Our room 1509 (RM300/day) offered us a beautiful view of Melaka Straits and Melaka Island with her lovely buildings on it. It has a safe, free broadband internet access and cable LCD TV.

However we found the housekeeping can be better. Our toilet mirror had dried water spots on it including a handprint that was not wiped off – the same goes for our room’s glass window. There is a gap on the top left of the shower mixer, which will grow algae if it is not patched up soon. Our room’s sofa chair still has some plastic wrappings stuck between the upholstery and armrest. One of the two mugs had some stains in it. There was also dust on the closet shelf.

On the second day, we found hair on the shower drain cover, after it was cleaned by housekeeping.

I tried to take picture of Malacca town’s development through the lift lobby’s windows, on the same floor, but decided against it because they were full of dried water spots.

We waited for a long time to get from the 15^th to the 2^nd floor; the lifts were very slow and hence jam-packed. While going down it stopped on many floors but no one could get in, which frustrated the hotel guests after having waited for so long – you see it on their faces.

But we did manage to get to the second floor restaurant where we had western breakfast (RM35). They had a very busy that morning. While one of my friends queue for a bowl of noodle soup, they ran out of bowls. She had salad and found some of the greens had turned brown. I also observed a chef feeling the freshly baked croissants with the back of his bare hand to see if they were cooled enough before he takes them, with his bare hands, again to place on the serving tray. We were surprised to find the food hygiene standard in Holiday Inn is the same as the hawker centers there. In Singapore, the cooks must wear gloves when they have to handle cooked food. Nevertheless the breakfast was enjoyable.

Prior to this, their reservation center’s operator said that our confirmed booking of the two rooms included breakfast – she was mistaken about that one. We were also told, by her, that if we were to book the rooms online we were entitled to free breakfast. (I wonder if she was right about that one since her first info was erroneous.) When we checked in, we asked the front desk if our bookings included breakfast? He told us that it did not. We were thankful we had asked earlier or we will be billed for it unknowingly.

Direction Signage – There could also be better road directions and signage to tell drivers where the hotel is. You need to slow down once you turn left into the slip road from the highway behind Mahkota Parade, just before the flyover, and then do an immediate 90-deg left turn into the road that lies between Makohta Hotel and Holiday Inn to get into the latter. Otherwise once you miss the second left turn, you will have doing a big round about route, on the said highway, to get into Holiday Inn again.

Another thing, the basement parking lots are not numbered. So if your friend were to drive your car, you will have to describe to him/her where it is parked.

Other then those things abovementioned, our stay at Holiday Inn Melaka was pleasant & comfortable.

We will be stopping by Melaka again on 27-28 January 08.

I wonder if we will stay in Holiday Inn, Malacca again.

Backdated to 22/12/07 - Melaka Island

2007-12-26T06:40:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned to find out if this a theme park in the making?

Backdated to 22.12.07 - Best tasting KFC

2007-12-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

I found that KFC, Melaka serves great tasting fried chicken. It is not too greasy and the fried batter is crispy and tasty. The chicken is chunky and juicy, I luv the steriod in them. :0)

Eat them during peak period where the chicken is served piping hot!

The one is Thailand is pretty good too.

The ones in Singapore, Johor Bahru and Taiwan aren't good, sadly.

I like KLG fried chicken in Taiwan better. (See my Nov Blog entry "KLG" on 30 Nov 07)

FYI: AVA doesn't allow meats from Malaysia into Singapore.

Backdated to 08/11/07 – Fatal traffic accident in JB

2007-12-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

While we were heading for the N-S highway in JB, there was a jam along Skudai Highway due to an accident. A motorcyclist got ran over by an articulated lorry (tractor with trailer). It was 7.30pm when I drove past this awful scene, his body was mangled and his guts had spilled out onto the road. We felt very sorry for his family.

The motorcyclists there have a bad/dangerous habit of weaving in and out of traffic. If I do ride a motorbike in the future, I will stay in the middle of my lane. I won’t ride between lanes or weave in and out of traffic either.

One American I knew commented, regarding this bad habit, “they have a death wish.”

I hope that isn’t true.

When you drive in JB in the future please keep a lookout for these motorcyclists before you either steer left or right. It can save a life.

22/12/07 – Found the best chendol in Melaka

2007-12-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

The Nyonya chendol at 88 Jonker Street (Jonker Street Desert), near yellow-color Geographer Cafe, and 69 Jonker Street (Yummy Yummy Food Station) beat the famous Teochew chendol (last pic) in Penang Road, Penang.

They cost the same too.

Eating one bowl is not enough for me. Two bowls does just nicely. I wish the 69 Jonker Street's chendol's shaved ice is finer. Despite that the coconut cream is rich and the pandan-fragrant gula melaka syrup is to die for.

Eat already triple steam, eh!

Eat to believe.

P.S. A friend told me there was a stall, in Jurong Point's basement, that sold the best chendol he had tasted. Sadly , it disappeared.

If you have any info on the whereabouts of this stall. Please drop me a line.

Backdated to 09/11/07 - Seremban Beef Noodle @ Pasar Besah Seremban

2007-12-17T08:25:00.001-08:00

We found the Pasar Besar Seremban finally after turning off the N-S highway. Don’t turn into “Seremban 2” which is the new town, you want to get into “Seremban” – the old town. We finally found the original Seremban Beef Noodle with the old man (original hawker) sitting in front of it. (3^rd pic) We also tried the other Seremban Beef Noodle ran by Mr. Sing Kon Cheng.(Last pic)

After comparing the two beef noodles at 2.30pm in the afternoon, we found the one by Mr. Sing to be tastier. His noodle is chewier, his beef, sauce (which has the right amount of salt in it while the former one was sweeter) and soup are more flavorful, the cooked tripe just melts in your mouth!

FYI: Seremban beef noodles come with kiam chye and peanuts.

Mr. Sing told me that he took over his father’s biz which is now more then 60 years. He said he doesn’t advertise as a result he is less well known unlike others. He also proudly showed me the table that customers use that is over 33 years old. I asked him why doesn’t he open up a stall in Singapore to compete with Mr. Wong’s seremban beef noodle? His reply was it is hard to find someone who can cook and maintain the same standard or QC!

Chin sayang.

Seremban Beef Noodle by Mr. Sing Kon Cheng (017-680 3522 H/P)
742 Pasar Besar Seremban
Biz hours: 8.30am to 3.00pm
Off day: one Wednesday, monthly

Observation: Pasar Besar Seremban’s condition reminded me of Singapore’s hawker centers during the 1970’s.

Backdated to 26/11/07 – Popular Or luah (fried oyster omelet) stall in Malacca

2007-12-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

His or luah (stall located in Bunya Raya Lane) in the past was very good. The fried batter was crispy without being too greasy. It has finely chopped dried shrimp in it. He uses small or luah (oysters). And you eat it with his chilli sauce dip. Very nice.

Just recalling it makes me dribble.....

Now the standard has changed. The batter is soft and a little on the greasy side.

Now he sells it only as a takeaway at RM5.00. There was a long queue at his stall the last time I was there.

Customers will usually eat the famous Bunya Raya Wanton Mee together with his or luah.

Biz hrs: He operates in the nite. During the day, his stall is used by another famous char siew & siew yoke hawker. His char siew & siew yoke taste is on the lighter side. Give it a try.

FYI: Hygiene standard - the Malaysian's hawkers use their bare hands (w/o any gloves on) to serve cooked food including meat.

Backdated to 26/11/07 – Best wanton mee in Malacca - to me it is

2007-12-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

We ate this lovely dish along Jalan Bunya Raya, they call themselves "Bunya Raya Wanton Mee". They have been operating for over fifty years.

This pushcart operates only in the night, and it is situated just right in front of a coffee shop and on the left of "Medan Makan Bunya Raya" or “Bunya Raya Lane”. Their noodle (doesn't have too much yellow sodium bicarbonate – aka “khee” here - added to it thankfully) is chewy probably made from high quality flour, the char siew is tasty (but it can be juicier inside), the wanton is delicious and the soup is light but favorable without being laced with too much MSG. The sauce they add to the noodles is light, clear and very yummy – has the right amount of soya sauce, pork lard, etc in it.

Definitely haram (meaning “sinful” in Malay) and it tastes great!

No hogwash!

To me it is one of the must eat food in Melaka.

Eat already, triple steam eh! Eat to believe.

After I eat this stall wanton mee in Melaka, I don’t have much appetite for Singapore’s wanton mee – ching kang kor.

Backdated to 11/11/07 – Zakayo Nderi sets new record in Swissotel The Stamford vertical marathon, Singapore

2007-12-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Zakayo Nderi wins (in 7mins 03sec) it as my friend Nick has predicted. His winning prize is to compete in the Empire State Building vertical marathon in New York, Feb 08.

Nick wants to prove that Africans make world class cyclist also besides marathoners. Read my earlier posting in October, Backdated to 20/07/07 - www.theafricancyclist.com

Pic is courtesy of Nicholas Leong

http://www.theafricancyclist.com/Climbing%20buildings.html

Latest updates:

17.12.07 - He will take part in the vertical marathon in Taipei 101.

Backdated to 25/09/07 – Taiwan Mid Autumn Festival BBQ

2007-12-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

I took a picture of the BBQ pits and accessories displayed prominently in the isle of a local Taiwanese supermarket called AiMai. In Taiwan, mid autumn festival is a holiday there and families with friends have a BBQ in the evening on that day! It is a big and important event unlike here. I wished I were there. I don’t know if they have fireworks that evening. If they do then it is almost like the fourth of July.

FYI: Their kids carry lanterns during Chinese New Year unlike us here during this day.

Backdated to 22/09/07 – Tanya’s “Tiger Special”

2007-12-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

No, has nothing to do with beer. My Aussie customer – a foodie herself – calls my non-spicy Taiwanese beef noodle “Tiger Special”. She ate my beef noodles once, then it became twice and then it became three times a week. She thinks it is really good and has brought her hubby, relatives, friends (including those visiting from down under) and colleagues to try it and all of them like it too.

Many thanks Tanya!

I learnt from her friend that she will leave for home in Feb 2008!

I’ll drink to her good health.

She’ll be missed.

Backdated to 19/9/07 – Two good Samaritans

2007-12-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

Two of my customers wrote me a get-well message on a postcard after they found out I had a little accident. They also enclosed $200 to help offset my medical bills/expenses during this time. I returned them the money, with gratitude, because I am not financially strapped.

Thank you S.F. and X.R. I won’t forget your kindness and thoughtfulness. Numbers 6:24-26

Backdated to 16/09/07 – Japanese-Taiwanese style BBQ

2007-12-17T06:20:00.000-08:00

This a Japanese-Taiwanese style BBQ located near Chong Yuan University. At SGD13.50 you can have 6 repeated orders of tender beef for you to eat yourself silly after BBQing them . There are pork and mutton slices too for you to BBQ till your heart’s content. They have sauces for you to dip your barbequed meats into which are Japanese-Taiwanese style – makes your BBQ tastier. Their fresh salad, veg and fruits help to add fiber into your protein rich, cholesterol-laden diet. Their smokeless grill works beautifully unlike some of those here – you end up smelling like BBQ. Their drinks and ice cream are free flow.

During lunch and dinner, it is jammed packed with university students. Therefore remember to go there early.

If you want to retire in a place where you don’t mind suffering from gout (formerly a rich man’s disease), high blood pressure with high blood cholesterol, and heart disease. This might be a good place for you to consider.

Backdated to 16/09/07 – Real fresh fish

2007-12-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

I took a pic of these fish in an ordinary evening market, Taoyuan. They have shiny scales, their eyes are clear, their bodies are firm with lively colors, and they don’t smell fishy – that’s because they are fresh! Caught this morning! They don’t cost a bomb either. They taste so good. They look and taste so different from the fish we get here – so not fresh. After eating fresh fish in Taiwan, I generally don’t have much appetite for fish sold here in Singapore market.

Backdated to 16/09/07 - Pork chop king bento

2007-11-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

I ate the fried pork chop bento and braised pork chop bento (last pic), from a franchise in Taoyuan, in order to compare the two. I like both of them and I think they tasted good – the pork is tender and juicy inside while their fried outside were flavorful. The cooked fresh bamboo shoots were nice. I don’t care for the preserve ones because it smells/tastes like dung to me. They also use Taiwanese rice which is sticky, fragrant and fluffy – like those used in sushi – I like it over fragrant Thai rice.Unfortunately I’ve never tried the original ones before it became a franchise so I can’t really tell if they are as good as the original. Nonetheless the franchise chain is pulling in the crowd. I wished the pork chops were crispier; then again I ought to have eaten them immediately instead of bringing them home to savor them. While on the way home, the smell of these two bento had me salivating in the car.

Backdated to 15/09/07 - Taiwanese Pow Mian (instant noodle) galore!

2007-11-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

Take your pick: seafood-, pork-, chicken-, mushroom-, veg- and, beef-flavored instant noodle (ramen) – Taiwan has a wide selection of them and most of them taste good. Some ramen companies even hire renowned chefs to make their instant noodles tasty!

These instant noodles will taste really good during camping or reservist training when you are stuck in the boonies, under some tree – consider oneself lucky – with the mosquitoes or flies keeping you company naturally.

Once a Taiwanese bloke traveled on a train in China during a biz trip there. As he ate his cup noodle, its flavor floated thro the carriage, and that got the other local commuters asking him where he bought his cup noodle? Reason being they aren’t readily available in China. He struck gold after opening up his instant noodle factory in China.

FYI: I only took pictures of some of the shelves stocked full of instant noodles in this supermarket.

Backdated to 15/09/07 – Tien Hsien Lo, Landis Hotel, Taipei

2007-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

This Michelin-star award-wining Chinese restaurant serves tasty and refined food. One dish that stood out for me was their shark fin soup. It doesn’t contain stock e.g. chicken and ham – where it full of sodium nitrate preservative (I find it gives a unpleasant strong “iron” taste) – and corn starch. I find the delicacy taste to be light and natural with the subtle flavor of seafood from the shark fin. The Taiwanese don’t add vinegar or pepper to detract, enhance or “cover” its original flavor. I like it very much and after finishing it I don’t feel thirsty – due to them not using MSG. It is politically incorrect to eat shark fin but I’ll suffer it for now.

Landis Hotel also serves delectable international breakfast. I’ll highlight the notable ones that I have enjoyed. Their plain chai tow kuay is to die for. I have never tasted anything this good before ever. I felt like asking the cook there that morning who was scrambling eggs for customers to sir fry my chai tow kuay first before adding eggs, chai poh, spring onion and finally prawns into it with a dash of soya sauce…. Wah that will be the best chai tow kuay that I’ll ever taste in my life!

Coming back to the other dishes (sorry I got carried away there for a moment) their smoked salmon is the best I have ever tried. It is not fishy or salty and the slices are thick…. I can’t remember how many slices I have tucked away…I am still drooling just thinking about it. Their bacon slices are fried right, not like a dried piece of cracker. It is juicy, not salty and surprisingly quite chewy. Then again I didn’t taste a lot of sodium nitrate in it too and that is a rarity these days.

Backdated to 15/09/07 – “Lim tah tah, seh lum par” (Southern Taiwanese Hokkien saying)

2007-11-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

It means “Finished up your tea, and have sons.” Not politically correct thing to say but it’s their traditional saying. The guests from certain parts of southern Taiwan – may not be all of them – will utter this to the newly wed at the end of their wedding dinner while on their way out. That was a culture shock for me, I wish I was making it up, and I thought I understood the Chinese culture. Surprise!

Backdated to 14/09/07 – Missing my clear-broth beef noodle

2007-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

This car park lot 145 (is between pillar 27 and 28, B Section beneath the flyover that intersects Loong Aun St) used to mark the approx. spot, where a lady sold her tasty clear-broth beef noodle in the night market. The tasty beef is tender, the soup is flavorful and the noodle is chewy. I enjoyed eating her tasty clear-broth beef noodle with lots of kiam chye (salted veg). She told me she learnt her recipe from a shifu (chef) who cooked it for years, I believe her. Unfortunately biz was slow there and it closed down after a year. If she had moved her stall elsewhere, I‘ll certainly go patronize it repeatedly.

If anyone has info on where she had relocated please let me know. Thanks!!

Backdated to 14/09/07 – KLG fried chicken, Loong Aun Street, Tao Yuan, TW

2007-11-30T08:32:00.000-08:00

I ate 2 pcs of their chicken plus a local Song Hey sarsaparilla for NT69 (SGD3.5) on a warm, lazy afternoon; the traffic was zipping past beside me and a local soap opera has aired on TV in the stall. Surprisingly their chicken’s – cooked local style – crispy fried batter coating was tasty and its meat was tender without being too greasy. I zest my up with some hot pepper powder, which made it even tastier. The Song Hey sarsaparilla drink is a lighter version of our Sarsi here.

Who knows this franchise could be the next KFC that went global.

Backdated to 13/09/07 – 1st wedding at Taipei story house

2007-11-30T08:21:00.000-08:00

A rich tea merchant built this beautiful Tudor-styled house in 1914 – the bottom floor is made of brick and mortar while the second floor is wooden. It was used to entertained local and overseas politicians and gentry alike. From 1990-98 it became an artist activity center. In that same year it was proclaimed a heritage site and was closed for remodeling. From 2003 it was called Taipei story house, a museum dedicated to promoting Taiwan life culture with emphasis on heritage sites preservation. My sis-in-law got married here – the first event of its kind since it re-opened. It has a splendid garden surrounding it too with sculptures adoring it. Yes, and I did stop to smell the flowers too. (The doggy in the pic was for a dog story event, which was taken down shortly before the wedding.)

Backdated to 12/9/07 – Mom-in-law's braised black pig trotters

2007-11-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

Her braised black pig trotters dish is very good. (I dipped it into my Singapore-style chilli sauce which I had made earlier for them there.) FYI: trotters are tasty because it has plenty of bones – makes the meat sweeter & tastier – and the skin is rich in gelatin. BTW: Local black pork here is tastier then their regular pork. I also go ga ga over my mom-in-law's fried Taiwanese pork chop especially when she uses black pork again. Mmm yum.

Caution: Goodness gracious please don’t use Indonesian pork, they stink really bad and ruin both your cooking and your appetite too. I am sure there are those who will disagree with me on this point.

Backdated to 11/09/07 - Gao Chi Restaurant at Yong Kang St, Taipei

2007-11-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

I had their delicious beef noodle soup. The soup is clear, flavorful and tasty. The noodles are chewy and their beef is tender and yummy. We polished off everything.

They are also famous for their steamed meat dumpling with soup in it. They tasted yummy too.

Backdated to 11/9/07 – Yong Kang St, Taipei

2007-11-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

I had hu jiao ping (black peppered meat bun) SGD2.00. It is divine. When the gentleman at his pushcart, situated next to the famous Ice Monster (that serves fruits with shaved ice), removes the lid from either one of his two earthen "tandoori" ovens, which uses hot coals, in order to takeout the buns, the flavor escaping from the oven will simply make one drool...bring out your tissue paper, I did. When you bite into it, the tasty hot juice can scald your tongue if you aren't careful. So beware! But I feel this tasty experience makes all the blisters on your tongue worth it. The sesame-seeded bun is also extremely tasty, crispy and chewy too. Eat already eh - steam eh! Eat to believe it – take not my word for it. If you are going to do as I did, learn some sign language because it might come in handy. Their biz hr from 2.30pm to 10.30pm.

Backdated to 10/9/07 – Taiwanese peanut candy from Shilin Night Market, Taipei

2007-11-30T07:59:00.001-08:00

Taiwan is also famous for their nutty candy too. They make them hot and cut them on the spot for your eating and seeing pleasure. Their almond-slivered candy is adequately coated in sugar syrup to hold them together, without the sugar syrup becoming too sweet, thick and hard like some peanut candies I have tried here – you might find your molar embedded in it when you are eating it in your old age. The almond-slivered candy is crunchy when you chew them, and them flakes just crumble in your mouth… The more you chew them, the more fragrant they become, and before long you discovered to your horror that you ate half of a container of them! Yummy but you don’t really care because you are just counting your calories……as a pointless exercise. Just let your jaw, tongue and digestive tract muscles do the exercising.

Backdated to 10/9/07 – Shilin Market, Taipei

2007-11-30T07:59:00.000-08:00

The Brits got their fish & chips and the Taiwanese got their fried chicken chop. The Shi Lin (night) Market (accessible by MRT) is famous for their fried chicken chop SGD2.00. It is big (length of a 600cc coke bottle) and tasty. One of my former Indian colleagues who served his NS in Taiwan likes their fried chicken chop. He will most likely be salivating when he sees this pic. I can't blame him because once you have eaten the good ones, it calls your name, again and again...

Backdated to 09/9/07 – Tina coffee serves organic food

2007-11-30T07:52:00.000-08:00

I had organic breads, herbed butter, salad, steak, cheesecake and peppermint tea in this restaurant. They were all good and I tucked them all down gleefully. I like their raspberry salad dressing – natural and without load of addictives mixed into it. I felt good after having three generous servings of their lovely salad, and my body responded to it positively. Their tasty tender steak was cooked medium rare, accompanied by red wine sauce with a hint of oregano in it. Their cheesecake wasn’t too sweet or heavy – others simply stick to my upper palate – which was delightful. Finally, I had peppermint tea to wash it all down while conversing with my in-laws. A lovely way to end a Sunday evening. I think I’ll go for more organic food in the future if I can.

Backdated to 07/9/07 – the late Luciano Pavarotti

2007-11-30T07:44:00.000-08:00

I was saddened to learn of his passing. I got home and promptly played his CD with him singing “Ave Maria” by Schubert. He sang it beautifully and glided from note to note effortlessly. Another of his performance, my favourite, is his rendition of Verdi’s La Traviata with his mentor Dame Joan Sutherland. Pavarotti was the mentor of the new Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Farewell Luciano, we'll miss you.

Backdated to 31/8/07 – Jose Carreras sang Verdi’s Requiem

2007-11-30T07:37:00.001-08:00

Watched “Verdi’s Requiem” on Laser disc conducted by the late Herbert von Karajan with a good friend, he has a working LD player. Jose Carreras sang “Ingemisco”. Carreras performance brought tears to my eyes. That can means two things – he was either fantastic or awful. He was fantastic. I wished the video directions were better like when Carreras was singing “Ingemisco”, the camera ought to be on him when he was singing it passionately instead of Karajan conducting. Agnes Baltsa rendition of “Lacrimosa” brought tears to my eyes too – it was spiritual and she sang it with emotion. Sintow and van Dam (baritone – not the movie fighter mind you) were first rate also.

Backdated to 25/8/07 – Hungry Ghost Festival

2007-11-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

I have my own ghost story to share with you. Back in June 2002, I did my final reservist training. No need to be politically correct by saying I am a “National Serviceman” (NS). Ai yah if “Reservist” just say “reservist”. Call a spade a spade. We slept in Cheshire Block, 4^th floor in a certain airbase in the west of Singapore. That night was the last night of my reservist training also. One of my flight mate named Joseph, who asked me the next day while in the midst of exchanging our military ID for our Pink ID, he asked me if I had seen anything last night? I said no. Why? He (has perfect eyesight) then said that he saw “something” standing next to me. Subsequently I remembered that I did wake up in the middle of the night, I removed my pillow from my face (I slept next to the doorway and the lights from the corridor would shine on my face thro the glass panes) and I remembered seeing, without my glasses everything is blurred, a elliptical-shape greenish glow in front of the darkened closed door, which was beside me. I thought nothing of it and put the pillow over my face again and zzz. Well it looks like he was right since we saw the same “thing”. Earlier on I had to make up for a skipped reservist training, before this last one, by training with another flight. Incidentally it was also that flight’s last ICT. At its closing, their OC said he wanted to remember those soldiers who had passed away. He mentioned one reservist, who was found naked when he scaled the fence, he said he had seen a ghost! Thereafter he was admitted to hospital where he passed away suddenly. I wished I were making this all up.

Thankfully, I didn’t end up doing the same thing.

If you see a “ghost”, do like what Joseph and I did – just take it lying down.

Backdated to 18/8/07 – New World (Teochew) Mutton Soup

2007-11-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

Actually it is from Singapore. The stall #01-55 is in Bedok bus interchange hawker centre. It got an award including newspaper write outs because the mutton is very tasty including the rich soup too. Nothing is left in my bowl when I am done, except for the bones. (Glad I remembered to take a pic before the decimation continued.) Some customers will chew on it first before spitting them out. This stall’s mutton soup has the same standard like Lagoon Leng Kee Beef Kway Teow at #01-33, East Coast Lagoon Food Village.

Backdated to 17/8/07 – Cookout at Tanjong Beach, Sentosa

2007-11-30T07:06:00.000-08:00

My friends called yesterday and wanted to die, die must have a cookout at Sentosa like before. Being able to do it was miraculous because it had been a wet day. Instead of heading to Silosa beach like before – because it is all dotted with eateries unlike in the past – we went to Tanjong Beach. We found three picnic tables and benches at the very end of it, in a roundabout. Thankfully I got my gas lantern to illuminate the table because it was dark, no lamppost in the roundabout. I grilled the steaks and Taiwanese pork chops – my mom-in-law’s recipe. All of us loved the Taiwanese pork chop especially my friend’s wife. She ate it really slowly savouring each bite. They also dipped their chips into the pork chops’ juices because it made them taste even better. We had clam chowder and salad too. The bread that my friend got from a popular local eatery chain was mouldy and I ate a few pieces of it. Yuk! After that we headed off to The (sprawling) Sentosa resort and spa (I love the ambience there) for some juice and listened to the Lighthouse trio belting out jazzy songs in the lounge before retiring from an enjoyable night out. My friends said let do it again, and I agree.

Backdated to 16/8/07 – Gave a ZEN to a friend

2007-11-30T06:54:00.000-08:00

I have a good friend whose iPod died after a year of use. She was feeling low that she doesn’t have the means yet to get another MP3 player so she can listen to music while she commutes fro and back from work. I decided to get some friends we know to chip in some cash so we can get her one. She was delighted and was very pleased when I presented her the new MP3 player. I had downloaded her favourite songs into it before giving it to her. FYI: The first new ZEN I got for her malfunctioned after one day of downloading of .wma files. Earlier on I had even downloaded the latest ZEN’s firmware into it but do didn’t do much good either. Creative Service Centre at IBP replaced it promptly with a new one.

Backdated to 15/8/07 – Tai Wah Mee Pok

2007-11-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

I have been eating this gentleman’s mee pok since secondary school in the early 1980s. My friend, who became a movie star, introduced it to me. I remembered eating it in the pre-WWII shop house along Singapore River back then – still has a pong to it. (Maybe that’s why tai wah mee pok tastes slightly different nowadays…kidding) Their quality is consistently excellent. I understand many enjoy eating it fresh. I enjoy it best by packing it and eating it a few hours later. Reheat it in microwave at high heat for 3mins and eat it. Add some black vinegar also to enhance the flavour. Sinfully good.

Backdated to 11/8/07 – 9th Street Band, Ph. 9425 5823

2007-11-30T06:48:00.001-08:00

Met these two musicians in Wheel Lock Place underpass. First time I had seen a busker (named Amran) playing on a double bass here! They sounded good because Idrus can sing besides playing the guitar. The tunnel gave them the necessary acoustics to make them sound good. Their aim is to sound good acoustically without any electronic amplification. They told me a European embassy had hired them to perform for them before too. Listen to them from Mon to Fri, 4pm-6pm at Wheel Lock Place underpass. Fri to Sat, 8.30 – 10.30pm at UOB’s promenade (where the fat pigeon statue perched) next to Singapore River.

Backdated to 10/8/07 – Provence, San Moulin, St. Leaven Bakeries

2007-11-30T06:43:00.000-08:00

The pic is of my favourite chocolate rolls from Provence at Holland Village. They taste even better then it look – beware of imitations! I also love the donuts from this Japanese bakery San Moulin, situated at the basement of Isetan. The St. Leaven bakery’s donuts at Takashimaya basement are just as good too. I understand the San Moulin uses Yamazaki bakery’s dough. Yamazaki bakery, a Japanese co., is big in Taiwan. Their bread tastes really good without any need to hype it up – in order to attract customers to buy them.

Backdated to 09/8/07 – Char siew and siew yok rice

2007-11-30T06:42:00.001-08:00

I had Toh Kee char siew rice at #01-1061A People Park Food Centre. Makansutra gave them a 2.5 bowls award this year, down from 3 bowls previously. I had also eaten Lau Phua Chay Roasted Duck char siew rice at #01-20 Alexandra village food centre a few days back. Makansutra also gave them a 2.5 bowls award. I think their char siew is juicier and their siew yok is just as good as Toh Kee. I prefer the latter because they give a bigger serving for the same price.

Backdated to 08/8/07 – Laughter is the best medicine

2007-11-30T06:39:00.000-08:00

I suddenly remembered this joke that a platoon mate told me while we were doing reservist training. He got a good sense of humour after coming back from down under.

Humor: Did you know Mao had a Christian name? But he didn’t use because it won’t go well with his dictatorship image. His Christian name: Mickey.

Backdated to 03/8/07 – The Queen & Cotton Mary Videos

2007-11-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

Finally I had the chance to watch the video. Helen Mirren gave a sterling performance indeed as Queen Elizabeth. Her acting defines the English’s “stiff upper lip” mannerism extremely well. I find the behind the scene going-on to save the monarchy from becoming “unpopular” in the eyes of the English masses prior to Diana’s funeral fascinating. The people’s princess’s sudden death really impacted the English Monarchy if the screenplay is right. Another highly recommended video to watch is “Cotton Mary” by Ivory Merchant Production. It is a story about an Indian woman, during English rule, and her fantasy of being “English”. Caution: Have an airsick bag by you when you are watching it.

Backdated to 29/7/07 – "Out of Africa"

2007-10-21T06:13:00.001-07:00

My friend is going off to Africa today to get his cycling dream team into France so he can prove his theory right – black Africans are potentially great cyclists too besides marathoners. I wish him every success. BTW He said cattle blood and fresh milk mixed together do not taste good. He could also taste the “animal scent” in the fresh milk there when it is not mixed with blood. Culture shock man! He loves the fresh milk here sold in supermarket a lot now after trying it there.

Backdated to 28/7/07 – Thai Beef Noodle and “roadside Chiangmai sausage addict”

2007-10-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

I had Thai Beef Noodle at Diandin Leluk in Golden Mile Complex. It tasted pretty good while a friend had tom yum pork ball noodles and liked it too. Their Thai desert – red ruby, chendol and agar agar in thick creamy coconut milk, boiled with pandan leaves is the best I have tried so far in SG for $2.00. Their Changmai sausage is okay. Still can’t beat those that I have had in Chiangmai. Yes, like Anthony Bourdain of “A Cook’s Tour” I am a roadside Chiangmai sausage addict too. I love their crispy pork rind also, and traditional Thai massage at $7.50/hr at Home Massage, Loi Kroa Rd – they don’t have any “special services”. Thank goodness.

Backdated to 23/7/07 – Hi and Lo Fi

2007-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

My Oz friend and I went to Adelphi to listen to the latest hi-fi components. Rega P7 turntable is very nice – has very good timing or swing which made my feet tap . Equally good was the Audia 100w class A power amps from Italia. The new Rotel 500w class D amp was impressive, they seemed to have gotten it to sound right. The newer Musical Fidelity K550 amps and A1008 CD player sounded thin and bright – perhaps they weren’t broken in yet?

However the choke-regulated MF A5 pre and power amps were very nice. I want I want….

Backdated to 22/7/07 – Dinner with friends at my place

2007-10-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

Cooked spaghetti, devil’s chicken and Italian pesto eaten with French loaf for my friends. They loved it and they finished it off with Ben’s and Jerry’s ice cream. Thereafter we chatted till midnight. A friend forgot to bring back the chilli sauce I made specially for her. Her chilli sauce is in a plastic bottle – child safe – because she dropped and broke a glass bottle of chilli sauce, which I gave her sometime ago, while in her hurry to answer a phone call. Dope!

She eats most of all food with my chilli sauce. She might like the original South American chocolate that was eaten with chilli.

Backdated to 21/7/07 - Lagoon Leng Kee Beef Keoy Teow #01-33, East Coast Lagoon Food Village

2007-10-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

This elderly gentleman’s, he’s a makansutra living legend, beef noodle is the best I have tried thus far in Singapore. I pay $5 for it and nothing is left in my bowl at the end. I didn’t go to walk on the beach at last light because our green murky seawater looks eeky. Then went to meet up a good friend at Stangee Place, we shot the bull and listened to music from his large collection of LPs (vinyl) on his new speakers, Martin Logans till about midnight. Incidentally we listened to Linda Ronstadt – Round Midnight album before we left. It was lovely.

Backdated to 20/7/07 – http://www.theafricancyclist.com/

2007-10-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

My friend, Nick, wants to prove his theory right – black Africans are great marathoners and potentially great cyclists too! Check out his website above for more info. Feel free to spread the word around.

FYI: Zakayo was ahead of Malaysia’s top pro cyclist, Ng Yong Li, by 14’45” (trial run held in July 07) in the Genting Highland climb, which is rated Top 5^th hardest climb in the world. Incidentally the Malaysian top pro cyclist was 7mins behind the Tour-de-Langkawi winner in this same Genting Highland stage.

Pic is courtesy of Nicholas Leong

Backdated to 19/7/07 – Kit Kat from my good friend

2007-10-21T05:45:00.000-07:00

My friend returned from Australia, he is glad to be out of the cold but can do without the humidity. He got me Australian kit kat “Chocolate Overload” version – die, die must eat! It is covered generously with chocolate unlike the normal kit kat. They just stick to your fingers and mouth. The worst kit kat I have tried in the past were from Malaysia. Maybe they have improved. Speaking of chocolate – the original consumers of it, the South Americans, ate it with chilli. Imagine, “Eat the original chocolates of the New World, South America - chocolate with chilli filling.” Yummy! Give that to your valentine and it would be a treat she’ll remember you by for the rest of her life.

Backdated to 18/7/07 – An American Haunting

2007-10-21T05:40:00.000-07:00

I watched “An American Haunting” DVD – is about a girl, living in Tennessee during the 19^th century, who was raped by her Christian father. Somehow part of her spirit ebbed out of her and manifests her/itself as a poltergeist, so the story goes, which brutalised her physically after she lost her happiness and had to keep silent about it. Next her spirit brutalised her pa and he passes away as a result of it. That is quite a story but it didn’t stop the confederates (not all of them are that way) from inbreeding down south.

Backdated to 17/7/07 – Peace, not war

2007-10-21T05:36:00.000-07:00

I watched “Letters from Iwo Jima” DVD by Clint Eastwood. The acting, directing, editing and pace were good. In a war – no one wins really. I met an American, who rented out motorboats in a lake at Grand Teton, Wyoming back in Aug 2001, who fought in the Vietnam War. He told me for 10 years after the war, he slept with a loaded pistol under his pillow. War does strange things to people. I hoped never to experience one. Imagine me sleeping with a LAW (light anti-tank weapon), I was a LAW gunner, under my pillow – sore neck; definitely won’t sleep well.

Backdated to 14/7/07 – I missed the greens

2007-10-21T05:35:00.000-07:00

After visiting botanical garden, I had salad and soup buffet at Pete’s Place, Hyatt. It was mighty tasty. I like their breads and desserts too. I enjoy eating good freshly baked bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar (not the cheap sharp ones) with a dash of salt in it. It tastes heavenly.

Hey you can make your own tasty herbed olive oil – get a bottle of extra virgin olive oil 500ml, add a sprig or two of fresh rosemary, two dried sage leaves, 1 tsp of dried thyme, and a fresh peeled garlic clove. Let them sit in it for about two weeks and walla herbed olive oil for the asking.

Refrigerate it after opening to ensure freshness.

Restating my blog again

2007-10-21T05:01:00.000-07:00

I will be restating my blog once again after the last one disappeared. I will put back the more memorable past entries.

Enjoy.