Typhoon Two

The first time I went to Typhoon I had the waffle. 

The second time I went to Typhoon I had the souffle pancake. 

This time I went to Typhoon and had the waffle- again.

They've got an array of amazing desserts on the menu (cakes, tea, parfaits, souffle pancakes etc) but this waffle is one that I would recommend, and which I will always go for. 

You can say I'm attracted to unique offerings. 

Of which this waffle is one. 

There's mochi inside!

How many waffles you know have chewy, sticky, marshmallow-like mochi inside?

Not just that, there's a boing boing milk pudding that melts in the mouth. 

And then there's a scoop of spritzy honeycomb ice cream with sweet, delicious crumble by the side.

It's all very lovely, I tell you. 

Best of all, it comes served with a jug of Thai milk tea sauce, a heap of boba pearls which I mistook for blueberries the first time, and a nice, snowy sprinkling of icing sugar. 

I have a special love for this waffle. 

It's one of the desserts that I'll gladly go for, again and again. 

And I won't mind making it a main meal all for myself. 

Wu Shui Men @ Parkway Parade

In recent months we have been very enthusiastic about Taiwanese food, and in a very short time we've been several times to Isshin Machi and Typhoon. 

But- except for the Isshin Machi at East Coast Road- most of the places are in town- which on weekends we don't necessarily want to go.

Enter Wu Shui Men at Parkway Parade, a five minute bus ride from Joo Chiat where we usually are. 

This place is near the back of the mall where the side entrance of Isetan used to be. 

Friends familiar with the Parkway Parade of old will remember popular sandwich place DOME. 

Yep, Wu Shui Men is exactly where DOME used to be. 

The color palette is completely different, of course. 

Where DOME used to be all dark brown and green, Wu Shui Men's all orange and pale wood. 

Some of the chairs resemble garden chairs, and some of the dining areas have got benches for groups of three or four. 

We often take the bench tables when we're there. 

It feels more spacious, and it's easy for us to plonk our bags, open a laptop and spread the cutlery out. 

Their menu, although thick, is heavily controlled, however.

At one time they used to present a wide variety of dishes. 

Now they've whittled down to a couple of rice dishes, crispy cutlets and a couple of side dishes here and there. 

Some days it takes us a while to figure out what it is we want, but eventually we find ourselves going back to our usual set anyway.

It's got everything we like.

There's a big bowl of lu rou fan (which admittedly has more rice than lu rou compared to other brands, but never mind)

There's a huge piece of crisp chicken cutlet (which is so big we cut it up with a knife and fork)

And there's a little plate with a hard boiled egg, a piece of stewed tofu, a slice of Taiwanese sausage and pleasantly sourish vegetables that not only whet the appetite, but go super well with rice too.

Special mention must be made of their chicken cutlet and their popcorn chicken. 

From the looks of it, you'd think it be hard and dry. 

But, no, they've done it rather fine. 

The skin is crisp and salted to perfection, but the meat is clean-tasting, tender, not oily, easy to chew and has its juices retained inside.  

iSteak

Someone introduced this place to me a couple of months ago. 

Similar style to Astons, the person said, but with more menu variety, and better sides. 

At first, as how I often am, I was a bit skeptical. 

AFter all there already are many Astons around the country. 

Plus there's still Collins. 

And I've not forgotten the old-school Ponderosa. 

So, what of a deal was this going to be? 

But my friend was right. 

ISteak did have greater variety, and they had much nicer sides. 

Perhaps the sides were what they started with when they began their menu plan. 

Because it is the sides that I actually like to come here for. 

How often is it that I can get Apple and Walnut Salad as a side?

And how often is it that I can get Sauteed Brussel Sprouts as a side? 

They've got the usual favorites of fries, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, and onion rings. They've also got macaroni and cheese as well as creamed corn.

But it makes a difference when you get to order something as unique as Creamed Spinach or Cauliflower and Cheese. 

I've not tried their fried sides. 

But I think I've had their macaroni and cheese before. 

Some of my favorite sides here these days are the creamed spinach, the cauliflower and cheese, the sauteed Brussel Sprouts, the grilled eggplant, and the apple walnut salad. 

The apple walnut salad is something I often go for- I like the fresh, cold lettuce, the juicy sliced apple, the tart of the dressing, and the nuts. 

They go exceptionally well with the grilled dory that I tend to order. 

The other side that goes well with the dory fish is the grilled eggplant. 

I cannot speak enough about this side dish. 

First of all, it's hard enough to find eggplant with steak, chicken, and fish.

What's more, they have it grilled to perfection, and offer it at such a lovely price. 

I've actually ordered the grilled eggplant as a main before. 

It's just so good. 

I love the crisp edges, the mushy center, and the slightly burnt taste. 

I think it's a side that goes with every main on the menu. 

I've come to ISteak a couple of times.

And my order's been mostly grilled dory fish. 

It isn't because I don't like the chicken, the pasta, the pork or the steak.

But it's because fish is known to be (cooling)

And I like the dill and herb sauce that they serve together with the fish.

It's not much, but it's got lots of cream, and very tasty too. 

Ladies @ Robertson Quay

I was excited about meeting these gals. 

Not only because it was our first time, but also because I hadn't met up with a group for a fairly long time.

The introvert in me prefers small groups, or one to one, and so any group more than two, or three, is a rare time. 

For the sake of great food and convenience, we decided on Thai food at a cafe near the office of one of us gals. 

I didn't mind. 

I'm familiar with the area. 

I'm also familiar (very familiar) with the cafe.

They got there before me, so they'd ordered by the time I arrived. 

There was a grilled chicken, and a whole steamed fish, so I got a plate of kangkong (no sambal, I'm afraid, because I don't eat chili) and my friend ordered a couple of light bites. 

We had drinks- milk tea and lemongrass- and I had a little bit of rice. 

I dont' always have vegetables or steamed fish when I have Thai food- in fact I don't think I've ever had a vegetable dish here at all- so it was good to try the garlic kangkong, and better still to have the steamed fish- picking out bones and all. 

The gravy, I was told, was particularly good. 

For the light bites there was chicken skin, prawn cake and bean curd. 

My new friend had a great time with the chicken skin. 

I attempted the prawn cake and was probably the one who ate up most of the bean curd. 

The prawn cake was a little bit spicy, and (surprisingly) chewy.

And the bean curd, or fried tofu, had what I think was peanuts that gave the vegetarian dish extra crunch and extra bite. 

Dinner over, the natural thing to do was, of course, to head out for a walk along the river.

Which we did, mingling with the crowds all out on a Friday night, as we headed towards the back of Swissotel Merchant Court, the building I often call Jumbo Seafood and which has a popular Mexican (Spanish) eatery, and onto the bridge until we got to Clarke Quay. 

Here we wandered around the clubs a little, watching people perched on stools, chairs and seats having post-dinner, pre-supper drinks.

Quite fun, actually, especially when we attempted to get to Robertson Quay but realized- without the landmark of (now demolished) Liang Court- we couldn't quite recognize the way. 

Eventually we made it back to the steps of the bridge where we'd first been earlier, made a right, and headed along the route until we got to the underpass where two buskers strummed and sang along with their guitars. 

One of the girls told us she came to this part of Robertson Quay often. 

Apparently there were a number of good restaurants, and a number of good wine bars. 

Honestly, it was refreshing being back here this part of the Quay again. 

I don't come here very often.

The last time I came here was a year or two ago when I visited the Intercon.

And I didn't even enter this complex then. 

I didn't want to. 

It holds a bittersweet memory of seven years past. 

But tonight I walked in there with the girls.

Maybe that's what made tonight's little walk extra special. 

It gave me new memories.

And let the old one fade a little further away.

I'd never have believed you had you told me on that hot, bright afternoon seven years ago that one day i would walk into the very same complex on a Friday night with a close friend, and a new group of friends.

But that night, unbeknownst to everyone else, I looked up the staircase to the office on the second floor, and I quietly smiled. 

We made our way back after that, crossing the bridge lit up prettily in pink lights, and walking along the river towards the old Liang Court back to the other side of Clarke Quay and Clarke Quay Central.

I'm glad for these new friends that I made. 

I'm glad we got to meet. 

Because that's the charm of life, that's the charm of living, and that's one of the most wonderful things about social media. 

You connect with each other. 

And then you bring those connections further. 

Thai Food @ MacKenzie

So I have a friend who is excellent at finding new dining places. 

This is the type of friend with whom new eats will never be a boring affair- because you never know what it is you're going to get.

Sometimes there are hits. 

Sometimes there are misses. 

One never knows. 

I'm the sort who tends to get grumpy whenever there're misses. (I like familiarity) 

My friend, however, usually shrugs it off and takes it in stride. 

Our differences thus make it a bit of a tiptoe when new places come up on the list. 

But I've learnt to be more adventurous, more patient, give things a go, and give (more) chance. 

So even though at first I hopped around a bit when told there might be a thirty minute wait at this place along (quiet) Mackenzie Road, I decided it meant that the food was good. 

And it really was.

The charm of this place isn't merely the food. 

Its' also the decor.

Because whilst it doesn't look like much when you're waiting on the dark five foot way outside, the back, however, is a wide, spacious alfresco complete with comfortable tables, comfortable seats, light Thai ballad music, and pretty fairy lights.

It seemed almost magical. 

I wish I'd taken a picture of the furniture, the decor and the fairy lights. 

But there were people at other tables, there were people walking to and fro, and i didn't have the right gear. 

Also, I was hungry, hangry, and just wanted to eat. 

So all the pictures I have are of our food.

We ordered some sort of pork crackling.

It came in a little packet. 

Which we finished in five minutes.

It was a bit of a wait for the rest of our food, but I'll say it worth the wait because their tom kha and oyster omelet were really, really good?

I was the judge of the tom kha. 

My friend was the judge of the oyster omelet. 

Reason being that I'm a fan of tom kha- it's one of my favorite soups when it comes to Thai cuisine- and this one here was thick, creamy, containing lots and lots of chicken, lots and lots of vegetables, and was amazingly smooth on the tongue. 

It didn't taste as light (or clear) like how some places do it. 

It didn't feel heavy on the stomach either. 

The balance between the cream and the soup was good. 

I was told- by my friend the orh luak lover- that their oyster omelet was just as lovely too. 

The egg was fluffy, clean on the palate (with hardly any aftertaste of oil) and was filled with plenty of oysters all medium sized.

Despite the wait, dinner here was altogether a very fun, relaxed, and satisfactory meal. 

I loved the food. 

I loved the ambience. 

And I expect to be back again.

Hopefully, soon. :)

Dempsey, Dempsey, Must I??

I found a name card in a stack of name cards the other day. 

What's odd about this name card is that I don't seem to remember the purpose of the meeting very well, the contents of the meeting very well, nor even the person in question very well. 

He being a capital investor does ring a slight bell. 

But, not much.

I've seen quite a number of reps from investment companies and capital investment companies during the day, and the fact that I don't remember the person very well means that we probably only had that one meeting, and had nothing- or little- to do with each other from that time onwards.

Ironically what strikes me most about this one meeting was the location. 

The person had asked to meet at Jones The Grocer- in Dempsey. 

I don't have an issue with Jones The Grocer. 

But I do have a strange sort of aversion towards people who insist on meeting at Dempsey, especially when it comes to work meeting.

First up, however, let me say that I don't abhor the place. 

I'm okay with it. 

The food's good, the ambience's good, it's very alfresco, you get to have nice, quiet chats on garden chairs surrounded by trees and natural foliage and squirrels, plus it's generally family friendly. 

It's a place where you can have a glass of good wine, or a late morning brunch. 

It's also a place where you might get a bit of live music, but probably not techno nor trance blasting through the doors of their bars and restaurants.

There used to be an ice cream place here. 

Ben and Jerry's, was it? 

Or was it Haagen Dazc.. 

It isn't all about the F&B, of course. 

There're a couple of good stores- Jones The Grocer with its impeccable selection of fine foods, Dover Street Market (is it still there?) with its fashion, and a few stores offering household charms like carpets, lamps and furniture. 

I'm not that unfamiliar with the place. 

I'm not averse to the place either. 

I just don't like to go there for work meetings in the daytime. 

Maybe because Dempsey isnt' one of the most convenient places to go to if you're going by public transport (and I do).

Also maybe because I've found that people who recommend a coffee and chat at this cafe or this cafe at Dempsey sometimes tend to inflate more than what they really are. 

How do I say it? 

Dempsey- complete with military heritage and all- tends to create an atmosphere that influences the impression of the person or people who lean towards there.

In other words, it's a place you go to when you want to have a quiet conversation, but along with all those quiet conversations come the others who choose the place when they seek to impress someone or when they want to be impressed there. 

I'm neither of these things.

I dont' need a British/Continental/ Wall Street environment to make me feel like I'm talking work related stuff.

I don't need a strong cup of coffee in very nice crockery to make me feel like I'm getting things done. 

It doesn't matter to me whether or not I'm in such and such an environment. 

And because it doesn't matter to me, it doesnt' affect nor influence me how you portray yourself too. 

Perhaps it sounds biased, one-sided even, but I've grown a little skeptical about the capabilities of those who insist that they love working in such a cafe culture environment amongst the elite (and successful) emblems of society. 

It's as if they were (apologies) riding on the coat tails of those who are genuinely acquainted there. 

You can tell.

You can tell they're not of that status- that they're just yearning to be there.

The kind that acclimatize easily there speak in a certain way and talk stuff in a certain way that don't make you feel like they're trying too hard. 

You won't find them with a laptop open as they speak to you at the table. 

You won't find them making the table their hotdesking spot and you going over (their office) to meet them.

You also won't find them looking like they're working very hard. 

It's a natural, comfortable ease for them. 

What spikes me are those who (obviously) don't belong there, try really hard to look like they belong there, and yet dont' give insights that prove their mettle nor their worth. 

I'm not joking.

It's just a lot of big words, but, nothing solid. 

I wouldn't mind so much if it were at least a little bit genuine.

But that, is seldom.

Maybe they've worked too hard to earn their place at the table there. 

I dont' know.

I don't give so much a mind if it's personal.

After all, you choose your own life.

But it's a different thing when it's for work. 

Every cent counts, every hour counts- and if either one of these be wasted on a circuitous, showy, unproductive, almost meaningless meeting- sorry, I don't fancy. 

Let's put it this way. 

I do believe in armor. 

(Hey I'm a girl- we have a lot of armors) 

But there comes a time when you have to be more congruent towards yourself, accept the level that you really are, and learn from the masters- the real business/corporate types- whom- no matter how they dress, where they eat or where they go- they know what is necessary, what is suitable, what works best, and what's a waste of time.

It's very calibrated. 

Really.

For me, I sincerely don't mind having a glass of wine or a cup of coffee at Dempsey. 

Neither do I mind eating there- if the food's good. 

But don't ask me to go there in the middle of the week in the middle of a workday for a meeting that is (only) to your convenience, and which bears no fruit. 

We can meet in a neutral space. 

Just so you know, I dont' work for you.

Easter @ Home

I marched back home with a bag of candy coated chocolate eggs for Easter lunch this year. 

It was a great decision. 

Chocolate makes everyone happy. 

Candy and pretty pastel colors make everyone happier. 

Like always, we divided up the eggs equally amongst all of us, and then had them in between our meal and as a post-dinner dessert together with the ice cream. 

For some reason, this year I dont' have pictures of the ice cream cups as I normally do.

But I have pictures of everything else. 

Like the butter shortbread cookies I bought for Christmas but which we haven't eaten. 

Like the packet of chocolate brownies which were a birthday present and which we did open later to have with our ice cream.

And like the decor which we stick into the Universal Studios Singapore cup and put on the table. 

It's a lovely thing to have a celebration meal with Easter decor by the side. 

Especially when it's beautifully homemade flower card of passionate red. 

With a bit of Christmas glitter. 

I like glitter. :D

Our meal this year spread out over lunch, dinner and supper. 

With the main highlight of all three meals being the zichar. 

We had zichar at lunch. 

We also had zichar at dinner and supper. 

I think it was planned that way.

For lunch we had a box of fried rice complemented by the (rather unusual) taste of century eggs eaten plain without the help of sliced ginger. 

Let's just say it took me a while before my taste buds got acquainted with the blended taste of heavy, briny century egg yolk over fried rice. 

But I liked the dish. 

The grains were big, it wasn't oily, and it went well with the food we bought up from the cai fan stall.

The Parents ate most of the food from the stall. 

I got to have a boxful of siew mais, fried fish balls and ngoh hiangs that they had bought up from the supermarket and steamed in the rice cooker.

There can be no Easter without eggs (of course) and this, we had plenty of this year. 

They weren't colored (nobody had time) but we arranged them prettily on a pink tray like we would in a basket, and dropped a couple of cherry tomatoes in to bring out the color. 

Everyone said they looked very pretty on the camera. 

We had one hardboiled egg and one century egg each during lunch (with the rice and with a bowl of noodles, yes)

We had another hardboiled egg when it came to dinner, eating it with a box of dry hor fun divided between everyone. 

And at supper we decided we'd have still another one because The Parent wondered what  it would taste like having it with the fish slices, and the thick gravy from the sam lor hor fun.