Am I taking in more Salt?

I went with a few friends for lunch at Upp Bukit Timah Road (you know the stretch of small food outlets opposite Bukit Timah Shopping Centre) for lunch. We decided on the Sarawak Kolo Noodles. After ordering their Recommended Kolo noodles, one of my friends that practically lives in China (as he has a large manufacturing and trading business there), complained that the noodles was too salty. I was shocked, because food in China is generally saltier.

He said that he is cutting down on his salt, and that I should always remember to tell them not to make it too salty. Which reminds me of a post I had made earlier about the dangers of salt. Is the food sold outside generally quite salty? I hope to get some comments.

Fun in the Kitchen

I'm wondering if those people that do not cook actually find working in the kitchen fun? I always loved the kitchen. Actually I love cooking, but kind of hate cleaning up - Yep! don't we all? All Chefs are fussy about the cleanliness of their kitchens, but that's part of the fun.

Yes Cleaning can be fun too - unless you have not been cleaning your kitchen for the past 3 years, and the grime is 2 inches thick.

Of course it is different in a commercial kitchen - we have hired help (that's the good part of it). But at home - cleaning up the kitchen can be a whole family affair. Scrubbing, Washing, and Drying efficiently and as a familiy - call it family bonding.

I wonder if anyone else thought of it this way.

Are Kampong Chicken really free-range?

I am having Abalone Chicken Soup for dinner tonigt, I had bought from the super market a "kampong" chicken or our local "free-range" chicken. But I seriously doubt that our "kampong" chicken is really free range. After removing the skin, I realsed how much fat this chicken had. Even as I had removed most of it, when I started boiling the chicken - I was able to skim out about another bowl of oil. For Abalone Chicken Soup - we must not have too much fat in the soup, as it will destroy the delicate taste of the abalone. I have removed the chicken - which was cooked in the stock for 20 mins. It will then be served with a special sauce.

In the remainding soup stock - additional 4 pieces of chicken bones were added, in addition to that, about 250g of fresh lean pork was added. This soup will then be used to cook the defrosted fresh abalone - which I had bought when I went to Australia in July. I had gotten my friend in Perth - where a few abalone farms are located, and had them sent via DHL to me. It was worth it. In addition to fresh abalone, I have to clear some of my canned abalone - which are gifts from friends and suppliers (since Chinese New Year - last year, if I don't eat it, it will be wasted).

Wow...what a sumptous meal we are going to have tonight.

christmas is coming

Christmas is coming. The ideal Christmas celebration for one of my friends is to go for a buffet at one of the top hotels along Orchard road. For me the warning sirens "BORING" comes up! We used to do that in the past because we couldn't be bothered to think of anything interesting to do.

Due to our hectic schedules, I do not intend to be stuck in an Orchard Road traffic jam or have to talk above the crowd. Afterall, hotel buffets tend to be overpriced and going for a buffet, will just cause me to end up having to exercise for 5 hours just to work off what I had eaten. "Sigh!" My agony of having a slow metabolism. Maybe I shouldn't be call the Drunken Chef...more like the chubby chef (*grin*).

Anyhow, my next best suggestion was to dine at my house. Everyone contribute $15 to the kitty and I'll whip up a 3 course meal with wine or cocktails thrown in. We'll see what's the response like. I don't mind going out to eat either. Having to cook as a business - and having to cook for friends are different. You know every single person's "I don't like to eat this..", which makes it difficult to cook something which fits into everyone's idea of a great meal.

I have another bunch of friends that sauntered into a french fine dining and ordered nothing but desserts. After being hollered at by the manager, 4 of my friends left the place sulking, vowing never to return. Yes - give my 4 buddies each plates loaded with desserts, and they would say you serve the most wonderful food in the world. Be it a large slice of American Cheesecake - with raspberries and strawberries on the side, or a chunky pecan brownie - served warmed with a huge dolop of freshly made gelato. They would be very satisfied - I would too. But normal meals should not start with desserts....hehe (tell that to my 4 friends).

We need to have starters (or appetisers), then followed by a soup, main course then finally dessert, of course at the end of it, we'll have our Eiswine or Apperitif (yes not forgetting our alcohol).

But enough of this...I'm getting hungry!
What's for dinner??

Korean BBQ

It was a gloomy Sunday, the sky was gloomy, and it rained intermittently along Pasir Panjang Road, a non-descript building hidden next to the worksite of the Circle Line was a Korean BBQ restaurant. It was packed with korean families enjoying their bbq beef.

It was fantastic. Let me tell you that it is very authentic, and it is probably as good as it can get in Korean. We had lots of small dishes of different versions of kiimchi, nice salad fresh salad veggies to go with our BBQ meat.

The 'spicy' bean paste - which bbq meat is normally coated with before wrapping up in lettuce, wasn't so spicy afterall, and it added a nice 'oomph!' to the fragrant meat. You have a choice of beef, pork, chicken and even ribs. It was great!

Of course traditional Korean dishes like Ginseng Chicken Soup, Mixed Veg Rice are also available. I'll try to snap a pic of the place and highlight the address shortly.

Herbal Tea pics

light herbal tea

Due to heavy entertainment and food experimentation...my stomach has been tortured (some might say blissful torture). I've decided to have my own mix of a light herbal tea - that is suited to help over-eating and indigestion - it is also good for those that have gastric problems.

4 tablespoon - dried rose buds
5 tablespoon - wild yellow crysenthemums
1 tablespoon - osmanthus flowers
4 teabags - Camomile
Zest of 1 lemon

mix all the above and store in a dark dry place

Made this not too long ago. I made a pot of this wonderful herbal tea, with water that is not too hot - ie not boiling, if possible around 85 deg, if you like your tea a little sweet - add light honey or good quality lemon marmalade.

Macdonalds, other fast food and Coffee joints

I'm starting to see the correlation between these places, as being the premier hang out joint for the young upstarts that are still in school. Probably only in Singapore do you find that students prefer to study in such places rather than in the comfort of their home, school or the public library. Perhaps the proximity to caffine and caffinated drinks allows them to increase the flow of adrenaline to their heart - thereby allowing them to study better.

Went to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at Serangoon Gardens last night for a business / social gathering amongst business friends last n ight. And enjoyed a tea-latte there. Didn't realise how weak the tea tasted. Not that I really complained because it was late and a strong tea would probably have kept me awake much longer than I had wanted to.

The later it got, the more crowded the surrounding hang-out/chill-out places got. Wow this suburban area is quite happening for F&B outlets. Haven't been to this area for the past 3 years and my has it changed - for the better in my opinion, as it brings greater diversity to the commercial mix. Bad news though for home owners there that have to bear with the lack of parking space and increased traffic in their formerly quiet neighbourhood.

French Food

I have been brought to this very nice French Restaurant along Serangoon Road last evening by a business partner of mine. We were unable to meet up with its owner and executive chef - Xavier, as he was at the opening of his new gourmet mart in Sembawang. Disappointed though, but I had made a mental note to come down again to try his authentic Foire Gras and apparently delicious confit of Aubergine (which my good French friend swears by).

But one thing did strike me - the food must be good - because just at opening time - 6pm, 4 of it's tables were filled, and patrons were ordering their wine (even our Indian compatriots enjoy French Cuisine!), enjoying a glass before dinner.

With French Food - what best to go with but only Quality French Wine...again my same French business partner brought us to another of her compatriot's outlet at Evans Road - opened by The Wine Company, ala the same that brought wine to Dempsey Road. The quiet ambience, soothingly and unassumingly laid back decor puts us in an easy relaxed mood. In the day or at night, it is nice to down a bottle or two over there....even if I am in the wine business, we don't always like to drink at home, its just too boring...isn't it?