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| Category: | Movies | | Genre: | Other |
The term "Man Jeuk" (文雀) or sparrow is a Hong Kong slang for pickpockets. Aptly, the story is about a team of pickpockets leading a carefree life until each member crosses path with an enigmatic lady who seeks their help to regain her own freedom.
Clever but rather predictably, the bird was used to link the ideas of the characters together. One party being "sparrows" and the other party eagerly seeks the freedom of a bird.
The movie had a simple and straightforward plot. I readily give it away and rest assured that it wouldn't affect the movie experience. I guess the show never intended for any clever twists to make you go, "Oh, that's clever." Instead, the director, Johnnie To presented it as a visual spectacle, capturing the sights and sounds of Hong Kong in a way that has probably been forgotten.
Johnnie To successfully created something of a parallel universe of Hong Kong that maintains its old world charm amidst the ever rapid pace of change. Beautifully and romantically shot, every scene was intricately filled with the old world charms of Hong Kong. The classic eateries where the team of four pickpockets gather daily for their meals of simple and distinct Hong Kong fare. The colonial buildings where the damsel in distress plays her cat-and-mouse game to shake off her unwanted bodyguards. The long flights of steps that connect the distinctive back alleys that have been made so familiar. The tight, angular spiral stairwells that are so unique to Hong Kong. The costume design was simple and effortlessly timeless with a good dose of vintage. It was almost like a walk back in time, until an extra picked up his a rather modern cell phone to answer a call.
The cast didn't exactly shine in the movie as they weren't necessarily portraying the most well thought out characters. They looked good in all the scenes and definitely fit the roles, but that's probably all there is to it. But the performances probably aren't going to earn the casts any nominations.
Perhaps the simplistically made was an intended homage to the classics that came from the golden era of Hong Kong film. A story of the underdogs having their day. Mild slapstick scenes to twitch the corner of our mouths. I guess it was Johnnie To's intention was to re-introduce Hong Kong films to his audience's regular staple of Hollywood films. It might even be part of a continual effort to establish a niche for Hong Kong films.
My verdict: Watch it if you are looking for something refreshingly different from Hollywood films, it is definitely something to catch if you love great cinematography or just starting to get into art films. The simple plot removes the need for any additional thought to process for the audience to concentrate on being visually pleasured from start to finish.
| Category: | Music | | Genre: | R&B | | Artist: | David Tao, 陶喆 |
Amidst the glossy and fickle Chinese music industry, a few truly talented and well-marketed artists stand out, one of them is David Tao. His well-known signature R & B tunes have come to be the genre in the Mandopop industry. Well, he is also one my favourite singers, so called me biased if you want. :) 
The Capacity Crowd
Towards show time, the capacity crowd streamed into the venue almost like those time lapse videos. Like all concerts outside Esplanade, this concert didn't start punctually. But the waiting definitely helped to build up the anticipation. As soon as the light dimmed to signal the start of the concert, the crowds were already all well warmed up and cheering for David Tao to appear. The overture started with chants of "1, 2, 3" in Mandarin and then in various languages which pleasantly amused the audience. Then David Tao rose from below the stage to appear before the excited audience. 
David with the quintessential guitar
Within the first 3 up tempo songs, he had already had the extremely responsive crowd standing and waving their arms to the rhythm of the music. After the fourth song, David took time to interact with the audience. Momentarily, it seemed rather awkward that he conversed predominantly in English for a concert consisting of Mandarin songs. It was later that I realised that there would be a number of band members as well as audiences that only understood English or not as familiar with Mandarin. One of the main visual surprises at this concert has got to be the use of laser lights for the heavier up-tempo numbers. The first time it came on for the song "鬼", plenty of oohs, aahs and howls complimented the stunning effects. It was clear that plenty of effort and heart was put in for this concert. 
It seems that there has been a trend of Easternisation in Mandarin pop. First there was Jay Chou's "千里之外", soon there would one from Jeff Chang's new album. Under David's belt would be "Susan 说". This live version was preluded with a pipa recital accompanied by a modernised opera dance, giving it a very strong Chinese flavour.  
Before his next song, "爱我还是他", David took time to introduce one of the many local talents in his crew. On the keyboards was Goh Kheng Loong, the music director whom he has worked with for 8 years. More amazingly, there had never been any arguments between them, something he attributed to God. That got a rather muted applause from the audience. If you didn't know, David Tao is very upfront about his Christian faith and is unapologetic about sharing it with the audience at his concert. 
Next was the jazzed up version of Teresa Teng's "月亮代表我的心" which I felt was a little over-sang. He then followed up with "10:30的飞机场". For " 今天要回家" "今天没回家", David got the audience to sing-along for the easier parts of the song. But when he challenged them to sing the following faster stanza, the audience stumbled. Nonetheless, the crowd enjoyed every moment of it. "小镇姑娘" was definitely one of the more refreshingly rearranged songs. Originally a very light, country and folk sounding number, this live version was heavier and really rocked the house and had the audience on their feet and arms in the air. A significantly slower "寂寞的季节" was then performed to lead up to his unplugged number, "普通朋友" which he shared the stage with his guitarist on tour, Jamie Wilson who surprised the audience when he replied to David's questions in Mandarin. This would be just one of the numerous occasions in the concert where he showcases his band of talented musicians. 
One of the things that set David Tao apart is how he uses his music for positive change in the world. The next song "Dear God" was one he wrote in response to the tragedies that had happened around the world in recent times as a cry out for change. It had a video prelude with the accompanying crew introducing themselves, their role in the band, their different nationalities and racial diversity. Then they introduced themselves in common as human to drive the point that the fighting that is happening around the world needs to stop and that we should recognise that our most effective weapon is love instead. "今天你要嫁给我" is a duet which he wrote and sang with Jolin Tsai. Of course Jolin wasn't around. So Singapore's very own Tay Kewei sang her part as David flirted with her on stage as always in every of his concert. It is a pity her talent is not as recognised locally, judging from the somewhat awkward audience response when David referred her as the pride of Singapore. But hey, it's just a few more songs before her debut album rocks our air waves, but if you are curious, visit her blog for her demo tracks and support local talent! 
Producing a concert is always a team effort, so David took ample time after the song to introduce everyone that made this concert possible, on and off stage. Notably, there were many musicians that hail from Singapore and Malaysia. I was darn impressed that every musician on stage could sing and play at least one instrument! A special mention for Alisa Elisa, the multi-talented Taiwanese back up vocal who can also play the flute, trombone and violin. Not to mention that she quite gorgeous as well. 
David then shared a little secret - he is a closet dancer, but a bad one at it. That's why he remains a closet dancer. But still he wanted the audience to have some fun, he included a dance medley so that everyone can get on their feet to shake it up little. Interestingly, during the dance medley, David took the role of the back up vocals for John Tan David Tan (back up vocals and guitar) to take centre stage. Halfway through "就是爱你", David decided to get off the stage and get cozy with the audience. The ladies screamed with delight as they flooded towards the barrier for a hug, handshake or even just a touch of their idol. The fans loved it tremendously. Due to the local concert regulations, he could only access a limited area of the crowd. Returning to stage at the end of the song, David even thanked the security for their hard work in making that up-close and personal experience possible and safe for everyone. 
The lady in red gets her tickets' worth with a full embrace
 
Near the end of the concert he shared that he was considering a move to Singapore, because it was one of the few places where there is racial and religious tolerance. On a lighter note, he said that said that contrary to what people said, Singapore is actually a fun place, with the latest attraction being the Singapore Flyer, which is really slow and expensive. For those who remembered his comments on desperately anxiously seeking a life partner at his press conference, David picked out a lady in the audience to serenade with the song "沙滩", on stage. Darn lucky girl. Hmm... Isn't he awfully transparent laying out plans to get a Singapore PR, don't you think? I could almost hear some of the audience chanting, "PR! PR! PR!" Or maybe David's already aiming for Singapore citizenship? 
For the last song of the night, David sang his break out hit, "爱很简单". With it he thanked the audience, the crew and especially God, sharing his testimony of miracle healing of tonsillitis on the morning of the concert. Yup, that too got a rather awkward reaction from the audience. But that didn't affect the concert experience one bit. It was undoubtedly a great concert that would be remembered for a long time.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Other | | Location: | 15 Bussorah Street, Singapore |
Some time back I visited this quaint little restaurant (less than 10 tables inside and 4 outside) in Bussorah Street which is within the Arab Street network for a friend's birthday dinner. The food was pretty decent and I liked the fact that the owners took effort to ask for the group's (10 of us) food order in advance so that they can handle the orders, as well as providing a non-public menu for our selection. Not too sure if this menu is now printed, so when you do go, ask the staff about it. The food was served rather quickly thanks to good planning by the restaurant even for such a small group. These are what I managed to try. Grilled Vegetables & Hummus Platter - $5
 A very interesting starter. Deceptively simple in preparation. All the vegetables used were grilled just right for that soft mashable texture. Though some of the vegetables were quite badly charred, like the onion on the 9 o'clock position. But still worth the mention was its surprising sweetness and the absence of spiciness. The hummus in the middle was great with the default basket of bread. A colourful, cheerful, healthy appetiser. I do wish that the portion would be larger. But at $5, maybe I will order 2. Water Melon, Feta Cheese & Rocket Salad - $5
 I almost forgotten about photographing this! Nevertheless, I must say is is a wonderful salad that cleverly combined watermelon with feta cheese. The strong taste of the former was nicely complimented by the refreshing crunch and sweetness of the latter. Both together made the salad eating extra enjoyable and fun. Clearly another happy and comforting dish. Braised lamb shank in wine sauce, mashed potato, sauteed vegetables - $20
 What's this thing about braised lamb shank that every restaurant seems to be serving? Not that I am complaining, though. Anyway, the one here tasted pretty much like every other decent braised lamb shank with exception to the wine sauce which tasted sharper and might take a little getting used to. The fibres of meat could have been more tender and moist, but if the texture is your thing, it was done just right. I do wish the lamb shank had a little bit more of the tendons though. Salmon papilote (oven baked in paper), vegetables, capers - $18
 The salmon was nice, moist and flaky thanks to the way it was prepared. Unfortunately, zesty sauce used was not necessarily the best thing to go along with it, in my opinion. The saltiness from the pickled capers masked taste the fish by a bit too. As for ambience, I like it for being small, quiet and personal. Perhaps the name, B Bakery also wanted to suggest its humility. Lastly, the recommendation is to make reservations and order in advance as their inventory for dinner is quite limited. Also note that they are open for dinner from Thursdays to Saturdays, 6pm - 10pm only. 
| Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Other | | Location: | 70 Prinsep Street, Singapore 188662 |
Thanks to the good folks at HGW, the girlfriend and I managed to give Absolute Haven a try. I was expecting something refreshing, cheerful and something close to "fireworks-on-the-palate" after so many positive reviews. The menu of the day was a revamped one, so in a way we were all guinea pigs sent into an experiment. Which is actually more fun actually, as there would not be any references. Best of all, we get to dine at a fraction of the usual price. (Yes, I am plugging for the next HGW outing, check this forum thread) Anyway, on with the food review and photos. Soup - Cream of Rocket We started off with cream of rocket which was quite nicely done. The soup was not overly smooth so that bits of its potato base (my assumption) could be felt. It is a nice thoughtful touch to have added that dimension in the texture. For me, perhaps lacking was a tinge of the rocket's bitterness to authenticate the dish itself. Maybe a bit of minced or chopped rocket might have added a little character to the soup? Starter - I tried Panchetta Ham & Smoked Salmon Roll I like the combination of the smoky panchetta ham and salmon with the greens wrapped in them. The textures of the meat and leafy greens stood out for themselves with every bite and distinctive flavours complimented each other really well. The smoky meats provided the punch while the greens cleared the palate for the next piece. My only grouse is the saltiness from the ham, but I am sure it can be easily neutralised with more of the salad greens. Starter - The Girlfriend tried Duck Breast Salad with Berry Sauce I liked the sweet and tangy taste, but foresee it may be too overpowering as one progresses to consume more of this salad. This is perhaps catered to those with a sweet tooth. Main Course - I tried the Pan-seared Seabass with Poached Egg, Miso Braised Daikon and Olive Pilaf Rice, served with Lemon Cream Sauce High scores on the presentation, but average in taste. The fish wasn't exactly fresh and was over-cooked with edges totally burnt and bitter. Rest of the fish was tough and dry by my standards. Taste-wise, the fish was very plain with the minuscule amount of lemon cream sauce. Overall, it felt like the dish was conjured by a randomised process where you pick cards for every accompanying item and a poor excuse for a fusion dish. Every item did nothing to each other or for each other in terms of taste. Main Course - The Girlfriend tried the Oven-Roasted Yorkshire Pork Rack with Herb Potato, Vegetables Ratatouille, Fresh Mesclum Salad, served with Coffee Chocolate Sauce The pork rack was nicely done with a tinge of pink in the centre and tender to the bite. The marinate was done just right to allow the freshness of the pork to be tasted. However, the coffee chocolate sauce with meat combination reminded me too much about the coffee ribs available from the tze char stalls. The girlfriend mentioned that the pork could have been better used, i.e. prepared in better ways. The ratatouille seemed out of place because of its "heavy" flavour was more of a clash with the pork and it just felt additionally pretentious thanks to the movie. The use of fresh cut fruits like lychees, longans, dragonfruits, pears would have provided a refreshing edge and balance to the dish. Dessert - I tried Victorian Creme Brulee I liken this to the Hong Kong steamed egg pudding, but mushier. Well done for that important crusty top layer of caramelised sugar. Unfortunately it tasted pretty plain for a place where I expected more of. No exciting layers of surprised or infused floral scents. Or perhaps that was what the "Victorian" stood for - old, traditional and outdated. Dessert - The Girlfriend tried Passionfruit Panna Cotta Here at Absolute Haven, Panna Cotta has a texture of curdled cheese and plenty of zesty punch from passionfruit, orange peel and berries. I can't be sure if I like this dessert as it didn't taste bad, but neither did it taste fantastic. Overall, the food just didn't wow me as I had expected more thoughtful, cleverer, refreshing combinations in ingredients. Service The staff was friendly but rather slow with service and response and lacking in initiative. However the worst part has to be their failure to prioritise. The girlfriend and I had to run off for another appointment, so we asked for the food to be served slightly faster. Our expectation was only to be served with the first batch of the dish we ordered, but they weren't even able to do that. Worst, for a group of over 20 people, they failed badly at coordinating for the food to be served together, making patrons without their food stare blankly at those who do. Some had even finished their food before their partner's had arrived. That is totally unacceptable.
 | Category: | Music | | Genre: | Indie Music | | Artist: | The Rakes |
I like indie (independent) music. It is always effortlessly refreshing. Here is a genre where there are no rules and no restrictions, just the love of making music. Other descriptive terms include experimental, unconventional, quirky, fun, original. Well, you get the idea. But with major record companies hogging the frequencies, it is rare that we hear music from indie artists, unless they were signed and groomed for stardom by the record labels. Which is why it is great that Heineken Green Room have started bringing in refreshing indie gigs to their parties. This time, Heineken Green Room literally flew The Rakes over from half-way across the globe for a one-night-only gig at Zouk. 
The signature green ambience of Heineken Green Room
I arrived at about 10.30pm and was quite relieved that the gig hadn't started. So when was it going to start? Then a assistant stepped on to the stage numerous times to fiddle with the instruments and stretching the audiences' patience. 
The band finally appeared from the back of the stage just before midnight, delighting eager party-goers and probably appeasing disgruntled ones. The band quickly got the crowd psyched up with plenty of their energetic and quirky original music. 
Known for being well-dressed, they seem somewhat more casual at this gig in comparison. Must have been the the weather. Nonetheless, the group rocked hard for the audience in their signature geeky, unfazed in the chaos style, much like the title of their song, The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect. 
The first few songs had the lead vocal, Alan furiously signalling to the sound controls to tweak the volumes of the various instruments and vocals. Once that was finally fixed, he proceeded with his infectious signature quirky dance moves while singing that got the crowds rocking.
 
 
It was obvious that everybody on stage and off were enjoying themselves. The crowd seemed to have forgotten how long they had waited for them. Perhaps it is a similar attitude of patience that we should adopt for indie music as we trawl through the internet to find our own favourite brand of tunes. 
Back on stage the guitarist played so hard his top ripped at the back! Ventilation is definitely helpful in our tropical climates. 
And between songs, there would be the endorsement actions by members of the band. I am definitely going to show my appreciation to Heineken Green Room in the same way! 
I have to say that I am really impressed by the Lasse's relentless energy on drums in particular. Being positioned right at the back of stage never obscured the intensity of his craft. In his frenzied performance, he exuded his own kind of charisma on stage. 
Drumming - a great work out
And just as everyone was high with all the great music, The Rakes left the stage. It took a long time of cheering from the floor before they returned to stage for an encore performance much to the appreciative crowd's delight. The Rakes would then stay on to spin for Zouk for the night, but many who attended have proceeded towards the exit, including myself. And by the time I got out, my ears were ringing, but I was humming the their infectious and catchy tunes.
Toy Factory is well-known (but not necessarily in a good way) for shamelessly riding on the stars of the moment when it comes to marketing their productions. This time is no different. Shanghai Blues - The Musical was well-marketed with all the hype surrounding Hong Kong's anti-drug ambassador and singer, William So (苏永康), 881 star, Mindee Ong (王欣) and Dim Sum Dolly, Emma Yong along with Jeffery Tan, Resident Choreographer of Singapore Dance Theatre choreographing the dances in the performance. Set during World War II in China, the story started with the Japanese invasion all over the land. In the chaos, Lim Wen Chong (William So) and Du Yun (Mindee Ong) take shelter under a bridge on a dark moon-less night. So dark that both were conveniently unrecognizable. The two protagonists broke into a William So song with extremely cheesy rewritten lyrics. They talked briefly about where they were going and what they wanted to do. Wen Chong was a musician who was about to join the army against the Japanese. Du Yun was just fighting for survive. The superficial dialogue conveniently has both of them falling in love in the darkness and breaking in and out of the cheesily rewritten song and conveniently making a pact to return after the war was over. And just before they had to part ways in the darkness, Du Yun had to give Wen Chong the conveniently shameless slut kiss, which conveniently leaves Wen Chong surprised, so that a second shameless slut kiss can be planted. Oh yes, there was also the convenient token love momento, half a mantou (bun). Plus, the best part: they conveniently did not exchange their names for identification.
If you have noticed the frequently used conveniences, Yes, the script was written so conveniently that it made a trip to 7-eleven seem like an expedition. The characters were so superficially written and the rewritten song was downright crass and had a backfiring effect which was painfully comical. Unfortunately, there would be more of such horrendous and thoughtless scriptwriting. So as conveniently as the war started, the war ended. And conveniently, 8 years passed. Wen Chong returns unscathed physically and emotionally by the ravages of war. And in his hand was a mantou, even more sickeningly convenient and cheesy was that a joke about a stale 8-year old mantou had to be weaved into the script. He appears like a little boy stepping into Disneyland for the first time. He conveniently reunites with his auntie who gives him a job in her nightclub. At the nightclub, he bumps into the star singer who was conveniently Du Yun. They do not recognize each other because it was conveniently written previously that they didn't get visual confirmation and the names of each other. They broke into to same cheesy rewritten song because it was convenient that they feel a strange connection. But she isn't the same anymore. Previously a simple girl, now she is a seasoned and jaded songstress. I thought there would have been a bit of recap of the things she went through in the 8 years, but other than the regurgitated story of that night under the bridge from a convenient diary that was even more conveniently read out loud by Dan Lei (Emma Yong), she suddenly became a seasoned and jaded performer! So how the did that even happen? Oh yes, that part was conveniently left out. So conveniently, Wen Chong and Du Yun were also neighbors who conveniently hate each other because they irritate the hell out of each other. Even more conveniently, was Dan Lei who ends up knowing Wen Chong in the cheesy, carbon copy way Du Yun first known him under the bridge. Conveniently, Dan Lei starts to fall for Wen Chong. The plot had to have Du Yun chancing upon Wen Chong at the bridge and revealing she was the girl he met under the bridge, but he brushes it away thinking she was playing a prank on him because conveniently, she was a different person from 8 years ago. Predictably, the story unfolds to reveal a convenient love triangle where the 2 leading ladies realize each other's love/infatuation for Wen Chong and started pushing the other to him. Conveniently, each has their own back up plan so that they could play the to-love-is-to-let-go drama. Du Yun has a cao angmoh (stinky caucasian) wanting her, along with a bitchy and nasty rival who wants the cao angmoh for herself. Dan Lei enters and wins a beauty pageant but soon realized that there would be a price to pay. Before Du Yun leaves with the cao angmoh, Dan Lei and Wen Chong share a dinner together. Dan Lei asked Wen Chong for an unforgettable night of beautiful memories before she loses herself in her newfound fame. Wen Chong rejected that he didn't want to have an unforgettable night of nightmares. So conveniently, both spill to each other about the night under the bridge 8 years ago. Dan Lei reveals that Du Yun is the one Wen Chong had been waiting for all these while. Wen Chong rushes off to the find Du Yun at the departure. With a little bit of cajoling, Wen Chong manages to make Du Yun sing along in that awfully rewritten song and therefore returning into each other's arms. On closing, Wen Chong's song conveniently hit the airwave and made famous thanks to the connections of the cao angmoh because he would do anything for Du Yun. And so the story ends. The script was unbearably cheesy and awfully corny. It failed spectacularly with an unconvincing story which didn't even attempt to tug at the heartstrings. It took war so lightly like a flip of a page that it was appalling and unacceptable.
Thankfully, the show was kept alive with the wonderful performers. Every one was convincing in his/her role even with the lousy script. Being a musical, the singing was in general pretty good and enjoyable. While Mindee isn't as seasoned in singing, she put up a good effort even when her voice was easily over-shadowed by William's and Emma's. The dance choreography by Jeffery Tan flowed very well in the scenes in the nightclub, but those outside seemed a little too gay for themes of revolution and war in those tumultous times. As for the set, it was as awkward as it was ingenious with the orchestra sitting right in the middle of the stage the whole time. Just about every set item had multiple uses when positioned differently, quickly changing to different scenes. However, this versatility seemed to have left the entire stage looking rather tattered and unmaintained with loose lines and ropes dangling all around, which I believe shouldn't be the case for the nightclub scenes. So yes, the show overall left a really bad flavor, not to mention a continued bad impression of Toy Factory. Well, at least the performers did not disappoint.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Japanese / Sushi | | Location: | Orchard Plaza
150 Orchard Road, #01-17/18
Singapore 238841
Telephone: (65) 6235 5540 |
Slow service, but great ramen
It has come to that point again. The point you get bored with the predictability of franchises. Aren't we all sick of Ajisen Ramen? While it is quite alright, it isn't exciting anymore. And not to mention that I have suspicions of it being an authentic Japanese restaurant.
So it is time to venture to the unknown (somewhat) and it's nice to try out independent places where ramen is prepared by a Japanese or at least with the Japanese spirit of quality sells better, where you can taste the pride of producing something of true quality, with absolutely no MSG.
That's exactly what this little shop boasts of its soup bases, which takes many hours to achieve the perfection of robust flavour that won't leave a heavy feeling. So well made is the bowl of ramen that this place doesn't sell any other variety of ramen. The only other way is to zhng your ramen is with their additional toppings/condiments.
Speaking of toppings and condiments, you can sort of determine the origins of the shop and thus its authenticity of being truly Japanese by the condiments, particularly the stewed egg. Halve an egg from authentic ramen restaurants and you will see the difference in the yolk, which retains its gooey form compared to the hard solid texture found from Ajisen.
The char siew here is also very good. Cooked till soft and tender, the meat comes apart easily and melts in your mouth.
However, it does take a bit of patience to eat here. The service is somewhat laid-back and thus a little slow.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Japanese / Sushi | | Location: | 3 Temasek Boulevard, New Suntec Galleria, #01-031, Singapore 038983 |
Experience a charcoal-grilled artform
Stepping into the restaurant, my colleagues and I were greeted by the friendly wait staff. We were very impressed with the interior decor and its laid back ambience. A definite far cry from the hustle and bustle outside of the restaurant.
We could see the chef at work through a glass window, tending to his creations with care as they sizzled over the charcoal grill.
The well-trained wait staff easily impressed us with their attentiveness and quick response to every minor detail. Glasses and cups were always refilled with corresponding beverages even without prompting.
We ordered the set meals as it looked like it was value for money. I settled for the restaurant's signature set meal which was supposed to have all their recommended stuff, mainly consisting of charcoal-grilled skewers or kushiyaki.
I was pretty impressed by the taste of each of the items in my set meal. The difference in taste and texture is so well-defined in very bite, it is almost mind-blowing. I could literally taste every facet of the skewer.
First, the marinade covering the food spreads through the palate.
Then, the bite and texture of the ingredients, the tenderness of the meat, the crunchiness of the prawn, the crispiness of the asparagus and the juices and oil in between the flesh and skin of the grilled fish.
Finally, the unique taste that can only be created by a charcoal fire.
A meal for 2 here would probably set you back by $70 to $80. I can't say it affordable by my standards, but it is definitely worth the whole experience of dining.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Asian | | Location: | 325, Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534946 |
What makes a good bowl of prawn noodle?
Here at Geylang Prawn Noodle, they like to do it this way:
The soup has a robust body without being overpowering, full of flavour without the need for any MSG.
The ingredients are cooked just right. Prawns cooked to the right texture and bite, the pork to be ribs soft, tender and easily slips off the bone and the pig’s tail cooked long enough to be soft and chewy.
The noodles come soaked in the soup variety or laid on a pool of potent blend of their signature chilli, ready to be mixed. I particularly like the texture of the vermicelli (bee hoon) they use as it comes in a unique thickness.
On top of all that, the bowl of prawn noodle must come with some chilli powder ready to be sprinkled on according to the fancy of the consumer. Fresh cut chilli option is also available.
A novelty they have at the tables is a stack of origami boxes made with magazine pages for collecting the prawn shells and bones. It’s a great idea as it makes it easier for clearing up.
The place also serves ngoh hiang. However, I would not recommend it as the items tend to come soaked in oil.
The crowd is manageable during lunchtime on weekdays, but I am not certain if it is the same on weekends
| Category: | Music | | Genre: | Pop | | Artist: | Eric Moo |
Update: For this entry on Youth.sg, click here. Then he picked up his guitar, and you'll know that you're in on an intimate musical journey.  I'm on Youth.sg assignment again. This time, I got the chance to cover Eric Moo's (巫启贤) concert. Who's Eric Moo? Here's my personal take: Without him, Singapore might have less of successful Chinese singers to boast today. We might not have successes like Kit Chan, Stefanie Sun, Tanya Chua, A-do and Lin Junjie. Eric Moo was one of the pioneers of Singaporean artists that broke into the ultra-competitive Chinese music market in Taiwan. 
Of course some may argue that he isn't really Singaporean (he was born in Malaysia), but most of his music was produced in Singapore and along with a few like-minded songwriters, they brought about the era of Xinyao (新谣). At the peak of his career in Singapore, Eric was literally the most well-known Singer in Singapore and Malaysia, every house also know his name (巫启贤的名字家喻户晓。). Even non-Chinese knew him, listened and sang to his songs and one even translated his song to English! I was in primary school then. Almost every week he would appear on television as a guest. 
Certainly, Eric has come along way since the Xinyao era, him breaking into the Taiwan market and sustaining for so long. I could tell that by the demographics of the audience, mostly 30's to 50's. Their courtship years probably spanned from the late eighties to the early nineties, the same time when his music was everywhere. For me, this concert brought back fond childhood memories. First starting out in a standard black blazer, Eric was accompanied by his band of musicians as he belted out familiar songs in his repertoire. However, it did take a while before the audience warmed up and started participating in a sing-along session. Well, I guess the audience aren't as energetic. He paid tribute to many of his friends in the music industries, with appreciative mentions of local songwriters like Liang Wenfu and Li Feihui, for 想着你的感觉 and 等你等到我心痛. Oddly enough, Liang Wenfu was seated far behind as opposed to Li Feihui seated second row from the front. But no matter, the audience didn't scrimp their applause for him as he was the prominent songwriter behind our Xinyao era who never failed to create Uniquely Singapore songs, even before you could brand anything Uniquely Singapore. 
His first guest, Qiu Haizheng came on stage for her song before he went off to change. Having not sang for so long, she did sound off-key as she sang her signature song. Then Eric returned to stage in a get-up of jeans, red t-shirt and vest, along with a cap, reminiscing younger days. Qiu didn't miss the opportunity to poke fun at the futile attempt to look younger. I have to agree that the package was rather orbid. But then he picked up the guitar for his unplugged section of concert, and you know you will be in for an intimate musical journey. Eric is probably best known for singing with his guitar. It was an image he started with right in the beginning of his entertainment career, strumming his way to the radio stations, television and into our hearts. It is also this simplicity that breaks down any barrier between him and his audience. This was definitely one of the highlights of his concert. Not only that, it was probably the easiest section of the concert for him, because just about everyone in the audience knew the lyrics to his songs by heart. And that I feel speaks much of how well-remembered his works were. Near the end of the segment, he jokingly complained that the audience should have mentioned earlier that he only needed guitar as the hiring of the band members cost extra money. His second guest was Fang Wenling, another partner from his earlier days, whom he referred to as an ageless legend (不老的传说). After a solo and a duet with Eric, Qiu Haizheng joined them on stage for a short chat, remembering their good ol' days. The ladies then sang their signature song with Eric before leaving the stage. The concert concluded with another seven songs. But still the audience wanted more, so they swarmed forward for another glimpse of Eric and started chanting, cheering for him to come back on stage for another encore... 
And more followed... 
Many climbed on to the chairs, despite their age and/or size. And you thought only youngsters do that...
Finally, he returned to stage...
Much to the delight of fans... 
While he would love to stay for more, it would risk an overrun. So he could only lead the audience to sing another 2 songs, run to their delight. 
So, don't think because people are older that they can't behave like crazy fans ok? Hell, these are mild compared to Chan Poh Chu fans you see today... Anyway, to round off, the concert was really well-done even though simple. As Eric said it best, the audience weren't there to watch him dance or see fancy stage sets. And he delivered a quality performance which connected intimately with the audience, despite such a large capacity venue. While the lighting was occasionally too harsh and the music overly loud, these were merely technical flaws which were well-compensated with Eric's heartfelt performance.
I received this eDM (electronic Direct Mailer) in my mailbox. From the design, I thought it was an atas club with nice stylo-mylo oriental music, possibly nostalgic and even some Shanghai Jazz too, interior decor that would make Shanghai Tang really proud and service that would come from a team of waitresses dressed in ankle length cheongsam. So when Lunar opened, I got the girlfriend along with her friends to check the place out. Like all club openings, the place was packed and music booming. Once we entered, the attention was on the large screen which was screening Rain's concert, with fans screaming in the background. There was hardly any room and on the first level, we decided to move up to the second floor. I was quite impressed by the lift and the waitress team that played lift attendants. Judging from their looks and grasp of English language, they were all our foreign talent directly from China. Good and Bad. Good because it sort of upped the kinky fantasies quotient. Bad because, well, you know how the locals think about foreign talent... 
Since we are on the topic of the waitresses, their uniform was functional, especially the striking bob wig, which makes for easy identification in the dimmed environment. The whole package with the short cheongsam dress, stockings and boots however reignites the debate of whether Singapore's very own Annabelle Chong should be considered trailer trash or local pop culture icon. 
There was hardly any standing room and it was rather difficult snaking through the crowd. When we managed to find an available spot to rest at, the live music started. The first reaction by the ladies was, "Bad singing of even worse songs."
A quick inspection and we realized it was a live band on stage. The female vocalists only scored in the looks department, singing wasn't great and failed to carry the feeling of the songs. Their attempts on interpretation failed spectacularly. Male vocalists weren't any better and looked liked the sharpei (Peking bulldog). 
Just when I thought the music could get any worse, the band got off stage and house music resumed...
Guess what? They spun Afro-American Hip-Hop, Rap and R&B. Tak match to the extreme can! Even though a waitress had previously taken our order, the drinks never came. Due to the crowds and the demand for the free drinks, we only managed to get one drink each after lots of pushing and shoving. I was pleasantly surprised by a quiet but friendly bartender who diligent served up requests of drinks.
We took our time to finish our drinks. One of the ladies wanted to hit the dance floor but was promptly discouraged by its emptiness. We decided to take our leave but also have a good look at the interior decor which was really nicely done up. 
Some rather nice paintings too. There were also some racier ones on the ceiling, but I missed out taking photos of them. Guys, don't hate me for depriving you of those artistic paintings. 
The ladies particularly liked this throne and spontaneously hammed it up there... 
And the same pictures with some styling... 
And just as we thought the first band couldn't get any worse, another ensemble took the the stage... 
We waited for their first piece only to be disappointed and appalled yet again by the quality of sound made. It likened to the ad-hoc performances in Chinatown which employed Mainland Chinese ladies prancing around on stage looking as if they played the Chinese instrument. So Lunar seemed to know nuts about Oriental music. Perhaps they should consult the Esplanade's producer for Huayi Festival for its musical direction. Seriously, the concerts there are much more happening.
My Parting Note on Lunar
Lunar to me is pretty much like Café Del Mar (Sentosa) where the music failed to fit its image. The management probably didn't think the crowds would appreciate anything that is non-mainstream. Great effort in the decor, but it fails spectacularly by missing the complete experience by miles.
For more photos taken at Lunar, click here.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Other | | Location: | 100 Beach Road #01-24
Shaw Leisure Gallery
Singapore 189702
Tel: 6297 8839 |
How about homemade muffins and scones? 
And I'm not talking about chains like Mrs Fields and Famous Amos, those are just too sweet for my liking. Neither are they able to tweak their recipes to reduce the tons of sugar they put in. So it is a great to find an independent shop like Wooden Spoon which makes uniquely great muffins that are moist, dense but fluffy and full of flavor. Plus, it tastes of less sugar and more of the ingredients. The sweetness comes mainly from natural ingredients like raisins and bananas, just the way the health conscious would like them. No more having to deal with muffins loaded with tons of sugar! Another feature I like is the absence of the paper cups, so no more peeling off those cups and you can just eat everything. Particularly, their banana walnut muffins, when broken open, reveals the generous amount of banana mashed into the little package, like banana walnut bread. 
Also try the scones. Bite onto the crunchy exterior to reveal the buttery and soft insides with a zap of natural sugar from the raisins baked into it. Goes perfectly with your favorite warm, caffeine-laced drinks. Besides their muffins and scones, Wooden Spoon also makes a variety of cookies, brownies, cakes and so on. However, note that everything here is produced in limited numbers and they will close shop once everything is sold out. It was already closed when I came by just past 6pm on a weekday. So if you are interested, do come by earlier for a true homemade fix. 
| Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Pub Fare | | Location: | 3B River Valley Road, The Foundry, Clarke Quay, #01-09/10, Singapore 179021 |
The girlfriend's pals were gracious enough to let me in on their gathering at The Pump Room. So we got there early to get ourselves a table. For the uninitiated, The Pump Room is a microbrewery and bistro. So we ordered our beers and sides first while we waited for the rest to arrive. We were ushered to a table and presented the menu. I took my time to look through the menu for something that might inspire me... Beer Personally, I prefer dark beers whenever come to a beer place. I have this preconception that dark beers from a place specializing in beers would offer something interesting. Plus dark beers usually meant more dimensions in terms of the flavor, which would be better experience compared the fizzy, foamy, bitter and pale stuff. I settled for their Scottish ale, a dark beer with a nice taste of roasted malt. It goes down slightly more bitter at first, but ends sweetly. Sides Our appetite was growing as we waited for the others. So we decided to order some sides to keep our mouths occupied. I was disappointed that there wasn't anything like buffalo wings on the finger food menu. The best they could muster were a few potato-based sides and garlic bread. The rest of the table did set their eyes on something else... 
Creamy Mashed Potato was pretty good. I did wish there was some bacon crisps mixed into it. Would have been a great combination of textures. 
Sauteed Shitake Mushrooms with herbs was nice too. Although it was on the salty side. The chunky garlic was a nice touch which I liked. Still waiting, I decided to entertain myself and the "early-birds" with my camera... More of the interior 
And the fascinating "optic fibre" lighting which changes color...  
Service We were rather taken aback when we realized that the staff had failed to inform us about their special offers for their brewed beers. We thought fine, since we never asked. Then we got really annoyed that many of the wait staff were selective of who they wanted to serve. There was this group of Caucasians that took the table in front of us and were given a VIP treatment while the other tables like mine were conveniently neglected and ignored. I then realized the wait staff were consistently tipped by that table for every item served. Talk about spoil market! But I guess I shouldn't harp on that. I mean, there are other stuff to be peeved by. Like the wait staff's snail-like and begrudging response times for plain water. It seems like they convenient forget your requests. Not like we won't order other stuff, right? Main Courses 
I found the Linguine with Prawns, Mussels, Scallops and Squid Aglio Olio style was pleasantly spicy with black peppercorns. The seafood was fresh done just right, with the exception of the mussels which were really raw. I think it is because we are so used to the well-cooked mussels in chilli. 
One can hardly go wrong with The Pump Room's Special Steak Burger with Salad and Chips. But it does lack the necessary punch to live up to its "Special" status. 
Beer-Battered Pacific Dory with Chips, Tartare Sauce and Mesclun Saladwas nothing special, though the chips were pretty good. 
My order was the Hickory smoked BBQ Baby Back Ribs in Special Beer Marinade. It was a rather standard and ordinary quality. nothing to shout about. The verdict for mains collectively would be somewhere between mediocre and average. Desserts The plan had been to stay to catch the live band perform. So we needed to "buy ourselves some more time" in the form of desserts. 
The Warm Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream was fantastic! The warm, thick chocolate pudding was probably oven toasted to achieve a crispy outer crust with a slightly charred taste. Every mouthful of the thick melted chocolate and the crispy crust was a luxurious experience. 
Soft Centered Pavlova with Tropical Fruits and Passionfruit Curd was a light, zesty dessert thanks to the fruits involved at the sides. Pretty enjoyable if you just love the sugar. Personally, I found it a little too sweet, but nevertheless, it had a good mix of textures to be experienced with every little bit placed into the mouth. 
There is a sudden realization that one can't really go wrong with a Cheese Platter. With very distinctive textures and tastes, it will instantly turn one into a cheese connoisseur. By the time we wipe off everything on the plates, the band started their act. Plenty of 80's and 90's music to dance the night away. Last but not least, the toilet was pretty decent, a good thing to have with all the booze going around.
 | Category: | Movies | | Genre: | Action & Adventure |
It's been a long time since I watched a Hong Kong movie.
Thankfully, Flashpoint wasn't anywhere disappointing.
Flashpoint sort of stripped down to the basics. A simple police and thief plot.
Add a liberal dose of real martial arts in the form of violent fighting (thus the NC16 rating).
Testosterone fueled characters driven by ego and all those macho b*****t.
This movie really serves to showcase Krav Maga and free-style fighting (correct me if I am wrong on this) Hong Kong does this kind of movie so well all the time.
Simple plot, police and thief, real kungfu display, testosterone laden cockiness in every character. It's a great "Leave-you-brain-behind-and-bring-your-balls" kind of movie. You could watch it over and over again for the action.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Chinese | | Location: | Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh
321 Beach Road (Jn Sultan Gate and Beach Road)
11am to 9pm
Wed Closed |
As you may know, I like the fried fish bee hoon over at Beach Road and like to walk there for the soupy lunch. As usual, there was a long queue. Not usual was my decision to find something else to eat. So I backtracked a bit and came to Leong Kee. It seems quite popular, why not give it a try since there are seats? The order took longer than expected. I must have waited about 15 to 20 mins for my claypot of Bak Kut Teh and rice combo. But when I came, I was pleasantly surprised. The soup was boiling in the heat insulating claypot when it was presented by before me. So it scores on presentation. The consistency of the soup was almost like a gravy, liken to say, sharks' fin soup and it had a strong herbal taste. Particularly, it had the bitterness from the tang gui used. Unfortunately, that was about all the herbs I could taste. It was something enjoyable, though on the heavy side for a soup. I liked the addition of the tau kee or fu pi which gave the dish an extra dimension. The vegetable added was also a nice touch. The meat served here seems to be always spare ribs, which is tender to the bite. I liked that it was cooked to the extent where the meat comes off the bone easily.   
On another occasion, I tried the pig's trotter. I liked the smoky taste which came from the high heat treatment just before it is served. The texture of the meat was tender and the skin, tendon and fat are something that should be tried at least once no matter how health conscious one may be. Price-wise, I thought it was quite reasonable as they gave generous servings. A small claypot of bak kut teh or pig's trotters goes for $4.60, rice for 30 cents, youtiao for 50 cents. Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh
321 Beach Road (Jn Sultan Gate and Beach Road)
11am to 9pm
Wed Closed
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Desserts | | Location: | 20 East Coast Road #01-06 (Ocean Park) |
While on Leonard's mini-van, I talked about the newly opened Ice Cream Chefs somewhere in East Coast. I provided an inaccurate location of East Coast Park and we spent some time circling a carpark until someone finally connected to the internet and googled for them. It was in East Coast Road instead. So we moved along. We then hit a roadblock of sorts when we couldn't find a parking lot in the vicinity. So we Xinzhan got off the vehicle and went straight to the shop to ask about parking. Surprise! Parking is free if you are customers. One challenging thing about coming here is really figuring out the choice of ice cream. Like a few ice cream places in Singapore, Ice Cream Chefs makes it possible to mix flavours, 2 for a small cup and 3 for a large one. For every topping, or more correctly, mix-in as they call it, it's an extra 70 cents.    
 We got ourselves 3 large cups for 5 of us. No, make that 4 since Leonard was suffering from diarrhea had to be left out from partaking the ice cream. We stuck to 2 of the staff's recommendation of a fruity concoction and a chocolatey durian combination along with my mad mix of butter pecan with kinder bueno and marshmallows along with horlicks and mocha ice cream. All of which were rather enjoyable.
 It is quite a fascinating sight to see the chef whip up your customised ice cream.
First your flavours are laid on the cold plate.
Then with one spatula laid on the ice cream, the other taps on it to create an indentation for the mix-ins.
Repeat the spatula actions to crush the mix-ins and then further reduce the size by chopping with the spatulas.
Fold them around a few times.
Finally scoop them into the cup and served.
Personally I found the ice cream on the watery side. It wasn't as rich and creamy as I expected. The novelty of zhng-ing your ice cream definitely helped a bit. But for continued success, they need to improve their ice cream formula. Ice Cream Chefs
520 East Coast Road #01-06 (Ocean Park)
Tel: 64466355
Beside St. Patricks School & Along East Coast Road
Sun-Thurs 12pm to 10pm
Fri-Sat 12pm to 11pm Post Script: Pardon the poor colour as the batteries (Sanyo rechargeables) in my flash died yet again. It seems that they just can't retain power for more than a week.
| Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Chinese | | Location: | 87 Beach Road, #01-01, Singapore 189695 |
I am always skeptical about roast duck as there is always an impression that most of them are usually roasted till dry and tough and not to mention a flat, salty taste. This is one of the few places I've come across that serves up roast duck to perfection. The meat remains succulent and juicy after the roast and the marinate can be tasted throughout the meat, unlike others where it becomes bland right after the skin. Also try their char siew if you don't mind the fatty cuts they use. (If you haven't already know, lard is healthier than margarine) Or if you would like roast pork, you can't go wrong here either. Once you've decided your choice of meat, think about the accompanying carbohydrate of either rice or noodles. Then do whatever it takes to grab the attention of the people running the place to place your order. Once ordered, wait to be served. It usually doesn't take too long, unless they forget your order. 
One last tip - the further you sit in the cafeteria, the warmer and stuffier it is, but you are more likely to find a seat there. The customers tend to sit outside as it is airier, so if you want a better seat outside, bring a friend along, because the stupid tissues will be swept away, not even if you have a tissue pack like this. 
 | Category: | Movies | | Genre: | Action & Adventure |
Not bad lah. Quite entertaining if you don't cross-reference the old Transformer cartoons.
But hor, if you do, quite pek-chek one.
How they get their vehicle form practically came from the Beast Wars. Scan scan here and there can liao.
The transforming is just too stylo-mylo until it is confusing and is dunno for what lor.
And donch have that "yee-yee-or-or" transforming sound.
Then hor, other than Bumblebee and Optimus Prime hor, all the other transformers cannot recognize one! Only hear their name, then you "huh" to yourself lor.
The old cartoon hor, they fight in the barren lands. In the movie, the Transformers is FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Area) trained one.
Starscream is not red colour one! Pui! Liddat how to recognize? Then he only got one line. Then fight here, fight there already, stand on top of some roof see dunno what show. Isn't he supposed to try and usurp Megatron's position as leader of the Decepticons?
Frenzy hor last time was a cassette tape that will jump out of Shockwave Soundwave who is the radio and cassette player robot. Now hor, he become some stupid ninja robot, can throw shurikens one! And hor, he now upgrade from cassette tape to cd player lor. Then after that can even upgrade to a mobile phone. Then what about Shockwave Soundwave? Obsolete liao have to sell to karang guni is it?
Talk about Megatron hor, I think they confuse with Galvatron, lor. Megatron where can transform into aeroplane a Star Wars X-Wing one? And he donch have his sibeh twa-kee cannon on his hand. See? How to recognize is Megatron? But he damn fierce and evil in this movie, I like!
Bumblebee since when become some stupid American car? American car sales cannot make it say so. What? Scared Volkswagen business too good is it? Then halfway can upgrade his car model some more.
Then the Transformers shio-parh always kena jump cut to some other scene one.
If lucky it jump cut to Megan Fox, if not lucky jump cut to dunno some bo liao human scene. Then suddenly jump cut again and the Autobot transformer win the fight liao. I thought should be like wrestling, got finishing move one mah?
Huh? What? No budget to animate the fighting scene footage?
Then hor, then hor, this worst part hor. They do the Transformers until so detail hor, but then hor, cannot see one! Megatron transform to his sibeh twa-kee cannon cannot see, Starscream cannot see properly, Every other robot also cannot see properly.
At least they got show Megan Fox properly.
But really, if you put aside all these things above, good movie lah.
 | Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Desserts | | Location: | 100 Beach Road, #01-25, Shaw Leisure Gallery, Singapore 189702 |
Tucked in a quiet corner of Shaw Leisure Gallery is a little surprise called Tom's Palette which sells home-made ice cream. When curious me entered their premises for the first time, I was greeted by sincere counter staff who are really proud of their little ice cream parlour and their flavours. That pretty much scared me away, plus I had no intention for ice cream that day. So a few hours ago, I decided to go for it. I stepped in to the ice cream parlour, got greeted by the rather sweet lady boss (I think), tasted the Oreo Cheesecake flavour, which was good, but settled for their Pisang Honey Walnut and Horlicks flavours in a small cup. You get to taste 2 flavours in a small cup at no extra charge and each cup is $2.80, which is considerably cheaper than other ice cream places. I thought it is a good tactic, to create a sense of value that the customer can taste 2 flavours for the price of one. It definitely helps those who can't decide between flavour 1 and flavour 2. Their ice cream is definitely one of the best I've tasted. Rich in flavour and really smooth texture. I really enjoyed their Horlicks flavour which I believe had extra amounts of the ingredient to pack the extra punch. The Pisang Honey Walnut though only managed to leave a mild impression with a weak banana flavour. But at least they were generous with the walnuts. Anyway, overheard a conversation between the staff and a customer, there was apparently a batch of cockles flavoured ice cream... see-hum ice cream? Ice cream mai hum? mai hum, mai hum, hai hum...
| Category: | Restaurants | | Cuisine: | Japanese / Sushi | | Location: | #B1-49, Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road
Singapore 179103 |
If you do remember, I had ravaged MOF for their lousy food and lack of variety in an earlier review. Somehow and for some reason, somebody did give a damn (I am assuming this) about that bad review, or maybe the management was really not proud of what they had to offer at the Marina Square branch. And since they couldn't "re-brand" their stupidest name in the world, they probably thought it would be the best move to concentrate on selling their good stuff. Which is probably the only best thing that came out of MOF, by the way. 
Simply said, the Girlfriend and I loved that just-you-and-me moment with the Macha Sundae (seen in picture). For S$6, you get soft-serve ice-cream with a scoop of their very good green tea red bean ice-cream and a whole lot of other toppings like green tea sauce, cereal, jelly, azuki red bean |
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