Love Princess' Food Diaries

Sweet & Cheap : Dessert Nation

2008-11-30T12:46:00.022Z

So what can cure rainy days and bluey Mondays? Gorgeous-looking sugar, methinks. What's really awesome and unassuming is Baked Alaskan @ The Ship (#04-34/36 Shaw Centre 1 Scotts Road, Tel: 6235 2235). It's ice-cream wrapped in a swiss roll, encased in thick meringue. There were four of us at the table, and we were struggling to lap up the last scoops of the sugar-rific dessert.

I, of course, took it upon myself to bear this yummy burden. Hah! It's less than 20 bucks - great value for money. But do order at least 30 minutes in advance.

Someone at the table did comment that the ice-cream roll did taste like it was bought off the shelf...oh please...so what?!! We did gobble this up after our steaks and noodles, which pretty much would explain why I felt like barfing after stuffing myself silly...

Then there's Hediard's (123-125 Tanglin Road, Tudor Court,

Tel:6333 6383) butter croissant, awesome coffee list and coffee eclairs...The butter croissant comes toasty and crispy at $3.30 each. And the coffee's just stunning. The coffee eclair is authentic, I must say, but a tad too sweet for even a sugar fiend such as me.

I must admit I did just have wanton noodles at Kovan Hub before meeting my ex-classmate for the bougeoisie treats, which warrants an entire blog and a half on how majestic these noodles are...so beautifully prepared with ketchup and chilli and other nick nacks. Char siew (barbequed pork) sliced and stacked with voluptuos meat dumplings were ooh-la-la. Thanks for the introduction, Greg! It's how I remember it when I was growing up, and wanton noodles were only $1.50 a bowl.

And of course, there's newbie Whisk (435 Orchard Road, #03-15 Wisma Atria Tel:6836 5080)...right next to the taxi stand. They have a compact menu of pasta and western favorites as well as sweet stuff. The mushroom soup had a good texture but came lukewarm...ugh. The salmon burger and prawn aglio olio were not bad at all...though the pasta's better...am planning to check out the fish & chips when I'm back. Also, the banoffi came in a little glass so I shared it with my girlfriend, even though we were so stuffed. It was as sweet as it should be. Let me just say, I dislike bananas intensely, so I spent half the time licking off the carmel from my spoon, and shoveling out little bits of bananas onto the napkin. The check came for 60 bucks for two people - 3-course meal x 2 plus dessert - not bad at all.

I Give You Thai, Cheap cheap!

2008-07-25T09:03:00.004Z

I’ve been a little addicted to something these days. THAI NOODLES. Especially when it’s dunked and simmering in spicy tom yum soup. It’s not something most Westerners would like to scald their taste buds with, but it’s definitely yummilicious to true-blue Asians. Tom yum (when you have the right paste, of course) can be a spectacular entrée anytime of the day. And extremely easy to prepare at home. So if you’re thinking of a career change, shell out bowls of super-hot Asian noodles garnished fragrantly with Chinese parsley, mint leaves, concentrated lime squeezes and sliced tomatoes, out of the back of a rented truck. Add shrimps and sotong, you can probably charge 6 bucks or seven with home made lime juice in the commercial district or in town.

In this tropical heat, the working people will be attracted to the desirable smells of a very fulfilling meal in the thick of summer – healthy fare with healthy calories, plus the high chili content increases the average person’s metabolic rate, and cools one down when sweating while shoving rice mee down delicate throats. So to feed my current addiction, I take a slow walk to Toa Payoh HDB Hub’s Lotus Thai where a picture of Utt (you know the MTv VJ who’s Thai?, also Brand's Essence spokesperson) and assumingly the owner, is laminated and pasted conspicuously for all would-be customers to see.

The staff are generally nice and double up as cooks – and I do suspect they’re all Thai who can speak some Chinese for the convenience of heartlanders. For approximately seven dollars, you can stuff yourself silly with fried vermicelli with seafood, spring roll and tom yum soup for lunch or dinner.

Sidetracking a little, in the same area, take the stairs down to the local cafeteria where the bus terminal is for Silver Stream rojak. The husband and wife team used to share shifts at the old premise in a coffee shop that’s near the public library, and opposite the new blocks of government apartments. It’s been taken over now by someone else cause they moved to their underground cubicle. Don’t ever think the old stall hasn’t changed cause it’s absolutely gross! The fried you tiao is not even crispy, and after being tossed with the shrimp paste and thick blanket of crushed peanuts, it’s just a mushy mess that tastes just as bad. Stick to the new stall operated by the real McCoy's where you’ve got to take a number and wait for the electronic board to reflect your digits – which can mean a long wait, up to forty minutes, mostly experienced during high-traffic lunch and dinner times. The underground cafeteria though closes early on Saturdays and doesn’t open on Sundays as it was created to service the working executives in HDB, PSB, and neighborhood companies such as Philips and SPH.

Back to Thai food…definitely go for the tom yum soup with noodles or rice, and the fried vermicelli – it’s so worth the visit, and it’s cheap, and there’s hardly a line. Cheep cheep…

Kitchen Un-Confidential

2008-03-09T03:20:00.027Z

This place was supposed to be SECRET.

This place was to be our family thang, if you get what I mean.

I don’t mean to be selfish but after a while, Singapore can be pretty teeny weeny. And you don’t get to keep things to yourself, especially yummilicious grubs. Majorly due to the influx of national food shows that sniff out all the famous hawker stalls, high-profile restaurants, and ulu areas – notably Makansutra Raw, Sweets For My Sweet and Makan Places : Lost And Found.

Not famous or on tv? Hop onto the cyberspace wagon and say your piece via unsupervised food blogs, general forums, and the latest application on Facebook – Local Picks. Plus all the monthly magazines and weeklies give stars, bow ties and bowls to determine the “goodness” and “oomph-ness” of each bite and a whole lot of yada, yada…So I’m confused, faced with a sea of obvious choices and a growing unbelievability in these so-called food critics, both bona fide and the unqualified.

Everyone has an opinion, and has a need to tell everyone else about it.

I’m no different. So here’s my odourific secret – EVEREST KITCHEN (55 Chander Road). It’s a cosy restaurant at the end of Rotan Lane which packs in mainly Nepalese every day. A few walk-in tourists and adventurous locals are pleasantly surprised here for many reasons.

1. Love the brass bowls – made by hand in Nepal…We wanted to buy them but no sirree…not for sale.

2. Simple menu that’s easy to read with pictures – awesome for people like me who know absolutely nothing about Nepalese fare…in fact. I’ve never been to the mountainous country or near it.

3. Prices are astonishingly low – food’s satisfying and definitely worth its pennies. Why? Read on.

4. The momo’s, which is one of the signature dishes, are true to its original taste – heavier skin than the one used for xiao long bao, stuffed with moist minced chicken, sans juice. Dipped lightly in chutney, the result makes you want to go - ole ole ole ole! And do the Kallang Roar. It’s simple and tasty. Goal! (ard $7/8 pcs)

5. Shrimps tucked overflowingly in a halved papaya, submerged in light creamy sauce, is happy food! Eaten on its own or with Bismati rice, or even with raw garlic bits brushed on fresh naan, the flavour rush is addictive – succulent, tender and fresh. ($12-ish) Goes well with cold beer.

6. Allergic to crustaceans? Some unusual greens will hit the spot – fried lady’s fingers sliced razor-thin and dunked into hot oil. Result? Vegetable Chips. Mmmmm… ($6, methinks)

7. If you’re the sort who prefers to keep your food loot to yourself,

ask for a personal lunch or dinner set for only five bucks. You’ll get a huge selection comprising chicken or mutton chunks slammed with curry, heavy dosage of mixed vegetables, big pool of dhal, a spot of spicy dip and a pile of your favourite naan, Bismati rice or both. Trust me, before you’re even halfway done, you’ll be moved to saving the leftovers for lunch the next day.

8.. Skip dessert. Have a marsala or ginger tea instead...spy...seee...!!

I am SOLD to this place…my very good friends have been escorted by moi. And they absolutely loved it. In fact, they can’t believe the check everytime it appears – “it’s so cheep!”.

They don’t have a Nets facility here but they do accept major credit cards, and of course, cash.

And it’s just a 3-minute walk from Little India MRT, Exit E.

It’s accessible, comfortable, affordable, hygienic, air-conditioned, managed well by friendly service ladies and yummilicious. Sounds too good to be true? Believe it. I wonder if they deliver…

Sea Food @ Clarke Quay

2008-02-26T02:15:00.018Z

So...I'm just back from Korea and Kuala Lumpur, and wanted to write something on each area but the stories have to be embargoed till after all my print stories are out...

But I've been mulling over crustaceans for awhile and decided to let it all out...my favorite place - which may not be the cheapest option - is Quayside Seafood (Blk 3A Clarke Quay; Tel: 9633 9146).

It's not that expensive either...you don't have to worry about your pacer working overtime. A huge meal for four can be anything from S$200 - S$350. Plus the sights and sounds of the river is pretty special. Thank good ness though I wore my cottons...it can get a little sweaty on a humid evening.

Starting off on a sweet note, they made me actually LOVE drinking out of coconuts...I used to detest it but I'm in love with it now...I can drink buckets of it and spend hours scraping off the soft flesh from all sides and corners... yummmm...very therapeutic... I used to be traumatised by scantily covered insides of these husky fruits. I ended up digesting undesirable fibres...gross-o-rama. But not anymore!

Anyhoo, the drunken prawns are really something. The strong but not overwhelming aroma, clean taste and gorgeous color simply magnetises me to the very thing that causes me to break out in hives and bad itches. My uncle does fantastic steamed drunken prawns which gives Quayside a run for their money. In fact, hire him folks...he's the real deal - You can always trust a Peranakan to whip out a-ma-ma-zing spreads... ;D

Yes, crustaceans were born to be my enemy...any part of me which is in direct contact with these shelled underwater creatures make me break out...not in song...but in red patches. Hah! And the war goes on between me - the Yao Kwee (a.k.a. greedy) Versus Seafood.

Moving on...A must must must is fried baby squids...the crunchiness, sweetness and oiliness are addictive...I keep popping them in my mouth...they should serve them as popcorn in movie theaters...seriously.

And who can resist CRABS??!!!! They are an absolute yes! especially since they are said to lower blood pressure, minimise blood triglycerides or bad fats, and can even improve your chances of living longer after a heart attack...whoa...But then again all these unbelievable benefits are also contingent on how the fare is prepared and the amount consumed at one seating. Too much of a good thing, I always believe, can wreak havoc where it's supposed to heal..

Back to my crabby friends, they should taste yummilicious with salted egg yolk. I absolutely adore shrimps stir-fried with egg yolk from Imperial Treasure Nan Bei...and I think age has caused my taste buds to mature to that of a forty-something...I used to spit out century eggs and preserved eeky thingeys but nowadays I devour them wholly.

So here I am with a humoungous plate of crabs smothered with dirty-yellow salted egg yolk...It was not too bad overall. However, I felt that the succulent crab meat, and preserved flavor of the egg did not blend well. It was a tad sweet which I guess can be considerably lightened when eaten with mantou or plain rice which act as a starchy protection layer over not-so-perfect selections such as this one.

The drunken prawns made me very happy though and is truly stellar. I plan to return with my brood and populate the dining table with prawns, prawns, prawns! And check out their chilli crabs. Skip the dessert though cause the last I saw they only served ice-cream...My friends and I crossed over the bridge instead and ooh'ed and aah'ed over the Yuzu sorbet @ Haato (Liang Court Shopping Centre, Medi-Ya Supermarket; Tel: 6337 8835) - I bought a tub back for my grandparents who licked it all up in a day. Yeah, it's that good...

Home Is Where I'm Fed, And Fed Well

2008-01-14T03:27:00.000Z

I feel deeply. I feel deeply about food – probably these digested substances will be the only thing that will ever get to check out my insides. My insides which I really hope no one gets to see including myself. Cause then it would mean I was unconscious, dying or dead.

Then again, enough about myself. What better food to fill you up, below and in-between than home-cooked fare. Yeah, the steamed grains, sauteed legumes, fried greens and braised meats which are familiar staples for kids growing up in Asia. I was serenaded by Peranakan favorites ever since I took my first breath on this earth – itik sio, babi pongteh, buah keluak, kari ayam, assam ikan, sambal kangkong and mee siam.

Eating was never fun for me when I was little. I hated having bubur (porridge) for lunch or cabbage fried with itty-bitty shrimps for dinner. And I definitely wasn’t crazy about white rice. But I had to finish every morsel of food on my plate. Ugh.

Thank goodness I grew up fast enough to enjoy the all-time experience of inhaling processed fast-food burgers and heaps of microwavable mashed potatoes for breakfast, lunch, snack-time, dinner and supper. Yumsie doodles.

Of course shoving commercial garbage into my tums was too much for my teenage belly and so it rebelled. And this biologically-driven rebellion cause a jolting halt to frequent trips made to the nearby fast-food drive-thrus. Hence the birth of what seems like a neverending journey on the road of adventurous eats around the world, sans any sort of fast-food- a lifetime feat, really.

I never really went back to having Peranakan food cause I really think I’m done. Having it ALL the time, almost EVERY DAY for at least TWELVE YEARS is enough. But of course, we tend to revisit the past when an aunt come a-visiting from a land far, far away and decides to cook up a feast for a small country. And the thing is, a small country turned up at our doorstep during the holidays.

So here’s what we had to offer our family & co - check out the pics for our "Wild Wild Western" Christmas Eve dinner...

Super Shiok

2007-11-19T08:19:00.000Z

Okay...Ready...Let's Go - My uncle pretty much functions like that. He loves taking out the whole family for meals, whenever he's available, and to wherever he wants to go. His selections, I must say, have been very good. He's like the Directory King of Hawker Centers in Singapore, and some say JB.

Most of the time they are dirty, ultra gross-ness, and dirt cheap (pun very much intended). So guess where we landed for dinner the other day? (Old) Lai Huat Seafood Restaurant. Say what? I know...I had no clue what the cuisine was or where it's at. In fact, I'm still figuring out what's with the bracketed prefix.

It's an open coffee shop space with a few fans that didn't really break their wind on us. All three generations were perspiring while the round table was being prepared. Being prepared for what you may ask? A lady started mopping up the humoungous table with a soapy piece of cloth which splattered everywhere, a lot more on my mum than she would have liked. And then a mega huge plastic in pink, covered the table before the orders were taken and the food were laid out. The plastic table thingey stuck to the surface easily, thanks to the foamy layer of soap.

It's the first time in my life that I've witnessed this spectacle in any eatery in the world!!! But I guess it makes a lot of scientific, chemical sense.

Anyway, moving on...we ordered a round of young coconuts and they were yummy. Sweet and fleshy. Although I still prefer Quayside's which are pricier (the one at Clarke Quay). Then my uncle, with an independent mind ordered what he wanted us to have for dinner that night - fried bass (I think) in sweet & sour gravy made crunchy with sliced onion wholes.

Then there were Sambal Kangkong which was super sambal belanchan-ized. Shiok. Meatballs and Fish Tofu. Very tender and smooth, yumsie-doodles. Also fried young squid. Fabulous, just fabulous. It's done old-school style and served on an assortment of orange melamine plates. Probably that's why the seafood here tastes better than the atas eateries which bank on air-con, reasonable location and an extensive menu to seduce the hungry ignoramus population here.

By far, this restaurant has exceeded my fussy expectations. Total Shocker : IT WAS WORTH IT. And if it does matter, the meal was extremely affordable.

Plus, I earned for myself a lifelong friend :)

Not-So-Secret Hideout : (Old) Lai Hust Seafood Restaurant

Address : #01-01/02, 223 Rangoon Road, Rangoon View

Tel : 62927375

NO POSEURS PLEASE - KL-Style Hokkien Mee

2007-10-26T06:30:00.000Z

My furry friends, I just stumbled upon an amazing find! Thanks to Selene, the unassuming foodie - KL Hokkien Mee reigns in the heart of Orchard Road!!!

It's perfectly flavoured in kechup manis, stocky liver, saucy prawns and juicy sotong. Fantabulous...!truly yummy...I'm not even looking forward to dinner tonight. Cause nothing can really match up to these noodles...so worth the calories.

I didn't even crave for dessert after it...woo hoo! Where can you find noodles like this drenched in sweet black sauce? ISLAND CAFE - 320 Orchard Road, 4th Floor, CK Tang Tel: 6311 3424.

I am content.

I Am Definitely Not Staying Till 2 A.M.

2007-10-04T05:43:00.000Z

If you're constantly sugar-starved like me, and become very snappy when sharing a box of assorted Van Houten chocolates with a bunch of like-minded grubby munsters, then you're probably understand how I felt at 2 a.m. dessert bar.

Yawn-sational.

I don't understand the concept of it at all. Is it a dessert joint or a bar - as in an alcoholic checkpoint? The decor stirred up mixed reactions - firstly of nostalgia, since the concept was very similar to a joint I love in Siem Reap called Blue Pumpkin. Secondly of yuckiness, since the colors clashed...white seats and cushions (pretty cheap ones really) with multi-earth-toned tables and counters. The place is not that large to begin with, so browns would just shrink the space more. Thirdly, the lights were yellow and too bright for a chill-out session with friends, that special someone or just to wind down after a hard day's work.

Regardless, my friend and I found a cosy spot and dominated the corner facing the window on the long daybed flanked on one side of the dessert place. The service, I must say, is timely and pretty efficient. Apparently, the owner herself even served tables that night, including ours. And the manager of the outfit was more than nice and chatty to us.

But see, that doesn't redeem them of the slightly bigger than miniscule desserts printed in microscopic font on the menu. Unforgivable, really. For a dessert joint that opens from 6pm - 2am, the dessert selection is seriously wanting of good old Granny Smith Apple Pie, Old-Fashioned Cheesecake with fun versions, and Molten Lava Chocolate; None of which could be found. Honestly, the desserts we ordered were teeny-weeny, and unsatisfying to say the least.

The chocolate warm tart with a thin, crispy crust cradled overflowing saucy chocolate - and this experience should have been divine for a chocoholic like me, but I found myself downing water to somehow save my throat after two small spoonfuls. The thin crust, in my opinion, should have been cake instead to absorb at least some of the molten chocolate, topped with frozen vanilla bean ice-cream. And the whole makan experience would have been savoured. Instead of ice-cream, blood orange sorbet was presented instead and boy, was it sweeeeet! Saccharine sweet. Only a dollop was served, I noticed, as opposed to a full scoop.

If this is designer dessert, then it really needs a makeover overhaul. "Designer" should infer genuinity, quality and lots of love. Not attempts at nouveau art and skinny creative servings. We ordered the Twix after that whole warm chocolate debacle to give them another chance. I mean, what are the chances of finding 1 indulgent dessert among a paltry 8 right? Guess again.

Expresso is described as warm mascarpone foam, Kahlua jelly, crumble with expresso ice-cream. How did that go? Forgettable. A top local food critic once said that if you can't remember what you put in your mouth, then it wasn't worth remembering anyway.

With names such as "Twix", "Green Tea" and "Cheesecake", no one could blame you if you can't recall them 5 minutes after having ordered them. The names are too generic.

It's time to bring back desserts as how they were created to be - fulfilling sizes, rich creams, decadent ice-cream and chockful of character.

I Want To Be Desert-ED

2007-09-16T04:45:00.000Z

It is surprising to note that not many places in Singapore have a-ma-mazing desserts. How can?, you say. It's true mah. My family and close friends have been camping at the neighborhood ice-cream joint - Icekimo (8 Sin Ming Road#01-03 Sin Ming Centre). And for very good reason. Everyone related to me (except me) lurrrrve durians (yikes!). Icekimo has introduced the super durian waffle at less than six bucks. It's D24 durian,too (whatever that means). Man, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE ANYWAY???

Sun with Moon (Wheelock Place, #03-15) also does a rockin' Green Tea Tiramisu which is both fluffy and seeped in alcohol. I'm a huge fan of matcha, so green tea with anything suits me just fine :) The portions at this restaurant chain is kinda small though. I have to admit I don't mind the teeny-weeni-ness of it all. But sometimes friends may not share the same views, as with most things in life.

Another heart-tugger is tofu cheesecake. At Sun, you can eat the WHOLE cheesecake and not feel jelak. In fact, you could eat two cakes and still feel on top of the world, instead of staring down your toilet. The healthy slice is presented in a "bird cage" of sorts, befitting the size that is morsel-ly. For the soft and light and "melt-in-your-mouth-but-not-in-your-hand" version, head to Miki Ojisan no Mise cakes in paper boxes sold within the Orchard Road area including Scotts Shopping Centre.

On the subject of light, there's a beautiful raspberry ensemble piled to hit the roof (of the restaurant) which I had the opportunity to get acquainted with quite intimately at The Universal (36 Duxton Hill). Crunchy with thinly slathered custard at each layer of yummy berries, it was simply sweet-ness. I could have it again and again and again. No sharing, please.

Love Notes

2007-08-14T03:25:00.000Z

I’m in love. In love with a very special someone. Her name is Cambodia. I know. ALL my friends say I just can’t stop raving about it. Cambodia’s simply breathtaking. I just can’t get her off my mind. She’s made me drop all of my defenses and love again without apprehension, without looking forward to rejection, without false hope. I love her for all her humble and not-so-humble edible offerings every day and every night.

Particularly broth in any form. Khmer broth is addictive. Be forewarned. Best tasted in casual shorts and tees, with favorite flip flops. The most memorable sloppy slurps I experienced is with this bowl of locally made porridge. I had the opportunity to meet with the owner who ran a street joint that could hold 50-60 people easily. Palm-sized squares of white one-ply tissues are freely supplied at every table, as well as a small waste basket lays sturdy at each corner. So I guess one could rate the success of any food stall quite easily with the naked eye by the number of used tissues in the small bins and on the cement floor.

A bowl of the yummilicious “chok” saturated with cooked slices of chicken, pork, beef and chunks of vegetables can change your day from a so-so one to a very satisfied-with-a-toothy-smile night. All of which cost me US$1. The owner revealed that she boiled chicken and pork bones for a few hours every morning and added unidentified local spices into the whole mix. I could taste ginger, definitely pepper and a dash of salt.

But the broth is spectacular. Spectacularly a-ma-ma-zing. Absolutely unforgettable. Hence my love affair continues. I might just move over to this unforbidden city for a few months. And add more savory memories to the already overflowing ones. I’m in love. Can’t you tell?

Feels Like Home @ HOUSE

2007-07-26T08:42:00.000Z

I HAVE DECIDED- I'm 30, so I shall just speak my mind and not go into great lengths to beat around the bush, so they say. So here's the deal, I eat like a freak at a rapid pace, and can be seen in a million places in a split milisecond. At such lightning speed that I'm living by, so should my blogs be. Swift, to the point, and very pretty xoxo

Presenting HOUSE on 8D Dempsey Hill - The menu's adorable and pretty extensive. I found Mexican, American, Italian and something-something influences which sometimes can't be seen, only tasted. My favorite is the peanut butter cake with such a gooey, crunchy texture to it, it should be slathered on everything you put your lips to.

Vintage plates, eclectic furniture, spacious surroundings, sleek bar, Turkish bath (jaw-dropper), and the romantic night sky can make for some serious merry-making with exquisite booze, velvety desserts and honest-to-goodness food. Like truffle oil fries (mmmmm...), tuna salad which smells Asian and lovin' it, dip-sters in adorable campy tin cans with toasty bread, tender medium rare steak slices which have been generously marinated and seasoned to break out into a scrumptious symphony of spicy flavors....really, you should be here.

I'm parked here almost the whole of next week. I'd be able to read off the menu in my sleep by then. The only thing missing here is a 1000-thread count bed fitted with gilded Cavalli sheets, Cleopatra pillows and a purring hairy-tailed feline in bed with me. Purrrrr....

How's that for swift-ness?...Haiyah, give me some time lah. Still a little chong hey (long-winded)

No Pain, No Love

2007-04-23T11:17:00.000Z

If you’re Singaporean, chances are you’ve probably been to Hong Kong, at least once a year. It’s less than four hours away. And the food is delish!

I know, I know. The shopping’s ace. It really is. But the food is achingly gorgeous, devastatingly yummy and blindingly spicy.

There are so many makan places I attacked with my over-ambitious appetite in cute little dresses and knee-high black patent leather boots.

The one place you MUST go is the Agnes b. café. It is the only Agnes b. eatery in the world. Why Hong Kong, you ask? Well, I honestly don’t know. Maybe it is recognized for being the true foodie place in Asia where experimental art meets tasty sophistication. Price tags not included. Who looks at how much stuff costs on the menu anyway? Who?

You sit at a table and order whatever you like and then get ushered out after card’ing a check which you don’t even look at. Well, that’s how I do it.

Anyhoo, back to the Agnes b. café which is properly known as “Le Pain Grille” or literally "Toasted Bread". The minute you enter the wooden doors, you are transported to a charming little place in Paris. The white French curtains held up by wooden rods create a surreal feel to the Parisienne furniture. The special items of the day are written vigorously on a chalk board that plays a mobile role throughout the room.

Order the mussels…they are amazingly fresh and soaked in a aromatic broth in a cream-coloured bowl. All cutlery is branded with “Le Pain Grille”. How cute is that? And the bruschetta is oh-so-lovely. Chopped tomatoes are rosy and heaped onto toasted baguette which is crispy, soft and crunchy in the mouth.

The most memorable part of the meal, of any meal, are the desserts. I tried a few of them including the hazelnut praline and blueberry cheesecake. Ahhh….what is life without sugar? And the different ways they can be eaten makes life that much sweeter.

I am so very impressed by this unassuming café simply because I never expected it to be that good. It’s like when I was on a search for the best apple tart in Singapore and I ruled the former DKNY Café with the winning recipe. The café has since moved to the Club 21 I-shop in Cathay Cineleisure.

Remember these three words when in Hong Kong – Le Pain Grille.

Maa-Maa

2007-03-15T09:57:00.000Z

I did it. I DID LES AMIS. The one in Au Jardin. The building is beautiful and very British, might I say. The servers look spiffy and smiley. I was there on a week day, I think Thursday night not too long ago. It was my first time at Les Amis. I know. I suck. But not anymore!

And to think I've waited all this time to revel in artistic gourmet. Poetic licence was lent to the menu. Romance was in the air. And it pretty much stopped there.

The table d'hote served was maa-maa, and the dinner companion was worse. No, I was NOT on a date. Let's just focus on the food shall we?

The amuse bouche was this weird-tasting egg shell cupping some egg thingey with potato broth. Hah? Eewness Central. It was not cold, neither was it hot. It was "just is". *confused* I didn't see any meaning or purpose in the broken shell dairy "nog"? Haiyah, don't know lah.

The crab meat was lovely. I had two slightly different interpretations of it. The temperature was perfect heat, if such a term existed. And yummy-doodles.

By the way, I soooooo forgot my digicam so I was using my laoya (a.k.a. lousy) cell phone to take pictures. Sorry...very boho, I know. I'm a really busy girl, okay!

I was seated facing the gardens. It was a gorgeous evening - balmy and cool. Both elements I didn't experience cause I was sitting inside. Alamak, I'm very Singaporean. Must have air con. I also noticed that Botanic Gardens gets super dark really early in the evening. So why do people still visit the place after 5 p.m.? You can't really see anything, and Cafe Les Amis closes fairly early. You're obviously not there for dinner - they're usually dressed casually.

So, what's the..Ohhhhhhhhhh..........Eew. Moving forward, please.

The wagyu beef carpaccio is ooh-la-la...really the STAR of the evening that brightened up my whole dinner. The King George which I ordered was not too bad. A little heavy for my liking. You know, I'm girly like that. But for a guy, I think they'd slurp it up in a few swift moves with the Cuteness Central knives. The broth generally for all the dishes were yumsies-daisies.

But I did have a sad moment - the desserts were so blah. Ugh. I had three. And they were so not hip, hot and happening. In fact, the additional dessert I ordered was not taken seriously at first. The server, in full official regalia (not tux lah, more like pretty suit) actually reminded me that it would be chargeable. DUH.

It's Les Amis. The minute you sit your cute butt down on one of those plush chairs in Au Jardin, you're so not counting the dollars anymore. And I definitely wasn't. So, hello? When you're in a posh restaurant, you are posh. So behave like it. I felt like a child been asked to show my bank acocunt balance just to prove I could spend a few more dollars after I've already racked up some hundred of 'dem.

If Les Amis @ Shaw Centre wasn't filled, I would have been dining my heart out and lovin' it. But that of course is a pure assumption based on feeling. The feeling that i'm meeting my friend in less than an hour for dinner. And I just can't wait to soup-size myself.

I'm not even going to show you dessert pictures cause they're just not worth it. The only thing that kept me going during dinner was the view.

Sigh.

SUSHI, SMOOSHIE

2007-02-27T15:35:00.000Z

I never used to like rice but with sushi, I temporarily convert my dislikes into do-able. The Japanese can do that to you. It's pretty funny how I used to be so picky about what went into my mouth and now, I've become adventurous all in the name of "passione"...the tireless pursuit for ultimate happiness in the simple things in life - medium rare beef steak (wagyu, no wagyu, what's the diff?), reverse California maki (best done in Akashi), and steamed custard bun nuked by sunset-orange salted egg (of course, only at Imperial Treasure).

I totally dig when Madonna alerts me with "Get ready to jump now, baby. Get ready to jump."

Sitting in a restaurant, not knowing what you ordered and having no idea why, is like jumping into a seemingly calm lake with your clothes on. You don't know what's in the water, you don't care. You only know one thing, there's no turning back. Like when I was in Amici @ Holland Village the other day, I was in my usual "just because I feel like it" mood. But I really wished I could have turned back and headed for the nearest roti prata mama shop. I actually stayed on with my friend where we were adequately tortured with aglio olio which tasted like soggy salted pretzels, and a pizza with limp yellow slices of Asian tomatoes on Asian cheese - all these at a self-professed AUTHENTIC ITALIAN restaurant. Seriously. Seriously.

I don't know why I'm ranting. I guess I felt conned. Aiyoh.

SCANDALOUS

2007-02-07T14:04:00.000Z

I LOVE EATING. I LOVE EATING IN HONG KONG. It's sooooo fabulous-o. I don't see why people here aren't as fat as they should be. They are constantly chomping on some carb-central snack in a local joint for breakfast or slurping smoky noodles at a popular cha tien. Expect to get shoved walking from one cramped street to another even more crowded one. Personal space is ignored by the middle-aged auntie rushing on foot to her yum cha lunch with her mahjong friends. Or by the busy city taxi driver who is grabbing his first meal of the day when the sun's blasting in all her fury, and the maddening tourist crowd thickens.

Of course, I joined in the thick of the masticating action the second I stepped onto this very yummylicious city. Wanna see? Amazing eats at plebeian prices. Check it out, folks. Must-see, must-try, must-cry mum-mum for the change in your pocket. Really cheap lah. Cheep cheep.

Sweetened pear tea is hot stuff in a mug, with a must-bite into french-like toast with a squarish slab of oily butter and drenched in home-made maple syrup. Very rich, very me :) Personally, the girlie version of carb-infested snack-ness is the butter toast interlaced with well-behaved condensed milk (i.e. not dripping at the sides).

Hawt.

Fashion On Your Plate

2007-01-31T02:26:00.000Z

Have you been to Brown Sugar? It was my first time last week. It's in Stardus Clubhouse. A frosted door claims its name to makan fame, which I easily walked pass unknowingly, ending up at the end of the corridor. I found myself in the communal bathroom. Where was the bistro anyway?

I backed up a number of steps and ah ha! Found the frosted door and the not-so-conspicuous Brown Sugar logo smiling at me. It's not a very big space but I quickly nestled myself against

the soft couch and comfy cushions. If not for my friends' arrival to the table, I would have taken a well-sought-after snooze. Very tired that evening, man.

We ordered a sea of stuff, much to my delight! And everything looked gorgeous! (best said with a posh British accent)

Each plate had an equally gorgeous title attached to them too...hmmmmmmm...

Deconstructed apple salad with walnuts, Wagyu beef burger with tossed salad, fresh cod with slim-wedge fries, aglio olio made friendly with pine nuts, molten lava with Varlhona chocolate meshed with vanilla ice-cream, pear tartin paired with honey & fig ice-cream....the list goes on.

I'm gonna check out the lamb the next time I sashay my way to this Mohamed Sultan 'do. If they do good lamb, they must be good. I couldn't help but compare them to Wild Rocket though. Similar genre of food and emphasis on presentation and tastes. Which one I prefer? Ssssssssh...Let me lamb it before I reveal this succulent secret.

They were all yummy-doodles and oh-so puh-ree-tee. A must-do for a cosy third date or a fun reunion with close friends or even a casual business lunch to feed the hungry client.

Fantasize with these pictures. Very gorgeous, very me ;D

The More I See You, The More I Love You

2007-01-24T16:24:00.000Z

Soooooo death-defyingly Jill-o-licious is the sticky toffee pudding I just had at Highlanders @ Clarke Quay. Just had, as in a few hours ago! A girlfriend of ours is in town for a few weeks from Sydney. It's so fun to catch up after a long while. And you know girls, we talk and talk and talk about every nitty gritty thing. Hah :)

Anyhoo, the sweet-o-rama dessert engaged with chocolate chip cookie ice-cream and bordered with a mini sliver of almond biscotti was ab fab, y'all! It's sweet enough to make you drool for more, and yet not overly sweet to cause you a sugar crash the next day.

I dislike toffee on its own. The candy looks, tastes and smells synthetic, very manufactured. Ugh. But this toffee was so NOT! This glossy remake from butter, milk and molasses or plain sugar was rockin' with the malt whiskey that was generously seeped into the toffee cake mixture.

Complimented with chewy chocolate ice-cream that was D to the E to the L to the I to the C-I-O-U-S, it was mighty fine. This was one plate you couldn't pull away from me, at least not for long. When the pudding arrived, everyone around the table wanted a taste. So the white china did do its tour and was voted "very good" by four gregarious, cuteness central ladies. "Very Good" really means wah lau, why I didn't order this? Now I have to watch her finish it but I can only have one bite. Pai seh mah, not my dessert.

Not bad for a debut appearance.

Loosen Up My Buttons, Babe

2007-01-23T10:59:00.001Z

Sweet Surrender. That’s my theme song, you know the one from Sarah McLachlan. Thought I’d share with you some of the mighty fine-looking candies I’ve laid my eyes upon, and was moved to stab a fork into.

Starbucks’ strawberry tart is something, isn’t it? It’s so worth the money and the calories. The strawberry chunks are pretty big, so it does offset the sugar loaded in the rockin’ pastry...I think...I hope. Can share one. Looks teeny but really packed with grub-a-licious, so delicious, yum-in-my-tum from the L-I-C-I-O-U-S.

Carrot cake from Toast. I just can’t rave enough about it. It’s the best in the country! Crammed with chockfuls of pineapple, walnuts and raisins smooshed into real carrots and moist cake, this is the best treat to a long day or to celebrate the end of a crazy diet. Slathered with true-blue cream cheese, you’d be tempted to inhale the whole cake.

A really simple yummy-doodle treat is almond beancurd with longans, which I LOVE at The Ship. They don’t serve it all the time, but when they do, you wish they could serve it in a bigger sundae cup! It’s so smooth-tasting, very refined really. It doesn’t taste synthetic at all which most jello tend to be. And it gives off an aromatic almond smell.

Ooooh….the curd just glides into your mouth and skis into your tummy through your throat. So light, you’ll have space for more desserts…happy days are here again :)

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These...

2007-01-19T18:32:00.001Z

I love CANDY. I LOVE CANDY.
Anything that’s saccharine-sweet and smells extravagantly lovely, I naturally gravitate towards. Naturally.

One of my favorite yummy-doo-dum-dums, out of a gazillion million desserts which have toured my almost-30-year-old, well-used and weather-resistant intestines, is the most princessy cupcakes which seriously melts in your mouth and instantly makes you very happy. VERY HAPPY.

Sugar never looked so good. These cupcakes from Carnival & Co are so awesome, I kept ordering the regular and mini ones. A lot of them for myself, and some for family and friends. Alamak, eat until whole box finish lah (5 Big Pieces). I’m so happy my friends really enjoyed them, that almost all of them ordered more boxes for the Christmas season. The cupcake designs are so puh-ree-tee. Great as alternatives to birthday cakes! No more messy knifes and weirdly-sized slices of crumbling cake. Cupcakes are so now, you gotta have them for at least ONE birthday this year. Then you’ll get it!

And the other woo-hoo chomping favorite is the carrot walnut cake from Toast @ Ngee Ann City. Truly one of the best in the country. With Cedele Depot @ Wheelock Place running in tandem for the top spot. The cream cheese is wonderfully smooth, and unbelievably gorgeous with the main cake made of shredded carrots and embedded walnut chunks. The type of cream cheese makes all of the difference, as the temperature used to store these cakes. Very important lah. One of the grossest cakes I’ve ever tasted are at Coffee Bean’s. They taste old and the cheese on the carrot cake is eewness central. You can tell immediately by the stale-looking color. Maybe it was a one-off incident which I experienced with a friend who really didn’t mind forking her way through the eeky carb-mess.

But I just love chocolate. CHOCOLATE is the Champion of all desserts, folks! So I crown this the week of chocolaty pleasures. This means intense chocolate-blogging for a limited time only.

Come back every day before you get hit with sugar crash = chocolate feeding time.

Until then, feel the tiara, says Love Princess.

Chinatown Blues

2007-01-12T17:50:00.000Z

Mediocre. Is what I would use on Chinatown, our Chinatown. It was a little drizzly and wet the night I was there with LG. I even bumped into a friend of mine who announced my name pretty loudly, but you know, no one really turned around or cared to find out which human-ling of the so-so-crowd belonged to the name. Whatever. *pair of interlocked V ‘s on forehead*

To the left already, a la Beyonce.

Aside from lacklustre atmosphere, wet furniture and a one-off appearance of cheesy trishaws transporting clueless tourist couples to wherever at rip-off prices in disco renditions of nineties’ pop hits, the food fare was BOR(E)-RING. Really, people. Ugh, ugh, ugh. *stomping silver Gucci python pump heels*

I went all the way there, in my favorite gold Roberto Cavalli drawstring tote, and cute Topshop Unique dress which I vacuumed-packed from Oxford Circus, to ingest fumes from the long line of standalone food stalls. AND. Swiftly chopstick my way from the plasticky plate of char kway teow (fried broad noodles in dark sauce), into my hungarian mouth. (I’m not really Hungarian, but what else could you call someone who’s hungry? Hun or Hungry-let? Duh.)

The color looked right and the taste was sufficiently balanced between the sweetness of the dark sauce and saltiness of the MSG. But the absence of lab cheong (Chinese sausage) was deeply felt and sadly missed. The school-canteen-like dish was drab-looking and depressing. Sad-o-rama.

The seafood selection looked happier and cheery but I wasn’t craving for crustaceans and friends. But I did check out the ah balling with LG.

Read her blog on : http://ladyglam.blogs.friendster.com/ladyglam/

Ah Balling refers to stuffed rice glutinous balls in hot soup. The store here was (wo)man-ned by two little old ladies who were struggling to get the orders right. It can be quite a challenge, folks! There were a bunch of stuffings and soup flavors which you, as a willing makan-ster, could choose from which promotes consumer empowerment. And extreme work stress for our senior-citizen aunties :( The price though is almost free! Two bucks for 6 balls…S-I-X…Cheap-o-rama. Yasui ne! Murah Lah. We shared a bowl of green tea, peanut and black sesame balls in ginger soup. The ginger concoction was heavily hinted with white sugar and some ginger oomph. Not very happening.

The green tea ah balling was mochi-like. The paste was clumpy even in hot soup and tasted blasé. As for the black sesame, LG, you comment since you ate ALL of them! And for the peanut ones, mmmmmmmmm, they punctuated the end of my dinner with a sweet and happy ending. Melt-in-your-mouth fluidity and crunchy texture cradled in gooey rice sold me to these things for life.

Come on now, get ballsy in the new year. *wink*

I Was Bait

2007-01-09T15:05:00.000Z

The best Curry Fish Head I’ve set my eyes upon is discreetly simmering in an aromatic area of Singapore that is well-acquainted with me; Nam Kee’s chicken rice, Dino’s swiss roll, icekimo’s chempedak dessert and The Roti Prata House’s milk-injected-dough prata.

Follow the inviting smells and you would be in Upper Thomson – A nostalgic street especially since I’ve been fed paranormal doeses of siu bak, char siew and steamed chicken at Nam Kee’s ever since I was knee-high. My parents would drive us kids there almost every Saturday. I was reminiscing about this place with friends just the other day. They too have patronized this family joint for years, and watched three generations manage the business, and 2-3 restaurant renovations.

However, the hot and spicy focus right now is Hooked on Heads. What’s that? It does sound dodgy, doesn’t it? Hahahah! I passed by this restaurant at Sin Ming Plaza many times but never ventured to go in. Thought it was “Hooked on Beads”. Hello. Wake up and feel the tiara, Love Princess.

My daddy insisted we give it a go. I was so hesitant. FYI - My parents love processed foods…twinkies, Gardenia’s cream buns, random coconut-based kueh-kueh at the railway station…just plain gross lah. My mum *shaking head* text’d me when I was in London saying that I MUST try the custard tartlets sold in Selfridges. In the FROZEN section. Eewness Central!

But that’s not the point. Hah! Moving forward, I was bowled over by the fish head curry. REALLY GOOD. It’s not jelak-y (translation = won’t get sick of the taste), unexpected lightness to the gravy, and smooth-textured. Very shiok-a-rama. Want to know the secret to a great-tasting and refreshing curry dish? It’s in the milk. Apparently they add half of the normal dose of coconut milk, and the rest of the mixture consists of regular milk = you absorb only half the calories! The fish is majorly fresh too. And adequately spiced with green parsley and limber tomatoes. Ooooooh. The spiciness is happening lah.

I was seen constantly scooping with my stainless steel spoon deep into the tasty gravy claypot. I really can’t rave enough of it. And big GOLD STARS for daddy! He got it right (finally) this time.

People, it’s extremely affordable. Not bluffing. It’s the perfect place to share a yumster meal with the extended family and friends.

Until the next bite, too-dles.

My Green Loves - The Last Instalment

2007-01-07T15:52:00.000Z

One of the many good surprises I had in the last hours of 2006 lies in this four-lettered word : Aiwo (Raffles City Shopping Centre).

Extremely tasty and not a busy sight at all, the New Year’s Eve lunch I had was outstanding. The Omega-3 lunch plan was yummy-doodles. I’ll let the pictures do the talkin’.

The main course I had was a medley of mushrooms, cauliflower and broccoli tossed and marinated tandoori-style. Very Indian. I like! And it seemed as though I might not get to see the white of the plate after a good thirty minutes of active fork-stabbing, teeth-crunching exercises.

What kept me going was the upcoming surprise which would complete the trilogy experience :)

Voila! The dessert left me lingering for more – chocolate and green tea parfait with berries reduction. Smooth, rich and sexy. I savored every spoonful from expresso-dessert cup to willingly-parted lips. Again and again. I would like to think that the sweetness and chocolate ingredient ingested (rather quickly) could be attributed to a sugarless sugar substitute. And that all the calories were sucked out of the unforgettable sweet before it landed in front of me on the dining table by the kitchen angels. Uh-huh...

Truth or dare, folks?

For those who prefer meat and veggies sharing the leading role on the table, Aiwo also offers generous portions of salmon and chicken for your masticating enjoyment.

And the sinless = guiltless chocolate cake is also irresistibly available.

Come on, take a go at it. Who knows, you might lose everything (unwanted double chin, useless fat cells, bloated silhouette), and gain nothing except the check (a.k.a. bill).

My Green Loves - The Sequel

2007-01-05T13:51:00.001Z

When I was a practising vegetarian a few years ago (and lost a LOT of weight might I add), my dearest friend, let’s call her Bubu, sent me a picture of a well-known vegetarian. A COW.

Isn’t it nature’s wonder that although cows and cow-like animals share the same diet as Love Princess, they weigh a ton, and I lost a ton? Hah.

Since I’m on a winning streak here with this whole “Go Green, You Can Eat Whatever You Want” campaign, shake your cute bon-bons to Lingzhi Vegetarian Restaurant @ Liat Towers.

Happening, man. You will feel guiltless about gorging yourself with everything on the menu. EVERYTHING. The most digestive-worthy dish is “Fire In The Belly” – fried monkey head mushrooms with spinach and shredded ginger. It’s spicy too. Mmmmmmm… You can pop these babies like popcorn. My virgin encounter with these monkey-head things was at Four Seasons’ Jiang Nan Chun. SHIOK. It was crispy and peppered with sesame seeds (sesame seeds should be on everything!), and had me serial-popping till they disappeared from the communal lunch table. Pai seh (embarrassing) *blush*

The dim sum selection was really nothing to shout about. And the soup, sheesh. It’s grossly diluted.

Stick to the star dishes such as “Rolling Crunch” – crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, fried mushrooms are rolled and served sushi style, with chunks of capsicum, shredded cucumber and moistened with soya vinaigrette; sweet and sour vegetarian fish, and beancurd skin “satay” on a stick heavily drizzled with spicy peanut sauce will leave you a satisfied bunny.

And of course, the black sesame glutinous ball dusted with fine peanut shavings, and mellow yellow custard roll is yummy-doodles.

With attentive service and accessibility (geographically speaking), and a tasty menu tagged at S$18.80++ per pax only, wasted if you don’t go lah.

Then after you makan, make sure you come back, and tell me whether the trip was worth it or not. Remember ah! (Oh, minimum two diners for buffet treatment)

My Green Loves

2007-01-04T12:05:00.000Z

I need to detox. And I figured the best way to do it is overdo the daily water drill, and set up regular dates with sweet-looking, fresh-smelling, totally healthy vegetables. Yes, sirree…people, veggies are totally delish. I love this country for allowing the epidemic spread of yong tau foo in almost every food court I walk into.

Singapore rocks! If you’re a fan of this soupy or dry dish, you’d realize that the assortment of healthy edible items are growing as is my rising euphoria. What exactly am I talking about? YONG TAU FOO. There’s usually a showcase of taupok (fried beancurd) stuffed with fish, spinach-topped beancurd, mock crab sticks and full-sized sotong (cuttlefish), amongst dozens of other yummy-doodles, paraded au naturel before your eyes. No camera tricks, or colorings, or mouldy smells.

Usually accompanied by a selection of Asian noodles, you can even choose to have the individual goodies served ampang-style or dunked in laksa (coconut-based and spicy) broth. Most importantly, the serving bowl is HUGE. Very important lah, especially since I adore steaming broth. Woo-hoo. And spice-infused smells are equally integral to the overall makan experience.

One of my favorite stalls is the one at Wisma’s newly-renovated food court on the top floor. The “buffet-style” bar is so pretty! The broth could definitely be improved but for a few local dollars, it’s almost free, I can’t complain! It would be nice though if there were white truffle oil-infused noodles to up the flavor-ante at super-hero heights with these mouthwatering grubbers. Hmmmmm...

Ah well, until such a time, I am belly content :)

I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Head

2007-01-02T15:39:00.000Z

Yum Cha. Truly, it’s all that I think about. Well, besides other things. Where do you go for yum cha in all its greatness? Try London. Yauatcha, specifically. The pictures speak for themselves. Yum-ness Central.

Yup, I’m truly at a lost for words. Exactly what do you say about greatness except eat it? I had a mind-blowing experience at possibly the best yum cha in U.K. MIND-BLOWING. Fresh and flavorful and of the optimum temperature and unbelievably clean-tasting, you know what I mean; extremely fitting for Love Princess’ regal palate. Roll out the bling bling carpet, folks, and definitely be caught by paparazzi having lunch at this snazzy joint. Ideally in your new pair of peep-toe Louboutins.

This is the only Chinese restaurant with a Michelin star in U.K. Impressive. Very impressive.

(Still not the place for first dates, in my regal opinion. Yum cha is too plebeian a meal for any sizzling love affair to be cultivated to desired effect.)

Steak On This

2007-01-01T12:45:00.001Z

I just had an epiphany…a burger is never just a burger. Your life can revolve around this carbo-laden rotund edible. For example, if I’m treating myself to one of ‘dem things, I’d work out in the morning, indulge in a scrumptious slab of beef, pile on the shredded coleslaw and maybe steal a Cajun potato wedge or two, then go vegan till my next burger craving or till I’m sick of legume shakes. No regrets, Scooby-dooby’s.

Apparently GQ reinforced this revelation of mine and even expounded on it by coming up with the top 20 burgers in U.S. This caused Gail, who’s Oprah’s colleague and best friend, to hit the road across interstate borders for the single purpose of engulfing in the majesty of the not-so-humble all-beef patty and entourage.

Ten thousand miles away, can Asia fire up the grill and serve up juicy, tender, flavored burgers? And throw some chunky fries on the side; slather some mayo’d coleslaw and dollops of spicy mustard for kicks?

A resounding, “Yes, Sir!”. Right here in Singapore. My favorite’s got to be Überburger’s blue tiger prawns sandwiched between freshly-made high-fibred buns. (Do you know they bake a variety of buns every two hours?)

The seafood patty gives oomph and crunch to every bite. Chopped ginger and cucumbers are refreshing additions to the patty mix. Shiok-a-doodles!

Yeah, burgers aren’t just a guy’s thing anymore. We girls love the concept of a hearty burger – glam version only please. Because what men can do, we girls make it look better. *wink*

The photo, courtesy of Überburger, features the bread winner a.k.a. 101 - wagyu beef with champagne truffle sauce. Wanna see what the blue tiger prawn burger looks like? Why not try it yourself, and send me the pictures? I might just put it up :)

I Hit The Jackpot

2006-12-31T11:03:00.000Z

This. Is. Divine. If you haven’t yet sunk your pearlies into the steamed custard bun at Imperial Treasures Nan Bei, here’s a close-up of the molten gem. Ooooh. No one, absolutely nobody, does this anywhere else, guys and dolls. I am after all nicknamed, Dim Sum Dolly. I should know better. *wink* It’s out-of-this-world fanta-bulous-o.

The custard’s flowing sweetness is complemented by the fused salted egg, intimately hugged by a smaller-than-palm-sized dough cushion. This melting genius is very much in demand, and highly addictive. Be forewarned, not recommended for first dates as possessing piping hot bun in mouth may be messy, resulting in the only hot buns you’ll have a relationship with for a while.

Ta- Dah!

2006-12-30T16:08:00.000Z

Hey ya. I’m Love Princess. Princess of Love. Princess very much in Love. You may know me personally, but then again you may not have even heard of me. It doesn’t matter really. I’m just here for one thing, and one thing only. To present my Food Diary. Uh-huh. I love food, really, a lot. So guess what? You’ll get first-hand information on the real yummies and ultimate grossies in Singapore and beyond all the time, every time. Debut blog goes live on 1st January 2007.

Don’t agree with what I have to say? Holler girlfriends and guy-lings. Post your sweet nothings. Think I’m off-the-hook with my fave eats? Spoil me silly online with gorgeous pictures and “tried-and-tested” suggestions.

Got any questions on dining out anywhere in the world? Just ask. You never know, I might just have the perfect answer to sweeten your day.

Here’s hoping you’ll hang around long enough to be converted into a passionate “stuffer-of-your-pie-hole” foodie and cultivate a babe (or dude)-worthy palate.

Raise a toast to 2007 and all its glorious makan experiences to come...Cheers!