秋莲板面 Qiu Lian Ban Mian @ Jurong East Westgate

Qiu Lian Ban Mian at Westgate

I remember I had my very first bowl of Ban Mian from Qiu Lian Ban Mian (秋莲板面) some twenty years ago during my schooling days in the 90s.

Ban Mian is a traditional noodle dish with Hakka origins (some say Hokkien) and it is Qiu Lian who introduces it to the masses in Singapore.

Well, I could be wrong though but I do not recall seeing any other Ban Mian stalls around prior my first bowl at Qiu Lian.

It was only after sometime that other Ban Mian stalls began sprouting all over the island when the dish became popular and gained a foothold in the local food scene.

At that time, the novelty of seeing your noodle being handmade (with the pasta machine) in front of you was something new to me and the chewy texture of the noodles was a refreshing change from the usual mee pok, mee kia, kway teow, etc...

Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop From Yilmaz Western @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 6

Fish & Chips $5.50

A few months ago, I visited Yilmaz Western intending to try the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop but as it was not ready yet, I had the Fish & Chips instead.

I told myself that somehow, I must return for the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop and that opportunity came just a couple of days before Christmas when my parents and I happened to be around the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio. 

I ordered a Fish & Chips for the folks to try and a Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop for myself.

As mentioned in the previous post, I am most impressed by the generous portion and the economical pricing.

The Fish & Chips scored rather well with my folks but just how did the Hotplate Grilled Chicken Chop fare?

霹雳2013:怡保与邦咯岛 *图多慎入*

*English version*

大家好!

几个星期前，一民热衷于社区服务的阿姨主办了一个到马来西亚，霹雳州的旅游团而我们一家也受邀同游。

日盼夜盼，期待已久的这天终于来临！

我们摸黑起床与各位团友集合后就上了旅游巴士往新柔长堤开去。

一伙人上了旅游巴士就倒头大睡直到抵达了华都牙也 (Batu Gajah) 享用早餐。

妈妈的早餐

有谁晓得这包是什么呢？它只有手掌般大小。

它包的像椰浆饭但里面装的并不是我们熟悉的小鱼干，蛋皮和花生而是几只淋上酱汁的虾仔。

说句实话，我还蛮喜欢这饭配上酱汁的味道。

Perak 2013: Ipoh And Pangkor Island *Photos Intensive*

*中文版*

Hello!

A few weeks earlier, a kind neighbor has undertaken the task to organize a trip to Perak, Malaysia and had invited some of us neighbors to come along.

The big day finally arrived after much anticipation. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning to board a chartered coach which brought us across the causeway.

Everyone spent much of the journey catching up on much deprived sleep until we arrived for breakfast at Batu Gajah.

Mum's breakfast

Does anyone know what this palm-sized packet is called?

It is wrapped like Nasi Lemak but the content is just rice with shrimps and gravy and not the usual ikan bilis, egg and peanuts.

To be honest, the taste of the rice with the sauce is quite nice actually.

Video: Riot In Little India

via

I am still finding it hard to believe that a riot has taken place earlier in Singapore. When I first come across this news on twitter, I thought it was just part of an anti-riot exercise by the police.

Singapore has been riot-free for the last 44 years so how could it happen now?

Titans of the Past – Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals At The Singapore Science Centre

Do you know that a new exhibition "Titans of the Past – Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals" is here at the Singapore Science Centre?

I don't.

I only found out after a few parent bloggers attended the media invite and blogged about it. In fact, the exhibition started way back in October (that's two months ago) and I wonder why it wasn't publicized then?

I believe I only saw the advertisement on TV in late November. Anyway, I was contemplating whether to go or not to as the price of the admission ticket seem pretty steep.

Well, it does not take a genius to guess that I gave in ultimately as it is not everyday that you can come face to face with a dinosaur!

McDonaldland Characters Plushie

McDonaldland Characters Plushie

When I was young, I really like the old McDonald's TV commercials featuring McDonaldland and I remember that they used to launch toys with their McDonaldland characters.

Sadly, they do not make such toys or commercials anymore.

Last week, I am elated to learn about the launch of these plushies featuring the old gang and they will be launched on the following dates: