US Summer 2012 Day 1 (P1): Flea Markets, High Line & Jazz Bar

After 1 full night's of rest, we were ready to go at 9 a.m for our adventures in New York. Dawn, Andre an me headed out of our apartment to search for a T-Mobile shop, but ended up in Times Square again. This time, it was for a visit to the tourism center. It was a pleasant surprise that even the visitor center is worth a visit even if you DO NOT have any queries for them. They have some decent broadway exhibits,  a dedicated Dick Clark (the guy who hosted the New Year's Countdown) exhibit and the Ball thats dropped every year.

A section of the Wishing Wall dedicated to Dick Clark

Dropping the Ball in NYC

After getting the information we wanted, we headed to our first destination: Smorgasburg Food Market, Brooklyn. It was a 1/2 an hour subway ride (it took us awhile to figure out the system, figuring that it will be a whole lot of trouble once you get to the wrong side of the platform) to the Food Market and we reached a little earlier than the opening hours. So we decided to shop around the nearby flea market.

Artists & Fleas

A peak at their interior

The Artist & Flea market actually has quite pretty and unique stuff but the price of each item is really un-flea market-ish. A ring can go up to 30 - 50 USD and they don't look willingly to bargain. So unless you have the cash and ready to splash, this market isn't the best place to shop for your stuff.

At 11 a.m promptly, we stepped into the Smorgasburg Food Market and begin to find ways to fill our famished stomachs. As most of them are still setting up stall, we settled for the stall with the train-like out-door stove which easily caught our eyes. We ordered the beef brisket and the meat was fantastic! If I were to go back, I'll definitely go for round 2. The small ones was really puny so we went for the large ones instead ($9).

Choo-Choo Train

Hard at Work

Beautiful Beef Brisket

They sell Ribs too

It didn't take us long to find our next dish. Just nearby, we were intrigued by the mozzarella cheese making display and decided to get the mozzarella plate once the show was done. Verdict: The huge slabs of mozzarella is a good fit for all. The cheese wasn't so "cheesy" that it puts non-cheese lover off but not so bland that it taste like nothing. The cheese is freshly made and it shows in the taste. It goes perfectly with the bread, tomato and the vegetables that comes with it. Nice :)

The Mozz Shop

The Candid Chef

The Mozz Plate

Next up was the Lobster Roll ($16). I must admit, it wasn't the wisest of choice. I could have gotten a better and nicer deal anywhere else and the staff wasn't the friendliest. Still, I was tempted by the prospect and jumped straight into ordering it. 

Lobster Roll

Sharing the Roll

On a side note, there was a celebrity filming his food documentary while we were in the market. He looks really familiar (I'm very sure I have watched his show) but I just can't put my finger to what his name is. Maybe someone can help me out here by posting his name in the comment section.

Back to the food. Another popular dish going around is the Fried Anchovies($7). We picked the Jersey-styled anchovies (with the head on) and had a go at it. Basically its Fried Breaded Shishamo (Japanese Pregnant Fish) without the eggs. Not the best fried fish (it was a little to salty and overcooked) but still a good to-try.

Jersey Style - Head On

Fried Anchovies

Last but not least, I had the Porchetta. It was pretty decent, with nice slices of boneless pork meat and rare chuck of crispy port fats put together with a less-than-average bread. Decent dish but I would recommend you try something else.

Porchetta

The Porchetta

That would be last dish for the day as my stomach called for a time-out. Here are some of the other highlights which I would like to try the next time I'm here.

Large Doughnuts

Lovely Drip Coffee

Award Winning Bacon Cupcakes

That marks the end of our first flea market tour and headed to the nearby Fort Greene Flea Market. This flea market is your typical flea market - they basically sell all kinds of crap. From dolls to furniture and clothes to accessories. they have it all. It was really interesting as to what actually could be sold. One of  which was what I called "Crap on Ring", which was basically anything junk (e.g Keyboard keys or legos) put on top of the ring. I'm surprised people actually buy that. The overall price is still pretty high for a flea market, there are actually some pretty decent deals around. You just have to be patient and take your time to search the entire place.

Fort Greene Flea Market

This place was actually built around a track and field

Cool Old Furniture Up for Grabs

Rocking Chair, Anyone?

Nostalgia in a Box

Star Wars

Besides selling used products, there is also quite a selection of food. Since most of the stalls can also be found in Smorgasburg and our stomach can't really take more food, we decided to give the food a miss.

All in all, I would recommend these two flea markets for anyone that is in New York over the weekend. For foodie-lovers, you HAVE to go to the Smorgasburg Food Market. There are a lot more varieties than the ones that I have posted here, including Ethiopian food, Columbian food and Vietnamese food. You may not get the most authentic experience, but its a good place to try and learn more about these cuisines before moving on the dedicated restaurants. The quality is pretty decent, the price is a little pricey (given the portions) but the still worth it overall.

For the non-foodie fans, I would recommend just the Fort Greene Flea Market. There is still a healthy number of choices in this Flea Market of which most are repeated from Smorgasburg. Even if you don't intend to buy anything, it will still be interesting to see what is on sale there, especially when the stall changes from time to time.

Smorgasburg Food Market

East River Waterfront (Btw North 6 & 7 St.)

Brooklyn, New York

Take Subway L line to Bedford Ave.

Saturday 11 am - 6 pm

Fort Greene Flea Market

176 Lafayette Ave (btw Clermont & Vanderbilt Av) 

Brooklyn, New York

Take Subway C Line to Lafayette Ave

Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

Website: http://www.brooklynflea.com/

For more photos: http://on.fb.me/KxQHST

Thats all for now, stay tuned for Part 2 of New York Flea Day...

US Summer 2012 The Journey Begins!

Finally! After 6 months of planning and waiting, I have set off to the United States of America for a month long exploration. So excited!!!

I am done with my 1st day here (technically its the 2nd day after more than 24 hours traveling) but I haven nothing much to report. This is due to the fact I spent most of my time recovering from 36 hours in planes and airport. So stay tuned for more as I update my journeys through this freedom-loving country.

Times Square against the Evening Sky

Till then.. Good night!

Brunch @ Skyve Elementary Bistro

This my 2nd meet up in a week and it seems that everyone is going for the all-day breakfast thing now. So there I am, 2nd week in a row in another all-day breakfast brunch-time meal.

Skyve Elementary Bistro is located near Bukit Timah Road. They took over from the District10 Bistro guys and I daresay that the place is really done up really nice and classy.

The area is split between a lounge area and the dining area with a bar right in the center. This place is known for its Sous-vide method of food cooking, which calls for precision in both timings and temperature. This unique cooking technique is often used by high-end restaurants chefs and is starting to pick up steam in the local scene. The results - a more evenly textured food while maintaining its juiciness throughout.

It didn't take us long to order our food (though it took us quite a while to get the waiters' attention) as we all quickly decided on the Eggs Benedict ($12). The Sous-vide method for poaching the eggs was an interesting approach that we were dying to try. Truthfully, the dish was a little bit of a disappointment. On the positive side, the eggs were cooked perfectly. The Sous-vide execution was evident as the eggs' texture was smooth and when cut into the yolk, it runs perfectly down onto the mushroom and the toast. However, the Hollandaise sauce was a little blend and the mushroom didn't really go well with the eggs. Basically, the food were individually cooked really well but (as Dexter puts it) the synergy wasn't there.

Eggs Benedict

The two other dishes that were ordered were much better. First up is the Ricotta Pancakes ($12). Last week I reviewed hummerstons and commented that the pancakes there was fabulous. Here, it is equally good (if not better). The quality lies not just in the execution but also the fact that it was with passionfruit butter - two times the goodness into one.

Ricotta Pancakes

Next recommended dish - the Potato Rosti ($12). The potatoes strips are fried nicely with just enough charred parts to make it interesting (it's definitely NOT overcooked). It wasn't too salty or soggy which is a common complain for Potato Rosti dishes. I loved this dish and look forward to trying it again.

Potato Rosti

Dexter and Diane order the Proscuitto Ham Pizza ($16) and the Smoked Salmon Pizze. It looked pretty good but I didn't really have the chance to try it.

Proscuitto Ham Pizza

Smoked Salmon Pizza

Skyve Elementary Bistro certainly has good food and a even better ambience. The Sous-Vide cooking method is really a big draw point as I am now tempted to try out their dinner menu. Just make sure you reserve your seats as the place can get pretty crowded during the weekends.

Prices range from $12 - $16.

Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar
No. 10 Winstedt Road
Block E, #01-17

Tel: +65 6225 6690
http://www.skyve.sg/

Tuesday - Friday: 8.30 am - 12 mn
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 12 mn

Price Range: $$ (out of 6 $$$)

For more photos: http://on.fb.me/JFTHfw

PeraMakan @ Keppel Bay

I was tasked with looking around for good Peranakan places and somehow stumbled upon Peramakan from various singapore foodie blogs. So I decided to give it a try in spite of the "ulu-ness" of the place.

For the benefit of those that do not know, Peranakans' ancestry can be traced back to the Chinese that settled here even before the British came (some put it around 700 years ago). Generations after generations, these local chinese soon became localized and formed the core group of the indigenous people in Singapura. Their culture has elements of both Malay and Chinese, making it an unique blend in Southeast Asia.

Getting into this Peramakan is a chore on its own - my advice: just take cab! Located within the Keppel Club (Note: NOT keppel BAY), it was a drive in from the main road and it was pretty quiet when I stepped in at 6.30 p.m

There were only 2 of us, so we could only give at most (as recommended by the waitress) 4 dishes a try. So first up is the Nonya Chap Chye ($10). Note that the portions here are fixed (3 - 4 people to a dish), so don't expect different prices if you have only 1 - 2 people. I have to admit, I am not a fan of the Chap Chye. The dried beancurd skin taste is a little too overwhelming but for those that love that, the dish is actually quite tasty. 

Nyonya Chap Chye

Next up is the Babi Pongteh ($14). This Nyonya dish (which is more common in Singapore & Malacca) consist of braised pork cooked with "taucheo" (salted soy beans), sugar and cinnamon beans. This mixture of ingredients gives it an unique sweet and savory taste and is one of my favorite Peranakan dish. The usual Babi Pongteh usually comes with the fatty meat but the dish here is served with a healthier chunk of meat. The taste actually borders the blend side but is still acceptable, especially for the health-conscious ones.

Babi Pongteh

Awhile later, our last main dish came - Sotong Goreng Assam ($14). The stir-fried squid was drenched in Tamarind sauce and has a very sweet taste to it. Compared to the Babi Pongteh, this dish was almost too sweet. However, on its own, the rich flavor and the nicely cooked squid makes this dish really tasty and a good break away from the typical savory food. My favorite dish for the night!

Sotong Goreng Assam

After all the mains came the desserts. We ordered the Sago dessert with the usual Gula Melaka. Pretty decent desserts and a good end to our meal. Though I would prefer a little more Gula Melaka.

Sago Gula Melaka

All in all, this place is one of the better places I have been for Peranakan food. Despite its "ulu" location, I would still recommend anyone interested in Peranakan food to give this place a shot. I would recommend the Chap Chye and Sotong Goreng Assam, but there are so many other choices that I'm sure I'll need to visit it again to make a better judgement.

Peramakan

Level 3, Keppel Club
10 Bukit Chermin Road S109918
(5 minutes drive from Vivo City)

Tel: +65 63772829
http://www.peramakan.com/

Monday - Sunday
Lunch 11:30 am - 3.00 pm
Dinner 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm

Price Range: $$$ (out of 6 $$$)

For more photos: http://on.fb.me/JoJ4N4

I AM BACK!!! and Brunch @ Hummerstons

The last time I posted was more than 3 months ago and anyone visiting would have thought this blog has died. Well, this is far from the truth.

It has been a hectic 3 months for me - balancing my new job (I'm interning at a crazy place), squeezing in time for my interests (e.g. planning trips) and basically getting used to the 9 - 6 lifestyle. As history has shown, I simply failed terribly. However, that's another story for another day. The fact is that I'm back and I'm here to stay :)


In the interim, I have many things that I would love to share, but I'll start of with the most recent one - my brunch at Hummerstons. It was the first meet-up for the upcoming USA 2012 trip gang and we decided on Hummerstons since most of us had a hankering for a good early brunch meal.

Most of the restaurants at Robertson Quay would spill over into the common square, leaving them to be very open and exposed (not really to my liking). Hummerstons, however, is tucked nicely on the 2nd floor, which means its far enough away from the crowd but not so far as to become too "ulu". The interior is simple yet spacious, good enough for large crowds coming in different group size.

It took us quite a while to decide what we want (we were definitely spoilt for choice) and we settled on everyone ordering different dishes so that we could all share (well, almost everyone). So here is what we ordered:

First up, Kelvin decided to order the Hummerston's Breakfast. The mega breakfast set with bacon, sausage, eggs and toast all in one. Because of its sheer quantity, its one of the more expensive dish at $24. However, its definitely worth it if you are undecided, really hungry or both.

Hummerston's Breakfast Set

Next, Dina ordered the Eggs Benedict. As Dina aptly puts it, this dish is usually THE dish to order in any all-day breakfast place, which I completely agree. However, the Eggs Benedict here is nothing to rave about. The eggs generally lacks seasoning and is a forgettable dish.

Eggs Benedict

Dawn and Sandy both decided to get truffle scrambled eggs. When the dish came, the truffle smell basically filled the entire table - so do not worry about not being able to taste the truffle at all. On first bite, I would say the truffle taste is a little overwhelming (almost replacing the scramble eggs) but the mushroom and homemade sausages were tasty. Be prepared to pay - price: $25

Truffle Scrambled Eggs

One of my personal favorites: Pancakes. Its fluffy goodness all in one plate! Put on the butter, syrup and the jam and we are good to go. We liked it so much that we ordered another one to share  (apart from the one Xiuli had).

Soft and Fluffy Pancakes

Last but not least is what I ordered - Breakfast Tostada: Grilled smoked pork and garlic sausages served with asparagus, scrambled eggs and crispy corn tortilla. I would definitely recommend this dish. An interesting mexican spin to the typical brunch menu, the homemade sausage was seasoned nicely and went well with the eggs.

Cripsy Tortilla with Eggs and Sausage

Overall, Hummerstons serves up a good all-day breakfast. Among all the dishes I have tasted so far, I would highly recommend the pancakes. The Breakfast Tostada would be an interesting choice for anyone steering clear of the usual. Prices range from $19 - $25 for the breakfast main courses.

The place itself is convenient for most yet elusive enough for a romantic date. Head in early for brunch as the crowd usually comes around 11.30 a.m during weekends.

Hummerstons
11 Unity Street #02-14, Robertson Walk
Singapore 237995

Tel: 84281620
https://www.facebook.com/Hummerstons

Tuesday - Friday: 12 pm - 12 am
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 12 am

Price Range: $$$ (out of 6 $)


For more photos, please visit: http://on.fb.me/IQltmW

Foodie Tour of Malaysia (Day 2)

Day 2 of the trip started with us leaving Malacca and heading for Genting. Before we left Malacca, we stopped for our first meal of the day - Beef Noodles at Jalan Bachang, Malacca. This place serves one of the best Beef Noodles that I have eaten. The combination of a rich-flavored spicy soup (apparently they have toned down their level of spiciness) and the soft flat noodles makes a perfect start to a day. The fried pork chop is also a must-order with its succulent meat that is fried to perfection. Order a separate bowl of salted vegetable and mix in for a better blend. This meal would not be complete without their signature chili paste. The chili itself is not overly spicy and goes very well with both the fried pork chop and the noodles.

Exterior of the Restaurant

Kitchen

The Famous Chili Paste

The Superstar - Beef Noodles

Never Leave Without the Fried Pork Chop

Good Start to a Good Day

Menu For Your Reference

After the main course, we had fruits for desserts. What Fruits? Obviously, we had durians and mangosteens (its Malaysia!). We headed to the stall opposite the Pork Chop Noodles place and ordered ourselves a load of durians. The rich creamy meat of the Mao Shang Wang durian was more than enough to cause a mini-orgasm in my mouth. The mangosteen balanced the "heaty-ness" of the durians nicely. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Mao Shang Wang Durians

More Durians

The Price is Fantabulous!

Rich Creamy Meat

Meet the King and Queen of Fruits

Irresistible Desserts 

After a fantastic meal, we headed to up the mountain to the Highlands of Genting. Food isn't one of that place's forte so there isn't much to share when it comes to eating. A small surprise came when we ordered the Asam Laksa, Penang Prawn Noodles and Thick French Toast at the Old Town Coffee Shop. They were actually quite nice (maybe its the low expectation) and had us craving for more. It's worth a try when you are at Genting. Nevertheless, we had a ball of a time, going around casino-hopping, beer drinking and even shopping. Genting still hasn't lost its charm after all these years.

Its Christmas Celebrations in Genting 

Asam Laksa at Old Town

Thick French Toast

Hello Genting

Goodbye Genting