"Wu-hop' anyone?

Dance has always captivated me as an art form. A casual chat with a friend led to the very inspiration for the fusion dance form that I believe the younger generation will embrace or experiment in time to come.

"Wu-hop" is just an imaginary term that came up during this lively discussion on dance forms between the traditional chinese dance discipline against the catchy & expressive style of hip hop. What do "wushu" and "hip hop" have in common in the realm of dance you might think?

Both forms of sport exhibit dynamic and expressive movements, which lend themselves beautifully towards each other. A certain level of fitness is definitely required to be able to execute these challenging poses that try to assert a point or idea in a dance sequence.

In hip hop, you see gravity defying stunts in which "wushu-like" moves can be incorporated into the routine. The wushu moves will definitely add a different dimension of grace and power to the typically exaggerated moves of the expressive hip hop style.

Being the novice that I am in dance, I hope to explore both dance forms in time to come so that I may further ascertain if this new dance form/sport is ever going to take shape..should you have any comments to add or thoughts to share, I am all ears!

Hiphopfully yours
Dancewannabee

Kim Kim Kimchify...

My craving for kimchi has been reignited ever since my first visit to Kim's Family Food (aka Korea Restaurant or Han Guk Shik Dang) at the behest of a fellow foodie friend. She could only recall the street name "Lorong Kilat" as the only clue to locate this hidden gem amongst the many korean eateries that have mushroomed all over the island ever since the HALLYU wave from popular korean dramas and movies.

I have been revisiting this restaurant almost twice every week since. The array of side dishes are astonishing. Just 2 nights ago, my friend and I were served a total of 12 different side dishes (ahem - just for your info, refillable to your heart's content) even though we only ordered 2 main courses. Besides 3 types of kimchi, a variety of appetising side dishes that changes evert now and then is sure to whet even the most jaded of appetites.

Though I am not a big fan of barbequed meat, one can easily ask the waiter for vegetarian options. If you are a novice to korean food, then the following dishes are a surefire way to introduce you to the goodness and nutrition of korean cuisine without sacrificing on taste.

1) Kimchi tofu stew ($11) - tofu & seafood in kimchi soup. you can opt for pork if you are not keen on shellfish. vegetarian option comes with fresh mushrooms, "clouds ears" and more veggies. Perfect for 2 to share or for one very hungry girl. Comes with a bowl of rice. This hotpot arrives bubbling hot with super soft tofu chunks craddling a wobbly egg yolk on top, swimming alongside fresh chunks of mushroom,leek,and lots of other veggies.

2) Dolsot Bibimbap ($11) - freshly cooked rice topped with at least 5 different toppoings that include one meat and other veggies like shredded carrots, bean sprouts, cucumber


3) Seafood Pancake ($10) - A hefty portion for this price. It is a must try with juicy chunks of spring onion or leek sandwiched between a pancake batter that doesn't cloy your tastebuds even after the 5th piece. Dab it into the soya sauce condiment spiked with red pepper flakes and you have an asian pizza of sorts



Kim's Family Food/Korea Restaurant
17 Lorong Kilat
#01-06 Kilat Court,
Singapore 598139
Tel: 6465 0535
Mob: 8201 9745



Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat: 10am - 10pm
Sun: 5pm - 10pm



Take note restaurant is closed for a midday break like japanese restaurants. Call before you head down to restaurant is lunching after 2pm. Believe they reopen for dinner by 5 or 6pm.

Dotty about Polka

Today I was feeling all dotty about my new light green polka dot cardigan. I had been eyeing this lovely top for a long time before I grabbed it on sale. After all this is the Great Singapore Sale season.

The "Laws of Attraction" in science must be at work, coz what else did I find today on a leisurely stroll through the mall after lunch? Perched in one corner, was a reversible shawl on display in the perfect shade of green and white polka dot; of uncanny likeness in shade to my knit top which would have made any pantone color matcher proud. I resisted the temptation to get the shawl but ended up splurging on a lovely bag I didnt' need but just as lovely with my other favourite pastel ensembles. By nightfall, I rushed back to the mall to purchase the shawl that was a match made in heaven. This is the latest addition to the dozen of more shawls I already own, but only one of the few that features any print/embellishment.

What a nice way to start the week... pea green and cream will be here to stay, for at least the coming 3-6 months.

Peafully & Polkadotally Yours

KITHerapeutic...

Whoever said Singapore was boring should think twice. More and more quirky cafes are popping up across this tiny island, and it is with much hesitation that I share this latest find in the Robertson Walk vicinity.

I came across a review of KITH in the May 2009 issue of CATALOG magazine http://www.catalogmagazine.com/ . And though I am neither KITH nor kin(pun intended), I have been checking out this cafe almost every other week for brunch or drinks with my friends. This 2.5 month old joint is a great place to chill after a satisfying dinner at my favourite ramen joint at robertson walk just across the street. KITH makes for a perfect nook to spend a lazy morning waking up to a wholesome breakfast or just flipping through great reads like MONOCLE - http://www.monocle.com/ on a leisurely afternoon. Interesting wood panelled furniture gives this chic cafe a modern yet organic feel. The blackboard stretched out across one wall is filled to the brim with a hand scribbled menu which brings one back to the good old days of our kindergarten years.

Comfort food at affordable prices paired with a variety of coffees,teas,milkshakes and fresh juices. Simply love the croque monsieur (S$5.50)with a refreshing side salad of diced fruit. This savoury treat is light enough for tea or a late breakfast. Yuzu marmalade ( a must try) is a great zesty accompaniment if you are ordering toast or pancakes. The homemade strawberry jam is also really tasty. Wash it all down with a honey ginger or earl grey chai latte, or hot chocolate with soy. ( FYI - I am not a coffee person). Try the salmon with cream cheese panini, a decent portion at S$5.50 makes a good lunch or dinner for ladies, with room for dessert after. They serve a decent variety of breads here, delivered fresh daily to their doorstep.

Creamy ice cream made by a local supplier, served at S$3 per scoop is great for a takeway if the place runs out of seating space. My personal faves are strawberry and french vanilla. Weekdays are the best time to pop by for some "me" time. Outdoors are perfect on a cool night chilling out with friends. Hot drinks taste extra yummy on a rainy day while peering out the full length glass doors with a view of the riverside. The atmosphere is homey, with regulars greeted by their first names and a cuppa whipped up just for them right after the last orders have been closed.

Already a hotspot for the expatriate community in the vicinity, this tiny cafe seats about 16-18 pax at most indoors, and probably about 8-10 pax outdoors if extra chairs are added. But good news for you folks out there. The people at KITH mentioned in facebook that expansion plans are in the pipeline. Crossing my fingers coz word is spreading lke wildfire and I seriously doubt my entourage and I will get a seat on weekends or peak hours very very soon. Word has it that MONOCLE magazine will feature them in the Sept 2009 issue so once the word is further out, one will really have to graduate from kith to kin in order to secure a spot at this hotspot to be.

It's a pity they close late at 10pm only on fridays and saturdays, they wind down at 7pm on weekdays. I am hoping they will consider extending opening hours on thursday and sunday nights too. Until then, I look forward to more cafes of such calibre in the near future as Singapore marches towards an ever more cosmopolitan city with the completion of the Integrated Resorts.

Kith Cafe
7 Rodyk Street #01-33 Watermark @ Robertson Quay
Tel 6341-9407

http://www.kith.com.sg/

Hiatus no more

I just realised that my last post was more than 6 months ago. This long hiatus from blogging is really atrocious thus I am adding in this post to mark the start of more adventures to come ....

So many sights,sounds,tastes have been experienced and it is time to share all these bite sized morsels of adventure, triumph, and curios with the world.

I will be adding a lot more interesting stuff here since I have picked up crafting pursuits with yarns, paper and just about anything that catches my fancy. Attached is just one of my creations. This was a freeform crochet piece crafted on Feb 5 2009 under the expert guidance of freeform maestro Prudence Mapstone. http://knottybicsieevents.blogspot.com/search/label/FreeForming
Other photos of moi in action were taken by the sweetest crafter pal - Betsy Toh of Knotty Biscie who organised this rare workshop with Prudence.

This piece was borne out of a pile of citrus colored yarns and after 2 or more hours of fiddling with possible crochet formations built on section by section, yarn by yarn,stitch by stitch. Freeforming is indeed therapeutic but it can take up anything from 2 hours to days when you are trying to make the best out of the yarns you have for a particular project. This piece has brought me immeasurable joy and compliments from friends when adorned my bag as a brooch, my cardigan, etc... I am contemplating turning it into a statement piece to be worn with an understated dress as a necklace of sorts.

So with this entry... look out for more to come... keep your eyes peeled to this blog :)

Yarnfully speaking

Crocheteer in the making...