RUBANISATION rocks!

By a stroke of good luck, i caught wind of a rare chance to attend a talk presented by veteran architect - Tan Kheng Soon @ the National Library on monday night as part of Archifest 2010. www.archifest.sg

Though an apparel design student by training, the world of architecture has always been fascinating and I must say the ideas and insights shared in this 2 hour session inspired me in so many different ways. At first, public were refused entry at the door but some persistence and logical reasoning paid off as I sat through 2 golden hours of thought provoking concepts with some of the most talented architects and affiliated professionals in our country. Times flies when you are enjoying yourself. The 2 hour session that was oversubscribed whizzed by like 20 minutes. It seems they will be holding another session sometime soon to address this overwhelming response from both trade visitors and fans from the public. So do check out the archifest link for more updates.

The concept of RUBANISATION (rural urbanisation) is making waves in the world of architecture! To me it signifies a return to simplicity, back to basics and what works best! No complicated algorithms nor angles to figure out. Just harnessing the innate power of shapes and materials to their best effect beats a complicated yet ineffective man-made invention hands down anytime. Applying this concept to preserving dying crafts in the small town of Hue in Vietnam was really inspiring and should be adopted by many more rural communities that are losing the battle to mass production trends in mechanised factories in more developed towns. What a way to make a positive difference in the lives of our community and the world around us!

The use of concentric circles described in this concept is so versatile that I believe it will constantly ripple out gradually into many other disciplines like interior design,etc in due course.

Working in the regional headquarters housing 450 colleagues on different levels in a prime location in town, its quite alarming how cold and alienated we have all become in the name of productivity. Managers housed in rooms on the periphery of the rectangular office buildings and colleagues seated one after another back facing each other for the whole day. No wonder some of my colleagues seated on the same floor don't even know their fellow colleagues on the far end of the office. The current typical office layouts are just not so condusive to human interaction.

Think about office cubicles laid out in concentric circles. housing 4 to a circle sharing the same central resources (eg a printer/fax/stationery/plant/power point/etc). Facing 3 more people fosters easier communication compared to sitting in front or behind your fellow colleagues. At one glance, you can instantly communicate in real time with at least 3 people within your peripheral vision. Compared to having turn front and back to talk to 2people at the same time.

Being involved in the facilities administration at my current company, I am always hearing about lack of space as we expand annually at an alarming rate. What if staff were seated in quadrant cubicles instead of the standard boxed cubicles, will it then open up more space with the centralisation of common shared equipment like printers/photocopiers? Now we have to house 2 machines on one level and almost a dozen or more printers just on one level alone. Wouldn't it be more energy efficient if we housed these equipment dead centre and improving efficiency with less time wasted on walking to the far end of each side just to collect your printout/ make a photocopy?

And what about those mega hall exhibitions? It is both inconvenient and a waste of precious time to have to walk to the other end of the gigantic hall to get to the main stage of events. How about constructing the main stage dead centre and housing all other booths on its periphery, cutting the distance and time for trade visitors or public alike when they have to work through hundreds or even thousands of trade booths in a single day or two.

How about building food stalls dead centre and surrounding them with tables and seats instead? This way we wouldn't have to make our way inside just to get to our favourite noodle/rice stall. Segmenting them up with a cross junction walkway provides quick n easy access for the hungry diner looking for food to fill up their growling tummies. The closest dining concept I have seen so far in Singapore is that found in 313 Somerset's branch of the Marche Movenpick franchise. With its food/drink stations housed mainly in the centre, retrieving food from the self serve stations can be accomplished at faster speed compared to public dining outlets like cofffeshops and hawker centres.

This also brought to mind an episode on Donald Trump's - THE APPRENTICE. Competing teams had to find a best way to house all stationery/files/documents for each employee in a versatile organiser. The winning team came up with a cylindrical design that could be spun 360%, with pockets of different heights and sizes built around the periphery. This way, you can reach your documents and stationery in a flash instead of having to work through trays of drawers/myriad containers and folders all in a big mess. Should you need to move your work station to another place for an extended meeting, you need only grab this one organiser and be on your way to your other mobile workstation. This is a solution for time starved city folks where every second counts.

Compare our long rows of HDB flats all neatly laid out in lines. How many flat/families can each rectangular block contain? How many more families can a HDB flat built in cylinder fashion hold? All the families can share in the benefits of a common solar panels on the roof garden along with flora,fauna and gym facilities housed within the centre of the block. I was never good in physics but will laying out electrical cables in a cylindrical fashion make more economic sense or achieve greater energy savings in the long run?

And what about disaster control? Should a wave / strong winds strike our tiny island with global warming wrecking havoc on weather patterns throughout the globe, will the rectangular rows of HDB flats be more susceptible to topple over with the brutal onslaught of high speed winds hitting them in perpendicular fashion or will cylindrical blocks of flats have better resistance to the unexpected wrath of nature that can conjure up at a moment's notice?

The mention of using bamboo in the building of domes also made me glad! See my other blog entry on GLUBAM. It's about time we look into the treasures we all have in our backyard and discover the benefits of bamboo. It grows really fast with minimal care, absorbs more carbon dioxide and gives out more oxygen than any other plant, even after burning it. In its charcoal state, it takes on properties ranging from air / water filtration, absorbing harmful electromagnetic waves generated by man-made devices, creating a self sustainable environment in a plant terrarium and many more awesome uses!

During the slide presentation, this particular variety of the paulownia plant can grow up to a good size within a short span of 4 years and provides a quick sustainable source of wood for the hungry planet. It might just be the answer to the depletion of precious forest cover decimated at alarming rates, giving rise to soil erosion, sandstorms and harsher weather phennomenon eventually ending up as deserts or barren wastelands.

Pardon my amateur observations and thoughts here, but wasn't the whole point of this talk to inspire and make more individuals think than just accept? I recall my ex-director's comments years back during a brainstorming session. She remarked in jest that many of us were not "braining" enough and wasted too much effort "storming" in our own insecurities and thoughts.

As our planet Earth continues to spiral down the bottomless pit of dire consequences brought about by modern consumerism and greed, when will we finally learn how to live in harmony with nature and better harness the power of nature around us? Rather than wasting unnecessary time and effort wracking our brains out with complicated formulas or solutions for a simple problem?

All I know is that when a drop of water hits the pond, stream or ocean, it will eventually ripple out to ever increasing concentric circles until it becomes at one with the whole ocean. I only hope that we can embrace positive change fast enough before nature's wrath wipes out precious resources on our living planet.

Check out this awesome concept ! I hope we all continue to make "waves" in our various pursuits towards a better quality of life alongside nature and not at its expense. http://www.rubanisation.org/

Tea-mania!!!

How many times have you heard someone say, "let's catch up over coffee", "let me buy you coffee to make up for ...." , "how about a cup of coffee for you sir", etc... and the list goes on. Seldom do we utter these expressions using the word "tea" .

Tea will always remain my favourite beverage due to many reasons. For one, caffeine free versions in herbal or fruit blends outnumber the decaffeinated cousin of the humble coffee bean. Furthermore tea doesn't leave my stomach churning,heart palpitating and my head spinning. Caffeine has long been known to be a stimulant and to think that some of my friends and colleagues can polish off 3-4 cups a day.

I have even started to collect tea tabs for fun, just like you would stamps. Seriously I should get myself a stamp collectors book and fill it up with all the various tea tabs that I have amassed to date.

During my trip to the UK many years back, the cold weather made a hot cup of tea very enticing. The very idea of lounging around in the living room amongst cushy sofas, the fireplace, sweet treats like chocolate cake/scones/cookies and lazy cats make for a very enjoyable way to fritter away the lazy afternoon.

Tokyo and Seoul are filled with cafes of every size and color. Just in Insadong, every other shop is either a traditional tea cafe or an upmarket one serving teas to boggle your mind and tastebuds. Tokyo has no lack of cafes either. I am guilty of enjoying tea in typical British fashion at Jiyugaoka's "St Christopher's Tea Garden" and luxuriating in a pre-dinner snack over matcha @ . Resting my feet over earl grey and the fluffiest of chiffon cakes @ CAFE GRES in front of Shimbashi Station. The cold weather and all that walking around makes cafes the most inviting rest stops for the weary traveller. It's also the perfect excuse to indulge in some of the best cakes/cookies for a midday snack to put the spring back into your step.

Recent years have seen a proliferation of lifestyle TEA brands setting up cafes, staking out shelf territory at supermarkets and duty free stores. The brands listed here are not exhaustive, so do pardon my limited range of names covered here.

Local brand GRYPHON ( http://www.gryphontea.com/ ) offers gourmet teas with lovely boxed packaging and tea leaves packed into silk satchets. Featuring the artwork of local artists in its latest range, it is generating constant interest by keeping fickle minded consumers like me on their toes everyday.

Luxury TWG ( http://www.twgtea.com/ ) pushes the envelope with exotic blends and strong marketing with their signature yellow and deep brown tea canisters and premium cafe decor. Their signature tea canisters now sit proudly inside the windows of the RAFFLES HOTEL cafe, ousting Ronnefeldt from their long reign as the tea of choice served here. Oddly they somewhat remind of a the LOUIS VUITTON label which evokes the same kind of prestige that its trying to present to its elite and high flying clientele. With one of its founders formerly heading the quintessentially french tea label MARIAGE FRERES, TWG has just opened a luxury boutique in Jiyugaoka, one of the hippest Tokyo neighbourhoods right now. Personally MARIAGE FRERES ( http://www.mariagefreres.com/ ) comes across as too overbearing for my tastes.

Karel Capek formerly marketed only in Japan ( http://www.karelcapek.co.jp/ ) also peddles its tea and wares via uber cute illustrations with seasonal updates to keep their appeal fresh and exciting. It has been spotted at recent food fairs in Takashimaya Basement Food Hall and their pastel canisters from last season were quite a hit with the shoppers.

Coming close is french purveyor HEDIARD ( http://www.hediard.com.sg/counters/the-tea-counter.html ) which also carries a good range of tea also but somehow enjoys less presence than its delicious jams, fruit jellies and savoury soups.

LIPTON sadly has been reduced to household/antry/coffeeshop status in the past decade. Even the Japanese versions fail to turn any heads with their new flavours. Whereas FAUCHON ( http://www.fauchon.com/ ) who used to have a flagship store at Isetan Scotts, now has to make do with a tiny counter at Takashimaya Basement Food Hall .

Ronnefeldt ( http://www.ronnefeldttea.ca/personal/aboutus.php ) teas served up at the Ritz Carlton and Marina Mandarin offer simple, frills free teabags differentiated only by distinctly bright hues and all text in black with a hint of gold somewhere. The teas actually taste quite good, but unfortunately they are not available in your supermarkets.

TAZO (served up in STARBUCKS outlets) tries to differentiate itself with New Age packaging. But the muted colors and generic tea boxes stand no chance if you were to place the CLIPPER or KAREL CAPEK range alongisde.

Last but not least, one of my current hot favourite is CLIPPER (not to be confused with 1872 Clipper Tea Co Ltd). Giving other supermarket brands a run for their money with whimsical illustrations and jumping on the FAIRTRADE bandwagon like STARBUCKS with their coffees. Their packaging is done by reputable design firm - BIG FISH http://www.bigfish.co.uk/index.php who is also responsible DORSET's line of wholesome breakfast cereals). If you buy up the whole range of CLIPPER TEAS and line them up sideways, you will see the rainbow of colors which would make the boxes a great statement in your kitchen long after the tea bags are gone. It would look fabulous on my bookshelves as a testament to the different tastes captured in each and every wonderful boz of teabags.

I recall coming across a book at PAGE ONE bookstore in Vivocity that featured upcoming trends in food packaging (the title eludes me for now, but i shall find the book and put it up in my next post). I can see why this trend is striking a chord with the stressed out consumers of today, bludgeoned with impersonal bold logos with no hint of any human touch. Illustrations reminds us of our numerous doodles in our childhood days, it brings out the naivete in you and creates an instant rapport with the child in you. Couple that with copywriting that tugs at your heartstrings and basically half the battle is won already.

Tableware for enjoying a cuppa also employs similar tactics with ever more attractive colors/prints/logos emblazoned on the teacups/teaspoons/tea canisters/tea towels,etc... Look at the popularity of UK labels like CATH KIDSTON, EMMA BRIDGEWATER, WEDGEWOOD, AFTERNOON TEA(japan). Look out for more of these in TATTYMARSH which has just opened an outlet in Singapore to bring a slice of the Union Jack to our tiny island.

While the labels fight it out in the world of tea, I shall retreat into the anonymous comfort of more real fruit teas served up at MARCHE MOVENPICK or TEA BONE ZEN MIND. Meanwhile, I am gonna indulge in some eye candy on the latest mascots that CLIPPER & KAREL CAPEK websites have to offer. You never know what will inspire you or lift your spirits today! Anyone up for a cuppa tea ?

Tea-ficionado in the making

Corine's FOODIE list of 2010

My fascination with food stems from a history of seeking solace from it in many of my happy and sad, tough moments since I was a young girl. My mom would indulge me and my siblings by bringing us to a nice restaurants during the more affluent years almost 2 decades ago. In my teens, I grew up devouring CRABTREE & EVELYN catalogues filled with sweet treats like fruit teas and divine fruit jams, not forgetting fine chocolates form Teuscher. I think I would have been a fine gourmand in the making, sadly born in the wrong continent at the wrong time!

Bright lights, sweet treats in this city continue to lure me out of depressing moments when life seems out of whack and work seems like a chore. The very mention of food lights me up like a spark igniting fire. Imagine a wicked glint dancing in the corner of my eye along with a grimace that the cheshire cat in Alice's wonderland would be proud of! Get the drift?

A good meal or tea time treat never fails to lift my spirits and it was only after getting my first digital camera did I start documenting all the yummy and yucky food I have come across the past few years on my trsuty camera. Alas my feeble attempts at food blogging do no justice to the fantabulous morsels I have been devouring of late. I realise that I end up doing more groundwork like recommending my choice picks to fellow friends and colleagues when their tummies come a rumble! I consider myself a reasonable walking, talking food concierge albeit limited adventures due to financial constraints over the past year. Keeping myself abreast of food trends like molecular gastronomy pioneered by El Bulli maestro Ferran Adria also keeps me on my toes, witnessing how interesting food can be when taken apart and reassembled in another form. It seems that some local hotels have also started offering some dishes inspired b this trend at their buffet spreads! I can't wait to see an Asian chef do us proud with one of a kind creations to call our very own in this part of the world.

Since I haven't had the heart to organise & hunt down all my food photos taken over the past year, you would have to work your way through my brief descriptions in the list below. I shall endeavour to post them up as soon as possible. Or you can just google them on FLICKR or HUNGRYGOWHERE on your iphones.

Here's my humble little list of "MUST EAT" places in 2010"

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-JAPANESE-

1) Sugisawa (tel#62350212) Closed on Thurs & Sat.
- sandwiched between many other Japanese easteries in Robertson Walk, this unassuming restaurant serves great value in their bentos (available for lunch & dinner). Their "UNAGI BENTO" @ $18 is great value for $$$. The cold dish contains a plump full prawn amidst chilled morsels of steamed bamboo, konnyaku, carrotm hijiki seaweed medley. Reservations recommended. Big groups of japanese businessman have been spotted even on Monday nights drinking the night away with beer and premium sake. Spot a more local crowd on weekends.


2) Mr Sushi @ Takashimaya Basement Food Hall
- enjoy grilled fish with a hot bowl of rice,miso soup and side dish with sets from $7-15. Fish types include saba, ika, white or black cod, sanma, unagi, hokke, akauo kasuzuke, etc.. Do note that some varieties require up to 15 minutes of grilling so if you are famished, order the popular ODEN($4) for starters. Its a soup dish which comes with about 3-4 pieces of fish cake with a huge slice of daikon(white radish)served up with a dab of mustard and a ribbon of konbu(seaweed strip)like they do in Japan. Look out for seasonal specials during the autumn/winter period. These generally include better tasting meat from deep sea catches. They have another outlet at Liang Court basement food hall but the food quality there pales in comparison to the ever crowded tiny counter at Takashimaya.


3) (CLOSED) Menya Shinchan http://www.oishii.sg/banner/shinchan/site.html
-no other ramen joint in town makes the cut for authentic and satisfying ramen served up here. not even the swanky new joints at the mandarin gallery will sway my decision. They make their own noodles and serve them up in miso and clear seafood base soups that leave your tastebuds lingering for more. Go for the double hot tsukemen if you have a hearty appetite. If you think you are a big eater, challenge the full sized SINJIRO ramen that is topped with a mountain of bean sprouts and cabbage atop thick handmade noodles ladled into thick,rich soup base that can feed two. Last order @ 9.45pm. Their recent addition of an extensive shochu menu and appetisers are great for unwinding after a long day at work.

4) BOTEJYU http://www.botejyu.com/group/
-piping hot, mouthwatering okonomiyaki(vegetables and other fillings like meat/seafood sandwiched in between an omelette pancake mix drizzled with special sauce) and modanyaki(okonomiyaki + noodles) are served up here. Check out the modanyaki fare happening at the Liang Court outlet.

-WESTERN-

1) SPRUCE http://www.spruce.com.sg/
- a relaxed australian vibe imbues this quiet eatery tucked in the lush foliage of Tanglin estate. Its wooden interiors and cosy lighting makes for very romantic evenings. Must try the ROTISSERIE CHICKEN ($21)features 2 big slabs of juicy chicken leg portions with sauteed broccoli on thin layer of mash potato tastes finger lickin good! Their SIGNATURE SPRUCE PRAWN PASTA($22) is also nice to go along with the chicken. Portions here are big so its good to share if you are a small eater. Don't forget to order their MASALA CHAI ($6) to go along with the delicious desserts displayed behind their pristine glass case. The poundcakes are lovely it you are looking for something light yet flavorful. The STEAMED GINGER DATE PUDDING WITH CHOCOLATE TOFFEE SAUCE($12) was served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream which would taste even more divine if the ice cream was not over frozen with ice crystals poking the tongue with every spoonful. Despite these small glitches, I would still go back again for its ambience and main courses. NOTE: Don't order their hot teas(TEA DROP) though, maybe the water was not at the right temperature or the tea leaves been sitting around for too long. I had to mask the lack of flavor with huge doses of honey to make the pot drinkable.

2) MARCHE @ 313 Somerset http://marche.moevenpick.com/#/home/null/-1/empty/en/
- the salad bar here has one of the most awesome spreads around. Enjoy raw and cooked ingredients here and feast on beetroot, grilled zucchini, sauteed mushrooms, beans, carrots, alfafa sprouts and sometimes strawberries. its MUSHROOM soups is also a must try with its flavorful thick broth laden with tiny bits of mushroom pureed into the soup mix for good bite. catch the creamy smooth ZUCCHINI soup if you can as it makes a rare appeearance sometimes. don't forget to order the special APPLE TEA from its beverage counter stocked with eveyr condiment you might hanker, for eg. fresh mint leaves, honey, whole cinnamon sticks, etc... The recent addition of the chocolate fountain counter allows you to enjoy luscious strawberries on a skewer or to add on top of a mixed fruits compote. This branch at 313 Somerset is a haven for nightbirds as they close at midnight. Baked breads go on 50% discount after 11pm daily.


3) CEDELE DEPOT http://www.cedeledepot.com/home/
-i simply love the sandwiches from here! i can eat it for breakfast everyday i think! Love to enjoy the raisin wholemeal loaf with butter melting on a freshly toasted slice. they have started to sell little fresh fruit cups alongside the cold salads and fresh fruit juices. Indulge your sweet tooth from amongst the trans fat free cakes that ooze delish with every bite! If you have time to visit their full fledged cafes serving up pastas/rice, you must try the BLUEBERRY PANCAKES laden with fresh and plump blueberries (covered in a seperate post much earlier on this year).

-KOREAN-

1) Kim's Family Food @ Lorong Kilat (tel# 64650535)
-great value for money, this familt friendly joint serves up hearty korean food in big portions and great prices. A la carte orders come with a dozen types of side dishes which sometimes include a small steamed fish so look out for it! Must try the TOFU STEW ($11) which comes with nice tofu blocks nestled among plump seafood and veggies, topped off with a large yellow egg yolk begging to be poked to reveal its yummy goodness. PAJEON ($12-13), primarily a seafood pancake with spring onion is also not to be missed! Best enjoyed piping hot, this pancake contains juicy octopus chunks and spring onion stems enlived by a special soy sauce dip. It's barbecued meats are also very popular but don't order it if dining for two. Leave the BBQ for bigger gatherings.

2) Dong Bang Hong http://www.dongbanghong.com/index.htm tel#63279036

-one of the most deliciously sinful "zha jiang mian" are springy noodles served with black bean sauce korean style. The seafood version ($13-5) is huge portion enough for 2 hungry girls. The sauce is a sinful mix of diced onions that are unusually juicy and sweet to taste, fried to perfection alongside seafood chunks. You have been warned! Its portions are HUGE!!! Sweet and sour pork is quite popular but the portion is enough to feed 4 if you are ordering it along with other dishes to go with rice.

-LOCAL / ASIAN DELIGHTS-

(for local delights, please bear with lack of contact info as the stalls are usually hawker stalls located i obscure or less commercial parts of town. I shall tyr my best to include location details where possible)

1) QIJI @ Shaw Towers (behind Bugis) http://www.qiji.com.sg/
- famous for their nasi lemak, this busy joint delivers fast food of consistent quality unlike its other franchised outlets nearby which pale in comparison to this outlet. Tickle your tastebuds with side dishes like their popular popiah and soon kueh. Must try their latest dish which is an updated version of lontong. They replace the lontong rice cakes with melt in your mouth chee cheong fun which swim happily in the light curry gravy of veggies and half egg.


2) Duck rice @ South Buono Vista
they funny boss takes your order like a comedian. no fuss. just half duck or whole duck, sambal veggie ? rice or porridge. lime juice recommended to wash down all that meat!

3) Duck noodle @ Ghim Moh market
cheap but yummy duck meat served up with noodles and slivers of spring onion. simple fare but its taste so endearing you crave for more when meat cravings strike! order a side dish of duck wings and stewed beancurd to chow down with your rice or noodle.

-DESSERTS-

1) Flor Patisserie http://www.cakeflor.com.sg/index.html
- helmed by the former chef of GLACE, Chef Yamashita continues to work his majic on new creations, with FROMAGE BLANC & MANGO PIE as my top favourites. Check out his freshly baked cookies too. I absolutely can't get enough of its "langue du chat" (fine almond) cookies and walnut cookies. Once you start you cannot stop.

2) Hairloom & Caramel Cafe http://hairloomandcaramel.blogspot.com/
- not to be mistaken for the cafe @ Handy Road, this quirky little cafe filled with vintage re-upholstered furniture houses a hair salon within the same shop and serves up really yummy desserts the likes of "Sea salt caramel cupcake", "Upside down apple cake", "Chocolate banana cake" and lots more. Must try their home made salads, sandwiches and pastas served up with a japanese twist. They have just come up with a VEGETARIAN menu so there is no reason not to come chill at this cafe!

3) Kki http://www.kki-sweets.com/
this relatively new cafe @ Ann Siang Hill share the limelight with modern zakka heaven - "THE LITTLE DROM STORE" (http://www.thelittledromstore.com/) , despite its tiny premises with seats you can count with your fingers, it serves up french desserts for the affluent sweet toothed pack. Just remember to bring a fat wallet. The cakes here are priced way above those at Flor's!

4) Seventh Heaven http://www.seventhheaven.com.sg/
- for artisanal desserts that include a medley of yummy ice cream flavors. It's website is so cute with vintage illustrations and rabbit from Alice's wonderland. Catch a free shuttle bus from Outram MRT on weekdays. http://www.mis.org.sg/imagefiles/Raeburn%20Nov%20schedule%20Bus%20Poster.jpg

5) Fika Cafe http://www.fikacafe.com/
- For a touch of Sweden, check out lunch and dinner here from its simple, hearty menu. The pancakes here are nice and light. paired with lingonberry jam and whipped cream. Come early before it runs out. Enjoy a wide array of cakes along with GRYPHON range of tea flavours. Psst... to all my muslim friends and colleagues, the food here is also halal by the way!

6) Food for Thought @ Queen Street http://http://www.foodforthought.com.sg/Food_For_Thought.html
- ask for the NUTELLA cupcakes to be warmed up slightly and order a big comforting cup of steamed milk for good old comfort food for the soul. Ask for a cinnamon stick in your milk to make this plain cuppa more aromatic and reminiscent of a warm fire in a wooden cottage in winter. (2012 update - they have opened a humongous new outlet @ Botanic Gardens)

7) Laurent Bernard @ Robertson Walk http://thechocolatefactoryonline.com/
- i crave for its handmade chocolates when stress levels hit an all time high. just 4 pieces of the delicious morsels can elevate my moood considerably. the salted caramel, champagne truffle,whisky truffle, apricot ganache, passionfruit, yuzu are just some of my favourites. The hcocolate tart is decadent but oh so good to share. I have yet to try the souffles but they are a sure thing to devour in my upcoming trips. Its decadently rich chocolate ice cream sells out fast! Drinks are passable but not memorable so you are better off with a regular hot tea to cut through all the rich chocolate. Bon apetite!

8) KITH cafe http://www.kith.com.sg/
- a tiny, tiny cafe serving up hearty sandwiches and a good variety of drinks make up for its remote location and early closing hours. catch up with friends over a quick cuppa as its designer furniture is not exactly comfortable. the food is ok and sometimes the lady boss can look quite grumpy. and its been overheard its young bosses came over from JONES THE GROCER and have been gaining popularity amongst the yuppie crowd after being featured in the designer magazine MONOCLE.

I shall stop here for now as I have been typing non-stop on my various blogs since morning. Look out for more updates in time to come. With some luck and generosity of fellow makan crazed foodies, I look forward to come up with a whole new list for 2011!

Black Diamond anyone ?

Bamboo , also known as black diamond is fast becoming an indispendable part of our modern day lives. With pollution giving rise to climate changes, it is important that we continue to look for more sustainable ways of co-existing with nature instead of depleting it with massive forest logging; giving rise to desertification (i.e making deserts out of more land each day). Imagine EARTH as a whole desert, devoid of water with no shade from the blazing sun. How can humans continue life as it is now if the world is racing to shave Mother Nature off from the face of the earth in the name of modern day conveniences.

Ever since reading an article in READER'S DIGEST on how the bamboo plant absorbs more carbon dioxide than any plant and gives out plenty of oxygen back into the air, I have begun to take notice of bamboo plants in general. It's great that Singapore is already a garden city with an abundance of trees and foliage around the whole island. But still, the city centre region can do with a little bit more shade and temperature control from more leafy trees to take the heat out. I am glad that local farm BOLLYWOOD VEGGIES has some varieties of bamboo cultivated in their Kranji farm. I do wish that more bamboo can be planted islandwide to improve air quality. It is one of the fastest growing plants but i suspect the high maintenance of its shedding leaves makes it quite a challenge to upkeep the clean roads we are so used to seeing everyday.

While relaxing to the weekly episode of SAVING GAIA - The Green Reapers, now shown on Channelnewsasia every Saturday, it struck me that bamboo can be as strong as concrete, if not even stronger when utitilsed properly as a construction element in architecture. It was quite amazing to learn that a company in Hunan,China has come up with a new composite material called "Glubam". It is a remarkable material made from strips of bamboo bonded together very securely. It has been used increasingly in building relief housing for natural disasters such as the Sichuan Earthquake and more is being explored for used in temporary showflats, which can be torn down and recycled for another showflat. If only these can be used for the numerous office cubicles in Singapore which get torn down like lego bricks with frequent office renovations. Read more about GLUBAM here - http://www.glubam.com/

Bamboo has myriad more uses when burnt into charcoal. In charcoal state, it makes a great vessel for absorbing unpleasant odours and humidity in the air. No wonder I have spotted more eateries placing bowls of charcoal in kitchens like those in CEDELE DEPOT and cafes like Tea Bone Zen Mind. How many times have you stepped into an eatery only to be unwillingly perfumed by food vapors released into the air with open area cooking. Air purifiers might remove some smells temporarily but nothing quite beats charcoal absorbing excess moisture in the air which might smell damp in an enclosed room after long periods of high humidy. Not only does it make the air smell better without adding more pollutants like man-made perfume to mask bad odours, it can also be used to diffuse the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves from electrical appliances like our computers, handphones, microwave ovens, etc... Read more about the wonders of bamboo charcoal here - http://www.blacktonature.com/

So for those of your who have the luxury of a little garden in your private houses. Or huge parcels of lands in your name, pay it forward and plant some bamboo plants in your backyard today. Your generations to come will enjoy the fruits of your labour as Earth continues to be a haven with suitable conditions for nuturing life.

"Bombastically Bamboo-fied"

Cloudspotter

Cloud Juice anyone ???

As a self-professed cloud fanatic, cloud juice sounded intriguing when i saw a travel program on TV. The owner Duncan Mcfie could identify which glass of water was King's Island CLOUD JUICE. i am not surprised coz i myself have been drinking filtered water for almost 2 years now. no not distilled water devoid of natural minerals but filtered tap water devoid of chlorine,contaminants,bacteria made possible by filtering tap water through an activated carbon filter along with UV light. There are tonnes of water filters out there but choose wisely. Cheap is not always best and neither is the most expensively priced one the best for you. Please note this is not an attempt at advertising but anyone in the right mind would share what works for them just like you would when you find great food at a fabulous restaurant or a great dress at this boutique. Tiny tap filters are only a waste of money over time as their filtering capacity is ambiguous to the unsuspecting consumer out there window shopping for lifestyle products that will bring about a better quality of life. All i want to say is : ENJOY GOOD CLEAN WATER & GIVE YOUR BODY THE GOODNESS IT DESERVES!
http://www.cloudjuice.com.au/Home.html
( cloud juice bottle image courtesy of www.finewaters.com)

now everytime i go to a restaurant nowadays, i cringe or turn away at the slightest hint of chlorine in both hot and cold water. (yes i am proud to say I have more sensitive tastebuds nowadays on top of a more acute sense of smell ) . As consumers, we have to right to decide what to put into our bodies and water is such an important component of our health that it is important you give your bodies a chance to rejuvenate with nature's gifts. I understand that chlorine is a necessary evil we add to water to kill bacteria but nothing can deny that it is still a chemical and harmful to the body over time depending on the amount accumulated over the years). I most certainly cannot stand the way local restaurants stench up the air with chloroform towards the closing of the restaurant when they disinfect kitchen utensils and tabletops with bleach and hot boiling water. Isn't there a better way to disinfect eateries without choking the daylights out of diners who just want to sit down to a good meal after a long hard day at work ? The bleach smell just kills all appetite no matter how tasty the food is. I myself have had several unfortunate encounters with cups/bowls laced with bleach that has left me disgusted with the restaurants that overlook this basic hygiene issue. Come to think of it, never once did i encounter such unpleasant dining episodes during my makan adventures in japan.

There is too much to say about clean water and its benefits. Pollution and commercialisation have made clean water an expensive commodity, even more expensive than oil these days. I myself try to conserve water in my own small way ( recycling dirty laundry water as toilet flush, watering plants with leftover drinking water from my bottles, turning off the shower when i am soaping up, etc... ) It's amazing how much water we waste daily with the convenience of a tap these days! Try to conserve water and use it wisely.

And since we are on the subject of water, you might want to check out MASARU EMOTO's books on water crystals and their messages contained within.. by examining the structure of their crystals under a powerful microscope, simple experiments show astonishing results on how water can absorb/transmit a certain feeling/vibe after it has been exposed to the source of a feeling/intention. http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/entop.html

(image of water crystal exposed to cherry blossom - from masuru emoto's website)


ok that's all for now!
cloudfully yours....
happy reading!

gohng-simi ?

i have just started a new blog titled "gohng simi" to explore the various slangs we use in singapore day to day. think it would be interesting to compile an informal dictionary of terms especially for the increasing number of friends we make abroad as we befriend more and more people internationally throughout the world with the advent of facebook, msn, twitter and etc..etc... etc... http://gohngsimi.blogspot.com/

pls feel free to add your comments and slang contributions to this new blog. hope to receive your contributions / 2 cents worth of slang definitions soon....

yours sincerely and hopefully
cloudspotter...

procrastinate no more...

lately i have had so many topics to write about but saved them into so many drafts yet to be published that my draft box is overflowing with half baked thoughts and ideas that have yet to be presented artfully in a most layman friendly way... i have decided to earnestly try and put up more posts with less words and more pics where possible. wish me luck and i hope to post more regularly when a "wordstorm" strikes..

now high on chai latte caffeine and navigating through a sandstorm of ideas brewing in her head now...

Much ado about BAGS !!!

A chance encounter with this quintessentially British label has made a big fan out of moi, my friends and colleagues. I used to be an ardent fan of the english romantic label LAURA ASHLEY but Cath Kidston has swiftly taken over its place and now ranks high on my "to buy" list. Japan now boasts at least 3 stores so I am pining away for them to set up at least one store here in Singapore! I would be the first to join them in a flash. This store would give me a chance to use all the fashion, visual merchandising and retail skills garnered from my colorful career in the past decade. The candy inspired colors, childlike graphics are like the equivalent of Roald Dahl's stories to the world. Serve up english florals on endearing pastels, throw in age old polka dot classics, jazz things up with some stars, stripes and florals and there you have it! An irresistible getaway for the urban romantics out there! This is the reason why me and my friends stalk out Kinokuniya bookstores for the latest Cath Kidston magazines, and freebies bundled along with it.
Its much cheaper to buy them from Tokyo itself but be prepared to lug back the heavy magazines along with your spanking new Cath K freebies! While the popular "Fie Japan" accessory shops here bring in a limited range of Cath's goodies at considerably marked up prices, I much prefer going online to check out the loot or make my usual pitstops at the Daikanyama or Maranouchi stores for a quick browse. I am so enamoured with my LONDON print box bag purchase in my Tokyo trip in Dec 2009. This roomy bag is made from oilcloth and absolutely great for keeping my belongings dry during rainy days. Perfect for the gloomy and rainy weather of London.Sign up for the free catalogue so you can savour the latest must-have collections in your idle moments on the train or in a queue.

While Cath Kidston is for the hopeless romantic filled with childlike wonder, Kate Spade fills the need for clean and bold design and striking colors amongst the well-heeled fashionista. Strong contrasting colors like its signature green and pink combo. Both labels have inspired such a strong desire for these colors that I have picked out yarns in the closest possible shades to make my very own version of Cath or Kate collectibles. My trial and error sessions over the past year have given birth to items like ipod, iphone and camera pouches, buttons, rosettes. With the help of a fellow crafter who introduced me to the wonderful world of freeform, I also discovered tge joys of creating as we go with yarn scraps that can be transformed into works of art with a little bit of imagination, a good eye for color and lots of patience.

I am just itching to showcase my creations and start to take orders for customised items for the x'mas gift giving frenzy just months down the road. I just have to get them photographed nicely before loading them up for your viewing / shopping pleasure. My crochet works aim to put some fun back into accessories. My crochet pieces are centred quality wool yarns to ensure the best hand feel and color combinations.

Customisation is gaining popularity and previously limited to once in a lifetime occassion like weddings. Now even brands like TIMBERLAND are recognising that well-travelled and fashion savvy shoppers these days appreciate just that extra exclusivity with custom matched colors/trims/etc.. Put some personality into your bag/outfit. Couture is not so daunting after all. Bespoke on a budget is now much easier to achieve with a little bit of creativity, and some clever manipulation of colors, patterns and theme.

One can never have enough accessories as they can update our wardrobe or decor with the latest trends in small doses while being friendly on the pocket at the same time. I started making my own accessories out of boredom and also as a way to destress after a hard day's work and I believe I have inherited the traits of my grandfather who is very good with handiwork. He made his own fishing nets, bamboo containers, etc... Crafting with your hands gives you a kind a satisfaction that not only satisfies the sense of sight but also that of touch. The pattern created from the yarns provide a different texture that heightens the sense of touch on our fingertips when we are blindly looking for something in our bottomless bags. There is a major movement in abroad on supporting handmade creations called "Buy Handmade". Items crafted by hand will always have that extra touch that is missing from commercially profit driven goods sold at cheaper prices to get the biggest market share. Even online sites like ETSY (founded by Robert Kalin) is now valued at 9 billion whopping dollars with the plethora of crafters eager to peddle their wares online. Having an online shop is irresistible as this shop opens 24 hours on end for shoppers in every corner of the world who has access to internet. Beats the high rentals, inventory and staffing problems that typical shopowners face in the fickle retail economy of today!

So get those fingers moving and support handmade today!

Go GREEK for God's sake!

Monsters and beasts never looked so cool ! The recent onslaught of movies like PERCY JACKSON & THE LIGHTNING THIEF + CLASH OF THE TITANS 2010 remake are but a couple of the latest offerings in tribute to Greek mythology.

Eye candy from the 2010 remake of Titans include Gemma Arterton http://www.gemma-arterton.net/ , who first caught my eye in Bond’s 2008 remake-Quantum of Solace. Even though she only had about 5 mins on screen as one of Bond’s agent girls, she made a deep impression here with her rubenesque-like beauty portraying the wise and beautiful Io (cursed with agelessness after rejecting a God’s advances) and romantic interest to Perseus. A perfect contrast of vulnerability to the tough heroes in their quest of the titans, she outshines co-star Alexa Davalos (Princess Andromeda) hands down with her asymmetrically draped costumes designed by award winning Lindy Hemming.

The film’s version of Medusa is also by far the sleekest and most beguiling version so far. This serpentine rendition is swift as the wind. And its lair makes for one of the best arenas for a 3D gamer. One that tests the agility of your senses and speed of response with its labyrinth-like ruins, made so precarious that victims free fall to smithereens from one careless glance at the deadly stare of Medusa. ( ps: their heads amazingly kept intact for the big screen to identify which warrior has succumbed to her deadly gaze) Do we? Mere mortals ever find the MEDUSA in our lives to kill that dreaded and seemingly invincible beast of our worst nightmares? Every hero in the legends seem to have used Medusa’s powers one way or another, alas its rattlesnake tail always the dead giveaway to its own demise. An elusive creature so adept at archery but yet reduced to its beastly state under the wrath of another beauty’s jealousy. A woman’s hatred is indeed far more dangerous than the venom of the most poisonous creatures. Check out this link for videos of 1981’s version of Medusa versus the CGI 2010 version in Clash of the Titan’s & Uma Thurman’s rendition in Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/03/27/clash-of-the-titans-medusa-is-ready-for-her-close-up/tab/article/

Serpentine beasts have always brought out the dark and mysterious side in mythological epics. Used to good effect in other films like Harry Potter. How about a game of “Snakes and ladders” in the next movie? This game somewhat makes a most befitting metaphor for the dirty game of politics in the corporate world? Maybe a life sized version for a theme park will make team building activities. Other creepy crawlies that make our hair stand include scorpions, centipedes & slimy toads which never fail to bring up the “eek” factor for viewers !!!

Pegasus(winged horses) and Hermes’s winged slippers are also one of the few godly gifts that many desire and long to behold. Flight empowers its beholder freedom at will and thus makes it the perfect antidote to the oppressing dark powers of the underworld.

Hell is sort of cool to behold in these 2010 remakes, with hell's gateway strategically located right in the heart of Hollywood sign, a glittering highway of lost dreams floating below Percy Jackson’s hell ride and the amazing hell boat in the Titans.

I am looking forward to a whole wave of mythological inspired theme parties complete with accessories, furnishings, fashion to match! Beat the heat with that Grecian inspired draped dress and sandals. Just check out these lovely creations from OCT 2009 GIVENCHY. And how about naming your favourite pets after these Greek legends. Hermes for your Chihuahua, Athena for your pet robin and Poseidon for your pet turtle. Go on and have fun!Its cool to be “GREEKalicious” for a change this season!

BYOB i/o MYOB

It's in to be GREEN! Well, many a naysayer will probably tell me to MYOB (mind your own business) on any eco=friendly effort. For the record, I am no hardcore eco-enthusiast. Just your average plain jane, bludgeoned daily by the numerous "green efforts" campaigns and taglines from big brands cashing in on this new wave of eco-consumerism!

I recall in my high school days when recycling efforts were already in the pipeline, only to see more concrete plans more than a decade later materialise in the form of public campaigns and better designed recycling bins in the town areas. Let's face it! Modern day conveniences inevitably create more by-product waste from the use-and-throw amenities we all need daily. Using them is not a crime but the problem arises when they are not recycled properly in the garbage dumps (coz everyone just dumps everything together without seperating the trash properly) ! Let's touch on this touchy topic in another blog post for brevity's sake.

The BYOB ( bring you own bag) movement is not new and already a common practice in neighbouring asian countries like taiwan, seoul and japan. To drive the message home further, shoppers are charged a minimal amount for the plastic or paper bag along with every purchase. Though nothing you can't afford, every little cent adds up, unfortunately like the amount of plastic bags endlessly clogging up landfills and oceans, decimating precious marine animals and wildlife worldwide.

When I visited Seoul & Japan in 2008, I got into the habit of bringing foldable cloth bags that weigh next to nothing when i went shopping. One simple act like this actually saved myself from accumulating close to a dozen shopping bags for a full day's retail therapy. Not only that, it probably saved up enough pennies for a good ol' cup of kopi-o or teh-si to recharge after a gruelling shopping bonanza. Not too bad a bargain considering the tiny,tiny effort it takes to just throw in a foldable pocket-sized eco-bag into your handbag before you hit the stores.

Ever since, BYOB for me has become such a habit that I get extra peeved at myself whenever I fall short of my trusty reusable bag (eg. on days when i leave the house hands free without my usual carryall , eg. lunch break at work, grabbing a quick breakfast on the weekends, on my morning walks,etc.. ) Every umpteenth time I get to tell the supermarket/bookstore cashier smugly " I don't need a bag", it brings on a wave of triumphant euphoria followed by bemused looks from the cashier. I admit this cheap thrill is getting quite addictive and what a great way to put a spring in your step when you leave the stores "one plastic or paper bag lesser" ? Cashiers in Singapore are still all too ready to whip out a plastic bag and seconds to double them up for heavy items. High time to re-train that muscle reflex!

Durable and reusable bags are aplenty with savvy retailers dishing out reusable carriers for your precious purchases. Should you prefer non-logo emblazoned bags, take your pick from a wonderful selection going from as cheap as S$2 at DAISO outlets islandwide, to the chi-chi versions touted by brands like MOTTERU, ECOBAGS. The fashionably hip need not despair. Grab some one-of -kind versions from the likes of vegetable dyed earth toned stringy versions sold at WOODWOULD or quirky,designer assembled eco-friendly versions fashioned out of discarded sailcloths/newspapers/metal cans peddled on crafty sites like ETSY (check out Ella Vickers) .

Go on and reap the benefits that "BYOB" brings! The feel good factor that follows only serves to extend the the adrenalin rush that retail therapy brings! What's more? For the recessionistas out there, when your eco bag is looking overstuffed, it makes for a great wake up call to call it quits on the day's shopping spree! What a great reminder not to burst your budget, don't you think? Happy shopping everyone!

Mr Perfect - OST blues

The recent holiday stretch over the chinese new year holidays presented the perfect opportunity for a moviethon. Romance comedies rank high on a girl's movie list so there I was, running through my DVD collection of asian and foreign movies to while the hot day away. Coming across my all-time favorite movie (Seducing Mr Perfect) starring on screen eye candies like Daniel Henney & Uhm Jung Hwa ( a quick search on facebook will point you to their numerous fan sites). The plot is typical girl meets boy romance but updated with a modern twist albeit posh locations and a slick wardrobe for the cast amidst witty dialogue. The OST (original sound track) was what lingered on long after the movie ended its run on the pc... a jazzy mix of uptempo classics that make you feel like prancing around Frank Sinatra style and mushy ballads that tug at your heartstrings in those pensive moments. Alas this soundtrack is completely sold out in Korea and S'pore despite several nights of online searching. My last hope of downloading it from the kdramaqueen blogspot site were also dashed with recent improvements to the K-drama fanatics site making downloading impossible.

I wouldn't even mind purchasing a second hand copy of this album. Can any kind soul who comes across this blog entry, kindly point me in the right direction, pretty please ? For now, I shall enjoy the limited tracks available via this link until I can get my hands on this OST!

http://www.myspace.com/seducingmrperfect

Cedele dépôt - pancakes rule here!

After a harrowing afternoon at the dentist with my wisdom tooth, my diet choices have whittled down to either liquid or soft foods. Feeling peckish and sudden craving for pancakes (brought on by a most unsatisfying visit to another cafe earlier in the week), I decided to have pancakes for dinner since I can't really chew on solid foods quite yet. CEDELE has both sweet and savoury pancakes but I was skewed towards the antioxidant packed "wild blueberries" version. S$12.90 will get you a savoury side( either bacon rashers of sausages) alongside a stack of 3 fluffy pancakes, served with maple syrup, vanilla butter and a small side of greens. Should you decide to enjoy just the pancakes au naturel, just pay S$9.50. Though I wasn't very hungry, I polished off the whole plate clean within minutes. The stack, though not as huge as before, had generous chunks of wild blueberries, pressed into the fluffy batter which made it even more irresistible. And may I correct myself in a previous entry, there are enough blueberries to bring you bursts of mildly tangy joy with each and every mouthful (instead of every other mouthful). This would have been the ultimate decadent treat if hot chocolate sauce was drizzled over these tasty morsels of delight alongside a scoop of their homemade salted caramel ice cream! The tangy wild blueberries (which i suspect are the same as those sold at organic grocer BUNALUN) would make a good contrast against a dark chocolate sauce! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

A salute to the chefs (at the Wheelock branch) who whipped up this hearty and yummylicious treat in the trans-fat free kitchen. Perfect comfort food to come home to. Can't wait to try all the other pancakes available here. Perhaps a savoury one for lunch at my next visit!

http://www.cedeledepot.com/home/home.asp

HATCHED - eggylicious no more?

An ex-colleague and fellow foodie rounded up a small party to check out HATCHED at Evans Road (within walking distance from Botanic Gardens)for a light dinner. The rush hour traffic in the evening had my bus crawling at snail's pace in the heart of Orchard so I was running late for dinner. Time was running out, not to mention that the eggs were probably "running out" (pun intended) too at the rate the traffic was going. Last order was 9.30pm and I barely made it to the place by 8pm. The first impression I had of the cafe was that of a cosy eatery perfect for a lazy brunch if you were staying around the area. Furniture was simple but modern. They have quite a good selection of beers to choose from so I reckon that this was more of a watering hole than a cafe just like COLBAR. The menu was lovely with cute illustrations but a bit hard to make sense of the variety that was available. It took me almost 5 minutes to decide what to finally order. Check out their "oh-so-cute" website too http://hatched.sg/#/home (but one gripe about the site it that each webpage loads up too slowly.... by the time it gets to 100%, the eggs would have hatched!)

Before you get down to my following review, I must first commend the owners for coming up with an all day breakfast restaurant. There are just some days where one is craving for a good ol' breakfast meal of eggs and toast at the oddest time of day. So thumbs up for the concept , the cleverly chosen names for your eggy creations and the lovely illustrations.

With this review, I speak for myself. And my comments are based on my personal likes and dislikes so you have to try out the food for yourselves before you arrive at your final verdict. My party of foodies were much more forgiving dishing out comments like " it was nice!", "not bad" and etc.... In my foodie dictionary, these are tantamount to a bad date which you would much rather have not gone on. Much as I hate to dish out any 'plate of complaints', I would say that HATCHED definitely has much more room for improvement. The quaint cafe was cosy and cute but the food fell short of my expectations.

My "PAPILLOTE" dish on the menu read as "smoked salmon folded over srambled eggs with chive cream,with your choice of toast, served with sauteed potatoes and caramelised onions". The order came served on plain white toast with a side of baked potatoes with sauteed onions that looked like a sorry handful of leftovers. For $12, a decent serving could have come with a slice of rustic toast / sourdough and the potatoes could have had more flavor or punch to them. The 2 slices of salmon enveloping the almost non-existent scrambled eggs were dissapointing too. I had to wash down the bland potatoes with tabasco sauce and ketchup. I just realised that the menu said "choice of toast" but the waitress didn't explain what choices were available and just served up the dish 5 minutes later with plain white toast. So maybe the dish could have been better received. For now, this was the most unsatisfying breakfast meal of eggs that I have had in ages even though I was a hungry foodie when I arrived at the restaurant late.

Quoting one of my friend's favourite tagline - HUNGER IS THE BEST SPICE IN THE WORLD, this proved untrue on my visit here. As a shoestring foodie where every dollar & cent counts, I would rather have spent my $12 at Canopy Dining for a more satisfying meal of eggs benedict/eggs florentine with better quality ingredients and better portions.

My fellow friends ordered the PANCAKE PLATTER for dessert. At $10 for a huge 3 slice portion, this made for a hefty serving for one. The pancakes were almost 1cm thick but the fruit toppings were dismal. Maple syrup was nice but i like my pancakes thinner. Another foodie pal ordered the blueberry waffle. This was a regular one slice portion with maple syrup on the side and a pitiful sprinkling of 4-5 blueberries on top of this 4" wide waffle. If I ever want any pancakes, I guess it would have to be CEDELE DEPOT's version to hit the right spot. Thier pancakes are about the same size as HATCHED but with blueberries pressed into the pancake, you can taste a burst of tangy goodness with almost every other bite.

The tap water served was horrid. After drinking bottled mineral water for a couple of years, anything with the faintest hint of chlorine is just undrinkable for me personally. Hot water just makes the chlorine even more apparent. Singapore is proud to be one of the few cities with perfect drinkable tap water but for me this is just not water fit for a meal. Call me finicky but we all have a right to choose what to put into our mouth and our bodies. The only redeeming factor in the menu for me was the freshly squeezed juices apple/orange juice served without ice. At $4 for a regular cup, though much smaller than what you would get at MARCHE, but it tasted good.

There was only one waitress attending to our orders and though it was hard to get her attention even though we were the only big group of 8 seated in the small cafe amongst a couple of other few tables, her warm and friendly personality definitely made up for the constant efforts of having to get any attention for my order to be taken or for additional condiments on the side. From the cafe's blog, I understand that most of them haven't had any F&B experience but this is definitely no excuse for not knowing your menu. I sincerely hope that all service crew taking orders can put in a little more heart into it and not be as laidback as this casual eatery. A relaxed ambience should not equate to tardy standards in service or food quality. Just like minimalistic designer clothing, a simple blouse or skirt may look like its easy to execute but it takes a whole lotta technique and attention to detail to make that garment fall or drape beautifully on your body and make it seem as though it was a breeze to sew it up.

HATCHED might do better if they focused on doing just a fewer versions of the eggs right. A bloody good sunny side up/scrambled/poached egg menu may just attract more 'chicks' than you can handle! GAMBATTEH !!!!

For now, I think I would stick to KITH CAFE , CEDELE DEPOT, CANOPY DINING or JONES THE GROCER for my breakfast fix.

Hardly eggy-litarianly speaking...