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!