First things first – for those who may not be familiar with Singapore’s prawn noodle history, Da Dong Prawn Noodles started out with a pushcart at Hokkien Street and then moved on to an equally popular stall at Starlight Road.  Their most recent move saw the owners moving to a larger unit at 180 Joo Chiat Road before they decided to call it a day.  So yes, the flavour of the rich Da Dong prawn noodle stock remains etched in the taste memories of many Singaporeans.

Da Dong Prawn Noodles' biggest fan

So, it was no surprise that we ran into hubs’ colleague, the effervescent Linda, who’s been a fan since she was 12!  From what we gathered, most of the patrons at the pop-up stall were Da Dong’s die hard fans, who brought their families and friends for that simple dish of  flat yellow noodles and  rice vermicelli drenched in a rich, flavoursome prawn stock, finished with a generous serving of lard for flavour!  At $6 a bowl for the most basic mixture of noodles, it did seem a little tough on the wallet, but hey, who knows when we’ll be able to savour this treat next!

Post our satisfying noodle-tastic lunch, Ed suggested that we take a walk down to 20, Kandahar Street, home to  Japanese-inspired coffee bar Maison Ikkoku.  Very much like the other indie coffee places that have begun springing up in Singapore’s hipster districts (read: Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar and now Kampong Glam) Maison Ikkoku features “artisanal premium coffee”.  However, for that added taste of Japanese perfection and attention to detail, Maison Ikkoku boasts baristas trained by Japanese celebrity barista and latte art extremist, Hiroshi Sawada.

 To be honest, while they serve up a mean coffee - we were more enthused by their nibbles and sweet treats (yes, we just had lunch…) Ed was unable to resist the Hawaiian classic, Spam sushi…

Auds and I went for more conventional desserts – a homebaked passionfruit and a peanut butter cupcake each.   They were everything a cupcake should be and more!  The cakes were moist and not too sweet and the icing was a real treat – full of flavour and not just sickeningly sugary – that definitely hit the spot!

And that’s not all, one of the partners filled us in on the full plans for the 4,000 square foot shophouse that are set to come to life by the end of the year - a multi-label (mostly Japanese brands - sorry Ed and other well-built boys!) men’s boutique on the second floor… and wait for it… a cocktail bar cum dining area (complete with open concept kitchen for dinner parties) on the top floor.  I’m excited!

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bacon has become synonymous with the concept of a hearty american breakfast platter - streaky bacon deep-fried ’til crisp, served alongside sausages, eggs, toast and tomatoes. but there are many other ways to enjoy bacon – here are some of my bacon experiences that have stood out along the way.

1. bacon avacado with toasted sourdough: pimlico fresh, london

bacon with avocado on sourdough toast

pimlico fresh was without a doubt one of my favourite brunch places during my six months in london. it’s a cosy cafe situated in a charming neighbourhood (pimlico) and at an affordable price, you get really good food, fresh ingredients and quality monmouth coffee.

the bacon and avocado on sourdough toast is my favourite dish there – it’s thoroughly satisfying because of the complementary combination of the salty bacon, the sour avocado with lime, which is almost a puree, and the natural sweetness of the toast.  and further to that, the variety of textures you get with every mouthful is wonderful.

a great breakfast treat which doesn’t feel exceptionally sinful because of the avocado – here’s a recipe you can try at home.

2. bacon banana chilli pancake, pancakes! amsterdam

ZOMG

amsterdam is THE pancake playground of the world in my opinion. their most famous pancake outlets are often two-storey mega-restaurants and the menus are extensive. you get the standard pancakes, indian pancakes (with curries), pancake pies, savoury pancakes with guacamole, the works.

so when i walked into pancakes! amsterdam i knew i wasn’t going to be a wuss and order the usual with maple syrup. heaven forbid. i was going to go all out, so i ordered the bacon banana chilli pancake. it taste exactly like you would imagine, but better. like chilli chocolate, the spiciness only kicks in with the after-taste which is, for lack of a better description, SHIOK. 

i’ve since tried looking for recipes online but sadly, haven’t been able to find anything remotely similar!

3. bacon-infused bourbon shooters, maker’s mark

james merkel, mixologist for beam global asia, has developed bacon-infused bourbon shooter recipes that pair the rich flavours of whiskey with bacon. this is called a win-win scenario.

beautiful pairings

the bacon infused bourbon: this is the baseline ‘chicken stock’ equivalent that you can use to create a variety of shooters.

what you need:

• 2 packs of bacon (maple smoked bourbon apparently blends well with bourbon)
• 1 750ml bottle of bourbon e.g. maker’s mark
• 1 wide mouth jar
• non-stick frying pan
• ¼ tablespoon oil

 procedure:

• add ¼ tablespoon oil to a non-stick pan. fry bacon on low heat and in batches
• collect the oil from every batch & wipe the pan clean with kitchen tissue. be sure to remove burnt pieces in the pan
• set the oil aside & let it cool down to room temperature. you should render around 250-300ml of bacon fat with 2 packs of bacon
• strain the oil into a wide mouth jar. add 750ml bourbon
• seal/close the jar tightly and shake for 10-20 seconds
• place the mixture inside the freezer to marry the flavours. depending on how savoury the bacon is, leave mixture in freezer for between 2 to 3 days

harvesting the infused bourbon:

• a layer of frozen fat will settle on top of the bourbon. break the frozen fat layer with a sharp knife, being careful not to break them into small pieces, remove and discard
• strain the bourbon into another container. strain the liquid again with a coffee strainer
• pour it back in a clearly labelled bottle
• refrigerate when it’s not being consumed

the shooter recipes

once your bacon-infused bourbon is harvested, you’re ready to create your bacon-bourbon shooters. james has created quite a few mouth-watering shooter recipes, but here are the top 3 that really caught my attention. 

le bacon pizza (makes 2 shots)

• 30ml bacon Infused bourbon
• 30ml tomato juice
• dash of Italian spice
• method: shake and strain into shot glasses. garnish with mini pizza slice (wrap with melted mozzarella cheese)

 chocolate cherry bacon

• 15ml bacon infused bourbon
• 15ml bols cacao brown
• 15ml bols cherry brandy
• method: shake and strain into shot glasses. garnish with chocolate covered bacon slice

blueberry pancake

• 15ml bacon infused bourbon
• 10ml bols blueberry
• 10ml bols advocaat
• 3 fresh blueberries
• dash of maple syrup (1 to 1)
• method: shake and strain into shot glasses. garnish with mini pancake

- juicy

The launch event was held at Guy Savoy and we had an opportunity to preview some of the dishes from his summer menu.  Known for his clean flavours, I must say the dishes from the summer menu are exquisite.  Here are some of the key highlights:

The first dish that caught my eye and tickled my palate was the light and refreshing “Myriad of Peas” whipped up by Executive Chef Eric Bost; and trust me, it tastes as good as it looks.

A oozy egg yolk sitting on a puddle of pea gelée topped with fresh peas – totally thrilling!

According to Chef Guy, tomatoes always signal the start of summer in France and what’s a summer menu without the freshest heirloom tomatoes which feature prominently alongside a tomato tartlette topped off with a surprising Seaweed-Lemon Granite (shaved ice with seaweed and lemon).

A perfect partnership of flavours.

And here’s the dish that will really impress your date (if she’s anything like me and has an insatiable sweet tooth!), the Chocolate Orb “Exotique”.  It’s a dessert like no other.  When it’s first served, it looks like an ordinary chocolate orb, but no…

The service staff pour on a warm mango sauce to unveil a passionfruit sorbet with aloe vera bits.  This sweet treat truly hits the spot and leaves you with that warm, fuzzy, decadent feeling that summer brings. (Pardon the blurry pix – we got too excited!)

So yes, if you’ve got your mid-year bonus in hand, it might be time to bring that someone special to Guy Savoy for a taste of the delights from their summer menu – just remember to dress up, please!  The ever-charming Georges Tov revealed that some of the patrons just don’t dress up for the fine-dining experience – so please respect the Chef and your fellow diners and come in your spiffiest togs… no scruffy t-shirts please!

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*Juicy and Delicious work for Edelman but the views expressed here are our own.

We’ll be back very soon but in the meantime, we’re still up to our usual shenanigans on Twitter – check out this totally cool Face-off on Visual.ly, follow us and yes, let’s chat!

A one-off event held at the Underground Youth Centre at Piper Close, the fund-raising dinner was prepared by the enterprising and creative Underground Girls Group - made up of girls aged 8-19 from the community.

the sweet restaurant

For £10, guests were treated to a set dinner menu of home-made favourites like bread with humus, beef lasagne, pizza and chocolate brownies with Channel Island cream – all cooked and served by the very charming chefs and waitresses who were known by their initials for the night.

home-made pizza with rocket

The meal was simple, familiar and lovely. Prior to the event the girls had visited Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen, where they learnt about the different roles in a restaurant setting, what it’s like working in catering and had a chance to interact with the restaurant’s young apprentices. They also underwent food hygiene training to ensure everything was prepared safely. 

chefs hard at work

There were also performances and on-site entertainment – we even had a cheeky waitress going around telling jokes to guests. (Q: What ice cream flavour do monkeys love? A: Mint chocolate chimp!).

Overall, a sweet experience as the restaurant name suggests and a worthwhile initiative. I understand there may be more similar pop-up nights coming up, and I look forward to the next round.

interacting with the guests

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Which is why establishments like Eat and Pret are a dime a dozen and do amazingly well – they offer quick but staple healthy options like sandwiches, soups and salads. In fact, I’ve started playing a little game in my head called “The Daily Pret” where I count the number of Prets I pass by everyday. Yesterday’s count was six.

But every now and then the Eats and Prets of the world just don’t cut it – here are two of my favourite lunch-only eateries in London for days when you just feel like indulging.

Picante Mexican Grill

Gotta thank Sandra for this one.

Just a 5-minute walk away from the office in Victoria, this is my favourite option for a sinful, savoury, spicy lunch – whether you’re in the mood to dine in or take out. Design your own delicious taco or burrito by choosing the wrap and filling (rice, peppers and/or beans), your choice of meat (my favourite is carne asada or grilled steak), and then toppings (free options + extras at a cost).

Go early to avoid disappointment – the beef, peppers and guacamole tend to run out pretty quickly – but this means ingredients are really fresh. Also, lines start forming really early from noon!

Lastly, do grab lots of serviettes ‘cos it’s quite a handful and a bit of a mess to eat. It’s a meal best eaten sitting down vs on-the-move.

taco with a view

Picante Mexican Grill
18 Greencoat Row SQ1P1PQ
11.30am-3.30pm Mon-Fri

Fazenda

This was a bit of a lucky find. I had been walking around Spitalfields on a Saturday and wandered slightly away from the market towards Middlesex Road. I happened to pass by this charming little cafe with pastries and tarts laid out at the shop window.

When you walk in, it’s like walking in to someone’s home – a tiny living area with a few rustic tables and chairs, wooden shelves and a coffee counter. And while the menu is limited, the food as well has a very homely feel.

A lot of what’s available is laid out on the table – great items for brunch like pies, tarts and omelettes. I had a very simple but really tasty variety of items – a refreshing salad of squid, celery, carrot and apple, an omelette with watercress and potato as well as a fantastic cup of cappuccino. In fact, many customers were popping in to take away Fazenda’s coffee.

Fazenda
13 Leyden St E1 7LE
8am-6pm Mon-Fri; 9.30am-6pm Sat, Sun

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you’ll be happy to hear that despite the lack of action on this blog, our gastronomic shenanigans have not ceased. to prove this, i wanted to share some food-related highlights from my recent travels this year. 

1) taipei – dozo izakaya

a super sexy japanese restaurant and bar inspired by the ‘izakaya concept’ – primarily a drinking place which also serves food. as you walk in for dinner you’ll be wowed by how sensual the whole place is. dim lights, lounge music n modern japanese decor featuring cherry blossom trees n lanterns drape an open dining hall which is usually packed on weekends. a runway platform comes up to the centre of the dining area, n sets the stage for entertaining live acts through dinner such as shirtless drummers n singers decked in traditional geisha wear. 

dozo izakaya on a friday night

hungry hippo

this is a perfect place for a pre-clubbing meal on a weekend – a mysterious vibe with the right music to put you in the mood, delicious cocktails (try their specialty sake- and shochu-based cocktails) n the menu is ideal for sharing amongst friends. the sashimi wasn’t as fresh as i’d like, but the assorted yakitori set didn’t disappoint. a must-try is their award-winning boneless chicken stuffed with cod roe. they also do a mean hokkaido-style steamed rice with roe n raw salmon. 

if you’re feeling like something a lil’ more soupy, hotpot is also available as an option. 

best part is, the price is right. 5 people can have a comfortable meal for about SGD 200 – 250 in total. 

dozo izakaya
102, guangfu south road, 1F
02-2778-1135 

2. ho chi minh – pho quynh 

having had countless bowls of shitty pho in singapore, i was really looking forward to savouring some good vietnamese beef noodles on my trip to ho chi minh. i’ve had some good pho bo in melbourne, but people always say you can’t replicate the pho you get in vietnam. 

i’d randomly checked out a few vietnamese food blogs ahead of the trip, n there seemed to be a resounding recommendation for pho quynh. we were ambitious n had decided to walk most of the time about ho chi minh, but little did we know that the little haunt we were hunting for was located close to the end of pham ngu lao street. we ended up walking about 30-45 minutes in the rain before we finally found the place. 

on hindsight this is probably why the next half hour felt like heaven in slow-motion. there is nothing quite like dipping crispy, flaky french loaf in a bowl of phenomenal bho ko. bho ko, or vietnamese beef stew, is actually what pho quynh is famous for. this was my first time tasting vietnamese beef stew n it was love at first slurp. bho ko is a deep red stew – a lot less thick than the traditional western stew - n with tender chunks of beef that dissipate in your mouth. 

bho ko

apparently the ingredients that make bho ko so different from western stews incude lemongrass, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, curry powder n chinese 5-spice powder. n the deep red color is mostly due to the use of annatto seeds. 

needless to say, the pho bo was also pretty darn amazing as well. i tried the specialty combo of beef slices and beef balls, complete with what had to be level 8.5/10 chilli rings. FIRE. 

i loved the fact that this was pretty much a street-side stall. low-profile, humble decor, despite being crowded on the both times we visited (yes, meals like these call for an encore). made the whole experience complete. 

the works @ pho quynh

pho quynh
17, Tôn Thất Tùng, P.Phạm Ngũ Lão, Q.1
Vietnam 

3. shanghai – the waterhouse 

a new kid on the block at the south bund, near the old docks at huangpu river, the waterhouse is a new boutique hotel by singapore’s loh lik peng. he is also the dude behind new majestic hotel back home. originally a warehouse n factory, a lot of the original look n feel of the place (flooring, walls, stairs) was retained, n accentuated by quirky, striking pieces of furniture. from a design perspective, it’s a must-see. 

the waterhouse, south bund shanghai

it’s also a great place for drinks – either at the trendy lobby bar or at the rooftop terrace, where you can get a spectacular view of the city skyline. 

waterhouse lobby bar

view of city skyline from the waterhouse rooftop terrace bar

the waterhouse shanghai
1号 Maojiayuan Rd Huangpu, Shanghai, 中国, 200011
021-60802988 

- juicy

We’ll be back with season two – promise!

But really, my favourite souvenirs are food gifts – a little something tasty from a faraway land. I can feel my tastebuds tingling just thinking about exotic flavours that give you an insight into the way of life and of course the tastes of a foreign country.

Take the great food souvenirs that my neighbours brought the hubs and I from their recent trip to Japan as an example: They were so simple, yet so distinctively Japanese. I still haven’t figured out what they’re actually called and if they really are traditional but the taste of these goodies remains fresh in my mind.

The first food gift was a no-brainer – Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll stamped doraiyaki-esque snacks from Sanrio Puroland.

Another plus for this food gift – they were irresistably cute in a truly Japanese. Our neighbours must have guessed that this would appeal to us from the number of Medicom toys we have in our living room…

As cliche as it sounds, it was truly love at first bite. The pastry was nice, soft and not too thick while the red bean filling had the right consistency and sweetness. No prizes for guessing who finished half the box in under 10 minutes!

The second food gift was a little intriguing… wrapped up in a traditional Japanese bundle, we had no idea what this was and if it was really a snack at all!

So, we carefully unwrapped it and true to Japanese packaging, we were blown away by their attention to detail and commitment to quality. (yes, the hubs and I get a little geeky when it comes to packaging)

This snack truly intrigued us, from the little sauce bottle on the top to what appeared to be finely ground peanut powder. What was this little Japanese wonder? Was it savoury? Was it sweet? Was that soya sauce?

Being the more adventurous one when it comes to food, the hubs boldly took the next step, carefully dotting the sauce onto the peanut powder and giving it a swirl. We then discovered that this was a mochi-like snack (Japanese readers and those in the know, kindly indulge us!) that thrills tastebuds with an assortment of textures: the bittersweet black sauce, the plain powder and of course the gooey richness of what appeared to be a glutinous rice based paste – AMAZING.

So yes, the next time you’re travelling and trying to find that perfect souvenir for your buddies back home, consider a food gift. I know I’d really appreciate it!

- delicious