Singapore Eats

Sharing a list of my favourite Singapore eats.  Curated for my colleagues visiting our Singapore hub and I thought why not update this blog as well since it's been a while :)

• Smith St Taps | Craft beer on tap from local and international breweries located in Chinatown hawker centre | 335 Smith St, #02-062, Singapore 050335 | $$
• National Kitchen Violet Oon | Peranakan heritage cuisine at the National Art Gallery of Singapore - historical building previous venue for City Hall & Supreme Court | 1 St Andrew’s Road, National Gallery #02-01 | $$$
• Fatty Wing Seong | Best Cantonese food in town: sweet & sour pork, kung pao chicken, ginger beef, roast duck, chilli crab, steamed fish | 175 Bencoolen St | $$
• Killiney Kopitiam | Home of traditional Singaporean breakfast of kaya toast, soft boiled eggs and local coffee/tea. Established in 1919 | Various outlet : 67 Killiney Road outlet is the original location | $
• British Hainan | The Hainanese are a Chinese dialect group who worked as cooks for the British during the colonial era and created a unique style of western dishes with a Hainanese twist. | Various outlets: 23 Purvis St is nearest city centre | $$
• Warung M Nasir | Indonesian Malay dishes: Beef rendang, ayam masak merah (chicken in spicy tomato sauce), tahu goreng (stir fried tofu), sayur lodeh (veg in coconut curry) are must tries | 69 Killiney Road  | $
• Murugan’s Idli Shop | South Indian steamed rice cakes with chutney and dhal curry. In the heart of Little India. Vegetarian | 76 Syed Alwi Road | $
• Delhi6 | North Indian : Butter chicken, Chicken tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, dhal makhni, tandoor brocolli are highly recommended | 22 Race Course Road | $$
• Le Bistrot du Sommelier | Country-style French : Rillete, terrine, pate, saucisson are all made in-house. Tucked away in a lovely old shophouse in the historic civic district | 53 Armenian St | $$
• Braci | Contemporary Italian Michelin star degustation menu. Foie gras semi freddo is a must try | 52 Boat Quay #05-01 | $$$$
• Jade | Weekend dim sum brunch is a wonderful deal for only SGD55. Advance booking required | Fullerton Hotel - 1 Fullerton Square | $$$

Christmas with the Changs

So blessed to spend Christmas this year with the Changs - my family in Singapore.  This year, we headed to the Royal China at Raffles Hotel for dim sum.

My godsons, Justin (in checks) and Jared (in blue shirt) are incredibly patient with their lunatic Aunty Jojo.  We have so many fun and crazy conversations and I have really enjoyed seeing these boys grow into fine young men. Yes, I have been reminded time and time again not to hug in public but do I care?

Lu Meng and I first met in classroom 30 years ago and have been good friends ever since. God has been very good the both of us and we are eternally grateful for His wonderful grace.

The Chang family, including daddy Jimmy Chang, are my de facto family in Singapore.  We've had so many Sunday dinners together that we often miss each other if too many weeks go by without our regular catch up.  Especially when I'm travelling.

Hidden surprise in Armenian Street

I love stumbling onto little surprises in the city I live in. Today, I went for a walk in the Museum district and discovered this hidden gem. A little garden in the grounds of the Armenian Church just off Hill Street. It was the first church built in Singapore.

This aesthetic delight was built in 1835 by the Armenian community, and designed by George Coleman who was the mastermind architect behind most of the colonial structures in Singapore. 

Some of the loveliest tombstones I've seen outside the French Quarter in New Orleans. They belong to members of the Sarkies family, the prominent Armenian family that owned some of the most luxurious hotels in the Far East including the Raffles in Singapore and E&O in Penang. 

Here lies Vanda Miss Joaquim, after whom Singapore's national flower is named. She was a keen horticulturalist who unveiled the famed orchid at a flower show in 1899, for which she won a prize of 12 dollars. 

Princely Treasures

I visited this superb exhibition last Saturday but it's taken me a whole week to summon up the courage to write a post because of one word - Liechtenstein.  This principality in Europe sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland may be tiny in size but presents quite a mammoth challenge when it comes to spelling and pronunciation.  Nevertheless, it is to the Prince of Liechtenstein (yes, I did it again!) that we owe a debt of gratitude - for lending his priceless collection of Renaissance, Baroque and Flemish art to be enjoyed by the residents of Singapore.

The Princely Treasures exhibition is on display at the National Museum of Singapore from 27 June - 29 September 2013.  It really is a stunning collection of art, which I've seen often in the galleries of Europe, but is totally new and novel to Singapore.

The first two galleries hold collections from the summer palace.  There are some beautiful ornaments from the Baroque period, including this gorgeous clock which I would have love to own but  alas...perhaps one day my prince will come bearing a beautiful Baroque clock :)

Another unique piece from the artisans of Florence.  This ornate chest is decorated with pictures made by piecing together shards of cut coloured stone.  Obviously very meticulous and time-consuming work from the Renaissance period.

Then came the galleries containing the high art of Europe including this Raphael from the Renaissance period.  While the subject of the portrait may not be the best looking Renaissance man around,  it is clear that the master artist was able to command his brush and paint to bring to life the brilliance of his art, which has been admired for centuries.

This was my favourite painting in the entire collection.  It is a picture of little Clara Serena Rubens, painted by her adoring father, Peter Paul Rubens, just a few years before her death.  The innocent face of a little girl staring adoringly at her papa is so beautifully captured, I returned more than once to stare at this painting.

A roomful of Rubens - right here in Singapore!

The lovely galleries in jewelled tones 

Another treat was a gallery dedicated to the Brueghels, a talented family of 16th century Flemish artists from Belgium, famous for their landscapes and peasant scenes.  This lovely winter village scene by Pieter Brueghel the Younger is a fine example from the period.  There are so many details of life in the picture that it's more a study of anthropology than of art, if one were to really take time to enjoy all of it.

All in all, I would highly recommend a visit to the Princely Treasures from the House of Liechtenstein.

Flowery Delights

Mum and Dad made their annual pilgrimage to Singapore to visit me in early May and I finally had an excuse to visit Gardens by the Bay.  Took a day off on 11 May to celebrate an early Mother's Day with mum (and dad).  We girls were in raptures over the flowers, while dad was awestruck by the amazing architectural feat.

Kudos to Singapore for really making this a world-class attraction - for both locals and tourists alike.  For those of us who fight a constant battle with the sweltering heat of tropics, being able to spend a few hours in a temperate climate with gardens filled with daffodils, lilies, tulips, camellias and roses galore is almost heaven on earth.

Well Done Singapore!!

Happy Mother's Day to my Mummy

Family portrait in the English Garden

Floral delights flown in from Holland for a special spring exhibition

Amazing architecture and hanging gardens in the Cloud Dome

Memories of Fort Canning

Ever since I moved to Singapore, dad has been regaling me with stories of Fort Canning where he was stationed in 1963-64 when Singapore was part of Malaysia. He was among the first cohort of army signals technicians sent from KL to set up the communications centre in Singapore.

As a surprise treat, I decided to check mum and dad into Hotel Fort Canning on their recent visit.  The historic building was converted into a hotel, which opened to the public last year and I also arranged for the hotel to take us on a tour of the premises and park.  Dad was beside himself with excitement checking out his former barracks, workshop and battery store etc. He almost took over the tour at one point, with his trademark exuberance and extroversion!  Like father, like daughter.

Oktoberfest at Harbourfront

The wonderful thing about living in Singapore these days is that the city has turned so cosmopolitan that one needn't travel very far to experience foreign culture. It arrives at your doorstep.

Take for example one evening in early October when I was invited to attend a management dinner and drinks at Harbourfront. Only to find an authentic Bavarian spread of beer, bratwurst, sauerkraut and pork knuckle. And as icing on the cake, my bosses turned up in lederhosen! Bravo Wolfgang and Sascha.

Happy Oktoberfest. Clink!

Front row at F1

I was delightfully surprised this year when the boss started handing out F1 tickets. Even more delighted to discover that my seats were right in front of City Hall at the Singapore Sling - the infamous 90-degree corner that all drivers dread. Had a wonderful time watching with colleagues and friends at the 2012 F1 Night Race. Very happy and proud that Singapore signed up for another 5 years.

Introducing Alejandro

Haven't been out of Singapore since May and am in the grip of serious cabin fever syndrome.  But thanks to the Great Singapore Sale, I met the new love of my life, Alejandro, who meets 3 important criteria:-

• He's RED HOT
• Buffed (in leather that is)
• Can't wait to get his "hands" all over me!

Believe me, it was love at first sight!

A Special Place

Just at the end of my street lies a pocket of nature known as Fort Canning Park. It's steeped in history dating back to Singapore's inconsequential existence as a fishing village in the 15th century. This 60m hill was known as Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill) when Stamford Raffles set foot on the island, and subsequently became the site of his first home.

One afternoon last week, I was looking to retreat from the bustle of my city home and decided to spend a few hours in the quietness of Mother Nature. And I couldn't have wished for a more private oasis.

Fort Canning was home to my father during the years that he was based in Singapore as part of the Malaysian signals in the 1960s. On his last visit here, Daddy discovered that his barracks had been converted into the visitor centre, while his offices are now part of the salubrious Fort Canning Hotel.

I spent a lovely afternoon sitting on a wall hidden under a canopy of trees quietly thinking about the past, present and future. I counted my blessings, thought about my business, sang a few songs and was even inspired to pull out some oil pastels to capture the moment.

That afternoon, I found one of my favourite places in Singapore.

ArtScience Museum

The ArtScience Museum opened in early 2011 without much fanfare in Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore. Which is rather a shame since there are three amazing exhibitions being held simultaneously

• Dali - Mind of a Genius
• Van Gogh Alive
• Shipwrecked - Treasures from the Tang Dynasty

Dali - Mind of a Genius

The word "genius" is often an overused cliche, employed by amateur art critics to window-dress their shortcomings. However, in Dali's case, it is well-deserved. I have always found his surrealist works rather disturbing until I began to understand his masterful use of imagery.

Soft clocks are the hallmark of Dali's work, and they often appeared in his dreams. The reason they appear as soft is because he views time as soft, fluid and cyclical. Unlike most of us who just declare that there are 60 minutes in an hour - hard and fast facts that would have anguished the genius of Dali. He once declared "...as for clocks, they would have to be soft, or not be at all!"

I was introduced to other religious themes in his sculptures such as this work representing Adam and Eve, as well as angels on snails.

In many of Dali's works, butterflies often symbolised the soul. These delicate nature of these female sculptures are reflected in the dainty butterflies they hold aloft.

Apart from sculptures, Dali was also a painter and furniture designer. I thought the furniture exhibition looked rather IKEA-ish, but stood to admire for almost 10 minutes anyway because it was so artfully mounted on the wall and ceiling.

Van Gogh Alive!

Words cannot do justice to this thrilling exhibition. It needs to be experienced, not just seen. Van Gogh is one of my favourites and to see his works projected on 40 giants screens accompanied by some of the best classical pieces is breathtaking!

Standing in front of these Irises projections, I felt as if I'd been magically transported into a spring day in Tuscany!