The Royals Cafe (Grandma's Chocolate & Mee Siam) @ City Square Mall [Singapore]

My department recently celebrated its 80th anniversary and to commemorate the joyous occasion, the Organizing Committee especially ordered a big Halal cake for almost 300 guests! 

The unsurpassed richness of the Grandma's Chocolate cake lingered in my mind since then and i could help sharing it with the Gang of Four when we walked past The Royals Cafe this afternoon. 

Given the Gang's penchant for good food, it was suggested we purchased a slice just to try it out.  And despite having a full lunch at Saboten, it was also decided that we shared a Nonya-style mee siam set! 

*how not to get fat?!?!?!?!*

Grandma's Cake

It was obvious from the stale taste that this had been left outside for far too long; resulting in a harder, drier texture that was so way different from what i had 4 months ago! 

This was an embarrassment since i gave a very high rating for the grandma's chocolate cake. Having said that, i didn't remember my colleague complaining when she collected her order a month ago. So this could have been an isolated incident. 

Mee Siam Set

For S$8.80, we have our choice of coffee/tea/soft drink, a bowl of Royals' signature mee siam and selection of a slice of cake that must cost at most S$2.20 from the menu.

The cottony soft dark chocolate truffle was nicer than the grandma's cake even though it was still pretty much an average fare for typical chocolate cakes. 

I wasn't looking forward to the Nonya-style mee siam although it was published on the menu as recommended by The Sunday Times on 24 January 2010 (yes, they did include the specific date).

All members of the Gang loved the Nonya-style mee siam! So much so that the bowl was passed from one person to another for quite a number of cycles!

The gravy was addictive as mentioned on the menu and both Kon and I thought it was almost like laksa but with a strong hint of peanuts! Yummilicious! 

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Location

180 Kitchener Road, 

#02-K17/20, City Square Mall

[above Farrer Park MRT Station]

Price

Grandma's Chocolate - S$5.50

Mee Siam Set - S$8.80

[Subject to Service Charge Only]

My First "Salary" for Blogging - From Nuffnang Singapore

After blogging for almost eight years and registering with Nuffnang, a blog advertisement company, for three years, i finally received a white envelope that i had been anticipating since May 2012!

The delay (it should have taken less than a month) wasn't explained to me but i assumed someone up there must have forgotten to issue the payment to me. Nonetheless, it took merely a few emails to resolve the issue on non-payment. 

A cheque of S$204.72! 

It may not seem much yet it would still help in supplementing my upcoming travel expenses to China. And if my plan (which shall still remain secret) falls through, i might actually need additional cash to tide me in the near future. 

Lalalalalalalalla

*shall entertain no question on the plan*

Tyersall House (aka Istana Woodneuk) - An Unsuccessful Trip @ Tyersall Avenue (Near Botanic Gardens)

There is no better time to start the Chinese Ghost Month (otherwise known as the 7th Month) with a post related to paranormal activities!

Just a few weeks ago, i "psycho" my friends to accompany me for a photography exploration to an abandoned house i visited in year 2007. Why did i take so long for a revisit?

All the while, i had wanted to bypass the 3 to 4-meter long metal gate with that fierce looking pointy spikes but the perpetual sign of no-trespassing put me off. I had my brush with the police before and i am not willing to risk my reputation again.

However, the sign was missing when i drove past the area a month ago and it was with excitement when i found the gate to be unlocked! Frankly, the voice in my heart was screaming "Yipeeeeee" at that time!

Anyway, there is where we shall start the journey and hopefully, we would be able to take better quality pictures than the ones taken five years ago.

The path to the house was still visible and remained flanked by tall trees and undergrowth. Despite its off beaten look, the path used to be a road with a security post next to the main gate.

Be prepared to spend a few minutes walking in. 

For those who are unaware, the house i am intending to explore is popularly known as Tyersall House. It has another name, Istana Woodneuk, and was said to be a palace built for the 4th wife of the Sultan of Johor.

Disappointment seeped in when we came to a dead end. The pathway was supposed to be extended for at least a hundred meters or so before diverting to another hilly pathway to the side! :(

I was contemplating to enter through this illegal opening at the gate entrance but i could see my friends were not absolutely keen in making the move! And i am a scaredy cat when it comes to solitary expedition!

Plus, the red ants spared no expense in deterring us from venturing further.

We shall blame it on fate then!

Nonetheless, i guess this would be a good time to post some of the blurred pictures i took using my cannot-make-it phone back in 2007. And if fate has its way, i would make another trip to Istana Woodneuk soon.

Taken in Year 2007!

The pathway back then was a lot more untidy.

This was the hilly pathway and i remember it was damn muddy!!! There were a few heavy construction equipment lying around so i was actually expecting that the government had some ideas in mind to develop the surrounding; an assumption that was proven wrong in my recent visit.

My mud splattered shoe and pants!

Istana Woodneuk loomed in front of us.

The compound was huge for a private property and the main building was in serious state of disrepair; a good environment for thrill seekers. 

When i heard about this house in 2007 via SPI forum, it was said to be abandoned but the house remained to be quite a pretty sight and "explorable". But there was a big fire just before i made my official visit.

Blue roof tiles lying broken on the ground. The blue-tiled roof was noticeable from Google Earth before the inferno. 

Entrance to the main building. There was a professional photography session although i am not sure which magazine it was for (the model was half naked though). Haha.

We would have checked out the building but poor Vannie was waiting for us at the muddy pathway. She was not willing to sacrifice her new Birkenstock sandals for some houses!

*fingers pointing*

Yes, let's blame her!! =P

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Location

As above. Star denotes the gate where the red circle is location of the Istana Woodneuk.

Additional Information

Please check out the following:

http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/istana-woodneuk/

Pu Tien Restaurant (莆田菜馆) - Heng Hwa Cuisine @ NEX Mall

Heng Hwa (兴化) cuisine used to be relatively unknown in Singapore; an unbelievable fact since i personally have local friends and colleagues who belong to this sub-branch of the Hokkien Chinese ethnic group.

Some of whom i have known for ages! 

Putien is one Singapore restaurant that specializes in the unique cuisine, which can also be referred as Pu Tien (or Putian), and judging from the nine outlets it now has over a span of just twelve years, the food must be pretty good.

This visit was my second although my memory was fuzzy on it given that my last meal at Pu Tien (Vivocity) was over five years ago! Nonetheless, i can vaguely recall eating and loving some fried yam.

Plum and Cherry Tomato Juice with Aloe Vera

梅汁芦荟圣女果

This is one drink i would not mind drinking everyday! I could barely taste the tardiness of cherry tomatoes which were likely covered by the sourness of plum. It was a refreshing drink that was not too sour and came with small delightful bites of aloe vera!

Sweet and Sour Pork with Lychee

莆田荔枝肉

I was anticipating something on a comparable level with the watermelon chicken or honeydew prawns from Yijia. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

The pork would not have made much difference minus the lychee. On a positive note, the meat was tender and succulent enough for us to give it a second bite, follow by a third bite and so on till the plate was empty!

Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon

兴化米粉

People who prefer food with a stronger taste should give this traditional dish a miss. The first time i took a bite (more than five years ago); i disliked it as it was simply not savoury enough.

However, simplicity is the key to the dry looking noodles (made from old rice) and locals who have never been exposed to heng hwa cuisine would be able to tell that this is not the same type of bee hoon they have been accustomed to.

The flavours actually came from the accompanying ingredients that comprised of peanuts, clams, prawns etc. I would not say this is the tastiest bee hoon around yet i might tag this as the healthiest type of bee hoon in Singapore given the lack of sauce and excessive oil.

Stir-Fried Yam

酥炒芋头

This was the one item i could recall from my last visit in Pu Tien.

Sadly, there was a mismatch in taste from then and now. The sugary coating was just as marvelous but the problem was the inside; the yam was too dry, resulting in a hardness that we found hard to swallow!

Eventually, i had to ask for pack-away as we had so much leftovers and the funny thing was this - the fried yam tasted much better once i got to my sister's place! The coating was almost caramelized-like and the insides were just so soft and nice to eat!

Putien Style Century Eggs

糖醋皮蛋

Caucasians who are still not game enough to try century eggs should give this a try! Even i (myself a century egg lover) was impressed with the unconventional way this was prepared.

Basically, the century eggs were deep fried and then stir-fried with a concoction of sauce similar to the one used in sweet and sour pork. This was one unique way of cooking century eggs but most importantly, they tasted so, so yummy!

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Location

23, Serangoon Central,

#02-18, NEX Mall

Price

Plum and Cherry Tomato Juice with Aloe Vera  - S$4.90

Sweet and Sour Pork with Lychee - S$11.90

Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon - S$7.90

Stir-Fried Yam - S$10.90

Putien Style Century Eggs - S$5.90

[Subject to GST and Service Charge]

Ominous Sign? @ Hanging Incense Burner

The infamous Chinese hungry ghost month starts officially this Friday and it's reasonable for me to feel that something was amiss when i perpetually felt something tiny flying past me every night near the hanging incense burner outside my flat.

It was only upon a closer look that i realized a colony of black flying insects have taken such a strong liking to the red pompous ribbon tied around the burner; they have decided to make it their bed!

I was sharing with my sister if it is a sign of the impending haunted ghost month (since the burner is supposedly a religious object) and that i am going to experience once again what happened two years back [read here for more info].

There's no better person to ask but the queen of superstition religious rites and traditions; who happened to be my mother!

According to her, these longish insects (seems like they were black wasps) are signs of household safety and bear no harm to the occupants.

Now, that's a BIG relief!

*though i am still excited about this Friday*

Roti John @ Adam Road Food Centre [Ibrahim Mee Stall]

I was spoiled with food choices when i paid Adam Road Food Centre a visit recently. Should i have the famous nasi lemak (which i have not blogged yet), the oyster omelette or other stalls plastered with accolades and news articles?

It is a hard decision to make, as it has always been for hawker centres!

Eventually, i settled on Ibrahim Mee Stall. 

The reason was simple; the heading from an article that said "Jolly Roti John" with a rating of 4 out of 5 spoons! It was a long time since my last one at Changi Airport and the thought of sinking my teeth into a hot and oily baguette, covered in a mix of tomato and chilli sauce, was just irresistible! 

Dah Tah! 

As far as the bread was concerned, i am standing on the thin line between liking and disliking this 4-spoon rating roti john. The good points were that it came piping hot and the loaf was not thick, resulting in a comfortable bite. What's not up to par was the thin surface layer of pan-fried egg with almost tasteless minced mutton!

Thankfully, Ibrahim (who i assumed to be the owner) managed to whip up a pretty mean red sauce that didn't look like it came straight out from a factory named Yeos, SOS or Heinz. And it was because of this addictive sauce that i managed to clean up the roti!

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Location

2, Adam Road, #01-04

(Adam Food Centre)

Price

Mutton Roti John - S$3.50