A Special Dinner @ Joan Bowen Cafe

With a name like Joan Bowen, i could imagine some kind of aristocrat-style cafe that strictly enforced prim and proper dining etiquette!

What i really experienced when i stepped into the cafe, situated in a quiet neighborhood, was that it had a really laid back, homely environment fit for a relaxed afternoon tea session.

This is a very special eatery and stupid me only realised that when i was ordering for food!

In a nutshell, Joan Bowen cafe has a noble purpose; to equip youths with special needs a range of culinary skills so that they can gain confidence and contribute actively to the society.

And don't ever think it is exploitation because it's really not! The owners of this cafe also have a special needs child and, i believe, understand the difficulties this special group is facing in this realistic world.

Therefore, please show some patience and understanding since some of them are still working hard to learn the skills. Okay, let's move on to the food we had in this cafe!!!

Caesar Salad

Not exactly a fan of greenies, i found the mix of fresh vegetables, crunchy croutons, savoury bacon bits and sourish caesar dressing a refreshing combination! Having said that, i would choose a slab of steak anytime.

Calamari Rings

With a crispy, peppery crust covering the solid yet soft squid meat, these were really yummy!

Coupled each piece with the home-made tartar sauce that had a sweeter sensation than the norm, i know this will be my must-order dish in the future! If only the price of S$8.50 for ten pieces is slightly lower.

Rosemary and Lemon Chicken

Having had the best rosemary chicken in Blue Mountain Cafe, i found this to be more salty than sweet.

It could be true that this might be more authentic but people who understand me well will know that i am a person who doesn't care much about authenticity; so long the food is good.

Chicken Schnitzel

My poor command of English means my mind draws a blank when it comes to the word "Schnitzel". As far as i am concerned, this plate of chicken thigh coated with breadcrumbs looked like a typical chicken cutlet from the many western stalls in coffee shops and hawker centres. 

It tasted like one too although i have to agree that it was fried to perfection with the thigh meat retaining its essential juiciness!

Oreo Cheesecake

To tell you the truth, i have never had an oreo cheesecake that satisfies me! Maybe it has to do with my expectation that oreo has to be sinfully sweet!

The one in Jane Bowen was one of the better ones with generous chunks of black oreo biscuits. But, sour (even if it's a bit) oreo is a big no no in Cavin's food dictionary!

Brownie with Ice Cream

This dessert is a must-order whenever it is available in any menu. The ice cream must be a preferable vanilla flavour while the most important factor lies with the brownie itself.

Okay, it's more likely the nuts that matter. Walnuts have a unique taste that complements very well with the warm chocolate in the soft brownie and the one in Jane Bowen definitely didn't disappoint (attested by the empty plate).

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Location

9, Jalan Wangi

(near to Macpherson Road)

Operating Hours

11.00am to 9.30 pm (daily)

Closed on Sunday and PH though!

Price

Caesar Salad - S$7.90

Calamari Rings - $8.50

Rosemary and Lemon Chicken - S$9.90

Chicken Schnitzel - S$9.90

Oreo Cheesecake -  SS$5.00

Brownie with Ice Cream - S$5.00

No GST! No Service Charge! And complimentary plain water served upon request!

Additional Information

This may sound weird but this cafe has a small print area for your digital picture files.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, there's an alfresco area with occasional fumes from the traffic!

Market Square @ Cameron Highlands

 (Part 3 of Leisure Tour)

When asked on the accommodation we had for the Cameron Highlands (CH) trip, relatives and friends wondered why i did not book with Equatorial Hotel, the preferred hotel amongst many Singaporeans.

My answer has always been the great inconvenience of travelling to the bustling town of Brinchang, especially if you don't have a car. Their weak retort was "well, there's a market right outside the hotel".

Basically a fruit and vegetable market, this visit to market square was part of our leisure tour and one that i enjoy because it reminded me very much of the old, now-demolished market near to Nee Soon camp back in my childhood; orderly yet messy.

In terms of fruits, vegetables and flowers, i will strongly recommend this over the Pasar Malam (night market) in Brinchang. Being a day market (the operation ends at around late afternoon) means that the produce are more fresh and the variety is much wider.

Everyone who came back from CH was ranting on the ears of corn that were so different from the ones we have in Singapore. At RM10 for 10-12 ears, it's not rare to find Singaporeans buying them in bulk to bring back home! Yes, despite the long journey!

Mom finally had a taste of the natural strawberry popsicle i am impressed with last visit!

The market was in close proximity to many strawberry farms and you could see many stalls selling packets of bright red strawberries. I should have bought some sugar for the ultimate strawberry feast!

Seven bags of vegetables for only RM10! Mummy Teo was so tempted to buy as much as she can! Until she remembered we were taking a COACH back to Singapore, not a car!

One thing to note about these magnets is that some stalls were selling them for 4 magnets for RM10 whereas some were sold at RM1 a piece! A very obvious difference is the quality of its artwork!

Bundles of flowers at only RM4 each! Buy three and pay only RM10! My hands were itching to get ten of them but the practical Cavin knew he had no further use for them!

However, it will be very worth it to get a few bundles of roses if you have a few girlfriends! Orange for Nancy, white for Susan, Purple for Cassandra.

This was something i really wanted to try whenever i am in CH; sweet potatoes!

At only RM2 for a bag of steaming hot roots, the shiokness of having them while walking leisurely at such cool temperature was pure happiness.

A hybrid found only in CH and aptly named as Cameron Apples, these fruits supposedly tasted like honeydew (as informed by the tour guide)! We bought two to try out and i shall let you know how they fare, in due course.

Another strawberry theme shop and there are so many of them in CH! When i first came to Cameron Highlands, it was so refreshing to see this kind of shops. Now, overdose seems to be a better word. Cameron Highlands is more than just strawberries!

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First Part of the Leisure Tour can be found HERE.

Second Part of the Leisure Tour can be found HERE.

Chinese New Year's Eve (2011)

Time is never enough when you have so much un-cleared work in the office! But Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year) is a big event for all Chinese and it's a must for us to partake in its customs and celebrations!

For me, the realisation that it's finally the rabbit year started with the reunion dinner i had with my family at punggol marina (aka Marina Country Club); the first time we had it outside the house!

The inaccessibility to this clubhouse means we do not have to jostle with the rest of Singapore who are crowding the coffeeshops or restaurants in shopping centres. Not sure if most of you realise, out-of-the-house reunion dinners are gaining popularity!

I shall not release too much detail about our meal at Sakura except that the grilled-shabu-shabu-steamboat dinner was really fulfilling! Another trip is guaranteed (Gang of Four - take note!) for a more extensive blog entry in the future.

Do wait (albeit patiently) for it!

Chinese has a custom that the hair (pubic hair inclusive), fingernails and toenails should not be cut for the first 15 days of the lunar new year and i took the opportunity to trim my nails before departing for Chinatown.

Yes! I know i was really late for the night market in Chinatown this year! However, a visit is always necessary to feel that unbeatable festive vibe!

It helps in de-stressing as well as getting some really great deals with festive buys like sweets and biscuits.

Frankly, there wasn't anything exciting about the night market this year although the area i covered was much smaller, no thanks to the intermittent rain that fell every now and then.

Shopping was frustrating after a while with a shirt that was getting wetter by the minute and i decided to call it a day. A good move nonetheless as the sleeping bug had sunk its teeth deep enough to affect my driving concentration! 

Anyway, here i am wishing everyone (regardless of your race and religion) a happy Chinese new year! May this rabbit year brings us wealth, prosperity, good health and most importantly, happiness!

Singapore Famous Rojak @ Albert Centre, Bugis

 

With a name that reflects its level of acclaim, Singapore Famous Rojak has been in existence as long as i remember and fame dictates an usually long queue at mealtimes.

TV endorsements definitely added more people to the queue!

Seeing a queue, contrary to popular belief, is not necessary a good thing in Bugis where good food are plentiful and in various forms! Liang Seah street, for one, has immensely popular steamboat restaurants and dessert eateries.

Convenience plays a very important part though. Mum wanted to buy some dried food products for Chinese New Year at Albert Centre and it was decided that we should have something nearby just to line the stomach!

This plate of rojak is at its most traditional form; the form i used to have when i was much younger.

Freshly sliced cucumbers, turnips and pineapples without any of the strong tasting cuttlefish or century egg.

And not to forget the irresistible toasted you tiao (crullers), tau pok and roughy peanut bits!

Every piece (you tiao, pineapples, cucumbers, turnips) was soaked in a way too watery prawn paste.

Nothing's lost yet as surprise surprise, the sauce (as the paste had become) managed, in a strange way, to maintain a strong, savoury flavour! Note: definitely not to the extreme sweetness or saltiness flavoured by some.

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This is arguably one of the best rojak i had in Singapore! The other notable competitor is the rojak stall in Old Airport road.

Location

#01-45, Albert Centre Market And Food Centre

(near to Bugis Village and the famous Guanyin temple)

Price

As above (S$2.50 was our choice that day).