Food Bloop

Hi all, Singapore is a big racial society. It is a melting pot of many cultures and as such finding errorneous posters or typos on menus can be frequntly found almost every from your neighbour hood kopitiam to classy restaurants.

I decided to post random shots when ever i find them to tickle your funny bone ^^.




Poor Chicken... even if you got laid off you don't need to sell your body.

Interesting Food Facts!

Time for some interesting food facts! Here are some that i have come across and compiled.

1. Apples, potatoes, and onions all taste the same when eaten with your nose plugged. This shows the nose plays the incredibly important part in the sense of taste. The fact that the three items have a similar consistency makes it virtually impossible to identify them without the sense of smell.



2. Tea is said to have been discovered in 2737 BC by a Chinese emperor when some tea leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water.



3. The only continent that does not have a McDonald’s is Antarctica. 



4. In general, raw vegetables have a much higher nutrient value than cooked, though there are a few exceptions, such as cooked tomatoes. Cooked artichokes also have very high overall antioxidant value. 



5. Iceberg lettuce is 90 percent water, and therefore, of negligible nutrient value. 



6. There are around 1200 varieties of watermelon.






 okay, this is just funny hahaha

7.  Diet soda has not been proven to aid in weight loss. In fact, it’s been shown to actually increase hunger.





8. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. The ancient Assyrians used saffron for medicinal purposes. The Greeks and Romans used it to perfume their luxurious baths. The bright orange-yellow color also made saffron useful as a dye. In modern times, saffron is used widely in different cuisines to add colour to food. 





9. Truffle hogs were used to locate trufffles, which grows underground, as they have an innate ability to locate it. This is because compound within the truffle is similar to androstenol, the sex pheromone of boar saliva, to which the sow is keenly attracted to. In recent years, dogs are used instead as pigs tend to damage the area searched and they have the tendency to eat the truffles once found.




10. In olden times, the origin of truffles was a mystery to many. Some thought it was a tuberous root and some deemed it as children of the earth. Truffles in actual fact, is a rare edible funghi that is deemed as a delicacy around the world. There are many different types of truffles but the famous ones are the italian white truffle and the french black truffle. The white truffle, often referred to as the white diamond, is considered the rarest type of truffle, demanding one of the highest prices. In general, truffles are among the most expensive natural foods in the world, selling for hundreds or thousands of US Dollars (USD) per pound (0.45 kg).


dont let their ugly appearance fool you. Sometimes a thin slice is all you need to flavor your dish.








Tsukiji Gindaco



today's review is on Tsukiji Gindaco, that famous takoyaki stall at the basement of Ion Shopping Mall. It is known for having long queues so when i saw less than 4 ppl in the queue, i immediately jumped right behind to get my hands on some takoyaki!

first things first, some info on takoyaki that u might or might not know.
Takoyaki literally means fried or grilled octopus and it is a popular Japanese dish made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, ponzu, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori), and katsuobushi (bonito flakes - fish shavings). It is first popularized in Osaka. Yaki is derived from "yaku" which simply means "to fry or grill" in Japanese, and can be found in the names of other Japanese cuisine items such as teriyaki or sukiyaki.

Takoyaki brings back fond memories of my pri and sec sch days, when we wld buy at junction 8 every so often. so needless to say, i was extremely excited to try the takoyaki!

This stall only sells takoyaki with octopus because tako stands for octopus! non of those cheese and ham versions! i really enjoyed the takoyaki because at first bite, it was crisp and brown. The inner fillings that were soft and runny, complemented the crispy exterior. every takoyaki had a nice size tako and they did not overcook the octopus. the takoyaki is then topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayo and some bonito flakes.
The yakisoba however, failed in comparison. the yakisoba i ordered has a fried egg on top and some meat and cabbage below. the soba noodle was chewy and not overcooked but there was nothing special about it. i felt like it was just soba noodles with egg and tons of okonomiyaki sauce.


 If you happen to be at Ion, just go for the takoyaki! 






below is what the yakisoba originally looked like but i was too hungry and started eating before taking a photo! heh



Being a good blogger, i went to their website to check out their menu and saw so many other exciting takoyaki flavors that i have to share!

Mentaiko (pollock roe) flavor 

Negi (green/spring onion) flavor served with tempura dipping sauce and grated daikon (radish)



Egg mayo flavor


Please correct me if im wrong in identifying the flavors but i cant read jap at all! so im having a hard time trying to identify it too! so if u happen to read jap, pls do me a favour by pointing out the diff flavors! (: 

ok i am hungry TTM now! why do i write a food blog???!?!?!? hahahahahaha






Comments and questions

Hey all,

Don't be shy yah. if you need to ask more questions about the recipe or if want to find out more about a place we review or if you can want to be heard,  don't forget to post a comment! ^^

Peace,
John

My Instant Noodles

Tired of eating magi mee but don't have the time to prepare food at home? Fret no more here is a simple dish that can be prepared in advance and takes only 10mins to cook.

Pan Fried Chicken with Rice Noodles - Serves 1

Ingredients:
100g of chicken (any part you like, chopped up into small chunks preferably)
50g of rice noodles (normally these are sold in packs and have individual bundles inside)
half a table spoon of oil
a pinch of spices (this is really up to you. You will only use them in the marinating of the chicken)
a pinch of salt
a pinch of ground black pepper

Method:
1. Marinate chicken in the oil, spices, salt and pepper. This step can be done way in advance but you can use the chicken immediately.
2. Heat a pan on high and when pan is hot sear chickens on each side for 2 mins each or till golden brown. You don't need to put any extra oil as the chickens should be well coated in oil
3. Turn the heat to low and cover the pan for 2 mins to let the chicken cook thoroughly. Turn off the heat but leave the cover on to let the chicken rest and release its juices.
4. Boil hot water and soak your rice noodles for approximately 3-4 min. Don't soak them for too long if not they will get soggy.
5. Try your noodles to get the Q-ness you want. Once you are satisfied with your noodles, remove the chickens from the pan and turn the heat on high. Fry the noodles for a min while tossing the stirring to make sure the sauce coats the noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Plate the chicken and serve.


Quick and simple meals shouldn't be bland and tasteless cause you don't have time. They can be tasty too ^^ enjoy!

Shun Li Yong Tau Foo

One of my all time comfort food is Yong Tau Foo so imagine my excitement when my friend, C, told me about this YTF stall at Bukit Merah that only opens at midnight. (i have this impression that stalls that only opens at midnight or early morning serves awesome food). So we made plans to their the YTF there. 


Fast forward to a public hol eve and we were there at 1.30am. The whole hawker centre was closed except for the YTF stall, one drink stall and a porridge stall beside it. We sent out finest man to queue, and the rest of us went to choose our food. The experience there was made special because u dont use normal bowls, you use big metal bowls. the whole queuing process took about 20-30 mins and we had our food. The variety of food to choose from was a good range. they had the normal yong tau foo stuffs but also pig innards. i was told that their fish cake is home made and very good thus i picked a few more. they also served the noodles with lard and crispy wonton skin on top. the noodles were a joy to eat because of the crispy things on top and also because of the sauce. i did not find out if they made the sauce themselves but i think so because it taste different from those typical YTF sauce. 

so we go onto the soup base. i looked into their big pot and saw that they use pig bones and all the spare parts to make the soup base. ok some might find it gross but i call it not wasting any parts of the pig. did u know that using pig skin to cook the soup actually makes it thicker because there is gelatin in the skin. anyway back to the YTF. when served, they cut chilli padi (green ones) into the soup to add a kick to it but i was surprised that the chilli padi taste was mild not choking. (except if u bite into it) I was very impressed by the soup base when i first drank but after a few more mouthfuls, it actually tasted very blah. maybe it turned cold or maybe my tastebuds were used to the taste. but i actually couldnt taste any special about the soup after awhile. The ingredients inside the soup was not bad. their fishcakes were soft and it was a joy biting into them. if i go back there, i will just choose all their YTF stuff with the fishpaste or fishcake.  
i also enjoyed the fried ikan bilis on top of the soup. 

all in all, i feel that this YTF is not worth queuing up for 30 mins or more (sorry C!). i will go back only if my friends wanna go back there or if the queue is shorter. 










Shun Li 
Block 115 Bukit Merah View,
 #01-397 Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre 
Opening Hours: Midnight to 3.30am (closed Monday)
Cost: $5-$7 per person
Ratings: 3 stars 




credits*
elizelizeliz.blogspot.com
gourmetconnoisseur.files.wordpress.com


Whole Truth About Healthy Living

Just read an article on yahoo about eating healthily. That made me think about my own diet and food choices that i make. I am glad to say that as much as i enjoy my haagen daz and fried food, i actually make pretty good food choices. I prefer eating whole meal bread and brown rice than normal white ones and almost all the time, i'll try to include vegetables into my meal.

well, if you read the article, it says that popcorn, contrary to popular beliefs, is healthy! wooo but too much popcorn for me actually makes me puke (found that out last night after a movie -.- ) but i only ate like half a small pack haha. ok plus half a cup of ice lemon tea. but anyways, popcorn with too much butter,salt or caramel is STILL unhealthy!

so if u continue reading the article, it talks about barley, buckwheat and quinoa (no idea whats this) as well. i am very happy to know that the soba noodles i have been eating at home is made with buckwheat and its healthy too yay!! i also do drink barley now and then when my maid makes it. so double yay!

the Health Promotion Board is actively trying to promote healthy eating and voted for an initiative to replace half the refined carbo that we eat with unrefined ones such as whole grains. i totally welcome that as i find it frustrating to not be able to get ANY whole grains when im dining outside. white rice and white bread is so blah...

so i beseech all of you to try out some wholegrains and eat healthily too! please take some time to read the article below too!







"A meal without rice is no meal," goes a famous Japanese proverb, and people all over Asia tend to agree. Likewise in Singapore most dishes are accompanied with rice-signature dishes such as nasi lemak, chicken rice, nasi padang and even popular desserts such as the Nyonya kueh are all rice-based.

Yet last year, the Singapore Health Promotion Board voted for an initiative to replace half the amount of refined carbohydrates we eat (white rice chief among them) with unrefined foods such as wholegrains. Within the same month, food retailers and vendors were incorporating wholegrain dishes into their menu and processed foods with wholegrain ingredients were labelled more accurately to increase public awareness.
But what exactly are wholegrain foods and how are they better for us?
A grain is considered whole when it does not go through the milling and polishing process, thus retaining all its three parts: the germ, bran and endosperm. The germ and bran are important sources of fiber and nutrients, which helps slow down the process of digestion so that blood sugar levels do not spike as they do in response to refined grains. This way, wholegrains can help lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes. And, because they make you feel full for longer, they are also recommended in weight loss efforts.
One of the easiest way to get more wholegrains into your diet, especially if it's a Singaporean diet, is to opt for brown over white rice. Last month, The Straits Times reported that more of us are buying brown rice now than ever. Chewy in texture and with a slightly nutty flavor, it's a tasty way to get that all important fiber in your diet. Readily available at every grocery store and many food courts, one cup of brown rice has three times more fiber than the same amount of white rice.
Other wholegrains:
Popcorn is a type of wholegrain, which means it's healthy, contrary to popular opinion. Popped corn retains its vitamin-rich bran and germ, and three cups of popcorn is equivalent to a single serving of wholegrain. But to enjoy all the health benefits, you'll need to avoid the copious amounts of salt and butter used in commercially prepared popcorn.
Barley (a protein powerhouse), buckwheat (the main constituent of soba noodles and good for reversing the effects of cholesterol) and quinoa (an ancient grain already popular with the gluten-free crowd).

*edit*

The Health Promotion Board came up with this iPhone application to help you track your diet and how much calories you are consuming in a day. they have included many local food in the list so its very useful! do d/l it if u have a iPhone as its free!




Mc Donalds around the world! Part 1

wooo havent been blogging for a long time! ok will try to do it more regularly becos i have tons of backdated photos and food reviews to share! do let us know what kind of content u would like to read. for example, more food reviews, more recipes or more random things like weird food around the world type. i will prolly put up a poll on the sidebar. ( if i can figure it out ) im such a tech dummy! i cant figure out how to change the blogskin too!!! haha some help?

anyway back to our topic, today's post will be on the different types of Mc Donalds food around the world! i have been to quite a few different Mc Donalds around but mostly asia. Normally i try to order their 'special' burgers or meals but if im not feeling too adventurous, i will just stick to my double cheeseburger! I will break up this macs entry into a few parts because the selection of burgers around the whole is mind boggling!

some background information about Mc Donalds, or more affectionately known as macs.

The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Their introduction of the "Speedee Service System" in 1948 established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. The original mascot of McDonald's was a man with a chef's hat on top of a hamburger shaped head whose name was "Speedee." Speedee was eventually replaced with Ronald McDonald by 1967 when the company first filed a U.S. trademark on a clown shaped man having puffed out costume legs.


McDonald's restaurants are found in 119 countries and territories around the world and serve 58 million customers each day. McDonald's operates over 31,000 restaurants worldwide, employing more than 1.5 million people.




Japan



Mc Donalds Breakfast


Mc Hotdog


McWrap Bacon Lettuce Egg



Mc Wrap Chicken Caeser



Mega McMuffin


hmm somewhat like sausage mcmuffin with egg x 2 




McWrap Prawn thousand island



McPork



Prawn Fillet-O



Teriyaki McBurger


Cheese Katsu Burger



Shake Shake Chicken

i would assume this tastes like Shilin fried chicken. yummm



Bacon Potato Pie
Take out apple and put in bacon and potato. ta-da, a savoury pie for non-sweet lovers


current promotion at Mcdonalds Japan for nov 2010
Icon chicken
Carbonara
Cheese Fondue
German Sausage





so in Japan's Mcdonalds, they let you have the choice of fries or salad. so depending on your mood or how health conscious you are, u can choose either. i love the salad option because its much healthier! 

mmmm which one do you feel like eating? i would love to try the cheese katsu burger and bacon potato pie! leave me a comment on which burger would you love to try or whether you have tried it before!



credits:
tofugu.com
mcdonalds.co.jp
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's

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