Saturday, April 20, 2013

Johnson Brothers Indies Blue fine China plates

I always love something from the past especially vintage crockery and I don't go looking for them consciously now as my overstacked cupboard is now filled to the brim. However, my flea market vendor friends seem to look out for me when they find something special and then I go weak. 

Can't resist these Johnson Brothers Indies Blue Fine China dessert plates. They were produced in England and were probably released in the 80s. 




Monday, April 15, 2013

Say Cheese !


I am such a cheese novice. I don't really know much beyond Kraft cheddar cheese which my children love to grate over their spaghetti. I tasted sashimi as a kid and pushed it away like a spoilt brat but now, sashimi is one of my favourite foods.  As for cheese, it is a growing acquired taste. After lots of sampling in Spain and even locally, I am beginning to like it.  Saw this cheese chart in Jason's Gourmet Market and it kind of summarises the different kinds of cheeses out there.  Picture is not as clear as I like it to be, so I've rewritten it. 

FRESH CHEESES - RICOTTA , MOZZARELLA, BURRATA
Smooth, creamy and moist, these cheese have not been rinded and still possess a tangy, milky and buttery flavour.

SEMI-SOFT CHEESES - PORT SALUT, CAMEMBERT and TALEGGIO
Aged slightly longer than soft cheese. These are firmer yet retain their fresh milk flavour and pliable texture.

FIRM CHEESES - COMTE, JARLSBERG and MONTERY JACK 
Dense in flavour, these cheeses are pressed during the curdling process

HARD CHEESES - PARMIGIANO REGGIANO, GRANA PADANO and PECORINO ROMANO
Aged for at least 6 months or more. They are dry, crumbly, hard and slightly fluffy in nature

BLUE CHEESES - ROQUEFORT, STILTON AND GORGONZOLA
These cheeses have a sharp and steely blue finished flavour caused by the blue green mould throughout the curd

SMOKED CHEESES - SMOKED ITARARITI, SCAMORZA AND SMOKED CHEDDAR
Smoked using a variety of wood. These cheeses have a more intense and unique flavour.



Sunday, April 14, 2013

Savour - Singapore's Gourmet Festival (11-14 April 2013)

Savour 2013 took place over 4 days from 11-15 April at the F1 Pit Stop Building. Touted as Singapore's largest gourmet event, there was certainly more going on compared to last year, with more participating chefs, restaurants and Nespresso coffee ! As Nespresso was launching a new series of Italian coffee capsules, there were hip little Vespas on display, lining up the walkway leading to the Nespresso boutique. 

It was so hot that day that I parked myself at one of the air-con tents just to take a little breather while my friends went scouting for food at the Gourmet village. Some of my favourites include the short rib beef by Douglas Tay of Osia and cold angel hair pasta flavoured with truffle and Oscietra Caviar by Gunther ( slurped it up and forgot to take a picture). Most of the portions were pretty small but I came with the  expectation of not having a hearty meal, just to taste sample size dishes of the most unusual flavours, some rather disappointing (there was an appetiser that was overpowered by sea salt) and some delightful ! It was also fun to watch a number of fangirls taking picture with their favourite chefs ! 

Then it was time to walk around the Gourmet markets. 2 levels -  One level consisting of Savour lifestyle, Savour Gourmet and Jason's and another consisting of  Savour Wine and Baking. I went looking for my favourite WindowSills pies especially the pecan pie before venturing beyond. A pleasant outing with my friends as we went around food tasting as well as learning from the people behind the brands. But honestly, we were still hungry and headed to the nearest hawker centre for our hearty food ! It was around 10 plus that night when I tasted a most wonderful beef noodle soup. Think the stock came from the bottom of the pot and wow, was it tasty!  I like to savour exotic food but for me nothing comes close to heritage, comfort food !  






A Vespa display just outside the Nespresso booth 



Langoustine Tartar by Julien Royer of Jaan, Singapore #22 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants
Most intriguing dish for me in terms of taste and ......what is a langoustine ? Found out that it was a orange pink lobster also called the Norway lobster

Braised Baby Abalone with chicken glutinous rice by Sam Leong of Forest, Singapore
Soft and fine glutinous rice but I can't forget last year's crowd favourite from Forest - 
Steamed Yellow Pumpkin Fragrant Rice Infused XO Sausages with pan-­‐seared foie gras in sweet port wine sauce

Squid and Mackeral "burger", salad of sea greens, Moroccan lemon peel from Anthony Demetre of Wild Honey, UK
(1 Michelin Star) 

Cod wth Egg of Quail, Shrimp, Onion, Anchovy, potato from Ulf Wagner and Gustav Tragardh of Sjomagasinet, Sweden (1 Michelin star)
A wonderful combination of flavours to bring out the best in cod

Le Foie Gras - "Rougie" Duck foie gras cooked in a torchon by Lorenz Hoja of L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon Singapore 
#24 Asia's Best Restaurant 
I prefer foie gras seared although I was told that foie gras is usually served cold 

Apricot paper, pink guava sorbet, raspberry Gelee by by Christopher Millar of Stellar @ 1-Attitude 
Pink guava does make a good sorbet and the apricot paper was a nice touch which was fun to eat ! 

Seared Scallop, aerated Scallop and dill Vichysoisse, Barley and squid ink crumble from Margot Janse of the Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais, South Africa 
#57 World's 100 Best Restaurants 
The most interesting combination of flavours. Besides the scallop, every other taste  had me mystified   

Creamy "Valrhona" chocolate with cacao sorbet by Lorenz Hoja of L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon Singapore
#24 Asia's Best Restaurant

An all time classic dessert - chocolate 

Lychee Frozen Martini - King Crab by Douglas Tay, Osia Singapore
Lychee never fails to perk things up, especially a crabby king

Beef short rib,charred radicchio,macadamia, buckwheat, balsamic burnt butter by Douglas Tay, Osia, Singapore, winner of several gold medals in the culinary Olympics in 2008 and the Australian OceanicFest 2009 
My favourite dish by far at Savour. A short rib, long on flavours.  The beef melts in the mouth and the charred radicchio - delicious. If all my vegetables were cooked this way, I will finish it gladly. 

Stellar Signature Sushi of spicy tuna maki, swordfish miso maki, Lobster Sakura Ebi Maki by Christopher Millar of Stellar @ 1-Attitude
An explosion of flavours and texture in one bite though the sushi rice was a tad too soft

Causa : Traditional Peruvian seafood appetiser of shrimps, scallops and octopus by Emilio Macias of Astrid Gaston, Peru #35 World's 50 Best Restaurants 
Peru - that is far, far away. Glad there 's a Peruvian who came all the way with this wonderful dish. Fresh and delightful ! 

A nice cheese spread at the gourmet market

A wide selection of honey ham from Jasons

Oysters 

Windowsills pies - 
My favourite :  pecan pie 

Squid ink burger by Tiong Bahru bakery 

An Airstream trailer brought all the way from France for the Veuve Cliquot booth


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Carpenter and Cook

Was at Carpenter and Cook for tea last week. I've not been in the Beauty World area for years and this area looks a little messy with the MRT construction going on but guess it will be a lot more accessible after all is done.

Ordered a passion fruit meringue tart which looked like a little Alpine forest in spring with the snow melting away. The curd below the peaks tasted good as the sharp taste of passion fruit always goes well with sugar sweetness and the richness of butter.Was surprised that the brew of mint tea I had was made from fresh mint leaves. That's a nice touch as most places serve mint tea from tea bags.

The place was also filled with the owners' flea market finds. Those who lived during the period of colonial Singapore will probably remember them well. The tea cup display set looked like something straight out of an early Robinson or High Street store in Singapore back then except that it was most likely used to display ties and scarfs. People at the cafe were mostly young ladies who enjoy the quaint decor of the place and the cakes and pastries. Of course, the cupboards, weighing machines and other collectibles were way older than most of them :)

Ahh...blending passion for cakes and pastries with flea marketing, how cool is that !



Passion fruit meringue tart

Mint tea made from fresh mint leaves

Vintage sewing machines have the most beautiful intricate designs which make great table bases



An antique counting machine and more


To me, this is the loveliest display in the cafe

Are you hungry, thirsty or both ?

In true vintage fashion, nothing matches and that's perfectly alright



Vintage inspired wall paper with a lovely texture 



Is that Tweety Dee or Tweety Dum ?


Friday, April 5, 2013

Radley bags

I do not love any particular brand in general and branded bags are way too overpriced for me to make sense of it. In fact, I have an aversion to bags with monograms and big metallic engraved brand plates.

So it is quite out of my style to write about a branded product but I must admit that the Radley brand has grown on me over the years, since my first Radley leather cross body pocket bag. It was purchased at Heathrow airport years back and I have never even heard of the brand at that time. I was drawn by  its simplicity and functionality and how it could be strapped across the body leaving your hands free for work or for play. You can also carry it in such a way that the bag hangs in front of the body which hopefully keeps the pick pockets at bay. Think my first Radley bag costs me 72 pounds which was quite a lot, considering the exchange rate then was 1 British pound to around 3 Singapore dollars.

Over the years, the Singapore dollar has grown in strength while the pound has become weaker, making the Radley bag more affordable. Radley is not available in any shop in Singapore but there is a Radley Asian portal that sells it in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Though it carries only a limited range, my interest has been rekindled again. Bought a Grosvenor cross body bag, a style inspired by an equestrian saddle and a Baker street grab bag inspired by a doctor's bag. It looked truly like my old vintage doctor's bag which I keep as part of my retro collection. The Radley version of it is beautifully crafted in leather with a small and cute Radley terrier tag attached.

Apparently, some Radley designs such as the pocket bag are their best selling classics which get updated seasonally with different colours, stitch details and texture. My first black Radley across body bag still serves me well after more than 5 years. Radley bags are not high end glamour bags but well made leather goods - simple yet stylish, priced at the mid range market. Very niche among Singaporeans who often go gaga over Miu Miu, Prada, LV, Gucci and more.
My first classic Radley pocket bag


The 2013 range of pocket bags in colours of spring 

Radley's Baker street grab bag inspired by the vintage doctor's bag