Hari Raya Puasa 2014

Each Hari Raya, my family will look forward to a sumptuous lunch at my sister-in-law's place where a huge Malay feast awaits us and all visitors.They even have catering equipment and heater to display the food they have cooked throughout the night. Beef beranyi, ayam merah, longtong, rendang, sambal tumis, achar and more. We had more than a serving each and I even had to skip tea that afternoon, something that is rare for me. Malay ladies do take a lot of pride in their food and it seems like a very natural tradition for girls in the family to learn how to cook. My husband's nieces seem to take on this course naturally. 

Beef  rendang 

Sambal Goreng with vegetables

Beef  Beranyi 

Achar 

Ayam merah 

Sambal tumis with quail's eggs

Gardens by the Bay

Sometimes I feel like a tourist in my own country. I've come to realize that Singapore has changed so much that I don't seem to recognize what I grew up with. Singapore has gone from third world during my parents' generation in the 60's ( Singapore became independent only in 1965 ) to first world right before my eyes. Change is inevitable but most Singaporeans do feel that by becoming a global city in such short a time, we lose a big part of our heritage and our identity. 

I decided to take a day off to just walk around Singapore. Gardens by the Bay is a place that I've not visited even though I have heard so much about it. I first saw strange futuristic structures in the making when I happened to be at Marina Bay two years ago. They were still under construction and had me wondering then. Today, these super trees are quite a vision. I couldn't help but stare at it in awe. As I had only an hour to spend at the Gardens, I had to make do with a quick walk around. What surprised me too was the white painted bronze sculpture called Planet featuring a child suspended in mid air . Just like the super trees, it was quite a surreal vision . Images that are stark, bold and different in contrast to the fauna and flora all around. Images of modern Singapore. Some of it are quite good but it is important to keep the balance. A mix of traditional and modern - something forward and something familiar that keeps us rooted.  Guess we all have our preferences. I have always preferred things to evolve organically. 

Think I will check out the conservatories in the Garden the next time. 

Planet - white painted bronze, stainless steel by Marc Quinn , United Kingdom 

This is my first sighting  of a calabash tree

Ramadhan Food bazaar at Bussorah Street.

If you mention kuehs in Singapore, most Chinese Singaporeans will mention Bangawan Solo nonya kuehs as they are kind of a ubiquitous sight in shopping malls . But for a change, try the Malay kuehs at Arab street around the Sultan Mosque, especially during the Ramadhan period. After a most delightful lunch at Sabar Menanti II consisting of chicken korma, the softest beef rendang and sambal squid, I couldn't help buying the Malay kuehs just outside the shop. There were boxes of the most interesting and colourful kuehs which were mostly sweet though there were some savoury ones as well as the ever popular curry puffs. Made from a variety of ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, coconut, gula melaka, pandan, green pea flour etc and steamed to perfection. Most cost less than the price of the commercial ones at Bengawan Solo and there is a wider variety. My absolute favourite is Pulut Panggang- glutinous rice with dessicated coconut in the middle, wrapped in a banana leaf and grilled to perfection. The honey comb steamed cake ( I love calling it the ant's nest cake) has the most interesting taste texture, spongy with a fragrant caramel taste that is not too sweet and just right. I've tasted kuehs at Geylang Serai before but to me the Sabar Menanti ones are tastier. 

After a most satisfying lunch, I wandered across to Bussorah Street where the Sultan Mosque was situated  and came across a very lively food bazaar. As it was a Friday , just after prayer time, there was quite a crowd there , jostling to buy dinner and sweet treats to break fast at 7.15pm that night. Rojak bandong, Indian mee siam, roti john and more. Pity that I had to rush back. Definitely coming back again soon as the bazaar will only be around for less than 2 weeks before Hari Raya Puasa. 

Marimekko Maribowls

At my last flea market outing, I was prepared to leave empty handed but spotted two beautiful goblets just at the last moment. Could they be original Marimekko maribowls, classic Finnish goblets designed way back in the 50s ? These are just as iconic as the Mommins of Finland and are hugely popular in Japan. Well they were really the real thing, based on the word Marimekko etched onto its base. Fancy finding something Scandinavian in a flea market that has loads of vintage Chinese ware and the occasional colonial English stuff. Besides Nokia, Singaporeans are really not that familiar with Finnish brands. 

I remember a flood of Maribowl lookalikes in the market a few years back though not in the rich colours these bowls are famous for. The candy hues of Maribowls give a very happy vibe. They remind me of having ice cream sundaes in different flavours every day of the week. The one I bought from the flea market costs me $20 and based on a Japanese website, the colour I had was known as parsley beer orange. The Maribowl in red was the highly prized one as it was the most difficult to make. I am tempted to start a collection but I rather take things in a more serendipity mode. Coming across one makes it more fun ! 

Making curry puffs

My husband grew up in a multi-racial kampong in Singapore where life was carefree and neighbours' doors were always opened. He picked up some skills in the making of curry puffs as he helped his neighbour when she had a huge order of curry puffs to fulfill, around 500 at one go. Everyone would chip in and even though there was no pocket money to be earned, he did get to eat some curry puffs after his hard work. Just part and parcel of the kampong spirit called gotong royong. Everyone would just chip in when help is needed based on trust and friendship. Gotong royong is still evident in many of the older generation who grew up this way, a beautiful and gracious style of living, regardless of material wealth. 

As my daughter was inviting some old classmates over, my husband decided to make kampong curry puffs as a tea treat. He used a mixture of sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, just like how his old neighbour used to do it. The sweet potatoes made the mixture a little more sticky and its sweetness combined with the hot and savoury sauce of the curry paste gave it contrast and a better taste.  He gave it a modern update adding minced beef and a quarter of an egg for each puff. For the pastry, we used store bought puff pastry which I loved . The butter in puff pastry just makes it soft and fluffy, much tastier in my opinion to short crust pasty which was harder and drier but made commercial sense. Back in those days, his neighbour used ghee in her pastry which we would hopefully try one day. 

The best curry puff I've tasted but of course, I'm totally biased. 

When George moved in......

This is George. He just moved into my neighbourhood with his girlfriend last month. He looks fine and dandy and loves to get high, especially on a tree just outside my window. I never knew roosters could fly but George and his girlfriend sure can, to a height that is the equivalent of a 5 storey block. George is proud and loud. Sometimes, he gets his sunrise timing a little mixed up and starts blowing his trumpet at 4.30 am. Lately, I have been dreaming of George.... on a rotisserie.....turning nice and brown. Seriously, George grows on me. He makes me feel like I am living in the countryside which I doubt I ever will in land scarce Singapore ! 

Retro chairs

A baby's feeding chair that can double up as a stool, book racks, kids' chairs of different styles, all made using cane. A moment of serendipity had me passing a shop called Mint Garden near Tessensohn Road. This shop made me do a double take as it was like a step back  to the 60s and 70s where chairs like these were found in most homes. And most professional photo studios back then had the round back kid's chair for a young child to take a cute little picture for mum and dad. There was even a quaint little cane rocking horse propped up against the wall at the shop.