Cooking Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Chef Peter Neo and PinkyPiggu at Pietro

Cooking aglio olio pasta may sound simple, and the recipe can be quite straightforward. However, to do a spectacular plate of aglio olio pasta requires a lot of practice and skill.

In a first of a series of upcoming youtube videos featuring fellow foodie and blogger, PinkyPiggu, we will show you how to do a delicious plate of spaghetti aglio olio.

Crusty Oven - Lovely Tarts and Humble Intentions

Started by a pair of friends, Crusty Oven is a small bakery found in the heart of Bishan. Specialising mostly in tarts, it is almost inconspicuous from the rest of the shophouses nearby.

The owners started their bakery in Mid View City sometime in 2013, and only moved to this location in early 2014. It serves mainly the local residents around Bishan and judging from my time there, they seem to have won over a number of the older generation folks with their baked goods.

Return to Lau Ah Tee - One of the Pioneers of Teochew Bak Kut Teh in Singapore

Mention Teochew bak kut teh and inevitably, names like Founder, Ng Ah Sio and Song Fa will come up, but there is one that is often left out. And that is Lau Ah Tee Bak Kut Teh.

Currently, it is situated next to Boon Keng MRT in the heart of Bendermeer and Whampoa West. It's founder, Lau Ah Tee himself is 67 this year, and is one of the genuine pioneers of white, peppery bak kut teh.

Indochili at Zion Road - A Spicy Little Gem

They say that when one door closes, another one opens somewhere else. This must be true at Zion Road when the popular River Valley Nasi Padang closed its shutters one last time recently.

IndoChili is next to it, and though it has opened for quite some, I only discovered it a few weeks back and though it is not exactly serving the same cuisine, it is still dishing out some very good Indonesian and Javanese styled food.

The Royal Mail Bar - Classy Cocktails and Tasty Bar Grub

The Royal Mail Bar at Ascott Raffles Place has recently undergone a facelift and armed with a revamped menu, the Silver Chef was on hand to sample some of their new selections.

The bar area is situated on the ground floor while the related restaurant is found on the second level. The bar area, whilst not huge, is comfortable and classy and makes for a perfect chill place for after work hours.

A Couple of Mooncakes to Savor This Season - Thai Village Mao Shan Wang Snowskin and Antoinette Lunar Macarons

Mooncakes are getting so boring these days, and the sole distinction among mooncake suppliers these days seems to be the packaging factor.

Most mooncakes either taste the same, or overload you with sugar overdose until you beg for mercy. And that's why I hardly eat them these days, save for a few exceptions.

FIX at HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse - A Poolside Cafe Bistro with Naanwiches and Salted Egg Doughnuts

Trying to stand out from the deluge of new cafes in Singapore can be quite daunting, and the best way to do so is to churn out quality food. In a lot of ways, this is easier said then done.

FIX is coming into the scene with an intention to impress with its selection of savories and pastries that transcends the usual all day breakfasts and outsourced cakes convention that is quite common among new cafes.

Chang Thai - Affordable and Tasty Thai Food in Bishan

Finding decent food in my hometown of Bishan can be quite challenging. It came as a delightful surprise then to discover this gem of a Thai place on the outskirts of the south of Bishan.

Occupying a couple of shophouses, it looks quite upmarket from the outside and you will be fooled into thinking that this is a premium thai restaurant. Taking a look at the menu and prices, it is actually not so.

The Amazing Quiches at Ply Baked Goods - And a Marvelous Rainbow Cake Too!

I have already blogged about Ply Baked Goods just recently, but I missed their quiches and the white rainbow cake the first time round.

I hardly blogged about the same place twice, especially in such a short time span. But I just revisited the cosy cafe again to savor the quiches, and I was flabbergasted in the most positive manner.

W Espresso Sporting Club - Dazzling Food From a Chinese Harry Potter of a Chef

W Espresso may sound and look like a new hipster cafe in Johor, but the surprise is really the savory food that is served here. Despite having a very limited kitchen, the food here is beautiful, modern and inventive.

The young man at the helm, Chef Shawn is only 22 years of age, but he certainly can cook. Even now, he puts a lot of Singaporean chefs to shame with his grasp of knowledge and techniques.

Antoinette at Penhas Road (And Other Outlets) - A New Savory Menu

Antoinette at Penhas was the original flagship that kickstarted the Antoinette chain of patisseries that is the brainchild of Chef Pang Kok Keong.

He is perhaps our own Singaporean version of Adriano Zumbo and is famed for his pastry skills and desserts. Since the beginning, Antoinette has been dishing out savory items from its menu, but he has recently revamped his menu and I was there to sample some of his latest creations.

Flee Away Cafe - A Little Nostalgia in a Hipster Cafe in Little India

We seem to be obsessed with nostalgia these days. Maybe it's because a number of us are tired of the way the powers that be are trying to turn this country into a sterile skyline of commercial skyscrapers.

We miss the rustic charm of our old ways, the dusty streets and crooked lines. Instead of seeing shimmering and shiny paintwork, we long for something that is real, and downtrodden.

The Lokal - A Cool, Classy Cafe Bistro Along Neil Road

The Lokal is another new cafe bistro that has opened up along Neil Road. Helmed by Chef Darren Farr, he used to be at Sydney's Tetsuya.

As for the cafe itself, it is very chic, elegant and also cosy at the same time. There isn't a distinctive theme, other than it looks classy and cool. Situated next to the Goethe Institute, you might just miss it as there is no visible signage at the front door.

Ootoya Japanese Restaurant and Panasonic - Indoor Grown Vegetables with Japanese Home Styled Cooking

Mention Panasonic and the first thing that comes to mind are consumer electronic products from this famous Japanese giant. Food is likely the last thing you will associate with them.

But today, Panasonic is making great strides in using their techno know how to cultivate vegetables in an indoor environment in a land scarce country like Singapore.

Saigon Kitchen - A Taste of Vietnam in Thomson Plaza

You will not expect much from mall food these days, especially when there are so many franchises populating the shopping centres around Singapore.

It came as a pleasant surprise when I saw a fellow blogger posted this small Vietnamese cafe on her Instagram, and I decided to pay Saigon Kitchen a visit.

Agnia at Once Upon a Bar - Modernizing Asian Classics

I always feel that those that who can only replicate recipes can, at best, be a good and competent cook. To be a great chef, you have to create and revolutionize food that has come before.

That is probably why I tend to favor chefs that constantly look at new ways to modernize classics. At the same time, understanding what makes a classic a classic is just as important.

Lao San Kway Chap in Ang Mo Kio - Simple, Fulfilling and Delicious

Kway Chap is not my usual go to comfort food, and the reason is that not many kway chap stalls in Singapore can conjure up a good bowl of kway chap.

Across the causeway, it is a whole different story. Most of the kway chap there are quite immaculately prepared and presented. In many instances here, the biggest issue is the cleaning of the pig internals that usually puts me off.

Grand Mandarin Restaurant - A Classy New Kid on the Chinese Gastronomic Block

It's quite easy to be jaded by Chinese fine dining these days. While Singapore has been infused with all forms of international gastronomy, very little has changed when it comes to Chinese cuisine.

The various attempts at infusion has only caused more confusion. More often than not, the fusion aspects are merely superfluous, and rarely do they actually work.

Tian Kee and Co - A Slice of Dakota Crescent Nostalgia Until December 2016

We sat on the high stools back facing from the main cafe and glancing at the main road, and the sense of old Singapore came flooding back almost instantly.

Then came news just yesterday that this entire neighborhood will make way for redevelopment come 2017. The persistent deconstruction of Singapore's past, has present Singapore really come to this?

Taiping Fish Porridge in Johor - A Tale of Two Boys and a Giant Garoupa

When you are fifteen, the last thing a Singaporean boy would think of doing is to run a fish porridge stall with his even younger sibling all by themselves for an entire day.

But that is exactly what the two lads at this delicious Taiping Fish Porridge in Johor Bahru is doing every single day. And without fail.

Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King Matsuri at Parkway Parade - A Creative Ramen Place

Chef Keisuke Takeda is a renowned ramen specialist, having won accolades in his homeland for being innovative and creative in his ramen creations.

As part of his ambition to bring his brand of ramen to the rest of the world, Keisuke has been expanding at a rapid pace in Singapore. He has just launched his 6th outlet, the rather longish titled Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King Matsuri at Parkway Parade.

The Audacious Cakery - Pastries in Everton Park

Everton Park has become a mecca for cafe hoppers in recent months, with a number of of old shophouses refurbished to become hipster cafes.

Situated amongst these newer establishments, is a bakery cafe that has been around for slightly longer. It is run by a former corporate executive turned baker.

Immanuel Tee of Immanuel French Kitchen - The Promise of a New Generation of Great Singapore Young Chefs

Immanuel Tee was working hard in the kitchen on that Saturday morning when we visited Two Wings. What struck me then was that his was the only stall that was working, way before service time.

He is still a young lad, but he has already apprenticed under Andre during his stint at Jaan, and having worked at Guy Savoy and Keystone as well, Immanuel has certainly picked up a thing or two from such reputable kitchens.

Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck - More Than Just Duck

The Chew family has been making and selling their signature Teochew braised duck for more than 3 decades.

Today, the founders' son, Melvin has started to take over from his parents, and under their watchful eyes, Melvin is determined to preserve the food business that they have worked hard over the years to build up.

Whale and Cloud - The Little, Initimate Cafe Hideaway

The address reads 48 Niven Road, and the signage displayed 48 3/4. Yes, it was not lost on me that this little whimsical ode to Harry Potter was only one of the fantastical touches to Whale and Cloud.

There wasn't a proper signboard either, just an OPEN word displayed on the side wall. The door is like an entrance to a hidden world. And what an amazing little world it is!

Club Vivaa at Jurong Kechil - Chilling Out to Local Comfort Food

Little did I know that hidden from the main road of Upper Bukit Timah where Beauty World is, houses a cosy little chill out bar that serves good old fashioned local food.

What is even more impressive is that it is run and operated by Julie, who does all her own cooking as well as managing the club and bar joint's operations. And she is the the mixologist there too.

Penang Kia Prawn Mee in Compassvale, Sengkang - From Flying to Cooking

The two main faces at this newly opened Penang Kia Prawn Noodles stall have been making news lately, largely due to the fact that both husband and wife used to work in Singapore Airlines as SQ cabin crew.

They are now situated in the heartlands of Sengkang, hidden in a coffeeshop among the HDB flats. There was also an elderly gentleman in the kitchen, and I assume he is the father of the wife and he used to run a Hokkien mee stall too.

The Assembly Ground - From Retail to Bistro

A lot of us remember the old CD and record stores from the 90s and early 00s. Mention names like Sembawang CD and Supreme Records, and we all remember patronizing these places for the latest music and movies.

The last of these, Gramaphone, had their final store in Cathay Cineleisure, which occupied the ground floor near the main entrance. Sadly, Gramaphone is gone today.

Thai Village at Indoor Stadium Walk - More Than Just Shark's Fin

Most of us tend to associate Thai food with tom yam, pineapple rice and pad thai, but there is also Teochew Thai cuisine which is often overlooked.

Teochew Thai food is quite close to classic Teochew Chinese cuisine, but is infused with Thai flavors and seasonings. Teochew Thai is also famous for shark's fin, which has become a controversial issue of late.

Salmon Tartare with Soy and Pickled Japanese Cucumbers - A Simple Dish to Make at Home

A lot of you might not be aware that citrus acid is a method of cooking, just like frying or boiling. Although it does not create natural heat in a protein, it does change the molecular structure of the fish or meat.

Thus, ceviche is a very popular way of adding citrus to raw seafood or fish to create a simple and delicious appetizer or dish.

Witbier Cafe - Pairing Beer With Comfort Food

I used to frequent Kandahar Street to buy home the wonderful swiss rolls from Rich and Good Bakery. In the last few years, along that same stretch, a number of chill out bars have popped up to provide a nice after hours place to relax and unwind.

Witbier Cafe was among the first to headline that area, and among the owners of this establishment is a beer importer with a passion for good food.

The Tastemaker Store - A Simple Cafe Elegance, Something Old and Something New

Beo Crescent along Havelock Road is known in the 70s and 80s for having a number of old school hawker and coffeeshop delights, and some of these eateries are still there.

But it has not been spared the current trend of having old shophouses remodeled into cooler hipster cafes as well. Like it or not, hipster cafes are making their way into more heartland areas.

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee - A Different Yet Familiar Kind of Wanton Noodles

This was the first time that I have heard of Thai styled wanton noodles, and it is said that this dish is quite the rage in Pratunum, Bangkok.

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee is located in a remote corner of Ang Mo Kio, and has no actual relation to the Soi 19 eatery in Thailand. Nevertheless, the dish they serve up here does bear more than a passing resemblance to the one in Pratunum.

Ply Baked Goods - An Intimate Cafe in Upper Thomson

Upper Thomson is filled with cafes and eateries, and most of them are found on the shophouses lining the main road. It is not surprising then, to discover that there are also far more discreet cafes situated behind the main road.

Ply Baked Goods is one such place. In fact, it started out as a bakery, and has only recently converted some of its shop space into a little cafe area.

Penang Char Kway Teow at Perling, Johor Bahru - Kim Leng Coffeeshop, The Legacy Continues

I was brought to this very humble looking coffeeshop in Taman Perling one morning to savor one of the best char kway teow in Johor. It was originally manned by the husband, who has sadly passed away.

These days, the wife is still running the stall and frying the noodles, with her son helping out and learning the ropes at the same time.

The Bakery Chef - A Most Beautiful Rainbow Cake

I remember hanging out at Bukit Merah Central during my schooldays. That was 20 years ago, where we used to go to watch the latest movies and spend an afternoon in the A&W fast food restaurant, gulping down our root beer floats and eating our coney dogs.

Since then, little has changed. The cinema and A&W may have closed and the emporium is gone, but most of the structures are still the same.

Singapore Food Festival 2014 - A Walk Down Memory Lane

This year's Singapore Food Festival promises to be a sumptuous trip back to some of our culinary roots, and also features some of our own best local talent taking a modernistic approach to some our classic dishes.

The festival is a week long affair, from 11 July 2014 to 20 July. It will not only be featured at various locations throughout the island, but there will also be a mobile food truck going to various places during this period.

Bistro Du Vin - A Taste of Parisian Bistro Fare

The thought of finding a decent French eatery in Singapore has always been a daunting one for me. I tend to shy away from the central district and the premium names, and long for something simple yet rustic.

It was a surprise when I visited Bistro Du Vin, which is under the Les Amis group, to find that this has become my favorite place for simple, classic French cuisine in Singapore.

Two Wings - Where One Chicken Wing is Twice as Delicious

Deep fried chicken is the ultimate southern American comfort food, and when done right, it is just an utter gastronomic delight. Conversely, when done badly, it can be ghastly.

For years, we have been brought up on KFC, and many families still patronize the numerous KFC outlets here. But for decades, there has been another name that has been synonymous with deep fried chicken in Singapore, and that name is Carona.

Hatter Street Bakehouse and Cafe - Through the Cooking Glass in Kovan, Hougang

When you think of Alice in Wonderland, one normally do not associate it with food, except maybe for the tea party held by the Mad Hatter in the story.

For Yvette Chua, a chef and baker trained in CIA (that's Culinary Institute of America, not the spy agency), she has turned Lewis Carroll's famous classic into a delightful cafe of whimsical proportions.

The Redemption Broth - Sherman Soh

I remembered it vividly, it was the same morning that the news of MH370 going missing was just coming down the grapevine. I was waiting with Jabez and a group of Sherman's friends, awaiting his release from prison.

There were many of us, more than any other congregation that day. Some knew Sherman intimately, some not as much. Whichever the case, everyone was there to give him a rousing welcome, back to civilian life.

Shrove Tuesday - Another Whimsical Cafe in the Heartlands of Toa Payoh

Toa Payoh is not known to be a hip area to find the latest cafes in, but recently, this has slowly started to change. Taking the cue from places like Everton Park, there are more and more shophouses being converted to modern dining fare.

Shrove Tuesday is just one of these new places that has sprouted on the fringe of Toa Payoh, where it is away from the central hub and nestled nicely among the heartlanders living there.

Sawadee Thai Cuisine - An Elegance of Thai Flavors

Thai food in Singapore tends to straddle between the low end and premium options, and rarely do you find something in the middle which will really satisfy both your desire for Thai delicacies and not burning a hole in your wallet.

Sawadee Thai Cuisine, which was formerly located in Sembawang and now situated near Bugis Junction, is one such Thai eatery that tries to find a balance between quality and pricing.

Cooking with Sitong and Johor Kaki - Pizza Making with Chef Jason Lim at The Eureka Cooking Lab

Learn how to make a classic cheese and tomato pizza with singer/songwriter Lin Sitong and Tony of Johor Kaki fame.

Chef Jason Lim shows how to make this simple and delicious dish from scratch, using ingredients that can be easily found at home.

Watch as the threesome goes through each step of the pizza making process, and having a bit of good natured fun along the way.

Filmed on location at The Eureka Cooking Lab.
Shot and edited entirely on the iPhone 5S.
No yeast was injured during the filming of this video.
Mostly in English with a little bit of Mandarin thrown in the mix.

Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodles - Size Does Not Matter

OK, I take it back. On a previous post, I lamented that Wah Kee was probably over-hyped with its expensive range of prawn noodles. And in a way, that is still true.

But I am man enough to admit that I was wrong not to give it a try. And I have Kumes to thank for that. He messaged me that I should at least give it a fair shake before making a judgement.

The Perfect Bowl of Ramen - Chef Jason Lim of Eureka Cooking Lab

It is easy for us to take a bowl of ramen for granted. On the surface, it is just another bowl of noodles, not unlike something you will find in hawker stalls.

A bowl of broth, with noodles, pork slices, egg and some vegetable garnish may not sound complex, but to the Japanese, there is an absolute science to making the perfect bowl of ramen.

Artisan Boulangerie Co. - A Slice of Class, But at a Price ...

Parisian styled cafe bakeries are fast growing here, and one of the most popular ones is this one found right in the heart of Killiney Road.

Housed in very elegant and classy wooden furnishings, this is not your typical neighborhood cafe. And judging from the breakfast crowd here on a holiday morning, business is more than brisk.

Yet Con - The Last Bastion of Authentic Hainanese Restaurants

Mention Chin Chin and Swee Kee and the older generation will muster a wry smile as these were the legendary foundations of authentic Hainanese cuisine.

They were also the early establishments of what had become common fare then, with the likes of Hainanese chicken rice, Hainanese pork chops and chap chye.

Chef Movie Review - Opens in Singapore 5th June, A Salivating andComforting Indie Flick

Writer/Director Jon Favreau's latest film sees him returning to his roots, a small indie picture that starts off with the main protagonist seeking to rediscover his passion and roots, and ends up being a feel good road trip between father and son.

The first half of the movie deals mainly with Carl Casper (played by Favreau himself) trying to break free of his comfortable but soulless head chef position, and despite support from his family and friends, it is not until his hilarious turn in trying to learn how to deal with social media that forces him to involuntarily quit his job and finally find his true self in plying his trade in a food truck.

Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee - The Hype Factor, Chinese Carbonara

Hype is a strange thing. Too little of it and you might think it is not worth checking it out. Too much of it and you worry that it won't live up to expectations.

And so it is with Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee that has been imported from Kuala Lumpur onto our shores, and the famed 3 hour queue that was famously reported when it first opened its doors for business.