Chef Mikel Badiola of Element at Amara Hotel

His boyish charm had us all at hello. Always armed with a welcoming smile, his English still has the unmistakable Spanish accent, and was almost hard to make out at times.

Despite that, Chef Mikel Badiola had us engaged both with his personality, and his food for the entire evening. Mikel has recently joined the ranks of Element as their Chef de Cuisine.

The Redemption Broth - Jeremiah Tan

"My biggest regret in life is that my mother never got to see that I have turned over a new leaf."

Jeremiah Tan's voice was almost breaking as he uttered those words in the middle of our conversation.

The wrinkles on his face are very revealing, detailing a life of disappointment and years that have been lost to a wayward life that had torn him apart from his family and loved ones.

Malaysia Boleh! - The Spirit of Nanyang Cuisine

Having been to Malaysia Boleh at Jurong Point previously to savor the delicious Penang Chendol and wanton noodles, I was very privileged to be invited again by one of the owners of the establishment to try out the rest of their fabulous fare.

The place is as busy and as crowded as before, and the 17 stalls that sell the authentic Malaysian street food were all doing bustling business that Saturday morning.

Valentine's Day 2014 - Unspoken, What It Means to Me

How do you actually celebrate a day like Valentine's Day? Especially in this era where flowers and dinners are jacked up many times their usual rate, where commercialism rules over actual sentiments.

Some people will actually go into a denial mode, and say that everyday is their valentine's day, and choose not to celebrate it at all. Which is perfectly fine.

Itacho Sushi - Affordable But High Quality Sushi

These days, it is a rare occurrence when I patronise a sushi eatery, as prices have gone up and the quality of the fish has sadly, gone the opposite way.

But when I was invited to a tasting at Itacho Sushi recently, I was surprised to find that good quality sashimi and sushi can be still be found at affordable prices.

Truly Curry Rice - Young Hawkers in Telok Blangah

You hear people lamenting about how the hawker culture will die and the young ones are unwilling to take over all the time. The current hawker generation is also facing problems of high rentals and expenses to survive.

So, it is with this backdrop that I was introduced to the hawker duo of Joel and Deniece that took me totally by surprise. They both quit their daytime jobs to take over a curry rice stall.

Spicy Thai - Thai Cafe, Delicious Thai Cuisine in Aljunied

Ron was someone I knew from my days in IT, and he and his partner ran an SI company that supported me and my company for over a decade. And that is the thing about working with reliable vendors, there is a sense of trust and confidence.

So, when Ron decided to start a Thai zhe char styled kopitiam in Aljunied, there wasn't a sense of trepidation. For I know, knowing how he and his partner work, they will always deliver the goods, and then some.

Mr and Mrs Mohgan's Super Crispy Roti Prata - The Beautiful Prata

A prata is a prata is a prata. A simple dish, but really, very hard to master and get it perfectly done. I have had a few pratas in my lifetime, and even the best like Sin Ming Prata has dipped somewhat in standards in recent times.

Personally, my favorite prata stall is largely an unknown one, and that's because it is hidden away in one corner of Seletar Hills, destined not to be discovered. But I shall let you in on another one for everyone's benefit.