Swee Guan Hokkien Mee at Geylang Lorong 29

Swee Guan Hokkien Mee has a over 30 years of history, and the current generation, Mr Swee, himself still does all the cooking and frying of the noodles.

It is found in a corner of Geylang where it is quietly tucked away in one corner of a coffeeshop. But let not this simple setting detract you from trying this immensely delicious hokkien mee.

Chong Pang Community Cooking Demo with Masterchef Peter Neo

Just the weekend before Valentine's Day, I was asked to host a cooking demonstration with Chef Peter Neo for Chong Pang CC for the People's Association for their Culinary Interest Group.

It was to be both a cooking demo plus serving the attendees with a 3 course Italian meal, which was quite a feat indeed.

Foong Kee - The Best Char Siew and Roast Meat/Sio Bak in Singapore?

When I was in KL over the new year, I had blogged about savoring the best char siew ever, and was lamenting that Singapore did not have an equivalent of this simple but delicious dish.

Well, fret no more. And by chance, whilst at Keong Saik road for another food purpose, I had inadvertently found the nirvana of char siew and roast meat in Singapore.

Dragon Phoenix at Liang Court - The Best Yam Pot and Yu Sheng in Singapore

The Lunar New Year season may be past us, but I could not resist talking about having the best yu sheng ever at this landmark Chinese restaurant in Singapore.

Started by Hooi Kok Wai, otherwise known as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Chinese food, they have moved from Middle Road to Maxwell and finally, now at their present premises in Liang Court.

Beef Meatballs With Mushroom and Onion Sauce

I believe that many of us have been to Ikea cafe and enjoyed the immensely popular Swedish meatballs there. I believe that is their bestselling item there.

And quite a few would have loved it so much that they brought the frozen packs back and cooked it at home as well. Well, I was wondering if I could do a homemade version of it.

Tao Xiang Kitchen at Sixth Avenue, Bukit Timah

Nestled within the eateries of Bukit Timah, is this almost hidden gem of a Cantonese roast meat stall, found in a typical looking coffeeshop.

Sixth Avenue is known for eateries like Brazil over the years, and other more Western inclined establishments, so it was quite the surprise to find this among the more famous names.

Father - The New Album and The Eternal Broth

I have been working on the last few months on my latest music project, and today, it is finally released! It is out now on iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby, among many other digital music stores.

The new album is called Father and it is a departure from my first two previous albums, which focused quite a bit on food and using food as titles for the tracks.

White Coq Au Vin

Previously, in one of my earlier recipes, I had done a classic coq au vin, stewed for hours and has since been a favorite among family and friends.

Recently, I had a chance to cook for some friends during a dinner gathering for a bunch of food kakis, and that included the illustrious Leslie Tay from the ieatishootipost blog.

Salmon Duo - Salmon Tartare and Pan Fried Salmon with Wine Apples, A Special Lunar New Year Dish

A very happy Lunar New Year to everyone! Wow, 2011 has certainly passed by very fast, and this year, I decided to cook for my wife's family reunion dinner.

Pauline's mum has recently been very keen to taste my food, and usually she has always been the one doing all the heavy lifting during reunion dinner time.

Penang Place Restaurant at Fusionpolis - Excellent Char Kway Teow

It is not often you find excellent char kway teow in a Penang restaurant, but that was exactly what I discovered in this wonderfully cosy eatery in Fusionpolis.

It actually serves a buffet spread and most diners do come for the buffet, but there is a separate a la carte menu if you prefer to sample selective dishes.

Crispy Angel Hair Pasta Balls with Tiger Prawns in a Ginger Leek Broth

After our trip to KL where we were so fixated with the Soo Kee Mee, I was determined to see if I can come up with my own take of that beautiful dish.

And remembering a trick that a chef once taught me, I thought of doing a modern version of the Sang Har Mee.

Ming Kee Char Siew at Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur, The Best Glass Char Siew Ever

Although we had raved about the char siew at Shunfu, quite frankly we have discovered the nirvana of char siew in the heart of KL.

It is found in a very run down coffee stall in a street in Jalan Alor, just off Bukit Bintang, and boy, was this one of the best finds ever!

Best Top 10 Food in Singapore 2011

Looking back on 2011, it was an enthralling year for me, as I cooked and tasted through a wide variety of foods, and following my early 2011 year of best of lists, I present my best of 2011 food.

Instead of separating into restaurants and hawker, I thought I do something a bit different this time. I would simply compile the 10 best food of Singapore.

Soo Kee Mee in Kuala Lumpur - Incredible King Prawn Crispy Noodle

Kicking off 2012 with a trip to KL, Malaysia, I really must tell you about this amazing tze char place near Jalan Imbi in the heart of KL.

It was situated in a junction of shophouses that are filled with a multitude of eating places, but this is the original one. The Soo Kee Mee place where they serve the most incredible plate of fried prawn crispy noodles.

Merry Christmas With a Simple Tomato and Garlic Basil Capellini

It's amazing how time flies, and Christmas is here and gone. I just realised that I have been blogging here for over a year!

And in that time, it has been an extremely fulfilling period, meeting all sorts of people and making new friends everywhere.

Hong Kong Adventures - sky100 and Kowloon Harbour

The past week, Pauline and myself made Hong Kong this year's vacation trip, and quite specifically, we decided to venture to this colorful city entirely on our own.

To savor HK in its entirety, you simply have to do this on foot, for no amount of coach and car travel can really get you close to the actual atmosphere that is HK.

Sembawang White Bee Hoon

I have never been real big on bee hoon dishes, so it came as a surprise that I actually found a favorite place for having this rather simple but yet, very tasty dish in the vicinity of Sembawang.

Located in a coffeeshop called You Huak Restaurant, this place is usually packed during lunch and dinner, and its quite common to see long queues forming just to wait for a table here. So, how good is it?

Chong Pang Nasi Lemak - Best Nasi Lemak and Best Fried Chicken

I was told about this Chong Pang Nasi Lemak by a couple of knowledgeable foodies, and when I first sighted this humbly looking kopitiam, my expectations were to say the least, moderate.

Little would I realize that this place would be serving the best concoction of nasi lemak that I have ever tasted. And then some. Without a doubt, this is the pinnacle of nasi lemak nirvana.

Hooked on Heads at Sin Ming Plaza - Delicious Assam Curry Fish Head

I was fiddling around the new ihawker app, which is the iPhone version of the ieatishootipost blog, and it is really quite fascinating. There is this one feature where you can find his famous posts using your current location.

And there I was one day, after having my bak kut teh at Sin Ming, when I was trying to figure out what else was good around here, that I discovered Hooked on Head through this app and feature.

Shin Minori Japanese Restaurant at UE Square

I used to remember Hanabi at King's Arcade many years back when a bunch of my buddies would go there for the great Japanese buffet fare there.

Since then, the ownership has changed hands and somehow, it just wasn't quite the same as before. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover that the original owner, Angeline has since started a new and similar Japanese buffet styled place at UE Square.

Ravioli With Seafood Cream and Butter Sauce

It has been awhile since my last recipe, so I thought I'd do a new dish over the weekend, and inspired by something that Masterchef Peter did.

It is actually one of my simplest recipes, and this can be quickly done in less than half an hour, and very sumptuous at the same time.

Prince Coffee House at Beach Road

Mention Han's and Jack's Place, and one will immediately conjure up images and flavors of classic Hainanese cooking.

And such Hainanese delicacies tend to fuse both western and chinese cooking. Haninese pork chops with sirloin steaks. And this is where Han's and Jack's Place have succeeded so well.

Hong Qin Fish and Duck Porridge at Geylang - Best Duck Porridge in Singapore

When I was covering the story for Thye Moh Chan, I happened to chance upon this corner food stall near the main road, just opposite Thye Moh Chan.

I thought I would be having an average bowl of porridge, but it turned out to be one of the best bowls of porridge I ever had. And personally, I have been very big on duck porridge.

Subhani Family Stall in Clementi - Best Sup Kambing in Singapore

Truth be told, I am not a regular consumer of sup kanbing, or for that matter, mee goreng and many other sumptuous Malay dishes.

Reason is I always find most sup kambings have a strong smell of mutton, which can be quite off-putting to me and to Pauline, especially.

Think Different - Remembering Steve Jobs

Today is a sad day for everyone, and truly, this passing of a great man affects on a universal level that has never been seen since Lennon died on that fateful day in 1980.

Steve Jobs, innovator, expert salesman, CEO and father, was more than just your average technology chief. He was, as he himself said, a bridge between the liberal arts and technology.

Penang Seafood Restaurant - An Excellent Penang Prawn Noodle and Assam Laksa Place

Truth be told, I have always been more of a fan of the Katong Laksa variant, and recently, I just stated that Sungei Laksa gets my vote as my personal favorite of all laksas out there.

But I was brought recently to this delightful and charming place just next to Aljunied MRT Station, which serves one of the best, if not, the best Penang Assam Laksa locally.

Lau Ah Tee Bak Kut Teh at Whampoa, Next to Boon Keng MRT

Having been to Whampoa West a couple of times, I have begun to realize that there are a lot of very traditional Teochew eateries and restaurants surrounding this place.

I was brought to this very excellent bak kut teh place by the Master of Chinese Tea himself, Kenry Peh. And I was certainly was not disappointed by the fare presented here.

Goh Su Yong - A Singapore Music Treasure

Goh Su Yong was a gentleman I met during my TV interview, the reporter had wanted his views on how new technology is used in music, and how from a traditional perspective, would he be able to embrace such new technologies.

After that remarkable day, Mr Goh and I managed to get together a number of times at his music and school and attempted to collaborate together, and although it was difficult at first, we eventually manage to make some great music together.

Freshly Baked By Le Bijoux - The Best Chocolate Sponge Cake in Singapore

During my many times past Killiney Road, I have never noticed this little but very well positioned bakery near the beginning of the street.

It is owned by Ms Audrey Tan, a fabulous baker who churns out all sorts of baking goodness daily, from breads to cakes.

Niu Che Shui Famous Glutinous Rice - The Best Glutinous Rice

I have never savored sweet glutinous rice until I was informed of this very famous stall in Chinatown Complex Food Centre, a place I have been to on many occasions.

In fact, this stall has been in existence for more than 40 years, and the owner himself has been working diligently for this amount of time.

Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly - Best Grass Jelly or Chin Chow in Singapore, Endorsed by President Nathan

During Chan Wai's visit here for his food chronicles, there was a day when he and Rex needed something soothing to detoxify the amount food they had consumed.

Immediately, one will think of grass jelly as the cooling agent to partake to reduce heat and aid digestion. It is also know here as Chin Chow in Mandarin and Hokkien.

The Mooncake Melodies - Celebrating 2011's Mid-Autumn and Lantern Festival, Featuring Yam Ah Mee

As we are about to approach 2011's Mid-Autumn Festival, I would like to contribute to this year's festival in my own way. No, I am not contributing a mooncake recipe, nor am I close to anything near that.

Instead, my musical instincts have led me to write and record a special musical album for this occasion called The Mooncake Melodies.

Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake in Maxwell Market

Until recently, I have never tasted an oyster cake before, and it was a friend of mine who is very well versed with the inner trappings of Maxwell Market that led me to this stall one afternoon.

Run by a very friendly lady boss, this stall serves nothing but oyster cakes, and from the looks of it, they are selling a bunch of these really well.

Sirloin Wine - More Music From the Silver Chef, My Second Album On CDBaby and iTunes

It has been a very busy past month or so, both with my food adventures with Chan Wai, scouring all over Singapore to find unique Singaporean dishes, and this, my second album.

As my follow-up to Silverfish, this has been a very exhilarating and satisfying experience and process. If anything, I believe I have pushed the boundaries of recording music on iPad to its limits with this latest collection.

Thye Moh Chan Cake House - A Piece of Singapore History About to be Lost Forever With Video

Traditional chinese pastry shops are rare these days, and as time passes, they will get even less, which is a very sad reality.

Last week, I was proud to present Tong Heng here, and it is heartwarming to see that its present generation of owners continuing to preserve its legacy.

iPad Music and GarageBand Workshop at Woodland RC Zone 1

Making music on the iPad has been so fulfilling and satisfying over the last couple of months, having been featured in the media as well.

As I am now working on the follow-up to Silverfish, I was also approached by some friends and other enthusiasts who felt I should consider conducting some lessons on music using the iPad.

Chan Wai, Food Writer Extraordinaire With Video

If you have been noticing on my last couple of posts, there has been a constant mention of this wonderful gentleman by the name of Chan Wai, who just so happens to be one of Hong Kong's best food critics.

Chan Chun Wai, (Chan Wai for short), is a freelance food and travel writer and goes all over the globe to find the best in cuisine and food. He is basically Asia's Anthony Bourdain.

Tong Heng - The Ultimate and Best Egg Tarts in Singapore

Traditional Chinese bakeries are a rare sight these days, and even more remote outside the confines of our Chinatown. But just on the edge of Chinatown, is this very popular shop that has made its name in egg tarts.

According to its present generation of owners, the history of Tong Heng stretches back to almost a century, and the tradition is very much kept alive today.

Rich and Good Cake Shop at Kandahar Street With Video - Best Swiss Roll in Singapore

If you enjoy a good old traditional swiss roll, it is rather hard to find a decent one these days. Especially one that is fully handmade and tastes like it was made many years ago.

Well, fret no more as I have recently located one right in the heart of Kandahar Street, and is even quaintly housed in a shophouse settting that simply oozes tradition.

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head at Jurong East - Forget Me Not Fish 忘不了鱼, The Mystical Fish of the West With Video

Steamed fish has always been a Chinese favorite and  very often, the most expensive component on a menu in restaurants and zhe char places alike.

Yet, I was almost dumbfounded when I was told that there was a fish in a Jurong East coffeeshop that was selling steamed fish going for more than $100 a kilogram.

Silverfish Remix

I have enjoyed so much creating Silverfish on the iPad using Garageband, that it was inevitable that I would revisit some of the music there to produce something extra.

And way back in the 80s, I remembered how much I enjoyed buying 12 inch vinyl singles containing different mixes of my favorite songs.

Mystery Chef Dish 1 - Laksa Risotto

Remember one of my earliest posts and recipes, the one on laksa risotto? Well, I have decided that this was such a unique dish, that I have gotten a professional chef to perfect it.

But rather then to tell you who this exquisite and talented chef is, I will only share with you only the picture of this beautiful dish for now.

The Master Of Chinese Tea - Pek Sin Choon With Video

Chinese tea is akin to wine when it comes to cuisine and food pairing. And for those who enjoy a delicious bowl of bak kut teh, chinese tea is a must to go along with.

I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert on this subject, and will not even attempt to explain the various teas from Jasmine to Dragonwell.

White Wine Beef Stew With Pappardelle

It has been awhile since I last cooked some stew at home, and over the weekend, I decided to whip up the classic beef stew, with a slight twist.

Instead of using red wine, I decided to go for a lighter flavor base with a dry white wine as the base for this gorgeous dish, topped off with some beautiful pappardelle.

Sungei Road Laksa - Best Laksa in Singapore

I have had my fair share of Katong Laksa, and other variants of this popular local dish. But today, I just discovered the pinnacle of all things Laksa.

Located in Kelantan Road, Sungei Road Laksa is a humble stall in a typical coffeeshop, but manned by a family of 3 when I was there.

Apricot Brandy Snowskin Mooncake

I was very honored to sample a very special mooncake last week at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Chef Sheldon Tan, who is the executive chef there, was eager to share his latest creation with the Silver Chef.

In addition to this uniquely flavored mooncake, he also had 3 other special snowskin mooncakes on offer and each was a delight in itself.

Bali Nasi Lemak at Geylang Lorong 15

Nasi Lemak is such a common breakfast fare that sometimes one can take for granted the effort that goes in preparing the components that make up this delightful meal.

And Mrs Fong and her family have been doing this business for more than a decade, braving through tough times to build up a very reputable and popular nasi lemak outlet in the heart of Geylang.

From Musician to Chef - Lynnette Seah at Rubato With Video

If this past week was about my transition from cooking to music, I was equally fortunate enough to be involved in another event that was just the other way around.

Lynnette Seah is not only our Singapore Symphony Orchestra co-leader, but an extremely celebrated and accomplished violinist. She happens to be a great cook too.

Silverfish - The Music of The Silver Chef

In my previous posts, I have always mentioned how much I use the iPhone to take pictures and video, and even edit entire videos on the Apple device. Well, recently I have gotten an iPad ...

And Steve was not wrong when he said that the iPad is a magical device. Yup, it really is amazing at the amount of things you never thought you could, or even wanted to do on this Apple tablet.

SaladStop! at One George Street Next to OCBC Building With Video

I have never been a big salad person, and I believe that applies to most food lovers too. There's something that is very stripped down, flavor wise when it comes to eating just greens.

But recently, my trip to SaladStop! has somewhat made me a convert. And for good reason too. It came as a surprise then that having a bowl of salad can comprise of interesting flavors and taste.