Tuesday, January 17, 2012

My Thoughts for the Day: If I Were A Bird.


This morning I spent some time mingling with the residents at the Shelter’s patio – a favourite place for them to gather perhaps for a puff but more so for togetherness.

While the residents were engrossed in idle prattle, I sat there watching the birds.  Birds surely must be one of God’s most beautiful creations.  They are so light, so happy.  A little noisy sometimes but cheerfully so.   I watched them intently with great envy.

At that moment, I thought of St Francis of Assisi who had a gift for understanding birds and attracting them.
Surely, these birds must be God’s greatly favoured.  They need not worry what to wear or what to eat.  They have the freedom to come and go as they wish. 

This morning, they have chosen to remain on ground feeding on bits of bread and rice.  Yet, when they want, they may soar high up into the skies beyond the reach of mere human.  High up where they can talk, at close range, with their creator  – our Creator who sometimes appear so far away, so distant, so out of reach.
If I were a bird, I’d fly now to a place where no man has ever been or dare to tread; a place where time stands still.  And just be me.

It may have been a short break from work but, for me, it was a very precious moment spent in quiet contemplation.  

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Food for Thought: Bangkok Thai Food

Over the years, many Thai eateries have sprouted all over Singapore in the heartlands, around the Bencoolen Street area and in major food centers.  Some are really quite good while others are just poor imitations of what you'll find along the busy Bangkok streets.  There is this place in Chinatown that I must recommend you.  In fact, this month alone, I have eaten 3 times at this no-frills food stall simply known as Bangkok Thai Food.


It is a self-service place, where you choose what you like from colourful numbered photographs pasted all over the stall front. Then you place your order with the counter staff.  If the names of the dishes are too long to read out, just provide the number of the dishes you want - 'one No. 13 and three No. 8'.  He'll scribble your order on a piece of paper and then shout the instructions to the cook in Thai.  It will make you feel like you are actually in Bangkok!

Tonight, after my tuina session at Tan Kim Cheong, I popped in at Bangkok Thai Food once again. My solo dinner consisted of 1 order of Garlic Chicken with rice and a 'sunny-side-up', a plate of stir-fried kang kong with bean paste, garlic and chili, and a complimentary bowl of plain tom yum soup.  All of these cost me S$7.

Garlic Chicken Rice with a 'sunny-side-up'

Stir-fried kang kong

Complimentary tom yum soup

If you are not expecting Royal Thai cuisine but are looking for a simple and wholesome Thai meal, then look no further.  Bangkok Thai Food's menu includes all the popular Thai street food like pineapple fried rice, olive rice, pad thai, garlic chicken with rice, basil chicken with rice, papaya salad and more.  Although it is not halal certified, the stall does not use pork or lard.  The best part of the whole deal is its pricing - very affordable with noodle and rice dishes around S$4 per portion.  Their daily specials priced at S$3 per portion are truly a bargain!

Like many of the roadside stalls in Bangkok, the taste is robust with a mixture of sweet, sour and hot.  I normally ask for 'hotter' and they have not disappointed me, so far. 

Bangkok Thai Food
#02-121 Kreta Ayer Food Center
Smith Street, Chinatown

Ambiance:  N/A
Food:  7
Pricing:  $
Recommended dishes: Stir-fried kang kong, Basil chicken with rice, tom yum fried rice, garlic chicken with rice.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Cooking for Love: Ushering in 2012 with Blessings

2012 started on just the right note, for wifey and I, with Fr Andrew Wong marking us with God's blessings and sharing with us a New Year cake to welcome Jesus into our home and hearts.

The New Year Cake with compliments of Fr Andrew

Michael and Lynna blessing our guests.  Shown here is Lydia.

Our guests blessing us in return.  Shown here is Vivian.

After the blessings of guests, Fr Andrew in his own uniquely playful manner, blessed the food before the guests tucked in the home-cooked nyonya fare.

For this special celebration, my food repertoire included 7 popular Nyonya dishes.  Like a true blue baba, I prepared everything from scratch following very strictly the method and recipe handed down from dearest mom.  Absolutely no ready mix was used.  The aroma of a wide array of herbs and spices wafted from the various pots and pans in the kitchen and any self-respecting gourmet would have sniffed out the fragrance of kunyit, lengkuas, serai, daun limau purut, chili kering, bawang putih, bawang kecil and belacan.  And here, you'll see the end result of all that chopping, frying, stirring and simmering:

Sambal Petai

Babi Pongteh

Ayam Buah Keluak

Nyonya Stewed Chap Chye

Sambal Udang Masak Merah

Acar Nanas

Nyonya Ba Mee
And of course, the guests besides enjoying the food also had a wonderful time browsing through our collectibles, chatting and catching up with the latest 'shop talks'.

The girls exchanging cooking tips.

Myra, Florence and Annie enjoying the food.

God-daughter Laura with Angela in their private cosy corner.

It has been a very good start to the new year and we look forward to hosting many more friends and relations for the rest of 2012.  A house is not a home if it is not filled with the presence and warmth of loved ones.