I've always wanted to go to Taiwan, but I just never really got around to it until now. This always surprises people, because I am just so ling long ching chong. I have an irritating habit of replying in Chinese even though a conversation begins in English. After a few sentences, they invariably switch to Chinese too. Ha!  My trip to Taiwan started off early at 7am, when I reached Changi Airport. There was a couple of hours to...

Another recipe I wanted to try ever since I had my first tuile at Chez Dre, I finally got around to doing it. I took a bite of the finished product from this Alice Medrich recipe and I had no regrets about making it. Okay, I did have one. I halved the recipe because I wasn't sure how it would turn out, and now I'm wishing I made the full recipe instead. This cookie is delicious, with a deep, intense chocolate flavour. (Like all of her chocolate...

Could it be? I don't usually fangirl over ice cream places. The frozen yogurt chains in Singapore all sound the same to me, such is my indifference. But I'm really excited about llao llao (pronounced yao-yao), a frozen yogurt store that hails from Spain. Maybe it's the hype getting to me, but it is indeed, one of the most impressive frozen yogurt I have ever had. When I walked out of NUH clutching a cup of frozen yogurt with its tell-tale green,...

There are quite a few dim sum places dotting the food landscape of Melbourne, including a rather good one a few minutes drive away from where I stay. But they pale in comparison to the ones in Singapore, and every time I return, I book an emergency session with my family for dim sum, pronto.   Imperial Treasure at Jem Shopping mall.  One of my favourite haunts is Imperial Treasure, which serves some of the finest...

Parrozzo is an traditional Italian cake in Abruzzo, a region on the East coast of Italy. It's made with ground almond and semolina flour, which gives it a rustic texture. It's traditionally made in a dome-shape and glazed with chocolate and is served during the Christmas season. It's a long way off to Christmas, but I will not be deterred... I halved the recipe and couldn't find a suitable bowl to bake it in, so I wounded up using a heart-shaped...

In Australia, 12am is bedtime. In Singapore, 12am is just about time for supper, whether it be nasi lemak, a mountain of fries and nuggets from McDonald's or butter pratas from The Roti Prata House.   Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak is consistently rated as one of the best nasi lemak in Singapore, and it has become one of my holiday tradition to drive there for supper. It operates from 5pm-2am. We usually go...

[UPDATE: DOC is closed down as of 2016] When Miss XS told me she wanted to try the waffles at DOC, I wrinkled my nose. I was never a fan of waffles. Even when I share one, it was just too filling. I gave a non-committal mm-hmm and filed it in my mind as a distant 'maybe'. Because I can never be right, I enjoyed the waffle the most out of everybody there when we finally went.     We had the Valrhona...

[UPDATE: DOC is closed down as of 2016] When Miss XS told me she wanted to try the waffles at DOC, I wrinkled my nose. I was never a fan of waffles. Even when I share one, it was just too filling. I gave a non-committal mm-hmm and filed it in my mind as a distant 'maybe'. Because I can never be right, I enjoyed the waffle the most out of everybody there when we finally went.     We had the Valrhona...

Full of Crab and I was love at first bite. And we did not stop until we were indeed full of crabs. And prawns. And crayfish. With seafood as fresh (and delicious!) as the ones served up to our table at Full of Crab, how can we pause? The sea-theme of this restaurant, with puns scribbled all over every nook and cranny of the restaurant.  ...

Nakhon Kitchen is a Thai place in Singapore that Miss XS insisted I have to try. She said the food was comparable to Jinda Thai, Melbourne's current 'it' Thai restaurant (and my favourite restaurant in my lil' Melbourne-Singapore sphere). But the original store at Hougang was a little out-of-the-way, and I bidded my time until Nakhon opened a branch at Pasir Panjang. It made a great first impression: the place was clean, bright, and nicely-decorated....

From the Classical style through the Gothic and the Rococo period, architecture has come a long way. The 21st century is probably the Hipster Period, because everywhere I look, from Melbourne to Singapore, I see restaurant designs which sets my hipsters-alarm a-tinkling. There will be large communal tables (invariably wooden), dangling lightbulbs, inspiring messages and whimsical paintings. Frankly, I love everything about it, and...

Whew. Whatever virus or bacteria it was, it really did a number on me. It's been close to three weeks since I reached Singapore, and I spent most of the days blowing my nose and coughing. And avoiding all kinds of food on account of my sore throat. Well, the last part is kind of true. I hold off my impulses until I get almost well, and decided to indulge in a chocolate cake or a plate of nasi lemak or durian ice cream or yuan yang. And then I'll...

One thing I like about Singapore is how late the restaurants stay open. From prata to nasi lemak, there is no shortage of options for a supper. Like say, at 2am. And now we can add dim sum to the growing list, with Tim Ho Wan offering a new menu from 10pm-7am. Miss XS's friend brought us there. I may have said it once or twice or two thousand times, but I'm in danger of losing my Singapore citizenship because I'm not at all in tune with the...

I don't know why, but I often go to Mexican Cantina around the exam period. Perhaps it's the holy trinity of carbs, meat and alcohol. Or the fact that there is cheese pooling over every dish. Or the fact that it's a mere 12 minutes drive from my campus at Clayton. Anyhoo, it ticks every check on my box, and whenever my schedule starts heating up, I invariably find myself seated at Mexican Cantina.  On my recent visit with...

My first impression of South Melbourne Market is very positive. The aisles are much wider than Queen Vic Market, and there is a sense of orderliness and cleanliness.  And of course, the cheese. I finally found a place that stocks my long-sought after Brie de Meaux. Padre Coffee has a presence here. They have excellent coffee beans that you can buy to make your own brew with, and you can read more about them here.  I have...

Yarra Valley hosts a number of Farmer's Markets, and I was fortunate enough on my first visit a few months back to chance upon one. They had a lot of gorgeous things on sale.  There are a number of stores selling food too. For more information on when farmer's markets are available, check here and here...

Yarra Valley is another popular location to make a road trip to when you're in Melbourne. Luckily for us, it's a place that can be covered in a day's trip. Some of Melbourne's wineries, chocolatiers and cheese farms can be found there and it's worth a visit when you're craving a change of scenery.  The ride there was a snooze; thank god for highways. As we exited the highway, we passed by Coldstream Brewery. Since everyone could use a break,...

A few stores down from Mrs Kim's Grill is Huff Bagelry. It's one of my favourite brunch places in Melbourne, and I can't wait to go back and get re-acquainted with it soon.  The last time we went, I ordered a mocha. I couldn't remember much about it, which naturally means the coffee was good. (In Melbourne, the coffee standard is generally excellent, and the ones that stand out in my memories are either really exceptional, or those...

I'm almost ashamed to say that I spent my first year in Melbourne, as well as most of my second, without visiting any of Melbourne's famous markets. My schoolwork takes up a great deal of time yes, but looking at all the other people who are juggling multiple extra-curriculum activities or work commitments, I'm sure I can do better in my study-life balance. Going to another continent to study should be filled with new experiences, exploration...

A trip to Melbourne is incomplete without going to Brighton Beach. When I first went, I didn't see the appeal of the beach, but after going several more times, I'm starting to see its charms.  The first time I went to Brighton Beach, we made a pitstop at Chadstone en route to the beach, and bought sushi and my favourite beef hor fun to picnic. It was in the middle of winter when we went, and the crazy, chilly Melbourne...