Happy 'Niu' Year!

I got to spend new year's with my family this year! I love new year at home! Went for trips during the CNY period for the past 2 years. Having trip is fun but nothing beats spending new year's with yr family and relatives. The fun, laughter and food!

I must be growing old for I am starting to appreciate the traditions that we have. Traditions give us something to look back to, something we will always remember.

Reunion dinner is something I always look forward to during Chinese New Year. I love the food! It used to be a rowdy and big event before granpa passed away. I always remember going to granpa's place after sch (haf day sch) for lunch. There will always be the usual yellow noodles which goes so well with curry. Then i will go back home for a lazy afternoon nap then head back to granpa's place again to join the rest of my cousins and uncles/aunties for dinner.
I can rem the dishes.
There was always :
- chicken abalone soup
- Itek Tim (Salted Veg duck soup) --- MY FAV!!!!!
- Curry Chicken
- Chap Chye
- Roast pork/ Duck
- Kong Ba (Soya Sauce Pork)
Most of these food can be kept for days and moreover, taste even nicer after kept for a day or 2!

And we always end the night with canned fruits for dessert!! haha!

Then the next day, my Da gugu will come with another fav soup of mine, Bakwan Kepiting (Crab, meatball, bamboo shoot clear soup) that she has cooked for her inlaws to previous day. My cousin will then help themselves to the duck soup. Its like a soup exchange! keke!

Pity.. part of the tradition has been lost along the way since.

This is what my mum cooked for us this year! My amazing mama! Jus for her greedy daughters and husband.

She cooked the yellow mee for lunch for us like before. Too bad she din have belachan!


Salted veg duck soup ... perfect when added with some brandy.. MMmm!


Curry CHicken.. :)


Cantonese Chap Chye -- this one is given by my ah yee. Hokkein or Cantonese.. i dun take chap chye! haha!


Pork Buah Keluak! MUm's first try! Delicious! As yummy as Ayam Buah Keluak!

ANd kong ba... which i forgot to take again! keke!

After reunion dinner, I will always catch the new year's countdown and wrap angbaos for my mother.


On the first, we will go church and have long hours of visiting to my dad's uncles and aunties with all my cousins. Nowadays, its much simpler.. jus gathering among the cousins.

On the second day, we will never fail to go to the columbarium to wish our grandparents Happy New Year and then its visiting with my mother's side.

My dad went crazy with new year decoration again this year...


Overview...


Close up 1...


This branch my dad picked up from downstairs. The flowers, buds, ribbons, decors... all done by him. I think chinatown should hire him next year! haha!




He made the lights red that I thot it made the whole place looks like a brothel instead. HAha!

Happy 'Niu' Year everyone! Have a prosperous year ahead!

I hope I can continue with my family this way every year...

Bean Curd Tart @ Le Cafe Confectionary

I was introduced to bean curd tart by TH jie. After I tried that first tart (i only got one.. :( ), I cannnot stop thinking of it! I absolutely love the smoothness and lightness of the filling! The crust was flavourful and "crispy" despite it being refrigerated.

I keep bugging BC since to drive me there and get them. :). When I have a craving, i must satisy it else I will be a very grouchy lady. Hehe! Yes, he brought me there eventually. When i reached the shop, there was stickers pasted all over their tarts picture, saying they will be producing them until after the CNY period. I guess they are busying making chinese new year cookie. I tried my luck and ask for a box of bean curd tart! ANd they had it!! Woo hoo! My first box of bean curd tarT!!! :)




8 tarts for $8. Reasonably priced!


it was as heavenly as the first time I had it! Yum!

Coincidentally, the next day, Sunday Times introduced the tarts as 1 of the best food below $10 in Singapore! Making me crave for them again (No, i did not finish the 8 tarts by myself!. Only had 2!). So the following Friday I bugged BC to drive me there again, BUT this time round.. they really stopped the production!! Boo Hoo! Now i have to wait till the after CNY to get to eat them again!!! Sad!

You can check out their website at http://www.lecafe.com.sg/

They seem to have many other yummy goodies sold in their shop! THe pineapple tarts are supposed to be good too. Wonder if I should buy one bottle and try.... HMmm....

Himawari

Happy new year! Had a pre new year gathering with my colleagues at Himawari. http://www.sbestfood.com/himawari.htm I had only tried this place once for its set lunch which I thot it was not bad. Was really interested in the buffet offered by this place since. Many times tried to organise it with my friend, Wendy to check out the buffet together but some way or another 1 of us cant make it. Anyway, did not get to it with her again this time either but doesnt really matter since she already had it like 3-4 times without me! hees!

We went to the alexandra branch which was a short walk from our office. Being an ala-carte buffet, we naturally ordered as much as we can once we reached. The teppanyaki was not available although its stated in the website.

Generally the food was quite ok. There was a few items which i do like but most of the items were complained by majority to be too salty! To finish the jellyfish became like a challenge to most of them as they felt it was too salty. But it turns out that the miso soup was the ultimate winner of the saltiest item of the list! No effect on me since i did not take both of the items.

What i like was its chawanmushi, chicken wing, shabu shabu and its sashimi was fresh and good.
Other than that, fried items were just normal. I know the cod fish was well liked by most. But the same sauce used for the cod fish seems to be the same for some of its other items too. So i guess the taste gets kinda too familiar and too much after a while.

Service was ok considering they were majorly understaffed.

From the comments i get, I dun think I will hear most of my colleagues going back there for another time. Me? well... i will not crave for it but wun reject if anyone ask me to go back there.

Picture time!


Squid, Jelly fish, scallop sides


Shabu Shabu


Chicken wing & squid


sashimi


Chawanmushi


Yakitori