Nosh of the Day: Shishamo Karaage

Yep, kara-age (which we know as tasty, Japanese battered chicken pieces) but with fish. They don't look like much, but these are very yummy snacks indeed! The fish are Willow Leaf Fish, little saltwater geezers about 15-20cm long. The outside is battered and crispy, the inside seems almost entirely fish roe. You eat the whole thing. I dipped into a little soy as they're quite dry.

Warning: might not be fat-free ^^

You can get Shishamo Karaage to take-away at Tampopo Deli, Basement, Liang Court, River Valley Road, Singapore

Snow!

OK, not here in Singapore. (That really would be news!)
 
But this year Britain had snow storms in April. APRIL! ...a time of year which is normally Spring-in-full-swing ...a period of cool, dewy, sunny days and blossoms. The time of year when crocuses, daffodils and lengthening daylight hours remind us that summer is on its way. Not so 2013.
 
After months of cold, frosts and darkness, my UK friends were understandably pretty depressed about this. But then I had a conversation with some South East Asian friends here. My tropical pals wanted to know what snow feels like, is it that cold? How does it fall?
 
Snow here has the glamour and wonder that the palm-fringed beaches of the South China Seas hold for us Brits.
 
It reminded me of an experience at business school some years ago. Partway through a riveting discussion on probably hurdle rates or decision-trees, it started to snow. Gently at first, then with larger, faster flakes floating down and covering the ground. And out the fire exit rushed half of our class: adult male executives from India, Africa and Latin America - well-travelled professionals, but who had never physically seen snow fall before. They were completely ecstatic, like little kids! In the end most of the class went outside to join in, and we all ended up frolicking in the snowy grounds.
 
So I guess the lesson here is that next time you're trapped at home by 'bad weather warnings' or ungritted roads, remember that somewhere in the world, someone would love to be there!

ps S E Asians: your topaz seas and endless sunshine might seem boring, but to Europeans it is the stuff of 'dream holidays'!



Fact of the day:  Each snow flake is made up of many crystals, like this one. Every crystal has six-points in design, and each - out of billions - is unique. If you go somewhere really cold, like Lapland, you can actually see these individual crystals when they land on your clothing etc! In warmer climates they start to melt before you can do this.

Group Therapy in Singapore

Not sure how widespread group therapy is out here yet, but given that this version involves food and coffee.. it's probably quite popular!
 
We came here because we were looking for the nearby Broadway Cafe, which has closed down. But the friendly owner of the still-at-renovation-stage replacement recommended Group Therapy.
 
It was a nice surprise.

The interior is quirky/interesting, clientele are young locals, atmosphere quite relaxed (though we had rather a noisy group behind us!) There are two areas - the table area, then a more loungey area with sofas etc next door. Food not excessively cheap but pretty yummy. Between us, we had the Belgian waffle offers with fruits (recommended!) and syrup (which is on the All Day Breakfast menu). I also tried the Roasted Almond Latte which was sweet, nutty and very passable. They also serve alcohol.

To be honest, there are a few 'quirky' coffee shops opening up around Singapore, often in pretty, old, converted shop-house buildings. (These are sometimes called 'art cafes', I guess to distinguish them from Starbucks, Costa and the like). There is a little bit of samey-ness happening with the 'quirky', but they can also be a very pleasant way to spend a weekend afternoon. Especially if you don't want to be in a mall with cramped seating and 200 screaming kids!

Group Therapy is worth a drop-in if you're in the area. :)

 



 

Group Therapy, 49 Duxton Road, Singapore

Kenny G: an eternal mystery

Many years ago in North London I visited a particular, slightly upmarket Chinese restaurant each week for takeaway. I noted, as I waited for my lemon chicken or three treasures, that they had one muzak soundtrack: the slightly queezy soprano sax tonings of Kenny G.

Thereafter, I noticed, that although Our Kenny was entirely forgotten to the city in general, he was endlessly popular with the Cantonese restaurants of Chinatown. (Kenny, with occasional blastings of Celine Dion).

Now I am living in Singapore (some 20 years after the North London takeaway era) and you cannot enter a cab or Chinese eaterie without being treated to.. yes.. Kenny G.

This tireless loyalty actually led me thinking that perhaps Kenny was, in fact, Asian. Kenny Goh, Kenny Gan? Actually, he's a Jewish geezer from Seattle.

What is the Chinese obsession with Kenny G?

Answers greatly appreciated!

Meanwhile I would guess Mr G is ever grateful to his Asian proprietor fans - Chinese restaurants across the world must have helped keep him comfortable for many years!

 

ps Recently I endured an entire meal in a Chinese-run Japanese restaurant to the loud accompaniment of Kenny's* sax doing instrumental renditions of Celine Dion tracks. ^^

*or an impersonator's

Say it with (corporate) flowers

In Singapore, when a new restaurant, cafe or store opens, it is often accompanied by an array of flower arrangements on stands. These are from clients/suppliers/well-wishers. Most places will have a few such decorations outside. But this posh place near my office pretty much filled up the pavement on both sides of the door! This is just one side of it. Pretty, aren't they?

I'm not sure where this practice comes from. I'll try to find out. And after all that I am not even sure what the establishment was selling!