Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Nitelife & Nite Light at Clarke Quay





Clarke Quay is one of the entertainment zone in Singapore in riverside environment. All buildings are from restored warehouses where all food & beverage shops are available (in-door & out-door). Clarke Quay was named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second governor. This is the fact about Clarke Quay ...




However, after walking throughout 5 blocks of Clarke Quay, I found one bar that is very unique & outstanding name 'C Clinic" -- This is because its identification of hospital whites, colourful pills, syringes, drips, test-tubes and paraphernalia in all manner of the clinical even the way they serve all beverage ... Yes -- this is a real Uniquely Singapore !!!


By the way, I recommend you to use taxi to and from Clarke Quay -- there is taxi stand where we can queue for taxi (it won't take long and expensive) ...

C Clinic - The Clinic
Unit: Blk C, #01-03
Tel: 6733 3280
Website: www.theclinic.sg

Ya Kun Kaya Toast Coffee Stall since 1944

Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a chain of kopitiams (coffee stall) in Singapore (which is now parts of Asia too). It can be Singapore Breakfast Specials for you since you can get kaya toast with a cup of local coffee (kopi) or tea or even with half boiled eggs here. However, this coffee stall is not an ordinary stall since it now become company including franchisee system.

The company was founded in 1944 by Loi Ah Koon from Hainan, China at Telok Ayer Basin. After 15 years at Telok Ayer Basin, the stall moved to Telok Ayer Market (now Lau Pa Sat). It was renamed Ya Kun which is the Hanyu pinyin equivalent to Ah Koon. The stall remained there until 1984, when restoration works of the Telok Ayer Market began. The stall then moved to the now-defunct Telok Ayer Transit Food Market. In 1998, the coffee stall was passed down to his children and it moved to a new location at Far East Square. Ya Kun International was incorporated in 2001 in Singapore, to expand the chain of coffee stalls islandwide and regionally.

Now talking about their signature 'Kaya' -- Kaya is a sweet egg and coconut jam that is spread generously over toasted bread -- this would be called Kaya Toast. Actually it's similar to Thailand 'kanom-pang-sang-ka-ya'. The difference is Kaya at Ya Kun is thicker and more pale ... The way Ya Kun prepare the bread is also difference since it's a toast (1cm). When it become crispy it will be sliced in half (0.5cm) then put butter (small piece) in one side and kaya on other side. Then both sides will combine back ...




However, there is also an upgrade version of normal kaya toast which is 'French Toast with Kaya' -- French Toast is one kind of breakfast made from slices of bread dipped in a beaten egg mixture. The slices of egg-coated bread are then placed on a frying pan prepared with a coat of butter or oil, and cooked until both sides are browned and the egg has cooked through. French Toast can be served with a variety of toppings, including jam, butter, peanut butter, honey, Marmite, vegemite, maple syrup, fruit syrup, molasses, apple sauce, beans, beef, lard, whipped cream, fruit, tomato sauce, or anything. But here at Yakun, it use kaya with ... but it has kaya inside (in between of 2 slices of bread before frying). You might think it's a bit yucky but I found it's interesting indeed - Eggy Kaya Bread!!!


If we act as their recommendation, we can eat the toast with half-boiled eggs and add a dash of black soya sauce for extra taste. How would you like your eggs? Wet and runny or Runny and Wet? It's true ... it's runny and wet but I don't feel queasy at all ... There is no smell of raw egg, can you imagine right?

Don't forget coffee since it's made with old style (using sock) !!!
It's a latte type of coffee -- as they said Screw the french press, we have got the sock !!! Want a skinny latte? Stop at half cup ... I amaze with the way they manage the take away of coffee since it's in normal paper cup with a plastic sheet (similar to plastic bag material) using as hanger.


Anyway, all the upper pictures came from take away kiosk at Takashimaya Branch. If you are going to the real stall shop, you will get the full picture & feeling like this right-handed picture. It's a full set !!!


Ya Kun Kaya Toast
More detail including location visit : http://www.yakun.com/
Almost 30 stores available in Singapore -- and also Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, and Vietnam

Live Life Light with Coca-Cola Light


I don't know why but every time I am in abroad, I always feel that Coca-Cola Light in other countries taste better than Coke Light in Thailand ?!?!? Even now Coke Thailand launched new version of low calories (Coke Zero), it does not give me any better towards it ... Therefore, Coke Light is what I had as a good morning drink for me at Singapore (after coffee of course) !!!

Here in Singapore, you might find this is normal but I like not only a taste of it but also what is written on the can "Livelifelight" -- It's short and precisely understandable ...

During my walking & drinking of this Coke Light, I suddenly saw a big pile of Coca-Cola Bottle as Christmas Tree on Orchard Road -- Oh, it could be a destiny ... Anyway, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone -- May your wish comes true and having a happy life !!!


Soup Restaurant - China Town Food in Easy Dining Form

This is one of my favorite restaurant in Singapore named Soup Restaurant -- even it's a chain restaurant. I like the concept of this restaurant where they bring an old China Town Cuisine (road side stall) into a modern place (in department store). This is where people can have their native food in quick & easy way (without your own cooking) since the restaurant will cook for with a traditional old way of cooking ... As they said "The Samsui Woman of China Town may have fade away, the legend of our China Town Heritage Cuisine is here to stay and it will remain forever and ever ...".

By the way, who is Samsui Woman ??? There is the history of the Samsui Women in Chinatown as They lived on a subsistence level and only get to eat their specially prepared chicken during the Chinese New Year.


The atmosphere is furnished like an oriental tea house, with bamboo shades and carved wooden stools shaped. The way to order is so systematic -- first you see what you like in menu, then fill in what you need in the filled form. Next the waitress will confirm your order as you marked down. Then wait and all will be served !!!

As it was said from its name " Soup Restaurant" -- the signature dishes are boiled soup but that's not enough ... it's an Samsui Ginger Chicken ...
but we did not order ... Here were what we ordered ...

Two of vegetable dishes which were :
Ar Poh Fan Shu Leaves 8$ (left) -- plain sweet potato leaves fried with black soy sauce with no other ingredients. The reason it was called 'ar poh' or 'grandma' was it's the grandma's favourite comparing to other dish Ar Kon Fan Shu Leave -- it's the 'ar kon' or 'grand pa's favourite since he like the hotter stuff with sambal chilli (which we did not order) !!!
Fried Lecttuce with Oyster Sauce 6.8$ (right) -- as it said a fresh lecttuce with oyster sauce with a taste like soup !!!
Other vegetables are recommended (as in signage -- middle picture)


Now, the soup ... It was belief that herbal soup is an essential to every China town family since it helps restore the health ... Soup at Soup Restaurant is a clear soup type -- everything is so tender due to a long time boiled ...

However, we ordered 'Boiled Soup of the Day' (below) since the waitress said it combines of 3 colors vegetable. Noted Boiled Soup of the Day depends on what the kitchen is boiling since last time I had the lotus root soup ...

Teochew Olive Rice (below) -- Teochew Preserved Black Olive mixes with plain rice ... Black Olive was believe as to stimulate appertite and aids in the process of slimming ... This is my favourite rice dish since it's not oily at all / not salty at all / not stincky at all ... it's the perfect combination !!! Moreover, it was served in bamboo basket to maintain the old Chinese Nature but with plastic cover inside (rolled plastic rim like putting rice in plastic bag first !!!)










There are also meat dishes (below left) ... and also a take away which customers must follow the rule strictly from the signage front of the shop (below right)


Don't forget to try 'Samsui Ginger Chicken' which is prepared in the same traditional way of Samsui China Town Woman. The whole chicken is steamed-cooked for a predetermined duration and temperature, thus maintaining its rich chicken aroma and taste. To eat, dipping the chicken into the ginger sauce and wrapping them with fresh lettuce. Ginger has been used for prevention of 'cold' and relief of the 'wind' in the body.

Soup Restaurant
House of Chinatown Heritage Cuisine
- AMK Hub (Ang Mo Kio)
- Seah Street Bras Basah
- Changi Airport (Terminal 2)
- Hougang Mall
- Jurong Point
- United Square (Novena)
- Paragon (Orchard Road)
- DFS Scotts walk
- Compass Point Sengkang
- Cenrepoint (Somerset)
- Suntec City
- Century Square (Tampines)
- Causeway Point (Woodlands)