DanielFoodDiary.com » Feature – Others

Dear Singa, My Father Was The Most Courteous Principal. No, He Did Not Quit.

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:04:42 +0000

Dear Singa,

My late dad, won the your award – the “Friend of Singa Award” in 1992 for being the “Most Courteous Principal Award” in recognition for his “courteous, considerate and caring character towards others”. If you remember, he was then the principal of Pearl Park Primary School.

Did he win it because he was the meet-and-greet, and all smiling principal?

From what I recall, he was far from it. He was like a typical strict and straight-faced Chinese teacher. He won because he was a non-quitter.

For years, the primary school was plagued with problems of littering and discipline. Despite the school having a few part-time cleaners, litter was everywhere –coming from both the students and public. He took the broom and swept the entire school himself. The entire school.

I remember then I felt slightly embarrassed that the head of a school would be seen sweeping the compound, “Papa, you should not be sweeping the floor. You are the principal. The workers should do it. Or make it compulsory for the students.”

“If the principal doesn’t do it, who would?”

He showed his version of being caring and considerate – to lead by example day-in-day-out. A year later, the school was spin and span. Students, and even teachers helped in keeping the area clean. I felt very proud that even the hawkers at the People’s Park district knew and were talking about it.

He continued sweeping though. He did not quit.

The primary school then was not known to be the best in academic students. In fact, there were the typical rude students with problems of discipline.

He got to know every one of them personally. Every one of his delinquent students. He had an exercise book where he wrote them the names of all his students (In typical Chinese language fashion, that was how he remembered).

Every now and there, I would find a stranger in my house – getting free tuition from my father because they were not performing well in school. You would have thought that all the students would be appreciative of that act, but I can say it is far from it.

Many were disgruntled and still complained. But my father preserved and those who continued ended up improving for their examinations.

He continued giving free tuition after he retired. He did not quit.

Like you, my father was 30 years into his career and could have just taken the back-seat and let the teachers do the ‘work’. I am sure at many points in time, he was also tired.

You gave my late-father the courtesy award because he showed by example what it really meant to be courteous: to care for others, even strangers from the bottom of the heart; to be generous in giving, even if people do not appreciate.

I ask myself what my father would do if he were you and was “too tired to continue facing an increasingly angry and disagreeable society”. He would have started from the basics, led by example and preserved.

One thing for sure. He would not quit.

Your friend,
Daniel

(The writer has been a teacher for the last 11 years, knowing he has big shoes to fill. He will always remember what his Papa told him “帮助人的人有永恒的快乐”. A person who helps others will get eternal happiness.)

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The #SgMemory Project – A Singapore Nostalgic Food Tour

admin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 02:30:13 +0000

When I was young, I remember the satay man would appear at 5pm below my flat at the going of his ‘honk’. Excitedly, I would pass a large milo tin down using a rope, with some money inside, and pull a packet of satay up to the 2nd floor where I stayed. Those were the times when fishball noodles were 50 cents, and the ding ding candy uncle was just outside my school with a chisel and metal container.

Those were the days.

I am glad that there is a Singapore Memory Project to capture and document precious moments and memories related to Singapore. Imagine showing these memories to your grandchildren! Ever since I heard about the project, I have been hashtagging my relevant instagram photos and tweets with #SgMemory. They do not need to be entirely retro items, because what is new today will be history tomorrow.

While I love exploring new food and restaurants, there is still an ‘oldie’ in me which crave for old-school food. Perhaps that is why I was invited to lead (like a tour guide) a group of food bloggers on a Singapore Nostalgic Food Tour. Of course I need to thank my facebook & twitter followers because they made several of the suggestions.

Zam Zam Restaurant
697-699 North Bridge Road (Bugis MRT) Tel: +65 6298 6320. Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm Daily

Zam Zam opposite the famous Sultan Mosque is popular with its Nasi Briyani and Murtabak. Do you know that they have been around since 1908? That makes it 105 years old!

It was started in 1908 by Mr Abdul Kadir from Kerala South India and is currently run by his grandson. The name “Zam Zam” comes from the well which is drunk during the Haji pilgrimage and has special significance to the Muslims.

The restaurant is supremely crowded, the service staff has a sense of arrogance, and note that you MUST order either a briyani ($6.80) or murtabak ($8.00) if you sit on the second level. Some say the murtabak is the best in Singapore; while others may have said the standard has dropped. Still, how many restaurants in Singapore can say they have been around more than a century?

Rich and Good Cake Shop
24 Kandahar St, Singapore 198887 (Bugis MRT), Tel: +65 6294 3324

Rich and Good Cake Shop, relatively much younger at about 20 years, is known for its incredible swiss rolls. Run by Mdm Lily Liu, fans swear by its fluffy and soft swiss rolls, with a variety of fillings such as kaya, durian, mango, coffee, green tea, strawberry and blueberry.

You will find the shop hidden at Kampong Glam (known as the Arab Quarters), with a rather ethnic and elegant architectural design. Basically, you join in a queue, go into the bakery, make your orders, and walk out with long peach coloured boxes containing swiss rolls best enjoyed with a cup of teh tarik.

Seow Choon Hua Restaurant
33 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198481 (Bugis MRT), Tel:+65 6298 2720, Opening Hours: 10:00 am–10:00 pm

How many people still make Foo Chow fishballs the traditional way, by hands? This 70 years-old eatery still does. Come afternoon, you will see two aunties seated by the corner table, painstakingly wrapping each fishball with minced meat. There are four types of fish: ikan parang, grouper, red fish and yellow eel used for each. The result is an unevenly shaped bouncy fishball full of goodness as each bite comes with savoury pork within.

I also wonder if women in confinement still take Red Wine Chicken with Mee Sua. It supposedly builds up the immune system and benefits health. All is know is, the men at the table all liked this dish. This version is not as heavy, rich and oily as some mother-in-laws would cook. You can also buy a bottle of their pre-mix to make at home.

Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry
55 Tiong Bahru Road #01-39 Singapore 160055 (Tiong Bahru MRT) Tel:+65 6324 1686. Opening Hours: 9:00am – 9:00pm (Tues – Sun)

Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry first opened in 1975 near Killiney Road till it gave way to urban modernization at Orchard. It moved to Tiong Bahru and started selling traditional Nonya kuehs taught by the grandmother.

As owner Jenny Tan was introducing several of the kueh kueh, I am guilty to say I have never tried half of them. This is excellent food history lesson! Their variety include the orange Pandan Tapioca Cake (60 cent) Kueh Lapis (90 cents), Ondeh Ondeh (60 cents), Lemper Udang with sambal shrimp ($1.20), Kueh Kosoi (70 cents), Kueh Ambon honeycomb cake ($1.20) and Kueh Salat (90 cent).

Most were so smooth and not overly sweet that we couldn’t stop eating! There is something about handmade cakes that factory-made ones cannot replace.

My Home, My Library – Showcase of Treasure Moments
Our last stop was at Queenstown library for the ‘My Home, My Library’ exhibition national wide across 24 libraries in Singapore. As part of the Singapore Memory Project, these libraries are showcasing unforgettable memories and stories of people, places and events relating to their homes, neighborhood and libraries (till 29th April 2013).

This is such a meaningful initiative, and if you want to be a part of it, you can:
- Share your memories at SingaporeMemory.SG web portal
- Download the free SGMemory iPhone app
- Make your way to the libraries, Snap and Share your picture of the exhibition on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #SgMemory. You can win up to $200 shopping vouchers in the weekly Snap & Share contest!

This is the Food Bloggers picture featuring Cuisine Paradise, Melicacy, Camemberu, and Keropokman. I want to see your version too! And oh, if you do come across some food representative of Singapore, other than hashtagging #SgMemory on Twitter and Instagram, tag @DanielFoodDiary as well. I want to try more nostalgic food!

*Thank you to the Singapore Memory Project and Tribal DDB Singapore for the opportunity to lead this Nostalgic Food Tour.

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Calls to Boycott Jollibee Singapore Ridiculous & Uncalled For

admin — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:19:46 +0000

There has been a Facebook Page to “Boycott Jollibee Singapore” and posts on TR Emeritus to “Boycott-Pinoy-first business”, gathering lots of comments, many of which are insulting to the Filipinos and other foreign labour in Singapore.

I know this may anger some people, but I find the page, posts and negative comments ridiculous and uncalled for. Reading the comments, we can sense that there are also many who join in ‘the boycott’ without fully understanding the reasons behind it.

Some background: Jollibee is the largest fast food chain in the Philippines, and is set to open its first store in Singapore on March 12 in Lucky Plaza. It is a multinational fast food chain, and has already shops in the USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Brunei. They are largely known for their signature fried chicken Chickenjoy, Yumburger and Jollibee Spaghetti.

So why the boycott?

On the February 12, it was posted on TR Emeritus that “Unlike other multi-national fastfood restaurants like McDonald’s and KFC which hire mainly Singaporeans and even the disabled and elderly, Jollibee Singapore intends to hire their fellow pinoys to fill up jobs in their latest Singapore venture.”

Where did all those accusation come from? To be fair, Jollibee Singapore never said that.

Quoting their Facebook page, it says “Dear Jollibee fan, if you are looking for careers at Jollibee Singapore, please send your detailed CV via email…”

This is a clear case that Jollibee’s statement was completely taken out of context, misquoted and misconstrued for some anti-foreign sentiments (again).

In another posting by TR Meritus on 22 February, it acknowledged (but did not apologize) that Jollibee Singapore “did not specifically say they would hire Filipinos only in its Facebook posting”.

However, they went on to comment that since the hiring note was addressed to “Jollibee fans” and “undoubtedly, it would mean largely Filipinos since most Singaporeans have not tasted Jollibee’s food and are not familiar with Jollibee.”

I question the word “undoubtedly”.

And there is the assumption that many Singaporeans are unfamiliar with Jollibee. Well, perhaps. But let us keep in mind that Jollibee is a multinational chain with 39 stores in Vietnam, 13 in Brunei, 12 in the Middle East, 27 in USA and 1 in Hong Kong. The brand “Jollibee” even appeared in Glee before. (I would assume TR authors don’t watch Glee, but many do.)

To add on, in a previous Press Release I received from Jollibee, they included that “Singaporean nationals and permanent residents” can send in their applications. While why they would include recruitment details in a Media Press Release is a big question mark, let us discuss this local vs foreign labour issue with greater sensitivity, understanding, and reasoning. Taking statements out of context is not.

Let us also not forget that the Ministry of Manpower has introduced lower Dependency Ration Ceilings on the hiring of foreign workers. It is really not up to the restaurant to hire whoever they want.

After reading all the comments, I have more concerns that so many people are jumping on that bandwagon to add on insults and name-calling, without actually finding out the reasons. If this were to snowball, what may it lead to? How would creation of this conflict and distance help us Singaporeans in way?

I know many people are unhappy about foreign labour influx and their societal problems they bring upon the country. Everybody living here feels the frustration, me included. But taking it out on a fast-food chain and reinforcing false negative stereotypes is not going to help the situation at all.

On a side note, Yes, I was afraid of my job being replaced by a foreigner as well. My little advice is: Just do your job well, and do it really well.

Other Related Entries
Jollibee Singapore (Lucky Plaza)

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“I WAS THERE” with Samsung GALAXY Camera – An Italian Food Journey at Da Paolo BistroBar

admin — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 02:00:08 +0000

Photographs create moments, and a good camera will help to build good memories. Ever been to a magical place, or experienced something so wonderful, but yet regretting not bringing a handy camera along to capture those moments? We have all been THERE before.

So I thought that the I WAS THERE initiative by Samsung, which takes “Samsung reporters” for various extraordinary adventures, bringing people to places they could only imagine, was such a fantastic one.

After a successful GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line, I suggested to Samsung to take our lucky Samsung reporters on an Italian food journey at Da Paolo BistroBar.

Let’s see… wonderful open ambience at the Rochester, delicious Italian cuisines, plus the chance to make Da Paolo’s signature Tiramisu and meet the cute-looking Chef Andrea Scarpa, our Samsung reporters Steve, Juliana and Stephanie certainly had a different I WAS THERE experience.

And aren’t we honoured to be part of the inaugural I WAS THERE?

Our Samsung reporters were all armed with the best equipment, the new Samsung GALAXY Camera (retailing at $698 without contract) which runs on the Andriod 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) platform for them to connect, upload and share photos DIRECTLY from the camera.

Interesting, ALL the reporters coincidentally happened to be Samsung GALAXY Note users, so they got so familiar with the GALAXY Camera in minutes. I think they got even better than me after playing around with their toy for a while. (It’s pretty idiot proof anyway!)

Some of the key features of the GALAXY Camera are its 16 megapixel lens with a surprisingly long 21x Zoom with bright F/2.8 at wide angle. One thing we all noticed was that the screen was unusually wide and big, so you can view the pictures clearly and fully. Best if you want to take your food pictures up close. There are also no protruding buttons, and all controls and apps are easily found on the screen.

These are what our Samsung Reporters had: Fresh Taglatelle with crab meat in lobster bisque sauce, and Spaghetti Aglio Olio with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and rocket salad. All were taken under dim romantic lighting without the use of flash.

The highlight of the I WAS THERE was the creation of Da Paolo’s signature tiramisu with Chef Andrea’s guidance. I think we were all better in food-taking than food-making. Though the four of us were slightly clumsy in the kitchen, it was certainly an experience we would not forget.

This is our final creation… good or not?

For the next Samsung I WAS THERE, you’ll want to be part of it! Win tickets to an exclusive Meet & Greet with Korean pop group SKarf & a chance to win GALAXY Camera! Can I say want to be THERE?! Details at Samsung Mobile Singapore’s FaceBook page.

* The above entry is brought to you by Samsung Mobile Singapore. All photos on this blogpost are taken with the Samsung GALAXY Camera.

Other Related Entries
GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line

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Daniel’s Food Diary Favourite Blog Entries of 2012

admin — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 02:00:18 +0000

2012 is really a year of ups and lows, really dramatic at parts. On a personal level, it is the year I finally graded with a Masters (with Higher Distinction, yeah!) after years of juggling work, studies and blogging; and also one which I found a new job lecturing. Oh, and I led Prime Minister Lee in a workout at The Gardens by The Bay. Totally surreal experience.

DanielFoodDiary.com has also reached a readership never before, and it spurs me to work harder and better.

A special Thank You to all friends, fellow bloggers, PR personals, restaurant & café owners, hawker, fans and followers for giving me the opportunity, and affecting my life is every positive way.

These are 5 of my favourite and most blog entries of 2012 I would like to share with you.

The First #CookForFamily Initiative – Kudos to All 111 Bloggers!
The #CookForFamily was an initiative I created because I felt that the Singapore blogging community could do more for the people around us. The inaugural #CookForFamily Bloggers’ Initiative took place on 6th August 2012, with a total of 111 bloggers who took part and cooked for their family. It is created with a simple objective of getting more bloggers, and hopefully their fans and followers, to start cooking and bonding with their families. Yes, every sponsor who came and offered a prize was rejected. Because I felt that bonding is the family is the greatest priceless prize. In fact, from this we know that every blogger who joined truly wanted to take part. Yes, I will definitely continue with #CookForFamily during Year 2013, which I am targeting 200 Bloggers. Would that be possible? Join the #CookForFamily Facebook Group

And My Valentine’s Day Date Is…
The long-story-short is that I auctioned my Valentine’s Day dinner date on Sold.sg and raised a decent sum of money for The Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore. Some say I am very brave (I think the girls in this auction are braver). When Alvinology from omy.sg invited me for this project, my first question was “Who would bid for me?!!” But since it was for a good cause, and it only cost me a night, I was all game for it in the end. My bid remained at 15 cents for the longest time, slightly embarrassing, with an actual facebook comment of “Who the F is Daniel Ang?” adding a bit of insult. Therefore, I am thankful for my friends and supporters for pushing the bid up all the way to $82.65 from 15 cents. Each auction jump on Sold.sg was 15 cents and cost 75 cents, which means a total of $495.90 was raised for charity. Thank you for the lovely Minhui who bided for me. (And I still owe you a meal.)

As We Say Goodbye to King Albert Park
If you have not heard, King Albert Park fondly known as K.A.P has been sold to Oxley Holdings for $150 million. That would mean all seven units, including the favourites Cold Storage, Island Creamery and yes, McDonald’s at KAP would be closing and saying goodbye. Online voices are not too happy about it – that an “iconic 20 year place” is going to be turned into another condominium; that they are losing part of their memories; and this is coming right after the closure of East Coast Park. This was the story that got DanielFoodDiary.com featured on Channel 8 news because that particular blogpost got so widely circulated with more than a thousand shares. Somehow many Singaporeans felt the same way as I do. Yes, I am ready to let KAP go. But I do wonder about growing up in a country where I do not recognise the buildings around anymore.

How On Earth Did A Food Blogger Become A Zumba Instructor?
Imagine this, in the afternoon you are at a food tasting session at a restaurant, savouring the best foods with arms holding a camera, almost burping at the sensational tastes. Right after that, you switch into your workout gear at the gym, dancing to the music with arms holding weights, and start instructing a Zumba class. I lead these two vastly different lives in a single afternoon. So how on earth did a food blogger become a Zumba Instructor? The truth is, I signed up for it 5 years ago without knowing what it was. Yes, I just signed up. I am very fortunate to belong to the very first batch of instructors from Singapore taught by Zumba’s founder himself Beto Perez. Now, I just want to show that it is possible to eat what you want and stay healthy.

GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line
Even though I write advertorials here and there, this Samsung event was one because I would remember because I got the opportunity to work with one of my favourite brands, choose a place to eat, meet up with my fans and also get paid for it. It reminded me of two things: how far I been through, how grounded I should continue to be. I started blogging for Omy.sg since 5 years back and only recently started DanielFoodDiary.com Every single blog entry was time, effort and passion, but still nobody believed that much in food bloggers then, with the exception of one or two. Thank you to Samsung and friends for believing in me, and I will continue to write with time, effort and passion.

I really think 2013 will be a much more awesome year ahead. And I invite you to take on this exciting food journey ahead along with me.

Daniel’s Food Diary Favourite Blog Entries of 2012
The First #CookForFamily Initiative – Kudos to All 111 Bloggers!
And My Valentine’s Day Date Is…
As We Say Goodbye to King Albert Park
How On Earth Did A Food Blogger Become A Zumba Instructor?
GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line

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GALAXY Camera Fans’ Exclusive Event at The Line + The Samsung GALAXY Camera Review

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:31:13 +0000

A food blogger like me loves to travel around to scout for the best restaurants. Yet lugging a DSLR seems too heavy for long distance holidays, and the mobile phone camera is just not sharp enough for food photography.

So that problem is solved with the new Samsung GALAXY Camera, which comes in an elegant white. Love it!

Retailing at $698 (without contract), this runs on Andriod 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean) platform meaning you can connect, upload and share photos DIRECTLY from the camera. Amazing!

Imagine this. It may sound ridiculous and cumbersome, but during holidays I can end up taking photos with my DSLR, transferring the files to my laptop, then transferring again to my phone for an edited picture to be uploaded on the various social media platforms. That’s if you do not mind the fuss. Or the additional weight during travels.

With 3G or Wi-Fi connection, I can now shoot the photo with the GALAXY Camera, edit it with the GALAXY Camera, and upload to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the GALAXY Camera. This IS an all-in–one device (You can check out my photos taken on Instagram @DanielFoodDiary with hashtag #GALAXYCamera).

Samsung users can also share photo easily with in-app functions such as ChatON Photo Share to send photos directly to other Wi-Fi devices within range.

I was invited by Samsung to host a fans’ exclusive event at one of the best buffet restaurants The Line at Shangri-la, and what better way to test the camera by taking various photos of the food line-up.

What’s your verdict?

This smart camera has a 16 megapixel lens with a focal length of 4.1mm-86.1mm with an effective (35mm) focal length of 23mm-483mm. While I won’t say the photos are exactly DSLR quality, they are pretty neat and can be easily edited using basic tools like Photoshop or Photo Wizard that can be downloaded straight to the GALAXY Camera.

Some of the other plus points
- You can shoot in Auto, Smart or Manual mode. I took some photos in Auto which is really quite idiot proof, or Smart Macro for close-ups.
- It has a 21X super long 100% optical zoom which would come in handy for concert performance and sports events (like when you bought the cheaper tickets but still want a good shot of the stars)
- I realised I did not bring an additional storage card or laptop to transfer the files. But hey, I recalled there is Dropbox, and all I needed to do was to download the app and store the photos. All done within a few minutes.

The only thing is that you cannot use your camera to make a phonecall (though you can do VOIP calls using apps like skype), and battery can run low in day when you are running too many apps.

If you want a new ‘toy’ which is fresh and fun, and sharing current photos over social media is your thing, then the Samsung GALAXY Camera is one something you can really consider.

* The above entry is brought to you by Samsung Mobile Singapore. All photos on this blogpost are taken with the Samsung GALAXY Camera.

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Judging The Bosch Dream Kitchen Cookoff

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:37:35 +0000

The Bosch Dream Kitchen Cookoff must be Singapore’s answer to MasterChef, and I am honoured to be invited to judge one of the episodes. WooHoo!

The competition is a five-episode web-based reality show that follows the gastronomic journey of four teams who will pit their culinary skills for the Bosch kitchen of their dreams worth more than $20,000. And for Episode 3 of the Bosch Cookoff, teams face the challenge of cooking Frog Gruel!

I must say that Bosch Singapore has gathered quite a varied and watchable group of contestants which makes it a rather entertaining web series. There are mother-daughter, couple, best friends, and siblings teams – comprising of people of different occupations from an investment advisors, teacher, to some very popular food bloggers Keropokman and Melicacy.

If you think this is just another ordinary youtube video, the teams mean serious business, all under the mentorship of celebrity chefs John See (Asparagus), Andrea Scarpa (Da Paolo Group), Lee Bennett (Equinox), Heather Barrie (Fine Palate), Tim Ross-Watson (The Garden of Eden).

The host is ‘double-confirm’ Hossan Leong, with judges including Wolfgang Lapper (Esmirada Group), Tim Ross-Watson (The Garden of Eden), Crystal Chua (My Private Chef) and emmmm, Daniel Ang (DanielFoodDiary.com).

Judging was tough! It was hard because there were components that I liked about each dish, but others I didn’t fancy as much. Other than taste, these were what I was looking out for…

- Teamwork: Brother-sister Team D demonstrated really strong teamwork. They knew what they wanted and went for it, each doing their own part and coming together. I gave them the highest score (tied with Team B).
- The story: Mother-daughter Team A had a slightly believable representation of “bridge of the family” behind their dish. While they did not have the best culinary experienced, I envied them because it is so admirable for a career woman to give up her time to bond with her daughter.
- Presentation: For a food blogger, a dish must not only taste good, but should be photogenic as well. So those I gave higher scores also had better-looking food.

Presenting The Bosch Dream Kitchen Cookoff Episode 3 with me as a judge! (Don’t judge me.)

Who would have thought filming for a 13 minute episode took an entire day! (You can see that some shots are in daylight and some are at night.) Kudos to Bosch Singapore, the production team and all the 4 groups of contestants. Tell me what you think about the episode!

Vote for your favourite teams

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10 Ways To Take Care of Your Work-Life Balance

admin — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:00:11 +0000

You have to agree that many Singaporeans are workaholics, tirelessly slogging extended hours into the nights and sometimes during weekends. We all have our fair share of co-workers who skip meals to complete projects, send proposal emails at 3am, and do not have the other leisure life of sports and hobbies. No Work-Life Balance ah!

Are you one of them?

Several government agencies and organisations are already encouraging employees to have a work-life balance, by letting them work less OT and leave home before sunset, with the hope that they make more babies for Singapore. Doesn’t seem to be really working, well, at least they are trying.

The good news is Phillips Singapore is initiating The ‘+’ Project to invite Singaporeans to share in a survey how we can improve the quality of lives in Singapore, and achieve better work-life balance. After the survey, you can vote for the idea that means the most to you, enter a draw to win weekly and grand prizes worth up to $10,000! It is not just a survey because whichever idea is chosen will get implemented. (Take Part in Survey)

Singaporean youths who want to achieve work-life balance

5 of the ideas that seek to improve the health and well-being of people in Singapore include
1) Heart Matters – Train more Singaporeans on CPR and AED to enhance well-being
2) National Picnic Day – Evening of fun featuring celebrity chefs and fitness activities
3) Parents’ University – Give all parents an upgrade to develop skills
4) Healthier Schools, Brighter Kids – Schools programmes for improved learning environments
5) Mothers’ Best Friends – Mothers’ corners that provide advice and comfortable spaces for breastfeeding

I personally just signed up for a CPR and AED course. Never know when you need these life-saving skills.

I am all for the five ideas to be implemented. The current top votes go to “Healthier Schools, Brighter Kids”, and yes it is ironic that even kids nowadays have so much home ‘work’ (from both school and tuition classes) that they do not have time to enjoy their childhood and develop their talents.

If this idea is implemented, I hope for few possible things to happen 1) More delicious and healthier canteen food (why are our kids loving burgers and fries?) 2) More visits to places of nature, without students having to do worksheets 3) Letting the young develop in arts, dance or music, without the examinations 4) Children to be engaged in different forms of sports, from swimming to table tennis. It shouldn’t be just about tuition classes.

Philips has committed to develop the winning idea and will invest up to US$50,000 to get it started. So vote for your favourite idea now because it will come to fruition!

Preliminary results from the #TakeCareSg survey: Only 12% of respondents exercise at least 3 times a week. Got no time?

10 Ways to Take Care of Work-Life Balance
I have a few jobs to manage, study for my Masters (previously), and take care of my handicapped parents. Life can get pretty busy and stressful at times, yet I make it a point to rest well and still meet up my friends regularly for meals and gym classes (talk about balancing off!). These are 10 ways I use to remind myself to live a better balanced life.

REST – Rest when it’s time to rest, only work when it’s time to work.
SLEEP – Fix a time to sleep during workday. (For me, it’s 11pm and my alarm will set off a reminder)
PLAY – Indulge a sport or hobby, and get your good friends or loved ones involved so that there are no excuses.
EAT – Eat at least one good meal a week, and really take your time for that one meal.
COOK – Cook for your family. It’s tiring but the joy of bonding and seeing them savour your creations is immense. If I had the resources, I would definitely push for a nation-wide #CookForFamily Campaign.
TRAVEL – No better way to get rejuvenated than to be away and immerse in a different culture.
BREATHE – Slow down to enjoy the moment, All. The. Time.
READ – Read a book. Technology makes us skim, but its reading that makes us think.
LISTEN – Listen to your thoughts and your body
DREAM – The impossible may just become possible if you give yourself time to do it.

Magnets reminding us to “Take Care of Ourselves”

If you have other ways to achieve that Work-Life Balance, share your ideas with The The ‘+’ Project by Phillips Singapore and Tweet & Instagram with the hashtag #TakeCareSG & #SGPlus.

You can also visit the Philips TAKE CARE installation at Raffles Place (last day today!) and collect a magnet with individual activation code to enter at the end of the survey (double chance of winning!). Plus, the magnets are really cute.

I gotten my “Take Care of Work-Life Balance” design, which will you take?

The above entry is brought to you by The ‘+’ Project by Phillips Singapore

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5 Ways to Avoid Overeating at The Buffet Restaurant

admin — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 02:00:57 +0000

Do you both love and hate buffets – love the variety and choice of food, but hate the feeling of overeating, with a sense of guilty and feeling plumpish at the same time. Not a good feeling to have, right?

How to avoid overeating at the buffet restaurant? The most important rule of thumb – Don’t feel the need to CONQUER every single food at a single seating! Sometimes when I see the amount fellow customers eat, I also get a bit terrified.

So I was invited to a buffet tasting at one of my favourite All-You-Can-Eat restaurant, Plaza Brasserie at Park Royal, as they have a new Thai cuisine promotion. (Read about their Crab Buffet, The Seafood Buffet, Dragon Feast and Grandma’s Favourites).

You may want to consider some of the following tips when you go for your next buffet experience.

Start the Meal with a Salad
Some may be thinking, “Shouldn’t we start the meal with the most expensive items – the crabs, prawns, oysters and meat?!” No, no, no. Preceding the meal with salad or soup can help curb appetite. Plus, filling up on fiber-rich foods first can help reduce overall calorie intake at a meal by up to 12 percent. Research shows that people who started meals with soup ended up eating less than those who skipped the soup.

Zesty Thai papaya salad to start the meal. Pile up those fiber first.

Order From The Live-Cooking Stations
When eating, your brain needs about 20 minutes to get the “signal” that you are not hungry anymore. I know some people hate queuing at the live-cooking stations, but the waiting gives you time to digest the food you already eaten. Plus, you can tell the chef to do a healthier version of any dish – less oil, less carb, and more vegetables. And I always feel better eating hot and fresher food anyway.

My order, Thai Beef Noodle Soup from live-cooking station – less kway tiao!

Do Your Research Before Going to the Buffet
Most reviews and credible food blogs should recommend the highlights of the buffet. Reading up on the must-eats can help you plan your buffet meat ‘strategically’, start eating with your favourite food types, and not waste calories on the yuckier food.

If you are going for this Thai buffet and need 3 recommendations, it would be Thai Beef Noodle Soup, Thai Fish Maw Soup and Steamed Thai Fish in Lime and Chilli.

Only Eat Food That You Like
I know some people will feel it is very “wasted” if you don’t get to try every food at the table. I think it is a far greater “waste” and injustice to your taste-buds and tummy if we keep stuffing with every single thing – good and bad. We should just enjoy the good food right? I have a friend who keeps eating fresh oysters and crabs at the buffet, despite the fact that he doesn’t really like them. Because he wants to feel his money is well-spent! “If not, very lugi!” How, like that?

May be seen as a ‘cheap’ dish, but this simple Thai style Kai-lan reminds me of this wonderful zhi char stall at Bangkok. Eat food that you really enjoy at the buffet, remember, you are not competing with anyone.

Spend Some Time Plating and Photographing Your Food
Place food on your dinner plate as if you want to photograph it later (or you can really instagram the food). You will find that you will end up taking less, and not pile up like a mountain. The time spent can also help you digest your food slowly. If not, focus on talking to the dining mates, rather than eating off your dining plate. A great conversation is the winning formula at the buffet table.

The smaller the plate, the better. Style your plate, make conversations with your friend, shoot a pic before you enjoy the food.

Flavours of Thai Buffet at Parkroyal on Beach Road is on from 5 Sep till 31 Oct 2012
Price: Adult $52++, Child $31++ (Mon-Thu dinner); Adult $55++, Child $33++ (Fri-Sun dinner)

Plaza Brasserie
7500A Beach Road, Park Royal on Beach Road (Nearest MRT Bugis), Tel: +65 6505 5710
Opening Hours: 6am – 12am Daily

Other Buffet Entries
Silver Shell Café (Shangri La Rasa Sentosa)
Chiso Zanmai (Clarke Quay Central)
10 at Claymore (Pan Pacific Orchard)
Sakura International Buffet (Admiralty Park)
Carousel (Royal Plaza on Scotts)

The post 5 Ways to Avoid Overeating at The Buffet Restaurant appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Time To Have A Top 100 Restaurants List For Singapore

admin — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:10:20 +0000

Two of Singapore’s renowned restaurants Iggy’s and Waku Ghin have made it to the the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list. While we can be proud to say that Singapore has a place in the culinary map, it is about time that we should develop our own list of Singapore’s top 100 restaurants. (Read about: Waku Ghin)

While the world list has definite international recognition, it is undeniable that the British-based list can be skewed towards European restaurants and food styles. The good news is that an Asian list is in the works.

Les Créations de Narisawa – Top ranked restaurant in Japan and Asia

Looking back at Singapore, travellers and locals alike do not exactly have a reference to which are the top restaurants in here. As a food blogger, I make decisions on which are the ‘best’ restaurants by various food review websites, iphone applications, and food bloggers’ recommendations.

However, there is no island-wide set standard, or Michelin stars that the Singapore culinary scene can look forward to.

Amber – Top ranked restaurant in Hong Kong at Number 44

Having a locally recognised list can perhaps spur many Singapore restaurants to work towards a benchmark, in both culinary skills and customer service. There are many excellent local restaurants which deserve some form of recognition, other than the usual top names like Iggy’s, Les Amis and Andre. It is time we unearth these hidden talents.

This can also act as a checklist for food enthusiasts, especially those coming around the world.

A suggestion would be for the Singapore Tourism Board to take a step forward to develop the list with the media and a panel– such as chefs, food experts, writers and bloggers. The list will probably be an exciting and colourful one, representing the multi food cultures of Singapore.

Perhaps restaurants such as Crystal Jade Dining IN would make it in our list of Top 100. If Hong Kong’s Ho Hung Kee can have a Michelin star, it is time we reward our own restaurants too.

The above letter is originally published in TODAY, May 18 2012.

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