Cook Chai Dim Sum 2 by Cook Joss in Hatyai • กุ๊กชัยติ่มซำ2-By Cook Joss

The surprise food find for me from my recent south Thailand trip was.... dim sum 🤔 Thais love their dim sum and they are good at it.

Truth be told, dim sum is not top of my mind when I am in Singapore - good dim sum is expensive, average dim sum are factory made 😅

Rediscover South Thailand Itinerary • Hatyai Trang Phatthalung Songkhla

We spent a most fascinating five days touring the southern Thailand region, visiting the cities of Hatyai and Songkhla, as well as Phatthalung and Trang provinces. 

Hatyai was the first city in Thailand I ever visited over forty years ago while Trang and Phatthalung were totally new to me. (Come to think of it, Hatyai was the first "international" trip I went on after getting my "international passport".)

ToMo Cafe @ Joo Chiat • A Cool Place to Chill with Tasty Food & Nice Coffee

Buddy showed me a comfortable little place in Joo Chiat to chill with tasty, interesting dishes and nice drinks. 

I came without expectations and left as a friend of ToMo. So good, I want to be back soon! 

ESDS 2024 Eat Spain Drink Spain Singapore • Make Memorable Spanish Gastronomy Experiences in Singapore

Mark your calendars!

The Singapore edition of the month long Eat Spain, Drink Spain (ESDS) 2024 festivities is taking place from 15 Sep to 15 Oct 💃

Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat @ Lee Kwang Kee Teochew Cuisine 212 Toa Payoh 鱼头炉 • 李广记潮州菜馆

I love soups, so I love steamboats but I don't enjoy those with too much ingredients as these make me busy cooking and so is not very relaxing 😂

Hence, I prefer fish head steamboat 鱼头炉, especially the relatively uncomplicated types like Lee Kwang Kee 李广记 at HDB block 212 Toa Payoh lorong 8.

Banana Pie Dona Manis Cake Shop @ Katong Shopping Centre Basement

Singapore. In my review last week of Auntie Peng's banana pie, I mentioned that I will review Dona Manis' banana pie soon. So, here I am.

History of San Zi & Forgotten Cold Food Day 馓子 淮安茶馓 寒食节

During my trips to Jiangsu province over the last ten years, I noticed that a sort of fried noodle is popular both at street side and also at top restaurants. I later found out that it is called sanzi 馓子.

History & Where Did Khao Soi of Chiang Mai Really Come From? Links with Khao Swe & Khausa ข้าวซอย

Khao soi, a form of curry noodle, is an icon of Chiang Mai which is rarely found outside of northern Thailand.

La Table D'Emma French Restaurant @ Club Street Mercure ICON Hotel • Lovingly Prepared Alsatian & Classic French that Tastes like Home

Met buddies for lunch at La Table D'Emma at the spanking new Mercure ICON Hotel at Club Street. 

Auntie Peng Banana Pie @ Katong Shopping Centre

After our chicken rice lunch at Katong's famous boneless chicken with free achar and soup, Lynn brought a banana pie from Aunty Peng for dessert.

By the way, before I go any further, let's settle the chicken rice first 🤭 Nothing seemed to have changed at Katong boneless chicken rice since I last ate here a decade ago - tastes just as good, same free achar and soup, have glass chicken feet 玻璃鸡脚, and as popular as ever 👍

618 Hokkien Mee in Yishun ⭐ North Star of HKM

Read a lot of good reviews about 618 Hokkien Mee recently and I just had to give it a try myself 😁

Kemaman Stuffed Crab at Tong Juan Restaurant in Chukai, Trengganu, Malaysia 東源酿蟹餐室 甘马挽酿蟹

Kemaman stuffed crab 甘马挽酿蟹 has always been on my must try list for decades. I just had the chance to try it in Chukai town in Trengganu, finally.

Aunt Noi Santitham Crispy Pork • Sisters Spicy Fried Pork Rice in Chiang Mai • Life is Good with Moo Krob

Buddy Marcus knows Chiang Mai well, and with him we deep dived into little known eating places here 🙏 I did come with a list of eating suggestions but he said "those are for tourists" 😂

Namu Bulgogi Smoke Grill Korean Fun Dining @ Tampines 1 Singapore

Went to try a new concept oak wood smoke-grill Korean themed restaurant known as Namu Bulgogi in Tampines 1 (at Tampines MRT station).

Koreans traditionally use oak wood to smoke-grill their food outdoors and Namu Bulgogi is a pioneer in bringing the tradition indoors, inside a restaurant. 

Famous Dan Chicken Rice in Chiang Mai Thailand

There are a few chicken rice places in Chiang Mai - not a lot but not hard to find either. Marcus brought us to one of the local favourites. 

Rasik Local Kitchen by Chef Waii in Chiang Maï • Artisanal Northern Thai, Tradition with a Modern Twist

Dinner at Rasik Local Kitchen. Buddy Marcus booked our table a month ahead and had to pay a deposit to secure it.

101 Tea Plantation Mae Salong Chiang Rai Thailand • Oriental Beauty Tea of the Golden Triangle 金三角 美斯乐 東方美人茶

We visited 101 Tea Plantation at Doi Mae Salong (ดอยแม่สลอง Santi Khiri 美斯乐) which is about two hours drive from Chiang Rai city. 

Khao Soi Lung Prakit Netflix in Chiang Mai Thailand

First morning in Chiang Maï after forty years, Marcus who knows the ancient city well brought us to Khao Soi Lung Prakit for breakfast. There are literally hundreds of khao soi noodle stalls in Chiang Mai.

Moonlight Cake House Air Putih Kuantan • Family Friendly Cafe

I have been following Moonlight Cake House since 2013 in Johor Bahru. The Johor homegrown brand has since expanded to Kuala Lumpur and now in Kuantan 👏👏👏

Halal Chinese Restaurant in Kuantan • Moonlight Pavilion Air Putih 聚興樓点心

On day two of our Kuantan trip, we went to Moonlight Pavilion at Air Putih for dinner. It's a large no pork, no lard restaurant that will be receiving Halal certification from the authorities soon. I love the food, environment, service and pricing here. 

Cendol Air Putih Famous in Kuantan

Every local person we spoke with in Kuantan pointed us to Cendol Air Putih. So, it's one box we definitely have to tick before leaving Kuantan 😁

Halal Hand Made Dim Sum in Kuantan @ Moonlight Pavilion in Air Putih

On day two of our Kuantan trip, we went to Moonlight Pavilion for dim sum breakfast. (Moonlight Pavilion's Halal certification is in progress.)

Kula Cakes Kuantan Famous Mango Cheese Cake

We were exploring old downtown Kuantan around Jalan Besar also known as "Salted Fish Street 咸鱼街" when we stumbled upon Kula Cakes.

At one time, Jalan Besar used to house dozens of salted fish dealers but after the massive fire of 1995, most of the salted fish businesses scattered around Kuantan - nevertheless, older folks still refer to Jalan Besar as 咸鱼街.

Kuantan Rock Turtle Mural • If you didn't Check In at Pantai Pelindung Location, you haven't been to Kuantan 🤭

Kuantan buddy Lawrence said our next stop was sea turtles. I have seen sea turtles many times before in East and West Malaysia, so I just went along without much expectations. 

Teng Haw Curry Mee • One of the Best in Kuantan 祥和茶室

Kuantan is famous for their curry mee. So, we tried 3 curry mee places (plus a lot of other dishes) during our three day trip to Kuantan. 

Curry mee is comfort food in Kuantan in the same way as bak chor mee in Singapore, Teochew kway teow noodle soup in Johor Bahru, bak kut teh in Klang, you get the idea.

Famous Kuantan Satay • Sate Zul & Satey Warisan Zaiton Marto

Sate Zul is the most famous satay in Kuantan, no question about that. So, it was on our Kuantan visit itinerary.

Zhenjiang Vinegar Museum • History of Vinegar in China 中国镇江醋文化博物馆

After breakfast at Zhenjiang, our first stop was the Zhenjiang Vinegar Museum. 

Keropok Lekor Terengganu Malay Fish Cake & Cracker

Keropok Lekor which literally means "rolled crackers" in Terengganu Malay originates from the Malay Peninsula east coast but is enjoyed throughout Malaysia.

Kukoh Food Centre Teochew Fish Soup • Hidden No Frills Top Value Gem

This is the stall with the longest queue at Kukoh 21 Food Centre. 

Nasi Ayam Kee Chup Near Persada Johor • Malay Fried Soy Sauce Chicken Rice

Stumbled upon this very popular fried kicap (soy sauce) chicken rice place within 10 minutes walking distance from CIQ.

"Charm of Jiangsu, New Fun Experiences" Cultural Tourism Promotion Conference in Singapore 2024 水韵江苏新玩点

江苏旅游推广中心 Jiangsu Tourism Promotion Centre of Singapore and Malaysia held a conference in Singapore on 30 July 2024. More than fifty key partners from the travel, airline, and media industry of Singapore and Malaysia attended the enlightening presentations updating the achievements of Jiangsu tourism and future direction.