Sufood - Clean, Clear, Light and Delicious

Actually, I don't feel really well, so I decide to dine at Sufood, a Taiwanese vegetarian restaurant, for a filling yet light and easy dinner. And I end up getting a delicious, satisfying, light, flavourful meal here. In fact, I feel better after a dinner here!

Yes, this is the best vegetarian food restaurant, where all vegetarian ingredients are served as ... vegetables, without me feeling that I'm eating only vegetables. If anyone wants me to recommend a place serving, cleaning, healthy and delicious food, this is the one.

Wafu Yuzu Potato Salad is creamy, due to the potato, and zesty, due to the yuzu and cute bite-sized fruits, whihc is a lovely combination.

Mulberry Cider is surprisingly sweet and refreshing, with hint of the zest. So good that I can finish this whole jar.

Soft yet crunchy breadsticks that can be paired with the light creamy sauce. Sea grapes has the briny sweetness, together with the zest of the clear sauce and refreshing element of shredded turnip, totally whets the appetite. 

Pickle, another zesty appetite-whetting goodie.

Tofu with vegetable sauce is refreshingly tending towards earthy tones while retaining the freshness to open up the palates.

Butterfuly Pea Flower Cooler is gorgeous and a good thirst quencher,

Double-boiled Cordyceps with White Fungus and Black Garlic is so so good because this is full of goodies and tastes so nourishing, featuring the savoury herbal taste of double-boiled Chinese soup.

Peppery Golden Quinoa Risotto has awesome texture, having the starchy and slightly chewy bite due to the mix of fluffy risotto and quinoa. Pumpkin adds a nice sweet earthy savoury goodness to the grains. Absolutely hearty treat.

Rosy White Fungus with Peach Gum is such a cooling nice dessert that also tastes nourishing. I especially love the gelatinous yummy peach gum added in this.

Thoughts: Healthy, Natural and Absolutely Delicious

252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre #02-19

BL4CK M1RR0R by Degenerave

Germany has Berlin Warehouse Rave, Singapore has Geylang Warehouse Rave, which is BL4CK M1RR0R event, courtesy of independent organiser, Degenerave. This rave feels so underground, exclusive and focused on raw, aggressive, high BPM, mechanical, heart-pounding Industrial Techno. It’s specially crafted for those who want to be connected to darkness and grittiness of Industrial Techno subculture through music, movement and fashion.

Yes, fashion. I absolutely love how the majority of attendees are dressed for the rave. Edgy outfits, Cyberpunk inspirations, goth with industrial elements, all are so on the point for an underground warehouse event. Me wearing my leather jacket.feels like I belong here. The attendees here look so cool and like they are craving for some blood, but they are generally friendly, sweet and helpful.

Located in a warehouse-like building in Geylang, the space is small yet it is exactly what we need to immediately feel the energy of the DJ and raving energy spreading through the crowd quickly. Almost everyone on the dance floor is committed to music and movement. It is one of a kind euphoric experience when almost everyone in the room starts to dance harder at the drop. And need a break? Just few steps to the outside. So this layout creates a conducive environment where the two ecosystems (movement, socialisation) are nicely separated. I love it this way.

The music is a blast: heavy kick drums, mechanical sounds, tension and release, high BPM, high energy and high variation. It’s unapologetically hard, with hints of metal influences, and I love it.

Now I’m looking forward to more events from Degenerave already.

The euphoric moment when the drop hits. Where the crowd responds to the furious beats as a collective.

DJ T.HIRST

DJ Labraatz

Dj God Reset

Thoughts: Truly Underground, Raw Indulgence, Commitment to the Music and Movement

Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest

I never thought that I will enjoy a ballet performance so much, given that I’m not into passive activity, until I come to Dracula ballet performance. I decided to buy a ticket for this because well, a performance filled with darkness, intrigue and gothic elements does appeal to me. And this show actually exceeds my expectations to grab my attention every second. The production of this show is simply awe inspiring.

I feel like I step into another world during this performance due to the incredibly impressive sets packed with dark, unworldly and gothic influences, immersive gothic experience, top notch atmosphere, brilliant use of lighting, gorgeous, totally on-the-point costumes, gothic music and spectacular performances. 

The permanent fixtures of the show are the two gothic grey brick pillars: one with a gothic stained glass clock, another with a tunnel at the top at first, morphing into a bell later.  These set up that dark gothic feel right at the beginning, and as gateways for the performers to enter and exit as required by the storyline to create smooth transitions between movements.

The first scene starts with the woods: lonely, desolate. Then the stage transforms into a town by the woods that is shrouded in fog, which is festive and cheerful. The high point comes with the appearance of the Dracula Castle, which is so incredible, foreboding, dark, grand and menacing. There are dungeon-like gates, tunnels to crypts, candlelights, grey brick walls and the impressive gothic window with stained glass. Through the colour of light shedded through the stained glass, from white, yellow purple to red, the mood changes. A romantic moment between the couple turns into horror and inescapable fate when the music changes and the light shedded turns into red.

The music also heightens the mood: being dramatic during the fight, cheerful during a wedding, gothic music in Dracula castle, creepy and menacing oozing through when horror is near, tragic when the cruel inevitable fate comes.

The whole show feels like graceful storytelling, where the choreography, plus the movements and expressions of the performer, showcase the different moods, thus making it possible that I understand what’s going on without a word. Despite knowing that this is a performance on stage, the show manages to make me feel moments of dread when the townfolks venture into Dracula's territory. Top notch.

Got to say that the ghostly performers’ ghoul and light movements totally convey that creepy and "I'm everywhere" feel. Their costumes have a unique contrast of rugged seams and bodice sewn with crystals to create that ethereal yet ghoulish feel. The costumes have that realistic style of the gothic era while having the light flowy skirts to showcase the beautiful ballet movements of the performers.

Absolutely a wonderful show that brings me to a gothic world.

Thoughts: Fantastic show that truly combines Beauty, Tragedy, Drama, Grandeur, Horror and Darkness.

An Idiot’s Guide to Wine

I had been to a couple of comedy shows, and I have to admit that I laugh more watching the videos of the shows than at live. So I kind of stay away from such shows after a while. Then comes “An Idiot’s Guide to Wine”, where attendees get to enjoy six wines with the comedy show that doles out interesting tidbits about wine.

The stories about the wines are interesting. The wines are pretty good. Some laughters along the way. I mer two lovely friendly ladies who make this experience even better. I love the stories related to wine told and the facts about wines revealed l. But I also realise I need subtitles to catch the jokes. There’re times where I go, “What did he say?” It’s more of how I’m wired rather than a gauge on the host’s ability.

All in all, good, relaxing and intoxicating fun.

Thoughts: Relaxing, Interesting and Fun

Tokyo Milk Cheese

I always buy at least a box of Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory cookies whenever I pass by one of the stalls. And it's no exception this time. While I am picking like 3 boxes, the salesperson asks if I want to get the gift box with 4 types of cookies, all in original packaging. Seeing that all the flavours packed are what I want, I immediately opt for this.

These cookies are still as good as ever, and as I have remembered them. I love it that there's always a hint of savoury goodness of cheese in the cream sandwiched within the cookies. A perfect balance of the flavours.

From left: Salt and Camembert, Honey and Gongozola, Salted Caramel and Mascarpone, Strawberry and Mascarpone

Country of Origin: Japan

Where to get: Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Locations

Omakase@Stevens - Lovely Surprising Tastes of Summer

Summer is the time for refreshing the palates with bright flavours, and so I’m back at Omakase@Stevens to experience Chef Kazuki Arimoto’s vision for summer. And it is an awesome unique rendition of summer with newly created dishes that evoke the feeling of warm breeze and mild refreshing tastes to counter the warmness. Silky tender abalone, bouncy creamy custard, one-of-a-kind sukiyaki, crispy unagi, very different from last summer and I love it!

One of the appetiser comes in the form of pretty little housemade tart shell filled with finely cubed Scallop layered with lots of goodies, such as Bonito, unique Kanzuri chilli paste. This paste is like premium chilli, taking as long as 6 months to make by first soaking in salt water and then buried in ice, followed by fermentation for 6 months, yielding a special blend of refractive umami and mild spiciness. The distinctive harmonised flavours of sweetness, light zest, mild savoury goodness, a touch of spiciness and bitterness come through together for a refreshing complex taste.

Can a clear-like-water soup packs lots of flavours? Yes, at this restaurant, where the essence of Amelia Tomato and other vegetables is carefully extracted to be mixed with Japanese Rice Vinegar and Wasabi oil. Looks so clear yet full of vegetable goodness that I can smell it the moment my face comes close to the soup. Amazingly, the zesty taste develops into a light sweetness as I drink more of the soup.

Kyoto Wagyu with Salted Pepper and sandwiched within Monaka is surprisingly so sweet and refreshing at the same time. Like summer’s refreshing light meaty snack.

Goma Tofu, made with potato starch and kuzu, which is a reinterpretation of our local kueh has this amazingly bouncy and creamy texture, which is like the best texture for kueh. The dish gets better with subsequent bites as different kinds of sweetness develops. The crunchy bits of zest, hint of herbal bitterness, umami of sea urchin and kombu, mild earthiness of sesame oil, combined with the savoury earthy sweet tofu, makes for delightful multitude of harmonised flavours.

Abalone from Izu is the best awabi because it is incredibly tender and slippery smooth, with super bounciness, due to being steamed in dashi and sake before being charcoal grilled for that hint of sweetness of char amid the mild milky briny sweetness of the awabi. With a touch of zest from yuzu, an iota of pungency from the airy garlic foam, the umami of the awabi liver sauce, the awabi tastes earthy yet at the same time like summer. The addition of soft fluffy barley is such a genius move because it absorbs the essence of the zesty, earthy sauce to integrate the taste into the meat when chewing on it.

Bouillabaisse sauce made with hamaguri, kinmedai bones and tiger prawns is like the ultimate briny sweetness that magically opens up the taste of the succulent pliable kinmedai to be so exciting, varied and dimensional. It gets even better with the light zest of the dollops of sauce. The asparagus, topped with kelp and oyster flower for the extra umami, is so tender and crunchy, juxtaposing perfectly with the flesh of the fish.

Instead of Katsu, Sukiyaki is served this season instead, which is so perfect for summer. The version here is so different from the one I had in Japan, in a good way, while retaining distinctive succulent creamy meaty sweetness of sukiyaki beef. Madeira sauce, sansho sauce and egg yolk work together to introduce different layers to the taste, where the sweetness, creaminess and herbal pungency lifts up the taste. Tastes so warm and so comforting. Love it.

Unagi here is specially prepared to feature crispy top and creamy core, thus going so well with the smooth, starchy, fluffy Koshihikari rice, where the special blend of 7 spices, called Kuro-Shichimi, can be added for that dash of excitement in taste. Kinoko can be added for the extra savoury sweetness. This is pure comfort good food.

Very interesting palate cleanser made from Doburoku, Unfiltered Sake, Red Shiso and Ginger. The unique pungency refreshes the palates.

Peach from Yamanashi, when paired with Raspberry and a cure dome made with Vanilla, Egg Yolk and Sugar, finished with dots of Yuzu sauce and Almond Jelly, speaks of summer in a mild soothing way. I mentally go, "Ah, lovely summer!" at the first bite. Super well balance of the myriad of flavours, yes, summer feels wonderful now!

What better way to enjoy summer than to savour super juicy and sweet Japanese Mango and Melon here?

Unique petite fours made with quality dark chocolate and plum wine.

Incredibly smooth summer sake

This looks so cute that I have to order it. And it tastes good!

Thoughts: Beautiful, Warm Summer translated into Beautiful, Delightful Cuisine 

30 Stevens Road #01-03

66 Chambers - The Bar for Enjoyment of Different Spirits and Sharing of Secrets

My relationship with 66 Chambers is like a roller coaster, where I keep going back to find out if I can discover more new things from this one of a kind bar. This time, I just go to the bar on a whim because of a very random reason. Yup, story time!

I tried to recall how I got so much into Hard Techno and thus discover a new love in dancing to Hard Techno music. Then I remembered that it came from watching videos of ravers dancing to Hard Techno. But how did those videos got on my feed? Most probably from my search on Holy Priest, due to a lovely attendee at 66 Chambers' event telling me that she loved the heart-pumping rock music of DJ Holy Priest. His music was not rock music, as I had later confirmed 😂 But her mistyping of his genre of music sent me down the rabbit hole of Hard Techno because I wouldn't search up on him if she said his music is Techno.

So basically, I went to 66 Chambers at first to look for a place to dance to my heart's content, and I didn't exactly find that here, but this place led me indirectly to exactly what I had been searching for. With this revelation, I decide to just go to 66 Chambers, the place where it all started, on a normal day to just enjoy a shot of my favourite Gas Chamber before going off elsewhere.

And oh boy, it turns out that my most enjoyable time at this place is on a normal day, without any events. I ended up staying here for an hour to enjoy a variety of quality spirits and cocktails at the recommendation of the awesome bartenders since it's free flow of spirits for an hour. The bartenders and staff are so friendly, where they share the taste profiles of different spirits, tidbits about the events and the confessions written by the patrons. Yes, I have to write one myself in order to see the confessions made by other patrons. It is so fun and eye-opening to read the confessions with the staff. I read all the confessions, by the way, because I'm too curious.

I definitely recommend this bar to just enjoy the free flow of spirits and chat with the bartenders and staff here. Time files here. It's a different and fun experience.

Thoughts: Exciting Place to enjoy a Variety of curated Spirits, Cocktails and Secrets

22A Tanjong Pagar Road