Aoba Ramen, ION Orchard Road, Singapore

I ventured into Aoba, which specialises in Hokkaido ramen, by chance. I had targeted the Orchard Road shopping precinct in Singapore for two main purposes - to check out the much hyped flagship store of Abercrombie & Fitch in the island republic, and to view the Buddha on display at Ngee Ann City complex, carved out of a solid and sizable piece of jade unearthed in Canada in the year 2000. In between was hunger and the ION Shopping centre, a recent addition to the plethora of shopping havens in Singapore. Aoba has outlets in VivoCity, the stepping stone to Sentosa Island and the Universal Studios theme park in Singapore; Manpuku, the Japanese Gourmet Town in Tampines, to the north-east; and also in the IMM Buidling in Jurong East. Above, the delectable adegashi tofu which serves as a good accompaniment to the ramen bowls.

I did find the taste and quality of soup a bit lacking from my expectations, even if I requested my fav seafood version. (picture above - with prawns, squid slices, dried oysters and a braised hard boiled egg). Service was friendly and quick, and the day I was there for a quick snack, crowded and lively. Ramen is a national obsession in Japan and it is like tribal and sporting dimension when it comes to territory, likes and dislikes affecting this dish. Aoba is part of a listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Families, couples, business colleagues and office workers slid in and out of this ION outlet. Later the same evening I caught up with Chet at the Marmalade Pantry in the same ION complex and I must say their cupcakes do stand apart from the rest - I cannot however say this for the ramen at Aoba.

The Melba Cafe, Auckland CBD

Tucked away along Vulcan Lane in mid downtown Auckland is a small and unassuming cafe that has won the hearts of its clients - the Melba. The blend is Arabica, the emphasis of the flavour is thick and rich Latin American and the baristas friendly and cheerful. Vulcan Lane lies next to the High Street precinct but easily accessible from the main strip of Queen Street. I have not had the opportunity of visiting their other branches in Hurstmere Road, Ellerslie and Hardinge Street, but I was captivated by the atmosphere of the Vulcan Lane site. The blend is unique, the relaxation natural and the regulars are seen like family.

Teas, juices, beers and wines are also available if you are not a coffee drinker. Porridge, granola, bagels, pancakes, fritters, hash and omelettes are also served in most of the Melba outlets.

The Cassette Number Nine Bar & Restaurant, Auckland CBD

Wandering around central Auckland, we chanced upon a retro themed bar, with the rather 70s name of Cassette. Apparently the business is new, but the furnishings and feel hark back to rock. We did not see any live gig that afternoon, but just had a kind of pub lunch there, and this was heavily skewed towards Italian pasta and pizzas. Outside is Vulcan Lane (picture above) , with its rather small but unique range of retail outlets, with hints of Melbournish charm and English roots.

Image credits to S. K. Teoh.

Penang Chinese Food

Steamed egg squares, topped up by finely cut spring onions or chives, remind me of childhood meals - I still look forward to them, with a custard-like silken smooth surface. I anticipate the bite into one of such warm slices, or the texture when consumed with steamed jasmine rice. It gives a light and appetising sensation and is not too difficult to prepare, even when rushed at dinnertime after coming home from work on a weekday evening. You can also add small bits of cut shitake mushrooms, ham, prawns or minced pork. Place the mixture preferably in a round dish to steam and garnish with sesame oil for taste.

A classic soup (above) with the positive nutrients of red dates, peanuts and chicken feet on the bone slow simmered in rich stock. Flavourful, enhancing and aromatic. Do not try to focus on the chicken feet, they are there for a purpose to add to the richness of the dish and there is no need to eat them. Interesting enough, chicken feet are also utilised as food in Mexico, Trinadad and Jamaica. They are also referred to as phoenix claws or feng jiao in Mandarin. In the kitchen preparation, cooks do remove the outer yellow layer of such chicken feet before proceeding to utilise them. Cloves of garlic and dried mushroom slices are also put in the soup shown above.

The ultimate quality of stir-fried vegetables depends on their cut, stir-frying techniques and accompaniment of carefully selected companions in the recipe - be they carrots or garnishings like dried shrimp, garlic and more.

Fish cutlets resting in a heady mix of soy sauced based gravy, garnished with chili cut slices,

deep fried shrimp and spring onions. Best served with steamed rice, this dish serves as an everyday alternative to seafood in batter or grilled, and reflects as one of several dishes found at the lunch or dinner table in a Penang Chinese home.

Penang Buddhist Association, Georgetown

Located in a bustling corner of downtown Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia, is a haven of tranquility, reflection and prayer. The building is European, the gardens are immaculately maintained and the theme is Buddhist. Around the sizable shrine hall, which is paved with well mopped English styled tiles and graced by furniture inlaid with mother of pearl, are walkways, flora of various sorts and the feeling of space. Across the road is an open ground named after a colonial, Brown Gardens. I had the occasion of visiting this Penang Buddhist Association recently for the Lunar New Year. This venue is a childhood favourite of mine and always holds dear memories.

I always take my time to look in amazement at the Bodhi tree on the outer grounds of this association. (picture above) This banyan fig giant was planted here to commemorate the Enlightenment of the Buddha over 25 centuries ago. The tree is also sacred to religious followers of Janaism and Hinduism, which share roots with Buddhism back on the Indian sub-continent. The Bodhi is native to Indo-China, southwest China and South Asia.

The Association has added new water features at the back of the property (image below), complete with a Japanese-styled bridge, carp and rock formations. On the morning of my visit with the immediate family, little but brightly coloured butterflies were observed frolicking amongst the blooms and leaves of the plants on the nearby garden bed.

The cast iron staircases (above) and the tropical fashioned windows or doors with slanting wooden slats (below) hark back more to the Victorian era of design than to any Buddhist or locally inspired patterns. The Association grounds now host accommodation for senior folks, kindergartens, a library and meeting facilities, also providing other enablers to support community requirements, but all within and accessible to in a complex. Even if temperatures are uncomfortably hot and humid outside, the high ceilings of its main hall always provide instant relief. A dainty pagoda welcomes you at the entrance, accompanied by a man made pool.