Ginger Bread House @ St. Regis Singapore

My California vacation has officially ended. I'm back home and ready to start work tomorrow. It has been a crazy 2 weeks and I must say, I really miss California a lotttt. The weather was great and the traffic was kind to us. I managed to drop by some of my favorite eateries and tried some new places. Before I start sharing my food journey with you, here is a quick look at what I had the night before I left K.L.

St. Regis Ginger Bread House. My Auntie & Uncle actually ferried this two huge Ginger Bread House all the way from Singapore for us to savor. The Ginger Bread House was perfectly intact and it taste delicious.

This Ginger Bread was very different from the one I bought from Lavender and Coffee Bean. It doesn't taste like a stiff piece of cardboard. The bread was semi moist and slightly chewy with a spicy kick of ginger. This was truly a delicious Ginger Bread rather than just another decorative Christmas ornament.

Even though, we were away for 15 days, the Ginger Bread still taste good. The trick to preserve these delicious Ginger Bread is to keep them in the fridge and toast it for 2 mins before serving. I had two pieces of Ginger Bread this morning and it still taste yummy! =)

Shangrila - Wedding Food Tasting (Hidden Meaning)

Wedding session is here again and I have lost count on the numbers of weddings I have attended this year. Chinese weddings are famous for it extensive 10 course dinner, where each course symbolizes something special. Let's try to figure out what each dish represents.

Shangrila Hot Cold Dish Combination - This plate usually consists of various meat and seafood. During our tasting, we were served 2 sliced abalones, 2 crab claws, yam nest with stir fried chicken and 3 slices of fish cakes. The Hot and Cold exhibit the Yin and Yang, symbolizing the balance of a new relationship.

Golden Pumpkin infused with Crab Meat and Dried Scallops - The appetizers is usually followed by a double boiled soup. The golden pumpkin indicates wealth, while the crab meats and dried scallops represent prosperity.

Deep Fried Boneless Chicken with Marmalade Sauce. Serving chicken denotes joy and celebration. Most of the restaurant will serve the entire chicken to connote completeness.

Eight Treasure Chicken in Gold Foil - We were given two choices of chicken to taste. I personally prefer the latter, as it is less fatty compared to the first chicken. Nevertheless, the bride and groom have decided to go with the fried chicken since there will be a lot of non-Chinese guests attending the wedding.

Vegetable Parcel topped with Wild Mushroom & Hokkaido Dried Scallop Gravy - The vegetable parcel symbolizes "money pouch", which translates into plenty of wealth and happiness.

Wasabi Prawn Salad and Grilled Buttered Prawn in "Bird Nest" - The big prawns represents liveliness.

Steamed Atlantic Cod Fish with Superior Soya Sauce. In Chinese, Fish means plentiful and abundance.

Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf. While ordinary rice is the daily staple for Chinese people, glutinous rice is regarded as a bit of luxury in China and it is only eaten on special occasions such as a wedding reception. The grain of the glutinous rice tend to be whither and rounder compared to ordinary rice. It also tastes much sweeter. Glutinous rice are usually served in a Lotus Leaf.

A wedding reception will usually end with some red bean soup coupled with some pan fried lotus paste to wish the newlyweds a hundred year of togetherness. The sweet lotus paste symbolized fertility and many descendants. Nonetheless, we were charmed by the Baked Lychee Tart with Coconut Ice Cream. It was delicious.

The 10 course dinner which includes a bottle of white/red wine cost around RM2588++/ table. Overall the food was good and the plating was decent. Hopefully the quality of the food on that night will be equally flavorful.

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN

Ben’s Independent Grocer

For those due to host a Thanksgiving dinner or a Christmas party but dread the hours in the kitchen. Dread no more as Ben's Independent Grocer will change the way you shop and cook. This 50,000 sq ft. grocery store offers a wide variety of local and international goodies, ranging from fresh produce to dry goods. Fresh As Fresh Gets - Soil is no longer required for plants to thrive here. For RM4.50, you can enjoy a fresh head of Hydroponic Lettuce. Imagine grocery's fridge being replaced by rows of hydroponic system. That would truly revolutionize the way we shop for food.

Food for thought: Since no pesticides or herbicides are used, would you consider this an organic produce?
The Ginger Bread Man section is an excellent stand for homemade breads and pastries. I was loafed away and ended up buying a loaf of Rosemary & Olive Focaccia Bread and a Whole Grain Bread. My parents enjoyed it very much as both breads were dense and wholesome.

Pick up Cracking Pork Belly, Mousse of Goose Liver and Black Goose Foie Gras at S.Wine - the non halal section of Ben's Independent Grocer. There are a wide array of salami, pepperoni, proscuitto, sausages and hams at the freezer counter waiting to be bought and consumed.

The signage at Ben's is extremely cute and creative. The layout was well thought of and it has subtly integrated gourmet cafe and coffee counter inside the 50,000 sq ft. compound. Ben's Independent Grocer has earn another brownie points for the team, setting new standard to the Malaysia's supermarket scene. Long gone the dreadful preparation of Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas party.

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN