#steveexplores2018

The famous Star Island arrived in Singapore to deliver the most spectacular, futuristic fireworks entertainment that the island has ever seen, filled with larger-than-life pyrotechnics, mesmerizing lights, and world-class performances.

With tickets selling out as soon as new seats were released, the event was definitely the star attraction in the city.

My seats at the top of the Marina Bay Floating Platform was great, providing a clear, unobstructed view of the city skyline.

Each guest was armed with a special LED wristband which was synchronized with the fireworks display, turning the audience into an integral part of the performance.

Star Island started its New Year Countdown at 10:50pm with over 60 minutes of beautiful fireworks that lit up the night and delighted the audience.

Star Island Singapore lived up to its high expectations of redefining fireworks performance with one of the best pyrotechnics show ever staged in the city. I am certain that this New Year Eve spectacle will become one of the new marquee events in Singapore, drawing thousands around the world to admire the beautiful presentation.

It is Christmas Day and the perfect season to catch up with friends and family over great food and drinks. To celebrate the holidays, Symmetry organized a special Chef’s Menu x Craft Beer Christmas Dinner featuring 7 appetizers, 4 mains, and 1 dessert paired with 5 different types of unique craft beers.

I love the relaxing, cozy atmosphere of Symmetry with lots of clientele comprising of friends, couples, and families enjoying their time in the restaurant. 

The first pair of beers for the night features Garage Project White Mischief Beer ABV 2.9%  (left) and Garage Project Can Lah! Beer ABV 4.6% (right).

The White Mischief Beer is brewed using white peaches and sea salt, providing a fruity cider aftertaste which is light and refreshing, perfect for pairing with oily, strong flavored appetizers. The Can Lah! Beer is a classic tropical lager which is clean and crisp with subtle citrus, fruity notes.

Below is a list of 7 appetizers to be paired with the White Mischief Beer and the Can Lah! Beer:

Tiger Prawn Tartare with bloody mary jelly, parmesan chips, and basil oil.

Zucchini and Feta Cheese Fritter with Yuzu Yogurt Dip (left) and Cod Brandade Croquette with squid ink aioli (right).

Chicken Meatball in Kataifi Pastry topped with cured egg yolk (left) and Angus Beef Croquette with sweet chili jam and guacamole (right).

Burrata with compressed watermelon and aged balsamic pearl.

Spicy Pork Taco comprising of pulled pork, red pepper ragout, guacamole, and jalapeno salsa.

The second pair of beers for the night features Garage Project Fuzz Box ABV 5.8% (left) and 8 Wired Saison Sauvin ABV 7% (right).

The Fuzz Box is a delicious fuzzy pale ale with notes of mango and a dash of lime while the Saison Sauvin is a farmhouse-style ale using wild yeast to provide funky, earthy, hoppy flavors. 

Both beers are great companions to the 4 main courses as follows:

Pan-seared Barramundi with a creamy pesto sauce.

Truffled Chicken Thigh Slider with hickory glaze and truffle salsa.

Braised Pork Belly with pork crackling and chili pepper ragout.

Slow-cooked Angus Cube Roll with truffle mashed potato, egg yolk, and albufera sauce.

The last beer for the night is my favorite: 8 Wired iStout ABV 7% which is an imperial stout with roasted coffee and chocolate malt flavors.

The imperial stout is paired perfectly with Black Forest Gateau which consists of manjari chocolate mousse, cherry cream, hazelnut sponge cake, and griottines.

Chef Menu x Craft Beer Pairing Christmas Dinner at Symmetry was a delicious adventure worthy of this festive season. I loved the amount of care and thought that has been placed into each component of the dishes. The pairing of the craft beers helped to enhance the overall dining experience, providing lots of surprises and wonder during the culinary journey.

After a day of fun and laughter at Sanrio Hello Kitty Town, it was time for a Christmas dinner adventure at DC Comics Super Heroes.

The moment you arrived at the cafe, you are greeted by Batman at the top of the building, keeping a vigilant watch over the entire neighbourhood .

As a DC Comics Super Heroes fan, I loved the decor of the cafe which is filled with collectible toys and movie memorabilia from the DC Extended Universe including Suicide Squad, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, and The Dark Knight Trilogy.

The cafe menu has a comprehensive list of burgers, pasta, pizza, and Asian delights which is great for gatherings with friends and family.

For dinner, I ordered the Superman Crunchy Burger comprising of a deep fried chicken fillet accompanied with lettuce, onion, and tomato which is sandwiched between a toasted burger bun with a Batman logo, and paired with coleslaw and criss-cross fries. The burger was surprisingly good and I loved the giant Superman lunch box used to house the food.

My dinner party also ordered the Oswald Carbonara Special comprising of spaghetti tossed in creamy carbonara sauce accompanied with juicy chicken chunks and black olives. The spaghetti was sweeter than usual, and more suited for diners with a sweet tooth.

For dessert, it was a piece of luxurious Batman Chocolate Brownie topped with dark chocolate sauce and an edible Batman logo. The chocolate brownie was absolutely delicious and a must-have for all chocolate lovers.

Dinner at DC Comics Super Heroes is definitely a fun experience filled with family-friendly dishes in a beautiful, engaging environment.

Find out more about the cafe at https://www.facebook.com/dcshmys/

It’s less than two weeks to Christmas and the entire family decided to have a Christmas Adventure at Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Thomas Town to visit all of my nieces’ favorite characters including Hello Kitty and Friends, Barney and Friends, Pingu, and Angelina Ballerina.

Below is a quick overview of our 8 hour adventure at Puteri Harbour:

Dream Photo Garden:

Wishful Studio Cookie Decoration Workshop:

Hello Kitty’s House:

Hello Kitty in Oz:

Barney and Friends:

Purrfect Stage Performance:

Angelina Ballerina Workshop:

Candy Parade:

My entire family had lots of fun at Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and my nieces absolutely loved all of the fun activities at the amusement park.

Quick Tip: Remember to arrive early at 10am so that you have the entire day to enjoy all of the activities, workshops, shows, and photo opportunities with the adorable characters.

Today was the last day of my Christmas Food Hack in Taipei and I had planned to stuff as much food as I could into my belly before I hopped onto my plan back to Singapore.

Breakfast involved a visit to the famous 阜杭豆漿 Fu Hang Dou Jiang located in 華山市場. Be prepared to wait in line for an hour to score a precious bowl of soya milk.

The soya milk was great though I wonder if I will ever queue again for an hour just to satisfy my craving for it. However, the 厚餅蛋夾油條 was a delicious combination of a thick pancake wrapped with an omelette with scallion and a crispy 油條 (Youtiao) which perfectly complemented the soya milk.

As I tried to depart from the market, I spotted another long queue for 華山合掌村 Shirakawago. Curious, I did a quick online search and promptly joined the queue to sample its famous sushi set.

The restaurant is located at the 1st level of the market with minimal seats for diners. Be prepared to wait for at least 30 minutes to an hour during rush hour to get a seat. 

The star attraction for 合掌村 is its 12 piece sushi set comprising of a variety of nigiri sushi expertly prepared and ready for photos to be taken and shared on social media. The sushi set is value for money at only NT$490 with a great price-to-quality ratio, or otherwise known as having a high ＣＰ值 . It is pitched at the mid-tier range between conveyor belt sushi and high-end restaurants, which is light on the wallet but big on the value. I would recommend sushi fans to definitely visit 合掌村 to experience it for themselves.

Besides its sushi set, 合掌村 also has a comprehensive list of popular dishes such as sashimi sets and grilled items. For today’s brunch, I decided to order its grilled beef set that was highly recommended by its waiter. The beef slices were cut thickly and packed full of flavor, though I would have preferred it to be medium rare rather than medium. Nonetheless, the grilled beef tasted delicious and I would definitely order it again on my next visit.

After a heavy brunch, it was time to take a walk around 華山1914文化創意產業園區 to visit its various exhibitions and stores.

During the walk, my friend highly recommended 小确幸红茶牛奶 which was a delicious cup of warm tea for the rainy, cold afternoon. 

Before dinner, it was time to grab a cup of great pour-over coffee from the latest popular cafe in Taipei, SARUTAHIKO 猿田彥珈琲台灣 , located at the 1st level of eslite spectrum nanxi - 迷誠品. 

Below is a list of coffee beans available for sale at SARUTAHIKO 猿田彥珈琲台灣:

After making your order, you would receive a beautiful card which makes you wonder if they would ever sell it as a souvenir for visitors.

My friend and I ordered the pour-over coffee using SARUTAHIKO French Original Blend. The pour-over coffee was fragrant and full-bodied, with a fiery roast aftertaste. It was not sour and bitter, allowing you to focus and slowly savor the fragrance of the coffee beans. Although you might need to queue for a while, I would still recommend everyone to visit the cafe to sample its various coffee beans for yourselves.

Tonight’s dinner featured 功夫銷魂麵鋪 from 老鼎旺功夫銷魂麵鋪 located at 新光南西店 三館B1 . The noodles were a spin-off from the typical Szechuan Hot Pot featuring a spicy Szechuan soup base paired with broad, chewy noodles and an assortment of ingredients such as braised tofu, beef, and duck’s blood. Although there are other stores selling the same dish, 老鼎旺 is one of the pioneers of this dish and is worthy of your time to make a visit to sample its delicious noodles.

Food items are limited in supply and diners are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

One of the hottest items on the menu is the 化骨绵掌 (Chicken’s Feet) which is only limited to one serving per one main dish ordered. This rule is to prevent diners from hogging all of the supply for this delicious, melt-in-your-mouth dish that is perfect with a cup of ice cold beer.

老鼎旺功夫銷魂麵 was truly memorable as the noodles were springy and full of bite, bursting with flavors as it was soaked in the fragrant, spicy Szechuan soup. The accompanying soup was choked full of ingredients such as braised tofu, beef slices, and duck’s blood. The aftertaste is strong and memorable, making this dish my star recommendation of the day.

Today is finally the end of my short Taipei Christmas Food Hack.

Special thanks to all of my great friends who made time in their busy schedule to keep me entertained and stuffed with delicious food throughout my entire journey.

It’s the weekend and I decided to explore Beitou Hot Springs 北投溫泉 and Tamsui Old Street 淡水老街.

The 1st stop of the day is Beitou Hot Springs 北投溫泉 to take a dip in the famous 瀧乃湯溫泉浴室, the oldest running hot springs spa in the area.

The public bath is relatively close to the train and it takes only around 5-10 mins walk to reach the destination. Although the public bath is very affordable, it is typically very crowded and you need to wear your swim suit to use the facilities.

I would suggest visiting 瀧乃湯溫泉浴室 where you can receive an authentic onsen experience. The hot springs spa has significantly less people compared to the public bath, and large groups can also book private areas for their visit. Before taking a dip in the pool, visitors will need to remove all clothing and wash themselves clean before submerging into the pool.

After taking dipping in the hot springs, it is highly recommended for visitors to take a leisurely stroll down the hill to admire the beautiful architecture in the surrounding area.

The 2nd stop of the day is Tamsui 淡水 where I can visit the Tamsui Old Street 淡水老街 to explore its numerous culinary delights.

One of the first places I visited was the wet market to sample the delicious Meat Ball 大肉圓 which is stuffed with pork and vegetables. The broth was heavy without being overwhelming, and the meat ball was enclosed in a chewy exterior shell to create a great texture contrast with its soft, juicy meat filling.

As I made my way to the main street, I spotted a lady selling Cantonese Rice Rolls 廣東腸粉 and I promptly ordered one serving. The rice rolls was mixed with minced pork, an egg, and lots of fresh vegetables. Paired with its homemade chilli sauce, the dish was so delicious that I finished it within minutes. It is definitely my new favorite stall that I have to visit on my next trip.

After filling my stomach, I explored the surrounding area to admire the beautiful scenery.

For my tea break, I decided to sample the famous 老店淡水阿給 which is renowned for serving 阿給 which is oily tofu stuffed with glass noodles that have been soaked in a meat broth. The dish was created to be a hearty, affordable snack for fishermen in the area, and the popularity of the dish has endured long after the town has transformed from a fishing port into a major tourist attraction.

The next snack destination is getting some brown sugar bubble tea to satisfy my sweet tooth.

For tonight’s dinner, I decided to visit the world famous 金峰魯肉飯 that has been featured countless times in food blogs, travel guides, and television shows.

Tonight’s dinner menu comprised of Braised Pork Rice 魯肉飯, Braised Egg 魯蛋, Braised Oily Beancurd 油豆腐, Dry Rice Vermicelli with Braised Pork Sauce 乾米粉,  Meat Soup 肉羹湯. Every dish was delicious, satisfying, and well-worth the journey to pay homage to culinary masters who are able to use simple ingredients and apply lots of patience and creativity to create affordable and accessible dishes that can be enjoyed by everyone around the world.

After returning back to my hotel, there was time for a quick trip to a famous local dessert store, 雙連圓仔湯, to order my favorite dessert soup comprising of red bean, peanut, yam cubes, and tang yuan (glutinous rice balls). The warm dessert soup was delicious without being too sweet, reminding me of the version that me and my mum love to make at home.

It’s Day 4 of my Christmas Food Hack and I decided to visit the famous 龍山寺 Longshan Temple to pray for good luck in the rest of my culinary journey.

Next stop was a quick visit to 剝皮寮 Bopiliao Historical Block to find out more about the history of early settlers in the area.

With so much walking in the morning, I had to take a quick break to rest my tired legs and enjoy breakfast. After a quick search online, some of the top breakfast choices in the area were Rice Noodles 麵線 and BBQ Pork Sausage.

After exploring the surrounding neighborhood of the temple, it was time to head to 永心鳳茶 Yonshin Tea & Cake Selection Bar to meet with great friends for a nice lunch gathering.

Read more about my adventure at Redefining Taiwanese Cuisine at Yonshin Tea & Cake Selection Bar.

Since it was drizzling, I decided to visit nearby Ximending to explore the area and grab some desserts along the way.

The first dessert pit stop was 北回木瓜牛奶 Bei Hui Papaya Milk which serves one of the best papaya milk in the city. Remember to order the milkshake with less sugar and less ice so that you can enjoy the fragrance of the fresh papaya.

The second desert pit stop was an outlet for 媽咪雞蛋仔 Mammy Pancake where its Hong Kong outlet was featured in the Michelin Guide.

The crispy Matcha Pancake was just right for my palate where the slightly bitter matcha complemented the powdered sugar and the aromatic egg waffle.

With my sweet tooth satisfied, it was time to join the long dinner queue at 小紅莓火鍋城  Xiao Hong Mei Steamboat Restaurant.

Read more about my adventure at Steamboat Fiesta at Xiao Hong Mei Steamboat Restaurant.

On my way back home, I decided to drop by the Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 to pick up some more dessert since my mouth was feeling a bit peckish for sweets.

Since I had a great afternoon experience with papaya milk, I decided to pick up more at 童年木瓜牛奶 Tong Nian Papaya Milk. This version was pretty good and helped to satisfy my papaya milk craving.

While returning back to the hotel, I spotted a long queue at 純鮮奶雞蛋糕. After taking a quick look, I queued up like a typical Singaporean and I was rewarded with four mini egg pancakes filled with delicious vanilla cream. 

The egg pancakes were crispy on the outside, soft and aromatic on the inside, with a strong, aromatic vanilla fragrance. It was one of the best purchases of the day, and I would definitely return to the night market to get more egg pancakes.

Since today is a rainy day, steamboat seems like the only logical choice for dinner and the best place to do is at the famous 小紅莓火鍋城  Xiao Hong Mei Steamboat Restaurant.

The steamboat restaurant is a popular local destination which has a long 40-year tradition. No reservations are allowed, dining is only limited to 90 minutes, and all members of your party must be present in order to enter the restaurant. Queues are long during dinner time so be prepared to wait for a minimum of 1-2 hours during their peak period. However, if you follow all of the rules of entry, you will be greeted with a fun dining experience unlike any you have ever experienced.

Each ingredient and its price is clearly indicated and diners can pick and choose their favorite meat, seafood, and vegetables from the fridge.

Once you are ready, the waiter will help you to prepare your steamboat.

The first step is to use sesame oil, garlic, and onion to stir fry the meat that you have selected. 

The second step is to remove the half-cooked meat and slowly add the rest of the ingredients that you have selected.

The final step is to patiently wait for your delicious steamboat to be ready!

For today’s steamboat, it comprised of pork and beef slices, enoki mushrooms, cabbage, fish balls with fish roe, meat balls with yam, deep fried meat balls with egg, and duck’s blood. The steamboat is absolutely delicious and uniquely different from the typical steamboats that I have experienced in Taipei. The ingredients are fresh, the soup is flavorful, and the sesame oil used to stir fried the meat helps to introduce a nutty fragrance to the steamboat.

小紅莓火鍋城  Xiao Hong Mei Steamboat Restaurant is a truly unique dining marvel that you have to experience for yourself.

Remember to arrive early to queue up for your steamboat!

小紅莓火鍋城

No. 24號, Baoqing Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, 105

台北市松山區寶清街24號 Taipei, Taiwan 105