FOOD BLOG

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The iPhone

I did it. I caved. I finally got one: 3G, black, 16GB.
To stick it to the man, I have a used one - hacked AND using T-Mobile.
The cosmos' way of getting back at me for that one: there are deep gashes on the screen (not too noticeable) AND I had to pay Simon the amount I hocked the Nokia E71 for ($300).

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Singapore MEIDI-YA @ Liang Court

MEIDI-YA

MEIDI-YA, the unique Japanese supermarket situated in Liang Court. This is one of the locations in Singapore to spot Japanese families out together either to shop for groceries, or simply just to have dinner. With occasional fairs from different prefectures and discounts off all sushi after approximately 7.30pm, what better place is there to satisfy your needs? There is even a huge collection of seafood imported directly from Japan by the sushi section to explore.

MEDI-YA supermarket is famous for many things, and one of them is that this Japanese supermarket sells goods that are mostly not available anywhere else in Singapore. This is because the supermarket imports directly from Japan and they are not very cheap due to this fact. They also have fruits that are at impossibly insane prices ($89.90 for a melon, anyone?), but other supermarkets do have these fruits as well.

One main reason as to why MEIDI-YA is children-friendly for the Japanese is because, in the middle of the supermarket, there is a TV section for children. They do not air just any cartoons, but Japanese-languaged DORAEMON! Well, actually not just children are there; adults occasionally stop and momentarily re-live their childhood.

Watching Doraemon with the children?

So far, fairs I have had the chance to visit are the recent Shizuoka Fair (will be covered in the next post), and a Hokkaido Fair last year. When fairs are held, MEIDI-YA would sell the unique food and drinks that are popular or originated from the particular prefecture.

Shizuoka Fair

Another highlight about MEIDI-YA is the sushi for sale. Of course they are really good, high quality sushi. But the best part is, after approximately 7.30pm everyday, they reduce the prices by a rather significant amount (imagine California Rolls being reduced from $6.00 to $4.20). This is something done to clear their stocks so their sushi is fresh everyday.

Sushi after Discounted

MEIDI-YA is one of my favourite locations to visit in Liang Court / Singapore. I find that this place has the air of Japan. Perhaps it is the food? Perhaps the other customers who shop there? No, I do not go there for DOREAMON.

Small restaurants located just after the entrance of MEIDI-YA

Liang Court - UNWRAPPED

Liang Court

Once an empty mall full of renovation, now a mall full of Japanese-cultured wonders.

Liang Court, situated just nearby Clarke Quay, is a treasured location for us Japanese food lovers. With the unique Japanese Supermarket, MEIDI-YA (in next blog post), this shopping mall is well-known to Japanese living in Singapore as this supermarket offers goods imported directly from Japan and are mostly not available anywhere else in Singapore.

I personally enjoy going to Liang Court as this place offers so much and is currently one of my Japanese Club's favourite hang-out locations as we frequent here at least one in two weeks, sometimes probably even more.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Macaroni and Cheese

It may not make it on the menu for your first mother-in-law's dinner visit, but macaroni and cheese is one of America's top foods.

It is rumored to have been created by the founding father Thomas Jefferson. Barbara Bell Matuszewski wrote that Jefferson served the dish in the White House in 1802. Others claim that Mr. Jefferson did not invent the dish but instead came back from Paris with a macaroni mold. In this Recipe you will find the mac-an-cheese dish from Mary Randolph (Jefferson's cousin) "The Virginia Housewife," that was published in 1824.

First, I will give you a little Mac n' cheese trivia. Did you know that Kraft sells more than one million boxes of the dinners every day! The Kraft dinners are so popular that children and some adults will turn up their noses when offered a rich and delicious homemade version. Give your taste buds a delight and try some REAL mac-n-cheese.

Homemade macaroni and cheese using great Wisconsin cheese is just simple layering of cooked macaroni, shredded (or sliced) cheese and salt and pepper, or it can be made with a white sauce-cheese base, topped with more cheese and buttered crumbs before baking.

Macaroni and Cheese ingredients list:

12 ounces of low-fat cottage cheese.
8 ounces of low fat sour cream.
4 cups of elbow macaroni, cooked.
2 cups of low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded.
½ cup of skimmed milk.
1 green onion, chopped.
¾ teaspoon of salt.
½ teaspoon of pepper.
2 egg whites.
Butter-flavored cooking spray.
¼ cup dry bread crumbs
¼ teaspoon paprika Fresh oregano sprigs, to garnish.

Instructions for Macaroni and Cheese:

Combine cottage cheese and sour cream in container of an electric blender; process until smooth.

In an electric blender, combine the cottage cheese and sour cream.

Combine the cottage cheese mixture, macaroni, and next 6 ingredients; then spoon into a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray.

Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and paprika; then coat with cooking spray.

Cover and bake at 350°F for about 30-35 minutes.

Uncover, then bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Garnish with fresh oregano sprigs.

Serve.

I am a Chicago land Chef who loves to cook! You can find many more dishes at http://americanbaking.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tami_Glover

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Number 2337

LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009

The last time LVHRD had the CLL PHN LCKN event, it was at MoMa. Our cellphones were confiscated, bagged up and nailed to a giant wall. The wall became an artful display of flashing and vibrating mobile phones. Oh yea, we wandered around the MoMa afterhours while sipping on a what seem to be an endless supply of alcohol.

CLLPHNLCKN 2006

This year was totally different. It was at the 92Y in Tribeca. We were handed white jumpsuits with different numbers on it when we checked in. We got to keep our phones. The big theme of this event was texting. Yup, they got one of those 5 digit text message numbers. You first text LVHRD the number on the suit and your name. After the confirmation text from LVHRD, you text them your bio. I texted whatever was in my head at the moment: "fuck a dollar and a dream". I wondered if they filtered the texts but April confirmed that they decided not to. All the bio updates are broadcasted via two giant projector screens. You can get other people's bios by texting the number on their suit to LVHRD.
Of course, it was sponsored by Dewar's, Sapporo and 42Below vodka. I had a bunch of Dewar's and ginger (awesome ginger beer - not too sweet, nice kick).
Yacht came on and did a couple of sets. They had awesome beats. Excellent performers overall - they knew how to have fun while getting paid. We even caught up with them afterwards at the bar. Too bad they only had 1 day in New York (flying right back to Oregon).

White jumpsuits + heavy texting + Dewar's and Ginger + Performance by Yacht

"On Monday, January 26, we’re taking the next step to protect you against the threat of Severe Micro-Cellulotamination (aka SMC) at (CLL) PHN-LCKN ‘09.

In 2006, we took away your cell phones to protect you from a modern pandemic that rots the brain, provided an open bar to help you forget your SMC woes and put leotard-clad Les Savvy Fav frontman Tim Harrington on stage to wreak havoc at MoMA.

Some time has passed since the first (CLL) PHN - LCKN and cell phones are more dangerous than we initially…"