When Hog's Breath opened in its place, I didn't think too much about it. I'd always associated Hog's Breath with expensive mediocre food, having once tried the CHIJMES branch many years ago. But a review in a recent issue of EXPAT Living made me give it another chance. The description of the steaks sounded absolutely divine!

Let me clarify the sad steak situation I'm in. I love steaks. Always have, always will. And I used to enjoy them anywhere, anytime, until I was invited to Prime Society. That re-defined the steak experience for me, and I never found a steak to compare since. But, Prime Society is way beyond my budget, so I've been left just longing...

So when I read the article just days before winning my weight loss challenge, that seemed the ideal place to check out for my prize.

The steaks there come in 3 sizes: 200g, 300g and 400g. That night, we shared a 300g steak as my friend wasn't hungry. He looked a bit concerned initially as our request for medium looked a tad rare. But when we bit into it, wow!!! It was tender, tasty & juicy! Oh my! Steak heaven! And the curly fries that come with it are perfectly done too!

I've been back twice since that night. I had the steak option for a set lunch last week & was sorely disappointed. As its much cheaper, they used a thinner cut, so the steak was not as succulent as the full version. Not recommended at all, despite the fantastic price tag.

My favourite time to go now is on Mondays, when they offer 1 for 1 deals. So I introduced my daughter to the joys of the Hogs Breath steak tonight. It was divine! We had 2 small (200g) prime steaks with barbecue sauce for just $29.95++

We shared a portion of Apple Crumble after, but this was not good. Deinitely not worth the $9.50++ price tag. The crumble was gooey from being heated up in the microwave. No standard at all!

Well, at least it means I don't get too distracted by super yummy desserts after a big steak dinner in future. And with it just downstairs from the clinic, this could become a very bad habit indeed!

                  

This is for my friend Jay from Thailand, who visited Singapore recently with his father. Andy and I had lunch with him at the Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant at UE Square.

With commercialism, Salmon Yusheng was available a good month before Chinese New Year! As neither of them had tried this dish before, we naturally had to order a portion for them to try.

For those unfamiliar with Chinese New Year traditions (Singapore style), this is a dish that became popular in Singapore some 15 years ago. I remember my mother meeting her friends for "raw fsh" and I was way too grossed out to want to try it for myself.

Fast forward a few years, and now I love this dish! Presented as shredded vegetables served in little mounds on a large plate, the waitress adds in lime, salt, pepper, honey, sesame oil and crispy crackers, reciting a lucky phrase with each step. My Chinese sucks, so I've never quite understood what goes on much, beyond it's about improvement, sweetness and prosperity.

Each diner then uses chopsticks to mix it all together, tossing it high up in the air, the higher the better. Again, lucky phrases are said by all for a great outcome in the new year.

Traditionally, this dish is only served on the seventh day of Chinese New Year. The day that is everyone's birthday. And so we plan to have our company Chinese New Year dinner on that very night, to bring in prosperity in the New Year. This year, the day falls on 20th February, which is a Saturday night.

                  

I love steamboat but never get to eat it cos my daughter hates it. In fact, she's a really picky eater, and favours junk over seafood, much to my disgust. So I very happily indulged in the fruits of the sea during my recent trip to Hong Kong with Andy from Ocean Health.

We attended the Cosmoprof exhibition together, and took the opportunity to eat our way around Hong Kong (and Shenzhen).

The night we got back from Shenzhen, we decided on a late supper at a steamboat restaurant, located 10 minutes by foot away from our hotel. After a certain time, they serve buffet style only. I believe it was about S$20 a head, but that included all soft drinks and beer, as well as premium beef slices, seafood and other weird and wonderful things.

What arrived first was certainly weird but in no way wonderful. Not by my standards anyway: some creature's testicles and something else's spinal cord. Yummy. Not...

If you look closely at the photo above, you can just about make out the grey matter within the white matter. That is, if you remember back to your science classes to know what I'm talking about!

Even when other food did arrive, I kept scooping out bits of this spinal cord. Yuck! And no, I wasn't game to try it.

What I enjoyed immensely was the melt-in-your-mouth beef slices and the crispy fish skin. I'd happily go back to that restaurant just for these two items.

As with many Chinese restaurants, fish tanks showcasing live seafood seems mandatory. Not sure why... And the fish all seem to have been on steroids! I'm sure if anyone tried to eat these things, they wouldn't taste good at all! Poor buggers to be kept in captivity just for show. I guess this one got it lucky... free chin jacuzzi whenever it fancied a massage!

I was also somewhat tickled at why they would want to keep these giant prawn-like creatures in plastic bags. Any idea? Please post in the comment box below!

I'm sorry I didn't take down the name of this restaurant or the location. But I'm sure I'll be back there some day...

                  

We've been visiting Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market for years now. It's a must-visit as long as we're there over the weekend. It's only a few months ago that we first noticed the coconut ice cream stalls surfacing. We were on the tram for the first time that trip, and jumped off when we saw this stall.

As with all good ideas, this stall has been copied, and there are now half a dozen clustered around the same area (which is in front of the MRT station for those who may be interested).

I LOVE coconuts from Bangkok! But my daughter generally hates them! She's just starting to come around though, so we decided to share one ice cream between us that first trip.

For less than S$2, we got a large scoop of home made coconut ice cream, served in a half coconut shell. Underneath the ice cream lies a few shreds of fresh young coconut flesh. Sprinkled on top, freshly roasted peanuts. And on the side, as much fresh coconut juice as we wanted to drink!

The tastes and textures blend together so well, and the presentation is so rustic, that I'm not at all surprised that the trend has taken off as it has.

With our more recent visit, we had to have one portion each. Nothing else would do! And I'm sure if it became street food, I'd have it more than once per trip.

So poison to my blood type or not, I'm certainly unable to resist this incrediblly delicious concoction, and look forward to savourig it again soon!