Still eating.....

Anytime there is an event with Kevin Cox, the Singaporean Food walker, I'm there!! He is so entertaining and so informative about the local food. This time I got the opportunity to go with the American Association in Singapore (AAS) to Little India for Deepavali . This is an Indian Hindu Festival. Let me lift from Wikipedia: 
Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five day festival which starts on Dhanteras, celebrated on thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Ashwin and ends on Bhaubeej, celebrated on second lunar day of Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu calendar month Kartik.. In gregorian calendar, Diwali festival is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.
For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BCE.
The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (dīpa in Sanskrit: दीप) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome. Firecrackers are burst in order to drive away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.
Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, from his 14-year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas and by bursting firecrackers.
So now that we know why, how about where. We all met at Komala Vilas on Serrangoon Road in Little India. This is an "institution" according to Kevin.

Sarangoon Road

Kevin, our guide and culinary mentor

A completely vegetarian place, I learned that I can enjoy much Indian food since it uses rice flour or ground lentils in lieu of wheat flour for many item. Here we enjoyed Masala Dosai, Idly and Mango Lassi ( oh yeah)

Idly ( rice cakes) with curries split for two people

Masala Dosai ( so good) shared by two

At night

Such a good start, then we hoofed it down across Sarangoon, Chander Road ( which I had accidentally come down before and noted all the authentic looking eateries) to Arcot Nawab. This is newly open place (only 6 months) where they specialize in Nawad, or southern Indian cuisine. Here we were introduced to Jeera water, which is boiled water with cumin seeds added. It smelled yummy and tasted like water, but it has a digestion aiding property ( turns out we would need this). The owner must have been over exuberant, cause our taster portions were HUGE!. We feasted on Meen Kothi Idiyappam (minced fried fish with spices), eggplant curry ( small portions thank you), Biryani with mutton (massive), Curry leaf prawn ( to die for) and a tall glass of  vasantha neer (coconut water and mint).

just the biryani, for 1 person !!!!

Oh my. We were bursting. But there was one more stop with two more foods!! Argh. The next place, the Masla Hut was two doors down - no time to walk off the food. This was the treat I was truly excited about. This dish I wouldn't have the guts to ever order, but always wanted to try - Mutton Marrow.

spicy mutton bone

how it's done...

THey bring you this mutton bone, which has been stewing for hours and is soft and aromatic with exotic spices. It was also the spiciest dish of the night and actually too  zingy for me. But I had to try the marrow. You use a straw to scrape the inside of the bone and slurp out the marrow. Sounds horrid, but it is very good. It has the consistancy of pudding, yet is creamy and flavorful. Very good for you I hear.
Since this was our last stop, they handed out the desserts from the first place ( since the dessert shop closed by now). Jalebi and Gulab Jamun got brought home in a take away page. I will have them today, but I'm sure they would have been much better last night. There simply wasn't room in the tum for them. My giuest and I waddled ( and I mean waddled) back to the MRT and headed north. It was amazing that with all that great food, the warm air and the rocking of the train we didn't fall asleep on the way.
Fabulous night. I will be going back to eat...

Guilty Pleasure?????

Well...at least just guilt. That's what I feel sometimes when I don't write for awhile.. OK, it's not like I need to journal everyday. But I think I ought to. I should be writing this all down so in my dotage I can remember the fun times and the adventure. Guilt guilt guilt. It's not as though you all would want to read my daily doings. They are dull, just as I'm sure yours are. Seems like I've been doing a lot of nothing lately. This, of course, isn't quite true. There has been some extra curricular activities, such as the recent Navy Ball, manic gardening, Chinatown visit with hubby. But they don't seem worthy...after all I should record only the exciting bits. Or should I?  Re-reading some of this blog from over a year ago, it does seem so far and distant. Lots of it hit me as "why did I record this?" but some of it were interesting tidbits I had forgotten. Of course I want to put pictures with each entry since I am visually oriented. (I assume everyone else is too) But lately, nothing other than the FB pics has had much interest.
Well, I guess you could say the big news is our last (which was to be the first) shipment arrives tomorrow. This is all the stuff which we put aside to be here waiting for us upon arrival. Again only proving there is no point is planning much in my world...Hopefully it all arrives well. I do have bits of furniture with snapped off legs and pushed is sides which needs to be mended from the shipment from London. I am pleased to have my stuff, but I do realize there will be much loss of it going back and with the shipment sent in error. Oh yes, it's still here melting in a warehouse. All those photos, vinyl records and delicate things I didn't wish to bring...are just sitting there heating up. So in three years, I can only imagine what I will behold when they deliver those crates. I release all the stress of that now (it may take that long to grieve) and just accept it for what it is. I have truly learned to "let go". Reading Brigid Keenan's book Diplomatic Baggage is helping me. She was a UK diplomat wife who followed her Man all over the world. I can relate on many levels, though my experience isn't so grand. I have laughed and cried during the book as it strikes a truth only known to those of us who trail behind our mates.
Well, I think it's time for a cocktail - dang, it's only 11 am...

A funny thing happened on the way to the market....

Well not really. But I have had a change of heart about food and eating here. At first it was so exciting to see all the new and unusual fruit and veg. But now a couple weeks on.....I'm hungry!! I miss a killer green salad everyday. I don't eat Iceberg ( is that really even a lettuce?) and the other greens I've become so used to are hard to find. And when you do, you will pay for it. Hubby has decided to grow them for me. I think I'll be thin in no time....
What is available here has lost it's cuteness factor, and I'm ready to eat veg again. So off I went to Fair Price, our local Piggly Wiggly. I must look like some kind of crazy Ang Mo ( local term for foreigner) just staring at the veg. In my mind I'm thinking " Ok, this looks like spinach, sort of, but that stem isn't right. I wonder if it's bland/spicy/peppery ?" I've also learned to take too much time glaring and thinking. Just a little delay, now move on down. You can always circle back when you decided what it is or whether it's worth trying. Of course everyone else is reaching in past you to grab the brinjai or what ever you are stumped on.
Let me do a pictorial for you...

Napa Cabbage...Pok choy....or as it is known here Chinese Wong bok.

Local spinach....or ask for Ti Wan Chye. How did I let that one get by me?

Chinese eggplant.....I think. It's labeled Brinjai. Hope it's what I think when I cut into it. Looks right, feels right, but one never knows

And then there is the price....yes, I paid $6.09 for two heads of broccoli all the way from Australia. Sheesh. But I have to have some things I recognize and enjoy. I can only live "local" for so long". I've decided to give myself some grace and not worry right now about becoming  a Townie. I'll wade into it at my speed. Pass the ketsup.

And some things are labeled but still aren't right. This said Butterhead lettuce. for whom, a Lilliputian? It fits into the palm of my hand and came four to a box.
I was thrilled to finally find scallions or green onions. We had looked everywhere and I mean everywhere. just kept seeing leeks. I know Chinese use them is so many dishes...where are they. Found them today.

Proof positive they have them after all. THe crazy thing is, we've been looking at them all along. The following picture show why we thought we were seeing leeks and not a giant scallion.

This bad boy is two feet long. I know, I measured it!! I also tore off a piece and ate it to make sure what I was seeing was in fact a green onion. It is. Tastes just like it's tinier US version.
This is culture adjustment at it's rawest. Anyone can go aboard and order at a restaurant. But go into a market or chemist and see if you can buy a staple item. That's where the real thrill lies.
So I need to go and cook some comfort food. May crank on the AC and make Guiness stew. Ya never know....

Carrot Cake epiphany....

I like carrot cake. If you really know me, you KNOW this is a huge change of mind for me. "Why ?" you say, everyone loves carrot cake. I don't!! I mean I don't love/like/will be in the same room as an American carrot cake. But carrot cake is something different heree. It has no carrots, nor is it cake. In fact, it's not a dessert but a main meal. I tried it today for lunch at thelocal hawker centre and it was yummy. Not too sure if the main "meat" was tofu or a calamari, either worked well for me. It was wok fried in egg with a few light veggies. Very very nice indeed.

Amendment - I googled the recipe and it turns out the "meat" is not a meat but daikon radish. It was soft and pliable, and completely yummy.

Gaining boldnes...

I'm getting there. Or at least trying to. This morning I took the bus to the local market instead of hoofing it the 20 minutes. I like to walk to places so I can learn the area. Then once familiar enough, I will venture out on bus or other. Oddly, we've been here over a month and I still have yet to take a taxi. Haven't needed to yet, which is fine by me. But I think in this heat (which doesn't abate) I need allow myself the luxury of buses and taxis. That is a huge step for me, the Cheap-y.  The journey took about the same length of time, I was just less exhausted  (all buses here are Airconed), thus a happier camper. Took it home as well, learning which stop is the best to alight ( I love that word)  and which direction to walk. Again, to those of you not on foot, this can be vital, as there are hills and steps. If one is schlepping a wheeled trolley, one does not want to see steps ahead. So this is the intricacies of my life. Aren't you thrilled it's not you?.....