This weeks "I want what she has!"

This weeks "I want what she has!" goes to Karen Javens. These boots are super cute! I just love the buckle detail on the sides!

Boots: $59.00 DSW

These boots look great with jeans but they would also look amazing with tights and a skirt! Great find mom! (It's weird to call her Karen!) ;)

Uncle Kun Lunar New Year Goodies 根叔年糕 With Video

Seeing that Lunar New Year is just around the corner, I thought The Silver Chef should do a blog on something relating to the festive season.

And what better way to do this post than to talk about Uncle Kun's special Lunar New Year Goodies, which is only available until the eve of Chinese New Year.

Uncle Kun has specially prepared 4 different types of festive cakes for the Year of the Rabbit, and as one would expect from Uncle Kun, they are all supremely excellent!

Year Cake 年糕

The year cake, or glutinous cake, is actually made from cane sugar, and hence, it is less sweet and more importantly, it is not sticky in the mouth like most others you find even in restaurants here. It is so good and soft, that it is excellent on its own without further frying with egg etc.

Radish Cake

The radish cake has this delightful "melt in the mouth" quality that is almost indescribable. And unlike other radish cakes, there is a generous amount of chopped radish within, and this makes it all the more fragrant and crunchy to the bite.

Water Chestnut Cake

This water chestnut cake will make a wonderful dessert anytime. As with the other cakes, Uncle Kun takes the effort to put in extra doses of ingredients and the water chestnut pieces really add to the delightful texture of this particular sweet cake.

Yam Cake

For the yam cake, this is actually similar to the one he normally serves, and hence you get the same smooth, creamy and soft texture. Here, he adds some additional garnish of dried shrimp and dried anchovies. If you like his yam cake before, you are going to like this even better!

New Year Goodies

From the Silver Chef's perspective, all of these new year items are highly recommended as they are all very affordable, and at less than S$14 per cake, there is really great value for money.

In addition, these are all limited and Uncle Kun has mentioned that after Monday, he will only be selling these only to those who have pre-ordered. In other words, if you are reading this now, you better get to Uncle Kun as soon as you can!

Uncle Kun Delicacies (Gen Shu Mei Shi Shi Jia 根叔美食世家)
Toa Payoh Lorong 4
Block 74 Food Centre #01-03



Written, filmed, edited and directed by Silverchef Productions.
Shot and edited entirely on Apple's Iphone 4 and at Bishan void deck.
No water chestnut cake was harmed in the shooting of this video.
"发如雪" performed by 周杰倫.

Hot roller hair and sophisticated lace

Blazer: Forever 21
Top: Mango
Jeans: Target
Shoes: Forever 21
Rings: Stella & Dot (2 of 3 stackable set)
Ring: Thrift store (college)
Earrings: gift

Down one jean size and boy does it feel good!
I love a basic blazer, so when I found this one that has a stripped pattern on the inside I new I had to have it! I paired it with this lace detail top and gave the look a little color pop with my vintage ring. This look is sophisticated yet still fun!

Please don't judge our makeshift armour. It is a DIY project waiting to happen......

Play date

Top: JC Penny
Jeans: Target
Shoes: Aldo
Necklace: Tiffanys & CO (gift)
Bracelete: Tiffanys & CO (gift)

I love this top. With the crazy cold temperatures we are experiencing here in the midwest, I felt like I needed a floral print shirt this day. I even wore a more pink shade of blush to fake the sun kissed look. This loose flowy top was just the thing for chasing my toddler around at a play center. Nothing worse then running around in tighter clothing while having to constantly pull your top down. Glad that was not the case with this outfit!
Man, I can't wait for spring!

Caffe Vivo at Pavillion Kuala Lumpur With Video

Within the vast confines of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, there seems to be a number of choices for Italian fare, and we decided to try out Caffe Vivo on the uppermost level on a Saturday afternoon.

Indeed, Caffe Vivo did have the classic Italian furnishings and did feel quite cosy and comfortable. The staff were, however, a mixed bag.

One server was really friendly and pleasant, while there was another one who just seemed to be very disinterested and somewhat glum faced all the time. Nevertheless, we were here for the food and for the most part, it did not disappoint.

Parma Ham Wrapped Grissini

We started off with some parma ham wrapped grissini and this was very nice indeed. The salty, savory parma paired really well with the crunchy breadsticks and they looked gorgeous at the same time. This could really work as finger food at any bar to be honest.

Mushroom Risotto

Both of us had risottos for the day, and as usual, Pauline would go for the mushroom one. It was really lovely and colorful to look at. Although it was slightly on the salty side, it was a fairly tasty plate of risotto. The risotto rice was nicely cooked, though slightly soft for Asian tastes, I presume.

Seafood Risotto

I had the seafood risotto and had largely the same flavors as the mushroom one. But there was a generous amount of shrimp and scallops in it to give it that more sweeter aftertaste. Again, it looked beautiful on the plate and overall, it was quite flavorsome.

Tiramisu

The chef certainly had an eye for beauty, as their tiramisu was just stunning from a visual standpoint. Laced with bits of kiwi and strawberries for color, the tiramisu itself was more cylindrically shaped with an outer chocolate layer. As for the taste itself, it was smooth and rich. The acid from the fruits did balance the sweetness nicely.

As Italian cafes go, Caffe Vivo certainly meets the mark with its competent settings and menu items. The food itself is good, but not yet reaching greatness at this point. That said, there are fewer Italian cafes that serve such beautifully plated food.

Caffe Vivo
6.12.00, Level 6
Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur




Written, filmed, edited and directed by Silverchef Productions.
Shot and edited entirely on Apple's Iphone 4 and at Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur.
No grissini was harmed in the shooting of this video.
"Every Breath You Take" performed by Brooke White.

modern retro

As I've said before, I am loving the retro trend for spring 2011! Even though there is a lot of it being shoved down our throats (you can't open any magazine with out seeing this trend), I am still a fan of it! Love it or hate it, get used to it! I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon! Here are a few items that I found on Polyvore. I love all of these! The Stella McCartney jeans are amazing and that dress from Diane Von Furstenberg is to die for! All of the items are over $400 so I didn't even tag them...they are dream items for sure! I bet you could find the look for less at F21 or H&M! I know I'll try looking there!
What do you think of the modern retro trend?

Chicken Noodle Soup

I always make this soup on a Saturday using

dinner leftovers from the week before.

It's a staple in our house if someone is sick.

We call it our "Sickie Soup".

I have given it to sick friends and relatives

and it always makes everyone feel better.

Chicken Noodle Soup

2-4 boxes Mrs. Grass Soup Mix

2 rotisserie chicken breasts diced

Baby carrots diced

Celery and the leaves diced

various leftover veggies (explained below)

spoonful of minced garlic from the jar

My soup base is Mrs. Grass Soup Mix

which comes in these 2-box sets.

For each box, use 4 cups of water in a stock pot.

This day I used three boxes...12 cups water.

The kits come with a flavor packet and the golden nugget.

I don't use the golden nugget because it is essentially

chicken fat which I don't want to add, but

you can decide for yourself.

Add the season packet to the water, turn on high

and bring to a boil.

You can also use chicken broth and

add 1 chicken bouillon cube per 4 cups.

While that's heating, dice up carrots.

I never measure...just add what you like.

Add to soup immediately because the

carrots and celery take the longest to cook.

Remove the large, outer stalks of celery

and use the tender inner stalks.

Note the lovely leaves tucked inside of

the inner stalks. They add wonderful flavor to the soup.

Simply slice the inner stalks and leaves together like this:

You will have a lovely mix of chopped stalks and

flavorful leaves.  Add to soup.

All week long, I save any leftover veggies from dinner in one

container for soup.

Cut up into bite-sized pieces and add to the pot.

(If you have peas, don't add until the very end or they'll get mushy)

This week, I had some leftover rice and broccoli,

so I added that, too.

You can also add leftover pasta and any other veggies you

have in the fridge.

While that's all simmering on the stove,

cut up the chicken and add to the soup

Simmer for about a half hour,

or until the carrots and celery are tender.

Now add my secret ingredient...

a big spoonful of minced garlic.

AWESOME flavor!

Stir in the noodles from the soup mix kit

and boil for an additional 10 minutes.

You will have a hearty, healthy soup

that makes everyone feel better!

This weeks "I want what she has!"

This weeks "I want what she has!" goes to Kristen Javens. This sweater is adorable!

Sweater: $10 Target

The color is perfect for the holiday season and winter months! I love the neck and style! Not to mention the price!! $10? Ummm, yes please! Great find Kristen!

Straits Chinese Nonya Restaurant With Video - Classic Nyonya Cooking in 313 Somerset

It is always hard to find nyonya food in the mainstream, and apart from Ivins which has a number of outlets in various parts of the island, it is hardly easy to find peranakan food in town.

So, it was with great curiosity when we spotted this nyonya outlet right in the middle of a food court in 313 Somerset. We had put off a few times trying it simply because of the price, which was hardly food court standards.

Nevertheless, we decided to brave it last weekend and had a chance to savor what turned out to be quite a pleasurable meal, albeit somewhat pricey.

Sambal Kang Kong

The sambal kang kong seemed simple enough, but what grabbed our attention was the way it was fried. It was done with large cloves of garlic and it was wonderfully fragrant. The kang kong was not overdone and hence, retained that crunchiness about it. It was kang kong done very well.

Babi Pong Tay

The braised pork in this classic nyonya dish was simply delicious. Superbly braised until soft, the pork was well infused with the familiar fermented bean paste that comes with this disk. The nice bits of mushrooms and bamboo shoots added a nice mix of texture and flavors to this plate. Beautiful.

Chendol

The chendol was less spectacular. They did provide a generous helping of red beans, and the gula melaka was really sufficient to blend with the coconut milk. But they used the artificial coloring type of chendol, which did not go down as well as the more authentic ones you find in Jonker, Malacca.

Gula Melaka

The sago laden gula melaka dessert was on a different level. The sago pearls were huge and had this lovely bouncy texture to it. And the brown sugar in this bowl was really ample and delicious. I really enjoyed this dessert and it is hard to find this particular dessert nowadays.

Authentic Nyonya Cuisine

They also served many other classic nyonya dishes like buah keluar and po piah, but for our money, the fare that we sampled was really quite authentic and classic. Nothing fancy, but nyonya cooking is known for its time consuming efforts and to find one such eatery in Orchard, and in a food court no less, was already exemplary.

What was less exemplary was its pricing, and as food court standards go, this was a bit above what most families would pay for when they come to a food court. Still, it is admirable to have such a nyonya place in town.

Straits Chinese Nonya Restaurant
Food Republic at 313 Somerset, Orchard Road



Written, filmed, edited and directed by Silverchef Productions.
Shot and edited entirely on Apple's Iphone 4 and at Food Republic, 313 Somerset.
No sago was harmed in the shooting of this video.
"东风破" performed by 周杰倫.

To the sea...

*

Every new transition in my life is usually marked by a change of my desktop wallpaper. And this is only achieved after an extensive search for the one that perfectly matches my current state of mind...
Anyway during this two day search I came across a picture from Dungeness and it really intrigued me so I looked for more. I love these kind of quirky little places, a place where you'd like to get away from it all...well I would  :D
Dungeness is more of a scattered collection of dwellings than a village and the area is one of the largest expanses of shingle in the world. You can also find there two nuclear power stations, the world's smallest public railway and an unique ecological site.
I still haven't decided on a new wallpaper... but meanwhile I wanted to write about this place 'cause it's small and seemingly unimportant but it has some really cool stuff - just like me :D
 
sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

more pics here

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray

Top: JC Penny
Jeans: Forever 21
Shoes: Jessica Simpsons clogs
Double Ring: Threadsense
Necklace: Tiffany's & CO
Purse: Rachel Zoe

So excited about how much the early 70's are influencing trends right now! I would have fitted right in during that time! I wore my new high waisted jeans with this lace detail top I got last year. My fringe purse seemed like a no brainier and I was out the door! Simple, stylish, and fun! Love this look!

In unrelated news, 16 pounds until I'm back down to pre-baby weight! Maybe I need to start working out?! Yeah, with a 2 month old and a 2 year old I'm not likely to get any free time soon! *sigh* I just can't wait to fit in my favorite clothes any longer! ;)