Aburiya: Japanese BBQ!

SCS Butter went back twice in a month to this restaurant and was raving about their marinated Wagyu Beef. For those of you who know him, this means that the place has got a certain Shui Zun (lit: water level ie standard) cos SCS really does like his food.

Tender slivers of Wagyu Beef and Pork Belly marinated in sweet Yakiniku Sauce and gently grilling over a charcoal fire is probably one of my favourite dining experiences. A slice of well marinated Wagyu Beef Karubi (shortrib) eaten with a mouthful of Japanese rice is one of those things that is actually quite simple, but extremely satisfying.



Needless to say, the beef here is wonderfully marinated and the quality of the beef is very good. However, when people say that a piece of Wagyu beef is "Melt in your mouth" they don't really mean that it is melt in your mouth like a piece of butter. Sure, when you chew on the beef, the fats do melt in your mouth, but the rest of the beef has got a chewy texture to it. The real beauty of Short Ribs is how the aroma of the beef lingers on the palate long after you swallow the tasty morsel. There's only one problem and that is that you never get enough! 4.5/5

If you really want something that is "Melt in your mouth" then you should try the Foie Gras. It is also marinated with Yakiniku Sauce but you sort of fry it in an aluminium bowl over the charcoal fire. Fantastically sinful! 4.5/5

Conclusion

The quality of the meat and the marinade here is very good. They keep the prices lower by offering smaller portions so you get to order a wider variety of meats. I have to agree with SCS that it is one of the best places to enjoy a casual Yakiniku.

Aburiya 60 Robertson Quay,
#01-03 Quayside
67354862

Best Food Find of 2007

I am sure that you all have found something good to eat in 2007 through reading this blog. So perhaps you would like to nominate your favourite food stall/restaurant that you discovered through this blog? If there are enough nominees we can even do a poll.

ieat on 938Live!

Today's recommendation is Good Morning Nanyang Cafe!

Jing Hua Sliced Fish Bee Hoon: Ooommmph!

With Damien and smart


This is simply the most delicious fish soup I have had this year. I had my doubts at first when smart was lining up for the fish soup, but my first taste of it was quite a Holy Grail experience. OK I admit it, even though I have always called myself a Teochew Ah Hia, I think that I prefer the Cantonese Style milky fish soup to the Teochew version. Oops! I think I can hear my ancestors all turning in their graves.

Forget all that hype about XO, if you've got a tasty fish soup, you don't need to hide behind the veil of XO brandy. Plus the best thing is that you don't have to pay a bomb for the fish soup because it comes in individual servings. The only problem with it is the long queue even in off peak periods. But there is a good reason why there is a queue and it is because each bowl of soup is made individually. But take it from me, the queue is worth it especially when it is someone else who doing the queueing (Thanks Uncle Smart). 4.75/5



Conclusion

It's really shiok. This one I am certain that many will agree.

Jing Hua Sliced Fish Bee Hoon Stall
77 Maxwell Road Food Centre
11am to 8.30pm
Thursday Closed

Ieatishootipost featured on i Weekly Magazine

One of my friends alerted me to the fact that ieatishootipost has been featured in the current issue of i weekly magazine. Unfortunately, my mandarin is not good enough to do an interpretation of the text. So perhaps someone can help do the translation for me?

Thanks again to all readers for your support!

OK here's the translation courtesy of Vale Ng. Also thanks to Khim for providing another version of the translation in the comments!

Trend 5: Food Blogs

Winner of Golden Tongue Award: ieatishootipost.blogspot.com

While flogs did not just emerge in the virtual world this year, in 2007 doctor-blogger Leslie Tay captured the attention of the media, which sparked off a flog phenomenon.

Leslie’s writing style is lively and engaging. The food photographs on the blog are all of professional standards, and just looking at them is enough to whet one’s appetite. Leslie describes in detail the presentation of the dish, the taste, the ingredients, and even includes some additional trivia sometimes.

The greatest convenience provided by this blog is that Leslie categorises all his food reviews according to the various hawker centres and various food/dish types, for the reader’s easy navigation.

Peanuts Soup: Gotta be good if you serve only 3 soups!

Yes, in this day and age where dessert stalls are offering a wide variety of desserts, it takes a really special stall to offer just 3 flavours of soup. In fact the stall only has 3 troughs in the display cabinet offering Peanut soup, Red Bean with Brown Rice soup and Tau Suan. You can also add glutinous rice balls if you like.

I tried both the Peanut Soup and the Red Bean Soup and they were both excellent. The Peanuts were fantastically soft and the soup was smooth and full of nutty aroma. One of the best I have tasted. 4.5/5 According to Damien, the Tau Suan also one of the best around. It was too bad they sold out that day.

Conclusion

Got to be really good if you only sold 3 flavours of soup!

Peanuts Soup Stall
75 Maxwell Food Centre
7.30am to 4pm daily
Monday Closed

A Fresh Meaning to Christmas

I am sure you all had your "Defining Moments" in life. You know, flashes of memory that are forever etched in your psyche. My latest one was just before going in for my operation in November. It was quite a stressful build up. Starting from the time I went for the CT scan which revealed that I had gallbladder stones right up to the scheduled date of the surgery. Having to have an operation under general anesthesia is unnerving.

Rationally speaking, general anesthesia is very safe and the vast majority of people wake up from general anesthesia with no problems at all. Well, that is what I tell all my patients. But when you have to go through it yourself, it is a whole different ball game. I guess it is the loss of control over the whole situation that is unsettling. You are basically putting your life into the hands of the anesthetist and the surgeon. I felt helpless and vulnerable.

As I was being wheeled into the operating theatre, I could help but think about the issue of death and other worst case scenarios. "What if I don't wake up from the general anesthetic? What if something goes wrong during the surgery? What if.......what if......."

At least for me, there was not so much fear of death since I am confident that death is simply a transition of my spirit from the earthly reality into the heavenly reality. So it is not so much death that was unnerving, but the thought that my family and especially my kids would have to grow up without their Dad that was sad. I know it might sound a bit "over the top" for a procedure that is considered routine, but those who have gone under general anesthesia might be able to empathize with me.

Finally the moment came when the Anesthetist told me that he is about to inject the Propafol and soon I would be asleep. This the "Defining Moment" I am talking about. As I looked down at the IV line, it slowly turned white and it was at that moment when everything ceased to be of importance. Everything that I had been, everything that I had done, all my friends, my family, my possessions, everything that I had considered important in life, nothing mattered anymore. It was in that 10 seconds or so that I felt really at peace. All the cares of the world have been left behind. My last thoughts was to relinquish control totally to God as I muttered the comforting words of Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want. He makes me down to lie..........

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. He was born so that anyone who believes in Him may not die, but have everlasting life. My recent experience really reminded me of just how fragile this life can be and it is when I came face to face with my own mortality that I am again thankful that I have a Saviour. So this Christmas, I am celebrating it with a fresh new perspective on life and a greater appreciation of God's wonderful gift for me and indeed for all who would believe.

God has given us eternal life, and this life in in his Son. He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12

May you all have a blessed and meaningful Christmas!