Pooh Talk

Check out photos in Stuff for my latest "wanderings" in Spore. The alley pic is real cool since you wouldn't guess all those tables belong to a tiny kopitian Tian Wai Tian off Serangoon Rd near CTE/PIE (towards Toa Payoh). Serves very good fish steamboat and YUMMY gnor hiang!! And last pic shows why P hates keeping pets!!! Enjoy! Will try to upload more pics regularly.

What is Chinese New Year without the all impt pork slices grilled to perfection? In fact, what is CNY without those long snaking queues in front of Lim Chee Guan or Bee Cheng Hiang? Considering one can get these sweet meat anytime in the year, it is a wonder why people JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT at this time of the year even if prices are higher and the time you spend queuing is much longer. There were a couple of Bee Cheng Hiang stores in BJ but somehow it just taste nicer here at home. But all those crowds in the hot sweltering sun also take your cravings away. Yes, Mr Sun is working OT here, similar to bak kua grillers, except one works in the day, the other at night. After all the wet pouring rains earlier in the year, Mr Sun decided to make up for it. Initially, I still entertained thoughts of visiting Chinatown. Afternoons should be LESS crowded right? But the merciless sun!! So we get pretty blue skies, but way too bright and way too hot. As I keep telling my frens, it is 'unnatural' for me to see sunny skies these days after BJ. See lah, rain also complain, sun also complain :) there is no pleasing Sporeans!!

Why is every new place in Spore called V-something? First there is Vivo City and now I venture into VELOCITY at Novena Sq. What's with the V-word? Novena Sq has doubled in size and like true J8 style, stuffed its premises with restaurants and cafes. I'm sure neighbouring MHA and TTSH will be happy since believe me, there is really nothing much to eat at Novena before this. Saw Bali Thai (really and sadly empty at 6pm), Harry's, Organic something (forgot the name but I realised many Sporeans these days are VERY into organic stuff) and a rather interesting ice cream place 'Mingles' (it also serves potatoes and sausages - very good for light snacks during lunch) and not forgetting the ever slurp-licious Hagaan Dazz. And again, what's with TCC? It is everywhere!! Where has Starbucks and Kopi Bean gone to? However, even tho kopi at TCC is not as great as my fav Kopi Bean (TCC has strangely sweet kopi and I like sweet stuff but this is way beyond my limit) but I must recommend the Beef Mozarella - it has TOFU and beef and yes, it is rather sweet but the tofu makes up for it. I seriously think they should cut down on the sugar thing. Go for the tea freeze coz compared to the kopi, believe me, the tea is not sweet at all. Which in my dictionary of great sweet drinks/desserts (and I have a lot here), it is just wierd. 

You know you have come home when you take that first bite into that creamy soft cheesecake at Ikea Spore (Tampines branch). Ok, so the building really looks that the Ikea in BJ (off Siyuan bridge) and even the warehouse area is exactly the same, but the difference is in the cheesecake. Not so sure abt the coffee because I didn't drink that much of it in BJ but the yummy feathery light soft cheesecake is the reason to be home. The cool part abt Ikea Spore (Tampines) is that it is right next to the MEGA HUGE Courts (not that it is BIGGER than Ikea but it is the BIGGEST Courts building I have seen in Spore). And of course to 'contrast' their differences: one is blue and yellow, the other is yellow and blue. Same shades of blue and yellow, mind you. The good thing is you can walk from one to the other in less than 3 mins. But they didn't have ME to submit my SSS on 'perfecting their synergy': sheltered walkway!! In the blazing sun, sure, the next air-conditioning is a hop and skip away. But during monsoon rains, FORGET IT!! I rather have another piece of cheesecake - that is, depending on which building I am in :)