Delayed Gratification

How I feel most days about cookies... and bacon... and french fries... and pancakes... and most things in general.  Here's a lesson from the NomNomNommer himself.

Balut Bomb

My buddy, Adam Tun-Aung and I got together yesterday to do a fun casual video titled "Prepare Me For the Philippines".



Special thanks to Frank Kilian for providing the balut and Michael Ngo Dee for helping on the Tagalog translations (apparently, Google Translate does a terrible job with Filipino).

Post by GASTRONOMMY.

World Class 50: The Definitive Drinking Guide

To see my final photography, please visit The Definitive Drinking Guide here.

We've come a long way since the 1800s Prohibition drinks in hidden speakeasy's and the last few decades of "disco drinks" such as Sex on the Beach and other overly sweet syrupy drinks (see: History of the cocktail).  Fortunately, our generation have seen the rise in what is known as mixology, an elevated cocktail culture heightened with the freshest ingredients, finest spirits, and experimental techniques.

Celebrating this speciality cocktail culture is the World Class 50: The Definitive Drinking Guide, an online destination featuring some of the finest cocktails around the world made by the world's best bartenders (along with information on where you can try it).  The guide was inspired by the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS, an outstanding global training program that focuses on the craft of the bartender, helping to build careers in the industry. The program culminates in an annual luxury landmark week where the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year is announced.

Talented bartenders participate annually in this highly anticipated industry event, going through vigorous regional heats and national finals (Diageo Reserve World Class), before representing their own country at the global final.  And tiny as the country may be, Singapore has proudly been represented as a finalist* every single year.
*Finalists: Aubrey Sim (2009), Richard Gillam (2010), Aki Eguchi (2011), Aki Eguchi (2012), Zachary de Git (2013)

Earlier this year, Gastronommy was invited to photograph this year's Singapore winner for The World Class 50: The Definitive Drinking Guide.  The Guide highlights 50 of the most innovative and talented bartenders from across the globe.  Needless to say, I was excited to photograph for this highly regarded mixology event that is in its 5th year in the making.

This year's Singapore World Class Bartender of the Year finalist is Zachary de Git, the head bartender at Ryan Clift's The Tippling Club.  Already at 24-years old, Zac came to Singapore three years ago after honing his craft at some of Australia's most well-regarded drinking establishments, including Black Pearl, Der Raum, and Press Club.

Cocktail Feature: A Change of Hue

Zachary's winning drink, aptly named A Change of Hue, was inspired by the local clitoria flower.  The vivid purple-blue flower is often used in the local Peranakan cuisine for coloring.

No prizes for guessing how the clitoria flower was named. It is also known as the blue-pea flower

On his daily walk from home towards his bus stop towards work, Zac first noticed the bright flowers growing on his neighbor's fences.  Intrigued by its colorful and delicate characteristics, he began experimenting with the flower in his cocktails.  His neighbor welcomed Zac to take his fresh pick of clitoria as he pleased, since the flower blooms, dies, and grows back again in a 48 hour period.  

At The Tippling Club, Zac first begins by trimming the flowers to prepare for a vacuum sealed water bath to infuse the clitoria into a liquid.  

The homemade syrup.

It was around this time I also got a closer look at Tippling's Club's experimental kitchen - I felt like I was in a science lab.  These guys mean business.

"Are you ready?" Zac asked me, syrup in hand posing over the rim of the glass that held a mixture of Ketel One Vodka and other key ingredients.  I raised my camera, not sure what to expect seeing through the lens.  As he poured in the final signature ingredient, the in-house made syrup, I watched the colors swirl from blue to velvety purple, and finally settling into a rosy blush.  "Did you catch that?" I remember him asking me, perhaps rhetorically, as he prepared one more glass for me to capture on camera again.

"A Change of Hue"

Throughout the early evening, Tippling Club was filled with beautiful soft greens and blues of the lush tropical surroundings set in a rainy sunset.  Bit by bit, the long bar filled with gourmands, awakening the open-kitchen into a flurry of activity.

A CHANGE OF HUE, RECIPE

Contains 20 grams of alcohol per serve

A Change of Huge is light liquid entertainment which awakens the palate with prominent flavours without being overpowering - it encapsulates the magic of molecular mixology in a relaxed apertif.

30ml Ketel One vodka

15ml Grapefruit-infused Lillet Blanc

10ml Fresh lemon juice

40ml Champagne

20ml Homemade Clitoria-flower syrup

Fee Brothers Grapefruit bitters (dash to taste)

Method: Stir together all the ingredients minus the syrup.  Pour over the chilled syrup in front of the guest.

To see the final photography, please visit 
The Definitive Drinking Guide

Clever Little Food Songs

Cheesy tunes.

The Prettiest Chicken

The image most of us have about chickens are usually the ones we see in the meat section of the grocery store.  Here's another way to look at them.

Blogger Designer SweetPeach has a friend who keeps chickens as pets.  I've never seen chickadees look so gorgeous--look at that plumage!  And the hens have a healthier diet than the average American:

They eat garden peppers, tomatoes, organic oatmeal, yogurt and all manner of table scraps (they love frozen watermelon). She recommends all chicken owners add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to every gallon of water to keep them nice and healthy.

Despite posting this on a food blog, I'm not going to make any quips about how tasty they must be (I'll admit that it did cross my mind).

See more about these chickens here at SweetPeach. 

(all images by SweetPeach)

What do veal and girlfriends have in common?

The truth about meat cuts.

"Veal is a very young beef and, like a very young girlfriend, it's cute but boring and expensive." -P.J. O'Rourke

Food Diary August [Hong Kong Part II]

There is infact a Hong Kong Food Diary Part II, because I extended my trip... as well as the overall circumference of my mid-section. (See Part I here)

Not leaving you just yet, Hong Kong.

Chiu Hing Noodle House 潮興魚蛋粉

Time: 8pm, Wednesday

Place: Chiu Hing Noodle House 潮興魚蛋粉

481 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Handmade fishballs.

Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司

Time: 4pm, Sunday

Place: 47-49 Parkes St, Yau Ma Tei

Gundams in Times Square

Note: Not edible.

Kozy

Time: 4am (also featured in last month's Food Diary)

Place: Kozy 9/F Circle Plaza, 499 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2591 1281

With pals Chris and Brian for late night okonomiyaki.

Oysters.

Ginza Bairin 

Time: 8:30pm

Place: Ginza Bairin Central, 

Shop 3013 Level 3, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street Tel: 2295 1112

Jang! Mameshiba!

Fuel Espresso

Time: Daily 5pm

Place: Fuel Espresso, Shop 3023, IFC, Central. 港景街1號國際金融中心3023號舖, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2295 3815

Causeway Bay street meat

Hello siew mai and curry fish balls.

Sorabol 新羅寶

Time: 9pm

Place: Sorabol, Shop B, 18/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay

Tel: +(852) 2881-6823

One of my favorite Korean restaurants in Hong Kong.

Shung Hing Chiu Chow Seafood Restaurant 尚興潮州飯店

Time: 8:30pm

Place: 37 Queens Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

My family dines here quite often.  The satay beef noodles and marinated goose are amongst our favorite dishes.

Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon

Time: 5pm

Place: Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon, Shop 2045A, Podium Level 2, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong +(852) 2234-7422

A nice spot for tea if you have a sweet tooth.  The pastries and desserts were great.  The savories were lacking in both taste and creativity.

Tim Ho Wan 添好運

Time: 8pm

Place: Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1, IFC Mall) , Central

Tel: +(852) 2332-3078

Sorely disappointed.  Michelin star, what?

Overrated by far.  If there aren't any queues and you want all day dim sum, then Tim Ho Wan is a reasonable choice.  But the actual quality of the items are at best, mediocre, compared to the thousands of other options in Hong Kong.

Superfood: Chia Seeds

Courtesy of Alvin Tan of LifeStyle Fitness.  Have you heard about the latest "superfood"?

Directions: Soak the seeds overnight, then drink the seeds in cup full of water or in your protein shake in the morning.  The seeds are tasteless.

10 Reasons to add Chia Seeds to your Diet

Combat Diabetes
Chia is being studied as a potential natural treatment for type-2 diabetes because of its ability to slow down digestion. The gelatinous coating chia seeds develops when exposed to liquids-can also prevent blood sugar spikes.

Get More Fibre
Just a 28-gram or one-ounce serving of chia has 11 grams of dietary fibre — about a third of the recommended daily intake for adults. Adding some chia to your diet is an easy way to make sure you're getting a good amount of fibre, which is important for digestive health.

Stock Up On Omega-3
Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, with nearly five grams in a one-ounce serving. These fats are important for brain health. "There's better conversion of omega 3s into the plasma or into the food than with flax seed," said researcher Wayne Coates.

Stronger Teeth And Bones
A serving of chia seeds has 18 per cent of the recommended daily intake for calcium, which puts your well on your way to maintaining bone and oral health, and preventing osteoporosis.

Don't Forget Manganese
Manganese isn't a well-known nutrient, but it's important for our health: it's good for your bones and helps your body use other essential nutrients like biotin and thiamin. One serving of chia seeds, or 28 grams, has 30 per cent of your recommended intake of this mineral.

Plenty Of Phosphorus
With 27 per cent of your daily value for phosphorus, chia seeds also helps you maintain healthy bones and teeth. Phosphorus is also used by the body to synthesize protein for cell and tissue growth and repair.

Pack In The Protein
Chia seeds also make a great source of protein for vegetarians and don't have any cholesterol. One 28-gram serving of these super seeds has 4.4 grams of protein, nearly 10 per cent of the daily value.

Fight Belly Fat
Chia's stabilizing effect on blood sugar also fights insulin resistance which can be tied to an increase in belly fat, according to Live Strong. This type of resistance can also be harmful for your overall health.

Get Full. Faster
Tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, is also found in chia seeds. While tryptophan is responsible for that strong urge to nap after a big Thanksgiving dinner for example, it also helps regulate appetite, sleep and improve mood.

Improve Heart Health
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure in diabetics, and may also increase healthy cholesterol while lowering total, LDL, and triglyceride cholesterol. All good news for your ticker!

Zalora x River Island [Event]

. SPONSORED POST .

River Island stores in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia were closed, but have returned exclusively via e-commerce site ZALORA.  Last week on Friday the 13th, Zalora celebrated this with an ultra Brit-themed launch party at MINI Habitat.

Thanks Zalora x River Island for asking Gastronommy.com to join.  Thanks to the sweet stylist Paul dela Merced and PR Xiaomin Chew of Zalora for dressing me for the event; and thanks to MINI for picking me up in the ultra cute MINI Coupé (I have a soft spot for MINI's, being my first car back in the day).  Other Zalora-dressed guest VIPs included Rich Herrera, Dawn Yang, Anita Kapoor, Alicia Pan, Shan Wee, Cheryl Miles, Paul Foster, Yvette King, and more.

I picked up an Xevana necklace to wear with River Island's selected outfit.

With the lovely Yvette King of Tanjong Bazaar.

On Victoria: Red Turtleneck Skater Dress | Sling Back Leather Shoes

On Yvette: Cami Top | Tribal Print Pencil Skirt | Leopard Print Leather Pumps

One of my other favorite outfits is here on this model.

Blue Crop Jumper | Skater Skirt | Stud Embellished Shoes

The full ZALORA-curated River Island collection has been launched here: http://www.zalora.sg/river-island-singapore/