I love @shaobbq. So do my folks. Hence, great meals here are pretty much a foregone conclusion for us. I had to make last Sunday’s reservation a couple of weeks in advance because this homely looking Teochew restaurant has become insanely popular. My heart was set on re-ordering the Claypot Soon Hock that we went gaga over during our previous visit but once Chef-owner Jack Ding (@shaofrankel) made his recommendations which included the day’s special items, I went for those without hesitation. Which meant there was no more belly real estate for the dish I craved - we’ll just have to return another day, I guess 😁😁😁 But seriously, every dish Chef Jack said we should order, bowled us over. Here’s the full list of what we ate: 1. Drunken Hairy Cockles ($16) - Loaded with plenty of garlic and cilantro, the cockles were huge and meaty, and didn’t have the usual strong bloody, metallic taste. 2. “Prawn Pancake” - This exceeded our expectations. A layer of prawn paste mixed with a bit of squid resided between Vietnamese rice paper sheets (brilliant idea, isn’t it?) to give that crispy-on-the-outside and juicy-on-the-inside sweet succulence. Amazing! 3. Steamed “Ngo Her Soong” or Baby Yellow Threadfin - Impeccably cooked, this very fresh, cottony-soft fish tasted magnificent with the preserved yellow soya beans brought in from China, and some sour plums. 4. Vegetable Horfun ($12) - One of my absolute must-haves at #shaobbq is this seemingly simple plate of rice noodles. It billows with “wok hei” plus it is insanely tasty due to the generous amount of “chye por” (preserved radish) and garlic used to fry it. 5. Omelette with Dried and Salted Radish - They do a marvelous rendition that’s thick and fluffy. Moreover, their “chye por” (preserved radish) is a bit different - crunchier, rounder in flavour and just more appealing to me. 6. Dragon Chives ($16) - When dining with my parents, I try to choose more tender vegetables and Shao BBQ’s “qinglong cai” has always been stir-fried deliciously every time. If you can’t or prefer not to dine in, you can order their food for delivery too. Just tap on the link in their bio. #notsponsoredjustloveit

Brought me back to the question I asked myself many years earlier, “What value or economic contribution do I make to society as an #artiste, seems like zero?” And to which my friend enlightened me with a very simple and straightforward answer, “You make people #happy, or #laugh.” 🥳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s the old ancient debate (and long foregone conclusion) of the Arts vs the Sciences, and for which I was influenced to take up triple Sciences in secondary school, Economics in college, and to end up with English Literature (Humanities and the Arts) in NUS. Cos I was #wiredup that way, not how society wants you to be wired up! 😎 Trust me, you’re better at doing what you’re better at, not what others want you to be better in... cos you were made for that! And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 😊 Now, the last thing I need is for you to tell me I’m #essential (or #nonessential), or if it even matters at all, cos I’d know better anyway. 😉 And at least I could tell myself now, “Oh, I can see the value in that!” Off to the weekend! 😘 #happyweekend #loveyourself #youmakemesmile #wiredupthatway #notyourway #orthehighway #getoverit #forentertainmentonly #whysoserious #ourepiclittlelives

Having been floored by @allium.sg’s Choux Buns last week, ordering them again was a foregone conclusion. For this week’s filling, Pastry Chef @lusianadarusman created a heavenly blend of Kaya and Gula Aren in Vanilla Cream. Smooth, heavy and voluptuous, it was dazzlingly in fragrance and flavour as the sweetness from the Indonesian palm sugar was of an earthy-rich nature. To me, this filling bears a striking resemblance in taste to a most excellent #Chendol. #veronicaphuaeats #alliumsg #creampuff #kayapuff #choux #gulaaren #dessertsg #modsin #burppletastemaker #burpproved #burpple #burpplesg #singaporefood #sgfoodies #sgfoodie #igfood #igfoodie #tastespotting #foodiesofinstagram #foodlover #foodstagram #foodie #instaeat #foodspotting #foodporn #singapore #stayhomesg #loveyourlocalsg #supportlocalsg