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Mulching 101

Come join me in mulching 101

Right after breakfast M and I headed up to the durian plantation to collect brown for our compost pile.  This has serve as part of our daily routine since the group arrived.  And of course getting out at this hour in the woods we serve as nice breakfast to the mozzies.  They must be delighted to have us visit.  As much as they can be quite an nuisance but I must also make a case for these blodd-sucking bugs – mosquitos do serve their purpose too.  The male are responsible for pollenating flowers and fruits – just like bee does. 

Today we went through the Berkeley 18-Day compost.  Composting may be nasty but to do a good compost it is definitely more art than science. Understanding chemistry, the various characteristics of fungi and bacteria interaction to create this wild orgy of mass organic matter and micro-organism that will then be used to rehabilitate and heal a piece of dying land.  Using nature to heal nature.  Micro-organism belongs in the soil and we are helping ourselves when we place them right back where they should be.  Every living thing every element in perfect harmony.  Guess who at the end of this food chain?  Us.  You and I. 

Quick briefing for the group before we get going

Vast majority of vegetables and fruits today are grown with synthetic fertilizers.  They may provide the plants with what’s needed for fattening their fruits (because they fetch a better price and because we the consumers never cared or was never informed how they were grown) but after years of abusing the land in our pursuit for fatter fruit, more chemicals are added and this process have destroyed most agriculture land.  And when the sudden realization that people are falling sick hit us, it is no longer as sudden as first thought.  The robbery of our health and well-being has long been set in motion.  But of course we still have Choice. We still can choose to live in good health.

Laying the bed for our mulch

 I’ve been working with ingredients and food for quite some time. I have met organic farmers and heard their stories but coming this close to the “fooding and fruiting” process has really helped to changed the way I looked at the food we grow that eventually becomes the food we eat.  And this fooding process does not end there…the food we consume continue to nourish and build up our health. Maybe they know (better than us) that foreign virus and bacteria can do us harm, maybe they know (better than us) the wear and tear of daily life can wear us down. Maybe they know (better than us) we are subject of dietary, biological and emotional abuse. Good food is like our faithful guardian – working in a trillion ways we cannot see with our eyes all for our benefit.

The 3-ft mulch near completion

Maybe they just know us better than we do ourselves.

The sad reality of humanity’s ultimate betrayal is already here - we abuse the land we grow our food and the food we eat, we created junk food and made it so cheap and affordable.  We were told the money we pay is the price of the food, but in reality we have thrown in our well-being FOC in the buying process too. Guess who is at the end of the food chain?

I admit I have many indulgences and I may never be able to give up on ice cream, chocolate, my favorite tonkatsu and tempura, the list really goes on and on. But I know for sure I will always choose to make mine with fresh quality ingredients instead free from synthetics and artificial flavors. 3 times a day every day. The choices we make.  These are the consequences we bear. Oh yes the good news is we still have choice.

Welcome to Farmville

Take a good look, humans

The ride will take barely an hour from the city.  A 60-minute ride doesn’t sound that far really.  Between the shock, fear and fantasy of being away from all known urban conveniences and the accompanying realities we have created each to be our own is as wide as the galaxy milky way can be.   

The assembly of multi-nationals in class

The town lies northwest of the capital, was once the crown of the country – a leading producer of most of the coal needed to fuel the nation’s growth and development, it boasts the country’s first railway system as a means of transporting the precious minerals to the hands of the merchants, it is now quite an irony a group of people including writers, teachers, lawyers, architects, disc jockeys, students and farmers all over the world are brought together in Batu Arang to work once again with the land that created the nation’s indefinite wealth and earned the economic might needed for her imperialistic visitor’s expansion throughout the region. 

Welcome to your new home

The old factories still stand, the mines exploited and long abandoned have turned into lakes.  Whatever is left of the community go about their daily life as if the economic boom of the good ole days is all but a fading memory of a forgone generation. 

So here we are, a group as diverse as the united nations assembly with representative from Austria, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore are gathered in this sleepy town apparently also known for its charcoal. (In this part of the world, it’s still a common sight to have vendors cooking and boiling water with charcoal in the busy morning breakfast hours.)  Our guess is that this town may probably not seen this much foreigners gathered around the market in quite a while. 

Part of the abandoned brick factory

Historically the town can really be an exemplary textbook model of all that has been going on in the history of human civilization and modern day capitalism.  Man came. Man took. Man went.  Destruction and devastation are our only footprint we leave.  At the mercy of climate change, never ending fossil fuel consumptions, nations like individuals are growing increasingly concerned about their immediate food security and safety.   We demand to know; how high can fuel get before livelihood are crippled? Why are so many of us falling chronically sick? Or should we question if that crippling already began? Who grow our food?  Can I trust the farmers who grow my food? Well should we even care? The group will now begin their journey to be trained as practitioners of permanent agriculture (or permaculture); a holistic, ethical, self sustaining and organic approach to grow food that also care and reward both nature and man during the most urbanized civilization of human history. 

Blast from the past - remnants of the coal mines

(The definition of permaculture found in wikipedia – Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies.)

 Even though we have a new setting, the cast has changed but the plot remains very much the same.  From imperialism to capitalism, from ethics to profits, the exploitions ever so evident.  This could be the time to start.

Arokiam senior taking our team on a site visit

The real heroes of this particular plot are Alex and Sabina Arokiam, the father and daughter team with big dreams and even bigger hearts, who have worked all their life providing and meeting the needs of addicts, convicts, deliquents, HIV patients, Myanmar refugees with no stature nor status in this country.  Now we  hope to give back to the Arokiams and their community.  Giving them a hope for the future and a clean, green environment to live and recreate in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. 

Welcome to the new life. You are now in farmville for real.

A piece of cake

A cake that brings back memory of Japan

There are some food that can bring back memory of Japan yet even fewer places in Singapore that evoke the ”sense of place” we have visited.

And it is in Kki (keki is Japanese for “Cake”) that I found a sense of familiar comfort and solace.  For one, it is tucked among the secluded slopes of Ann Siang hill.  Away from the crowd. A quiet place to sip your afternoon away over a cuppa of joe with friends or even on your own.  Everything in the store reminds me of Japan, the name, the logo, the decor, the merchandize, even the location has a taint resemblence of the hilly Harajuku / Omote Sando district.  Now I know where I’ll be whenever I’m homesick.

Looking around it’s easy to see that the owners have paid a lot of attention to the many details.  Credit must go to the enterprising owners and aspiring chefs for creating this charming place.

Some say the cake I ordered defines a Japanese pastry chef but to me I ordered what reminds me most of the sweet memories of Tokyo; the mont blanc or marron (chestnut) cake.

I wish for more places like this.  Hopefully this is the beginning of the many good things we can look forward to.

Find Kki on 7 Ann Siang Hill.

The Official Udon pilgrimage 2010

Slurp and sip to divinity

Your doctor’s advise: Continue reading only with a full stomach. Some of the pictures may cause severe response of gastric juices 

My Warning: as always a strong stomach is highly recommended for responding to your divine calling

Woohoooo woohooo I am delighted to annouce that the official sanuki udon pilgrimage for 2010 has started!  Hahaha…every mention of udon brings back fond memories of our udon event with Cathay organization which took us on our own udon pilgrimage to Shikoku in 2007. Something we so wanted to do inspired by the Udon movie. So simple – we see we do and we ate. 

But the sad facts remain that I have not had a good bowl of udon for ages.  The problem here is I’m not even sure if I want to put myself in front of a bowl of cold stainless steel machine-made, heartlessly mass produced strains of udon anymore. At least the last time I checked, I’ve yet to find a hand-made udon shop here.  Sometimes this is what these trips do to you;  Drives you up the wall.  But yet it certainly brings back fond memories. 

To sample all 33 outlets featured in this year’s guide is nothing short of an major undertaking.  But I’ve provided a courtesy udon google map with pinpoint locations that you can save, edit or add your own comments and with the help of an GPS device you can be sure you will never miss any of the 33 outlets.  Just make sure you have room for it.  Some of the food photos on the map will cause some needed distraction from work. Take my warning to heart but have fun reading and slurping (LOUD). 

Of course all my misdemeanors and adventure with udon in this blog will forever serve as a stark reminder that work remains before soggy, uninteresting, limpy, soft and slimy noodles is irrevocably eliminated from the surface of this goregous green earth (because we deserve better) and yet also maybe a consolation (if any) that good food might just be around the corner – so don’t ever give up! My udon past on has been forever inscribed here.  And some samples of the fat silky, chewy noodles worth every slurp you will find on the pilgrimage are like this.

(latest: only 32 outlets this year, one owner has decided to take a year sabbatical)

Or read more in the Zaobao feature http://www.mediacenter.learnsushi.org/?p=105 

Udon pilgrimage map with links and photos 

View udon pilgrimage 2010 in a larger map 

An Autumn Conversation

You know how some times you get messages on FB from old school mates, colleagues, friends whom you’ve not seen for a long time and you wonder what on heaven and earth they’ve been up to. I received such a message on FB from C that quickly turns into a conversation that got me drooling in envy with her mischief and misdemeanors since that unforgiving wet chilling autumn afternoon I first opened her message.

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Hi Sinma!

How are you, my friend? I am ok, still the same. Have been following your emails and always happy to read them.

I will be going to Tokyo and Kyoto next Mon for 9 days. Is there any restaurant or food/latest food craze that you think I must try? I am staying near the Imperial Palacebut don’t think there are good eating places around! :) However, I would be visiting Asakusa,Odaiba, Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku. And of course, DisneySea… Also going to Hakone and Kyoto. Unfortuately I am not staying at the traditional inns so will not get to eat the wonderful dinner and breakfasts normally found in these places.

I will be travelling with my parents and kids. Free and easy. :)
Take care! I miss talking to you and Jernnine! Always fun to chat. :)
Oh yes, I will also look out for the kids’ cookbook in bookshop. Looks interesting.
 

Feeling stressed at work? Just another day at my Tsukiji office

What stressed at work you talking about? Just another day at my Tsukiji office

2 weeks after the first message I received this in my inbox 

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Hi Sinma!

I just got back today. The trip was good. But I did not get to try the restaurants which I researched on before I left. Instead we just eat at wherever place we were during meal times. The initial two days were harder as we were not familiar with the system and could not find a dining place to accomodate our group. Then we realised that we should look for restuarants that cater to families and ended up eating at the restaurants located at the top floors of departmental stores. Food was great!!!! I am still thinking about all the delicious food.

Our last meal was shabu shabu at mimiu. http://www.mimiu.co.jp/ We saw the food display and thought it was reasonable as the portion seemed quite huge for 4300 yen. When we were seated, we read in the menu that it was actually for two people so we have to multiply the price by two. Anyway, we just ordered and no regrets! Really delicious.

Anyway, on the first day at Kyoto, I caught a cold and lost my sense of taste. I think you can imagine my frustration! Good thing I brought along the axe brand “hong you” and it helped to clear my nose on the second day. Phew!

Did not do much shopping as everything seemed so expensive due to the strong yen. But really enjoyed the beauty of autumn at Kyoto, the energy at Tokyoand the laid back atmosphere at Hakone.

Ok, will stop here. Catch up with you again! 

While most are deep asleep crazy people like us were already in line

While most are deep asleep crazy people (obviously many) like us were already in line

Then 3 days later comes this message from C

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Hi Sinma!

Yes, please feel free to share. It is indeed easy to visit Japan. The service people are very professional and they try their best to understand us.

On a side note, we stayed at Hotel Grand Palacein Chiyoda, near the Yasukuni Shrine. The furnishings are ok, not 5 star, but good enough. It is very near the JR train station, about 50m.. and only five stops to shinjuku. And the rooms are much bigger than the normal hotel rooms, at least we have closet space and luggage area! You may want to check it out. I got quite a good deal on hotels.com. Paid about $280 for a triple room (two queen beds and one single sofa bed) and $220 for a double room (two super single beds).

Take care! :)  

Breakfast fit for a royalty - today that's you and I!

Breakfast fit for a royalty - today that's you and I!

An hour after the last message comes another in my inbox

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Hi Sinma!

Just to add that you and Jerninne have played a big role in my appreciation of Japanese food and interest in Japan and its places and culture. Especially your eagerness and enthusiasm in sharing your knowledge about Japanese food. In fact, so much so that for this trip, visiting food markets and trying out the food took a much bigger importance than shopping!!!

I think my kids are also into Japanese food as a result of my interest which is an outcome brought about by your efforts. Thought I will share this with you. So keep up the good work that you are doing! :)

PS – I like this series of cook books by Harumi Kurihara. Not sure if you had come across it. But it is very well written and recipes are easy to follow. A friend gave it to me for birthday and I had since become a fan.

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Many more experiences await you and I in 2010

Many more experiences await you and I in 2010

The conversation doesn’t end here.  In fact I think it just began for many of us.  I am just so glad many are strating to discover the thrills of visiting Japan for its food and culture (okay shopping and sight-seeing included).  There are so many interesting food to try, experiences to have, memories to cherish, laughter yet to share with family and loved ones. I know people who find it intimidating to visit a foreign city with a different culture speaking an unfamiliar language but if C, a married mother of two and her family can do this trip I think the rest of us will do just fine.  Have your share of happy experiences this holiday season!

 For now I can’t wait for C to post her photos.

 Many thanks to C for being so gracious to allow me to share her experience with our community.

Never lost in translation

Say yum yum in Japanese

Say yum yum in Japanese

The mention of a food trip to Tokyo is enough to get everyone in the room excited.  Dad, mom, kids and even grannies. So what is it about Japanese food that makes us all so happy and excited about eating in the streets of downtown Tokyo? For one we know Japanese food is well-loved.  And like what many of those who traveled with us have told us - it is because they know they have someone they can trust traveling with them all the way from Singapore to Tokyo.  Every step of the way throughout the trip, to have someone there who knows where to eat, what to order, how to travel around within the city and offer all the help needed to have a great time in Tokyo.  And of course someone who actually knows and speaks your language. (I know what you like even before you can articulate it…hey just like any other Singaporean, I love good food too!)

Somehow I think we got manage to get our Japanese friend’s attention.  Much credit can now be given to the Tokyo metropolitan government for their efforts to help foodies like us navigate and survive the gourmet jungle in Japan – in the form of a website that offers several language translations of some of the most common and popular Japanese ingredients and food.

jp2

You can finally eat yourselves happy with help from Menu Japan

After my initial test-run, I am already very impressed by the website capabilities – the coverage of menu items is rather extensive.  I selected sashimi as a keyword and out comes 115 multilingual results of individual foods to choose from as if I was translating a full menu.  There’s definitely enough for anyone to eat for a long time.

Honestly once you go on this trip once, you quickly realize it not difficult travel on your own in Tokyo.  You just need to know where to eat and what to order. And now help is readily available in the form of a website. Check out Menu Tokyo website: http://menu-tokyo.jp/

These knowledge base and information have been around for ages albeit in Japanese still I’m so glad FINALLY someone realized all this data can be put into good use for the benefit of food-loving people like you and I.  Gratefully we seemed to be on the right track to ensure good Japanese food may never be lost in translation ever again.

Make your own Banana Vinegar

kurozu1kurozu

If you have been to Japan in the last couple of years, you might have notice the latest food fad in Japan – fruit vinegar. More and more artisan vinegar shops have opened up inside department stores, selling a wide array of expensive drinkable vinegar that comes in stunning wine-look-alike bottles. Or you might have seen slick-looking vinegar bar inside the major train stations wooing the young and health-conscious Japanese with fanciful concoctions of vinegar drink. Everyone in Japan is wild about vinegar. People used to dislike vinegar for its tart taste and pungent smell, but these vinegars; cleverly flavored with fruits like blueberries or bananas are nothing like the vinegar we generally know of. They are palatable and only natural to become an instant craze.

But this craze is all for a good reason. Vinegar, especially black vinegar or Kuro-zu is very good for our bodies. It is said to contain notable health benefits like regulating your blood pressure, lowering your bad cholesterol level, helps digestion and among all; great for your skin and hair.

We don’t have a vinegar bar here as yet, but the good news is you can actually make your own. (like the one in the picture above) With a few simple ingredients, you can actually create your own fruit vinegar at home. Blend it with milk or yoghurt; it makes a deliciously addictive beverage that is great for your health. It’s yummy & it’s healthy, isn’t that great?

If you are interested to learn more about fruit vinegar (how to make and serve), we are currently having a series of healthy workshop with Mizkan at various community clubs around the island. Visit our website www.learnsushi.orgспални to find out more.