Singapore Flyer

Today was a beautiful day before 12 noon. The Singapore Flyer was one attraction that I had wanted to take a look at. So today, i paid a visit in the morning just before the downpour and here're some pix from where i could get a good shot from my Sony Ericsson Cybershot Phone.

Ho Peng Restaurant

Shark cartilage soup

Spicy eggplant with minced chicken

Stewed vermicelli with pig trotters

Almond cream with egg white

Today was raining cats and dogs and the weather was cool. I had been wanting to try the food at Ho Peng for quite awhile but didn't have the time to make it there. So I gathered a bunch of friends to try out the food there. Chef Julian Tham used to be head chef of the Chinese restaurant at Furama Palace. He moved out and decided to venture into his own signature Cantonese Cuisine restaurant. A simple no frills restaurant situated at 476 Macpherson Road(Opposite Mazda Showroom)

We started with soups. We had the shark cartilage soup and fish maw winter melon soup. The taste was well balanced and full of flavor. Prices for the soups were $8 and $12. We then had eggplant minced spicy chicken. The eggplant was cooked just right and the chicken was spicy enough to my taste as I take my food very spicy-I saw some chilli padis in it to attest for the spicy level. For mains we decided to have noodles. One of his signature dish is the baked lobster with ee fu noodle in superior stock but was tempted by something else - the stewed vermicelli with pig trotters. This dish is one my mum used to cook on weekends when I was a kid. I eventually learnt to cook that myself, so was very keen to savor his style of cooking it. Basically I felt it needed a little wee more salt. Other then that it tasted good enough. Apparently this dish is rich in collagen. Will definitely try out the baked lobster noodle next time. We ended dinner with desserts and we all had the recommended almond cream with egg white.

If you like good and simple cantonese soups and dishes, Ho Peng Restaurant is definitely worth checking out. I'd recommend you go in the night as parking would be easier as its by the main road.

Ho Peng Restaurant
476 Macpherson Road
Singapore 67479892
Tel:67479892

The Tippling Club

Last night was the official opening of the Tippling Club at Dempsey Hill. Its Spa Esprit's new venture-a restaurant cocktail bar concept. Offering 5,10 and 15 course degustation menus paired with innovative and unique cocktails. The restaurant is spacious and the friendly staff made the first impression welcoming. I was told its a fun fine dining without the snobbery. Saw Chef Ryan Clift being very personal with the customers, serving them and explaining about the food served. It is as interactive and close as you can get to a fine chef like him.

I had the chance to try some of the finger food that was served- the pumpkin soup served in shooters and the mini pizzas were my favourite for the night. However I was served an excellent dessert on a stick-Strawberry Lollipop. It came looking like scallops from far as it was flat like a big fifty cent coin and coated white. So i didnt expect it to be anything sweet but savoury. It was a pleasant surprise when i took a bite.....frozen strawberry!! Surprise element n innovation. My homies were having a great time drinking 'Kopi-O"...yes kopi-o!! It was coffee mixed with rum n a secret ingredient. They were having it by the 3s n 4s. Swearing that it was the best kopi-o after Yakun..............yeah right and I "believed" them. We had a good laughed when we gave one to our friend and said u ordered take away right?!-cause it was served in a plastic takeaway bag that was reminiscent of the traditional coffeshop takeaway drinks. However if you look closer it truly showed the cross pollination of a drink that cocktail artist Matthew Bax had created served in a rectangular cup placed in a plastic bag. and when you take a sip of it, it will bring a smile to your face and ask yourself-How on earth did they come up with this idea!

The Tippling Club has set the tone-be surprised, pleasantly surprised when you come and experience the innovative food and drinks. Its a combination of taste, visual and emotional experience that will make it a memorable one. For those who think how can you eat 10 or 15 courses...........don't worry. Remember the saying-good things comes in small packages. Have fun when you eat there!!

Remember those 45s?

7" singles or what we call 45s were vinyl singles which we would get our hands on before the 12" singles would hit the stores. The record labels would sometimes just release singles in this format only. Most times these 45s would come with a big hole in the centre making it look like a donut if you view from the top. I had the chance opportunity to bump into the creator of the new funky looking space age 45s adaptor at a local DJ store. Simon Strutt showed me how these fellas work.......he just put one on and threw 45s on it like he was playing a horseshoe kind of game. The singles just slipped easily onto it. I remember then that we had to struggle with the 45s adaptor on my turntables. So if you still have 45s or plan to play like Dj Shadow n Cut Chemist for a 45 set then this is a must. Check out how cool they look! To order visit:45central

Happy Birthday Material Girl-Five Oh!!

Hard Candy Madonna turns 50 on 16th August. Fans of Madonna should head on down to CAMP at House where we're throwing a tribute party on the 15th. All nite Madonna mixes n remixes to keep fans and party people happy. First 100 will get a treat of Sticky 'N' Sweet Vodka Jello....and goodies kind courtesy of Warner Music Singapore(Simon Nassir n Evelyn). I will be rockin' the decks with non stop feed of Madonna hits n rare mixes. Its another excuse to party!!! Hope to see ya!!

Happy Birthday Singapore

I grew up in this part of the world and spent 4 years in the U.S at the University of Oregon pursuing my business degree. It was there that I felt the pressure of doing well in my education and at the same time the need to soak up the positive and creative vibe of the city that I was in. I wanted to maximise my time and it was here where I got serious on the decks and sent in a demo tape to a club on campus-Guidos. I got in the door to my first club gig but had zero exposure to real RnB/HipHop. It was here that I learnt and made the cut. Soon people were talking about my weekly residency. And before long the hit radio station KSND came calling and asked if I would do a weekly mixed show. I said yes but didnt know what i got myself into:)....

When i showed up for my first show-we were about to go live in an hour and was shown the control room that I was to be mixing live in. I was in utter shock as the mixer was no Dj setup but a radio broadcast console-hell yeah they were the the longest faders i laid my hands on!! I wasn't sure how all this would turn out but i reckon i will give it a shot. My co-partner Rob Halloway then called me into the room. He was deliberating how I should be addressed on air(in the U.S a lot of the DJs had funky names like Jammin' Jamie, Funky Fresh Freddie etc) It was 5 minutes before we went on air and Rob made a decision-"How does Paul T sound?" Well it sounded not too swanky or funky for me but still had a good vibe to it so I agreed. So Paul T. was officially named in 1986. So for all those who had drop initials like mine.......you know who had it first and its officially documented right here:)

I was then involved in radio production at the station learning from the creative director who had one of the best voices on American Radio. After I graduated I decided to stay and learn all I could for another year. My dad gave me the blessings and I was working for a studio in the Nike building then. It was here I learnt the craft of sampling-we were producing samples for the different samplers in the market-namely the Akais/Roland/Ensoniq etc. I had the pleasure to be one of the first few to use the ATARI Adap which was the DAW that was used in the Simpsons audio posts.

By the end of the tenure I decided to return to Singapore. Even though I had enjoyed my freedom,the American friends that I had made, the numerous exposure and unforgettable experiences; I decided to return home to family and make full use of my experience,knowledge and exposure to create what I enjoyed doing -Remixes. Till today many people still ask why didn't i stay back in the U.S. For me it was to come back to be with my family as my brother had gone over to where i was to pursue his education. I reckon my family will miss us if we were both away. So being old school-I made the decision to come back and hopefully help shape the music scene in Singapore. I had no regrets as I was able to quickly immerse and share my works with record labels, radio sations and made music production that was not heard before back home. I enjoy living here close to friends, family and of course the food! I only wish i wake up feeling more creative every morning. The vibe here is not as conducive but I have learnt to adapt and just hope in time to come it will be.

So its another National Day here on the island and I am sure many of us will be out to soak in the festivities. I will be playing at the Forbidden City(Clarke Quay) tonight. If you have time do drop by-It'll be a nite of RnB. I'll be there in Red n White!!

Plush does RED & WHITE

Come join me on the 8th August, this Friday at Bar CoCoon-The Forbidden City. Its located at 3A Merchant's Court, Clarke Quay. Come in your patriotic best!:) and receive a COMPLIMENTARY Chivas cocktail. HSBC credit cardholders decked out in their most patriotic of red and white will receive 3 complimentary Crown Lagers each!
It'll be fun and a nite of RnB!!

After a busy Saturday

Am sitting by my laptop with a cup of espresso.....now what did i get myself into. My art director was chatting with me last nite about the new album design and the website. She totally took me for my sleepy n tired soul at 2 in the morning and convinced me that I should have a blog. So here I am putting down my first hit!.

Yesterday was action packed, a real busy day-teaching DJ class, meeting up with a friend that had some problems with her music software and a long nite at my residency at CAMP which is at HOUSE@Dempsey. I had a great time catching up with the owners and the staff. My mix for LUSH FM was also due for broadcast last nite at 9pm and will be repeated this Monday at 8pm.

Friday was an interesting day for me. I met up with a friend for coffee and he asked me casually when the new album will be ready. It got me thinking and when I got home it just triggered me that it took me so much time and global friends coming together to be part of it, I just have to give myself that final push to make it all happen. This album is taking me two years to finish. One of the reasons was I was working with guests artists from around the world and the other is the production of writing, programming and reworking them plus i am quite anal with the final product. I am quite happy with the sound thats taking shape now. The album's got a variety of the kind of music that I enjoy working on-HipHop/Downtempo/Breaks etc. I had been putting off the final mix as I was just too busy working on my sneaker custom work and other production...which was a good break from it. So with fresh ears, I have started final touch ups for the mixes. Anyway am gonna have a chill Sunday and catch up on some DVDs. Have a good rest of the week...yeah and i know some of you gonna be at SingFest:)

Here's a quote for the day-"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing."