How do you hold your chopsticks? Let us know in the polls!

Nobody taught me to hold my chopsticks when I was a kid

You know we all take chopsticks for granted. It is such a part of our Chinese culture that we don't even bother to teach our kids how to hold their chopsticks. How many of you actually remember your father sitting you down one day and saying to you, "Son, now that you have come of age, daddy is going to show you how to hold a pair of chopsticks"? No, more often than not, we all just pick up a pair of chopsticks one day and started using them. Unfortunately, it is for that reason that a lot of people, myself included, ended up holding chopsticks crossed like the photo above!


I had to learn it myself when I grew up!

I came to the realization that I was indeed holding my chopsticks wrongly twenty years ago and re-learned to hold it properly. I guess there would be many of us who are like that. There will be others who have never thought about it until now and then there are others who would give all sorts of excuses to justify why holding chopsticks crossed is alright.

Pragmatist: As long as I can still eat, I don't care.
Universalist: There is no one right way to hold chopsticks.
Anti-establishment: I purposely cross just because you said not to.
Boh Chapist: Can't be bothered to learn. Anyway who cares?
Environmentalist: Don't use chopsticks! Save the forest.
Aware-an: We must be all inclusive! How dare you say we have to hold our chopsticks straight?

Ironically, because the Ang Mohs all learnt to hold chopsticks formally, I have never seen any of my Ang Moh friends holding the chopsticks crossed! So it really is just a matter of Chinese pride that we should try to hold our chopsticks correctly. Don't you all agree?

So how do you hold your chopsticks? Let us know by taking part in our polls!

For those who want to learn how to hold their chopsticks properly, here is a good video:



Many thanks to GSKgirl1 and GSKgirl2 for modeling their chopstick poses!

Click here to cast your vote.

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The President's Picks!

In my post on Kway Guan Huat Poh Piah, I mentioned that this is one of the stalls that our President frequents. You might have noticed that I also created a new label called "President's Picks" which showcases some food that President Nathan likes to eat. So, aside from Kway Guat Huat, I also know that our President drinks the Teh Tarik at Hilmi Sarabat Stall as well as tar pau the prawn noodle soup from Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle. ($4 portion, not the big prawn one).

Now, whether our President is a foodie or not is anyone's guess, (I am placing my bet that he is) and you might be wondering, "So what?". Well, I think that being a man who can basically have access to any food that he wants from anywhere around the world, he should have quite a discerning palate. Anyway, I think he has done a great job as President and this is just my simple way of honoring him.

So, do you know of any other stalls that the President frequents? Do write in and let us know!

There is also another new label called "Heritage Hawkers" which lists out all the Hawkers that have been feeding Singaporeans for generations. Eateries like Zam Zam (who just turn 100), Hock Lam Beef Kway Teow, Tong Ya Coffee and Saji's Indian Food are just some examples. I am trying to cover as many of them as I can, so if you know of any that should be part of the list, please write in to tell us as well!

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The Foodie's Code

I believe that everyone who considers themselves a foodie will subconsciously follow a set of unwritten rules. I thought it would be fun to list these down so we can gauge just how much of a foodie we really are. So I am going to start with a few and let you all suggest some more to add onto the list!

The Foodie's Code

1. Never waste your calories on yukky food!

2. One should not brag about how good a certain food stall is without telling others exactly where it is.

3. A real foodie will never reject someone's offer of damn shiok food even when she is already extremely full.

4. If someone else says that something is really really good, then it behooves the foodie to at least give it a try.

5. The only thing better then really good food is when the really good food is free!

6. Good food tastes even better with good company!

7. A real foodie will be busy planning his next meal while he is devouring his present.

8. Never rely on the recommendation of others, trust only your own tastebuds.

9. Neither height, nor depth, nor distance, nor price, nor threats, nor dangers, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate the foodie from his favourite food!

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Underwater Ring Bubbles: Try it yourself!

Just thought I'd take a break from food to show you this neat trick!

In case you are wondering, yes, that's me in the video. And no, there are no camera tricks involved.

Have fun trying this at the pool!

Click here for Hi Res version

For those who want to try it, this is what you do:

Blow up your cheeks, pucker your lips (like you are trying to kiss a baby) and give a quick POOOOP! It's really simple. Seriously. This is exactly what I told my 8 year old son, and he's blowing ring bubbles after a few goes!

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Food Idols! You've Got a Friend (Ode to Laksa)

If you have problems viewing the video, please click here

You've got a Friend (Ode to Laksa)
Sung to the tune of "You've got a Friend" by James Taylor/Carole King

When you feel that something's missin',
Some imbalance deep inside,
And your tongue has got that cravin
you just can't hide.....

You're trying hard to study,
Your exams are 'round the bend
But you just can't satisfy
those hunger pangs.....

chorus
You just get in the car,
and no matter how near or far,
searching for, that bowl of Laksa.......

Hae Bee, Oil, Chilli and Ha'am,
Flows down your throat, its so pa'ang
Hits you right there! Yeah Yeah Ye'ah
You've got a Friend....

So you think you can be a Food Idol Judge? The Polls are open, you can now cast your vote by clicking on the Polls!

If you would like to take part in Food Idols, just submit your lyrics of the food song to me. Even better if you can get it recorded with slideshow and send me the link! But it must be an original song composed by yourself and it has to be about Singapore Food.

Post Script:

Just in case you are wondering. The music was a downloaded midi file and Amagada basically sang in front of the laptop to record it. No post recording work was done, so it is pretty raw.

One of those things you do when you are bored late at night!

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Special Feature: Food Pics in 3D!

WARNING: Please make sure you don't stare too long and take adequate breaks to look in the distance to minimize eye strain!

Instructions:
Place your head 1 foot from the screen. Cross your eyes and look at the 2 pictures. You should see that the 2 pictures start to overlap to form 3 pictures. The one in the middle is a composite image of the 2 pics and will appear 3D.

Don't give up. If you persist, you will see the pics in 3D. It really does work. For those who still cannot see, please read the section in orange which will give you more tips.


Big Prawn from Noo Cheng Prawn Noodle (Zion Road Riverside FC)

In my opinion, the most important aspect of a food photo is that it tricks your brain into thinking that the food is actually there. A good picture should get you to start salivating, your tummy to start rumbling and your brain to start making plans to get hold of the tasty morsel.

Photography as an artform delights mainly the sense of sight. So already it is limited to one of the five senses. Not only that, but as a 2 dimensional artform, it also lacks the sense of depth which we all appreciate in our 3 dimensional world.

I was looking at my pictures one day and suddenly a thought struck me. What if we could see the food pics in 3 dimensions? Would it make the food more delicious and elicit a stronger response?


Cod Fish from Fishermen's Wharf

First we have to understand how we can actually have stereoscopic (3D) vision. Put simply, we are able to have a sense of depth because we have 2 eyes. Each eyes sees a slightly different image from the other. So the brain is being presented with 2 images which it merges into one. The brain processes the data to accurately sense the depth of field. If you don't believe me, try using your index finger to touch the edge of the computer monitor with one eye closed! (Do it several times quickly)

So, in order to create a sense of depth on a 2 dimensional computer screen, what we have to do is to present the brain with the 2 images and trick the brain into merging them into one image. You will notice a series of paired images in the blog. They are not duplicate images but actually images of the same thing taken about 2.5 inches apart (The distance between our eyes). What we will try to do is to get the brain to merge the two images into one.


Noo Cheng Prawn Noodle from Zion Road Riverside Food Centre

For those having difficulty, try these methods:

1. Place your head about 1 foot away from the screen. Place your index finger halfway between the screen and your eyes. Look at your finger. Now make sure you don't move your eyes, remove the index finger. You should see 3 images. The middle image should have a sense of depth.

2. Place your head about 1 foot away from the screen. Place a sheet of paper in between the 2 images so that your left eye only sees the left image and the right eye, only the right. Stare at it long enough and your brain will merge the two images.

It helps to close your eyes a little to get a clearer picture.

Have fun and don't stare for too long as you may over strain your eyes. Make sure you take a break and look into the distance regularly!


San Lou from Sin Hoi San


Fish and Chips from Fishermen's Wharf

So how? Did you see the food in 3D? Does it look more delicious or are you having a headache?

Let us know. The polls are opened!

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