Monday 25 July 2011

Between my eating feasts

Run through fat days.
Run despite whoever loves you or doesn't.
Run through regret and guilt.Run through frustrations.
Run through loneliness.Run through those blissful days.
Run despite your dysfunctional family.
Run through people drifting in and out of your life.Run through your own fits of self doubt...

I'm currently stranded without a gym which means that I haven't been running in about three weeks. Which sucks. 
My recent bout of rashes also means that I can't run outdoors this month. Which sucks.


Friday 8 July 2011

Bruno's Pizzeria & Grill: good italian food in the east

Bruno's came highly recommended by my friend from school so my best friend and I came by for lunch on a Saturday afternoon a while back. As we came by pretty early, the restaurant was vacant and the staff were hugely attentive.

I ordered Vongole with White Wine and when the dish was served, I was delighted. I could barely make out the spaghetti underneath the mountain of clams! The serving of clams was definitely generous which made the price of the Vongole easier to stomach. I don't remember the exact price but I think it was closer to $20.



It was delicious. The spaghetti was done al dente yet it soaked up the white wine sauce sufficiently. There was a generous amount of white wine sauce as seen in the picture above and the sauce provided adequate flavour to both the spaghetti and the clams. The clams were juicy and most of the clams had flesh within. I've eaten Vongole at certain places which, for some queer reasons, came with mostly clam shells without the flesh within. The serving was huge and I was extremely full after my lunch at Bruno's.

With the whole stretch of cafes popping up along Tanjong Katong Road, Bruno's faces stiff competition. It is definitely pricier than Big Bad Wolf down the street but for the quality of food served, I think it will definitely attract a crowd willing to pay for delicious italian food.

To get to Bruno's, you can take a bus and alight after the petrol station, in front of a student hostel. Cross the overhead bridge and continue walking down and you will Bruno's.

338 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Tampopo: black pig shabu ramen forever

It's probably no secret that I love Tampopo's Black Pig Shabu Ramen. I've tried numerous ramen joints in Singapore but I find myself coming back again and again for the same bowl of ramen at Tampopo.

The reason why I keep going back is because I love the soup base used in Tampopo's Black Pig Shabu Ramen. It is full of flavour and has the body which many other soup bases lack. I think the soup bases differ for different ramen at Tampopo because I've tried other types of ramen at Tampopo before but the soup bases just did not match up to the one used in the Black Pig Shabu Ramen.

Another reason is the thin slices of pork with the ramen. I prefer these thin slices of pork as compared to the conventional char siew which usually comes with ramen. While fat marbly char siew which melts in the mouth is a superb addition to a bowl of ramen, these thick slices of pork are savoury and remarkably light. I love how it goes very well with the ramen, delicious but not too oily.

You could order either single or double portion of meat for your bowl of ramen. They are also very generous with the chili flakes which are scattered in your bowl of ramen before it is served.


Tampopo has two outlets, one at Liang Court and the other at Ngee Ann City. I personally prefer the Liang Court Tampopo because, for unknown reasons, I think this branch serves better Black Pig Shabu Ramen as compared to the one at Ngee Ann City.

177 River Valley Road, #01-23/24 Liang Court Shopping Centre, Singapore

Jurong East Swimming Complex: Cheap good fun

We came on a Sunday and it was very crowded since it was the weekend. However, it was still very good fun and a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The swimming complex consist of a normal swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, three long slides, a lazy river and a wave pool. We did not manage to rent a float at first and only managed to get one awhile later. It was so much more fun with the float!

We could play with the two longer slides (the blue and pink ones) with the float. Only the yellow slide, which is the shortest, is open to those without floats. I have to say it was quite tiring to climb all the way up for the two longer slides but it was definitely very good fun.

The float also made bobbing along in the lazy river much more fun! We could simply lie back on the float and allow the currents to push the float along in the lazy river. After bobbing along for awhile in the lazy river, the waves started in the wave pool so we headed there. The waves start periodically but we have no idea when they will come so you just have to keep a look out for the waves and head into the wave pool when they start. Lie back on the float, peddle out into the wave pool and just allow the waves to carry you along. The waves were quite strong at one point and we were (literally) struggling to stay afloat because our float just kept drifting into the deeper end. 

We ended the swimming session in the Jacuzzi. It was a great day out but the next time I'm coming here on a weekday to avoid the huge crowds!

To get there, take the MRT to Chinese Garden, exit from the station and cross the overhead bridge. After crossing the bridge, walk straight along the row of HDB shops. You would pass by some steamboat restaurants. When you reach the corner with a pet shop, turn right and you should be able to see the swimming complex across the road.

21 Jurong East Street 31