Towering views of a Paris icon

la tour eiffel

Okay, I guess it’s not much of a tip, and everybody who’s been to Paris probably knew where the best vantage point to view the Eiffel Tower. But what’s the best time to go visit?

When I toured Paris in the summer of 2009, the sun was setting between 9 and 10 pm. I reached the tower in the late afternoon, probably about 6 pm where the sun was still above the horizon. As per most photography advices, one of the best times to capture astounding landscape pictures was in the late afternoon when the sun was setting and emanating a soft but intense golden colour. I guessed I arrived at the ideal time.

I walked towards and under the tower, taking in the sight and fighting busloads of tourists. But I wanted to find a quieter spot to sit down, rest and enjoy the view, with some snacks. I had a long day and was knackered.

I headed north east of the tower and found myself in a beautiful open green space called Jardins du Trocadéro. The water feature in the middle, called the Fountain of Warsaw was impressive with fountains jetting water across.

Before I navigate the open space I took a look at the tower and realised I passed by a carousel without even knowing it was there. At the time the sun has set, but the sky maintained a light blue hue. The carousel was running with bright lights. With the Paris icon as the backdrop, I thought then that was a great photo opportunity.

I’ve tried to follow a lot of travel photography advice – try to take pictures of iconic establishments at different angles. This is to break away from stock-standard traditions and introduce a fresher perspective to something that probably has been photographed a gazillion times.

The result was the photograph that opens this blog. I really like the blurring effect as it depicts motion.

I continued walking across the great green space and reached the steps of Palais de Chaillot. The architecture was impressive. It’s made up of two symmetrical ‘wings’ shaped in two arcs. The two parts are actually not connected. An esplanade separates the two sections and they both house a few museums. Surprisingly, there weren’t a lot of people on the steps so I decided to rest for a while.

My stomach rumbled, but I really wanted to see the tower light up at night. So I walked across the esplanade to the streets behind the Palais. By a stroke of luck, I found and ventured into a small grocery store that sells both wine and cheese.

I bought a cheap red, a big piece of camembert and a loaf of fresh baguette. At the cashier, I was gesturing to the staff in a cutting motion on the cheese. He immediately understood, took a knife and sliced the cheese.

I went back to my spot, sat down and started tearing the baguette. I was really hungry and stuffed myself with lots of cheese and bread. I had a few sip of the wine. It was an experience having a mini picnic in one of the best spots in the world. The bread was fragrance with fulfilling bites. It went really well with the soft Camembert.

Not long after, the tower lit up in strong orange colours. It was impressive. Suddenly the light started to flash and flickered in speed of light succession, sort of like inside a club with millions of light spots on and off. The tower became alive and turned into a different shade.

The night cooled rapidly but the view was too hard to tear away. Unfortunately my eyes became really heavy and I had to retreat to the hotel. All in all, a great day as I got an everlasting impression of the tower both in the day and in the night.

eiffel tower

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by Jeffrey on February 1, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on February 1, 2013

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Paris for Pittance

bastille

My European holiday seems like a while ago, but upon stumbling on Mamma Mia’s Paris for $50 a day article, I started to recall my two short days in Paris.

I was at a stage where backpacking was not an option. But I didn’t want to splurge too much on accommodation either, so I was looking for 1 to 2 stars hotels, sufficient for a good night sleep, clean and comes with privacy.

While researching, I did use review sites such as Tripadvisor. However, opinions could be hit and miss.  I felt that many travellers’ expectations vary a lot. Some expected 5 star treatments for nothing; some blamed geography and can’t seem to grasp that 40km is not within walk-able distance and some had very generic opinions with insufficient details.

I also asked my colleagues and friends for tips. In the process, I stumbled across Frommer’s online. The site helped me tremendously in planning for my Europe trip. Frommer’s is the US version of Lonely Planet with great recommendations. They produced of an expert selection of accommodation from budget to luxury.

After some researching I found Hotel des Arts Bastille.

The view of Paris at the start this blog was the view from my hotel room. As I sat by the window, I suddenly realised I was sitting in a hotel in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Located on Rue du Charonne in the 11 arrondissement, the hotel is very accessible from central Paris via metro station Charonne.

Arrondissements are like districts in Paris and their organisation is quite interesting. They are numbered from 1 to 20 and built radially in a spiral manner, clockwise.

The Hotel des Arts Bastille is just a metro ride away from major attractions and located on a street with lovely cafes and restaurants.  And recently, the hotel was refurbished with artistic décor.

And how much did I pay? 60 Euros! And it’s during the peak summer season. I also get a double room that come with its own toilet/shower. Not to mention the amazing view from my window.

It’s a bargain but where’s the catch? Well, the hotel is basic. My room is small with a tiny shower / toilet. There’s no air-conditioning, but luckily the summer night was coolish and I had a great sleep. The window opens to a street so some noise was expected. While the location is not central Paris, the metro makes everywhere accessible.

I believe when you’re holidaying, unless you are in a resort or on a beach, majority of your time is usually spent sight-seeing. In Europe, particularly in the summer time, the sun sets between 9 and 10 pm anyway, so you can stay out till late! There’s no need to million thread pillows and sheets as long as it’s clean and fresh.

For the peak season, the hotel was a great find. But do book early. Recent refurbishment meant the rates are even more expensive now.

Paris in summer will make you thirsty. I don’t want to carry a huge bottle with me everywhere I go (my camera is heavy enough) or busy searching for tap water. So my tip is bottled mineral water from supermarkets / small grocery stores (you’ll find them in lane ways away from tourist spots).  Also, you can get some cheese as snacks!

If you intend to have a meal with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop there are plenty of great spots, I found one that’s very impressive and not crowded. More about this later!

So why just have 2 days in Paris? The Europe holiday was part of a “Europe highlights” arc I did for a taste of my first European adventure. London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Venice, Verona, Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao in 3 weeks!

It seemed like a busy schedule, but I did manage to squeeze in a few siestas (afternoon naps), a relaxing swim in the Mediterranean sea, found great bargains in Zara. The heat was suffocating at times, but I managed a few excursions and even took my time in museums, so all in all not too bad.

More about Paris, tips and photographs later!

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by Jeffrey on January 29, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on January 29, 2013

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Why Australia?

Australia Day

Another Australia Day and another Sam Kekovich ad reminding us that having lamb is akin to donning the patriotism flag while chanting Aussie and Oi in repeated successions.

Australia Day is the national day for Australia and marks the arrival of the First Fleet from Great Britain. The First Fleet consists of 11 ships sent to New South Wales to mark the official colonisation of the continent.

While celebrations ran throughout all states and territories, to many, especially First Australians (indigenous Australians), Australia Day is synonymous to an invasion.  To many, Australia Day has fewer connotations to history but simply an extra day off work.

To me, Australia Day is a time to reflect what it means to be Australian from a migrant’s perspective. This is also a day to remind myself what attracted me to settle in this amazing country.

So why did I become an Australian?

Firstly, the concept of Fair Go appeals to me. This is the understanding that everyone should be given a chance to contribute, to succeed and to live. I learn about Fair Go when I first came to Australia and this phrase and what it encompasses resonate strongly with me. This means there are opportunities everywhere, you just need to work hard at catching them.

Secondly, the understanding that discrimination against a group based on race, religion, sex, values, traditions, sexual orientation, political views and upbringing is wrong. The understanding that stereotyping a group of people is sometimes unavoidable but can be challenged and corrected. What’s more important is looking at a person as another equal, another human being and being aware that learning from other people’s experience will enrich your live. Now I’m guilty of switching to stereotypes myself, but I will never resort to inciting hatred, or even violence. My mind is always open.

Thirdly, Australia is a democracy. The right to participate in the electoral and voting for your government is precious and taken seriously.  Democracy allows the freedom to discuss politics, accountability in government and most importantly, the right for citizens to voice their opinions on how to make the country a better place.

There are lots of other things, little things perhaps but important nonetheless. Such as the autumn / winter weather, the picturesque beaches, the amazing cities, the multicultural society, the food scene and more.

Are all Australians, born-and-bred and migrants included, adopt the same views? Perhaps not, as are most countries, they are people who felt the world owed them everything and they felt it’s their right to escape from any effort to secure a better life. They are people who cling to their beliefs and refuse to assimilate.

But to many, Australia is a great country and work hard to have a great life. To me, the majority’s belief is sufficient.

I truly believe that Australia is a lucky country and a great nation.

So what did I do on Australia Day? I went out and enjoyed the great summer weather of course and travelled from the CBD to North Sydney for some amazing views.

Here are some pictures I took with my iPhone and edited using an app called Snapseed!

Sydney George Street

The Rocks

Sydney Harbour

Luna Park

North Sydney Swimming Club

Luna Park

Luna Park

Milsons Point

Luna Park

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Jeffrey Street Jetty

Luna Park Entrance

Sydney Central Station

The Rocks

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by Jeffrey on January 28, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on January 28, 2013

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One Short Day in the Emerald Sea

Green Island

One thing I noticed when approaching Green Island was the sparkling emerald blue water. The supposedly marine plants appear in dark patches, nothing like the infamous reef life I imagined. But looks can be deceiving. I would soon find out the marine ecology was so spectacular that it made Pixar’s Finding Nemo seemed like black and white.

I was exaggerating of course, I love the movie and it did a great job of interpreting the ocean-scape.

I went on a day trip to Green Island during my Cairns trip, a great introduction to one of the world’s amazing natural wonder – the Great Barrier Reef. From Cairns, it takes an hour on a ferry.

I booked the tour through viator.com, my favourite activities site and went with the ‘Big Cat’, the operator. ‘Big Cat’ refers to the catamaran transporting visitors to the island.

Departing from the Reef Fleet Terminal, I opted for the top of the boat, open-air with views of the ocean. I get sea-sick at times so I’m not taking any chances. Also, there was a huge contingent of Chinese tourist so the inside was choke-a-bloke (I know, it’s not the right letters but I think its funnier written this way!). I collected my snorkelling gear, had a cup of diluted coffee and plonk myself at a great spot with uninterrupted views of the sea.

The journey was slow and uneventful. The island was actually not too far but for some reason, the catamaran travelled at snail’s pace. The jumping motion made me turned green slightly. I was extremely grateful for the breeze. On the way I actually wondered if the boat was slow on purpose.

Green Island Pier

I was extremely excited to go snorkelling so I rushed across the long jetty, dumped my stuff in the lockers near a the bar/sandwich shop and head to the beach straight away.

I did clarify with the Big Cat staff if a Lycra suit was necessary as it was stinger’s season, but he assured me the island was free of jellyfishes. Somehow, they preferred the mainland.

I went to the northern public beach of the island for my first snorkel. It was a great swimming beach with life guards.

I remembered a great tip from my first snorkel in the Gold Coast years ago. It involved spitting onto your goggles and using the spit to clean the condensation and dirt. Works well though. Another tip I discovered was to get a flipper that’s one size bigger than your original feet – it fits better in the water.

Geared up, I dived and swam further towards the open ocean. I noticed the corals and marine life were not as extravagant as I thought it would be. It was quite dull, mostly seaweed and void of colours. Perhaps I didn’t find the right location, but after a short time I had to get out of the water for lunch. I intended to beat the thronging crowds.

Green Island Beach

Green Island Sea

Lunch was a buffet spread – mostly salads, cold cuts and few hot dishes and fruits. As I seldom eat fruits and vegetables, I piled up the plate with greens. I guess its a reward for body after a year round of poor diets.

After lunch I went to the marine park side of the island. The water was quite shallow and I had to go really far, almost towards the legs poll of the jetty. That was when the magic started. The corals were amazing; the colours were strikingly vivid and and the marine life was diverse. I saw intense crimson red, royal purple, saturated yellow, dense orange, pale green and deep blue.

There were fishes of all sizes and colours – there were little clown fishes and huge clusters of snapper-like fishes swimming in the same direction. I had a great time chasing the fishes. The smaller fishes were fast. They disappeared back in the corals when you approach. The larger school of fishes scared me a little, but they were harmless.

The underwater landscape was breathtaking and it was like nothing I’ve ever seen. I was thinking, if this is just a minuscule section of the reef’s ecology I can’t imagine what I’ll encounter if I’ve gone further to the main reef.

I enjoyed seeing the reef’s marine life immensely. A big part of me finally understood the urgency of environmental actions as I can’t fathom if all of what I saw disappeared due to global warming or climate change.

I also began to appreciate why an underwater camera is necessary and I blamed myself for not carrying at least a disposable one.

Green Island Snorkel

As I rest on the shallow water enjoying views of the panoramic sea, I vowed to come back to tropical north Queensland and do a thorough tour of the reef. While the day trip was about 8 hours I still felt it wasn’t enough. I didn’t even have time to explore the national park!

The island has a resort and there’s opportunity to stay longer to explore the island in full. There’s also a diving operator.

The Green Island excursion was the highlight of my Cairns trip. The Big Cat tour wasn’t perfect, but all was forgiven once you reached the island.

My tips for Green Island:

  • Skip the northern beach altogether and snorkel in the marine park side of the island.
  • After some great snorkelling, head to shallow waters and just relax – the panoramic view of the open sea is out of this world.
  • There are food on the island, cost more than normal ($15 – $18 for burgers and chips) but save you the hassle of bringing your own.
  • Lockers are available for your valuables, bring coins.
  • Don’t hire stinger-proof Lycra suit – ask the staff if its really necessary.
  • If you get seasick at times, go to the top deck with open air. I also found that if you rock your body and synchronise to the up down motion of the boat you’ll feel better. I don’t really recommend sea sickness pills.
  • Finally, lots of sunscreen and water as you’ll spend most of your time in the sun.

More images of Green Island:

green-island-pier

green-island-panorama

Green Island Emerald Sea

Green Island Fish Feeding

Green Island Public Beach

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by Jeffrey on January 7, 2013  •  Permalink
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First Impressions: Cairns

Lucegraf @ Cairns

As the humidity crept gently onto my face at the tarmac of Cairns International Airport, I know I’ve truly landed on the tropical part of Queensland. But how tropical is Cairns?

The November weather was pleasantly easy to live with. It does not carry the heaviness of Sydney’s humidity or the extremely drenching equatorial air in Brunei. At times in the day, particularly late morning to noon, I felt a scorcher bitch. But it was generally bearable. November in Cairns was hot but slightly dry. It’s the perfect month to plunge into refreshing waters or have lazy strolls in town. Compare to Sydney’s oscillating temperature, Cairns was very welcoming.

I was fortunate to squeeze a bit of R&R before the end of the year in Cairns and Port Douglas. In fact, I was prepared to simply lounge around, eat, swim, drink and finished the novels tucked in my shelf. No tightly jammed itinerary or plans around must-sees on this trip.

From the sparkling clean airport, I took a cab to my accommodation at Pullman Cairns International. It was almost 5 pm. As the car glided along Abbott street (not much traffic), I got a glimpse of the town area and realised it resembled Darwin and a bit of Gold Coast.

Incidentally the airport is a mere 12 minute drive away from town but it costs a whopping $25!

Cairns Esplanade

The Pullman Cairns International was previously the Sebel Cairns. Located at the South Western part of town near the pier and the inlet, CBD is simply a few steps away. The lobby was impressive. Flanked with tall, arched windows, the whole area exuded colonial elegance alongside contemporary furnishings and tropical plants. The soft light through the windows was relaxing and highlighted the tall and wide columns supporting a tall ceiling. The rooms were spacious with views of the town and the Reef Casino. The pool sits among a tropical landscape. There was a small garden with a white colonial gazebo.

Cairns Pullman Resort Lobby

Cairns Pullman Resort Lobby Column

Once I dropped the bags, I hit town by foot to orientate myself. From Abbott Street, I managed to explore other roads and lane ways . Shops were mostly cafes, restaurants, pubs and souvenirs. What I found interesting was gigantic tropical plants resembling those growing in mangroves swamp with roots jutting out numerously from main branches.

Interestingly, most shop signs and restaurants’ menu still have Japanese translations. But the years when Japanese tourists dominate were long gone. While they are still considerable number of Japanese tourists, someone told me the Kiwis and Chinese had overtaken and currently claim the top spots.

So keen were Cairns to tap into the Chinese tourist market that a lot of signs include simplified characters, especially on various welcome banners.

Cairns Post Office

As the sun sets, I managed to reach the Esplanade. Cairns did well in creating a waterfront and marina that’s beautiful, functional and exciting. The main attraction is perhaps the Esplanade Lagoon – a huge salt water pool perfect for those hot days. It was clean and big enough to accommodate throngs of backpackers and tourist (I suspect there were less locals!) and provide great views of the inlet. The monumental metallic fishes near the shore side of the pool were landmark icons. They reminded me of Ketupat – a pressed rice accompaniment to Satay (Malay style skewered barbeque meats).

Lockers are readily available and you can find them next to the pool and barbecue area.

Cairns Esplanade Pool

Cairns Esplanade Pool Side

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Side

The Esplanade elongates and covers most of Cairns’ foreshore. Palm trees are abundant and the wooden board walk allows a view towards the sea. You can rest and enjoy the panoramic views, have a leisure stroll or jog. Towards the town side, restaurants, cafes and fast food are aplenty.

When I’m on holiday I’m always extra hungry. I constantly surveyed for food and regularly stop for snacks. The heat of the tropics didn’t seem to subdue my appetite unfortunately!

Bear in mind that Cairns mainly caters for tourists, so food are expensive and you probably can forget good value. But you don’t have to spend a fortune. To get a great feed one option is to go to Woolies and stock up. If you don’t feel like making or preparing food, take heed! Here are my tips for a good feed in Cairns without blowing your budget.

  • The Reef Casino’s Flinders Bars & Grill serves up great pub meals, such as Schnitzel, steak, fish & chips, pasta etc. They also serve breakfast. This bistro style restaurant is inexpensive – the most expensive main is $12!  The only thing is that you have go through the casino (dress code is tropics-friendly – shorts and thongs are acceptable!).
  • Orchard Plaza in town has a food hall and restaurants. Predominantly Japanese cuisine, you’ll find food court price available. I would skip most of the stalls and go straight to Onigiri Café Omu. The Onigiri or Japanese rice ball with fillings served from this shop is homely and delicious.
  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre in town has cafes and a food court. It’s also a great place to escape the heat!

That’s all for this entry about Cairns, more to come!

Cairns Flinders Bars & Grills

Check out other Cairns Images:

Cairns Pier

Cairns Esplanade - Man on Boardwalk

Cairns Esplanade Sunset

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Fish

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by Jeffrey on January 5, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on January 5, 2013

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Purple Trumpet Spring

I always associate Sydney’s spring season with two words: unpredictable and purple. The words relate to Sydney’s weather and the Jacaranda trees respectively.

Spring officially lasts for 3 months, from September to November. The weather is temperamental. The day can soar to summer temperatures in the late mornings to strong chilling wind in the late evenings. Someday the climate gives way to high humidity, while others remain dry and crisp. Thus the unpredictability nature – you can’t tell whether it’s hot or cold. Warmer wear can come in and out of storage. You just never know.

But it seems the Jacarandas agree with the spring weather. The trumpet shaped purple-blue flowers are the iconic colour of the tall trees. The colours of full-bloom are most vibrant, the flowers are voluminous with the trees are pleasantly round with a simple cloud-like shape at the top.

In the city I found Jacarandas are randomly dispersed. But I did find a street lined with this beautiful flora, and that’s Riley Street in Surry Hills.

Riley Street belongs to one of the most characteristic Sydney’s inner-city suburb shaped by the area’s colourful history. A great part of the street has dated apartments as well as restored Victorian terraced houses. These dwellings create great photo opportunities and provide a great background for the Jacarandas.

These are some pictures I took on a lazy Sunday noon. Needless to say, I caught the last bit of the bloom. Full bloom would’ve been ideal, but I just discovered the trees on Riley Street a couple of weeks ago. I’ll keep this in mind for next year’s season.

You can also view more Jacaranda trees on Riley Street images I took with Instagram.

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by Jeffrey on November 18, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on November 18, 2012

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Chicken Tomato Ketchup

Tomato, Spring Onion, Coriander and Chilli

The taste of cooked tomatoes always reminds me of a family dish I enjoyed making and eating. It’s simply chicken cooked in tomato sauce. Yes, the kind that comes in a plastic squeeze bottle with a wrap-around label featuring one or several plump tomatoes and probably the word HEINZ in bold.

While tomato sauce creates the right flavour balance for meat pies, chips and burgers, its versatility extends from a simple dipping condiment to key ingredients in South East Asian cuisine. Think of the infamous Singapore’s Chilli Crab and Mamak Mee Goreng.  In fact, tomato sauce has its root as ketchup or ‘katsup’, a strong, flavoursome sauce made from spices and pickled fish. The ketchup with tomato version is a derivation.

To make this dish all you need is a few ginger slices, soy sauce, shallots, fresh tomatoes, a bit of crushed garlic (optional) and chicken pieces with bones. Now you’ll find most Asian home cooking includes bones. I think the reason is that it enhances the flavour of the sauce much more than just the meat alone. If you don’t like bones I’d suggest using chicken thigh and include a splash of good quality chicken stock with the sauce.

The other key ingredient, aside from tomato sauce, is sugar. You’ll find that a lot of sugar is required to counter the sourness of the sauce. However, there’s no exact measurement in this recipe. Constant tasting of the sauce is necessary until you achieved a perfect union between sweetness, saltiness and sourness. Also the sauce needs have a slightly thick consistency, so stewing the chicken until the reduction of the sauce is necessary to intensify the flavour.

Now there are lots of stews that are tomato based, especially in Italian cuisine. While Italian cuisine usually encourages fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, crushed tin tomatoes and so on, this particular tomato based dish is different, in that you almost can’t substitute the commercial dipping sauce with something more expensive or higher quality.

I’ve tried before actually and the taste is vastly different. The intense sweetened zing is hard to achieve without ketchup.

While the recipe calls for fresh tomatoes, it’s not for the sauce but rather, a nice accompaniment to the meat.

To create some freshness and texture, I topped the chicken dish with lots of coriander, green onions and red chilli. Eating this with a bowl of piping hot rice made me think of my childhood and best of all, it’s very easy to make.

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by Jeffrey on November 13, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on November 13, 2012

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Autumn Hue of Bowral

It happened again this year!  I missed the crucial time to visit Bowral for the Autumn foliage.  The trees were on their way to showcase their bare naked branches for the cold season.

But I did find some gem in trees still wearing the orange-red hue I’m obsessed with!  Traces of Autumn colours were still visible in sporadic fashion along side-streets running down the residential part of town.

Bowral is similar to Canberra in terms of seasonality.  Both are known for tulips in Spring and foliage in Autumn.  The town is in the Southern Highland region of New South Wales, about 2 hours by train from Sydney.  Bowral is a significant region historically and used to be a retreat for Sydney’s upper classes a long time ago.  You can find lovely country houses and manors in the area.

The day I made my trip reminded me of London.  Gloomy overcast with random spat of rains greeted me throughout the afternoon. The air was cool and crisp – synonymous with the winter weather I love.

The aim of this day trip was to photograph Autumn, and I find cloudy days are ideal.  This is because I always have problems with harsh sunlight producing strong contrasting brightness, making poor quality pictures.

Aside from hunting great subjects for my camera, I also explored the boutique shops along The Highlands Way, the main street in Bowral. I also scored a few print antiques and really old stamps which were super inexpensive.

So here you go, my Autumn find in Bowral!

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by Jeffrey on August 29, 2012  •  Permalink
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Golden Delights – Croquettes

Potato Croquettes

Isn’t it amazing when you suddenly remembered a flavour from the past?  I was thinking of my leftover Panko crumbs and dinner plan last week.  For some reason, potato croquettes came to my mind. I recalled the times when mum made them with canned tuna.

Whenever there was a pot luck party or a reunion with relos (relatives), I always asked mum to cook croquettes.  Back then, I didn’t know the name so I called it “that delicious deep fried round potato thingy with fish”.

I found out later that croquettes are quite common in lots of cuisines around the world.  They also come in a variety of shapes and forms. You can find them as a part of Spanish Tapas, Japanese Korokke, American Crab Cakes  and India’s famous Aloo Tikki.

I made my croquettes with very basic ingredients - mashed potatoes (bought some Golden delights from Woolies), brown onions (chopped and softened in olive oil), butter, canned Sirena Tuna in oil,  salt and pepper.  I then formed then in circular shapes.

To coat the croquettes, I employed the same method as I had in cooking Tonkatsu (from my previous blog entry): flour, eggs and panko crumbs coating and shallow fry them in oil.

It was at this point I forgot to add eggs into the croquette mixture (the eggs act as glue to hold the form of the croquettes), but luckily they didn’t fall apart.

I enjoyed this dish a lot, the flavour brought back memories of past gatherings and times gone by.

I did hear that the Japanese Korokke has a version made with cream and I intend to try!

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by Jeffrey on August 14, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Jeffrey on August 14, 2012

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Silver Needles

Silver Needles

Silver Needles Noodles

One of my favourite rice noodle is called the Silver Needles, or 銀針粉 in Chinese.

The name written in traditional Chinese characters evokes words from the Mandarins era.  Silver is synonymous with luxury and was a form of currency and fashion accessories in various Chinese dynasties.  It was said that silver turns black when the metal touches poison.  That explains why the Emperors of China used silver chopsticks as a form of test kit (they have their servants, or possibly eunuchs? taste each dish before every meals).

Needles in Chinese character means the long, thin, pointed metal we use for sewing.  But the character is also used in compound words to describe tools and fashion accessories in ancient China.

So much for the description!

The other thing I found interesting is that Silver Needles are known by other names.  The one I grew up with is called Lou Shu Fun in Cantonese, or Rats noodles.

Okay, okay, the name swung from one extreme to the other.  From Silver Needles, a name that could appear in an imperial menu to something unsavoury, something so opposite of food!

You see, it all has to do with the shape of the noodle.  The noodles are of medium length, not too fat with pointy ends.

Silver Needles tossed in soy based sauce

Silver Needles tossed in soy based sauce

You can stir fry Silver Needles, tossed them in a sauce made from soy or have them in soup.  My favourite is the version served with a thick, flavoursome sauce accompanied by sliced barbecue pork or char siu, wontons, mince pork and shallots.  The secret of the sauce is the perfect combination of light soy sauce, dark soy caramel, sugar, stock and pork fat.  To balance the richness, I usually add a good dollop of complimentary and plentiful sliced chilli and sweetened vinegar.  It adds a punch.

The texture is usually a touch softer then al dente.

So far, I only found one restaurant in Sydney serving Silver Needles.  Try Petaling Street (Malaysian cuisine) on George Street in the city, it’s served in a clay pot with mushrooms, and taste sumptuous!

If you’re ever in South East Asia, look out for this noodles in food markets or restaurants serving local delicacies.

4 Comments
by Jeffrey on July 16, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Food
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Posted by Jeffrey on July 16, 2012

http://lucegraf.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/silver-needles/

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