Prive at Marina @ Keppel Bay

Having been to a few of our company's X'mas dinners and lunches, this one is definitely the best of all. Not only is the food really good but the price is really affordable. Located at Keppel Bay, the venue reminds me of a dining experience one might get in Brisbane where you can see yatches parked or docked out near the bay whilst one enjoys a delicious seafood meal while basking in the lovely sun and sea. The lunch was slightly marred by a light shower as the original plan was to dine open air al fresco style. But because of the downpour, we had to move the tables in... which was not too bad, just that we weren't as close to the 'bay' but enough for us to catch a glimpse of the fleet of yatches in the sea area.

The X'mas menu set was a course of 3 selection. I went for the chestnut & apple soup which was a tad too sweet for me. The mushroom soup was thick and creamy and definitely will be a much better but albeit safe choice for many. The other starters were the christmas salad and casear salad. Strangely enough, our table of 3 guys opted for salads whilst the ladies went for the soup. So much for dieting, ladies.

For mains, I took the miso cod burger whilst my counterparts mainly opted for the steak. The steak was really good too and definitely will recommend that to all red meat lovers. My miso was nice and reminded me of this other restaurant near One Fullerton where I had first tried this combination. Comrades at the neighbouring tables also confirmed that their prawn patty burger was equally scrumptous.

For desserts, I ordered the mini log cake while others tried the cranberry apple crumble. I think it's all good but perhaps I was too stuffed, I started wishing I had gone with the 2 scoop ice cream instead. The mini log was mainly vanilla flavoured and instead of your typical chocolate or butterscotch chiffon fluffy cake, they had used some waffle type of cake, which reminded me of those $1 ice cream waffle biscuits from push cart uncles.

All in all, it gets my two thumbs up and definitely will want to come back again for the food and ambience. Let's put it this way - if it motivated me to post a food blog after such a long hiatus, you can sure bet it's got to be something good enough for me to lift my fat stumpy fingers to type in this entry!

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Walking directions to Prive

1.9 km – about 23 mins

Harbourfront MRT Station Harbourfront MRT Station, 098867 Singapore 098867

1.	Head north on Harbour Front Walk towardTelok Blangah Rd		27 m
2.	Turn left at Telok Blangah Rd		0.6 km
3.	Turn right at Keppel Bay Dr		35 m
4.	Turn left at Telok Blangah Rd		0.5 km
5.	Turn left at Bukit Chermin Rd		0.6 km
6.	Turn left		0.2 km

Prive 2 Keppel Bay Vista Singapore 098382

Good morning Singapore

In my longest run yet, I woke up at 5.30am and dragged my sorry ass to east coast park around 6.30am and managed 11.27km.

It was rather good except timing wasn't up to my expectation but I think I'm getting close.

I am still hoping that come 6 Dec, for the Standard Chartered run, I'd be able to complete my 10K run in about 58mins. I hope. It's good to hope :)

By the time I finished, it was about 8am.
I like to think that while I was up working my legs off, I had a head start while the rest of Singapore were still in bed.

Uncle Sam's Claypot opens in City Square Mall

There's no doubt that City Square Mall will become our favourite hunt since we have grown quite bored with Novena Square, United Square and Thomson Plaza.

We tried Uncle Sam's Claypot and verdict is that it is just as good as the one in Robinson Road. But service was horrid, horrible, terrible.

I guess (and hope) it is due to opening season stutter. We had to wait for food to be serve at really long time and tables earlier than ours got served first (so guess there's screw up at the ordering side). Plus we pretty much felt ignored.

However, they were still waiting to recruit more waiter/waitress, dessert makers, cooks etc.

Hopefully things will turn out well in the next month or so.

Streets Cafe at City Square Mall

City Square Mall around Kitchener Road finally opened this week.

We went to try Uncle Sam's Claypot over the weekend and came back again to try Streets cafe which is the Hong Kong style cafe.

It's one of my current favourite right now and glad to find it in the mall which is very near home.

But as with the Uncle Sam's Claypot experience, the food is alright but service is really atrocious.
Perhaps, it is in the opening week so its service is really not up to par to other outlets. Let's see how things go over the next month or so.

Hopefully they beef up on service.

How to improve your 10K performance

How To Improve Your 10k Performance


The arrival of spring no doubt means you'll be running 10-K races more frequently. You'd like to do as well as possible, but trimming your 10-K times requires a smart, systematic approach to training, not just a hodgepodge of interval sessions and longer runs.

All of the training sessions here emphasise intensity. Remember to limit each workout's quantity of fast running to no more than 10 per cent of your weekly mileage. Use your favourite sessions from the ones listed below twice a week for a minimum of six weeks, recover properly between workouts, and you will start running your 10Ks faster



Workout No. 1: A 5-K race at your goal 10-K pace.

Benefit: Raises VO2max and economy, gives you confidence that you can set a new PB



Workout No. 2: Warm up by jogging easily for 10 minutes, and then run 1200-metre work intervals at your current 5-K race pace. Jog easily during recovery periods, and let each recovery last about a minute less than the amount of time required to complete the 1200-metre work interval. As with all interval sessions, don't let the total work-interval distance add up to more than 10 per cent of your weekly mileage (Example: You run 30 miles per week. Since 10% X 30 = 3 miles, or 4800 metres, you can ramble through four 1200-metre intervals per workout).

Benefit: Heightens VO2max, makes 10-K pace feel easier



Workout No. 3: Mark out a 10-kilometre route over terrain you'd like to run on, or simply use the 10-K course used for a local race. Warm up by jogging for 10 minutes, and then sizzle through the full 10-K route, alternating 2- to 3-minute bouts at what feels like goal 10-K pace with 60- to 90-second jog-recoveries.

Benefit: Teaches you that you can handle a 10K at high intensity and that you can run well even when you start to become fatigued



Workout No. 4: Warm up with 10 minutes of easy running, and then cruise through one mile on the track at a tempo about 10 seconds (per mile) slower than your current-best 10-K race speed. Jog for just two minutes, and then scamper through a second mile at 10K pace. Jog easily for two more minutes, and then blast through a final mile about 10 seconds faster than 10K velocity. Warm down with a one-mile jog, and it's over!

Benefit: Gives your 'lactate threshold' a shot in the arm, which will make 10-K race pace feel much more comfortable



Workout No. 5: Jog easily for 15 minutes, and then run 800 metres at your current 10-K race pace. Jog lightly for two minutes, and then scurry through 400 metres at 5-K race speed. Amble easily for 60 seconds, and then dash through 200 metres at current one-mile race tempo. Rest for 30 seconds, and then launch yourself into 1000 metres at 10-K pace. Jog easily for four minutes, and then repeat this 800-400-200-1000 pattern. A 30-mile per week runner can complete two of these combos per workout; at 45 weekly miles, three 800-400-200-1000 combinations are possible.

Benefit: Improves foot speed and fitness, enables you to run at 10-K speed while tired, makes 10Ks feel easier



Workout No. 6: Warm up, and then run 10-minute intervals at your current 10-K pace, recovering for five minutes between intervals.

Benefit: Raises lactate threshold and makes current 10-K pace feel easier, enabling you to step up to higher speeds in the race



Workout No. 7 (straight 800s): Warm up, and then run 800-metre intervals at current 5-K race pace, with recoveries lasting no longer than each work interval.

Benefit: Lifts VO2max, makes 10-K velocity feel more comfortable



Workout No. 8 (straight 400s): Warm up, and then run 400s at a pace about four seconds per 400 faster than current 5-K speed. Recover until you feel comfortable enough to do another 400 with good form.

Benefit: Improves basic footspeed



Workout No. 9 (traditional fartlek): Find a forest path or a place where you really enjoy running. After warming up, run at a tough intensity for about 30 minutes or so, alternating spontaneous bursts at about 10-K race pace with shorter periods of easy cruising when you feel tired. Enjoy the workout, and focus on relaxing and running smoothly







Article courtesy of Running 4 Women

http://www.running4women.com

Asia Garden Restaurant

We finally tried the dim sum at Asia Garden at Odeon but only thought it was so-so.

However, it's not easy to find delicious dim sum in Singapor anymore.

We arrived at 10am and although most of the dim sum were available, the 'hot' dishes like Peking duck and fried silverfish were not available as the chef doesn't come in until around 11.30am.

Anyway, it was a pleasant experience.

Chicken Hot Pot

The last time I tried it, it was at Temasek Tower and didn't like it too much. Somehow wasn't too 'wowed' by the taste.

Thus, it was with much reluctance I decided to try it again at another outlet in Novena. But after some persuasion, I might say, I won't mind coming again after this second experience.

We ordered the chicken hot pot and the beef one (with extra chilies). The good thing about this outlet is they actually come over to 'top up' some soup so that one can continue 'stewing' the ingredients in the hot pot.
All in all, it's quite nice and won't mind coming back to try again.

Blooper to Nike+ Human Race

All excited about today's 10K run, I happily woke up early and started to prepare to step out of the house. Then, I wanted to change shoes as I had the nike+ reader in the lunartrainer and wanted to put it into the evo.

But strangely enough, I couldn't find the reader. Thinking I might have left it in the bag in the office, I went back to get it. Anyway, by the time I went to ECP, it was around 8am or so. Wasted one whole hour searching. In the end, it was in the lunartrainer.

Anyway, didn't do too well but at least I finished the distance. Got to do better next time.

La Cantina in Venezia

So Valentino was out tonight.. Fully booked as it seems and you'd have to make reservations as early as 3 weeks in advance. Ha!

So we went to La Cantina in Venezia in Changi Village hotel instead.

Firstly, the view is lovely. Basically, you're seated on the 8th floor and out on the 'patio', you can see the sea. Sunset would be lovely to watch.

The most ideal plan would then be to get there early around 6pm and hopefully catch some sunset while chilling out with a nice glass of wine.

Then order some appetizers after soaking in the wonderful view before diving into the main agenda. Problem was - the waitress was too good at selling. I think she forgot Singaporean girls generally do not eat alot. We set off with warm bread (which was lovingly buttered and went down well with the olive oil and vinaigrette), calamari, the platter of mixed italian sausages and luckily, we were wise enough to cancel the mixed antipasti.

The portion for the sausages were gigantor. Thus, main agenda was reduced to only a plate of pizza (which I'd declare as the highlight of the night) and pasta. We took the vegetarian pasta which was delicious but I felt it was not well cooked enough (a tad 'hard' if you ask me, but was told that's how 'real' Italians do it). The pizza was thin crust and the parma ham was lovely... plus I enjoy generously dipping my portion with tabasco sauce.

To end the night, we shared lemon sorbet which was wonderful.

All in all, would like to come back again... with more time to spare and indulge in other selections on the menu. Two thumbs up and would like to grow a third....


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Driving directions to La Cantina in Venezia

7.9 km – about 12 mins

Simei MRT Station 30 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529888

1.	Head northeast on Simei Street 3 towardSimei Street 5		0.5 km
2.	Take the 3rd left onto Simei Rd		0.6 km
3.	Continue onto Tampines Street 31		0.4 km
4.	Turn right at Tampines Ave 2		0.5 km
5.	Turn right at Tampines Ave 7		0.8 km
6.	Continue onto Loyang Ave		4.7 km
7.	Slight left at Changi Village Rd		0.3 km
8.	Continue onto Netheravon Rd Destination will be on the left		0.1 km

La Cantina in Venezia Netheravon Rd Singapore 508502

I heart Tampopo

I love this ramen place so much, I went back for seconds on Sunday. We had the black pig ramen, kyushu style I think and the tonkatsu ramen as well as hokkaido style ramen with pig stock. Apparently, the difference in style was the quality of the ramen. Hokkaido ones are thicker and more chewy.

Finale was the cheese chiffon cake. It was very light and delicious and not too overly cheesy. Perfecto!

Can't wait to come back again for thirds! Two thumbs up and would give more if I had extras.

Imperial Treasure lives up to its name

One of my favourite La Mian place, with good selection of chinese cuisine. Yes, even better than Crystal Jade if you ask me.

We had spinach, giant meat balls with lettuce, ma po tofu, xiao long bao, deep fried white bait and porridge.

All was good, except the porridge as the soup stock smelt fishy... . Otherwise, it was a most pleasantful dinner.

Seoul-full week Finale

On the last day, the ladies brought me to somewhere I think called Apgujeong-dong.

As one of them told me, it's kinda like our Orchard where the top '1%' super rich in Korea lives.

Originally, we wanted to try pasta but guess we couldn't find the restaurant, so we ended up at a korean one, which is just as fine for me.

And then we had 'tea time', complete with pastries.

We had tiramisu, peach tart and grape tart.

The lovely afternoon 'brainstorm' session was good, casual and relaxing.

Thank ladies for the hard work put in and I think you deserve an afternoon break. Couldn't ask for a better way to end the week.

Seoul-full week Episode 6

Besides finally finding my 'perfect' Jajangmyeon, I've been introduced to a new dish which I'd declare as my new current 'squeeze'... Called Jjam bong, and I was super happy to know that it's also available in korean restaurants here in Singapore.

As some of you might know, I was pretty 'obessed' with finding the 'perfect' jajangmyeon as I always see it on korean drama and had the impression (or imagination) that it'd be super delicious.

Unfortunately, the hunt has been disappointing until that afternoon when we had lunch with a business partner, they brought me to the korean chinese restaurant which had it. And it was to my imagination and satisfaction.

Jjam bong doesn't disappoint as well. It's a super spicy dish that is mainly seafood ingredients and is something one will take post drunkard stage to sober up.

Oh, and I think the ladies ordered some fried chicken sticks as well for sides.

Seoul-full birthday Episode 5

We had dinner at an 'expensive' bulgogi bbq place with business partners and colleagues. Apparently, this is the korean answer to Japanese kobe beef and Australia's wagyu.

I must admit, it was super delicious and I've never tasted anything like this before.

Oh, and I had my colleague pose with the soju and mountain strawberries wine.

Chocolate cake and chocolate in a box were from colleagues in office and hotel.

Sweet.

Seoul-full week Episode 4

Seoul-full week Episode 3

Lunch was sam gye tang, but not the one I had last trip. But it was just as good. The restaurant was actually in a 'home'... or rather, the place was formerly a residential place but guess they converted it into a restaurant. So it was like having lunch at a friend's home or something. Pretty cute idea.

Dinner, again, I didn't get what I wanted. Originally, I was aiming for this korean traditional porridge I saw at Myeon Dong area... but I was darn hungry and poor sense of direction, I gave up searching and popped into a restaurant that I think was Chinese.

The weekend when I was in Myeon Dong, I saw a line of people queueing so I assume it must be good. I ordered the signature dish (don't ask me what it was, but it felt like mee hoon kuay, ban mee style) and was overall alright.

Seoul-full week Episode 2

Day 2, I tried to get to Myeon Dong and Ewha Women's University. But I think I exited the wrong stop.

Couldn't find any shop open for breakfast so popped in to CBTL.

Lunch at Myeon Dong wasn't up to expectation. Wanted Soondubu jjigae or kimchi ramyeon, but ended up with some spicy cold noodle.

At night, at least I redeemed myself with a surprise fine at a restaurant near the hotel. Whatever that I had, think it was spicy pork rib soup or something, was good and left me finally satisifed.

Seoul-full week Episode 1

Day 1 of my food escapde - had the my first craving satisfied with Doenjang jjigae, which is a bean paste based soup. Had it at one of the restaurants we went near Dongdaemun in Jan this year.

At night, I couldn't find a restaurant that had kimchi related food. Ended up at this place that had beef broth and cold noodles I think.

Great company, good food and excellent wines! More team building please

Had fun at a colleague's house yesterday. Had fun chatting, eating, joking, drinking and laughing.