Colours, Sights & Patterns At Kampong Glam

In the 19th century, Kampong Glam was essentially an ethnic district with a strong Malay-Arab influence. It was a place where locals patronized for their Arab-Muslim traditional foodstuff and merchandise...

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Showing posts with label Middle Eastern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Middle Eastern. Show all posts

Shane Delia's Spice Journey

10:36 PM  , ,  

Singapore
15 April 2014

Embark on a culinary pilgrimage with Award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and TV personality Shane Delia takes us  on a spice journey across the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East to explore his heritage and discover food traditions that go back thousands of years.
 
"About 12 months ago, someone approached me with the idea to film a TV series that would reveal to the world everything I love about the Middle East. The plan was that I would travel to places I'd never been and gain a firsthand experience of the food unique to each region. I love visiting countries I've only ever heard or read about, so I was on board with the idea instantly.
I suppose that’s when Shane Delia’s Spice Journey was born."
- Shane Delia -
 

Over ten half-hour episodes, Shane Delia's Spice Journey spans a distance of more than 2,000 kilometres and covers 2,000 years of culinary history. From the old Phoenician outpost of Malta, where the aromatics and spices of the Middle East mingle with the European traditions of the Mediterranean, he heads across the sea to Lebanon, the original Land of Milk and Honey and birthplace of contemporary Middle Eastern mezze. He then follows the time-worn caravan trails of the spice route to ancient Persia - Iran - which is home to saffron, pomegranate, rose water…and where some of the oldest surviving recipes on Earth can be found.
 
"This opportunity to travel through the Middle East and experience things most people would only dream about isn't something I take for granted. I am truly humbled that people have been supportive and are enjoying and embracing this experience just as much as I have through Spice Journey."
- Shane Delia -
 

 
Shane tastes his way around the region learning and seeking inspiration from medieval Arab and Persian recipes passed down through generations as well as rural and regional contemporary cuisines, then heads back to his Melbourne kitchen armed with this knowledge to put his unique twist on some of the world’s most ancient and influential culinary traditions by transforming these time-honoured delicacies into modern dishes.
 

 
"In a part of the world where nothing is certain, it’s the people and their culture that is the shining light in the face of all of the adversity, tension and unrest. If nothing else, the food rocks."
- Shane Delia -
 

 
Premiering 15 April 2014, Shane Delia's Spice Journey airs every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m on TLC (Starhub Ch 427). Encores every Wednesday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. (1000 hrs).
 
"As long as I have good food, and family and friends to share it with, my life is complete”
- Shane Delia -
 

 

Sources

 
 

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Colours, Sights & Patterns At Kampong Glam

10:14 AM  , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  

Kampong Glam
Central, Singapore
May 2013

Merlion Wayfarer ventured into the Kampong Glam area last weekend. 

In the 19th century, Kampong Glam was essentially an ethnic district with a strong Malay-Arab influence. It was a place where locals patronized for their Arab-Muslim traditional foodstuff and merchandise. Prior to colonization by the British in 1819, the area was home to the Malay aristocracy of Singapore. It became prominent and more populous after the signing of a treaty between the British East India Company, Sultan Hussein Shah of Johore and Temenggong Abdul Rahman in 1819. 
 
Today, Kampong Glam still retains strong ties to the ethnic-Malay and Muslim community, and has sometimes been termed the "Muslim Quarter" due to its history. The Muslim population still remains a significant presence in Kampong Glam, especially in Bussorah Street. The area remains a centre for Muslim activities and the Sultan Mosque remains a major landmark and congregation point for Singapore Muslims.

Merlion Wayfarer likes Kampong Glam for its eclectic mix of history and modern elements, and for its rich heritage and its bright colours.
 
Gourmet Pie Co. - An orange-and-red shophouse beside a yellow-and-orange neighbour,
Darbar, which serves North Indian cuisine...
  
Potted plants on the wall of a shophouse with a five foot way corridor...
   
Tai Sing Corporation is a toy outlet displaying a huge array of toys. Open since 1971, with more than 40 years in operation, the range of toys span from dolls to hobby ships. In the last year or so, Merlion Wayfarer noticed that Tai Sing seemed to have increased its prices by a far bit.
 
  • Little creepy crawlies that freak you out abound -"Take Me Away", the box says. At S$5.90 each. No way...
  • Fancy some sea creatures? The sea monsters version is also priced at S$5.90. Don't be fooled by the Japanese text - The "Made In China" print is usually found at the bottom of most boxes.
  • OK, now you can see the "MADE IN CHINA" print for these kawaii floatables at S$3.90. What would Sesame Street's Ernie do without his Rubber Duckie!

Haji Lane, a tiny retail enclave well-hidden away in the heart of Kampong Glam, is a fashion lover's paradise. The row of colourful shophouses enclosed in a narrow one-way lane, have been transformed into an hip fashion and furnishings stretch reminiscent of Harajuku in Tokyo or Le Marais in Paris. Out of the so many "things to do" in Singapore, it was chosen as a feature in Time Magazine's Singapore City Guide.
 
Gosh... A 666 art gallery!
  
A one-way entry to Haji Lane and the little bunny says hi...

Lots of hip and cool shops - and people - in Haji Lane...

A "SpoilMarket" that does not sell groceries...

Colourful, fun, playful signs - some with real requests...

TokyoBike Singapore is a bicycle retail shop that allows you to take a bike
for a test ride around the neighbourhood....

Contractors working on a tarpaulin covering the walkway...

Barang hung on a clothes line on the second floor...

Objectifs, a visual arts centre dedicated to promoting photography and filmmaking, is located here...

An interesting concept - a  shophouse that is named "Shophouse" that is a "social hostel"...

In a bid to preserve the character and heritage of the area, a group of shop owners are now putting up posters and stickers in their shops to prohibit alcohol on their premises. An admirable concept.
Can they do the same for smoking and shisha too?
  
The evil eye is a look that is believed by many cultures to be able to cause injury or bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike. Disks consisting of concentric blue and white circles  representing an evil eye are common talismans in the Middle East. These talismans are supposed to bend the malicious gaze back to the sorcerer.
"Evil Eye" talismans as part of the cemented floor decoration...
  
The deco of the floor tiles is conveyed further into the tables and chairs of the cafe next door
- Tiled tables, a homely feel...
   
A man smoking shisha sitting next to a Japanese production crew filming a segment on Singapore...

A restaurant entrance with hanging vines...
    
Stark black and white wall with an outstanding red stool below an electric lamp...
   
The Malay Heritage Centre has just been renovated. The grounds are beautifully landscaped
with a fountain, plants and palm trees...

 
The full album is available at:
 

Sources


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German Gourmet Sausage In An Asian Black Sesame Bun

3:14 AM  , , ,  

Shiraz Authentic Persian Cuisine
Clarke Quay
South, Singapore
October 2012

Merlion Wayfarer had never been to Shiraz at Clarke Quay. So she had no idea how Shiraz's BBQ-grilled food tasted. That is, until Open Rice's OktoberFest held at Clarke Quay's Central Fountain Square.
 
Sausages are toasted over a grill by an angmoh chef...

The hot dog bun at S$8 per serving, comes in a bun layered with black sesame seeds, inserted with a Gourmet German Chicken Sausage grilled to perfection, and doused with dollops of mustard and sweet chili sauce. The fresh tomatoes and white onions within pack a crunch with every bite of the fragrant meat-bread combination. Enticing enough for Merlion Wayfarer to start dining visits to Shiraz...
More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa at :
Food - Middle Eastern

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