"Eat" and Run

Food blogging seems to be the craze these days. What better place to be in and start than here in Singapore? The melting pot of gastronomical delight, east-meets-west-meets curry chicken and prata. Even if you can't cook, you can still drool over the sumptuous looking photos on blogs, no?

Despite living in a country where hawker centres and food courts are the pride of our culinary identity, I never liked mee-poks and rojaks till recently. In fact, I have always been more interested in Western food, à la Italian and French, mostly. I watch Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson. I worship Jamie Oliver. That's where I learn everything I know about food. That's who I learnt cooking from.

Focaccia bread, mozzarella cheese on home made pizzas, anchovies in salads, extra virgin olive oil, zucchinis, foie gras, raviolis, smoked salmon with capers, grilled ribeye steaks.... The list goes on.

Having travelled to the Mecca of Pasta & Bread, Europe, and fulfilling my dream of eating from Tuscany to Hungary, I was grateful for an eye-opening and very satisfying food-and-cultural experience of the West. But strangely, I miss home food. I miss those simple yet delicious local fare. Whilst travelling, I find myself drooling over the thoughts of bah-coh-mee, nasi lemak and fried kway teow with hum. It was painful not having chillis bc the Europeans cannot take the spicey heat. It felt weird to keep eating pastas and nothing else.

So upon my return, there's a new-found respect and love for local cuisine. I am glad that I live in a country that embraces diversity in food. A place that celebrates eating. A place where I can have both my paella and my ice-kachang.

In today's column, we'll feature some interesting food blogs. The "Eat" place to go for your different needs: be it when you are hungry, when lunch time is nearing, when you are bored in the office/classrooms and have nothing interesting to read, or simply need new ideas as to where to hang out this coming weekend. You know where you can get new ideas and inspirations!


1. I EAT I SHOOT I POST (http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/)

The office favourite of those foodies who live for the moment. With lunch time being a mere one hour usually, you'd want to enjoy the best meal of the day to congratulate yourself for making it past noon and motivating yourself to hang in there till 6pm. I EAT I SHOOT I POST covers lotsa great makan places all over Singapore, with lotsa readers comments to help you decide. If you like your 5 seconds of fame, go eat and recommend!

2. YUM (http://yum.sg/)



A portal more than a blog, offering reviews with search options. Very useful for doing research on where to go. Be it for a date or birthday celebrations, or simply for a meal. If you are an avid backpacker, you'd relate this website to that of Virtual Tourist. Those interested in reviewing food and restaurants can also sign up to write for this site.

3. ONLY SLIGHTLY PRETENTIOUS FOOD (http://epicurative.blogspot.com/)



As the name suggests, slightly pretentious food blogging. Nothing pompous. Rather down to earth. With pictures and words aplenty, what the Fad girl likes about this blog is the fact that at the side bar, there are different categories, all neatly sorted, for what might interest different readers. Reviews, recipes and even a food thesaurus. Very meticulous.

4. SHE BAKES AND SHE COOKS (http://thebakerwhocooks.blogspot.com/)



Martha Stewart of the lot. With rather nice pictures and a blazing passion for cooking. The USP (Unique Selling Point) of this blog is its rustic presentation and links to local food stores and sites. Who'd have thought we can assign IPS addresses to groceries now? Awesome. For the serious foodies and chefs.

5. MAD BAKER (http://www.madbaker.net/)



Yes we've heard of Chet Baker, the famous Jazz singer. But Mad Baker? Well, this is more of an online Bakery pet hobby of some software developer here in Singapore. The Mad Baker makes and she SELLS her pretty bakes online. Looking at those piles of beautiful photos just tempt me to wanna order from this really cool Mad Baker. (Go look at those rainbow macaroons!) After all, Mad rhymes with FAD! :)

6. HUNGRY GO WHERE (http://www.hungrygowhere.com/)



The Singapore Food Guide. Search engines and ratings. A comprehensive F&B database of local restaurants. Also a portal with members incentives of vouchers and discounts. What I don't like about it is the Yellow Pages feel, but a very useful portal nonetheless!

7. THE BREAKFAST BLOG (http://thebreakfastblog.blogspot.com/)



Children, your mom is right when she says breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So important that someone decides to dedicate a blog to solely breakfast! For a cosmopolitan read beyond our tiny island, complete with drools-worthy pics; for those who wonder what goes beyond scrambled eggs and brioche, check out this blog.

8. PRO BONO BAKER (http://probonobaker.typepad.com/)



Arriving at the web page, you know you're in for something chic and beautiful. A Chicago-based food blog with vibrant pictures adorning the site, any foodies' gastronomic dream will be fulfiled here.

9. La Tartine Gourmande (http://www.latartinegourmande.com/)



For those who believe art is food, art is photography, art is a form of expression as well as obsession, then this is the blog for you. With a french touch, this is the virtual form of A Year In Provence and the likes. Très lovely!

10. THE HUNGRY COW (http://thehungrycow.blogspot.com/)



Authentically Singaporean, with engaging description as well as interesting photos. The blogger also provides his own insights and injects a personal sense of humour and style. A nice finishing touch was to include the address of the place introduced at the end of the post.

Hopefully you've gained certain insights into what's going on in the food blogging-sphere both in Singapore and other countries. There are many links in the individual web pages where you can explore. So here's wishing you success in creating your own MakanSutra!