I started this blog on New Year's Eve 2013, after a few friends of mine nagged me for years to start it, after looking at photos of my edible creations on my personal Facebook page.  The blog was really just a hobby, something that I did after work and on weekends and I had a goal of posting one new recipe every week.

A lot has happened since New Year's Eve 2013: the blog got two nominations in the 2014 Singapore blog awards (Best Cooking Blog and Best New Blog). I shared numerous recipes that I experimented on and made. I traveled to different places that widened my gastronomic horizons. I changed jobs and  eventually, companies too, and in the past two years, that made me tremendously busy, which led to me not writing for the past two years. :(

And while the blog was no longer active, I would occasionally get inquiries from a few people about some recipes. I also found myself going back to the blog from time to time to look at my own recipes as I continued cooking when I could during the weekends.

Though I have ceased to post recipes here, my gastronomic journey never really ended. I still cook and try out new recipes occasionally. My new job takes me to more places around the world, with the side benefit of being able to sample dishes I have never tried before, experiencing interesting restaurants and the gustatory adventures they have to offer, teasing not only my sense of taste, but also sight and smell. These adventures are some of the things that I find great satisfaction in outside of my career.

It is nearly New Year's Eve 2017. It's time to close the blog, though I will still keep it here for people who still want to check out the recipes. Thank you for your interest and hope you continue your journey as a home cook, just as I have. Bon appetit! 

A Great, Gastronomic Adventure at Colorful, Quaint Joo Chiat Road

Last Saturday, I had a very interesting, cultural evening. I went on a walking Culinary Adventure at Katong/Joo Chiat Road in the eastern part of Singapore. I was introduced by a very good friend to a lovely Israeli lady named Karni Tomer, the owner of Wok 'n' Stroll a company that specialises in "off the beaten track" culinary adventures.

Karni invited us to a meeting onsite to present Wok 'n' Stroll activities that are usually conducted by three local tourist guides who are trained as food explorers and who share with her a strong passion for Singapore's local cuisine.

So how was Wok 'n' Stroll born? Karni describes herself as a foodie and a food explorer. She comes from a family that loves to cook, who take pictures of what they eat, and this was even before the era of Instagram and Facebook! She herself is a trained cook and came to Singapore from Israel five years ago to follow her husband who was already working here. She didn't know anything at all about Singapore, but when her husband's company decided to relocate him and his family, Karni went on a look see trip. After being here for the first few days, she found herself going alone to Tekka Market with her backpack, looking at the local delicacies and trying out the famous Nasi Biryani....followed by Afternoon Tea at the Raffles Hotel on the same day....followed by dinner with Israeli compatriots at Jumbo Seafood in the evening.

And after that fateful day of sampling the local delicacies, the rest is history....Karni was captivated by the variety of the food and the local culture in Singapore, and she decided to follow her husband, with then two kids in tow (one was later born here), to live in Singapore. At first, she missed the food from home. She started cooking her Israeli and Greek food at home (she is half Greek) but later on, she mulled to herself, "What the hell am I doing?? I am in the middle of a gastronomic paradise. Why am I not exploring the food around me???" Soonafter, she decided to do that and her business Wok 'n' Stroll was born.

Risotto with Mushroom, Parsley & Truffle Oil

This is my favourite risotto to make. And it's so easy too. The addition of truffle oil at the end is a luxurious and fragrant touch, but not necessary. Just something to make a home cooked dish more special. Bon appetit!