I was pleasantly surprised by the result, since I really took the lazy way out. Despite using frozen tortellini and bottled cream-based pasta sauce, I was able to whip up a fairly decent stuffed cheese tortellini in mushroom cream sauce topped with shaved parmigiano. Okay, so it’s not exactly gourmet stuff, but hey, it was quite edible.

Score for the lazy girl who wants a quick and good pasta fix!

I was maybe third or fourth in line, but the uncle was prompt with my order, serving it within 10 minutes. I ordered a $2 portion, which though generous in portion size,  looked humble enough, heaped on a blue plastic plate, with two satay sticks. I speared a piece and took a bite – and wow – it was pretty spectacular. For $2, I was given a generous serving of freshly sliced pineapple, toasted beancurd, radish, jambu, cucumber, lotus and blanched beansprouts tossed in an equally generous serving of finely ground peanuts and shrimp paste. Every thing was done just right. The fresh ingredients were crunchy, the blanched beansprouts were done just right, and the sauce, it was droolworthy. While by themselves each ingredient was humble enough, when put together, it was magic on a plate.

It was simply delicious. I’m glad I found this gem of a place. Definitely coming back for more. And if any of you are taking notes, the name of the stall is called 一口香 Rojak.

一口香 Rojak is located at Blk 116 Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, #01-140, Hua Fong Kee Food Court, Singapore 310116.

As fate would have it, an earl grey cookie recipe was featured in real simple magazine some time back. I kept the recipe, but kept procrastinating the production for some reason or other. Until yesterday night, when the munchies really set in, and I simply didn’t have many ingredients to work with at that hour of the day.

They turned out fairly well, and were a pleasure to make, given their simplicity and the heavenly earl grey and vanilla scent that wafted out of the kitchen during the baking process. The result is a slightly crumbly, very tasty cookie with a soft, chewy centre. I’d definitely do this again.

I wasn’t about to waste six yolks, and I needed a quick and easy fix while juggling the cheesecake making process, so I mentally went through whatever was available in the fridge and larder, and bingo – milk custard was the solution to my problems. Two successful desserts is better than one failed one, so what the heck?

So I hurriedly threw together the yolks, milk, sugar, vanilla essence, and after 50 minutes in the steam oven, voila! Piping hot silky milk custard. I ate one on the spot, and chilled the remainder for a cold dessert for later. And gave myself a pat on the back.

So I tried my luck and googled a recipe online, and got busy. To my surprise, it turned out pretty good. Take a look.

It’s definitely not the same as what I’ve tasted in Tokyo, but by Singapore standards, very palatable. The pork bone broth of the house special tonkotsu ramen was rich, fragrant, tasty and slightly milky, with enough oomph to compliment the noodles and other ingredients well. The noodles themselves were nice and springy. I liked that they took the pains to cook the egg the “ramen” way – with the yolk still soft and slightly runny, and the yakibuta (grilled pork), menma (bamboo shoots) and negi (Japanese leek) added brownie points to the whole experience. The only thing missing was spicy cod, which most places in Singapore omit anyway.

I will go back when I need my quick ramen fix on a workday, but I will also continue to dream of the Tokyo version until my next trip to Japan.

Men-Tei Ramen is located at 61 Robinson Road, #01-01 Robinson Centre, Singapore 068893. Tel +65 64384140.

It was delicious, and I enjoyed every bite, which was particularly impressive considering this was after a few pieces of foccacia, sharing appetisers, a main course of fettucine in duck ragout, as well as a slice of apple cake in honour of the birthday girl.

In fact, it was so good I simply had to post it, so here it is.

Osvaldo is located at 32 Maxwell Road, #01-03 Maxwell Chambers, Singapore 069115. Tel +65 62240978. Website www.osvaldo.com.sg

I started off with classic onion soup – pure comfort food. Drained every last drop, and the melted cheese on bread topping the soup was out of this world.

My friend’s appetiser was a really interesting crab meat relish, paired with a bed of rocket salad. It looked so good we couldn’t resist dipping in. Tasted pretty yummy too.

The mains were spectacular. I had duck leg confit, which was served with a pair of duck legs, cooked to perfection, on a bed of creamy mashed potato. One bite and I was hooked. Didn’t speak much till I was done. Sorry for the anti-social behaviour, but I’ve got my priorities.

My friends’ choices of rolled pork belly with a side salad, as well as juicy salmon with squid ink sauce, were also equally impressive.

And for the climax – dessert, which was very original and quite unexpected. A giant profiterole accompanied by a scoop of chocolate ice-cream, a pair of macaroons, a shot of rum, jug of warm milk and molten 72% chocolate, served on a platter. The diner gets to play around with dessert by tweaking the proportion of chocolate:rum:milk in a cup which is drunk, and also the amount of chocolate that gets poured on top of the macaroons and profiterole.

Altogether, the meal was such a treat. I’m coming back for more.

Le Bistrot is located at 2 Stadium Walk, #01-03 Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore 397691. Tel +65 64470018. Website www.lebistrot.com.sg

I was introduced to Boston’s best (and possibly biggest!) burger when I hung out with some friends while in the city, and decided to check out Harvard Square. Mr Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers was a truly unforgettable experience, with burgers on their menu creatively named after various American illuminaries.

The one pictured here (if I recall correctly) is called the George Bush – double cheddar BBQ burger with sweet potato fried on the side. Juicy, beefy, and served piping hot, it was love at first bite.

Mr Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers is located at 1246 Massachussetts Ave, Cambridge, MA02138.

I stumbled across this gem of a place yesterday while in search of a bowl of something soupy for lunch. A colleague recommended this Vietnamese eatery along Amoy Street, just across from the hawker centre called Pho 99.

We had a bowl of beef slices and beef balls pho in broth, rice paper rolls and Vietnamese dripped milk coffee. The slices were tender, beef balls springy, and oh, the broth – rich, aromatic and flavourful, it was just total comfort food. And the dripped coffee packed a much needed caffiene loaded punch. At about $13 per pax, it’s really value for money.

Pho 99 Vietnamese Delights is located at 57 Amoy Street, Singapore. Tel +65 97688735