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Food, oh glorious food.

<insert forgotten 7 words>

Food, oh glorious food.

It sounded a whole lot better than, trust me. Maybe it’s a Singaporean thing or perhaps it was just after recess but yes, of all the topics in this entire world, I chose food.

So for all you foodies out there who scrounge the web for places to eat in Singapore, stop all ye clicking about because we’ve got a dining guide that will put you out of your misery. The team from Singapore Management University’s Gourmet Club took their cameras and their lust for great tasting food to the streets to create Urban Relish – a dining guide of 200 F&B establishments within the vicinity of their campus. This nifty guide lets you discover gastronomic gems as you walk the streets of City Hall, Somerset, Bras Basah, Promenade, Dhoby Ghaut, Nicoll Highway, Little India and Bugis.

The recommendations in Urban Relish are meticulously handpicked, flavors diligently sampled and pictures thoughtfully captured to accompany their savory words. Here’s what I liked:

• The dishes are categorized into cuisines – very convenient!
• There’s even a Grab & Go segment for times when quick decisions are vital.
• Establishments that neither have GST nor service charge are also highlighted and you’ll know if they have wireless service as well too. Need halal food? It’s all indicated!
• The notes are well thought through, emphasizing on information that’s essential such as price range, recommended dishes and at times, dinging atmosphere in the establishments.
• Urban Relish is easy to read and given that it only showcases food establishments close by, it conveniently narrows down choices for readers.

Not only is the guide lightweight and handy, recipes are included too! So how could you say no to a refreshing dining guide like this?

We had the delightful to chance to meet two passionate foodies Stephanie Quek & Ang Wei Zheng, who were also the President and Vice President (2011) of SMU Gourmet Club and here’s what they’ve got to say about Urban Relish!

What do you like the most about Urban Relish?

Steph: For one we thoroughly enjoyed the process of putting the book together no doubt, but I’d say the thing we love most about Urban Relish is how personal it is. As you read through Urban Relish, it doesn’t feel so much like just a book telling you where you’ll find what foods, but it tries to find out what you like, before suggesting a place for you –somewhat like how a friend would do it.

Tell us your experience in creating the book.

Steph: The whole process took about 9 months (from conceptualizing the book to launching and distributing the finished product).

Despite the huge amount of work and tight datelines, creaking Urban Relish with a treasured group of friends, would probably be the most precious memory we’d take away from our experience in SMU. Ultimately, just being together made the loads of eating (though not due to cravings) and the many sleepless nights worthwhile.

Come to think of it, it almost felt as though we were birthing a child! Think about the look on our faces when we laid our eyes on the first copy of Urban Relish fresh out from the press!

What’s makes for a great meal?

Wei Zheng and Steph: The company! (Gourmet Club’s motto is: Where good food meets good company)

And where’s the perfect place to have that meal and why?


Wei Zheng and Steph: Anywhere friends go, a good meal is sure to follow. Why? ‘Cause good company makes for an enjoyable time –sometimes it may even make your food taste better than it already is!

Name one favourite ingredient you can’t live without.

Steph: I grew up on soya sauce –grandma puts it in EVERYTHING! (I’ve a soft spot for truffle though!)
Wei Zheng: Chilli (when my family travels overseas, we bring along bottles of chilli)!

How would you introduce a new culinary dish to someone who isn’t a foodie to begin with?

Wei Zheng: I’ll first talk about what I know about the dish and the chef who prepared the meal. If I don’t know anything about the dish, because we’re there for the first time, then “bon appetite, we’re in for a surprise”.

What kind of food would you prefer to have falling from the sky?

Steph: All sorts of cereal, nuts and mueslis!

You’re wandering the streets on your own and you’re hungry. Where would you stop for food and drinks? 


Steph: I’m a café junkie –I’d stop at a café! I love the quirky and the quaint! If I were around Tiong Bahru, I’d pop into 40 Hands; Duxton –Flor or Group Therapy; Ann Siang Hill –Kiki; Bukit Timah –Simply Bread at Cluny Court<3; OF COURSE *whips out Urban Relish* …

Wei Zheng: I’d go to Artichoke Café and Bar or Blackbird Café!

Who should be reading Urban Relish?

Anyone and everyone who has ‘food’ as their middle-name, people who frequent town, plus anyone who’s keen on finding out about eats in this area:

Why should readers own a copy of Urban Relish and how can they get one?

Urban Relish is made up of:

• 200 recommended eats in the area shown above, divided into
• 8 different categories of food (e.g. Asian; Western; Middle-Eastern; Fusion; Local Vegetarian; Cafes; Grab & Go), with information like
• Their various addresses; opening hours; contact details; price range and recommended dishes, PLUS if these eating places have service charge; GST; Wifi and if they are Halal!
• We’ve even included our very own favourite recipes into Urban Relish for sharing!

I’ll let my words be few. Here are a few teaser pages for you to feast your eyes on:

(98% of the shots were professionally taken by our very own photographers!)

If you would like to purchase a copy (at $5 per copy), write to us at gourmet@sa.smu.edu.sg and we’ll make the necessary arrangements to get Urban Relish to you.

Complete this sentence:
Steph:
Cakes, Ice Cream and ALL THINGS CHOCOLATE make me feel like wiggling my toes. Especially when peanut butter is involved!

Wei Zheng:
Adine, Hana and Nicole make me feel like having dessert. Especially when Flor is nvolved!

Steph:
Naughty you, asking 3 girls out on the same date?

Wonderful people, these two :) Thanks guys! Now that you’ve a glimpse of the goodness of Urban Relish, you can win a copy too.  There are 20 copies of Urban Relish to be won and all you’ve got to do is like our Facebook page (Contest is only open to Penny’s friends on Facebook!) and once you’ve done that, tell us that you want a copy with the following details:

• Name
• Age
• NRIC
• D.O.B
• Contact number
• Address
• Occupation

via a Facebook message with the subject as ‘Urban Relish’, on our Facebook page (the little option on the right) and we’ll contact you if you’re our winner!

Please be reminded that this contest is only open to readers living in Singapore who are friends on Facebook. All entries must reach us by Friday, 17th February 2012!

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• A bright dash of color creates an eye catching ensemble. Add red/green/orange/blue (even in shoes) to any white ensemble and see the colours pop.
• Layer the tones. Mix different tones of white and beige on top of each other for that simple, sophisticated look.
• Avoid fits that are too tight. Like any other colour, find cuts that are flattering and not too tight. You don’t want to look like you’re bursting at the seams.

Frida J., 18 year old Student and blogger from Kungälv, SWEDEN

Ebba Z., 16 year old Student from Umeå

Pascal G., 52 year old Photographer / Blogger from Zurich

Prisca E., mochaccinoland from Hong Kong

Shui T., Students from Bangkok

Alexandra P., 23 year old BLOGGER @LOVELYPEPABLOG.COM from Vigo

Adam G., 20 year old free spirit from Riverside, CA

Peter A., Aspiring Artist/Actor/Dancer/Model from Los Angeles

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:phunk is a local contemporary art and design collective. Their most recent works have been seen on limited edition FRANK by OCBC cards. The :phunk soul brothers have also worked on projects for brands such as MTV, UNIQLO, Disney and even Tiger Beer.

The guys from :phunk take time to answer a few of our questions.

PD: Who makes up :phunk? What do you guys do?

:P: Alvin Tan, Melvin Chee, William Chan and Jackson Tan. We are a multidisciplinary art and design collective.

PD: How was :phunk formed?

:p: We first met as students in LASALLE College of the Arts and came together in 1994 after graduation to form :phunk. We shared many common interests ranging from old Hong Kong kungfu TV serials, Chinese mythology and Japanese manga, to British indie music, American pop culture, pretty girls, alcohol, and parties. We tried starting a band initially, but gave up after realising that we sucked musically. Out of boredom, we started ‘jamming’ with visuals and graphics on the Mac in Jackson’s bedroom and sent the ‘EPs’ out to people we liked. The rock and roll ethos, DIY spirit and working dynamics of a band was developed into our collective’s DNA. That’s how it all started. The rest, as they say, is history.

PD: What are some of :phunk’s more interesting projects to date?

:p: We have worked on projects with with brands such as MTV, Levis, UNIQLO, Diesel, Casio, Herman Miller, Disney, Tiger Beer – from creating animated packaging for MTV shows, collaboration projects with fashion brands, products, organising parties, publishing magazines, curating exhibitions, designing spaces… Recently, we directed the retail concepts for Herman Miller (iconic American furniture company) as well as designed merchandise for The Rolling Stones. We also created our own original artworks, paintings, prints, sculptures and installations, which are exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. We do not distinct between art and design. We like to explore, express and communicate our ideas through different mediums. Our projects spans across art, design, publishing, fashion, music, film and interactive. We like to blur the lines and push the boundaries between art and design, creativity and commerce, craft and technology, east and west, fantasy and reality, control and chaos, love and hate, friendship and partnership, sound and image.

PD: How did the opportunity to work with OCBC’s FRANK card come about?

:p: We met the OCBC team a while back when they were initiating the FRANK project. We were very happy when they approached us to pilot their artist collaboration series. It was a great opportunity to create something new and fresh that’s never seen in the market before.

PD: What inspired the limited edition OCBC FRANK card designs?

:p: It was inspired by our ‘NEW WORLD’ and ‘DAYDREAM NATION’ series of artworks. The artworks have synergy with FRANK’s brand values and ethos. The overarching theme was “Freedom to dream and explore the world”.

PD: This might be the first time a bank has collaborated with a design group. How do you feel about this? 

:p: We are really happy with the creative process and outcome of the project. We hope that it will push the boundaries of the way banks communicate with their audience and also pave the way for more interesting collaborations between banks and artists.

PD: Have any of the limited edition design cards been sold yet?

:p: We heard that the $1,000 one of a kind card was snapped out within a few days of the launch.

PD: Possible to share what :phunk is working on now or upcoming projects?

:p: We are currently working on a new series of artworks for a solo gallery exhibition in Taiwan next year.

PD: Assuming the world doesn’t end in 2012, where do you see :phunk ten years from now?

:p: Still rocking it from our armchairs!

PD: What are your thoughts on design in Singapore?

:p: It’s young and emerging, with a lot of exciting and interesting space for growth.

This interview has been edited and condensed. Find out more about :phunk, visit their website at www.phunkstudio.com.

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Journaling

Journaling has been proven to be good for your health. Studies have shown that writing diligently in your journal has a positive impact on your well-being. Psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker at  University of Texas at Austin says that putting your mind to paper strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes.

Journaling facilities good health by decreasing symptoms of certain illnesses such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, a long-term disease that causes inflamed joints. It also shrinks the impact of stress on your physical health as you come to terms with the stressful events in your life by writing them down.

Writing triggers the analytical and rational skills (left brain alert!) and hence your right brain is free to feel, create and intuit. In short, writing clears the mental blocks and helps to understand your circumstances better. You’ll understand what makes you confident and in turn, you’ll be able to tell what’s toxic in your life and what’s not – an aspect so very important for your emotional well being! Keeping a journal releases painful emotions like anger and sadness as well. Your journal will help you realize that yes, you can be calmer.

Laughing Lasts

When we hear laughter, we tend to look in its direction. Deep down, we’re actually wanting to find something to laugh about too. Laughing has its health benefits and best of all, it’s free! Laughter boosts energy levels, immune systems and fundamentally, when you laugh, you can’t feel sad or angry! Laughter protects you from stress, in a funny sort of way. When you laugh, your burden is lightened and the happiness you’ve got inspires hope in others too.

Laughing has deeper social benefits too:

• Strengthens relationships
• Makes us more attractive
• Enhances teamwork
• Defuses conflict
• Promotes group bonding

Believe or not, laughter is not something trivial. Laughing keep things in perspective! While shouldering the weight of the world might seem noble, many things in life are beyond our control and we can only tolerate so much. Instead of the letting things get to you and render yourself unproductive, laugh it off. You’ve got better things to do.

Sleep Mode

The good thing about getting older is the that you’ll enjoy sleeping so much more. Partying till 5AM? Pfft. After a long day at work, all you want to do is eat, take a real good bath and sleep till the next morning. Sleeping has many benefits and fortunately one of them is weight control! Sleeping helps regulate hormones that control and affect your appetite. When you body is deprived of sleep, your appetite increases but you’ll find yourself craving for foods high in fats, carbohydrates and calories. So when planning a well balanced diet, be sure to include enough sleep.

Resting well through the night also prevents you from waking up feeling agitated from a terrible sleep. Sleeping reduces the likelihood of depression and anxiety; temperaments that can lead to long term mood disorders that inconvenience your lifestyle. It’s especially so when limited sleep becomes a chronic issue. Insomnia sucks, we know. There’s no harm in seeking medical help if you think you’re not getting an adequate amount of sleep. Your health depends on it!

Instrumental Tracks

When it’s time to hit the sack, I put on some instrumentals and find myself falling asleep by the 4th tune. For someone who dreams rather frequently, my sleep is often uninterrupted when I’ve got instrumentals playing. YAY!

Instrumental music is also known to be effective in helping patients recover steadily from illnesses. Music and relaxation therapy have also been used together to lower blood pressure and heart rate in patients with heart disease.

If you’re looking for the betterment of your physical, emotional and mental health, there are various kinds of instrumental accompaniments that promote wellness in your body. A composition that’s moderately fast would stimulate the mind and jazz or blues instrumental pieces would tap your unconscious mind, slowly unveiling creativity as your right brain tunes in to the upbeat tempo.

So now, you’ve got music, sleep, journaling and something to laugh about. Why wait? It’s time to prepare yourself for better days ahead!

Image souce: We Heart It

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Screenshots from Thanasis Tsimpinis’ Flickr

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It’s the second week of January and I’m pretty sure that many of you have already broken most of your newly minted resolutions! Wanting to lose weight but you’ve already gone through two boxes of chocolate and have yet to make it to the gym? Want to save up, but you keep spending cash on cabs and impulse purchases?

It’s best to admit this whilst it’s still early on instead of carrying on till June when you think, oh well, there’s always next year. I’ve been there. While people may console you with “better late than never” you have to give yourself a shakedown and ask yourself if you’re serious about wanting a change. If you are, well you have to start from the very beginning and Penny is right here to impart the SMART way of making sure your resolutions are realised – dont’ worry, it’ll be quick and almost pain-free.

1) Part of the reason why so many of us lose sight of our goals so quickly is that it’s not Specific enough. If your goal is to lose weight, how much of it do you want to lose? If you want to save money, how much of it? Being specific in your goal is the first definitive step to making a fully functional plan.

2) Now that you’ve specified how much money you want to save it, and what countries you want to visit in that grand tour of Europe you want to do within a span of 3 weeks, how are you going to Measure it? Do you need to put together a timetable to see how many times a week you go to the gym and for how long? Do you check your accounts on a weekly/monthly basis and keep track of expenditure? What processes have you put into place to make sure you stay on track and maintain it?

3) & 4) You’ve identified goals and made resolutions that are highly important to you, even phrasing things in a positive manner to get you in the right frame of mind, but do you really think they are Attainable and Realistic? The attainability factor needs a positive mindset and attitude so that you develop the necessary traits and discipline to get there, whilst the other needs a practical focus. Saying you want to lost 20 pounds by the end of the month is NOT realistic.

5) Lastly, put a specific Time-frame to it. Face it, someday isn’t just going to happen, you have to make it a particular day. It has to be something along the lines of: “By October 10th, I will be debt free because I would have paid it off with $500 installments each month.” or “I want to lost 5kgs each quarter by going to the gym twice a week and cutting down on my chocolate intake by having only one Snicker bar a week.” Now that is being specific and time-bound.

See, it wasn’t too bad, was it? Ask as many questions as possible so that you get down to the real nitty-gritty. The more tangible it is, the more achievable it is. So it’s okay if you’ve fallen off the wagon and you need to rethink those resolutions, just don’t give up! A positive change in your life can only mean good things.

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The teams from Flowtown and Column Five Media help us decide if Twitter is for everyone and we’re keeping ours!

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