A truly scrumptious noon

I don't usually write about food but my meal this afternoon was good enough to change that.

I believe that being vegetarian in Singapore is harder than being vegetarian anywhere else. Not because there aren't enough options for vegetarians (far from it) but rather because there are too many alternatives.  In fact, Singapore is the foodie capital of the world with a mind boggling array of food choices for any palate.

This afternoon after a long and tiring meeting at the Central Business District I headed out to hunt for a quick bite. (technically, being vegetarian, I should say I headed out to 'gather' rather than 'hunt'). Deciding to try something new I eliminated all the joints I frequent whenever I near the CBD  at meal time.(in one fell stroke :p)  

Today I was rewarded (for my effort and patience) with a delightful meal that was quick, delicious, economical and refreshingly healthy.

I proudly present to you Vegan Berg: http://www.veganburg.com/

I had a Grilled Satay Burger with Seaweed fries and the spinach and potato balls and a apple & passion fruit cooler. (It was simply gorgeous what more can I say... I am writing this blog post aren't I)

After the meal, completely obscenely stuffed I decided I couldn't eat another savoury bite and began to look for desserts (sheepish grin)

The CBD of Singapore, being the centre of the foodie capital of the world, as I was saying in this self same post a few paras ago, didn't disappoint by delivering a second gastronomical gem in the same afternoon.

http://latteemiele.com.sg/

Latte E Emiele is a Gelato place truly run by Artisans of the Gelato making craft. I had the Orange blossom and Honey flavoured Gelato in waffle cone and it was sooooo good that it made my knees weak. I tried a bunch of the other flavours and would recommend any one of them without reservations.

Since I have no idea how one gracefully ends a blog post so obviously about gluttony 'bye!'  

 

Savoring

I’ve always been late for everything. I have a uncanny ability to get up from bed almost exactly 15 minutes later than I need to and it carries on like that the whole day with me glancing at my watch just a tad too late every time.

In my family the importance of breakfast as an anchor meal of the day was very pronounced to us three siblings by my mother. As I almost always reached the kitchen when my brother and sister were midway into theirs I had to rush through mine to make it to school on time. (cause according to my mom I would have grown up wrong if I had even missed or not completed even one breakfast meal)

The product of that early life ritual is that I eat really fast (like some crazy food Olympic style sprint eating fast). I usually finish my meal in less than half the time others take. There is a humorous side to it though; a lot of people I go out eating with are not able to have their fill out of politeness because the huge man across the table from them suddenly stops eating even when they are about getting started (wicked).

Despite that small mischievous satisfaction eating fast is actually a habit I’m trying to get rid of.

I’ve discovered that if I take smaller bites of my food and chew it thoroughly, not only do I savor the taste of what I am eating more completely but I also eat less (which helps me with my weight loss quest).

Taking your time to eat not only lets you recognize the obvious primary tastes of the seasoning but also lets you relish the more subtle tastes and textures behind the preparation that you would quite easily miss in a hurry.

Even cut fruits and salads really come into their own when you give them time to interact with your mouth before you push them down for processing.

Give it a try the next time you are scooping a spoonful.

Papaya

I always thought that if I had to put a fruit in prose it would the succulent mango or the aromatic pineapple. My own favorite Anona family of fruits with either the tempting Custard apple or the simply delectable Soursop were also close contenders as subjects.
Here I am, writing about the wonder fruit that was the most unlikeliest of candidates but has emerged the surprise winner of the ‘fruit I enjoy the most’ contest.
The Papaya isn’t just refreshing to eat (even more so as it is served here on ice with prune powder) it is packed with a whole host of benefits.
At home we used to eat Papaya after meals as it was considered good for the digestive system. And I recently have again started having a slice of Papaya after every meal which I believe has contributed greatly to my steady weight loss and toning up.
As a fruit it is low on calories and is always easy to eat. It is high in Vitamin A and C and is a great source of fiber and potassium. Papaya contains papain, which is often used to tenderize meat, this helps with digestion and breaks down protein.
Here is a list of things I found its good for in general:

• The mature (ripe) fruit treats ringworm, green fruits treat high blood pressure, and is used as an aphrodisiac.
• The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores.
• The juice of the fruit (specifically the enzymes within it) are used to reduce gastrointestinal gas, useful to sufferers of IBS.
• The seeds are anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and analgesic, and they are used to treat stomachache and fungal infections.
• The leaves are used as a heart tonic, analgesic, and to treat stomachache. The roots are used as an analgesic.
• Current research is examining the potential for fertility effects due to the strong spermicidal properties of the seeds.

Restraint

While on the subject of anticipation I would like to mention one simple trial I love subjecting myself to.

For those curious about the immediate past: here’s me sitting with my hot mug of freshly brewed coffee.

I have found that a lot of satisfaction is to be had from simple exercise of restraint.

Case to point; I have come to absolutely adore the various smells that greet me at most Singapore food courts (no doubt a majority originating from cooked fish and various meats). I find the aroma extremely appetizing and since I go past mostly when I am hungry exponentially more tempting.

While I have no qualms about eating meat, I grew up in a vegetarian family and have great deference for my dad who is a strict vegetarian (out of respect for whom I have decided to stay vegetarian all my life).

The simple act of not partaking in what a portion of my mind and body seem to want (sometime quite severely) makes me feel proud of my capability of restraint.

The thing about restraint that we often overlook is that it is akin to any other skill the more we practice the better we get at it.

Of Hummus, paan and friends

I often walk back home from office after work. It’s a pleasant albeit brisk one hour that I like to spend listening to music. It’s usually about 8 pm by the time I leave and I get home around 9 or so just in time for dinner.

Nowadays I don’t have dinner waiting for me at home or much reason to go home other than sleep. I therefore take a longer more circuitous route home and have picked up a curious new activity.

I walk through the various food courts and restaurant alleys along the way trying to figure out what catches my fancy and suits my vegetarianism. (Again for those not familiar with Singapore, everyone eats out here and one is literally spoilt for choice where eating out is concerned)

It was a long walk before I found an interesting Lebanese place and sat down for some yummy hummus and salad. It was close to 10.30 and I was famished which added that much more satisfaction to the meal and the aromatic Moroccan mint tea. After that rewarding repast I was on my feet again and started walking in my home’s general direction with an intent to have some dessert.

Near Mustafa I found an uncle selling paan (for those of you who are ignorant of the wonderful Indian invention it is a spiced betel leaf) and quickly decided I wanted to have a sweet one. The myriad flavors just exploded in my mouth and my taste buds were immensely grateful for my good fortune.

A short walk later I was home and more than ready for a quick shower and some welcome sleep. After my day in office the long walk (almost 3 hours not including the time spent eating) had been good but also prepared me for my shut eye. I hit the pillow and drifted off into a comfortable dreamless slumber.

At 4.30 in the morning I was rudely awaken by my ringing phone and scrambled out of bed trying to figure out where I had left it. As I could not recognize the familiar seeming number I was pleasantly surprised to hear the boisterous and mischievously gleeful greetings from my school day friends in India. They had been having an impromptu nightcap and had decided to call me on a whim.

We get to meet just once a year when I head home to Delhi for a break and was planning on looking them up just next week when I reach there and so was very happy that they were all there, together and thinking of me.

It’s nice to have friends.