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Tao Seafood Asia

CITY: Long-term residents might be familiar with Thai Village Restaurants, well-known for Thai-Teochew cuisine. The founding chef retired in 2012, but inspired his son Adrian Lee to open his own restaurant, Tao Seafood Asia, last December.

Asia Square, near Shenton Way, is home to the 108-seat restaurant, including two private rooms, with vibrant red and gold décor, chandeliers and welcoming ambience.

Seafood takes centre-stage, such as Australian abalone, mud-crabs from Sri Lanka and Vietnam, with fresh fish, prawns and lobsters from the region.

Signature dishes of Singapore chilli crab ($6/100g) and pot-roasted crab with glass-noodles ($45) are packed full of flavour. The former, with deliciously tangy tomato and chilli based sauce, tastes even better paired with steamed or deep-fried buns (mantou) to mop up the irresistible sauce.

Pot-roasted items such as crab, or chicken caramelised in rice-wine ($20), are, says Mr Lee, ‘Cooked over an open fire stove and served in the very same pot to retain the fragrant aroma all the way to the customer at the table.’ My party and I found the tender chicken redolent with aromatic rice-wine.

We also enjoyed succulent poached live prawns, as well as steamed soon hock, a highly regarded local fish. My sister-in-law requested crab coated in salted egg; to my delight the meaty pincers were served sans shells, making them easy to eat. Stewed rice vermicelli ($24) was prepared with generous portions of prawns, squid and crabmeat.

Soups, vegetables and bean curd help make the menu a good representation of Singapore-style favourites. The restaurant’s home-made green chilli sauce is not only attractive with its pistachio-green-apple hue, but is also addictive with its tart, hot taste.

For a light finale, try snow fungus with red dates and gingko nuts for the dessert’s health-giving properties. As an added bonus, this dish is reputed to enhance one’s beauty due to being high in collagen.

The restaurant’s logo says it all: ‘Where gourmets gather.’

Tao Seafood Asia
Asia Square Tower 2, #02-10,
12 Marina View
Tel 6844 9969

Born in Adelaide, Raelene Tan is an etiquette consultant and food & travel writer. She has authored four books and has been a regular guest on radio and television.

View our listings for Bars, Restaurants and Cafes in the City

Supporting ANZA Soccer in Every Way

Catherine Strickland’s kids are avid ANZA Soccer players, her husband coaches and she has served on the committee – now she is supporting the league in a new way.

 


 

My family and I moved to Singapore close to four years ago and, with two soccer-mad boys, joining ANZA was a priority. James, aged 11, has commenced his fourth season in the Flyers, with my husband Ben coaching them for a second year. Charlie, aged seven, is also in the Flyers and has been gracing the pitches at The Cage since he was a four-year-old Panther. Poppy, my daughter, is an expert cheerleader and cartwheeler on the sidelines.  
We have made a wonderful circle of friends of many nationalities through our involvement with ANZA Soccer. We all love our Saturdays, when we can spend a little time socialising as we watch the action on the pitches. 
My husband has enjoyed coaching the energetic Flyers, and last year I had a great time supporting the amazing volunteer ANZA Soccer Committee as the Communications Coordinator. The experience showed me that ANZA Soccer is run by an inspiring group of people who give their time and expertise to get kids out there on the pitches. The programs – including the Saturday league, Sunday competition teams, the girls’ program and various outside tournaments – continue to develop and improve each year.
Having had so many great experiences with ANZA Soccer, I am excited to be able to support it in a new way now, as a sponsor of the girls’ teams, the Matildas. As the owner of small business in Singapore – Flower Girl, a bespoke florist with a focus on Australian native blooms – I see great benefit in the opportunities gained by becoming an ANZA sponsor. The girls’ teams and I have some synergy with the feminine floral element, in addition to the fact we are relatively new, growing, and ‘blooming’ our way into 2015. With 40 girls committed to The Matildas, not to mention the dedicated Thursday trainers and Saturday coaches, the program, coordinated by committee member Carol Woodroofe, is expanding every year. It is wonderful to have seen their successes over the last three years and, as a sponsor, to be a part of their future.
ANZA Soccer is delighted to have been supported this year by all of its sponsors: Westpac, Accor Hotels, Australian International School, James Cook University, Asian Tigers Mobility, Ego, Presto Expat Motoring and Flower Girl. Sponsorship is a crucial element in the program, as league fees do not cover all the expenses incurred, and the program is committed to keeping fees as low as possible. 
With corporate logos frequenting ANZA publications, websites, shirts and trophies, sponsorship builds goodwill and a real feel-good factor about being involved with the exciting, dynamic force that is ANZA Soccer. I am truly excited to be a part of ANZA Soccer in a new way this season.

ANZA Dive: All the Weh

The remote Indonesian island of Pulau Weh is worth the journey for the delights divers can find in its waters, says Georgina Grant.

My fiancé Phil and I were excited to be heading off to the remote destination of Pulau Weh, a volcanic island to the northwest of Sumatra in Indonesia. Also along on this trip were Jo, Lydia, Marla, Hongbo, Mo and Wong, with Gary Savins in charge.

After two flights – Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, then onwards to Banda Aceh and a ferry ride – our sleepy group took a coach through mountainous vegetation and lush rainforest to the tranquil resort of Pulau Weh.

Hongbo brought along his huge camera housing, which Gary dubbed ‘the mini-submarine’ – we all gasped with delight when we saw his underwater photos the next day.

Day One
The wooden dive boat took us to Seulako Island and Tokong dive sites, where underwater we saw a rainbow of colours from different shoals of fish – sweetlips, cardinalfish, anemonefish, damselfish, surgeonfish and huge parrotfish. There was something for everyone to look at, take photos of or just hover and admire.

There were also plenty of moray eels hiding shyly under rocks, surrounded by banded shrimps. Several times you had to look twice at the stone fish and crocodilefish, who were so well camouflaged. But it was the several octopuses that generated lots of interest and could transform from black to speckled grey to white in seconds.

A couple of times we came across the titan triggerfish but luckily it wasn’t nesting season and they were too busy rummaging around to notice any divers. Still I noticed that everyone kept well away from them, Gary included.

Day Two
We returned to different areas of Seulako Island and Tokong and were in for a dazzling display of fish life. Shoals of angelfish, triggerfish, trevallies, fusiliers and sergeant majors were swimming around the reef in all directions. We all agreed that this had probably been the best diving we had done in Asia, on par with Sipadan, Malaysia.

Day Three
After a heavy downpour in the morning, we were hesitant about another dive due to lower visibility. The dive guide promised us a macro, easy dive then changed his mind when we got on the boat. This became an adrenaline-filled ‘resort’s most challenging dive’ and it certainly lived up to its name – we were dropped into the blue.

While descending, at 31 metres there was still no sign of a wall or the sea floor. As the current was strong and like a washing machine, I ended up swimming and panting behind. It felt like a tricky swim through streams of lemonade, so I was relieved when I caught sight of the wall.

We were thrown by the current over a fast moving wall. Poor Hongbo carrying his mini-submarine was sick in his regulator.

Looking up there were two manta rays. Then turning around a corner for shelter, I was greeted by a peaceful turtle who looked at us curiously.

For our last dive the boat crew took us to an underwater hot volcanic spring. There were holes in the sand where jets of warm bubbles constantly streamed, much to the interest of some yellow fusiliers.

One of the dive guides had brought a bag of damp, black volcanic sandy paste onto the boat. We all had great fun smearing it on our faces and body as it was warm and felt great for the skin!

As we made our way back to Singapore we had a few hours to spare in Banda Aceh so we visited the Tsunami Museum. Luckily, Wong could speak the local language which really helped us.

Overall, it was a fantastic and fun holiday. I would recommend visiting the pretty island of Pulau Weh for some fantastic diving – it is definitely worth the journey.

Photos by HongBo Zheng.

Getting Creative with Kids

Your kids don’t need to be child prodigies to have fun making art, says Skye Wellington.


Do you ever find yourself in an art gallery thinking ‘I could do that’, or ‘actually, my son/daughter (who is currently making the most of all this space by tearing through the gallery, narrowly avoiding pricey sculptures while I pretend not to be their parent – who brings kids to a gallery anyway?) could do that’?
We do. But then we’re not massively educated when it comes to fine art. But this got me thinking – surely we’re not the only ones who have these thoughts?
We decide to have an experiment. Out come the tubes of paint, large swathes of butcher paper and all manner of brushes, sponges and rollers while we all get our gear off (no, that’s not how we roll, but even if we’re wearing Cotton On we don’t fancy dipping into the holiday fund to buy more clothes because of an art disaster). Then the serious business of having fun, getting messy and letting our imagination run wild begins.
Will our free-flow, abstract enthusiasm yield anything beyond a good time? Will our kids become the next Aelita Andre, whose seven-year-old hands are responsible for creating paintings that sell for more than five-figure sums in New York? And is it wrong to even consider that possibility? (Probably.)
Once the paint has dried (and we’ve got our clothes back on), we frame up our results with the help of a little IKEA ‘Ribba’, hang our modest masterpieces and invite our friends over to admire our work.
Can they tell? Do they know these are the efforts of a bunch of novices, or will our attempt at the Jackson Pollock splatter technique fool them all?
In the end, we think, who cares – we had a ball. And like every good exhibition opening, our little gathering is celebrated with bubbles: the detergent-and-wand type for the little ones and champagne for the big kids. Fabulous, darling!
If you want to explore art in a fun environment with your kids outside of the house, try some of the suggestions below.

ARTARY KIDS 
With ‘Art Jam’ workshops, camps and parties which involve more than just painting, Artary Kids even has an online gallery dedicated to works produced by children.
artary.sg/kids

MY ART SPACE
Managed by a group of artists for almost 10 years, My Art Space is held in the Istana Park and is designed to be a bonding opportunity for parents and kids. 
myartspace.com.sg

ARThaus
Classes are very relaxed at ARThaus, but participants have the option to progress to more formal classes if interested.
arthaus.com.sg

ARTEASTIQ
Enjoy tea and cake while you paint and play.
arteastiq.com

Skye Wellington is the editor of HoneyKids Asia.honeykidsasia.com

The Melbourne Cup Hat Hunt

Hats aren’t a common accessory in Singapore; with locals preferring an umbrella to ward off the sun and no tradition of wearing hats to weddings, they can be a little hard to find. Read on for the ANZA roundup of where to hunt for the perfect Melbourne Cup accessory.

Hats Off

ANZA Executive Committee member, Kathy Campbell, creates bespoke headpieces for her label Hats Off. Kathy created the gorgeous headpieces featured in our Melbourne Cup photoshoot this year. Hats Off will also be featured at the ANZA Spring Style Soiree.

Visit their Facebook Page to view current pieces

Eskpade

Eskpade stocks handcrafted, vintage-inspired hats and fascinators. Eskpade features the work of designer Kristine Hakim who fuses traditional techniques with contemporary art to create unique pieces.

Mandarin Gallery Shop #03-20
Visit their Website
Visit their Facebook Page

The Hattitude

The Hattitude selects and customises sophisticated female hat creations from dedicated Ecuadorian weavers. Available from the Ritz Carlton Hotel Gift Shop, The Hattitude offers ANZA members a discount on hat purchases.

View the Member Benefit
Visit their Website

Far East Plaza

Favoured by Singapore’s fashion bloggers, the upper floors of Far East Plaza are a hat haven. Bargain accessory shop Talisman’s has a large range of hats that stand alone or can be customised by the crafty.

Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road
Visit Tailsman’s Page

ANZA Classifieds

See the ANZA Classifieds Facebook group for a collection of headpieces for sale from one of our members.

Visit the ANZA Classifieds Group

Q&A with Neil Smith, Head of Elementary, Australian International School

 

 

What makes AIS unique from other schools?
Where do I begin? AIS is unlike any other international school I have worked in or visited. First and foremost the School has embraced the new Australian Curriculum, which is then delivered through the pedagogy of the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme. The PYP encourages students to learn through inquiry, and the School’s greatest challenge is to ensure that every student is included, motivated, challenged and above all else successful.
The School appears to be extremely progressive and is blessed with a highly talented faculty who embrace innovation in teaching and learning. Nevertheless the School retains a distinctly Australian feel. AIS’s commitment to providing a holistic education for every student is overwhelming. The value the School places on team and individual sports, community service, the visual and performing arts; alongside the traditional academic subjects of Mathematics, English, Sciences and the Humanities is what makes it so special.

What kind of a foundation do you think AIS Elementary School provides for later learning?
Like most Schools AIS has a clear set of Vision, Mission and Values statements; what is particularly heartening, however, is to see how these underpin every action the School, its students and its staff make. The School’s values of Respect, Opportunity and Achievement are unquestionably values that will stand our students in good stead for their future lives.
The Elementary School provides a multiplicity of experiences and opportunities which our students are encouraged to engage in. The introduction of Individual Learning Plans or ILPs for every student ensures that each students particular needs are addressed, that they are challenged and that they (and their families) are fully aware of their next steps.
The Elementary School does a wonderful job of making learning challenging, authentic and of course fun!

How is digital technology a part of the learning process at Elementary level?
It is staggering to see students as young as three years old in our Pre School engaging with technologies which not only support their learning but truly redefine it. The School has invested a huge amount of resources into developing new technologies with 1:1 iPads in the Elementary School. The School will introduce a new Virtual Learning Environment connect.ais.com.sg in the new year, which will not only allow students to remain permanently connected with their learning but will also give our parents the opportunity to review and support their child’s learning in real time.
Like most parents I am conscious of the need to keep the use of technology in balance and to ensure our children use technology responsibly and safely. Clearly we have a huge collective responsibility as a School and as parents to work together to this end.
I genuinely believe however, that ‘Individualised Learning’ simply would not be possible without the connectedness that learning technologies facilitate.

What do you believe are the benefits of a child attending an international school like AIS?
There is no doubt that attending an international school such as AIS is a tremendous privilege with many benefits. Clearly the academic results at AIS are exceptional, however it is the depth of opportunities offered that allow for development of the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a globally focused citizen in the 21st Century.
It is our hope that each and every student at AIS will not only take full advantage of the opportunities they are offered, but they will in turn look to offer back to the global community when the time comes.

ais.com.sg

One Giant Playground

 

There are plenty of ways to entertain the kids in Singapore, says Skye Wellington of HoneyKids Asia. For a small place, Singapore fits lots of fun. Packed within it are tonnes of options bursting to bring a smile to your dial. The problem is not what to do, but what to do first. 

For A Bit of Culture
Malay Heritage Centre
Check out traditional Malay culture at this Kampong Glam district institution.
malayheritage.org.sg
Asian Civilisations Museum
This is the first museum in the region dedicated to pan-Asian cultures and civilisations.
acm.org.sg
Peranakan Museum
This intimate museum possesses one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Straits Chinese heritage objects and visual artworks.
peranakanmuseum.org.sg

Old-School Style
Civil Defence Heritage Gallery
Every Saturday morning the kids can sit in a real fire truck, operate a real fire hose and chat to some real fire men.
scdf.gov.sg
SuperBowl
Lacing up some Ronald McDonald school is a great equalizer. With everyone looking silly, you’re off to a good start in a quest for laughs.
superbowl.com.sg
Trishaw Tour
This quaint mode of transport is the vintage version of a taxi. Trishaw Uncles run 30 to 45-minute tours daily. A night tour through Chinatown is the business.
trishawuncle.com.sg

Water Works
Port of Lost Wonder
Aargh, this watery pirate ship is buckets full of fun.
polw.com.sg
Jurong East Swimming Complex
With water slides, a wave pool and a kid’s pool for around $1, you’re on to a winner.

The Great Outdooors
Labrador Park
The promenade and paths of Labrador Park provide some quality scootering options for little and big kids. 
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore’s garden in the city is lovely to explore and there’s a great Children’s Garden for water play, sand play, climbing and exploration.
gardensbythebay.com.sg
Hort Park
Themed gardens, play areas, greenhouses and wide meandering footpaths, makes a visit to the ‘gardening hub’ feel like an escape.  Add on a tranquil one-kilometre walk from Kent Ridge Park via the Canopy Walk.
nparks.gov.sg

When It Rains

Amped Trampoline Park

Trampolining at Amped will have the kids bouncing off the walls. But you will need to book in advance.
ampedsingapore.com
Central Public Library
The NLB book-banning fiasco notwithstanding, My Tree House in the basement of the Central Public Library is a great place to take the kids and lend some literature. 
nlb.gov.sg
The City
This immersive playground for kids where they can pretend to shop, visit the doctor or be a policeman is more fun than a normal indoor playground.
thecity.com.sg

Something Different
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
This majestic temple, located in the heart of Chinatown, is both a feast for the eyes and a rich cultural symbol.  Head inside to check out the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic in a stupa weighing 3.5 tonnes and composed of 320 kg of gold donated by devotees.
btrts.org.sg
Haw Par Villa
Explore the amazing, and incredibly mind-boggling, world of Chinese folklore, legends, and history at this kooky national attraction.
Jurong Frog Farm
Listen to an American Bullfrog Choir, and get the chance to pet, feed and take a photo with a frog. Book ahead if you’re visiting during the week.
jurongfrogfarm.com.sg

Skye Wellington is the editor of HoneyKids Asia
www.honeykidsasia.com

Come Along for the Ride

 

ANZA Cycling welcomes many new members in September. Megan Kinder summarises everything new members need to know about ANZA Cycling.

It’s around this time of year that we receive an upsurge in enquiries about coming along for a ride with ANZA Cycling. Whether from people recently arrived in Singapore (in time for the new August/September school year) who want to get out for a ride and meet people, or from those who may have arrived earlier in the year but have taken a while to get settled, or even those who have been happily ‘pootling’ their way around the Little Red Dot by themselves (yet who may wish to start training for the increasingly popular ‘Tour de Bintan’ or a similar event) – no matter the reason, we are always happy to welcome new members and share our passion for cycling!
While there’s a wealth of information available on the ANZA website about rides, routes, starting points, kit, etiquette and more, here are some answers to some of the more basic questions.

What kind of bike do I need?
To join our road rides, you really need a road bike. Some club members ride TT bikes (Time Trial/triathlon bikes) which are also fine – as long as hands are kept on brakes when in the bunch, i.e. not in aero position.  
Hybrid/commuter/MTB bikes don’t cut it in the bunch. If you would like to try a group ride without splashing out, consider renting/borrowing or buying a second-hand road bike to try it out first.  
To join our MTB rides, either full suspension or hardtail MTB is fine.

What gear do I need?
1. Helmet
2. Front (white) and rear (red) lights
3. Drinks (minimum one bottle per hour)
4. Saddle bag with ID, emergency contact info, a credit card, enough cash for a taxi home and tyre changing gear.

How experienced do I need to be?
We cater to all levels of experience, from ‘racers’ to designated ‘no-drop’ rides for those at the slower end of the spectrum. We recommend everyone starts out with our ‘newcomers’ ride, held on the first Saturday of each month.

Can I just come along?
Sure but it’s always nice to have a heads up! Contact cyclingmembership@anza.org.sg to signal your interest. You needn’t sign up as a club member before your first ride but we expect you to join after a couple of rides.

Is it safe?
The road presence established with a group generally gives a greater degree of safety than that of a solo rider. While cycling has its risks, we try to minimise these as much as possible by establishing well-disciplined groups and promoting road sharing. We expect all club members to observe the road rules and practise good road etiquette, while looking out for each other. 

Check out the ANZA website for more information, or join our ANZA Cycling Facebook group (facebook.com/AnzaCycling) for the latest route info, ride info and other updates.

A Wombats Welcome

Looking for somewhere to play footy? Look no further than the ANZA Wombats, who have already had a jam-packed year, says Guy Keating.

Well it’s now September and, as usual, we have had a busy year.
After a successful season launch in April at The Roundhouse we followed up with a variety of social events, which have been well received.
The Family Night at Mambo’s on Sentosa was a well attended event, with many of the players and their families coming along, helped by the bus transport arranged to get everyone back on the mainland.

Looking ahead on the social front, we have the AGM on November 8 and the Royal Wombat Ball on 22 November. If you’d like to keep up-to-date with details, stay in touch by emailing

info@singaporewombats.com to be added to the mailing list.

On the footy front, for those who don’t know, we now have an ex-AFL player, Ed Clarke coaching the team. Fear not, though – he trains us with a focus on fun, and getting the most out of our time in Singapore. Training is an opportunity to develop skills, lose weight, and increase fitness. There are plenty of quality Sherrins, and good times each Thursday and Saturday. Training is located at NUS Evans Road, Farrer Park, and Turf City. If you can’t make Saturdays at Turf City, then you have the option of Thursdays at NUS Evans Road. Farrer Park has a great pitch and we train there instead of Turf City sometimes during the year.

So far this year we’ve had some quality tours: Cambodia, Manila, Jakarta, and Bali for the 9s tournament. This month we tour to Malaysia, and also host them, as well as hosting Jakarta before getting ready for attending the AFL Grand Final in the famous last week of September. In between all the touring we have also had some great games against the Navy and the local Sharks squad.

Speaking of the Sharks, we hosted the Audo Cup at Turf City on 2 August, which was held in honour of the late Nick Auden, who played for both the Sharks and Wombats. He lost his battle with cancer late last year and he means a lot to both clubs. We plan to honour him with regular Sharks v Wombats games and social gatherings in the years to come.

For the training and games schedules please sign up to teamsnap.com. Once you have signed up, add yourself to the Wombats group at the following link: singaporewombats.teamsnap.com.

We are always looking for new members, with or without AFL experience. The club is about providing a diversion for the daily grind of work, and if you have been in Singapore for awhile and haven’t yet come down, think about joining in the fun.

In October the annual Asian Football Championships are taking place in Clark, Manila, on the 11th. If you want to get involved, email info@singaporewombats.com for more information.

www.singaporewombats.com

RDA Christmas Cards – Orders Now Open

Each year the RDA produces a unique range of Singapore-themed Christmas Cards. This year the designs feature Santa, Rudolf, the Singapore skyline, shophouses and a melting snowman.

If stocks hold out, you can purchase cards at ANZA’s Casual Coffee (31 October and 28 November) or the Melbourne Cup Race Day. You can also order from the RDA using the Card Order Form.

Last year they sold out early, so get in soon to avoid missing out.

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