Bak Chor Mee

Bak Chor Mee

Bak chor mee means “minced meat noodle” in Teochew.

Like char kway teow and chwee kueh, bak chor mee is a uniquely Singaporean street food created by early Teochew immigrants. The original version was a soup dish, using mee pok–a type of flat egg noodle. Later, the dry version—noodles tossed in a piquant mix of chilli, vinegar, and lard oil—became more popular. (Source: http://www.hungrygowhere.com/dining-guide/best-and-top/bak-chor-mee-*aid-91aa1c00/)

Laksa

Laksa

The origin of the name "laksa" is unclear. One theory^[1] traces it back to Hindi/Persian lakhshah, referring to a type of vermicelli, which in turn may be derived from the Sanskrit lakshas (लकशस्) meaning "one hundred thousand" (lakh). It has also been suggested^[2] that "laksa" may derive from the Chinese word 辣沙 (Cantonese: [lɐ̀t.sáː]), meaning "spicy sand" due to the ground dried prawns which gives a sandy or gritty texture to the sauce. The last theory^[3] is that the name comes from the similar sounding word "dirty" in Hokkien due to its appearance. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laksa)

Ferrero Rocher

Ferrero Rocher

Since this is something I like to eat, I thought it might be a good idea to make it into a fridge magnet....and I did ;)

LV Bag

LV Bag

Louis Vuitton monogram speedy bag

Alright, this is my first attemp making non-food related item.  Wasn't very successful and there's definitely lots of room for improvement.

Mandarin oranges

Mandarin Oranges

 

Png Kueh

Peng Kueh

The word "Png" in chinese dialect means "Rice". Even though these snacks are popularly known as Png Kueh, Teochews actually call these dumplings Poong Tor which literally means "rice peaches". In Mandarin, they are known as 桃粿 which means "peach dumplings". The peach is regarded in Chinese lore as a symbol of longevity. There is reference to the sacred peaches of immortality in the story of Sun Wu Kong (The Monkey King) where he ate the sacred peaches of the Jade Emperor's garden and obtained immortality. So the Chinese used peaches as an offering in religious ceremonies as a symbol of longevity. Since peaches are only in season once a year, dumplings like the Png Kueh and even Pao that is made in the shape of peaches are used out of season as offerings. Both of this items have the familiar pink hue to make them look more like peaches. (Source: http://ieatishootipost.sg/2010/09/teochew-kueh-why-is-there-red-and-white.html)

 

Ang Ku kueh

Ang ku kueh

Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕, is a small round or oval shaped Chinese pastry with soft sticky skin and fillings in the centre. The oval shaped Ang ku kuih, 红龟糕 is designed to resemble a tortoise shell. Oval or round, the  Ang ku kuih, 红龟糕 rests on a square piece of banana leaf.

Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕 is usually red in color as suggested by its name literally translated as “red tortoise cake” (红=red, 龟=tortoise,糕=cake or pastry). 

Despite the color definition in the name, other common colors include yellow, grey, and green. The colors indicate the type of fillings inside the pastry. Traditional filings include bean paste, sesame, and peanut. New flavors like durian have emerged reflecting manufacturer’s continuous innovation to incorporate popular tastes. 

Tortoise symbolizes longevity and when the Ang ku kuih is shaped like a tortoise shell, it creates a high symbolic and ritual value. They are used for ritual offerings during religious events and as gifts when a child is born (one month old) or during birthdays. 

Outside the ritual or gift context, it is also a very popular snack available all year round in traditional pastry shops, cake shops, cafes and even hotels.