food & writing

This food blog of mine has been around for more than 2 years and till today, I still get the 'why' question pretty often. I suppose alot of people are curious about my supposed obsession with food and what not.

Most of the time, I think, people assume that it's because of my immense love for the culinary love. Well that is true, I won't deny that. But not many know that I did it mainly because of my first love - the written word.

I've always loved writing. Enid Blyton & Roald Dahl were my bedside buddies. That's one of the main reasons for my myopia which struck me when I was 8. I was also a Bookworm Club subscriber and used to read magazines like Young Generation, Teenage, Go & many more. As long as it's in English, I'd read it. My library card was well used. My family and I made weekly trips to the library to get more literary reads and I would use everyone's library card because I had a very healthy appetite for alphabets; alphabets put together lyrically as well as creatively. I don't know how other writers discovered their love for writing but I kind of decided on my 'life path' when I was a child. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to write books that reached to the masses, I wanted to become renowned and known for my ability to process words in an instant.

Till today, I still have that immense love for words. I like to read and I love to write. Over the years, I've kept true to my passion and got myself a Diploma in Mass Communication from Ngee Ann Poly (specialising in print journalism) and am now a Sociology major at NUS. During this period, I have been writing fervently, doing sideline jobs and all.... magazine articles, copywriting, etc. And of course, my food blog - which you would have noticed, has its fair share of words, besides recipes, reviews & pictures.

So now you know how avid a writer & book lover I am. I'm a rather bookish girl I will admit. In fact, I'm proud of that. haha. I know I know, it's no different to admitting what a nerd I am. But hey, I'd rather be a nerd & be happy pursing my dreams than to not have a clue as to what I'm going to do with my life.

I know you're wondering what this post has got to do with food ya? Well, lots. You see, the National Library Board (NLB) has caught on the foodie madness and is hosting some pretty cool programmes & seminars on all things culinary over the next two weeks and I'm going to be involved in one of them.

Don't you just love NLB? One plus point about our library is that they put in lots of effort to provide something more than just books. It's changing the library from being a place where you just borrow & return & browse books, to a space where like-minded people gather to discuss & rediscover new areas of interest. Cool eh?

So, here's a list of the foodie-type progammes that are taking place. I'll be there at the Flog Fight - erm, I do take kickboxing but you don't have to worry about that because I'm not there to fight it out with the other food bloggers (we're all friends!) or show off my moves. So if you have questions or just want to find out more about food blogs, do come! :)


Foods of My Ancestors - The Chitty Melaka Cuisine
Saturday, 20 October, 3.00 - 4.30 pm
Programme Zone, Ang Mo Kio Community Library

The Chitty Melaka or Peranakan Indian cuisine is a fusion of South Indian, Malay and Chinese cooking. It is estimated that there are only 100 Chitty Melaka families in Singapore. Don't miss this opportunity to experience and taste the authentic and unique flavours of the Chitty Melaka cuisine at this talk and cooking demonstration by Veni Rengayah-Knight, author of the
newly published cookbook Foods of My Ancestors.

Flog Fight!
Sunday, 21 October, 3.00 - 4.30 pm
Programme Zone, library@orchard

Singaporeans are always on the lookout for the next new thing in food. And the latest food guides seem to be coming from outer space…virtually, that is. That's right, food blogs are registering thousands of hits daily and are suddenly influential in the food choices people make. This October, we grill some of the most popular food bloggers at a flog fight to find out the
ingredients that make them so delectable to foodies. Hurry! Ringside seats available!

Asian Recipes & Home Remedies
Saturday, 27 October, 3.00 - 4.30 pm
Programme Zone, Bedok Community Library

Herbs, spices and plants were used in ancient Asian civilisations as health remedies and beauty aids. Today, these traditional ways continue to be applied, passed on and practised. Join celebrity chef and cookbook author, Devagi Sanmugam as she presents some of these remedies and recipes at this special programme for the health conscious foodie. This is also your chance
to meet the Spice Queen of Singapore with a string of accolades as eclectic and imaginative as her recipes. Brought to you by Marshall Cavendish.

Passion for Organic: How Singaporeans Do It
Saturday, 27 October, 3.00 - 4.00 pm
Radin Mas Hall, Bukit Merah Community Library

One of our national past times is to check out the latest food fads and new restaurants. As we become more and more spoilt for choice, how do we separate the chaff from the real thing? Organic is becoming the buzzword for health and wellness. Let Ms Tuyet Nguyen (L'Organic) give you the lowdown on the reality of organic living in Singapore, the benefits it offers and the
choices you have to make to incorporate organic into your life.