SUKA MAKAN: BAAN CHADAR THAI CUISINE @ BUKIT TIMAH PLAZA

This excellent Thai restaurant is one floor above our office! Yet we don't go there enough, which is a shame because it's really that good. We have a rule: eat only Thai food cooked by real Thai chefs. Baan Chadar is just that, with Thai home cooking at its best.

Outdoor and indoor seating

The first thing is how good the tom yam goong is, authentically served in a brass bowl with lots of ingredients. It's not too sour and the level of spiciness is just nice. The green curry is also great, smooth, creamy and rich. We had the beef curry on this occasion. The pork moo ping (satay) could have been more generous but the taste is right. Finally, the fried kangkong, to be dipped in a sour sauce filled with goodies, made a very pleasant change to the palate. There was no space for desserts, alas, but there will be a next time. Hopefully soon.

One of the best tom yam soups
in Singapore.

Green beef curry

Pork moo ping

Deep fried kangkong
and a rather special dip

BAAN CHADAR

1 Jalan Anak Bukit #01-09

Bukit Timah Plaza

Singapore 588996

Tel: 9669-6994 

Baan Chadar - Order online for delivery & pickup!

POST-CONCERT EATS: JOJI'S DELI @ UPPER SERANGOON ROAD

It's after a concert and it's getting late. Where do you get a bite? If you are heading in the direction of Serangoon, there is a pair of late-night places, Joji's Deli and Joji's Diner which are exactly next to each other on the eastern side of Upper Serangoon Road. Both are modelled on the classic American deli and diner, but since nobody's going to No.45/47's dystopian US of A, one can be satisfied by just imagining being there.

The last evening of the Piano Festival has just concluded, and so we pianophiles so happen to go to Joji's Diner. The decor and memorabilia is exactly out of those US sports bars, except there are no blaring televisions and people watching the NBA, NFL, MLS or whatever. It's still very atmospheric. This is what "Oddjob" Nick Loh and "Auric" Pianomaniac ordered. The portions are fair, prices are reasonable and food quite delicious. Next time, we'll try the diner.

Fried calamari (not just rings).

The Reuben Sandwich

Baby back ribs

JOJI'S DELI

536 Upper Serangoon Road

Singapore 534551

Joji’s Deli - Joji Diner

Note that the Deli opens 

from 12 pm to 12 am

while the Diner operates 24 hours.

PHOTOS FROM THE 32ND SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL

The 32 Singapore International Piano Festival (2-5 July 2026) has come and gone. And what an adventure that was. For all who love the piano, for its infinite variety of repertoire and possibilities, this was a refreshingly different and liberating experience. The theme of the concert pianist as composer, transcriber and improviser threw up a diversity of piano music one would never have thought could actually be programmed.

Never had so many pianists (six) played their own music, either original works or in improvisations. For the first time, the music of Arnold Schoenberg and John Adams appeared in a pianofest recital. Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue made its belated pianofest debut, as did an entire book of Liszt's Annees de pelerinage. The music of women composers, Lili Boulanger, Alexina Louie and Churen Li were heard. Also for the first time, there were late night concerts, which ended near midnight. 

Da new boss

For all these firsts and superlatives, we have 5th artistic director Albert Tiu to thank, for his spirit of curiosity, innovation and adventure. Piano playing from "outside the box" has been a credo of his, and long may that continue, or at least for the next five years. Here are the photos, in chronological sequence, taken from my camera and LG Lim's smartphone.

Thursday (2 July 2026)

Conrad Tao loved the idea that Gershwin and
Schoenberg were tennis kakis, while
Rachmaninov fancied Art Tatum's playing.

Concert pianist or punk rocker?

There are no pianists more elegant
than Churen Li.

Friday (3 July 2026)

Oops, wrong photo!
That's Karen Aw and Lee Tan Ni
from the SLO Madama Butterfly
production next door in Victoria Theatre.

Hyung-ki Joo gets much more work
now that Igudesman is far away.

The only time in PianoFest history
where the pianist gets to sing, whistle,
pluck and strike piano strings.

The only time in PianoFest history
where the artistic director and pianist from
another recital get to gatecrash.

The totally original origami
folded programme (by Jonathan Lim)
of Jonathan Shin's recital.

Jonathan Shin's programme included
Shin, Mozart, Boulanger, Ge, Muhly,
Yoshimatsu, Andres and Parks. 

Saturday (4 July 2026)

After Jon Kimura Parker's masterclass.

Sunday (5 July 2026)

Sean Chen being totally absorbed
in his playing.

His transcription of the slow movement
from J.S.Bach's Violin Sonata No.3
was totally delectable.

Can one get more eclectic than
Jon Kimura Parker playing
Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel, 
Adams, Louie, Parker, Chick Corea,
Oscar Peterson and Sir Elton John?

Little wonder he is smiling!

Albert Tiu, Sean Chen and their wives.

Pianomaniac shows JKP
photos from 1984.

By golly, those guys look like us!

Sean Chen is a perfect role model
for young pianists.

No.2 and No.5
(but this is not a SPECTRE meeting)

SUKA MAKAN: ARAB STREET TURKISH RESTAURANT @ SUNSET WAY

We seldom frequent Turkish restaurants in Singapore, instead having Turkish food whenever overseas, be it in Germany, Austria or Australia. Now we have found a gem of a Turkish restaurant in the neighborhood. Arab Street Turkish & Western Restaurant, to give its full name, is located in the foodie haunt that is Block 106 Clementi, on Sunset Way. Mariner's Corner and Five Star Hong Kong Dim Sum are along the same corridor. 

The outdoor seating is just as colourful.

Now this is a place which we will return often, simple because it has the best tasting Turkish food we've had for a long time, and that includes Germany, Austria and Australia. The decor is suitably exotic, gaudy and colourful, and that simply enhances the atmosphere. The menu has so many items that one wondered how the chef would even cope. 

Chicken and lamb kebabs
with fries, rice and vegetables.
Just delectable!

We were the first customers and got our meal pretty quickly, and the chicken and lamb kebab with rice dish - served with two sauces (one cold tomato-based and the other creamy) - was simply delicious. The lentil soup was complimentary, and that certainly whetted our appetite.

Sauces and lentil soup

Beef pide - just excellent!

We also ordered a beef pide - an oven-baked flat bread with toppings like a pizza, and that too was excellent. It used goat cheese, and one could taste the difference. To wash it all down was authentic Turkish mint tea served in a gleaming tea pot - no tea bags but leaves still on their stems. Simply the best tea we've had, and in addition we were also served iced hibiscus yoghurt tea on the house, which was totally refreshing. We thank the boss Max and chef Arcados for their hospitality, and we will be back before they even know it!

Turkish mint tea
served in the traditional way.

Turkish mint tea
& Hibiscus yoghurt tea

ARAB STREET TURKISH RESTAURANT
Block 106 Clementi Street 12 #01-38
Singapore 120106

restaurant arab street turkish & western (@arabstreetturkishwestern) • Instagram photos and videos