pianomania

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

SUKA MAKAN: CHUI HWAY LIM TEOCHEW CUISINE @ KENG LEE ROAD

It's the birthday of my brothers, and the Chang family has opted for a non-Western restaurant. The well-known Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine restaurant at the Chui Hway Lim Club on Keng Lee Road is the Swatow version of fine dining.

Teochew food is known for its subtlety, where the fiery and pungent spices of Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine seem anathema. But this should not be mistaken for blandness, because the more you savour the taste, the more you want to indulge. Satiety comes late in the meal, and you want some more.

Classic braised duck with tofu

Oyster omelette - the crispy variety

Wok hey fried kway teow
was surprisingly delicious.

Anyway, the dishes we had were a combination of classics as well some luxuries - lobster is not on your daily menu. A little goes a long way here.

CHUI HWAY LIM TEOCHEW CUISINE

Chui Hway Lim Club

190 Keng Lee Road #01-02

Singapore 308409

Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine – Home Page

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

SINGAPORE PERFORMERS FESTIVAL 2026 / Photographs from Gala Concert & Award Ceremony

On Sunday afternoon (28 June 2026), I had the pleasure of being invited to the Gala Concert and Award Ceremony of the Singapore Performers Festival (SPF) 2026, organised by the Singapore Music Teachers Association (SMTA). Held at the Lee Foundation Theatre of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, it provided yet another encouraging look at the state of Singapore and the region's young musicians.

The Junior Ensemble performed
a cute simple work called Fruit Salad.

The Senior Ensemble led by Chan Wei Shing
performed works by J.S.Bach,
Respighi and someone modern.

Unlike many music festivals organised along the lines of music competitions (no doubt a cash cow for many a music school), SPF is a non-competitive event. Young musicians are encouraged to perform for a small and friendly audience, heard by international professional musicians and pedagogues, and given advice on the finer points of music-making and performance. Scholarships are given to the most promising musicians, as well as opportunities to perform in international music festivals.

Raphael Tan performed the opening movement
from Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto No.3

Chloe Lee played the finale from
Brahms' Viola Sonata Op.120 No.2

Instead of spending a lazy Sunday afternoon in slumber, I got to chill and relax in the company of some of Singapore most talented youths making music. And the shared pleasure of seeing them receive acclamation and encouragement.

Edward Fang plays Liszt's Mazeppa

Ethel Poh and Abigail Lim
had fun with America from
Bernstein's West Side Story

Goh Kai Cheng gave a most accomplished
reading of Chopin's Andante Spianato
& Grande Polonaise Op.22

Concert pianists Shaun Choo and Churen Li
awarded prizes for contemporary piano music

Australian cellist Simon Cobcroft
awarded the prizes for young cellists.

All the prizewinners with the judges.

Piano students of Susan Lai with judges
Toh Chee Hung & Thomas Rosencranz

The Singapore-Poland connection.
Prizes for best performances of Chopin
and Liszt were given by Agnieszka Kowalczuk
from the Polish Embassy in Singapore.

9th SINGAPORE PERFORMERS’ FESTIVAL 2026 — The Singapore Music Teachers' Association (SMTA)

Monday, 29 June 2026

SINGAPORE'S VINTAGE EATING PLACES: COMMONWEALTH CORNER IV: BLOCK 117 WEST (SIN KEE HEONG COFFEESHOP)

We've come to the fourth and final corner of Commonwealth Crescent, which is also the least frequented of our eating places. That's the west end of Block 117, also occupied by Hong Kong Street Chun Kee Restaurant at its east end. It's the only coffee shop (Sin Kee Heong, #01-711) which does not have its own zichar restaurant. The premises is occupied by a number of stalls, including one of Singapore's most celebrated fried chicken wing seller.

The fried chicken wing stall is closed,
which explains why its near deserted.

The smokers' corner looks busy.

Due to the lie of the land, this corner is raised off the level of the road, and one can sit and watch the world and traffic go by below! It's a Sunday morning, and the coffee shop is almost deserted. Years ago, this coffee shop (which looks unchanged over the decades) was packed, and waiting for noodles could take the best part of an hour. The only section with people is the "smokers' corner", tucked behind and away from healthy people.

The present noodle stall is Lai Chi Mian, which does a good bak chor mee (noodles with minced / sliced pork) and laksa, which is what we had and enjoyed every bit of it. Business is rather slow, but it's not lunchtime yet.

The look of mee pok just makes me hungry.

Taoist altar and neighbourhood provision store.

LAI CHI MIAN &

SIN KEE HEONG COFFEE SHOP

Block 117 Commonwealth Crescent #01-771

Singapore 140116

SUKA MAKAN: BUTTERCAKE N CREAM @ SUNSET WAY

We've always passed by this cosy-looking Western-styled eatery on the way to Five Star Hong Kong Dim Sum or Mariner's Corner on Sunset Way, and this weekend we finally walked in. No regrets, as this is a rather nice fusion restaurant - Buttercake N Cream - with a small but attractive menu. The weekday set-lunches look particularly attractive, which means we'll have to come again.

It's a small restaurant...

...but its outdoor seating area is spacious.
Pets are welcome too.

Nice place to have tea.

The ambience is homely and wholesome, and the service excellent. It did not take long before our lunch was served, and we were amply rewarded. I've always liked a hearty seafood stew, and this one was served with a large croissant for which dipping became a pleasure. We also ordered Chilean mussels, which meant that we had a lot of mussels to get through. Both dishes were served with different savoury sauces. To try the other inviting dishes, a return is imperative!