Organic food is a 'waste of money'?

Do you believe in Organic? For me, I don't really believe that organic food hold much more nutritions as compared to commerically farmed produce. But definitely the pesticides and chemical fertilizer used in commercial farming cannot be beneficial to our bodies! But I do support organic farming for its role in sustaining the environment. Sometimes I wonder if the huge price difference is primarily due to the exorbitant cost of getting the farmland certified organic.

Consumers who opt for organic foods often believe they are improving their health but there is currently no strong evidence that organics bring nutrition-related health benefits, a new research review finds.

A 'disappointingly small' number of well-designed studies have looked at whether organic foods may have health benefits beyond their conventional counterparts, according to the review by researchers with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Health in Britain. Moreover, they found, what studies have been done have largely focused on short-term effects of organic eating - mainly antioxidant activity in the body - rather than longer-term health outcomes.

Most of the antioxidant studies failed to find differences between organic and conventional diets. The review, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adds to findings reported last year by the same research team.

In that study, the researchers combed through 162 articles published in the scientific literature over the last 50 years, and found no evidence that organic and conventional foods differ significantly in their nutrient content. For the current review, the researchers were able to find only 12 published studies that met their criteria for evaluating the health effects of organic foods.

'A surprising and important finding of this review is the extremely limited nature of the evidence base on this subject, both in terms of the number and quality of studies,' wrote Dr Alan Dangour and his colleagues. Of the 12 studies the researchers identified, 6 were short-term clinical trials that looked at whether specific organic foods changed markers of antioxidant activity in participants' blood.

While questions remain as to whether organic foods have any extra nutritional value, people buy organic for a number of other reasons as well. Organic foods are made without the use of conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, antibiotics or hormones - which could potentially reap benefits for people's health and the environment. The current review, Dr Dangour and his colleagues point out, did not look for studies on the possible health benefits of reduced exposure to those substances nor did it address the environmental impact of organic food production.

Junk Food Night @ Whampoa

MBS Tour & Mothers Day Celebration - 8 May 10

Time really fly.. Its has been almost a week since Mothers Day. Where have you been & how you celebrated Mothers Day? For me, we went to the newly open but problematic MBS for a short tour. Really looking forward to their Grand Opening this June, as the place is still so empty yet dusty with all the construction on going.

Than we had Korean Charcoal BBQ dinner at Jang Shou, Esplanade. The food is not bad, but not fantastic too. Its expensive but they make sure everyone walks out filled to the brim. The thing that I like about Korean food is the unlimited refill of side dishes.

NPNT, here's the photos taken that day. Enjoy..

8 May 2010 - MBS Tour & Mothers Day Celebration

Luncheon Meat Leaf Bun

Does this reminds you of the food found in the tuckshop when we were still in primary school? Hot Luncheon Meat Leaf Bun with some chilli.. Yum Yum..

Ingredients
• 1 Pack of Leaf Bun (Usually 10pcs per pack)
• Luncheon Meat (Pork)
• Lettuce
• Chilli (Optional)

Instructions
1. Cut Luncheon Meat into Semi-Circle shape of about 5mm thick.
2. Pan fried the Luncheon Meat till crispy.
3. Microwave the Leaf Bun at High for 30s to 35s.
4. Insert the crispy Luncheon Meat together with some Lettuce into Leaf Bun & add Chilli.

EaseComm Gathering @ Ministry of Steak - 30 Apr 2010

Ministry of Steak (MOS). Tucked away along the row of shophouses at Serangoon Gardens (Near Chomp Chomp), this is a place where people love it as much as they hate it. The ambiance was good and the restaurant looked chic & modern. But was disappointed by the portion of the food & their service. Taste wise, Astons is as good as them, so therefore nothing fantastic. Sad that Astons had moved out of Chomp Chomp since 22 Apr.

30 Apr 2010 - EaseComm Gathering @ Ministry of Steak

Lou Hei after IPPT

What's more rewarding other than a good meal after IPPT? Last year we had porridge buffet, this year, we Lou Hei at Hans.

Since today is the last day of CNY, I hereby wishes everyone a great year ahead. No worries of retrenchment, No worries of not meeting month ends, Everyday pocket full of money to spend, Everyday waking up feeling healthier, happier & younger like Benjamin Button.

Something different from the usual

What will you do if you have many left over Roti Prata without Curry or Sugar? Although "The Prata Place" in Upper Thomson Road did not face this circumstances, but having Roti Prata in Goreng style is a delicious concoction whipped up. Their Ice Tea O Limav is also very unique & nice.

Check out their outlets near you now. More details can be found at their website @ http://www.theprataplace.com.

Toby's The Dessert Asylum

Tell me how not to get fat with all the temptation around?



Toby! Its another great recently opened restaurant at Parkway Parade. Located on the 2nd floor at one cozy corner, the establishment is full of creativity. We can see their creativity from their menu, their food presentation, cake and dessert assortment. The service level is average but the servers are quite attentive. Worth a try if you are around the area. By the way, their promotion with DBS Card is base on subtotal, not total bill.

Hooked! along Thomson Road

Not that I'm hooked there, but its the name of a restaurant along Upper Thomson Road which we happen to chanced upon few weeks back. They are serving mainly fishes like Fish & Co, but they have this little corner for the non-fish goer. That's what I like as I'm not a fish person or should I say not a seafood person to be exact.



Its serve really great food at reasonable price. Try it out for yourself. Their address is at 203 Upper Thomson Road S574344 and there's another branch at 390 Upper Bukit Timah Road Rail Mall S678045. Enjoy!

Dinner with MeToo @ Aston

Have you been to any Aston outlet lately?

Food Tasting @ Grand Park City Hall Hotel

1 Jan 2010 - Food Tasting @ Grand Park City Hall

Mother's Birthday Lunch - Lei Garden @ CHIJMES

Hungry go where? Well, this year, we tried Lei Garden. Lei Garden is one of the few places that features genuine Cantonese flavors.

The food is nice, but the service is really very slow. I would not recommend this restaurant if you are really hungry. Go somewhere else, else you might end up tummy not full yet pocket burned. We ordered 4 Mains & some Tim Sum, and it cost us close to $400. Expensive!!

Today is 冬至 (Winter Solsctice)

Mushroom Park 百菇园 @ Serangoon Garden

Something similar to Mushroom Pot, but more expensive & taste better. There are 2 branch, one at 38 Seah Street, and the other one which I went to is at 87 Serangoon Garden Way. You can checkout their website @ http://www.mushroompark.com.sg. The ambient is comfortable, clean & they emphasized alot on the healthy medical effect of the mushroom that is in the pot. Those various types of fresh mushroom were transported all the way from Taiwan to Singapore. Mushroom lovers, this is definitely the place you shouldn't miss.

Mushroom Park @ Serangoon Garden

Le Cafe's Bean Curd Tart

Tired of egg tarts already? Try this, the Le Cafe Confectionery & Pastry's Bean Curd Tarts. Something new, something very refreshing if you have it chills. They also has tasty Pineapple Tarts, Brownies & Rum Balls.

Where are they? Here's the address & operating hours.
Address : 264 Middle Road, Singapore 188990 (Near Rochor Beancurd)
Phone: 63372417
Opening Hours : Mon - Sat 8AM to 8PM / Sun - 10AM to 5PM / PH Closed

Lychee Bird's Nest Ice Jelly

Ingredients
• 120g of Ice Jelly Konnyaku
• 500ml of Water
• 3 TeaSpoon of Concentrated Bird's Nest
• 1 Can of Lychee
• Some Ice Cube or Shaved Ice

Instructions
1. Boil the 500ml of water till bubbling & add in the 120g of Ice Jelly Konnyaku.
2. Stir well until Konnyaku is fully dissolved before cease boiling.
3. Pour it into a round bowl & allow it to cool for 5min.
4. Add in the 3 TeaSpoon of Concentrated Bird's Nest into mixture.
5. Stir well & allow it to harden in the fridge for at lease 30min.
6. Add in the Lychee & Ice Cube before serving.

Or

Step 1 to 3 unchanged as above.
4. Stuff the Lychee with Concentrated Bird's Nest.
5. Add the Stuffed Lychee into the mixture, Stir well & allow it to harden in the fridge for at lease 30min.
6. Add some Shaved Ice to the Jelly before serving.