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I was randomly Googling trivia facts about Japan, and one interesting one came up: "Up to the 1970s, there was no salmon sushi. Norwegians introduced salmon to the sushi makers in Japan in the 1980s." That's, interesting. After all, I rather suspect that when most people think of sushi or sashimi, salmon would be the first fish that comes to mind. Heck, even Apple's emoji suggestion for sushi on my Macbook Pro Touch Bar (🍣) features a salmon nigiri alongside a tuna one. Salmon has become quite synonymous with sushi/sashimi, and yet it wasn't always this way. I went to Google a little more, and the story behind it is rather fascinating (here's a quick and totally non-exhaustive summary). To be clear, it's not that salmon did not exist in Japan before the 80s. It just wasn't prepared raw. This is due to the parasites found in fished salmon, and the lack of widespread refrigeration to kill those parasites meant that salmon was only served cooked. Additionally, the presence of these parasites also meant that salmon had a reputation (in Japan) of being a 'cheap' fish. "Often used to fill out cheap meals, salmon was the poor man’s fish in Japan." (This article is a worthwhile read.) It's fascinating that it was Norway, of all places, who decided to change that. And explicitly so - the government created 'Project Japan', with the specific intent of exporting farmed salmon to Japan. Norway's burgeoning (and overflowing) fisheries meant that it needed to find a big export market, and Japan was identified as a suitable candidate. The 10-year-long marketing and promotion effort by the Norwegian government helped changed Japanese public perception about salmon, and has directly contributed to the popularity of salmon nowadays as a sushi/sashimi option. Which brings us to the topic of gastrodiplomacy. This particular case of salmon sashimi appears more economically driven, but we can certainly extrapolate outwards and look at other instances of how food is used a a tool for cultural export. Korean food is one that immediately springs to mind. I was at Amoy Street for lunch a week ago, and was reminded of just how many Korean restaurants seem to have popped up in recent times. Amoy Street/Telok Ayer Street and Tanjong Pagar Road are two places where it feels like Korean restaurants make up the majority of eateries, and this is probably true in other parts of Singapore as well. Did Singaporeans suddenly develop a heavy appetite for Korean cuisine? Or does it seem like this Korean cuisine explosion happened in parallel with a notable increase uptick in broader Korean cultural interest, such as music and TV shows? (The answer is yes.) It's no coincidence, and neither is this unique to Singapore. A 2022 New York Times story highlighted that Korean restaurants worldwide increased 262% (!!!) from 2009 to 2017, and it was a result of explicit efforts by the Korean government. In 2010, the Korean Food Promotion Institution was established with the purpose of improving the overall well-being of Korean people and the country's economic status through globalising Korean cuisine. And I think we can all agree that it has been rather successful, as part of the greater effort to export Korean culture (just look at how big K-Pop and K-dramas have become). Other countries also engage in this. For example, Thailand provided state-backed loans to local chefs to open restaurants outside the country. Gastrodiplomacy can be a powerful tool in building a nation's global reputation, and it's all part of the broader attempt to build soft power. Singapore almost certainly does it, too! One wonders how much of the attention on our hawker food (and the accompanying Michelin stars and guides and what not) is part of a broader effort to expand Singapore's visibility and cultural identity. Thinking about it now, I also wonder if there's a particular reason it feels like there is now a Mala stall in what seems like every single coffee shop nowadays. Soft power is not a remotely new concept (and is a much broader and deeper topic that I don't have the intellectual bandwidth to explore right now). But it is quantifiable, to a certain extent. The Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index is a study that measures perceptions of nations around the world, and effectively measures and charts a country's popularity. There are plenty of different factors that go into it, but 'food' is one specific attribute that was added in 2023. (You can view the full report here.) In 2023, Singapore ranked 26, two places behind South Korea. Number one? Japan. One wonders how much they have to thank Norway for that. ~ Desmond Photos from Unplash

Fancy some crispy crickets on sushi rolls? Singapore to approve insects for food as early as July 26 Jun 2024 09:32AM(Updated: 26 Jun 2024 10:08AM) https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/insects-food-restaurants-farms-crickets-sfa-approve-consumption-july-4436021?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR111dbQUZ_ysAHZ9NsywYM4hj61y0u5XvrIlmNtJE3aS-ysbRW1KSplLn8_aem_OnWcX-lPIIKQZezpEBplwA Fancy some crispy crickets on your sushi rolls? (Photo: Rebecca Metteo/CNA) SINGAPORE: From glutinous rice balls crowned with juicy silkworms to crispy crickets sitting on sushi rolls, diners here may soon get to feast on creepy crawlies in dining establishments. Singapore could be allowing the sale of certain insects as food as early as next month, restaurants and potential farms which have been informed on the latest development told CNA. The approvals for the sale of insects for human consumption have been delayed for more than a year. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) first conducted a public consultation on the regulation of insects and insect products in end-2022. In April last year, the agency said that 16 species of insects, such as crickets, silkworms and grasshoppers, would receive the green light for consumption in the second half of 2023. Earlier this year, SFA, in a forum letter reply in The Straits Times, said it is finalising the implementation details and aims to introduce a regulatory framework in the first half of this year. “As the insect industry is nascent and insects are a new food item here, it is necessary for SFA to put in place the regulatory levers before insects are approved as food to safeguard food safety, and more time is needed to establish the required regulations and implementation plan,” the letter added. “We will work closely with food business operators to ensure that they are able to meet SFA’s regulatory requirements before insects and insect products are permitted for sale as food for human consumption in Singapore.” CNA understands that legislation is also likely to be tabled in parliament soon. ENSURING INSECTS ARE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION Meanwhile, at restaurant House of Seafood, chefs are getting used to working with bugs as ingredients and ensuring they are safe to eat. House of Seafood CEO Francis Ng said this involves thorough cleaning. “(The first step for our chefs is to) do a cleaning, after that they will toast them in the oven,” he added. “(A small little brush would be used) to clean piece by piece.” Some of these hygiene protocols follow a set of interim guidelines for handling and rearing insects for food, which was first published in 2022 when the government first mooted the idea of allowing insects as food. Insect suppliers said they have been briefed by the SFA. “In the past few days, we have engaged with them as well, and they told us that it will happen very soon,” said Mr Hiew Yuen Sheng, director and co-founder of Altimate Nutrition, a local start-up creating food products from insects. “They told us in the past few days that it's going to happen, like rest assured and no more delays.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkLqESSnkbI Sea weed can be surprisingly tough and don't break easily, holding the ball together preventing it from breaking up. Worst, out can stick to your throat preventing the movement. So if go eat sushi with small children, ALWAYS cut or remove the seaweed wrapping, children matt try to swallow..

Come to think of it, I often hear people say conti car not suitable for SG climate. That's why got engine problem, breakdown,etc. And they will say better to get sushi/kimchi car instead.... But Japan has 4 seasons, and so does Korea.... just like those conti cars from Europe..... So there is no basis at all to this claim? Or must buy those Made-In-Thailand Toyotas then can tahan SG climate?

Hi Bro..... me ride coe expiring Oct next year, so start looking around for a new ride..... wife does not like cureent ride cause aircon not powderfula nd given problem..... Have zero down on a few common brand/model 1. Toyota Altis / Axio 2. Mazda 3 3. Honda Shuttle 1. Toyota Altis- reliable brand, from AD, so no "special fiancing", the most ex among the choices (I think) 2. Axio- from PI, not so sure about its performance 3. Madza 3- a beauty, from AD, but have not tried before 4. Honda Shuttle- from PI, not so sure about performance Was also eyeing Wish and Sienta, but wife dont like the sienta look and Wish out of budget for us...... Got 2 Adults and 2 kiddo, sometime with in laws....... total 4 adults and 2 child occasionally... Like to gather some feedback or I looking at the worng model??? No Kimchi or Bolehland or Indon or European model..... wife no like....

Came across this confession on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/nusconfessions/posts/540863029323332 I have been together with my boyfriend for slightly under a year. Everything about him fits my criteria for a partner- tall and well-built, intelligent, caring and probably one of the sweetest guys around. Yet, there is one trait of him that has been perturbing me for the longest time. It is that of his frugality. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not one of those gold-digger girls who is looking for a rich husband. Case in point, if I were, my boyfriend would have been struck off the list long ago. I understand that love cannot be measured by money, but yet it seems that if money is perpetually a concern to my boyfriend when he spends on me, it just seems to me that I am perhaps of less value than a few wads of cash. Moreover, I am far from unreasonable in making him spend more than he can manage. My recent birthday celebration just made me really sad. He brought me to Sushi Tei and a gave me a sweet handmade card. Perhaps to some of you this may still be acceptable I'm not sure, but to me this was a complete disappointment. For a birthday celebration, Sushi Tei seriously? This would be the kind of restaurant I would casually meet up with friends at, and not some place I would patronise for a special occasion. A card and no present? Yes, a card is sweet, but another way of looking at it is: cheap. I get very envious when I see my friend's boyfriends bringing them to classy romantic dining establishments and gifting them with expensive presents on their birthdays. And this is when their boyfriends are still studying and just living on the pay from their part-time jobs. If they can afford to do so, why not my boyfriend? To make things clear, I myself am very generous to my boyfriend in gifting him with presents. I am not trying in any way to cheat his money. I know my boyfriend loves me but I sometimes can't help but think if his thrifty habits (read: stingy habits) is something I can live with for life. At the same time, this is a relationship I won't bear to give up. Perhaps in life, it is inevitable that you win some and lose some. Girl laments about how she wishes to be pampered on special occasions but got bashed by everyone for being a gold digger. Hmmm.. Where do you bring your girlfriend/wife for dates, birthdays? Fine line between thriftiness and stinginess. I have no qualms about going Sushi Tei for birthdays.

A 10 min video, however quality of video is not fantastic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFqdJT4QhU4

http://www.mycarforum.com/index.php?act=po...w_post&f=15 'Naked sushi' club founder's late and loud parties irk neighbours They are not the only ones who are complaining. At least two other neighbours said they were unhappy over the noise. -TNP Thu, Jan 05, 2012 The New Paper A NEW Year's Eve party in the Holland Village neighbourhood caused such a stir that police had to be called in at two in the morning. It was the sixth time in the past 10 months that Dr Denisa Kera's next-door neighbour, Mr Ivan Loh and his wife, called in the police. They said the noise was too much to bear. They are not the only ones who are complaining. At least two other neighbours said they were unhappy over the noise. According to Mr Loh, Dr Kera's parties - which often last into the wee hours of the morning - caused such a ruckus that his family, which includes his 10-month-old daughter, has trouble sleeping. RELATED STORIES Diners eat sushi off topless woman But her parties are only part of the problem. "Even when she plays music or has one or two friends over, we can hear everything from our home. "That's fine, except that when it goes past 10 or 11 in the nightand we can't sleep," said an exasperated Mr Loh, 41, a photographer. Dr Kera, 36, who is from Prague, is teaching at the National University of Singapore as an assistant professor at the school's Department of Communications and New Media. She and co-founder of the Secret Cooks Club, Frenchman Florian Cornu, 26, made headlines last year when they organised a dinner where diners ate sushi off a naked woman. Secret Cooks Club, which meets once a month with about 20 guests each time, is part of a growing trend which hit the local dining scene over the past couple of years. The club invites members of the public to sign up and collects donations for the dinners, which have different themes and locations. Last May's dinner, attended by six professionals who did not know each other, was inspired by Nyotaimori, the Japanese practice of serving sashimi or sushi on the body of a woman, typically naked. A previous report said that the dinner took place at a private home in Holland Village. Dr Kera, who lives in Jalan Kuning in Chip Bee Gardens, declined to confirm this yesterday, saying that the club's activities and the dispute with her neighbours were two separate issues. But she acknowledged that two of the club's dinners were held at her home, a state-owned inter-terrace house managed by landlord JTC Corporation (JTC). Mr Loh, who has lived in his home for the past seven years and is currently renting it for $3,900 a month, said that problems began in February or March last year. "It's always been a rather quiet neighbourhood and that's one of the reasons we like living here. The noise spoils that. "There were times (when) we heard glass being broken and men railing away outside her home at 6am." Dining club He got angrier after finding out that she was running the dining club. "She was already intruding into our lifestyle and on top of that, she is running what, to me, resembles running a business, " he said. He added that the frequent loud chatter and music played from Dr Kera's home prompted him to confront her on two to three occasions, but an agreement could not be reached. "When my wife went over to ask her to lower her music volume, she said we must be lunatics. "We had an exchange of words, which ended up with both parties not being very happy. Subsequently, I decided to call the police," he said. Dr Kera looked distressed when asked for her side of the story. She said: "I did apologise, but I feel that she (Mr Loh's wife) has become more and more intolerant because I have a different lifestyle, and the dispute has escalated." She added: "I respect it when her baby cries at 11pm. "(But) how am I supposed to make peace with them when they come over here screaming and threatening that they will do all they can to get me kicked out?" Dr Kera's other neighbours said that it is understandable for parties to last late into the night if it is a festive occasion, such as New Year's Eve or Chinese New Year. The problem is that the parties are sometimes held on week nights, said human resources manager Roman Matla, who lives in a terrace home directly opposite Dr Kera. "I think she has every right to hold parties in her home. In fact, we often hold parties in ours - but when we do, we tell our neighbours about it and invite them to come," he said with a chuckle. "It starts getting difficult when the party is on a Tuesday night on a random week and lasts till about 3.30am and guests sit outside the house, talking and laughing. "I would be all right with it if after about 10 at night, they took everything inside the house and closed the windows," said the father of two children. Another neighbour, who wanted to be known only as Mr Ng and lives two houses away from Dr Kera, added: "My wife and two daughters wake me up when they cannot take it. We try to endure it till after 10 or 11 at night, before SMSing JTC." Dr Kera declined to elaborate, mentioning that she will be meeting JTC today to try to see what she can do to settle the dispute. Mr Loh said he plans to seek further help from his MP to solve the problem. This article was first published in The New Paper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1g3ZksTEvE source si gina!

im quite interested in which is the most popular one and why, hope u guys can giv ur opinions.

Hi guys..if you are interested, FHM Girl Next Door winner Mandy Soong will fulfil her campaign promise to make sushi along Orchard Rd in her lingerie since she won the contest. Here's the ad: http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/modules/enewsle...00038&Username= Wanna watch?? Bring your cameras too boys...& do post your pictures here if u took any cos i'll be stuck in office & can't go see Date: 29 Aug, Friday Time: 5pm Venue: Tangs Orchard window (nearest to Lucky Plaza) Happy ogling!!

http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNew...0820-83231.html Two killed trying to cut up bomb KUALA SELANGOR, MALAYSIA: Two metal scrap yard workers were killed when a World War II bomb they unknowingly were cutting up exploded. The scrap yard's owner had purchased the 100kg bomb which was found in an open area in Jeram, without realising what it was. He had asked the two workers to cut it into smaller pieces at the scrap yard in Kampung Batu Dua. The bomb exploded at about 3.30pm as the workers, an Indian national and a Bangladeshi, were cutting through the centre. The blast was heard up to 2km away, shocking residents and shattering windowpanes. A workers hostel located at the back of the compound caught fire as a result of the blast. The Indian worker died on the way to the Sungai Buloh Hospital while the other worker died in the intensive care unit. Kuala Selangor police chief Supt Ibrahim Chin said a passer-by found the bomb earlier in the day and took it to the scrap yard.

For those who likes to eat sushi...maybe can try this competition. Eat all your can in 10 minutes.

This afternoon was having lunch together with my family at the Sun Plaza outlet. The menu , services and most important of all - the food is of much more higher quality than the Changi Airport and Toa Payoh branch which I have visited previously. It seems that every of their outlets has different type of food for order.Wonder why ?

Hi all, any comments to share on thai made altis or japanese made corolla?