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Affordable and yummy western food in NIE

Doesn’t my chicken chop and spaghetti look yummy? I love it and want to go there again!

Chicken Chop and Spaghetti at NIE Canteen

About 6 months ago, after reading the chicken chop and spaghetti post by Sha, I was really tempted and raring to visit the canteen at NIE. But the first time I tried to go there I mistook NIE for NTU and I rode all around the campus wondering where the place was. In the end, I gave up.

I had a craving for western food again lately and I remembered about Sha’s recommendation. So, I went there again recently this week. Once I knew the bearings, it wasn’t that difficult to go there. Exit from the PIE expressway to Jalan Bahar, enter NTU and at the welcome sign, turn right to Nanyang Crescent and head all the way to carpark 4.

Cool piratey live firing sign at NIE

All around your journey, you’ll be accompanied by this cool pirate like sign.

Trees at NIE

What I like about the surrounding area was the amount of greenery here. When I parked my scooter, I could see so much trees as far as the eyes can see. It was so serene.

Western Food at NIE

When I entered the canteen, it was quite full with the lunch crowd. I spotted the western food stall already crowded with a number of people queuing up. Having already decided what I wanted to eat, I queued up for my food, made my order and got my food shortly after.

Western Food at NIE

I love my Chicken Chop! The gravy was delightfully savoury and the chicken meat itself is freshly cooked and was so juicy. The mashed potato was so smooth and was such a delight to eat. The spaghetti wasn’t the best that I had, but it was still pretty good. There was a generous amount of basil and a good amount of meat on my pasta. Best thing of all is that it costs only $3.80!

Western Food at NIE

Actually this was my second visit in a span of one week. Earlier this week, I had the grilled fish and butter rice ($3.50). It was pretty good, with the fish being hot and crispy when I had it. The meat was nice, flaky and quite delicious. I didn’t really fancy the rice but it was not bad 🙂

I’m still thinking about my meal there and want to eat there again. If you’re anywhere in the west, join me there the next time? 🙂

NIE Western Food Stall

  • 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616

Other affordable food

Update : Western Food Stall will be under maintenance till the 2nd January 2008. Sigh.

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Behind the scenes of the Tech65’s 50th episode

Congratulations to Tech65 on their 50th podcast! And here’s to many more to come 🙂

Click image for a larger version

Tech65 is a weekly based podcast which focuses on technology in a Singaporean point of view.

I knew about tech65 when NTT, introduced the podcast to me and asked me to have a listen. And at the first listen, I was impressed by how effortlessly natural they were bantering with each other. Even though I am not up to their level of technophilia, these guys are easy to listen to.

One of my favourite episodes was when the tech65 crew were live blogging at the launch of the new Creative Zen and they managed to aquire a unit to review.

When the tech65 invited listeners to a live recording in liew of of their 50th episode, I couldn’t help but to join in. I’ve always wanted to see the behind the scenes.

There, I met the hosts, Daniel, Jerrick, NTT, Farinelli and Kai Yi, as well as a couple of pingsters like Nicole, Mic, Brennan, Ridz, DK, Bernard and a couple of new faces like Christine and Hei Man.

I saw a camera being set up for the live video stream, NTT’s awesome H4 audio recorder and everyone else ready with their laptops maximizing the internet connection at Geek Terminal as they started their podcast.

Despite interruptions such as construction works all around the cafe, it was interesting to sit in and watch the recording live.

Here’s a behind the scenes clip :

watch in youtube

Congratulations again to 65bits! You’ve come a long way! 🙂

Links :

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The hypnotic sounds of the gamelan

Singa Nglaras Klenengan

Last friday, I hanged out with my friend Mus, who invited me a Klenengan, which I found out later, is actually and Indonesian Gamelan music.

It was a very cooling evening when I reached the faculty of the arts and social science in NUS, with no difficulty, I was able to find the gamelan room (which is surprising as I get lost easily) and I said hello to the friendly people in the group who were coincidentally having their break.

Singa Nglaras Klenengan

I then saw Mus, who looked genuinely surprised to see me (hehehe) and he showed me around and the different types of instruments. Many of them looked like xylophones. I was curious to see that there were different types of hammers used to hit the instruments – I noticed at least 4 different types. I’m sure that this effects the resonance and sound.

Singa Nglaras Klenengan

They group started their practice session and I find myself fascinated while listening to the hypnotic sounds as they hammered away happily on their gamelan. Sitting in the middle of the room, it was an experience to not only hear the sounds but to also feel the sound. This was something new to me!

The gamelan, in particular, the selemtem, which looked like a xylophone didnt looked too difficult to play. Mus explained that each panel was actually a number from 1 – 7 and you hit the panel according to the score. It was much easier to understand if compared to a piano.

It was so much fun! I was tempted to hammer the selemtem myself if not for the fact that I’d probably be disturbing the others.

Singa Nglaras Klenengan

Cant wait for the next session. Mus! Quick! When is the next one?

Here is a quick video :

view on youtube

Singa Nglaras Klenengan

Links :

Updated : Too funny! Eileen, a fellow pingster was there at the session but we didn’t recognize each other!