PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG FISH SEAFOOD GRILL

Our pick of the best “toss ups” in town.

In Chinese, the word “yu sheng” is a homonym, which refers to raw fish as well as abundant life. The Chinese practice of eating yu sheng thus stems from the belief of abundance throughout the year. Other ingredients are mixed in to make it into a dish, with each ingredient holding an auspicious meaning.

INGREDIENTS
Fish: Abundance, Excess
Pomelo Fruit: Luck, Abundance
Pepper: Attraction of Money and Valuables
Oil: Increase of Profits 10,000 Times, Money Flowing In
Carrots: Blessings of Good Luck
Green Radish: Eternal Youth
White Radish: Business Prosperity, Promotion at Work

CONDIMENTS:
Peanut Crumbs: Gold and Silver, EternalYouth
Sesame Seeds: Flourishing Business
Flour Crisps: Floor Covered With Gold

DRESSING:
Plum Sauce: Halls Flowing With Gold

The act of tossing this Chinese salad together is called “lo hei”, which sounds like the Cantonese saying “toss up”. Chinese believe it’s representative of a prosperous turnover in business and life. The tossing is usually done seven times, with its participants shouting various sayings relating to prosperity and success.

Why: This is a refreshing Western take, which not only includes Canadian surf clams and tender seared tuna, but tosses in a healthy mix of fruits as well. But it is the “secret sauce” that makes you want to lick the plate when you’re done.

What: Western-styled Yusheng: $21.80 (small) or $38.80 (large)

Where: 85 Upper East Coast
Goodwill Court
Tel: 6441-6920

LAI WAH RESTAURANT
Why: It’s hard to give this restaurant a miss when it comes to yu sheng. After all, the first modern yu sheng was invented by its master chef Than Mui Kai in 1964, together with three other “culinary kings”. The restaurant has a marvelous retro feel, so you almost feel that you are eating traditional yu sheng, just the way it was meant to be.

What: Lucky Raw Fish Delicacy with Ikan Parang: $23 (4-6 persons) or $45 (8-10 persons)
Lucky Raw Fish Delicacy with Salmon:
$28 (4-6 persons) or $48 (8-10 persons)

Where: Block 44, Bendemeer Road
#01-1436
Tel: 6294-9922

ROLAND RESTAURANT
Why: Having taken over the location of the former Sin Leong Restaurant, Roland Restaurant is popular for its chili crabs and other high-quality seafood.

In recent years, it has also developed a following for its salmon yu sheng—it offers this traditional version at a reasonable price. Although a little sweeter than others, the crushed fried wanton skin (instead of the usual fried crackers) gives it a nice oomph.

What: Salmon Yu Sheng: $36 (6 persons) or $48 (12 persons)

Where: Block 89, Marine Parade Central #06-750
Tel: 6440-8205

SAKAE SUSHI
Why: This is a popular choice as it is good value for the price, and can be easily found islandwide, thanks to their many outlets. And of course, a sushi restaurant would have the best sashimi. It is also one of the healthier picks as the kind folks at Sakae Sushi do not add oil to their yu sheng.

What: Rong Yusheng: $18.88 (1-2 persons), $29.88 (3-5 persons) or $46.88 (6-10 persons)

Where: For locations, visit www.sakaesushi.com.sg

SHANG PALACE
Why: If, for you, Chinese New Year is a time to splurge, Shang Palace offers up yu sheng of a commendable standard every year, with deluxe options like Lobster Yu Sheng. And of course, the beautiful décor and feel of the Shangri-La hotel is always a great setting to enjoy it in with your family and friends.

What: Salmon Yu Sheng: $68 (4-6 persons) or $128 (10 persons)
Tuna Yu Sheng : $78 (small) or $148 (large)
Lobster Yu Sheng: $128 (small) or $248 (large)
Abalone Yu Sheng: $158 (small) or $298 (large)

Where: 22 Orange Grove Road
Shangri-La Hotel
Tel: 6213-4473

* All prices are not inclusive of taxes and service charges.

Fusion of French and Japanese cuisine, perfected.

I went to Hiroki88 expecting good things from Chef Hiroki, recently of 3-Michelin star L’Astrance in Paris. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness and meticulousness in every quarter.

The simple, nature-themed décor and the attentive service keep diners in a Zen-like state, ready to receive the next plate of brilliance from Chef Hiroki.

A French-Japanese fusion, one clearly sees both influences—the plating is austere but soothing; the food is rich, yet fresh and energetic, powerful but never dominating, a textural composition, but nothing overpowering. The structure is French—techniques, cutlery and order of courses—but the flavors and attention to every detail is Japanese.

A basket of olive and homemade focaccia bread with assorted butters arrived first. The soft, crusty focaccia was perfect with the herb butter. The butter is delicate —well-balanced and fragrant. I liked the anchovy butter—rich but not fishy.

Sakura Bark Home Smoked Fresh Salmon on Garden of Beetroot

Sakura Bark Home-Smoked Fresh Salmon on Garden of Beetroot arrived next. It is both an architectural creation and an appetizing combination of flavors. This is a dish that wows and surprises. The play of texture, fragrance and taste is excellent, as is the control of the cooking technique. To tell more would spoil the surprise.

The Grilled Fresh Squid and Cauliflower served with Squid Ink Pasta similarly impressed. Squid fans will love it —squid is charred to perfection, smoky, tender and sweet. The pasta is pungent and earthy—coated with a pesto so delicate that you hardly see it, yet it flavors and clothes each mouthful with its fragrance.

The Slow-Cooked Fresh Garoupa on Creamy Mushroom Risotto was excellent. This risotto is a show-stealer—the garoupa, though fork-tender with a crunchy skin, paled beside it. With the seaweed sauce, the risotto is heavenly—crunchy spring onions, nutty shimeji mushrooms, pungent base note of seaweed—this is what a fusion of East and West should be.

CN PHOTOS: Xavier Tan Slow-Cooked Fresh Garoupa on Creamy Mushroom Risotto(Left) Grilled Fillet of Lamb Loin perfumed with Rosemary(Right)

Next, the Grilled Fillet of Lamb Loin perfumed with Rosemary. The lamb was less satisfying than the accompanying slice of roasted daikon with macadamia shavings, or the crunchy French beans. It was too delicately done—its herb crust was interesting, but not enough.

Dessert was Vanilla Ice Cream with Strawberry Compote, accompanied by mousse and a dusting of caramel-coated cashews. The airy mousse evanesces in your mouth, leaving behind the sweetness of the ice cream and the crunch of the cashews. The compote is tart and firm, balancing out the flavor.

There are greater things ahead for Hiroki88. In the works are a larger alfresco dining area and an impressive water feature. Already among the top four finalists of the Singapore Restaurant Association’s Best New Concepts, people have started to sit up and take notice of Hiroki88.

Although I applaud them for their all-round excellence, I feel that Chef Hiroki and his team are playing too safe. I await the day where, like L’Astrance, menus are banished from the restaurant and Hiroki and his team venture into those deep culinary woods. I will be right behind them, ready to eat what they prepare.

Tel: 64747896

Dinner: 18.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. (Open Tuesdays to Sundays)

Web site: www.hiroki88.com

Reservations e-mail: [email protected]

Overall Rating:

SINGAPORE, 23 NOVEMBER 2008 — KEVIN LOO OF City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur (CHCKL) went into this Sunday morning’s ordination service as a pastor, and came out a Reverend.

While the ordination took an instant, it was a long time in the making for him.

“It’s an acknowledgement of God’s calling in my life, and it really motivates me to continue serving Him and really live out my calling,” he said.

More than just a title, Kevin feels that the ordination is an honor as it reflects the seriousness of his ministry.

Graduating as the top international student in the cohort of 1997 in School of Theology (SOT), Kevin pioneered his new church in 2002 under the guidance of Kong Hee. CHCKL is now 1,400 strong.

This second last session of the Conference — which happened on Sunday — marked a new beginning for six pastors, who were all ordained as Reverends.

Also, four ministers were licensed as pastors.

The ordination ceremony was brief, with the 10 church workers making their way on stage to receive a plaque from Phil Pringle and Kong. Next, they knelt down in prayer as Pringle prayed over each of them.

The newly-ordained ministers come from different countries and backgrounds.

Goh Yock Kiang, Choong Tsih-Ming, and Wu Yu Zhuang are ministers in City Harvest Church (CHC), while Tan Seow How is from Heart of God Church in Singapore. Husband-and-wife team of Wayne Chang and Angel Lee lead the 500-strong Xin Dian Covenant Church in Taiwan.

PHOTOS: Michael Chan & Daniel Poh

Newly licensed pastor Joseph Ang shepherds the Chinese service in CHC, while Bobby Chaw is the dean of SOT. John Lee pastors City Breakthrough Church in Sydney.

Kevin Loo will go home after the Conference to resume his pastoral duties with fresh insight into insulating his congregation as they penetrate secular culture. “Money is a great lure as many of my members are going into adulthood and the workforce, and sometimes you can be easily lured away if your grounding is not right,” he said.

SINGAPORE, 22 NOVEMBER 2008 — Matching the high octane, testosterone-filled battle between the male teams, the women’s competition proved to be equally fierce, if not more so.

The winners were not a bunch of rip-roaring, slender girls in prime physical condition, but Yan Xinhui, Lin Xiufang, and Dawn Lee, all in their thirties.

They were basketball teammates who used to play for their club when they were still students. “It was so long ago, way back in the 90s!” joked Dawn.

Held on the fourth day of the Asia Conference, the Slam Dunk! Competition finals saw 34 teams — whittled down from over 200 in the preliminaries — competing for the male and female 3-on-3 crown.

The male challenge was won by a group of twenty-somethings: Justin Ngor, Allan Tay, and Tan Wu. A side event was the 3-Point Shootout which saw 15-year-old student Paul Ang emerge champion. He won a S$150 Takashimaya voucher. The 3-on-3 champions and first runners-up were awarded S$300 and S$100 Takashimaya vouchers respectively.

While the women finalists were congenial before the match, the intensity went up ten notches once the timer ran.

Scowls filled the players’ faces as they wrestled for the ball, and teammates barked at one another to ensure that their opponents were tightly marked. Players at times lunged at the floor for the loose ball but it was Xiufang’s sharpshooting that ultimately won her team the competition by a score of 9-6.

When asked about the intensity of the matchup, Xinhui said casually, “We really didn’t come expecting to win; it was just for fun and more like a reunion for us.”

It was a family affair for Dawn, who had her two young daughters in tow. Her husband was also one of the referees.

For the male competition however, the final match was more one-sided as Justin’s team thrashed their opponents 16-7 in the finals. Height was an obvious advantage for them, and their tallest member Wu measured about 195cm.

PHOTOS: Daniel Li, Kenneth Tan & Koh Meng Kwang

Imposing in size, he was seen dunking the ball with ease during practice. His other teammates measured up during the actual match; together, the three formed a formidable Great Wall that made scoring difficult for the other teams.

Testy at times, the final matchup saw referee Joseph Ang stepping in to take firm control of the situation.

The semi-final, on the other hand, had a much closer score line of 15-13, but the match was equally intense.

32-year-old Jason Matias, whose team lost to Justin’s, felt the champions did not really burn all the fuel in their tank. He also found the intensity pretty normal.

“In Philippines, we play even harder than what you see here,” said the Singaporean PR.

The engineer came with his wife and children as well. Ice, 4, and Yana, 6, pranced around and supported their dad at the sidelines with pom poms made up of newspapers.

Though the team — made up of City Harvest members — did not win, Jason said with a shrug: “We’re really here just for fun.”

SINGAPORE, 21 NOVEMBER 2008 — BEING A YOUTH leader is like being a bus driver, said Kevin Loo, pastor of City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur, at an elective workshop on starting a youth ministry.

“We’ve got to transport them from having ‘borrowed conviction’ to having ‘personal conviction’,” he said to an audience of mostly overseas delegates.

Borrowed conviction, according to him, is when a new believer finds spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible-reading a chore.

The most important task for leaders is to get their members to “learn how to love the spiritual disciplines.”

Loo’s session drew constant laughter as he peppered his talk with hilarious examples and quips.

PHOTOS: Edmund Ong

For an elective participant who intends to start his own church this year, this workshop was a Godsend for him. An overseas graduate from this year’s School of Theology (SOT), he came back to Singapore just for the Asia Conference.

“I won’t have an opportunity to learn about starting a youth ministry once I return to my country,” Li said.

Having worked with young people in the past, he confessed that he has not been very successful at leading them. “But I hope through this session that I will learn how to better relate and communicate with them.”

Loo taught about the four important keys to building a strong youth ministry, and he highlighted the following essentialities: Having a healthy dissatisfaction with present realities, giving youths a purpose and vision, teaching them to feel the presence of God, and observing spiritual disciplines.

“Youths can hardly stand still,” he described. “In the morning they go for prayer meeting, then they go play sports, then in the evening they go for supper and midnight movies, then they go for supper again.”

The challenge is getting them to be still and experience God.

He also said that running a youth ministry requires great sacrifice. But it can also prove to be deeply satisfying.

“Youths are a really good investment; they’re like diamonds in the rough. A youth leader must realize that every young person is a treasure,” he concluded.

SINGAPORE, 20 NOVEMBER 2008 — REACHING OUT TO the church is as important as reaching out to the world, said Phil Pringle in an on-stage interview with Kong Hee during a lunch session at Hall 7.

The Church should not be a cultural ghetto, and Christians should not feel embarrassed to invite their friends. Non-believers must also not find Church irrelevant and out-of-touch, he told a crowd of about 5,000 during the second day of the Asia Conference.

Pringle told of a Christian couple he met recently, they told him that they would only wear black because they believe that wearing other colors will bring them to hell.

“Some Christians wear clothes that make them look like they just came out from the grave!” he quipped, inciting laughter from the crowd.

The brief interview started even as people were flitting between tables, still finding places to settle down. Some delegates waved umbrellas and water bottles in the air, looking for their friends to gather at the same table.

Many delegates could relate to Phil’s views.

Said Samuel Yap, a 21-year-old NUS student: “Many of my friends find Christians presumptuous and self-righteous, and that is something that should change.”

Carrine Chan, 22, a member of City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur, agreed with Pringle’s words. She felt that churches must be “excellent” so that Christians will not fear inviting their friends.

During the Q&A session, Pringle fielded questions that were mostly about the contemporary church. His answers ranged from brief theological musings to candid illustrations and even effusive praise for Kong.

PHOTOS: Gary Sim

Pringle spoke about how Bible characters like Daniel and Joseph were able to remain holy despite being immersed in the arts of their times, and how Gnosticism has influenced Christian thinking with their philosophy that the physical world does not matter.

But when Kong asked him about how the Asian church can transit from a traditional church to a contemporary one, Pringle replied:

“Two words: Kong Hee.”

High-profile guests at a luncheon held at The Fullerton Hotel last month were privy to words of wisdom from Singapore property tycoon, Philip Ng.

The CEO of Far East Organization — one of the largest private property developers in Singapore — spoke on the role of his faith in the marketplace and how Christianity has helped him succeed in his business dealings.

Despite being the son of billionaire Ng Teng Fong, one of the richest men in the world, Philip said in a recent Business Times interview that life was not a bed of roses for him as his father was a tough mentor. “Conditioned” from young to run the business, Philip eventually took the helm at Far East Organization in the 1990s.

Shane Chiang, 36, director of a manufacturing company, was one of 40 industry professionals who attended the luncheon, which was a joint collaboration between the Research University on Leadership (RUL) and City Harvest’s Marketplace Ministry.

“Philip Ng’s wealth of experience is definitely worth more than silver or gold,” he said. “I’m impressed by his humility to serve and his willingness to take time to share his heart with people.”

PHOTOS: Gary Sim and Jayson Lee

This is the second such event organized by RUL, and according to organizing committee member Natalie Teo,  they are aiming to hold such events once every two months.

“It is an effective platform for business professionals to network and be mentored by top business leaders,” she said.

Fun and funds met on the golfing green on 5 September 2008 at a charity golf tournament organized by City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA).

The JOY (Joining the Young and Old) Charity Golf Tournament – held at the Orchid Country Club – was organized by the House of JOY, an arm of the Association which specialises in services that jointly help the elderly and youth.

The idea for this event came from a group of golf enthusiasts. Wanting to take their interest further, they decided on a joint-partnership with CHCSA to organize this event to raise funds while having fun.

The tournament worked on a pay-to-play concept – corporations forked out $5,000 for four persons for a round of golf, with the proceeds going to charity. The tournament itself was only one of the highlights – a cocktail reception, dinner, and song performances rounded up the festivities.

True to the spirit of giving, the winning golfers even auctioned off their prizes. Celebrity filmmaker Jack Neo, a special guest at the event, entertained the crowd with a few songs, and did his part to raise money by auctioning off an autographed event poster.

PHOTOS: Jayson Lee

The event proved a success on many levels. The total amount raised could not be released in time for publication.

Sheryl Lim, a social worker with CHCSA said, “This event is a good way to merge two things: raising funds while having fun.”