Hunting for Christmas Trees and Good Food at Paya Lebar

It’s that time of the year again when I enjoy wandering around the city, hunting for Christmas trees, LOL! It has become part of the city’s culture for shopping malls to set up their own versions of Christmas trees to attract more visitors and shoppers. For me, it’s also a great excuse to visit places I don’t often go to.

The first place I checked out this year was the Paya Lebar area. I knew for sure they wouldn’t miss the chance to showcase their signature tall Christmas tree. The covered atrium there is spacious enough to host one that also doubles as a photo booth. I think this is the first time they’ve gone with this kind of design, previously, they usually had a standalone tree filled with decorations and bright lights. So I was quite surprised to see such an interactive setup this year. The kids, for sure, were loving it!

After wandering around the area, my tummy started to growl since I was surrounded by restaurants and food stalls, so I decided to head into the mall for dinner. As usual, finding a place to eat was a challenge, even though it was a Monday night, the restaurants were all crowded. The only ones with available seats were the high-end places, but I wasn’t really in the mood for that kind of food. With few options left, I went up to the fourth floor of the mall to try my luck at the food court. There’s a Kopitiam there, which is perfectly fine for me. It’s like an elevated hawker experience, slightly pricier, but the food quality is good enough to make it worth it.

Initially, I was craving Korean food because I was reminded of the #kcontest hosted by the Korean Hive Community. However, there wasn’t any stall offering that cuisine, which really surprised me. Usually, there’s at least one Korean-inspired food stall alongside the Chinese and Japanese ones, but I guess I just wasn’t lucky that night. Instead, I decided to go for something a bit different... something unique to break the monotony of the food I usually eat.

I ended up choosing the Braised Beef Noodles stall! I ordered their popular dish, which cost SGD 8.50 (around USD 6.50). The price was quite reasonable considering the quality of the food and the ambience of the place.

The dish looks quite simple, but the taste is actually more complex than it appears. I chose Hor Fun for my noodles, and the rest of the ingredients, beef brisket, bean sprouts, and the savory sauce, serve as the main sources of flavor in the dish.

What amazes me about Chinese-style cooking is how the meat turns out so tender yet doesn’t fall apart. I have no idea how they manage to achieve that, but honestly, who cares, I really enjoyed the beef brisket! The rest of the ingredients play more of a supporting role, but of course, they’re equally important in making the dish truly delicious.

After my meal, I felt so satisfied and full, so I decided to take another walk around the area before heading home.

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Overall, it was such a simple yet fulfilling evening filled with good food, festive sights, and a bit of exploration. Moments like these remind me to slow down and appreciate the little joys that the season brings. I’m already looking forward to discovering more Christmas spots around the city in the coming weeks!

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