Monday, March 16, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Saturday, March 14, 2015
World Street Food Congress: Why We Spent Over $2million
By KF Seetoh, Makansutra
We’ve spent over $2 million bucks on the World Street Food Congress thus far, including the upcoming 2ndedition of WSFC held this coming April 8-12 in Singapore (you’ll know the cost if you’ve done this before on this scale and we don’t get up front discounts on flights, ingredients nor locations etc, just because it’s a street food event).
The curious and hungry hordes at WSFC 2013, at the F1 Pit Building.
Father of Indonesian food, Chef William Wongso, shows off a rare dish here – Asinan.I admit I am one of those who put my money where my mouth is. You see, if you want special fruits, you have to plant, toil and nurture the special seedlings. And no, we are not fully sponsored by the government (if you’ve asked for funding before, you know what it’s like). It’s a fruit tree everybody in the groove can pluck from eventually and perhaps we get first pickings. If you think about it, the opportunities are immense (tourism, social enterprise, entrepreneurism, branding, skills education, trade etc.). Sure, I can invest that money in property, stocks etc, but that’s not me. It’s that stubborn desire in me that insists that I concieve and make ideas happen. No profits are guaranteed (if you are in it for a quick buck) overnight, and although poorer, we can still plod, for now.
One of the most popular item at WSFC 2013- the grilled banana and glutinious rice wrap from Vietnam.
Another street food crowd favourite at the Jamboree- Hoy Tod, or Thai style oyster omelette.So this year’s World Street Food Congress (Apr 8-12th) at the open field opposite Bugis Junction along North Bridge Road, again has two elements- The Dialogue-Hackathon now has a new format, where half a day is devoted to YOU- at the open floor conference chat with the audience, tapping on your wishes and ideas for all to share. Speakers like Stephen Werther, the main engine behind the upcoming Bourdain Market, will give updates and announce its consultancy partnership with Makansutra and myself. Fronted by fearless celebrity foodie and traveller Anthony Bourdain, this Singapore inspired hawker centre in New York, is set to be a game changer for the world of heritage street food culture. You should also listen to how a private company (instead of the government in Indonesia) Bango, which makes kicap manis, is attempting to revolutionise the under-celebrated 600 year old Indonesian food culture. They believe in championing it for the future generations.
“Street food is an opportunity to create a brand” says Anthony Bourdain, at the Dialogue (2013).
The ideas are unlimited in the world of street food culture. You just need imagination.This year, we are bringing in 24 stalls from 12 cities offering rare stuff on our menus and flavours here that I , too, personally adore. There’s a rare Black Satay from Penang, Truffle Paella Lechon from Philippines, Unesco Heritage recognised Banh Can (making a comeback) from Vietnam and even Ayam Taliwang (the most spicy grilled chicken from Lombok, Indonesia). Pak Sadi Soto Ambengan, the Street Food Master winner in our 2013 World Street Food Awards, will also make his debut here. His grown up educated kids are so keen now to take the brand international. An SG50 culinary campaign, to be launched by Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong will also be launched at the event. Watch for this one, it is very interesting.
WSFC presenting awards to the Indonesian World Street Food Award winner (2013).I know many of you firm believers of this cause out there too desire to preserve and create more opportunities in the world of heritage and street food culture and business. If anything else, you’ll realise it’s just too great a food culture to let fade away into the bowels of fast food machines and behemoths. Do come to the event, speak up and raise your ideas (however complex or simple) at the WSF Dialogue –Hackathon. Or, just come chow down and support these international street food vendors at the Jamboree who flew in, spent monies and took time off just to create more buzz and share with you their heritage culinary craft for posterity and prosperity’s sake.
The World Street Food Congress
8-12th April 2015
Open field opposite Bugis Junction along North Bridge Road (above Bugis MRT station)
Dialogue-Hackathon (8- 9th April, 9am-5pm)
Jamboree (8-12th April , from 5pm)
www.wsfcongress.com
World Street Food Congress: Why We Spent Over $2million
By KF Seetoh, Makansutra
We’ve spent over $2 million bucks on the World Street Food Congress thus far, including the upcoming 2ndedition of WSFC held this coming April 8-12 in Singapore (you’ll know the cost if you’ve done this before on this scale and we don’t get up front discounts on flights, ingredients nor locations etc, just because it’s a street food event).
The curious and hungry hordes at WSFC 2013, at the F1 Pit Building.
Father of Indonesian food, Chef William Wongso, shows off a rare dish here – Asinan.I admit I am one of those who put my money where my mouth is. You see, if you want special fruits, you have to plant, toil and nurture the special seedlings. And no, we are not fully sponsored by the government (if you’ve asked for funding before, you know what it’s like). It’s a fruit tree everybody in the groove can pluck from eventually and perhaps we get first pickings. If you think about it, the opportunities are immense (tourism, social enterprise, entrepreneurism, branding, skills education, trade etc.). Sure, I can invest that money in property, stocks etc, but that’s not me. It’s that stubborn desire in me that insists that I concieve and make ideas happen. No profits are guaranteed (if you are in it for a quick buck) overnight, and although poorer, we can still plod, for now.
One of the most popular item at WSFC 2013- the grilled banana and glutinious rice wrap from Vietnam.Another street food crowd favourite at the Jamboree- Hoy Tod, or Thai style oyster omelette.So this year’s World Street Food Congress (Apr 8-12th) at the open field opposite Bugis Junction along North Bridge Road, again has two elements- The Dialogue-Hackathon now has a new format, where half a day is devoted to YOU- at the open floor conference chat with the audience, tapping on your wishes and ideas for all to share. Speakers like Stephen Werther, the main engine behind the upcoming Bourdain Market, will give updates and announce its consultancy partnership with Makansutra and myself. Fronted by fearless celebrity foodie and traveller Anthony Bourdain, this Singapore inspired hawker centre in New York, is set to be a game changer for the world of heritage street food culture. You should also listen to how a private company (instead of the government in Indonesia) Bango, which makes kicap manis, is attempting to revolutionise the under-celebrated 600 year old Indonesian food culture. They believe in championing it for the future generations.
“Street food is an opportunity to create a brand” says Anthony Bourdain, at the Dialogue (2013).The ideas are unlimited in the world of street food culture. You just need imagination.This year, we are bringing in 24 stalls from 12 cities offering rare stuff on our menus and flavours here that I , too, personally adore. There’s a rare Black Satay from Penang, Truffle Paella Lechon from Philippines, Unesco Heritage recognised Banh Can (making a comeback) from Vietnam and even Ayam Taliwang (the most spicy grilled chicken from Lombok, Indonesia). Pak Sadi Soto Ambengan, the Street Food Master winner in our 2013 World Street Food Awards, will also make his debut here. His grown up educated kids are so keen now to take the brand international. An SG50 culinary campaign, to be launched by Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong will also be launched at the event. Watch for this one, it is very interesting.
WSFC presenting awards to the Indonesian World Street Food Award winner (2013).I know many of you firm believers of this cause out there too desire to preserve and create more opportunities in the world of heritage and street food culture and business. If anything else, you’ll realise it’s just too great a food culture to let fade away into the bowels of fast food machines and behemoths. Do come to the event, speak up and raise your ideas (however complex or simple) at the WSF Dialogue –Hackathon. Or, just come chow down and support these international street food vendors at the Jamboree who flew in, spent monies and took time off just to create more buzz and share with you their heritage culinary craft for posterity and prosperity’s sake.
The World Street Food Congress
8-12th April 2015
Open field opposite Bugis Junction along North Bridge Road (above Bugis MRT station)
Dialogue-Hackathon (8- 9th April, 9am-5pm)
Jamboree (8-12th April , from 5pm)
www.wsfcongress.com
World's first successful penis transplant performed in S. Africa
World's first successful penis transplant performed in S. Africa
South African doctors announced Friday that they had performed the world's first successful penis transplant, three months after the ground-breaking operation.
The 21-year-old patient had his penis amputated three years ago after a botched circumcision at a traditional initiation ceremony.
In a nine-hour operation at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, he received his new penis from a deceased donor, whose family were praised by doctors.
"We've proved that it can be done –- we can give someone an organ that is just as good as the one that he had," said Professor Frank Graewe, head of plastic reconstructive surgery at Stellenbosch University.
"It was a privilege to be part of this first successful penis transplant in the world."
Doctors say the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, has made a full recovery since the operation on December 11 and has regained all urinary and reproductive functions.
"Our goal was that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his rapid recovery," said Professor Andre van der Merwe, head of Stellenbosch's urology division.
In 2006, a Chinese man had a penis transplant but his doctors removed the organ after two weeks due to "a severe psychological problem of the recipient and his wife".
Scores of South African teenage boys and young men have their penises amputated each year after botched circumcisions during rite-of-passage ceremonies.
"There is a greater need in South Africa for this type of procedure than elsewhere in the world," Van der Merwe said in a statement.
- Dangerous rituals -
African teenagers from some ethnic groups spend about a month in secluded bush or mountain regions as part of their initiation to manhood.
The experience includes circumcision as well as lessons on masculine courage and discipline.
A commission last year found 486 boys had died at the winter initiation schools between 2008 and 2013, with a major cause being complications such as infection after circumcision.
"For a young man of 18 or 19 years, the loss of his penis can be deeply traumatic," said Van der Merwe.
"He doesn't necessarily have the psychological capability to process this. There are even reports of suicide among these young men."
Van der Merwe described the anonymous donor and his family as "the heroes" of the story.
"They saved the lives of many people because they donated the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, skin, corneas and then the penis," he said.
The South African team included three senior doctors, transplant coordinators, anaesthetists, theatre nurses, a psychologist and an ethicist.
Surgeons from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital had searched extensively for a suitable donor as part of a pilot study to develop penis transplants in Africa.
Some techniques were developed from the first facial transplant in France in 2005.
They now plan to perform nine more similar operations.
South Africa has long been a pioneer of transplant surgery.
In 1967, Chris Barnard performed the world's first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
The Chinese man who rejected his new penis in 2006 received his transplant after parents of a brain-dead man agreed to donate their son's organ.
Read more:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/worlds-first-successful-penis-transplant-performed-africa-153815720.html
World's first successful penis transplant performed in S. Africa
World's first successful penis transplant performed in S. Africa
South African doctors announced Friday that they had performed the world's first successful penis transplant, three months after the ground-breaking operation.
The 21-year-old patient had his penis amputated three years ago after a botched circumcision at a traditional initiation ceremony.
In a nine-hour operation at the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, he received his new penis from a deceased donor, whose family were praised by doctors.
"We've proved that it can be done –- we can give someone an organ that is just as good as the one that he had," said Professor Frank Graewe, head of plastic reconstructive surgery at Stellenbosch University.
"It was a privilege to be part of this first successful penis transplant in the world."
Doctors say the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, has made a full recovery since the operation on December 11 and has regained all urinary and reproductive functions.
"Our goal was that he would be fully functional at two years and we are very surprised by his rapid recovery," said Professor Andre van der Merwe, head of Stellenbosch's urology division.
In 2006, a Chinese man had a penis transplant but his doctors removed the organ after two weeks due to "a severe psychological problem of the recipient and his wife".
Scores of South African teenage boys and young men have their penises amputated each year after botched circumcisions during rite-of-passage ceremonies.
"There is a greater need in South Africa for this type of procedure than elsewhere in the world," Van der Merwe said in a statement.
- Dangerous rituals -
African teenagers from some ethnic groups spend about a month in secluded bush or mountain regions as part of their initiation to manhood.
The experience includes circumcision as well as lessons on masculine courage and discipline.
A commission last year found 486 boys had died at the winter initiation schools between 2008 and 2013, with a major cause being complications such as infection after circumcision.
"For a young man of 18 or 19 years, the loss of his penis can be deeply traumatic," said Van der Merwe.
"He doesn't necessarily have the psychological capability to process this. There are even reports of suicide among these young men."
Van der Merwe described the anonymous donor and his family as "the heroes" of the story.
"They saved the lives of many people because they donated the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, skin, corneas and then the penis," he said.
The South African team included three senior doctors, transplant coordinators, anaesthetists, theatre nurses, a psychologist and an ethicist.
Surgeons from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital had searched extensively for a suitable donor as part of a pilot study to develop penis transplants in Africa.
Some techniques were developed from the first facial transplant in France in 2005.
They now plan to perform nine more similar operations.
South Africa has long been a pioneer of transplant surgery.
In 1967, Chris Barnard performed the world's first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
The Chinese man who rejected his new penis in 2006 received his transplant after parents of a brain-dead man agreed to donate their son's organ.
Read more:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/worlds-first-successful-penis-transplant-performed-africa-153815720.html
Friday, March 13, 2015
Successful Immigrant
Comfort Spiral: Successful Immigrant: A L O H A from Honolulu ! Native to Indonesia, Java Finch was introduced to Hawaii in 1867. She has established breeding ...
Successful Immigrant
Comfort Spiral: Successful Immigrant: A L O H A from Honolulu ! Native to Indonesia, Java Finch was introduced to Hawaii in 1867. She has established breeding ...
Fences Today Tomorrow
Comfort Spiral: Fences Today Tomorrow: A L O H A from Honolulu ! Red Ginger Fence “A joyful life is an individual creation that cannot be copied from a rec...
Fences Today Tomorrow
Comfort Spiral: Fences Today Tomorrow: A L O H A from Honolulu ! Red Ginger Fence “A joyful life is an individual creation that cannot be copied from a rec...
JUG HANDLE STATE NATURE RESERVE: Trip # 63 of 70
State Park Closures Trip: JUG HANDLE STATE NATURE RESERVE: Trip # 63 of 70: A sleeping Sea Lion lay on the beach at Jug Handle State Nature Reserve , taking a break from his annual swim from Mexico to Alaska. S...
PICACHO STATE RECREATION AREA: Trip #62 of 70
State Park Closures Trip: PICACHO STATE RECREATION AREA: Trip #62 of 70: My state park trips have certainly taken me to every corner of California. From Del Norte Redwoods on the the northwest coast just ten...
PORTOLA REDWOODS STATE PARK: Trip #61 of 70
State Park Closures Trip: PORTOLA REDWOODS STATE PARK: Trip #61 of 70: If you had asked me a year ago when I began my visits to these 70 State Parks, which type of park I thought I would enjoy the most I w...
PORTOLA REDWOODS STATE PARK: Trip #61 of 70
State Park Closures Trip: PORTOLA REDWOODS STATE PARK: Trip #61 of 70: If you had asked me a year ago when I began my visits to these 70 State Parks, which type of park I thought I would enjoy the most I w...
PICACHO STATE RECREATION AREA: Trip #62 of 70
State Park Closures Trip: PICACHO STATE RECREATION AREA: Trip #62 of 70: My state park trips have certainly taken me to every corner of California. From Del Norte Redwoods on the the northwest coast just ten...
JUG HANDLE STATE NATURE RESERVE: Trip # 63 of 70
State Park Closures Trip: JUG HANDLE STATE NATURE RESERVE: Trip # 63 of 70: A sleeping Sea Lion lay on the beach at Jug Handle State Nature Reserve , taking a break from his annual swim from Mexico to Alaska. S...
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