My Canadians-in-Katy Book Club recently read Crazy Rich Asians and then attended a Black Tie Advance Screening event at the Alamo Drafthouse. It inspired me to thrift a formal gown and prepare a classic Singapore dish and drink that will enhance the experience of any movie or book party related to this fun book!
Crazy Rich Asians Party at Alamo Drafthouse
At the last costume event at the Alamo Drafthouse – a champagne viewing of Bridesmaids – my Canadian friends and I were the *only* ones to dress up which made for an awkward but hilarious experience…
After that, er, humbling experience, you might think I’d be reluctant to head to Alamo for another costume event… and you’d think wrong! I love costume parties! Whether it’s a Halloween party, Mad Men themed cocktail party, Rhinestone Cowboy party, I am always game to thrift a costume and have a good time.
I did read the book and of course the book is better than the movie but the movie is so much fun! I recommend you do both – read the book and see the movie which comes out on August 15th. You’ll feel poor and frumpy, but you’ll like them!
Crazy Rich Asians Singapore Noodles
Crazy Rich Asians – the book and the movie – made me want to immediately travel to Singapore for the food!! I can no more cook authentic Singapore food than I can afford a million dollar dress, but that doesn’t stop me from doing my best imitation on both counts! I decided to make Singapore Noodles the next day and draw out the post-movie joy a little longer.
Like any ‘street food’ there are many variations on Singapore Noodles so I just went with what I had available and what I thought my kids might eat…
I did not mix the noodles into the wok because that would have rendered EVERYTHING inedible according to my picky eater. Instead, I gave her plain noodles with butter in one bowl and another bowl with one tiny piece of everything else. She ate the noodles and one cashew. Guess I’m not taking her to Singapore any time soon. However, my sons LOVED the dish and asked for seconds!
12-year-old: Mom, this is so good. The vegetables are the best part.
8-year-old picky eater: I honestly feel like he’s saying that so I’ll start eating.
12-year-old: I’m saying it because it’s true.
Singapore Noodles
Chicken, veggies and a simple sauce stir-fried together with thin noodles make my version of Singapore street food that's approved by 2 out of 3 Canadian kids.
Ingredients
Add the following to a wok and stir fry till cooked and browned:
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 chicken breasts chopped into small pieces
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Remove chicken from wok and set aside. Add to wok and stir fry till soft:
- 1/2 chopped onion
- 1 stick celery, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- 3/4 cup bean sprouts
- 2 green onions, chopped
Meanwhile cook noodles.
- 1 box thin noodles - Angel hair or rice vermicelli
Once veggies are soft, return chicken to wok and add:
- 3 tsp curry powder
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
-
You can add the noodles to the wok and stir fry them together BUT I served them separately and let my family mix them together in their bowls IF they wanted.
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Don't be offended when 1 out of 3 kids rejects everything but the noodles.
Crazy Rich Asians Singapore Sling
OF COURSE one doesn’t have a Crazy Rich Asians Party without drinking the iconic Singapore Sling! I had one at the Alamo and it was good but I wanted to try to make one for myself. I searched online and found many recipe variations – some as simple as gin, pineapple juice and grenadine. I wanted to make as authentic a drink as possible so I used all the essential ingredients including cherry liqueur and Benedictine liqueur. The result was a lovely, refreshing, not-too-sweet cocktail that did make me think of Singapore – at least the Singapore I saw in Crazy Rich Asians!
The classic recipe takes many ingredients so it is a bit more involved to prepare than other cocktails, but well worth it!
Singapore Sling
Once you have the ingredients for the iconic Singapore Sling cocktail, you'll make it all the time! It's easy to mix and even easier to drink!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounce Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier
- 1/2 ounce Cherry liqueur
- 1/2 ounce Benedictine liqueur
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- dash Angostura Bitters
Add these ingredients to a shaker filled with ice and shake for 30 seconds.
Strain into two glasses filled with ice.
Top with club soda.
Garnish with a piece of pineapple and a maraschino cherry on a toothpick or skewer to be fancy schmancy.
I love how one little book selection can lead to so much fun! First of all, it was a great book, then the movie party was a blast, my thrifted costume rocked, then I learned how to prepare two new recipes that can be enjoyed any time, but would be extra awesome as part of Crazy Rich Asians theme party!
Did YOU read Crazy Rich Asians? Planning to see the movie? Let me know in the comments! And, let me know if you try these Singapore recipes and enjoy them!
xoxo Crazy-Not-Rich-Canadian
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16 Comments
Still really enjoying your blog! Thank you for sharing your life with us!
A question…I read your blog in a reader (Feedly) and the blog posts don’t appear there, I have to click out of Feedly to view the full post. I wondered if it is an easy fix for you to adjust for this? Not sure if this is an issue for anyone else either? I know nothing about web design, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask!
I am so glad – thank you for reading! I had no idea about the Feedly issue so thanks for letting me know. I’ve sent your question to my tech-minded friend and will let you know what I find out. Hopefully it is an easy fix!
Thanks again Joy. That’s apparently just the way it works! I hope it’s not too much of a hindrance to continue reading! I value you and every single person that reads what I write! xoxo
Wow, the thrifted formals are beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing the movie. Thanks for the advanced reviews of the movie and the scrumptious recipes. Will be trying both. The presentation for the food and cocktail are stunning. Thanks again.
Thank YOU for reading and your kind words! You’ll have to come over soon and I’ll mix you up a Singapore Sling! xoxo
Your gown is so beautiful and you wore it beautifully! That event looked like so much fun and made me miss my event planning days! I’m so sorry Nicole didn’t know the “never share popcorn with blonde Nicole, ever” rule. I also love your recipes for the witty and real instructions! I can’t wait to try both!
haha Poor Nicole indeed. Now she knows. And next time you come, we are going to Alamo for the truffle oil popcorn. SO GOOD! Thanks for you kind words and encouragement!!
I use feedly as well. The only seeing preview thing and having to go to another page is common, but not all sites. I’d have to go open them all to see which ones work better.
Anyway..loved the book. Totally intend to see the movie. Can’t imagine dressing up, but you know me, some days getting dressed (in something suitable for public viewing) is a challenge.
Miss you. Hugs.
I say thrift a gown and go for it – make Beth join you!! 😀 The movie was fun but so much was lost from the book. I’m glad you read it too. Miss you too.
Well, now that I go back and look at Feedly, yes, all are just a preview. I seem to be remembering that they had an update and seeing the whole thing changed to this. Just used to it and didn’t really notice.
Yeah I think it’s just the way it is. We want readers on our actual website!!
You and your friends do the most fun things! The woman in the “cocktail dress” is a masterpiece of irony. I read the book and really liked it — nice and fluffy; hard to believe that there are people who actually live like that. And, like you, I expect that the book is better than the movie but with something like this, who cares — it’s all fun.
Yep, it’s all fun! I did spend some time pondering if I *could* live like that if I had the means and I’m not sure. Doubt I’ll ever know for sure!! Houston is a good place for fun social offerings, that’s for sure. It’s one of my fave things about this city!
What a lovely party and book club! I love the dress color and it goes so well with the shoes and accessories. The noodles look yummy:)) I have’t heard about that book nor the movie ..I’ll have to check them out.
Thank you! It’s funny how pieces thrifted in different stores/years/countries can end up working so well together!! The book is a fun read – hard to imagine that kind of life! The movie is also fun!
Nicole, you crack me up. Love how you live life! The bell with the bevvies was hilarious! How cool that you could go to this. Can’t wait to try the dish!