Joo Chiat, which is located in the eastern part of Singapore, is a buzzing neighborhood full of colorful shop houses, brightly painted doors, peranakan tiles, and a broad selection of food options. What once was an area made up of cotton and coconut plantations is now a multi-cultural neighborhood with strong influences from both the past and the present. In 2011, Joo Chiat was designated as Singapore's first Heritage Town by the Singapore National Heritage Board.

I had been to Joo Chiat many times before (mainly for the famous 328 Katong Laksa), but I had never really taken the opportunity to spend the day leisurely wandering around the neighborhood. My actual motivation for wanting to visit Joo Chiat in the first place had to do with a new gelato shop I had read about (fact: will travel for food).

A few months ago I had been reading one of the local newspapers and had come across a write-up on a tiny little gelato shop in Joo Chiat which prided itself on making gelato using natural ingredients with a South East Asian twist. I made a mental note to remember to go in search of the shop the next time I was in the neighborhood.

The gelato shop was located right on the main road so it was easy to find. Inside, the shop was white, bright and smelled of freshly baked waffle cones. I ordered a scoop of the mint (as in, fresh mint leaves) chocolate chip, which was delicious! Unfortunately I was too busy enjoying my minty creation to take any pictures, but I can assure you that if you find yourself in the neighborhood, an ice cream is surely in order.

Actually, my day out in Joo Chiat yielded quite an eclectic mix of goodies -coconut sugar, homemade pandan paste, a peranakan themed notebook, a bottle of rose from a local cheese and wine shop and a fully belly from a delicous Indian meal (and ice cream!). And, when I wasn't busy buying up all of the food I could find, I was snapping pictures of the colorful peranakan street tiles...another one of my favorite finds!

Gelato - Birds of paradise, 62 east coast road #01-05, tel: +65 9678 6092 (find them on their facebook page)

coffee & Eats - Rabbit, carrot, gun, 49 east coast road, tel: +65 6348 8568 http://www.rabbit-carrot-gun.com/#

peranakan treasures - Rumah bebe, 113 east coast, tel: +65 6247 8781road http://www.rumahbebe.com/

wine & cheese - the cheese shop, 267 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, tel: +65 9069 3471 http://www.cheeseshop.sg/