Thursday, April 30, 2015

Oxtail Stew, a Dish Forgotten by Time.

Oxtail Stew, a slowly cooked dish and slowly forgotten by time. Read my article on MAKANSUTRA to find out where to eat them. 



Wednesday, April 29, 2015

J & J Special Beef Noodle

Check out my article on MAKANSUTRA for Wagyu Beef Rice Bowl, Special Beef Noodle and Beef Brisket Noodle at Old Airport Road Food Centre.





J & J SPECIAL BEEF NOODLE
Block 51 Old Airport Road Food Centre #01-162 Singapore 390051.
Operating Hours: 10.30 am to 9.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Monday, April 27, 2015

Ministry of Ribs : One of the Best Burgers in Town!

This is not my first time trying out gourmet burger in coffee shop. The first encounter was with De Burg years ago and it did not manage to amaze me then, the quality of their burger did not quite justify the premium price charged. I was a bit skeptical when i gotta know about this Ministry Burger at $13.90 but i still made an effort to travel to Dover Crescent to satisfy my curiousity.

It was a Saturday evening, the coffee shop was rather crowded at that time with quite a few people waited right in front of this stall to order. I decided to go with their Ministry Burger that came with 1 side dish and 500 grams of Pork Ribs ($22.90) with 2 side dishes. When done with order and payment, a pager was given. I waited for about 15 minutes before it buzzed. 


The Ministry Burger did not disappoint. The patty tasted handmade, it was firmed but juicy with a desired softness. It was served with a whole chunk of fried onions with a slice of cheese together fresh tasting sliced tomato and lettuce with BBQ sauce. The pasta salad that came with it did not taste too special. 

I would definitely come back for the burger, this is definitely one of the best burger in town and definitely value for money. 



Even though it has indicated this to be 'Best Rib in Town' on their signboard but i could not quite agree. The taste was good but not spectacular, the texture was nicely done but a little tough at the edges. The taste of BBQ sauce was slightly too mild. The Potato Salad and Coleslaw that served along went with the main did not left an impression.




MINISTRY OF RIBS
Block 28 Dover Crescent #01-97 Zheng Hua Coffee Shop SINGAPORE 130028
Operating Hours: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Popo & Nana's Delight

Check out my article on MAKANSUTRA about Popo & Nana's Delight, a hawker stall at Maxwell Food Centre serving heartwarming Eurasian & Peranakan dishes. 

Some of their signature dishes are Black Pepper Roast Beef with Zucchini Pie, Mashed Potato and Mixed Vegetable, Ayam Masak Merah, Ayam Chin, Babi Assam, Eurasian Smore, Beefball Stew, Devil's Curry, Pineapple Prawn Curry, Buah Keluk, Babi Tauyu, Eurasian Cutlet, Eurasian Stew and Shepherd's Pie. 




POPO & NANA'S DELIGHT
1 Kadayanallur Street #01-70 Maxwell Food Centre SINGAPORE 069184
Operating Hours: 10.30 am to 5 pm (Monday to Saturday)

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Ocean Curry Fish Head at Toa Payoh Lorong 4

I have always been a big fan of Curry Fish Head and i have heard so much of this particular one. This has to be one of the most famous Curry Fish Head in Singapore and they have been around since the 80s. They started at a coffee shop at Geylang Lorong 35 then to Toa Payoh Lorong 8 before moving to the current location about 4 years ago. 

I was there on a Saturday at about 5.30 pm, the place was already quite crowded then and it took quite a bit of effort to find a table for 2. 

We ordered quickly the very moment when we found a table and seated down. We were asked whether we want other dishes from the mixed vegetable rice section to go with the Curry Fish Head. A portion of Curry Fish Head is priced at $25 exclude GST. We waited for about 10 minutes for it to be served. The 2 plates of rice steamed came first followed by the Curry Fish Head quickly.


The Fish Head was of an average sized. It tasted very fresh with not a bit of fishy taste detected. The taste of Curry was a bit too sourish with a rather mild level of spiciness based on a Nonya recipe with  a bit of Indian influence. It tasted rather unique and rather different from some of those out there. The Fish Head was cooked in the Curry to absorb the flavor as compared to some of those that steamed the Fish Head first then added in the Curry later.




The Curry Fish Head was served with pieces of brinja, ladyfinger, pineapple and green cut chilli in it. Maybe, it would be a good alternative if fried beancurd skin and cabbage are added too, just like the famous Curry Fish Head in Johor Bahru at Malaysia.



It was an enjoyable dish overall though a little pricey but the freshness of the Curry Fish Head was worth the value. I did not eat enough Fish Head in Singapore to know whether this is indeed the best Curry Fish Head around though some claimed to be so.


OCEAN CURRY FISH HEAD 海洋咖喱鱼头
Block 92 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 #01-264 SINGAPORE 310092
Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 9.00 pm 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Iskina Cebu at Kovan

This is the other branch of the supposedly famous Philippine stall from a coffee shop in Geylang East, near Paya Lebar MRT. This particular outlet is located along Upper Serangoon Road together with the famous Fried Oyster and Punggol Nasi Lemak. 

There are 4 set meals for selection: Lechon Le Cebu (Roasted Pig) at $10, Liempo de Balamban (Roasted Pork Belly) at $6, Manok de Balamban (Roasted Chicken) at $6 and Liempo - Manok de Balamban Combo (Roasted Pork Belly & Roasted Chicken) at $11. You could also choose to order al-la-carte: 1 kg of Lechon Le Cubu (Roasted Pig) for $40, 1/2 kg of Liempo de Balamban (Roasted Pork Belly) at $12 and a whole Manok de Balamban (Roasted Chicken) at $19. If you compare those prices against a usual Roasted Meat stall, it is not too cheaper though not much higher. 


I decided to go with Lechon Le Cebu (Roasted Pig) set meal that consists a portion of rice at $10. An average portion of roasted pig consists of a few pieces of roasted skin was served with rice. There are 2 types of sauces available at the side table next to the stall for self-service, both are vinegar based if i am not wrong, the taste of both is rather close and not particularly distinctive. I felt it did not actually enhance the flavor so with or without it, did not make a difference. 



The texture of roasted pig was delightfully tender and nicely seasoned with a slight saltishness but those pieces of skin were not crispy but soggy and a little too chewy. The rice tasted a bit too hard and rather dry too. The portion was a bit little for $10 thus not quite worth the value. It still left me feeling hungry after done eating. 



A short queue started to form during the dinner time. Overall, it was alright but i did not like it enough to eat it again soon. I would rather go for my Sio Bak rice at a cheaper price. 


ISKINA CEBU
973 Upper Serangoon Road SINGAPORE 534725.
Operating Hours: 12 pm to 8.30 pm (Closed on Monday)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Least Expected Food Surprises

Read my article on MAKANSUTRA to find out some of those least expected food surprises you could possibly find in Singapore. 


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Penang Kitchen at Kovan Food Centre

It was during dinner time when i was there, the 3 stalls serving Bak Chor Mee have got quite a queue particularly the 2 stalls that are next to each other right in the front row. After some thoughts, i decided to try the new stall that took over the Yong Tau Foo stall. This stall is serving Penang style Lor Mee and Prawn Mee. I joined in the queue and waited for just a short while to order.

While in the queue, i took out my camera to take a picture of the stall and it was spotted by the person-in-charge. He smiled when he asked for my order then he asked, 'You're taking pictures ah?' I nodded.

The standrad Lor Mee is $3.30 and $4.30 if added with fried fish nuggets, the prawn mee is $3.30.


While waiting for my Lor Mee, i overheard that gentleman telling the other lady in charge of cooking to be mindful when presenting my bowl of Lor Mee as i wanting to take pictures of it. I appreciate such a thought.


Though it did not woo-ed me when i took the first mouthful but it was a decent bowl of Lor Mee that i would likely to eat it again if i happen to be in this food centre again. It was a right decision that i did not add the chilli into the Lor Mee but separated it in a saucer. The level of spiciness is quite intense and added flavor to the Lor Mee. The noodle was cooked just right to serve with ingredients like braised meat, ngor hiang, fishcake, fried cracker and fried fish nuggets. The braised sauce was not as not as thick and sticky as expected but rather flavorful. 

This was a decent bowl of Lor Mee nonetheless and definitely worth a try if you are here and did not want to queue for one of those stalls for Bak Chor Mee. 


I am hoping this new stall could sustain its business and be around for a while as i will like to try their Prawn Mee when i visit again.


PENANG KITCHEN
205 Hougang Street 21 #01-03 Kovan Food Centre SINGAPORE 530205

Sunday, April 12, 2015

World Street Food Congress 2015

Random pictures taken on the opening day of World Street Food Congress 2015. I was there. Were you there too?

Read my article on MAKANSUTRA.



































WORLD STREET FOOD CONGRESS 2015
Tan Quee Lan Street (Open Field directly opposite Bugis Junction)
8 to 10 April 2015 (5 pm to 11 pm)
11 to 12 April 2015 (1 pm to 11 pm)