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Oftentimes, my photos don't do justice to the mouthwatering food I blog about.
Reasons being:
1. I felt bad having everyone wait while they were salivating at the food.
2. I like to eat it hot like mum always orders.
3. Everyone was starving.
4. The food smelled so good we couldn't resist.
5. The lighting was poor.
6. My hp camera didn't do a good job(because I didn't bring my other camera).
These are really not excuses. Especially when everyone is starving, I can't be 'styling' the food and taking my own sweet time to find the best angle for the perfect shot. However, having picture-perfect-not pictures gives me an excuse to revisit the place if the food is worth recommending.
Two Chefs Eating Place is definitely one of the places I'm revisiting for better photos because of the first four reasons.
As the name suggests, this eating place was opened by 2 brothers from Ipoh. I didn't get to meet either of them but the auntie who served us was very helpful and friendly. As it was our first time here, K & I pretty much left the menu to W. Commonwealth Drive sounds like a complete foreign country to me.
To start off, the cold cockles were really good appetiser. Soaked in some garlic and chilli padi laced vinegar and wine sauce and sprinkled with spring onions, the cockles were fresh and juicy. For extra kick, eat it with the chilli!
Another must-try is their signature Butter Pork Ribs. The deep fried pork ribs were covered with their golden magic powder and curry leaves. The powder is actually milk powder fried with butter and other secret ingredients.
The pork chop to be exact was tender and very fragrant. However, the meat hardened when it turned cold. Slightly sweet but savoury in general, it reminded me of cereal chicken. Best part was, it didn't taste porky at all. Thumbs up!
The Three Eggs Spinach is something I was introduced only a years ago. The first time I tried it was at a Cantonese cze char place along Keong Siak Street. And I later discovered Dian Xiao Er's really nice. This was a bit bland and too watery(which K preferred because he doesn't fancy salted egg).
The Golden Mushroom Tofu though another signature dish, wasn't a favourite of mine. The homemade tofu was buried in the Enokitake and swimming in a brown gravy. The tofu was smooth and nice but perhaps the overall taste was too expect. I much prefer the good old hotplate version complemented with egg.
We wanted to order Herbal Prawns but it was sold out! Auntie recommended Pepper Salt Prawns which turned out nothing like what the name suggests. It was wet and sweet. :( The prawns were however, fresh. :)
The bill totalled up to $58 for 4 persons. Good food at great value! I'm definitely going back with my friends.
Two Chefs Eating Place
116 Commonwealth Drive #01-129 64725361, 94379712
11.30am - 2.30pm, 5pm - 11.30pm
Closed on Monday (Lunch)
I love supermarketing. And I really miss the times when my housemates and I'd fight the chills and went grocery shopping in the wee hours when all were soundly asleep. Opens 24/7, the supermarket was usually empty past midnight. It was really cool, strolling along the aisles, taking your own sweet time, all by yourself. No rush, no hurry, no crowd. And the best thing was, we never had to queue at the cashier.
It seems like I'm never going to relive that experience, but I can't complain when Singapore is such a small country yet we've interesting supermarket like Meidi-Ya, at Liang Court. Meidi-Ya carries the widest range of fresh food and products imported from Japan. One of which includes a honeydew melon that cost $98! Yes, you heard me, $98 SGD not yen. K said it's the one that the rich kid, Ah Fu from Doraemon, ate during summer. $98 for a honeydew, I'd rather spend it on a 3 course meal.
That we couldn't afford to try, K suggested we should buy these two large Jonagold apples which cost $7.80.
As the name suggests, it's a cross between a Jonathan and a Golden Delicious. Jonagold is actually originated from America and I've no idea why everything from Japan comes with a big price tag(besides Daiso!). Worse thing is that I googled and realized they are extremely cheap in the States and Australia! So much knowledge of apples. All I can remember is A is for A-P-P-L-E, apple. And no one told us there are so many kinds of them. :P
Anyway, what's more important is the taste. The second I unwrapped the pastic, the fragrance of the apple rose to my nose. The skin was thin and the flesh, crisp and sweet. I don't usually eat apple with skin on but this was an exception. Yes, I like it but K prefers the crunchy and cheaper Fuji apples from China.
To keep the doctor away, I suggest a Jonagold. :)
P.S.: Whoever has tried the honeydew melon, do share with me!
T and I attempted to make some more interesting buns on our own. The recipe can be found in the entry I made earlier.
As I was mixing the dough with my Philips electric hand mixer, I couldn't help but think of W's beautiful retro-looking KitchenAid Stand Mixer. What's more, it's the one in my favourite colour! Anyway, she suggested we should bake some buns together at her place some day. Why would I say no? I'd love to feature her Kitchen's talk piece, and replace those unattractive step-by-step pictures of mine.
Back to my under-equipped kitchen, somehow the buns were not as soft as the previous time. Maybe I didn't add sufficient water (as I didn't want it to be dense the next day), maybe I baked it for too long (as I didn't want them to be burnt and placed the tray at the lowest deck). Maybe, maybe. Maybe I need more practice. :(
Anyway, they were still soft and tasted as good when eaten hot. And they do look good too. :P
Otah Cheese. Remember to coat the bun with egg yolk before adding the toppings(shredded cheddar cheese and parsley).
These are pork floss buns with spring onions. Simply spread some mayonnaise and pork floss on dough, add some spring onions and roll. Top it with spring onions to decorate. Toppings can be good for identification if your buns are sealed and identical.
I sprinkled some Italian herbs and garlic powder on the dough before adding the ham and cheese. Spring onion goes really well with this flavour too.
I'm thinking mushroom and onions will be nice too. Ham and potato. Bacon and tomato... There are just too many ideas, too little dough. Just step into Breadtalk or Four Leaves, you'll be inspired.
I even cooked my own curry chicken and potato filling. :)
Thinking that the baking will add to the cooking time, I didn't fry the potatoes till they were mushy. I was wrong. :(
As I was pretty slow, my family and I ended up having bread for dinner instead of tea break. I definitely need more practice. And a electronic weighing scale and stand mixer. 3 days to X'mas. :P
M, I'll make some specially for you next round because you'll never get to taste them with my big family (with huge appetite). Oh, don't forget the haebeehiam!
Japanese today no longer wears kimono and it's no surprise to find pasta & pizza on their menu these days. There has been an increasing number of Japanese pasta restaurant in Singapore lately. First, there's Shokudo Japanese Pasta & Pizza, then Pasta de Waraku and The Pasta Shop by Sakae. As an Italian food lover, I have to taste the difference.
Side-tracking a little, I've been to the Marché-style Shokudo Japanese Food Bazaar at Raffles City. The variety of Japanese delights overwhelmed me but little did the taste. The bill totalled up to about $30 per pax and we were not exactly filled up. But that didn't stop me from dining at the Shokudo Japanese Pasta & Pizza and Shokudo Japanese Coffee House. I'm glad I did.
The Vongolé Bonito Soup($14.90) was very spicy and shiok! You can pick the pasta of your choice. Cooked with bonito broth instead of clam, it tasted less fishy. I slurped my soup to the last drop. Not enough white wine to get me drunk though.
TC ordered the Carbonara Shokudo Style which was served with a runny egg. Looks interesting. The pasta with scallops in basil sauce on the menu was very tempting too!
The Vongolé Soup Udon in spicy Japanese style soup($14.90) at Shokudo Japanese Coffee House tasted similar to the one from Shokudo Japanese Pasta, apart that it was not spicy. Both were good but this was more expected, like regular udon soup with clams.
This is the Omu Rice with grilled chicken(P ordered that I think) which I've no recollection of. I guess it's because I don't fancy teriyaki chicken. Yes, it's sweet. :P
MM didn't quite enjoy the hamburger because it was a tad burnt. My burger is still better! :P
T's favourite Katsu Curry was good but not fantastic. She enjoyed it however. I shall blog about where the best Japanese curry can be found soon.
The Mushroom Pizza is light and crisp. Topped with bonito flakes and thinly sliced shitake mushrooms. One is not enough.
My 7-year old niece insisted on ordering the fish & chips, which is something I won't order from a Japanese restaurant, turned out to be pretty decent.
The Ice Apple Vinegar ($4.90) is their must-try specialty drink. Sour at the first sip but sweet when it goes down your throat. Ask for lesser ice because it's a really small glass at $4.90. So good T had to order a second glass.
If you go late on a weekend, the Ice Apple Vinegar may be sold out. Try the Ice Yuzu Soda ($4.90) which is just as good.
Mocha ice-cream on tofu cheesecake. I was surprised how good the flavours complimented each other. I heard their Honey Toast is really good but we didn't have room for that. Next time!
The fulfilling meal was completed with excellent service(Bugis outlet). Oishi! :D
I love the food at Waraku and L told me the pasta are even better than Shokudo's. CH said it was ok. I shall judge it with my own tongue! :P
I can still remember vividly that granny would buy me breakfast from the market before school when I was in primary school. One of my favourites got to be roti prata. My sisters and I would eat with our bare hands just like the Indians! The prata then was fluffy, chewy and irregular in shape. The curry was watery(not exactly dilluted) and I could only remember the taste of curry powder. Unappetizing as it may sound but I really miss those childhood days.
Roti prata is still one of my favourite food. But now, I eat them for supper. And they are crispy! No introduction needed, The Roti Prata House is best known for its crispy prata. Long gone the soggy prata, the western influenced crispy prata now comes in many different flavours like cheese, mushrooms, ice-cream, other than egg. I still prefer the original, kosong(plain) ones with fish curry. The prata has shrunk in size over the years so satu(one in malay) is never enough.
T likes it with sugar and I can never understand why. :P
I enjoy the teh tarik here because it's not too sweet.
Nasi Goreng Ikan Bilis is another dish I'd order if I need a full meal. Loaded with vegtables, beancurds, green chillies and ikan bilis, it's peppery and fragrant. Yum!
Roti Prata is really tasty but unhealthy not to mention having them for supper. Which is why M always insists we should go for cake and tea at McCafe instead. (Cake is very fattening too! It's just disguised in a nicer outlook.) :P
Blogging about this now reminds me that I have not visited the famous Jalan Kayu prata at Thesevi's for the longest time. Shall we, M? 246M Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574370
6459 5260
Opens 24 hours
What can be better than having breakfast in the lush greenery on a lazy Sunday. Canopy is set right in the heart of Bishan Park where you can sit back and savour a hearty breakfast or a relaxing brunch. Although Canopy is a stone's throw from my place, I can't afford to have breakfast there every weekend. The Eggs Benedict cost much more than Ya Kun's Soft-Boiled Egg. But then again, it's so much easier to prepare the latter. I've tried cooking poached egg but did not succeed. Then there's the Hollandaise sauce which is not simple to prepare either. Maybe I should get the ready-made Hollandaise Sauce Mix from McCormick. Still, for the sake of my pocket, I'm going to try making Egg Benedict, whether it's from scratch or not.
The first time I tasted Eggs Benedict was in Melbourne–The Fringe Cafe. It was unforgettable. And when I revisited Melbourne, C brought me to yet another fabulous restaurant, Georges, for brunch. The spread was even better. I don't think it was that affordable either but when you're abroad, somehow, price isn't the factor. For now, before I get to fly a thousand miles (early next year, I hope) to visit my precious nieces in Melbourne, here's a good enough substitute just a few steps away.
Eggs Florentine is a healthier version of Eggs Benedict as the bacon is replaced with spinach.
The BLT Sandwich served with fries and loads of greens.
What's breakfast without coffee to perk you up?
The Steak Sandwich which I had with M on a separate occasion was good too(sorry, I can't seem to find the picture).
Great ambience, good food but the service was a letdown. The waitresses and waiters were obviously more attentive towards the expat families.
L promised me a free cuppa at Jones The Grocer. I'm looking forward to that day because I can get to eat my favourite Eggs Benedict at a discount too!
As a teochew, I should like fish according to M. Yes, I do. But I think I'll pick grilled cod fish with herbs or pan-fried buttered dory or baked salmon with cheese or simply fish & chips... over teochew steamed fish or sliced fish soup. Still, I won't resist teochew styled fish when I feel like something light and healthy. It just so happened that P is on a healthy diet these days due to his poor health report and constant nagging from his mum(and also because of the rainy weather), we decided to opt for something we don't usually crave for, teochew fish head steamboat at 天外天 along Serangoon Road.
I heard that you've to wait for two hours during peak hours for your food to be served. Thank goodness that night wasn't that crowded though it was fully packed.
There's a variety of fish like pomfret, red garoupa and others depending on season for you to choose from. We ordered the medium pot for 5($32.00). Sinking in the sweet and potent soup are yam, lettuce, fried flatfish and thickly sliced fresh pomfret fish. You can even top up the soup for free. For those who can't stand the fishiness of certain fish(just to clarify, I don't find it fishy at all), you can dip the fish in the special garlic, chilli, lime and vinegar sauce. I like it with just freshly cut chillies in soya sauce.
I believe the fish head pot is not the only reason why customers are coming back to 天外天 even when waiting time can be ridiculous. Other dishes are equally delicious too. My favourite got to be the spicy prawn and tofu. It tasted like chilli crab but not as sweet. One can easily finish up a bowl of plain rice with just the thick and appetising gravy alone.
奶白 (nai bai) is like a mini version of 小白菜 and is not available at every cze-char stall. Stir-fried with garlic, crunchy and tasty.
You'll find this dish on almost every table. The crispy prawn roll was deep fried to perfection. Not too oily or dry. Unlike some that tasted like minced meat, you can actually taste the shrimp and crunchiness of the water chestnut. However, I still prefer those that are not coated with flour. Especially the ones my grandma used to make.
There are quite a few famous fish head steamboat restaurants around, especially 南华昌(Nan Hwa Chong) which is rated top by the local papers, I've yet tried so I can't really compare. And MM insisted 天外天 was really nothing fantastic because she has tasted better and I'm still waiting for her to bring me there. But 天外天 has enough drool factors to bring me back when I feel like having a warm family dinner. At least this is one meal you won't feel guilty after feasting.
Just a sidenote, there are apparently two similarly named Nan Hwa Chong Fishhead steamboat at Jalan Sultan. The so-called original restaurant is the one named 南华昌（亚秋）鱼头炉.
Hainanese chicken rice is like a national dish. It's impossible to go to a hawker centre and not find a chicken rice stall. And I don't think I need to introduce much and many of you are already very familiar with Boon Tong Kee, Wee Nam Kee, Chatterbox, Chicken House, Yet Con, Five Stars, Tian Tian, Sing Ho Hai Nan, Pow Sing, Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, just to name those that come to my mind.
What's important to me in this dish is not just how smooth the chicken is but also how good the garlic chilli is. Whether it's boneless or not may not be a concern but certainly a plus point. I've not been patronising Far East Plaza since my poly days. Lately, I've been revisiting this mall quite frequently(for more profitable reason this time) and finally tried Hainanese Delicacy on the top floor(#05-116). They close pretty early, usually by 8pm. The chicken is tender and not too oily, the rice is fragrant and not too soft. Paired with the chilli sauce and pounded ginger, the chicken rice is not the best but definitely the tastiest hawker food on the fifth level.
Since I'm on the topic about hainanese chicken rice, I may as well blog about Yet Con which I've just dined there a couple of nights ago(It was my fourth visit by the way.) It's a cosy old-fashioned but air-conditioned restaurant known for their hainanese chicken rice and steamboat along Purvis Street.
The uncles and aunties are hainanese and not very friendly. Service is obviously not their strength. :P
Presentation is definitely not the selling point too as you can see from the picture below. The chicken was not as oily compared to those drizzled with sesame and soya sauce. But I actually prefer the oily version as they are more fragrant and less "chickeny". Still, they are pretty tender and not as dry as they looked. The rice was fluffy and a tad mushy but not too oily.
What was more disappointing is the chilli-lime sauce. It was very mild and definitely not enough zing for me even when I added lots of ginger to go with it.
Other than chicken rice, the other dishes tasted like home-cooked food. Nothing exciting or fanciful. So if food is also not that draw, why do I still go back to Yet Con again and again? Price? No, it usually rounds up to at least $10 per pax. Subconsciously, I guess I'm drawn to the nostalgic ambience and authentic feel of the restaurant. And also largely because of the air-condition! Haha! I'd have gone to Chin Chin Eatitng House just across the road that night for their chicken rice if not for the stuffy weather. I think the next time I do visit Yet Con again, it's to try the steamboat.
My favourite hainanese chicken rice to date is still Wee Nam Kee.
Everyone will tell you Katong Laksa unanimously when you ask them where you can find a bowl of sinfully delicious laksa. Top of mind is not necessary the best. Having said that, I've just discovered something equally good, if not better.
Perhaps I shouldn't use the word discovered because Sungei Road Laksa is actually pretty well-known. (It is also in Wikipedia!) When mum brought me to this hidden gem behind Jalan Berseh Food Center, I was impressed and amazed that there was a long queue. So what's so special about Sungei Road Laksa? It is cooked using charcoal! I guess that's what makes the gravy more fragrant and constantly warm to maintain its distinctive flavours.
At $2.00 for a small bowl, the serving is not enough but not too much to make you feel gelak. The gravy is rich but not overloaded. Topped with a generous portion of fresh cockles, sliced fishcakes, bean sprouts and laksa leaves, it was truly satisfying. Oh and I just learnt that they are the ones who made eating laksa without chopsticks famous.
Will this tempt MM, who claims she's not a laksa lover but we concluded that she's just health conscious, to savour laksa all over again? Haha!
