Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodle 杜佛路佳記雲吞麵 @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

November 6, 2016, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Black Muah Chee @ Toa Payoh HDB Hub

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About a year ago, Dad returned home with two packets of Wanton Noodles for Mum and me. While transferring the noodles onto a plate, I was surprised not just by the big mound of noodles, but also the number of wantons that slipped out from the plastic bag!

As I send a mouthful of noodles into my mouth, my eyes sparkled. Never mind the lean char siew and limpy wantons, the sauce is the kind I liked. So comforting, so old school but so difficult to find!

I queried with Dad where he bought the noodles from but I could not get a definite answer as he just randomly picked a stall to tapau the food from. All I knew was that it is somewhere in Bukit Merah.

"What color is their plate?" I asked.

"Red" came the answer.

So, I went on a google image search for "Bukit Merah Wanton Noodle", going through every wanton noodle that is on a red plate.

Every picture I saw, I tried to find a photo of the stall front and showed it to Dad.

"Is it this one?"

"No"

"How about this one?"

"No"

"This?"

"Should be..."

It did not take long before we narrow down to Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodle at Alexandra Village Food Centre.

A further search revealed that Kai Kee Wanton Noodle used to be located in Dover Road Market near Fairfield Methodist School before moving to Alexandra Village Hawker Centre in 2011.

Although we have a suspect, I was not able to verify my suspicion until a year later when I was in the vicinity with Mum. We were on our way to IKEA Alexandra when I suddenly recalled about the food centre across the street. We decided to make our way there for lunch before the office crowd does.

There are already a couple of OLs (office ladies) in front of the stall and it took quite a while to reach me because the friendly but seemingly forgetful auntie keep asking them what their orders were.

Other than Wanton Noodle, they also sell Dumpling Noodle, Shredded Chicken Noodle, Dumpling Soup and Wanton Soup for $2.50 (small) and $3 (big). The noodles are available in both dry and soup.

Of course I had to order the Wanton Noodle to verify if it is really the one which Dad had bought for us back then. Remembering the big portion, I ordered a $3 plate to share with Mum.

Indeed, when I received my order, I was staring at a huge amount of noodles and I counted eight wantons no less. The char siew were exactly how I remembered them to be - anorexic looking without the caramelized edges I liked. Presentation ought to be the last thing on their mind because everything on the plate was in a complete mess.

But all that were not important to me. What I wanted was the old school taste of the noodles in the sauce.

I took a sip of the sauce and I was overwhelmed with happiness! This is indeed the old school taste I was looking for! I could just eat the noodles plain without any ingredients!

While waiting for my order, I saw the auntie scooping a mysterious black sauce into the bowls of complimentary soup. I thought that was the secret formula to their soup and I asked her what it is.

"Soy sauce" was her answer.

I thought that is her diplomatic answer to not reveal the concoction to their fantastic soup. I eagerly took a sip... and I instantly left the entire bowl of soup untouched.

Auntie was telling me the truth. It tasted nothing more like soy sauce in plain water with a dash of pepper to me.

But guess what? Even thought the wantons, char siew, and even the complimentary soup were nothing to shout about, the sauce was enough to lure me back for more.

DOVER ROAD KAI KEE WANTON NOODLE 杜佛路佳記雲吞麵

Alexandra Village Food Centre

120 Bukit Merah Lane 1

#01-09

Singapore 150120

Opening Hours:

Wed - Mon: 7am – 4pm daily

Tue closed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/QRfh2ime4cK2

GPS Coordinates: 1.286831,103.8018423

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Black Muah Chee @ Toa Payoh HDB Hub

November 13, 2016, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Yan 焱 Fried Beehoon And Fried Chicken Wings @ Redhill Food Centre

≪ Previous: Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodle 杜佛路佳記雲吞麵 @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

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I am quite surprised to know that there is a black version of muah chee! 

This stall called "Hougang Six Miles Famous Muah Chee" located inside Gourmet Paradise Food Court at Toa Payoh HDB Hub sells exactly that. The black element is actually due to the crushed black sesame seeds coating its exterior.

Of course, they do sell the usual crushed peanut version as well.

Here, the muah chee are individually hand pulled from a larger dough then dipped in shallot oil before being tossed into a bed of crushed peanuts or black sesame.

Compared to other vendors who simply place a blob of the dough into the tray of crushed peanuts and then snipping them into smaller pieces with scissors, Hougang Six Miles Famous Muah Chee's muah chee is way more chewy due to the extra stretching.

The muah chee comes in three pricing: small (S$2.50), medium (S$3.50) and large (S$5.50). You can only opt for either white or black for the smallest portion however, you can choose to have a mix of both black and white for medium and large.

I ordered a medium 黑白配 (black and white) so I could make a comparison between the two. The black sesame is fragrant but I preferred the crushed peanut more as it is slightly sweeter.

Have you tried this black muah chee before? Which version do you like more?

HOUGANG SIX MILES FAMOUS MUAH CHEE
480 Toa Payoh North
#B1
HDB Hub
Gourmet Paradise Food Court Stall 21
Singapore 310480

Opening Hours
Mon - Sun: 10.30am – 9:30pm daily

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Yan 焱 Fried Beehoon And Fried Chicken Wings @ Redhill Food Centre

November 20, 2016, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Delicious Fried Carrot Cake 日夜香菜头粿 @ Redhill Food Centre

≪ Previous: Black Muah Chee @ Toa Payoh HDB Hub

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I have finally gotten the chance to try the fried beehoon and fried chicken wings that Mr Lee Hsien Loong had personally stood 30 minutes in line for.

It caused quite a stir back then when photographs of the Prime Minister queuing went viral across all social networks.

That was two years ago.

Despite the better business after the Prime Minister's visit, prices remain unchanged. Fried beehoon is still at a ridiculous S$0.60 per plate and fried chicken wings at S$1.20 each. Other sides like luncheon meat, fishcake, ngor hiang and sausage range from $S0.50 to S$1.

While standing in queue, I noticed that people are buying the fried chicken wings in large quantities. The wings are literally flying off the shelf faster than the uncle could deep fry them! So fast that there is basically no time for the piping hot wings to cool down before they are sold to the next customer.

When a new batch of freshly fried chicken wings is ready, the uncle would cut the drum and wing tip with a pair of scissors. I am not sure if this is to allow the chicken wings to cool faster or for ease of eating. Or maybe it's both?

I ordered three packets of fried beehoon and three fried chicken wings. Two packets are brought back for the folk's dinner while I had mine on the spot.

As I bit down on the still piping hot chicken wing, I could hear the crunch of the the crispy skin which had a hint of prawn-paste marinade. The meat is tender and I love the meat juices swirling on my tongue. The chicken wing is indeed as good as what they claimed.

The beehoon is a little bland and rubbery

The fried beehoon, on the other hand, tasted a little bland and rubbery. Maybe it's just me but I think their beehoon is quite ordinary and nothing to shout about.

Do take note of the new opening hours. Many who blogged about this two years ago are outdated with this piece of info.

The perpetual queue

YAN 焱

Redhill Food Centre
Blk 85 Redhill Lane
#01-19
Singapore 150085

Opening Hours:
Tue - Fri: 1pm – 9pm daily
Sat, Sun, Mon closed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/U4VH8L3Q2H32
GPS Coordinates: 1.287294,103.8159942

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Delicious Fried Carrot Cake 日夜香菜头粿 @ Redhill Food Centre

November 27, 2016, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: National Orchid Garden *Free Admission!*

≪ Previous: Yan 焱 Fried Beehoon And Fried Chicken Wings @ Redhill Food Centre

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There are two rival fried carrot cake stalls at Redhill Food Centre but I decided to patronize the one called Delicious Fried Carrot Cake (日夜香菜头粿 #01-33) instead of Fu Ming Cooked Food (福明熟食 #01-49).

The reason why I picked one over the other is because I heard that they add beansprouts (taugeh) to their fried carrot cake. I have eaten fried carrot cake with beansprouts at Thailand before but it is still the first time I have heard of this combination in Singapore. I must admit, it did arouse my interest to give them a try.

Manned by an elderly couple, the uncle does all the frying while the auntie helps to take order, beat the eggs and receive payment.

Both the white and black versions of fried carrot cake are available here and you can opt for or without beansprouts.

I placed an order for a S$3 portion of white carrot cake with beansprouts. Since there is only one person before me, I did not had to wait for long.

The chunky carrot cake is softly moist and had a springy texture. Everything is held together by a generous amount of egg. I requested for chilli but I did not taste it.

Overall, the carrot cake had a eggy fragrance that I like and it was not too greasy. The softness of the carrot cake is a contrast to the crunchy beansprouts which I wished there were more of since it is what I came for.

The stall uses oil with reduced saturated fat and coupled with the use of beansprouts seem to suggest this as a healthier version of fried carrot cake which I could eat often without guilt.

HOWEVER...

While waiting for my order, I noticed the auntie wiping the sweat off her brows with her hands numerous times and with the same hands, she would touch the plates for the next order. I understand it is hot inside the stall but perhaps she could consider using a face towel instead of her bare hands for this purpose?

Until I could erase that disturbing image off my mind, I will not be paying a return visit anytime soon no matter how delicious their fried carrot cake is.

DELICIOUS FRIED CARROT CAKE 日夜香菜头粿

Redhill Food Centre
Blk 85 Redhill Lane
#01-33
Singapore 150085

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sun: 7.30am – 2pm daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/U4VH8L3Q2H32
GPS Coordinates: 1.287294,103.8159942

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National Orchid Garden *Free Admission!*

December 4, 2016, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Xin Long Fish Soup @ Kopitiam, Jurong Point

≪ Previous: Delicious Fried Carrot Cake 日夜香菜头粿 @ Redhill Food Centre

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I have always thought that the National Orchid Garden is simply a small scale garden showcasing its collection of Orchids and probably not worth the price of a ticket to go in.

When I learvned that Singaporeans enjoy free entry from November 2016 till January 2017, I decided to take the opportunity to check it out if it is really the "walk one round and we're out" kind of small like what I had thought.

By the end of my visit, however, I realized that the National Orchid Garden is anything but small. With over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids, the Garden is the largest display of Orchids in the world!

Crane Fountain

The Crane Fountain is the first thing I see after walking past the ticketing gantry followed by the Tiger Orchid Fountain below.

Tiger Orchid Fountain but the flowers are not in bloom

Moving on, I came to Burkill Hill - a colonial plantation style house built in 1868 which used to be the Director’s residence and was occupied by a succession of directors until 1969. 

It leads to the VIP Orchid Garden where dignitaries get new Orchid hybrids named after them. Such Orchid diplomacy serves as a gesture of friendship to promote goodwill between Singapore and other countries.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is the latest dignitary to have an Orchid hybrid named Papilionanda Aung San Suu Kyi in her honor.

Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher

This Orchid was named after Baroness Margaret Thatcher,
then Prime Minister of United Kingdom,
during her visit to the National Orchid Garden in 1985

Dendrobium Joaquim Alberto Chissano

This Orchid was named after His Excellency Joaquim Chissano,
Former President of The Republic of Mozambique
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 27 March 1998

Dendrobium Masako Kotaishi Hidenka

This Orchid was named in honour of Princess Masako of Japan,
to commemorate the royal wedding with Prince Naruhito in 1993

Dendrobium Matti

This Orchid was named after His Excellency, Matti Vanhanen,
then Prime Minister of The Republic of Finland
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 18 November 2009

Dendrobium Tien Soeharto

This Orchid was named after wife of General Soeharto,
then President of Indonesia,
on her visit to the Singapore Botanic Garden in 1974

Dendrobium Jerry Janine Mateparae

This Orchid was named after His Excellency, Jerry Mateparae,
Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Janine Mateparae,
on the occasion of their visit to the National Orchid Garden on 07 July 2015

Dendrobium Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad

This Orchid was named after His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad,
Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait,
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 20 July 2004

Aranda Laura Bush

This Orchid was named after Mrs Laura Bush,
then First lady of the United States of America,
on the occasion of her visit to the National Orchid Garden on  21 October 2003

Vanda Usha

This Orchid was named after Madame Usha Narayanan,
Wife of His Excellency Kocheril Raman Narayanan,
then President of Republic of India,
to commemorate their visit to the National Orchid Garden on 12 November 2000

Dendrobium King Letsie III

This Orchid was named after His Majesty King Letsie III,
King of the Kingdom of Lesotho,
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 27 January 2010

Dendrobium Michael Jefferey

This Orchid was named after His Excellency Major-General (Retd) Michael Jeffrey,
then Major-General of the Commonwealth of Australia,
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 10 March 2004

Vanda Ban Ki-moon 'Yoo Soon-taek'

This Orchid is named after His Excellency Ban Kee-moon,
Secretary-General of the United Nations and Mrs Ban Soon-taek
on the occasion of their visit to the National Orchid Garden on 23 March 2012

Leaving the VIP Orchid Garden, I saw this beautiful tree beckoning to me from a distance. I hastened my steps towards it but was disgusted by what I saw up-close.

The tree was completely covered with name carvings!

A Caucasian woman asked is this a special tree for couples to carve their names so that they will be together forever? I told her as a matter of fact that it is plain vandalism.

An awkward silence ensued.

The Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen as Singapore's national flower in 1981

Heritage Orchid Display

According to the SBG website: 

Singapore has been a centre of orchid breeding from the 1930s. Some early hybrids have left important footprints in the world of orchids and have become part of Singapore’s floral heritage. They are hybrids that have been internationally awarded, have become important in the cut-flower trade or have been named after historical figures. Some are important as breeding stock for many of today’s hybrids.

Orchidarium

According to the SBG website: 

Tucked in a quiet corner of the National Orchid Garden, the Orchidarium holds the Gardens’ species collection. Here, species orchids are displayed in a naturalistic rainforest setting with a splashing waterfall as backdrop.

The Orchidarium is a stimulation of the natural orchid habitats of lowland tropical rainforests. These are orchid species that mainly originates from the tropical lowlands of Asia, Americas and Africa. This display is part of the Gardens’ efforts to evocate the importance and significance of orchid species conservation.

I spend the majority of the time I had at the National Orchid Garden here at the Tan Hoon Siang Misthouse! So who is Tan Hoon Siang? As I found out, he is a descendant of Tan Tock Seng, a philanthropist and founder of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Unfortunately, I cannot find any information as to why this misthouse is named in his honor.

Not far from the Tan Hoon Siang Misthouse is the Coolhouse.

According to the SBG website:

The Cool House mimics a tropical highland cloud forest, where naturalistic man-made trees and rocks are draped with a profusion of spectacular cool-growing orchids, carnivorous plants and other cool-growing plants. Tropical highland cloud forests have a cool climate and high rainfall year round, hence, the simulation of cool air, drifting mist and rushing torrent provide a highly realistic representation of high elevation sites in the tropics and will make for an unforgettable experience.

I guess the Coolhouse is a popular exhibit due to its climate-controlled environment. I myself sought refuge in here because everywhere else is simply too hot!

These are definitely not bananas

Next, I came to the Celebrity Garden. 

Just like the VIP Orchid Garden, stars and popular personalities who have made significant contributions in their respective fields had new Orchid hybrids named after them. Among those who had the honor are Stefanie Sun, Andre Bocelli, Bae Yong Jun and Zhou Xun, just to name a few.

Dendrobium Amitabh Bachchan

This Orchid was named after Mr Amitabh Bachchan, film star,

on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 17 March 2004

Dendrobium Stefanie Sun

This Orchid was named after Ms Stefanie Sun, Singapore Singer/Song Writer,

on the occasion of her visit to the inaugural Singapore Garden Festival 16 - 25 December 2006

Vanda Andrea Bocelli

This Orchid was named after Mr Andre Bocelli, on 08 May 2010
on the occasion of the YTL Concert of Celebration 2010: Andre Bocelli in Singapore

Dendrobium Bae Yong Jun

This Orchid was named after Korean film star, Mr Bae Yong Jun
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 19 March 2004

Dendrobium Zhou Xun

This Orchid was named after Ms Zhou Xun,
internationally acclaimed Chinese actress and singer,
and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador
with a special focus on environmental sustainability
on the occasion of her visit to the Singapore Garden Festival 2008

Vascostylis Kwon Sang Woo

This Orchid was named after Mr Kwon Sang Woo, Korean actor,
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 04 September 2006

Spathoglottis Jane Goodall

This Orchid was named after Dr Jane Goodwill, renowned Primatologist,
on the occasion of her visit to the National Orchid Garden on 06 December 2004

Papilionanda Shah Rukh Khan

This Orchid was named after Mr Shah Rukh Khan, film star,
on the occasion of his visit to the National Orchid Garden on 29 November 2003

The National Orchid Garden is located inside the Singapore Botanic Garden. However, do take note that both have different operating hours. While entry to the SBG is free, a admission fee to the NOG is required. Details of ticketing and operating hours are in the link below.

https://www.sbg.org.sg/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=1194&Itemid=25

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

1 Cluny Road 

Singapore 259569

Opening hours: 5am - 12am 

Website: www.sbg.org.sg 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SingaporeBotanicGardens

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Xin Long Fish Soup @ Kopitiam, Jurong Point

December 11, 2016, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Nine Fresh Desserts Taiwan 九鲜 九份甜品 @ Jurong Point

≪ Previous: National Orchid Garden *Free Admission!*

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After my dental appointment today, I chanced upon this Xin Long Fish Soup stall located inside the Kopitiam Foodcourt on the third floor of Jurong Point Shopping Centre.

Fish soup is one of my favorite comfort food so I decided to order a bowl for lunch. (yes, I ate twenty minutes after my tooth extraction!)

When it comes to fish soup, I prefer to have it with fried fish and thick beehoon rather than with sliced fish and rice. I can have a hearty bowl of fish soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner consecutively without getting sick of it.

My bowl of fried fish beehoon contains fried fish, thick beehoon, chye sim, seaweed and condiments like fried shallots and spring onions.

It is a very basic bowl of fish soup but this is how I like it without all the unnecessary ingredients like tomato, fish cake, tofu, bitter gourd, prawns, lettuce, etc as any 'extra' stuff will just affect the overall taste.

The soup is very flavorful and creamy due to the added milk. I had to restrain myself from polishing off the entire bowl of soup! I had a bit of trouble with the chye sim though, as I had just removed a decaying molar.

I find the chunky fried fish very addictive but my mouth is still sore from the dental appointment so I had to chew in small bites. Nevertheless, the savory fish is so yummy and such a joy to eat.

I like thick beehoon due to it's smooth texture and because it is so good for slurping!

My bowl of fried fish soup cost $5, same as a bowl of slice fish soup. If you want both fried and slice fish, it is available at $6. The price does seem a little pricey but the portion is actually quite generous and satisfying. 

XIN LONG FISH SOUP

Kopitiam Classic @ Jurong Point 1

1 Jurong West Central 2

Jurong Point #03-42

Singapore 648886

Operating Hours:

Mon - Sun: 7am – 10pm daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/PXrqrXVBLom

GPS Coordinates: 1.3395626,103.7035576

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Nine Fresh Desserts Taiwan 九鲜 九份甜品 @ Jurong Point

December 18, 2016, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Waffletown @ Balmoral Plaza

≪ Previous: Xin Long Fish Soup @ Kopitiam, Jurong Point

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I have never been to Taiwan before but thanks to the kind folks who brought in the Taiwan desserts chain stores to our shores, I am able to have my first taste of taro balls with beancurd/grass jelly about a year ago. 

As much as I like the dessert I had then, I was hesitant to go back again as the price is almost equivalent to a meal at the food court. 

However, I am happy to have found another brand of Taiwan dessert stall offering a similar concept but with a more wallet-friendly pricing.

Introducing, NINE FRESH DESSERTS TAIWAN! They offer a few combo of desserts featuring Taiwan-specified ingredients like taro balls and pearls. Or, if you prefer, you could also create your own by selecting one of the base (beancurd, grass jelly, ai-yu jelly) and choosing your favorite toppings.

I decided to order one of their signature, the NINE FRESH SIGNATURE which comes with bean curd, grass jelly, red bean, green bean, pinto bean, peanut and taro balls.  

My takeaway bowl was filled to the brim with ingredients while sitting at the bottom is a generous portion of bean curd and grass jelly. This awesome bowl of dessert is good enough for two persons to share which is a great deal at just $2.50.

Something similar at the competitor would have cost at least twice that amount.

Thankfully, my dessert was not too sweet and I actually feel quite full after all that beans and nuts. The bean curd is silky smooth though I find the grass jelly a little different from the ones I usually had. I really enjoyed the chewiness of the taro balls and my only gripe is I wished there were more of them for me to chew on. 

Nine Fresh is worth a try and I cannot wait to taste the rest of their menu.

Just like bubble tea shops, they have a loyalty card system. Every six chops will entitle you to redeem one free dessert. Complete all 18 chops to take part in their monthly lucky draw! (t&c applies)

NINE FRESH DESSERTS TAIWAN 九鲜 九份甜品
Jurong Point
1 Jurong West Central 2
#B1-K3
Singapore 648886

Operating Hours:

Mon - Sun: 10am – 10pm daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/KKJCgTkPbWx

GPS Coordinates: 1.3395626,103.7035576

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NineFreshDesserts
Website: http://www.ninefresh.com

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Waffletown @ Balmoral Plaza

December 25, 2016, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Animal Corner At Farmart Centre

≪ Previous: Nine Fresh Desserts Taiwan 九鲜 九份甜品 @ Jurong Point

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Waffletown USA is a family-owned business that had been serving American food such as burgers, fried chicken and Belgian waffles for the last thirty odd years in Singapore.

During the 1980s, it was situated at the basement of Bukit Timah Plaza before moving to its current location at Balmoral Plaza along Bukit Timah Road. It has been years since I last visited them and as I walked through its door today, a wave of nostalgia hits me in the face. 

Everything from the furnishings to the deco remained exactly how I remembered it to be when they were still at their previous address.

If you are of my age, you would have known that a certain competitor used to serve their fried chicken on a plate with fork and spoon, complete with ketchup and chili bottles on the table. Later, they removed those, and made us eat with our fingers so they could use the "finger lickin' good" tagline. How I missed those times!

But now, where else can you enjoy fried chicken with fork and spoon (not pictured) except here at Waffletown USA? Well, I insist you not to compare Waffletown USA with your friendly kopitiam western stalls.

Initially, I am still a little paranoid when I ordered three pieces of chicken because two is the maximum I can handle at the competitor's. Honestly, I find the competitor's chicken too oily and I often had to struggle with the second piece not because I was full but due to the greasiness. 

The chicken here, however, did not make me feel that way. After finishing the third piece, I think I can even take on a fourth one!

Although the restaurant is fast food style, the chickens are not fried en masse. After placing my order at the counter, I waited for about 10 minutes before the fried chickens were served to my table.

My fried chicken is served hot with no obvious sign of dripping oil (and the occasional oozing blood) as is the case with the competitor. Even without the secret recipe of 11 spices and herbs, Waffletown USA's chicken earned a brownie point on my charts because it tasted just like Mums'.

Notably, there is no layer of fats underneath the skin for me to scrap away - something that I had to deal with at the competitor. The skin is fried to a crisp which makes it very addictive!

This three piece Clucky Lucky Fried Chicken Meal (served with mashed potato, coleslaw and a drink) costs $10.50.

This chunky coleslaw comes with a crunch in every bite while the strong presence of vinegar makes it very appetizing.

The only letdown is the mashed potato which tastes like it is made from powdered mix not unlike those from the convenience store.

Another factor that draw me here is the A&W-ish chairs that screamed nothing but nostalgia!

WAFFLETOWN

Balmoral Plaza
271 Bukit Timah Road
#01-08 

Singapore 259708

Opening Hours:

Mon - Sun: 11am – 10pm daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/JKX1Jm4P6eN2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3165996,103.8332232

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waffletown

Website: http://www.waffletown.com.sg

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Animal Corner At Farmart Centre

January 2, 2017, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: One Day Trip To Muar, Johor, Malaysia

≪ Previous: Waffletown @ Balmoral Plaza

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On the second day of 2017, I decided that a trip to Farmart Centre is in order because I found out from their facebook page that their shuttle bus service is now free. Since my last trip here was 19 years ago, I might as well take the opportunity to revisit this farm near my place.

I board the 11am hourly shuttle bus at the bus stop opposite Lot ONE Shoppers' Mall taxi stand. The shuttle bus service is now free but I remember we used to pay 50 cents to the driver in exchange for some coupons which we could - but never did - utilize at the shops over there.

Farmart Centre is actually a farmers' market of sorts where you can buy fresh produces like eggs and vegetables. Well, that is according to the memory I had during my last visit there.

 Game meat

I was all excited when the shuttle bus pulled up at the drop-off point. I quickly took a refresher tour round the farm but was dismayed to find that non of the shops were opened. Well, all except for Uncle William's shop selling local eggs and game meat.

I realized that there are quite a number of pet shops and even a debt recovery company! Maybe I need to find out the definition of a Farmers' Market?

The place is practically a dead town. I understand that it is a public holiday but that's when the crowd will come right? For businesses that thrive on the weekend and holiday crowd, I wonder why they were not opened for business? This is especially so when the shuttle bus service is not available during the weekdays to their inaccessible location at Sungei Tengah.

Since the shops are not opened, I decided to head for the Animal Corner instead which is quite hidden from sight. In order to reach there, walk past the food establishments from the drop-off point until you see this banner.

Follow that arrow, go down the flight of stairs and walk past the prawning (prawn fishing) pond.

People! I finally see people!

This grass patch next to the prawning area used to be a large unused pond. I guess they fill it up for good because I remember reading from the newspapers years ago that a three-year old drowned here while his parents were dining at the seafood restaurant. As much as I tried to sympathize with their lost, I wonder how did they not notice that their child is missing from the table?

Anyway, I digress.

Keep going straight and you will come to the Animal Corner.

Here, you can find goats, bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, bull frogs, terrapins and also parrots. For a small fee, you can purchase a small basket of vegetables and pellets to feed them. Kids will definitely love this.

Timings for the shuttle bus service

The shuttle bus

FARMART CENTRE

67 Sungei Tengah Road

Singapore 699008

Opening Hours:

Sun - Thurs: 10am – 10pm daily

Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am daily

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/UXY8dvviPPE2

GPS Coordinates: 1.381899,103.7239424

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmartcentre

Website: https://www.farmart.com.sg

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One Day Trip To Muar, Johor, Malaysia

January 22, 2017, 2:09 am

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It was a chilly Sunday morning. 

While most people are still warmly curled-up in their beds at 5.45am, a small congregation had already gathered at a dark, secluded corner of the neighborhood. 

My Aunt's department had organized a one day trip to Muar, Johor, Malaysia and she has asked my parents and I along. It was considered a 'blind' trip for me because I do not know the itinerary nor know where we will be going to. 

We set off on board a luxurious coach heading for Tuas checkpoint and were met with by our Malaysian tour guide after clearing the Malaysian side of the customs. 

After a brief introduction, the tour guide started taking orders for Xiao Mei Otak-Otak which is the standard procedure for tours like this.

It was still dark outside the windows but the rising sun soon lit up the skies with a splendid shade of gold. I even spotted a rainbow in the distance!

Our first stop was breakfast at Gelang Patah, a popular breakfast destination for many tour coaches coming from Singapore.

This place serves a steady stream of hungry Singaporeans who arrives by the bus-loads every weekend. It's a one-bus-leaves-another-bus-arrives kind of situation so how much money this coffeeshop makes is anyone's guess. 

Honestly, there's really nothing special about the food here thus, it leaves me baffled, why are we brought here for breakfast each time we came to Malaysia?

Mum had the Pan Mee which is quite bland while Dad and I shared some mediocre Dim Sum.

After a rather unsatisfactory breakfast, we boarded the coach and set off for Stingless Bee Farm at Yong Peng. The first thing I noticed as soon as the coach pulled up outside the farm are the numerous durian trees full of the delicious fruit!

The bee farm is built among the durian trees. While one side of the farm sells honey products, the other side sell durians.

With no interest in the honey, I head straight to the durian side and that is where I saw this two very strange contraption on the table.

Do you know what these are?

They are actually devices for opening durians and I remembered watching a video of it in action on Facebook before.

The person who came up with the design for this is a genius! No more hacking at the poor durian with a parang anymore!

When I knew we are coming to a bee farm, my first thought was that we would be seeing bees but on the contrary, there weren't any at all. Instead, there were swarms of flies. And lots of them too!

The promoters were really eager to introduce their products to us. Not many people bought the honey products though but I was shocked to learn that my parents were the biggest spender there. They bought seven bottles of the honey!

We boarded the coach only to find out that dozens of flies had entered the vehicle and there is no way to drive them out. For the remaining of the day, we were kept busy waving the annoying flies away.

 Stingless Bee Farm

 Address: Taman Sembrong, 83700 Yong Peng, Johor, Malaysia

Kuih-Muih Eng Hin (永兴福州饼面厂)

Our next itinerary is Kedai Membuat Kuih-Muih Eng Hin where I have visited exactly a year ago when I went to Kluang. You can read about it during my one day trip to Kluang here.

This shop specialize in making traditional Fuzhou biscuits. We bought some last year and didn't like the taste of it so we didn't buy any this year.

Kedai Membuat Kuih-Muih Eng Hin (永興福州餅麵廠)

Address: 14, Jalan Besar, Taman Sembrong, 83700 Yong Peng, Johor, Malaysia

Leaving the bakery, we began our journey towards Muar. We were kept entertained during the long ride playing BINGO.

This is how the game goes: Whoever wanted to play will pay a dollar for a card like this bearing random numbers. The money collected will become the cash prize for the winners. The money will then be split into 60% (first winner) and 40% (second winner).

The tour guide will pick a numbered ball and if you have that number on your card, you simply push a hole in that corresponding number. The first person to push out all the numbers will get the 60% while the second person to complete the game will get the remaining 40%.

Unexpectedly, Dad won the second prize.

When your mind is kept occupied, time passes really fast. We soon arrived at Cheng Tian Keong temple at Patu Pahat which I have been to a number of times.  

You know you have come to the correct temple when you see this magnificent sculpture of the seven immortals riding atop a golden dragon.

Cheng Tian Keong Batu Pahat (柔佛峇株吧辖青天宫大伯公)

Wash yourself with the water here for good luck. You can either throw a pail down the well to fetch yourself some water just like the olden days or you can simply use the pump installed by the side.

Bathrooms with your chinese zodiac signs

Cheng Tian Keong Batu Pahat (柔佛峇株吧辖青天宫大伯公)

Address: Jalan Kuari, Batu 3, Jalan Kluang, 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

Website: http://dabogong.com

Leaving the temple, we came to Heng Wang Restaurant (炘旺楼) for lunch. No photos, unfortunately, as we are sharing a table with other people but the food is good.

Nam Thien Temple (麻坡南亭寺)

After lunch, we arrived at another temple in Muar called Nam Thien Temple. Again, I have been here a couple of times before but it is the first time I learn a little of the history behind this temple.

According to the tour guide, the temple was started by a medium who is said to have healed a member of the royal family of his strange illness. To express his gratitude, the Sultan of that time conferred the title of datukship to him.

During the 1969 racial riots, the temple was said to have protected the devotees who came to seek refuge. From then on, the temple has attracted a large following of devotees from far and wide, including Singaporeans like us who chartered a vehicle to come all the way here to worship the presiding deity San Chai Yeah (善才爷). 

When you turn in from the main road, you would have seen a primary school  SJK (C) SAN CHAI on your way in. The school is the only one in Malaysia that is named after a Chinese temple. The donations collected from the temple all goes into charity and developing the school for the children here.

Right outside the temple is a small bazaar peddling local products. During festive seasons, the scale of the bazaar would be much bigger than this.

I remember during one of my previous visit, there is a ice cream seller selling triple-scoop traditional ice cream. I was quite disappointed that I did not see it this time.

Nam Thien Temple (麻坡南亭寺) 

Address: Jalan Dato Koh Thian Peng, Parit Unas, Johor, 84150 Muar, Malaysia

Website: http://namthientemple.gbs2u.com/bd/index3.asp?userid=05332510&idno=6

Our next itinerary was to Yong Sheng Gift Store to shop for local products. However, we realize that they do not carry a lot of products. Actually, one of our intention for this trip is to shop for Chinese New Year goodies. We would have preferred to shop at YOYO Native Products at Yong Peng instead.

It is time to head back towards Yong Peng. We had another round of Bingo and this time, Mum won the second prize.

The coach pulled up at Ming An Restaurant which is one of the R&R stations along the North-South Expressway for a short toilet break. Whenever we came here, we had to buy two boxes of the freshly baked Siew Pau.

They are my favorite!

After about twenty minutes, we boarded the coach which pulled out of the R&R station and it stopped right across the road to pick up our orders of Otak-Otak and Durian Mochi.

Xiao Mei is one of the more preferred brand for Muar Otak-Otak and they offer quite some varieties like fish head, fish meat, prawn, cuttlefish, crab and la-la Otak-Otak. Most of the flavors costs RM6 (SGD1.93) and it's buy 10 get 1 free. We ordered a mix of everything.

If you love durians, their Durian Mochi are quite to die for.

We then proceeded to have our dinner at De Fortune Restaurant 福临门海鲜酒家 in Kulai. The food was good as usual. There is even suckling pig!

Beautiful fish. What a waste to be eaten.

As night time beckons, we boarded the coach for our trip home. Fortunately, traffic was smooth on the highway and there wasn't any jams at the customs. We got cleared pretty fast too and were soon back in home ground feeling very tired but satisfied and proud of our buys.

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River Hong Bao 2017 春到河畔 2017

February 1, 2017, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Hill Street Fried Kway Teow At Chinatown Complex 禧街炒粿條

≪ Previous: One Day Trip To Muar, Johor, Malaysia

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CHOY SUN DOU!

It is the Lunar New Year and do you know what that means?

River Hongbao - the annual event which everyone has been looking forward to - is back for it's 31st year! Just like the previous years, it is once again being held at the Floating Platform at Marina Bay.

As the folks are hosting guests at home in the afternoon, I would not want to be caught dead in the "line of fire" (interrogation), therefore, I made an excuse to slip out of the house to visit River Hongbao before the 姨妈姑姐s (blood-related or otherwise) arrive.

Abundance And Happiness (祥鸡献瑞)

2017 is the year of the rooster therefore, it is not hard to find chicken lanterns in all shapes and colors. There is even a couple of them in the boat with the God of Fortune (refer to first photo).

God of Fortune (财神爷)

Alas, I came too early to receive the shower of blessings which start daily from 5pm. It is always fun to watch people trying all means to catch the gold-colored paper with their arms outstretched or even with upturned umbrellas! Funnier still is when the wind blows the confetti to one direction and the people actually follows!

As a tribute to our multi-cultural heritage, a corner of River Hongbao was dedicated to the exhibition "The More We Get Toget­her: Festivals and Festivities in Singapore" showcasing festivities observed by fellow communities such as our Muslim friends’ Hari Raya Puasa, our Hindu friends’ Deepavali and our Christian friends’ Christmas.

Jointly curated by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, and students from Chung Cheng High School (Main) and River Valley High School, the exhibition will enable visitors to better understand how the fabric of Singapore’s multicultural society is strengthened through the co-celebration of these major festivals. 

Looking To The Future (雄鸡鸣春 生机勃勃)

I realized the lanterns this year is a lot less traditional than previous years. Rather, there is more emphasis on futuristic elements and technology. In fact, you can pen and release a virtual sky lantern by downloading their mobile app (Itune Store/Google Play) and watch it launch into the sky against the Marina Bay skyline. You can also redeem a free VR headset for free (t&c applies).

Smart Nation

Robots, robotic dog

In harmony With Our Environment (湿地迎春 万象更新)

We can even find Sungei Buloh here. I think the mudskippers are so adorable!

Mudskippers

The crab lantern is done pretty good

The Virtues Of Diligence And Learning (闻鸡起舞)

One robot performing the lion dance, one robot lighting the firecracker and one robot beating the drum. If this does not remind you of technology, I do not know what else will.

Abundance For All (年年有余)

A robot fishing with his human counterpart.

12 Zodiacs (12生肖)

Of course, no River Hongbao is complete without the 12 Zodiacs which are a permanent fixture in this event. You can read about your luck for this upcoming year and pose for a photo with your Zodiac animal.

Some schools having rehearsal for the performance at night

Wheel Of Longevity

The Singapore Flyer lantern. Enjoy a 28% discount off your ride at the Singapore Flyer when you show them a photo of this lantern posted on your social media at the ticketing counter.

Ko... ko day?

Wishing Well (许愿井)

You can aim your coins to strike the bells for good luck. The money collected go towards helping the less privileged by Community Chest.

春到河畔2017 机会难逢

River Hongbao 2017 is on until February 4 so you still have a couple more days to visit if you have not already done so! Admission is free and the gate opens from 2pm onward.

 Source

RIVER HONGBAO 2017 (春到河畔 2017)

The Float @ Marina Bay
20 Raffles Ave
Singapore 039805

Website: http://riverhongbao.sg

GPS Coordinate: 1.2892781,103.8569089
Google Map:  https://goo.gl/maps/drsatzp6abm

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Hill Street Fried Kway Teow At Chinatown Complex 禧街炒粿條

February 5, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: 「大白鯊」鲁芬今晨肺部衰竭离世！

≪ Previous: River Hong Bao 2017 春到河畔 2017

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I have long heard of Hill Street Fried Kway Teow but what I did not know is it's location. After some digging online, I found out that there are apparently two Fried Kway Teow stalls which originated from the now-demolished Hill Street Food Centre.

One has moved to Bedok while the other one is at Chinatown Complex. Although sporting similar name on their signboards, both stalls are unrelated and each have their own supporters.

I decided to try the one at Chinatown since Bedok is far too inconvenient for me. Unfortunately, the stall was closed the first two times of my visit. It was only during my third visit did I managed to catch them opened for business.

Located at a quiet corner of the complex, the stall is manned by an elderly couple. The lady will take orders and payment while the man helms the stove.

I ordered the $4 portion and I waited for my food to arrive.

Although it is stated as self-service, the lady will bring the food to your table if you are not sitting too far away from the stall. I noticed that she might have some problems with her leg so try not to let her walk too far.

When my Fried Kway Teow arrived, I took a deep whiff and I am impressed by the smoky aroma. I do not like my kway teow too dry so I am pleased that mine is moist without being too wet.

My $4 plate have beansprouts, cockles, crispy pork lard, koo chye and egg but strangely no waxed sausage. I am not complaining though because I do not like it.

The cockles though tiny, is plentiful and the uncle is also quite generous with the crispy pork lard which elevate the flavors of the kway teow. I would say this plate of Fried Kway Teow is very enjoyable because every mouthful is bursting with the shellfish and fragrance of the pork lard.

I like how the whole dish is savory and mildly spicy yet not overwhelmed by the sweetness of the black sauce. As for the kway teow, they are not too mushy and still provide a good bite.

Many have said that the Bedok one is nicer and even though I have not eaten theirs to be able to make a comparison, I am sure this stall's standard is not too far behind.

What the cockles lacked in size, uncle make up for it in numbers.

I could not see beyond but I believe the uncle fry the Char Kway Teow plate by plate and not one big batch at a time so customers may have to be prepared to wait a bit.

My verdict. Need I say more?

HILL STREET FRIED KWAY TEOW

Chinatown Complex Market

Blk 335 Smith Street

#02-32

Singapore 050335

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/qiZJnfYy83K2
GPS Coordinates: 1.282573,103.8409093 

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「大白鯊」鲁芬今晨肺部衰竭离世！

February 5, 2017, 7:25 pm

≫ Next: Syonan Gallery: War And Its Legacies

≪ Previous: Hill Street Fried Kway Teow At Chinatown Complex 禧街炒粿條

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今早醒来在床上滑手机时竟传来噩耗！

专演恶人及丑角的香港女演员鲁芬因皮肌炎导致肺部衰竭离世，终年63岁。

鲁芬是我还蛮喜欢的演员之一。尤其是她所主演的一些滑稽，搞笑的角色如《九品芝麻官》里的烈火奶奶和《整蛊专家》的大白鲨等等。

但最深入铭心的莫过于《女子监狱》里的山东婆。

也就是这个角色让我认识了鲁芬这个人。

鲁芬扮演Ursula维妙维肖

鲁芬于Running Man的Kwang Soo为香港Fruit Tips所拍摄的电视广告

鲁芬于Running Man的Kwang Soo为香港Fruit Tips所拍摄的电视广告

一路好走啊，鲁芬BB!

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Syonan Gallery: War And Its Legacies

February 15, 2017, 6:00 pm

≫ Next: Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant @ Alexandra Village

≪ Previous: 「大白鯊」鲁芬今晨肺部衰竭离世！

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After a year-long revamp, the former Ford Motor Factory along Upper Bukit Timah Road has finally reopened its doors to a closed-door opening ceremony for invited guests on 15 February 2017.

Renamed Syonan Gallery, its opening was aptly timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore.

A highlight of the private event was a weapon presentation ceremony, where recruits from the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (2 SIR) received their Singapore Assault Rifle (SAR) 21.

I think there is a significant meaning for our own army to take up armsat the very site where the British put down theirs. It is a dark chapter, but one that we must always remember; we can depend on no one except ourselves to defend our land.

We have come a long way and while we treasure the peace we have now, let us not forget the atrocities of the war that our ancestors had to go through.

With a heavy heart, I am only able to pay a visit to the museum on the second day when it is opened to the public. Admission is free for Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and all children under the age of 6. 

The controversial name

Identity Card

Radio set

The Surrender Room

This is the room where the British Army led by Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival, surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese Imperial Army, led by Lieutenant-General Yamashita Tomoyuki.

The table is a replica of the actual one used during the surrender meeting. The original table was donated to the Australian War Memorial by the Ford Motor Company in 1964. The four chairs were the originals though.

Old switches

 Oral account of Sook Ching Operation

Registration Certificate for those who passed the mass screening in Sook Ching

The cost of twelve eggs (from left) in Feb 1942, Dec 1942, Dec 1943, Feb 1945 and Sep 1945

Banana notes

Diary of Lim Bo Seng

My last visit to the museum was five years ago during the 70th anniversary. I had thought that the exhibits and contents would remain the same but I was wrong. No wonder they had to close for a year to curate the new exhibits.

Syonan Garden

Right by the side of the building, you can find the Syonan Garden where a variety of crops commonly eaten during the war when food is scarce are grown.

Sweet Potato Leaves

Lalang


Papaya

Tapioca

Sugarcane

Pineapple

Banana

Yam

The exterior of the Ford Motor Factory seen in history textbooks

SYONAN GALLERY

(Former Ford Factory)

351 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 588192

Opening Hours

Mon - Sat: 9am - 5.30pm

Sun: 12pm - 5.30pm

Website: http://www.nas.gov.sg/syonangallery

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/87zGJtWNXgn

GPS Coordinates: 1.3515866,103.7670296

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Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant @ Alexandra Village

February 26, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee (十九街雲吞麵) @ Jurong East

≪ Previous: Syonan Gallery: War And Its Legacies

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Keng Eng Kee started out selling Hainanese Chicken Rice in a small coffeeshop at Havelock Road in the 1950s. During the 70s, they expanded their operations to the tze char business and moved to the current location after the closure of the former Havelock Road Hawker Centre.

Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant (or KEK for short) operates out of an entire coffeeshop with the outside seating arrangement spilling over to the next block where a small air-conditioned room is available upon booking.

We were there around 6pm on a Saturday and the place is jam-packed with customers. I noticed that a short queue of walk-in customers waiting for a table is already forming by the side.

Business is brisk and it is hard to get a table for a large group without reservations. Thankfully, my brother has already called them the day before to reserve a table for five as well as a crab.

Yam Basket $20

I have a love-hate relationship with Yam Basket because I love the stir-fry ingredients inside although I cannot say the same about the yam.

I tried a small piece of it which is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside but no, I still do not like it. The only yam I like is the dessert kind like Teochew Yam Paste or even Yam Ice Cream.

The "treasures" in this particular Yam Basket is fresh and had a very strong aroma of wok hei.

 Salted Egg Sotong $18/$28/$38

Next, we had the Salted Egg Sotong (Calamari) which is encased within a light and crispy batter. The salted egg flavor is pretty addictive making it hard to stop at one.

Coffee Ribs $12/$18/$25

When I walked past the neighboring tables, the alluring smell of the Coffee Ribs attracted my attention and I knew we have to give that a try!

When the dish arrived on our table, the aroma infiltrated our senses and that invigorating moment was divine. Everyone had nothing but praises for this Coffee Ribs.

The ribs were deboned for easier eating and are smothered in a caramelized sweet and savory sauce that's lip-smacking good.

Chinese Spinach with three Eggs $10/$15/$20

The Spinach were blanched just right as it still retains the crunch and there were thick cubes of century egg and salted egg.

However, the sauce came thickened with corn starch which I did not take a liking to. I would have very much prefer for them to leave the broth as a clear soup.

Chili Crab $58

Honestly, I do not like to eat crabs outside as it is way too much work for that measly amount of meat. Furthermore, I feel indignant paying for the shells which we have no use for except maybe to hang on the pomegranate tree.

Since it was already ordered, I might as well help myself to it. I had the claws but the meat were sticking to the shell so hard I have to pry them out with the chopsticks.

Steamed Mantou $1 each

I love the Mantou here! 

They are so good, you can even eat it plain!

These steamed Mantous are much larger than the usual fried ones and they are so light and airy.

Mum ordered two more to take away for her next day's breakfast.

The Mantou soaking up on the unimpressive Chili Crab sauce

You know there are times when the Chili Crab sauce is so good that you wish there are more Mantou for you to wipe the plate clean? Well, not this. The sauce just did not impress me enough to have a second helping. 

Would it have been better if we ordered the Salted Egg version instead?

Despite the crowd here, food is served pretty fast hence we do not have to wait for long. The food are reasonably priced while portion is also generous. At the recommendations of the server, we ordered the smallest portion for all our orders but it turned out to be quite a pretty generous portion that we even had leftovers to pack away.

I will still come back to this place though I might give the Chili Crab and Chinese Spinach with three Eggs a miss.

KEK is just minutes away from IKEA Alexandra so you can always go walk off some calories before heading home.

*Payment by credit card is available with a minimum spending of $30.

Blackforest Cake

The dinner was a pre-celebration for Mum's birthday so sister-in-law bought a Blackforest Cake from Crystal Jade. It was not too sweet and everyone liked it.

KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD 瓊榮記海鲜

124 Bukit Merah Lane 1

#01-136

Singapore 150124

Opening Hours

Mon - Sun: 12pm - 2.30pm, 5pm - 10pm

Website: http://www.kek.com.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kekseafood

Reservation: +65 6272 1038

GPS Coordinates: 1.2857419,103.8014435

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/MJzC1RLWBBx

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Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee (十九街雲吞麵) @ Jurong East

March 2, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee @ Hong Lim Food Centre

≪ Previous: Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant @ Alexandra Village

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Two years ago, I learned of a certain Thai-styled Wanton Mee setting up shop at the Ang Mo Kio area and being the avid Wanton Mee lover that I am, how could I not give it a try? However, the mere thought of getting there just for a bowl of noodles convinced me otherwise and I ended up procrastinating for the longest time.

When I found out that they have a new outlet at Jurong East, it got me excited since the location is very much closer to me now.

Unfortunately, I have been to the coffeeshop no lesser than five times but each time I have to turn back in disappointment as they are always closed when I got there.

I have to admit that I did not check their opening hours prior to all my visits as I naively thought that they will be opened to the dinner crowd.

Not their fault, of course, but the final straw came during my last visit sometime late last year when I find the stall closed yet again. I did an online search and that is when I realized they close quite early but my findings made me even more frustrated because different sources gave different timings ranging from 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm to even 5pm. Well, this explains why I always find them closed whenever I visited in the evenings.

With the mystery solved, all that remains is to visit the stall in the morning but it is difficult for me to be there at that hour. From then on, I have totally given up the idea to have a bowl of this elusive Thai-styled Wanton Mee due to its unfriendly timing (for me).

Fast forward to March 2017, I finally found myself in the vicinity of Jurong East one morning. I wasted no time to make my way to the coffeeshop and there it was, opened for business!

As I stood in line, I realized there are some changes made to the menu. There is a 50 cents increase in the regular bowl from $3.50 to $4 while prices for the large and jumbo bowls remained the same. Also, the previously $4 medium bowl has been removed from the menu.

Since the medium bowl which is what I had initially wanted to order is no longer available and I heard the portion of the regular bowl is rather small, I decided to order the large bowl with extra ingredients and noodles for $5.

The queue cleared pretty fast and I soon received my order.

Placed right in front of the stall for the taking are condiments like sugar, chili flakes, green pickled chili and fish sauce. I did not see the "free-flow of fried pork lard" as mentioned by the other reviewers.

I only added chili flakes and pickled green chili to my $5 bowl which contained two fried wantons, some lean pieces of char siew, some pieces of lup cheong, vegetables and pork lard. There were two more boiled wantons in the bowl of soup.

As I gave everything a good toss, I noticed the lack of sauce at the bottom of the bowl but the noodles does not taste dry at all as they are coated with what I suspect is fragrant shallot oil.

The eggy noodles are cooked al dente with a delightful springiness and I am further impressed by its flavors. How did they achieve such flavorful noodles with minimal dressing?

Ingredients wise, if only the char siew is a little more smoky with bits of fats to level up the enjoyment. The lup cheong (Chinese Sausage) on the other hand, is soft and chewy unlike the usual that is dry and hard. It's texture is not unlike those Taiwanese sausage. As for the wantons, they are quite pedestrian though I preferred the fried ones more than the boiled ones.

On the whole, I can safely say that Soi 19 Wanton Mee is among my favorite of all Wanton Mee. It has its own uniqueness not found in our local version. Even the soup that comes with my noodles tasted different and delicious!

At the point of writing this, I am already making plans for a revisit!

The coffeeshop is located diagonally across the street from this Seventh-Day Adventist Church and just right beside Jurong East CPF Building.


SOI 19 THAI WANTON MEE (十九街雲吞麵)
BGAIN 130 Eating House
Blk 130 Jurong Gateway Rd
#01-211
Singapore 600130

Opening Hours
Wed - Sun: 7.30am - 5pm
Mon & Tues: Closed

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soi19thaiwantonmee

GPS Coordinates: 1.3349293,103.7370883

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/q78w2F6uyZB2

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Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee @ Hong Lim Food Centre

March 5, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Tai Cheong Bakery @ Holland Village

≪ Previous: Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee (十九街雲吞麵) @ Jurong East

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Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee (亚王咖喱鸡米粉面) is one of the two better-known stalls for selling the same dish at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre.

While Ah Heng is located on the second level, the other competing stall - Heng Kee Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee (兴记咖喱鸡米粉面) - is located directly downstairs on the first level.

What both stalls are selling here is not curry chicken with mee but Hainanese-style poached chicken with curry mee. (Hope I am not confusing anyone here.)

Having eaten at Ah Heng a number of times, I always tell myself that I will try the other stall the next time I come here however, when that time arrive, I will instinctively go up to the second level, bypassing the first level. Again.

And the cycle repeats itself.

My usual order is the medium bowl with bee hoon (rice vermicelli) mixed with mee (yellow noodles). I cannot stomach it if the entire bowl is just the soft and slippery mee. I need to mix with some bee hoon for that contrasting texture.

My bowl of curry bee hoon mee contains some chunks of chicken meat, half a potato, tau pok (beancurd puffs), and fishcake slices which I had almost mistaken as abalone slices! (refer to first photo)

They are available in three sizes - small ($4.50), medium ($5.50) and large ($6.50).

Their poached chicken is done really well which I attribute to the timing the chicken sat in the bath of hot water.

Despite being drenched with curry, the natural flavors of the chicken is still pretty evident. I especially love sucking on the succulent wings which is so tender the flesh will just detach from the bone effortlessly.

Their chicken breasts on the other hand, deserve a mention here because instead of being tough and unpalatable, the meat is actually tender and moist.

What took my breathe away while standing in front of the stall, is not the number of accolades plastered on the glass, the photographs taken with celebrities or the recommendation by the Michelin Guide 2016 but by the magnificent sight of the tau pok and halved potatoes swirling around in the vat of fiery-looking curry.

However, do not be intimidated by the layer of crimson-colored oil on top as the spiciness is still manageable without having to down lots of water.

Honestly, I am not a tau pok person. Whenever there is tau pok in my food, I will give them all to my Mum but this is the rare instance where I would wallop every single one of them because they have fully absorbed all the curry goodness.

I am very tempted to finish the curry till the last drop but I was held back by the image of the horrified look on my physician's face...

I like to use this fragrant chili as a dip instead of mixing it into the curry as I already find the curry delicious on it's own. Adding in the chili will only alter the taste but of course, the choice is yours to make.

AH HENG CURRY CHICKEN BEE HOON MEE (亚王咖喱鸡米粉面)
Hong Lim Market & Food Centre
531A Upper Cross Street
#02-57/58
Singapore 051531

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 10am - 9pm
Sat, Sun, Public Holidays: 8am - 9pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/BPboUTAkZnv
GPS Coordinates: 1.2852832,103.8437678

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Tai Cheong Bakery @ Holland Village

March 19, 2017, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Nam Seng: Old National Library Wanton Mee

≪ Previous: Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee @ Hong Lim Food Centre

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Following the success of two pop-up stores and a takeaway kiosk at Takashimaya, Tai Cheong Bakery has finally opened a 60-seat eatery that consisted of both indoor and outdoor seats.

My visit to the bakery was an impromptu one; I was lying in bed one day when my brother called to meet up for lunch. With the Mum in tow, we met up with my brother and we took the circle line to Holland Village MRT Station.

There was no one in the queue when we reached but we waited about ten minutes for a indoor seat. If you do not mind sitting outside, you might be able to get a table faster. 

We can literally feel the heatwave while queuing by the roadside so a outdoor seat is a no-no for us. The thoughtful Tai Cheong Bakery has provided a chilled water dispenser along the queue which we can help ourselves to if we wanted.

As we were shown to our seats, the air-con that hits our face brought some much needed relief from the scorching heat outside.

With its origins from Hong Kong, it is no wonder the interior were designed like a cha chaan teng. I especially like the retro styled floor tiles and the glass tabletop but the space between the table and the seat seemed a bit too tight for comfort. Not sure is that a characteristic of a cha chaan teng as well or perhaps it is really due to space constraints?

While waiting for our order to arrive, my brother took something out of his bag and place it on the table in front of me.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

My favorite Bubble Eye Goldfish! Thanks, bro!

Tai Cheong Egg Tarts ($1.90 each)

What is a visit to Tai Cheong Bakery without having one of their signature egg tarts?

The wobbly custard is sweet, soft, smooth and satisfying while the crumbly crust is buttery and fragrant. I had to bite gently, fearing the crust would collapse.

You have to eat this piping hot fresh out of the oven for the ultimate enjoyment.

Dine-in customers may order up to 2 egg tarts per person and you are not allowed to takeaway. If you want to, you have to join the takeaway queue outside in which case, you can order up to 4 boxes or 16 pastries.

Scrambled Egg Toast Stack With Chicken Chop ($9.50)

For mains, I had the Scrambled Egg Toast Stack With Chicken Chop.

I have never seen such fluffy and moist scrambled eggs! My only gripe is that it is a little bland.

Next, the slightly toasted toast has been softened by the steam from the egg. If only the toast is a bit more toasted.

The chicken is fragrant and quite a thick slice but the meat around the edges seem a bit tough. The very thin mushroom sauce, unfortunately, did not have any mushrooms in it. I did not even know it is mushroom sauce till I googled about it.

Chicken Curry Rice ($9.90)

My brother had the Chicken Curry Rice. I took a bite and I find the curry fragrant, very lemak but it was more on the sweet side.

I must say for the price, their mains are actually quite worth it. The portions are substantial and is good to share among two persons.

I had a bit of trouble finishing mine.

The next time I visit, I want to try the Three Egg Macaroni Soup with Luncheon Meat and the Chicken Pie whose Chinese name (鸡批) amuses me.

Do take note that mains are served only during 11am – 2.30pm, and 5.30pm – 9.30pm.

GST is already included in the price and there is no service charge.

No queue

TAI CHEONG BAKERY (泰昌饼家)
31 Lorong Liput

Singapore 277742

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 10am - 10pm
Sat, Sun, Public Holidays: 9am - 10pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/nLLKhupcF8z
GPS Coordinates: 1.3099006,103.7944559

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Nam Seng: Old National Library Wanton Mee

March 20, 2017, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Fuk Tak Chi Temple 福德祠 @ Telok Ayer Street

≪ Previous: Tai Cheong Bakery @ Holland Village

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Recently, misstamchiak posted on her instagram about this Nam Seng Wanton Mee which used to be from the hut under the big tree beside the old National Library at Stamford Road.

Well, the old National Library is no stranger to all Singaporeans since it was, if I am not mistaken, our very first public library that has been around since the 1960s. I have a direct bus from my place to Orchard Road which passes by Stamford Road so I have passed by the library with its iconic red bricks countless of times.

However, watching the library and the hut pass me by from inside the bus is all there is of the memories I have had of them. I have not stepped into the library or eaten at the hut before and I will never have the chance to since both have already been torn down for redevelopment in 2004.

As I am a ardent fan of old school Wanton Mee, I thought why not pay a visit to the stall at its current location at China Street? You know, for nostalgia's sake?

Po Po is friendlier than she looks

Upon reaching the shop, I see an old lady sitting right in front at the counter who shouts my order to the ladies behind her who promptly prepared my noodles while she collects the payment from me. Quite evidently, you can tell who's boss here.

Within a few minutes, I collected my noodles, thanked Po Po and proceeded to have my noodles but I realized that there are no seating arrangements inside the shop. Do not fret, however, because there are a row of tables by the side of the building where you can have your Wanton Mee alfresco-styled.

At first glance, the Wanton Mee looked very plain and unassuming but looks can be deceiving.

After some tossing, a concoction of soy sauce with oil and probably some secret seasonings which gave the mee kia its unique flavors was revealed underneath. The thicker than usual mee kia were springy without clumping together.

The mee kia actually reminded me of those from Ji Ji though I enjoyed Nam Seng's version more. The savory sauce coating the mee kia were simple yet very comforting.

As for the char siew, they were the lean and dry type but at least they were not paper thin. In fact, I think they were quite generous with the char siew. 

Served in the soup were four well-seasoned juicy wantons that is a mix of lean and fatty minced pork but they were a little puny though.

This is a rather satisfying plate of Wanton Mee and even though I find the $5 price tag slightly high, I guess people still find the old school taste worth it.

NAM SENG WANTON MEE 南生云吞面
25 China Street
#01-01
Far East Square
Singapore 049567

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8am - 8pm
Sat: 8am - 3pm
Sun: Closed

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/qvhEiyeyQ892
GPS Coordinates: 1.2834779,103.8456023

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Fuk Tak Chi Temple 福德祠 @ Telok Ayer Street

March 26, 2017, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Wall Mural By Mural Artist Yip Yew Chong @ Thian Hock Keng Temple

≪ Previous: Nam Seng: Old National Library Wanton Mee

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During my search for Nam Seng Wanton Mee, I accidentally stumbled upon this Fuk Tak Chi Temple (福德祠) along Telok Ayer Street. If you exit Telok Ayer MRT Station via Exit B, this temple is just right across the road on your left.

According to the plaque at the entrance, this temple is one of the oldest around since the 1820s. The temple, founded by the Hakka and Cantonese immigrants, served as a place of worship and a social meeting place for the two communities. The temple was closed in 1994 and has since been converted into a museum.

Inside, you can find a diorama depicting a street scene outside the temple with the early immigrants going about their daily lives. If you are wondering why there is a pier with bum boats docking along it, that is because this place used to be a coastal area. Much of Telok Ayer is built on reclaimed land.

In fact, the name Telok Ayer actually means "Water Bay".

The Courtyard

What's left of the temple has now turned into a museum

Before the reclamation project in the 1880s, Telok Ayer Basin was the main landing site for these immigrants who came by sea.

Fuk Tak Chi Temple was one of the first stops for these immigrants to offer thanksgiving for their safe voyage to Singapore. 

 In 1998, the temple building was restored and converted to the present-day Fuk Tak Chi Museum under the management of Far East Square Development.

 What's written on the sail means "smooth sailing"

There are two dioramas in this museum. 

One is a Chinese Junk placed right at the back of the museum where I presume used to be the altar for the Tua Pek Kong. Unfortunately, it is quite high up so I was not able to get any shots of the diorama.

The other diorama

A scene of Telok Ayer

 While some coolies slogged their guts out...

some took a break playing four colored cards

Another view

Storytelling

A view of the pier

Professional ear digger

Most immigrants are illiterate so they need someone to help them write a letter home

Some procession going on right in front of Fuk Tak Chi Temple

Can you see Fuk Tak Chi Temple?

Coolies unloading a shipment

You can basically see everything the museum has to offer by turning yourself ONE round. However, do not forget to check out the architecture of the 193 years old building too.

At the back of the museum, there is a back door that links to the reception of AMOY Hotel and Far East Square which most of the office crowd in the vicinity used as a shortcut to lunch.

Entry to the museum is free.

If you are coming for visit, I would suggest including the Thien Hock Keng Temple nearby in your itinerary.

FUK TAK CHI TEMPLE 福德祠

76 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 048464

Opening Hours
Mon - Sun: 10 am - 10pm daily

Google Map:  https://goo.gl/maps/SzGUrNhXkEr
GPS Coordinates: 1.2829118,103.8465457

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