The Dead Cockroach

briyani, food, food review, nasi briyani, pork, pork briyani, rainbow prata, review, roti prata, singapore, wave9, woodlands, biryani,pork biryani, banana leaf pork briyani

Pork Briyani, anyone?

I know what you are thinking. I could not believe it myself when I first heard of it recently. I got to know about this when a small commotion erupted among the Muslim community on Facebook because they were creating awareness and warning each other to be careful of it.

Although technically not a Malay dish, Briyani are usually sold at food stalls run by Indian Muslims therefore I understand their concerns when this dish, which is not Halal, suddenly pops up in their midst.

Initially, I thought the fiasco is about somebody being caught selling pork at a Halal-certified stall but as it turns out, the business owner, who is a non-Muslim is actually selling the Pork Briyani at his own non-Halal stall.

After visiting the stall for myself, I must say their worries are redundant. The pork dishes on the menu are clearly labeled and with the image of a sexy sow on the signboard, it is unlikely that a Muslim would have accidentally consume something haram.

But, you know the irony among this controversy is that the stall is actually nestled in between two Halal stalls - an Indian Muslim stall on its left and a Malay Muslim stall on its right.

Newly opened for about a week, this stall named Banana Leaf Pork Briyani is just three bus stops away from Republic Poly (if you take bus number 169 from Woodlands Bus Interchange).

Normally served with either chicken or mutton, Briyani with pork is relatively unheard of. In fact, I think this is the very first stall in Singapore to offer this combo. Very gutsy business venture, I must say.

Back to the food. How does it taste?

First of all, you know how heavily spiced the basmati rice usually are but this one is rather subtle. Some might even find it bland but I find it quite okay with the pork curry sauce added. It does not make one feel too heavy with the spices. And! And! And! I did not chomp into any cloves or cardamom which always happened to me when I had Nasi Briyani!

Taking center stage here is of course the pork. I do not know whether to introduce this as a pork rib or a t-bone but which ever part of the pig it came from, the best way to conquer it is to eat with your hands. If you are going to attempt this with your fork and spoon, you will be leaving a lot of meat behind. The dish also comes with a whole hard-boiled egg, my favorite Papadum and very appetizing pickled vegetables.

I do not think you can tell from the photos but the potion of the rice is really generous. I think three persons can actually share it. I could not finish it myself so I had more than half of the rice packed home in the lunch box which I had brought along.

Four types of Briyani are available here; Black Chicken (!!!), Fried Jumbo Wings, Pork and Pork Cutlet.

Next, the Rainbow Prata.

(Now you know why I cannot finish my briyani?)

They are the very same people behind the Rainbow Prata which is trending on social media lately. The colors available are pink, blue and green. Well, they are still four colors short to form a complete rainbow.

When I arrived, they happened to have the last two pieces of green Prata left. I was a little disappointed that I could not get the three different colors for Instagram. Haha!

Taste wise, the Prata tastes just like any other as the colors do not have any flavors at all. In fact, this two pieces were cold and limpy so it is quite regrettable I could not have them hot and crispy. The curry is spicy but a tad too oily.

Plain colored Pratas are going for $1.50 per piece ($2 for egg Prata) while Pork Briyani starts from $8. Price is a little steep but that is expected for something new on the market. Also on the menu is Thosai in the same colors and according to their Facebook, Rainbow Roti Jala are in the pipeline as well.

I would like to commend on the service of the two ladies taking my order. They are full of smiles and always ready to serve. Such polite and lovely service is hard to find now.

briyani, food, food review, nasi briyani, pork, pork briyani, rainbow prata, review, roti prata, singapore, wave9, woodlands, biryani,pork biryani

Do take note that the Rainbow Prata is only available in the mornings from 8am to 11am and the afternoon from 4pm to 8pm. As for their Briyani, it starts from 11.30am onward. So, plan your visit accordingly if you want to try both so as not to make a wasted trip. banana leaf pork biryani

BANANA LEAF PORK BRIYANI

Wave9
71 Woodlands Industrial Park E9,
Singapore 757881

Business Hours:
Mon - Sun: 7am - 10.30pm

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

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/D1CabPxeV492

GPS Coordinates: 1.4478218,103.7957715

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food, food review, review, seah im food centre, singapore，fried kuay teaw mee, 炒粿條面, 福建炒面, fried hokkien mee

This is yet another Hokkien Mee stall at Seah Im Food Centre which is manned by an old lady with a bandana on her head.

So why do I visit a second Hokkien Mee stall at the same food centre?

If you remember my previous Hokkien Mee post, I mentioned that I am going to visit the notorious stall that does not allowed customers to take more than one pair of chopsticks.

Well this is the stall that I actually went to by mistake. You see, I had left my iPod Touch which contained all the information (stall's name, unit number, business hours, etc) at home thus when I saw this stall selling Hokkien Mee, I thought it was the one.

So while composing this post at home that night, I realized the photo of my Hokkien Mee looked very different from those found on the web of the said stall.

For $3, theirs had about four prawns, uses thick bee hoon with round yellow noodles, had chives while mine had only ONE prawn, uses thin bee hoon with round yellow noodles and comes with char siew and stewed cabbage!

It was only after checking the unit number did I realize that I had visited the wrong stall! Therefore, I had to make a trip back to the food centre and visit the correct one. So, what do I do with this review from the wrong stall in the meantime?

Since the photos are already edited and post drafted, then might as well just complete it and publish...

Other than Hokkien Mee, this stall also sell Fried Kway Teow, Black Carrot Cake as well as White Carrot Cake. I guess the stall's specialty is Fried Kway Teow because that is what the stall's name is although it is spelled a little differently as "Fried Kuay Teaw Mee".

Auntie's Hokkien Mee is a little different from the other conventional Hokkien Mee. Hers actually contained stewed cabbage and char siew and at the same time did not have any squid, pork belly strips and crispy pork lard.

I am not sure if this has got anything to do with the Healthier Choice symbol found on her signboard? I believe hawkers must fulfill certain requirements before they are allowed to display this government-certified symbol at their stalls.

Well, it is stated on her signboard that all her dishes (except Fried Kway Teow) are under 500 calories and there is also a sticker that indicated the stall uses healthier oil.

With all the unhealthy elements which make Hokkien Mee delicious eliminated, how does it taste then?

I must admit that when I first receive my order, I was confused.

What on earth is there char siew in my plate of noodles? What is this lumpy-looking thing (stewed cabbage)? Where are the squid and pork belly strips? And why is there no lime?

This very un-Hokkien Mee Hokkien Mee has me bewildered. There is nothing else left to do except to take the plunge and eat.

I took a mouthful of the noodles which is a mix of thin bee hoon (rice vermicelli) and round yellow noodles. The noodles were actually simmered quite nicely having full flavors of the broth. Although the ingredients are quite different from the usual, the taste is not compromised at all.

If I have to compare this with Cheng Ji's, I actually preferred this more. Although this plate have only one prawn, it is fresh and crunchy. And this stall's noodles are simmered longer and more flavorful. If only this stall provide lime and paired with Cheng Ji's delicious sambal...

This is quite an interesting variation of the Hokkien Mee and a healthier one at that! If you are craving for Hokkien Mee but does not want the guilt, this could be your answer.

Seah Im Food Centre is opposite Habourfront Centre and the nearest MRT Station is Habourfront. Just follow the signs to Exit A and walk about 2 minutes to the food centre.

FRIED KUAY TEAW MEE 炒粿條面

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-26

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 7am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

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food, food review, review, seah im food centre, shi ji noodle stall, singapore, 獅記麵食攤, seah im food centre, lor mee,鸭面, 獅記麵食攤鸭面

I have tried the Lor Mee from this Shi Ji Noodle Stall (獅記麵食攤) located at Seah Im Food Centre a week ago and I am back to try their Duck Noodle.

You can read about the stall in my previous entry here.

So, I arrived a little after lunch hour and there are not many customers around. The friendly uncle is sitting outside the stall chatting with the other stall owners. I ordered a bowl of dry Duck Noodles and he went back inside the stall to prepare my order.

It was then I overheard him conversing with somebody from the stall behind him in fluent Thai. #impressed

The stall uses the typical round yellow noodles for their Duck Noodle which comes with a small bowl of soup that had a slight herbal fragrance.

For just $3, the uncle is really generous with the mound of noodles and duck meat. I felt really full by the end of my meal and frankly speaking, all that noodles is a little overwhelming for me. I should have ordered a mix of noodles and thin bee hoon (rice vermicelli) instead.

Nevertheless, the bowl of noodles is delicious with the sambal which is quite spicy.

The duck here has quite a nice tender texture which does not taste dry or have the gamey smell. This is the kind of duck I wished to have on the table during festive seasons when the clan gathers for a meal together.

Remember to help yourself to some of the tangy vinegar chili placed outside the stall as a dip for the duck meat. Really shiok!

food, food review, review, seah im food centre, shi ji noodle stall, singapore, 獅記麵食攤, seah im food centre, lor mee,卤面, 獅記麵食攤卤面

Oh, by the way, I love the Iced Coffee from the coffee stall next to Shi Ji Noodle Stall! It feels more like Mocha with a rich and creamy chocolaty taste.

Seah Im Food Centre is opposite Habourfront Centre and the nearest MRT Station is Habourfront. Just follow the signs to Exit A and walk about 2 minutes to the food centre.

SHI JI NOODLE STALL 獅記麵食攤

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-56

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

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ayam penyet, farasha muslim food, food, food review, halal, malay food, review, seah im food centre, singapore, tempeh, fried chicken

A while back, I brought the folks to Seah Im Food Centre to try out the Lor Mee from Shi Ji Noodle Stall.

After our meal, Mum spotted the next table having the Ayam Penyet from Farasha Muslim Stall. Tempted by what we saw, we ordered one set to share among the three of us.

The name Ayam Penyet translates as "smashed chicken" which means the chicken is flattened by smashing after being fried to a crisp. I have actually seen the stall at NUH's food court using a mallet.

A dish of Indonesia origins, I have eaten Ayam Penyet quite a number of times, but it is the first for them.

The Ayam Penyet ($5) here comes with a chicken leg, cucumber, raw cabbage, a cube of tau kwa, a piece of thumb-length tempeh and sambal. The rice and soup are served separately on another plate.

The chicken is served piping hot and crispy which is really shiok with the sambal. However, I find the marinade did not reach the thicker parts of the chicken. The sambal is quite spicy but still bearable especially when mixed in with the fluffy rice and fried crumbs.

The folks were talking about having this Ayam Penyet again the next time that we come to this food centre. I take it that they like it.

On the menu, other than the Ayam Penyet, is just a few items such as Nasi Lemak, Maggi Goreng and Nasi Goreng but in different flavors such as tom yum, black pepper, etc.

There is another stall here called Inspirasi which is also famous for their Ayam Penyet but it seems Farasha Muslim Food had a much longer queue. Nevertheless, I will give Inspirasi a try next time round so I could do a comparison between the two.

FARASHA MUSLIM FOOD

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-31

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

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ayam penyet, aspirasi,muslim food, food, food review, halal, malay food, review, seah im food centre, singapore

After Dad's appointment at NUH, he requested to have the Ayam Penyet at Seah Im Food Centre which we had previously. The Ayam Penyet that we had then was from Farisha Muslim Food (#01-31).

This time, I suggested that we try the Ayam Penyet from Aspirasi instead as it is the famous one at Seah Im Food Centre. I mean, if you google for Ayam Penyet at this food centre, Aspirasi is the only name that turn up in the search results although there are more than one Ayam Penyet stalls here.

Aspirasi specializes in fried chicken rice served with your choice of sauces: Sambal ($4); Sweet & Sour ($4); Lemon ($4) and Black Pepper ($4). Other than these sauces, you can also opt for the normal Chicken Rice ($3.50) or Penyet ($5) that comes with a whole chicken leg.

Alternatively, they have Fried Rice with Chicken ($5) and Fried Rice Tomato with Sambal Chicken ($5.50) which is quite popular as well.

We arrived around noon which is the peak hour and the food centre is packed with people but there are only two customers in front of the stall. It is self-service here and I joined the queue to place my order for two sets of Penyet while Dad went to look for seats.

Service here is swift and courteous.

Our plates contained one chicken leg each, sambal with raw cabbage, cucumber, cherry tomato, rice and a bowl of soup. Placed in front of the stall is a small tub filled with the crispy batter from the chicken that you can help yourself to but there is not much left already hence I could only scoop a little.

The rice is fluffy and fragrant while the chicken drumstick is fresh and tender. I especially like the crispy skin which is not thick with batter.

The sambal has quite a kick but still bearable. The soup, on the other hand, is quite meh.

Compared to Farisha Muslim Stall which boasts of a longer queue, I am torn between the two. I preferred Inspirasi's chicken but Farisha got tempeh and tau kwa.

If you have to choose a favorite stall, which one do you prefer?

ASPIRASI FOOD STALL CHICKEN RICE & THAI MUSLIM FOOD

Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

#01-45

Singapore 099114

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 8pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/x8EzYP4NBU92

GPS Coordinates: 1.2666157,103.8169546

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arnold's fried chicken, fast food, food, food review, fried chicken, golden village, review, singapore, yishun, yishun 10, spring chicken

I heard that Arnold's Fried Chicken have been around for 30 odd years. Online reviews have touted it as one of the best fried chicken around and with such awesome reviews, I guess it is time for me to try it for myself.

Although they have four outlets island-wide, none are located near me. The nearest outlet would have to be the one at Yishun but then, I hardly ever go there. Perhaps, that is the reason why I have not heard of them before.

I planned a visit to the outlet at Yishun, which is located inside Yishun 10, the Cineplex that Jackie Chan and Carina Lau came to officiate its opening during the 1990s. (I remember it was such a big sensation then with many star-struck fans turning up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstars)

I ordered a half spring chicken set ($7.70) which comes with coleslaw and potato fries. Beverage is not included in the 'set'. I have to order a regular Pepsi à la carte for $2.20.

The food is served on a plate but no cutlery are provided for the chicken except a plastic spoon for the coleslaw. I suppose the chicken is meant to be eaten with our bare hands then. Fortunately, I came prepared because I always do my homework.

Ta-dah!

Disposable glove that I brought from home! No more delicious smelling fingers!

The spring chicken is extremely fresh and succulent evident by the oozing meat juices. Despite being deep fried, there is no jelat-ness at all. I find the portion of half a bird just nice for me without feeling too full.

There is just a thin layer of batter on the chicken skin which makes it very crunchy and addictive. The chicken marinade is so tasty there is no use for the chili sauce at all.

As for the sides, while the potato fries is rather generic, I would not say the same for the coleslaw. Even though the vegetables are finely chopped, they retained the crunch which is very refreshing.

I must say I enjoyed Arnold's Fried Chicken immensely. It is indeed one of the best fried chicken franchise around and I wonder why I have not heard about them earlier? I would definitely try it again if I happened to be in Yishun again.

Their other locations are at Bedok North, City Plaza and Hougang.

ARNOLD'S FRIED CHICKEN @ YISHUN 10
51 Yishun Central 1
Yishun 10 Cinema Cineplex
#01-04
Singapore 768794

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 11am - 9.30pm

Website: http://www.arnoldsfriedchicken.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArnoldsFriedChicken

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/3CZRBmKcy3q

GPS Coordinates: 1.4300139,103.8341593

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food review,food,review,singapore,tampines 1,foodcourt,ban mian,hand made noodle,l32 hand made noodle,l32 ban mian,kopitiam,kapitans, 芽笼著名手工面,芽笼,手工面

I have heard about this very famous handmade noodle stall at Geylang Road for a while now. The stall had a rather strange name called L32 which actually stands for Lorong 32, with reference to its location at Geylang.

Geylang is rather out of the way for me so when I found out that they had a branch at Tampines, I was overjoyed.

Tampines is not that near to me either but it is much more accessible than Geylang. The branch in question is located at Tampines 1, inside the food court on the fifth level. I finally found the opportunity to make my way here after sending my parents off at the airport earlier this week.

I took the MRT from Changi Airport to Tanah Merah and transferred to Tampines. Upon reaching, I realized the food court is Kapitans by Kopitiam.

Other than the usual pork and chicken options, you can have your handmade noodles in soup or dry paired with either fishball, meatball, prawn, sliced fish, clam and fish head. Tom Yum soup is available too.

There was quite a queue on a Sunday afternoon but it cleared pretty fast. I was in line for about fifteen minutes before it reach my turn.

Hoping to try something different, I opt for the meatballs and chose ban mian (板麵). You can also choose u-mian (幼面) and mee hoon kway (面粉粿) just to name a few.

As I ordered the dry version, they cracked an egg into a small bowl and poured boiling broth over it. I left the egg white in the bowl but I scoop out the raw yolk and mixed it into the noodles, giving them an extra smooth texture.

The broth is robust and sweet. With the addition of the egg white, it is quite an enjoyment to feel bits of the semi-cooked egg white going down my throat. Very smooth, very shiok.

Here is my bowl of noodles all tossed up in the sauce. I saw the staff squeezing dark sauce from a bottle into the bowl followed by a dash of oil. No chili sauce is added.

The concoction of the sauce seemed simple enough but whether they add any other condiments to the dark sauce is anyone's guess.

Other than six meatballs, the noodle is garnished with fried anchovies, chye sim and fried shallots. The noodle have a good bite to it however, I find the sauce a tad too sweet. If only they come up with a non-black sauce based sauce that is more savory than sweet.

Help yourself to the two types of chili available. They have sliced chili in light soy and coarsely chopped chili which is good as a dip but not the kind I would like to mix into dry noodles.

As I am not too fond of minced meat, I am glad to have firm and chewy meatballs as an alternative option.

Judging by the reviews online, it seems this sweetish dark sauce based handmade noodle is quite popular but I think I will stick to the soup version.

My Meatball Ban Mian costs $5.50. As I paid with the Kopitiam card, my total bill came up to $4.95 after discount.

Yay to the Kopitiam card!

L32 HANDMADE NOODLE
10 Tampines Central 1
#05-05 Tampines 1 Kopitiam
Singapore 529536

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 11am - 9.30pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L32handmadenoodles/

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/iFXifoA6S9t

GPS Coordinates: 1.354396,103.9430173

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beach road, blanco court, blanco court prawn mee, food, food review, prawn mee, review, singapore, 白兰阁街大虾面, prawn noodles,blanco court prawn noodles

Prawn Noodle has always been one of my favorite noodle dish but unfortunately, the one near my place tastes plain sweet of rock sugar which is a big turn off for me. Since I have not had a nice bowl of Prawn Noodle for a very long time now, I decided to google for one and go eat it.

I narrowed my selection to the Blanco Court Prawn Noodle which have a long history in Singapore. The main reason for choosing this was because the location is somewhere near my previous workplace.

Ironically, while I was working in the area, not once did I venture beyond the Golden Landmark side as I always head to Tong Seng Coffeeshop at Liang Seah Street for lunch.

When it comes to Prawn Noodle, I would always prefer to have soup over the dry version. And if pork ribs is available, I would opt to have all pork ribs instead of prawns. But since this is my first visit at this stall, I thought I would order the mix of pork rib and prawns so I could have a taste of both.

If you are dining in, you have to first find yourself a table and take note of the table number. Go to the front of the stall and let them know your preferance (Bee Hoon? Yellow Noodles? Kway Teow? Soup or dry?)

Let the cashier know your table number, make your payment and return to your seat. Your order will be served to you swiftly. My order came within five minutes.

They have the 3-in-1 Noodle (prawn, ribs, tail) and Jumbo Prawn Noodle available at $8.80/$10.80; Prawn & Pork Ribs Noodle at $5.80; Prawn Noodle and Pork Ribs Noodle at $4.80/$5.80.

Frankly, I am unimpressed by the three halved prawns in my bowl. I would prefer to have my prawns whole so I can relish in the moment as I bit into the crunchy crustacean.

No doubt it is easier to eat but halved prawns no feel lah.

The fork tender pork rib is delightful. It should have undergone hours of simmering in the broth to achieve such doneness. Just a gentle tug and the meat pulled away cleanly from the bone.

The noodles were al dente without being soggy. I particularly liked the broth which have a natural sweetness from the pork ribs and a distinct briny umami from the prawn shells. The msg, if any at all, did not make its presence felt as I do not feel thirsty after finishing every drop of it.

Chili powder is available on very table but I do not encourage adding it unless you like your Prawn Noodle Penang-styled. I added just a few dashes of it and the taste of the broth changed completely. I still prefer the original taste of the broth before I added the chili powder.

On the whole, I would rate this Blanco Court Prawn Noodle as above average but my only concern is that the $5.80 pricing for my bowl does not justify the portion served.

BLANCO COURT PRAWN MEE 白兰阁街大虾面

243 Beach Road
#01-01
Singapore 189754

Business Hours

Wed - Mon: 7am - 4pm

Closed: Tue

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

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/R9G9FEx6AxK2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3004603,103.8568536

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biryani, briyani, food, food review, halal food, indian muslim, nasi biryani, nasi briyani, north bridge road, review, signapore, singapore zam zam, zam zam, masjid sultan,sultan mosque

My visit to Zam Zam was entirely accidental and unplanned. No prior homework was done for my visit to this century-old business specializing in Briyani and Murtabaks.

I actually ended up here after I took a wrong turn while on my way to Blanco Court Prawn Noodle. I did not even know that Zam Zam was located in this area!

Nevertheless, I carried on my way to have my Prawn Noodle as that was the main purpose of my trip. After having my noodles, I figured there is still room for a Murtabak so I made my way back to Zam Zam which is a two-storey shop house.

The upper floor is air-conditioned with long tables while the lower floor is the kitchen where all the action took place and with a relatively smaller seating capacity.

As it was my first time here, I stood there feeling a little lost like a school boy on his first day of school. Do I have to be shown to my seat? Do I place my order at the counter by the entrance?

I caught hold of one of the staff and asked. I was told to take a seat and he promptly took my order. I ordered a small Mutton Murtabak and a Teh Tarik.

Their Mutton Murtabaks are available in several sizes at $6, $7, $8 and $12. A choice of other meats (chicken, beef, sardine, deer) are available.

As I waited for my order, I thought something feels odd. Then, it dawned upon me the mistake that I have made when the staff brought me my bill!

I had wanted the Mutton Murtabak but for the life of me, I did not realize that I have ordered a Mutton Briyani instead. It was already too late when I realized my folly.

So, here is my Mutton Briyani in all its glory, with a sizeable piece of mutton buried under all that mountain of long grain rice. I was not prepared at all to have so much rice especially just after having a bowl of noodles!

But finished the meal I did.

The rice perfumed by the spices feels light and fluffy on my palate. However, the several cardamon and star anise that I have bitten into left a bitter taste in my mouth. I do not understand how does something that smells so fragrant could taste so bitter?

On the other hand, the piece of boneless mutton was fork tender and takes little effort to tear apart. It also does not have the gamey smell that turns many people off. However, I wish the meat comes with a bit of fat though as it was a tad too lean.

My only disappointment in this meal has to be the cucumbers covered in ketchup. Why not pickle them into achar? It will definitely whet diners' appetite into eating more.

I did not expect that my visit to Blanco Court Prawn Noodle sprang me two surprises: Zam Zam and Sultan Mosque.

I have seen photos of both Zam Zam and Sultan Mosque (Masjid Sultan) on several media platforms (tourist guides, TV, internet, etc) and they are on my to-visit list but running into them is totally unexpected.

I am looking forward to my next trip back to Zam Zam to try their Murtabak and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will not make the wrong order again.

SINGAPORE ZAM ZAM

697 - 699 North Beach Road
#01-01
Singapore 198675

Business Hours

Mon- Sun: 7am - 11pm

Website: http://zamzamsingapore.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Singapore-Zam-Zam-Restaurant-Pte-Ltd-172552576089680/

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/R9G9FEx6AxK2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3004603,103.8568536

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beach road, beef hor fun, food, food review, hainan, hainanese, hainanese pork chop, pork chop, prince coffee house, review, singapore, western food, 太子咖啡座, 牛肉河粉

Prince Coffee House got its namesake from the now-defunct Prince Cinema at Shaw Towers where both were located some thirty years ago.

As with most Hainanese-run coffee houses,this coffee house serves both Western and Chinese fare.

This has to do with the majority of Hainanese being employed as chefs by the British during the colonial days. After the British troops withdrew from Singapore, these Hainanese set up their own coffee houses with the east-meets-west culinary skills that they have acquired.

When the original owner wanted to retire and fold up the business, four of his staff decided to take over and they had kept the coffee house running till this day.

Through the years, the coffee house had relocated from Beach Road to Coronation Plaza along Bukit Timah for over twenty years before moving again, this time, back to Beach Road not too far from their first location at Shaw Towers.

I got to know about this shop when I walked past it while on my way to Blanco Court Prawn Noodle which is only a few doors away. I did not think much about it actually but the next day, I happened to watch a re-airing episode of the food program Timeless Treats (老字号) on TV featuring this coffee house.

I was like, "Hey, isn't that the place I walked past yesterday?"

This piqued my interest and I decided to visit this establishment.

I was taking pictures of the shopfront when I was received warmly and shown to a seat by the very hospitable staff.

I took a look around the premises which does not have elaborate furnishings or decor. However, the table settings emanates a 80s vibe that gave me a very homely feel.

I have actually come for the weekday set lunch and I intentionally waited till Tuesday because Tuesdays are Pork Chop day. And it is not just any ordinary pork chop but Hainanese Pork Chop which is a western dish with an Asian touch.

The set ($9.90) comes with a main course, a soup with garlic bread, a drink and a dessert.

When my order came, the pork chops were served on this vintage pyrex plate which must have been at least thirty years old! This is the same plate which they had been serving customers since their Shaw Tower days.

So how does the food fare?

Firstly, the soup and the garlic bread felt like they had been left sitting in the open for some time. It would be nice if they had been served hot.

As for the mains, the Pork Chop is of a decent size and tasted moist and tender. I have eaten Pork Chop with black pepper sauce and brown sauce but this is my first time having it with Hainanese sauce and I love it!

I am not exactly sure what is the "Hainanese" sauce made of but I have never tasted anything quite like it! It goes exceptionally well with the pork and garden vegetables. The vegetables were simply parboiled in water which would have been tasteless if not for the sauce. I even dip the fries with it instead of chili sauce!

The dessert was a slice of Apple Pie filled with apple chunks. I think it tasted decent but nothing to shout about.

On the whole, the pork chop with the Hainanese sauce is the only saving grace of my entire meal but I will not let that stop me from coming back to try the other dishes on the menu.

It was a pretty long time ago but the coffee house have receive some very famous celebrities like Taiwanese movie stars Chin Han and Lin Feng-Jiao, leads of the movie "He Never Gives Up" (汪洋中的一条船) when it was showing in the cinema at that time.

Other notable stars that have dined at the coffee house in the past included Liu Wen-Zheng and Lin Ching-Hsia as well.

PRINCE COFFEE HOUSE 太子咖啡座

249 Beach Road
#01-249
Singapore 189757

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 11am - 9.30pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/zDVq7RyDY7N2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3004817,103.859343

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A week after my Hainanese Pork Chop at Prince Coffee House, I actually make a second trip back to try their Beef Hor Fun.

Previously, while doing my research about the Pork Chop, I came across photos of their Beef Hor Fun which looks amazing to me! At the same time, I found out that the Beef Hor Fun, together with the Hainanese Pork Chop and Stewed Ox Tail are their signature dishes thus, the decision to give it a try.

I will let you in on a secret.

I have never eaten Beef Hor Fun before.

No kidding.

Due to certain reasons, my family do not take beef at all. I only tao jiak beef occasionally when I am out by myself and it is nothing more than a beef burger from a fast food chain.

I am quite excited to try my very first Beef Hor Fun.

My order came served in the same pyrex plate as the Hainanese Pork Chop. At a glance, I could not see the hor fun underneath all the luscious gravy which is topped by the beef slices and greens.

After I dug in, I realized the hor fun is in thick chunk instead of separate strands so I have to 'cut' them with my fork into bite-sized morsels. That is a little disappointing for me as I love to slurp on the slippery kway teow.

Besides that, the wok hei, if any, is barely noticeable.

Taste-wise, the gravy is too light for my liking. I would have preferred it to be a little more savory. Regrettably, I find my meal quite unmemorable as there is no wow-factor for me.

However, the hor fun is not without merits. I must say that they are rather generous with the portion as I was struggling to finish it. The tender beef slices had a eggy fragrance about it and I like the crunch and the beautiful color of the greens.

As this is my first time having Beef Hor Fun, I have no benchmark to compare it against with.

The Beef Hor Fun costs $6.90 and I had a beverage for $2.50. After taxes, the total came up to $10.30.

Halfway into my meal, the proprietor came over with a tray full of desserts served in little ice cream glass. There were grass jelly and watermelon to choose from. In my heart, I was rooting for watermelon but my hand picked the grass jelly instead as it is nearer to me.

Even the customer who had come to take away lunch was offered a free dessert. I guess this is what the words 除了怀旧味，还有人情味 on their signboard meant.

In my opinion, I feel Prince Coffee House serves decent, homely food that fills you up pretty well at a affordable price in the town area. If you do not mind the 80s vibes, you can come immerse in the warmth and hospitality of the staff.

The old school menu since day one of operations

I only noticed the Taiwanese movie stars on my first visit. This time, I spotted some Hong Kong movie stars like Lau Kar Fai (Gordon Liu Chia Hui) and, if I am not mistaken, Yueh Hwa.

PRINCE COFFEE HOUSE 太子咖啡座

249 Beach Road

#01-249

Singapore 189757

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 11am - 9.30pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/zDVq7RyDY7N2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3004817,103.859343

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Over here at Bai Nian, the only way you can have your Yong Tau Foo is with bee hoon (rice vermicelli) soup. They do not serve it dry or have other kinds of noodle options like kway teow (flat rice noodle) or yellow noodles.

You have no choice over the ingredients as well as the ingredients are fixed. The only decision you can make is whether to have more bee hoon (at no extra cost) and whether you want the small ($4.50) or big bowl ($5.50).

Luckily for me, I always prefer to have Yong Tau Foo with soup. You will never catch me having it dry as I prefer my dry noodle in a soy-based sauce instead of the sweet sauce which I find gross looking.

The sweet sauce they have is rather generic but the chili is quite potent. An extra saucer of the sauce costs 30¢.

When I took a sip of the soup, I instantly fell in love with it because it is very comforting and wholesome. The taste is unlike any of the YTF out there which you have to try for yourself to know what I am talking about.

Ingredients wise, although the options are quite limited, they are hand-made and you can really taste the freshness.

This is the pork paste with shredded black fungus added for the extra crunch. Normally, I do not like to eat minced pork (Dim Sum, Ban Mian, Big Pau etc) as I sometimes find the marinade too heavy and nauseating for me but the one here is different and agreeable with my taste buds.

The next highlight has to be this prawn paste that is filled with chunks of prawn meat. The texture is really good.

I believe the above three items named white (白条), black (黑条) and gold (金条) on their signboard are actually fish rolls wrapped with different kinds of skin although I cannot tell one apart from the other. All three are savory and chewy. I find these quite enjoyable to eat.

百年酿豆腐, bai nian yong tau foo,bai nian niang dou fu,food review,food,review,singapore, people's park, chinatown,yong tau foo,og,百年,酿豆腐

This is stuffed bittergourd that has been fried. Slightly bitter but still good.

This has got to be the most unloved item in my bowl. Ironically, this is the tau foo item that is not filled with any paste.

I have heard about the perpetual queue during weekdays thus I visited the stall on a quiet Sunday morning. I am glad that I have made the right decision because I could place my order right away as soon as I arrived without the need to queue.

BAI NIAN YONG TAU FOO 百年酿豆腐

People's Park Food Centre

32 New Market Road

#01-1144

Singapore 050032

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 7am - 7pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/YbjeLmy6N2J2

GPS Coordinates: 1.2837078,103.8410717

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cantonese delights, curry chicken cutlet noodle, food, food review, hong lim, hong lim food centre, hong lim market & food centre, review, singapore,咖喱鸡排面,咖喱,鸡排面,咖喱面,咖喱鸡

What has Laksa Yong Tau Foo and even Curry Noodles got to do with the Cantonese? When I first heard about this stall at Hong Lim called Cantonese Delights offering these dishes, I was perplexed.

Nevertheless, I decided to give their Curry Chicken Cutlet Noodle a try because it looked so darn good.

I reached the stall at about 9am on a Sunday morning and there were about ten customers scattered around in front of the stall, waiting for them to open. When I returned five minutes later, these customers had already formed a line. I promptly joined the queue and it did not take long to reach my turn.

I ordered the small portion of Curry Chicken Cutlet Noodle for $4.

The freshly fried chicken cutlet is of quite a substantial size. Juicy and tender, the fairly thick piece of meat is encased within a thin, crispy layer of batter.

I suspect the well-seasoned chicken is marinated with nam yu (red fermented bean curd) but I could be wrong though.

As the chicken cutlet was half submerged in the curry, the bottom part was soggy while the top retained its crispiness. It would be good if they had served the chicken on a separate plate.

The very lemak curry is flavorful yet not heavy. My doctor would have a cardiac arrest seeing me finishing every drop of that!

My only gripe about the dish have to be thenoodles. What I initially thought were bee hoon (rice vermicelli) turned out to be mee kia (thin noodles). I am rather shock by this pairing. It does not help that the mee kia had a slight alkaline smell that my nose could still detect over all that spices. I could not finish the noodles.

The chicken cutlet and the curry sauce are pretty promising. This will not be the last time that I eat their Curry Chicken Cutlet Noodle but the next time, I will request for bee hoon instead.

Free-flow of spring onions, laksa leaves, fried shallots and pork lard.

The menu and price list.

CANTONESE DELIGHTS 广东小吃

Hong Lim Market & Food Centre

531A Upper Cross Street

#01-1144

Singapore 051531

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 9.30am - 3pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/PmgJUZsmy462

GPS Coordinates: 1.2853516,103.8438731

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abtm 4, advertorial, ah boys to men 4, cheesy curry chicken'o, chicken kopi'o, chicken satay'o, food, food review, old chang kee, rendang chicken'o, review, singapore

Old Chang Kee - a household name known for its delectable puffs - is no stranger to Singaporeans. Mention Curry Puff and this company's name would most likely come to mind.

Operating out of a small stall in a coffee shop near the then REX Cinema in 1956, it now has a chain of almost 80 kiosks all over the island. And that is not even including the outlets overseas.

Old Chang Kee has certainly come a long way; it was recently inducted into the Influential Brands' Hall of Fame for winning the Influential Brands Award for five consecutive years.

Amongst the reasons contributing to their success, the company have actively been coming up with new flavors to attract customers. Past flavors included the likes of Chicken Satay'O, Cheesy Curry Chicken'O and the Rendang Chicken'O just to name a few.

Now, they have a new flavor under their wing - the new Chicken Kopi'O!

An acquired taste is needed to appreciate this puff.

Instead of the usual curried potato filling, expect to find juicy tender chicken and mushroom cubes marinated with coffee wrapped within the traditional Old Chang Kee Puff crust.

The flavor needs a little getting use to and it might just grow on you.

The little 'tail' - a trademark of OCK's famous puffs

The Chicken Kopi'O is priced at $1.80 each or 2 for $3.

Available only for a limited period, get it from all Old Chang Kee outlets from now till 31 December 2017!

Find one outlet near you here.

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fei fei wanton noodle, food, food review, review, singapore, wanton noodle, yuhua market & food centre, 肥肥烧腊, fei fei wanton mee, 云吞面, 肥肥云吞面

I have been to Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre a couple of times to do marketing with my Mum and we would usually settle our breakfast at the food centre itself.

One particular roast stall here is very famous for their Char Siew and there is always a perpetual queue for it.

The stall in question is called Fei Fei Roasted Noodle (肥肥烧腊云吞面). Being a regular at the food centre here, I have eaten at Fei Fei a couple of times but I wonder why it took me so long to blog about them?

The stall is opened at around 9am and during my latest visit, I was there just at that precise moment when they switched on the lights inside the stall indicating that they are opened for business.

I was taken aback when a horde of people around me started swarming towards the front of the stall, all trying to place their orders. I joined the queue as well and I stood in line for about twenty minutes before it reached my turn to order a plate of Wanton Noodle.

The main roasts here are their Roasted Duck and Char Siew (BBQ Pork). However, do take note that their much coveted bu jian tian (不见天) pig's armpit Char Siew - which is what they are really famous for - gets sold out pretty quickly.

The Char Siew used to be only available after 10am but during my recent two visits, the prized meat is already hanging in the window around 9am.

It is self service here. You queue to place your order, make your payment and wait to collect your food. My plate of Wanton Noodle ($3) contains quite a substantial amount of springy egg noodles, tossed in a delectable soy-based sauce. This time, I have forgotten to add their chili which contained bits of crunchy hae bi (Dried Shrimp). The chilli can really level up the umami flavors by a lot.

Their charcoal-grilled Char Siew have a good balance of lean/fat ratio while the exterior is well-caramelized and charred along the edges. I love that sweetish honey glaze coating its exterior. This is my benchmark of a good Char Siew.

As for their Wantons, there are two of them in the soup. Sometimes, you can find a shrimp wrapped within it and sometimes (like today), you can't. The Wanton is of a good size and the complimentary soup is flavorful.

Most of their items gets sold out pretty fast by noon. Even though they are opened only for four hours a day, their typical day starts at about 3am when they have to start roasting their meats at the stall.

Such is the life of a hawker and perhaps that is why a lot of young people shun this job. Fortunately for us, the second generation of Fei Fei is already helping out at the stall and learning the craft from their parents.

FEI FEI ROASTED NOODLE

Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre

254 Jurong East St 24

#01-28

Singapore 600254

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 9am - 1pm

Closed: Tue

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/jYrncHUSxyB2

GPS Coordinates: 1.3073233,103.8546603

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burger banjir, food, food review, halal, halal food, halal western food, jurong west, nadim's delights, review, singapore, halal coffeeshop

Nadim's Delights is a western food stall located inside a coffeeshop at Blk 508 Jurong West Street 52, not far from Blk 505 Market & Food Centre.

Apart from the usual Black Pepper Steak, Fish & Chips, Chicken Chop, Chicken Cutlet and Spring Chicken, the stall is getting popular for their Burger Banjir which have been trending on social media lately.

So what exactly is a Burger Banjir?

Banjir actually means "flood" therefore, Burger Banjir means "Flooded Burger".

Flooded by what? Cheese of course!

Burger Banjir is basically a double-patty chicken burger with coleslaw, nacho cheese and a slice of cheese sandwiched between two lightly toasted buns. Molten cheese is then poured over the entire burger liberally earning it the name Flooded Burger.

I ordered the burger as a set which come with fries and baked beans. The portion is rather generous. I started with the fries followed by the baked beans. By the time I come to the burger, I was struggling to finish the meal.

The Burger Banjir set is reasonably priced at $7.50 so it will not burn a hole in your pocket however, the fries and baked beans are quite ordinary so I suggest you to get the burger ala carte at $4.50 or $3 (single patty) to save yourself some calories.

Without the molten cheese, the burger looks like something that anyone can put together at home.

To be honest, I had expected more molten cheese than this. At least, that is the expectation I had after seeing photos of it online.

Nadim's Delights is located inside this Muslim-owned coffeeshop called Ayzas Restaurant. Do take note that even thought the stall is opened at 12 noon, they will only be taking orders for the Burger Banjir from 1pm onward.

NADIM'S DELIGHTS

Blk 508 Jurong West St 52

Singapore 640508

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 12Pm - 10pm

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

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/E9ALf8gpbp22

GPS Coordinates: 1.3487111,103.718094

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chinatown, chinatown complex, food, food review, review, singapore, xiu ji ikan bilis yong tau foo, yong tau foo, 秀记江鱼仔酿豆腐,秀记,江鱼仔,酿豆腐

I cannot decide which is more off-putting - the never ending queue for the Yong Tau Foo or the fact that the stall is located right next to the toilet?

For years, I have walked past the stall countless of times but not once did I throw it an extra glance due to the reason above.

It wasn't until recently that I finally relented.

I figured that they must be doing something right since they are able to command a perpetual queue everyday despite its less than ideal location.

On the day of my visit, I was elated to see less than ten customers in front of me however, the queue was very slow moving.

When it was my turn, I ordered a bowl of dry bee hoon (rice vermicelli) which comes with six pieces of Yong Tau Foo in a separate bowl of soup for $3. For the same price, you can opt for eight pieces of Yong Tau Foo without any noodles. The Yong Tau Foo pieces are pre-determined therefore, you are unable to choose but you can add on other ingredients like fishcake, eggplant and bitter gourd.

When I brought my order to the table, I thought my bowl of dry bee hoon looked kind of sad without any sauces. They do not have the usual sweet sauce or even sambal chili but what they do have is the vinegar-ish chicken rice chili.

In my opinion, their chicken rice chili is good but not compatible with the Yong Tau Foo. I wonder why they provide this instead of the sambal chili?

I thought that I might as well empty the bee hoon into the soup and have Yong Tau Foo bee hoon soup instead but, after some stirring, I realized that there is actually some kind of colorless concoction at the bottom of the bee hoon. Despite not knowing what the bee hoon is flavored with, it actually tasted quite ok.

One stark difference between this Yong Tau Foo and the others is that they give you a spoonful of fried ikan bilis (anchovies) on top of your noodles.

Although not hot-off-the-wok crispy, it definitely lent some savoriness and crunch to the lightly flavored bee hoon.

While the Yong Tau Foo are quite decent, my favorite pieces are the two wrapped in bean curd skin. If there is anything to pick a bone with, it would have to be the fish balls which I find too overly soft for my liking. I wished they are a little firmer though.

As for the broth, because it is boiled with ikan bilis and fish bone, the taste is refreshingly light. It does not taste completely plain but it might be a bit underwhelming if you prefer stronger tastes.

Taking up two shop lots, one of the stalls is where they take and prepare your order while the other stall is used primarily for making their own Yong Tau Foo.

There is only so much Yong Tau Foo that a pair of hands can produce manually. Because they do not get ready stock from the suppliers, they cannot offer a wide variety however, you can be guaranteed that your Yong Tau Foo is made fresh at the stall daily.

XIU JI IKAN BILIS YONG TAU FOO (秀记江鱼仔酿豆腐)

Chinatown Complex Market

Blk 335 Smith Street

#02-88

Singapore 050335

Business Hours

Mon - Sun: 5am - 3pm

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

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anime, astro boy, chibi maruko-chan, conan, detective conan, doraemon, museum, naruto, philatelic museum, rantarou, singapore, singapore philatelic museum, stamps, studio ghibli, where to go in singapore, japan, japanese animation

Celebrating 100 years of anime, an anime-themed exhibition is happening now at the Singapore Philatelic Museum.

Featuring an impressive collection of more than 700 stamps from 80 titles, spot your favorite anime characters such as Astro Boy, Doraemon and Naruto!

Also on display are rare artwork from Naruto and limited edition figurines from ONE PIECE, Dragon Ball and Mazinger Z.

Some of the earlier anime like Astro Boy, Doraemon, Heidi, Girl Of The Alps, RANMA 1/2 and Rantarou evoked some nostalgia sentiments as I grew up with these during my childhood.

If you are a fan of anime, this is an exhibition not to be missed. There is no excuse not to visit if you are a Singaporean as there is free entry.

Astro Boy

One Piece

One Piece Luffy

One Piece Brook

One Piece Zoro

One Piece Nami

One Piece Chopper

One Piece Franky

Detective Conan

RANTAROU!

Chibi Maruko-Chan

Sergeant Frog, Yokai Watch

Naruto

Naruto script

Naruto sketch

POKEMON

DORAEMON

Studio Ghibli

Dragon Ball

Mazinger Z

The exhibition will be on till 15 April 2018.

Free admission for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents!

SINGAPORE PHILATELIC MUSEUM
23-B Coleman Street
Singapore 179807

Opening Hours

Mon - Sun: 10am - 7pm

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/XRQDjP5MDXr
GPS Coordinates: 1.2826639,103.8080781

Website: http://www.spm.org.sg

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Jollibee is a popular fast food giant from the Philippines which set foot on our shores three years ago. From their very first outlet at level 6 of Lucky Plaza, Jollibee has since expanded to another four outlets here at Square 2, Changi City Point, Paya Lebar Square and one more at the basement of Lucky Plaza.

When news of them opening an outlet in Singapore first broke, the most ecstatic would be the Pinoy community here who understandably, made up the bulk of the queue. On its opening day and the subsequent weeks that followed, the turnout was so huge that they had to use the neighboring vacant unit to accommodate the snaking queue.

I thought I will wait for the craze to die down before I visit but weeks soon turned into months. As non of the outlets are near me and I hardly see any advertisements from Jollibee, I had clean forgotten about it - for three whole years - till recently!

It was slightly past 11am when I reached the outlet at Square 2 but the infamous queue was no longer. In fact, there is no queue at all. I could just march right up to the counter and place my order.

After browsing the menu, I decided to go for the Chickenjoy which Jolibee is reputed for. I opted for the non-spicy version as I wanted to have a taste of the 'original'. The ordering system is similar to what McDonald's is doing right now. You make and pay for your order then wait for your number to be called to pick up your order at another counter.

Chickenjoy value meal ($7.10)

My two piece Chickenjoy value meal includes two pieces of fried chicken breasts, a regular french fries and a coke. It also comes with a small tub of gravy.

When I opened up the box, I was honestly quite repulsed by the pale color of the chicken. Not only that, it seems like a big patch of the batter has gone missing. If you compare them with the fried chicken from the competitors, those will whet your appetite but the appearance of this seemed very unappetizing. It does not give me the urge to want to eat it.

And to add insult to injury, my fried chickens were served cold, or lukewarm at its best.

To give credit where credit is due, the chicken do taste good. It tastes even better when dipped with the gravy.

Jolibee's chicken is cooked to the point where it is fork tender and juicy. The same chicken parts from its competitor tastes dry, stringy and may contain running blood.

For $7.10, I had expected at least a medium fries instead of a regular one. The same goes for the beverage. I felt like I am being charged adult price for a kiddy meal.

While placing my order, I was asked what side would I have. As it was my first time visiting, I wasn't too sure what my options were therefore I asked the crew about it. I was taken aback when she pointed to the laminated menu on the counter and said coldly, "it's all there" before resting her head on the counter.

Yep. She laid her head on the counter albeit briefly, like I was giving her a big headache.

My chickens may be cold but the service I received is colder. I have always thought that the Filipinos are known for their warmth and hospitality. Perhaps I thought wrong.

Various outlets. Check out their Facebook here for locations.

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This year marks the 75th year since the fall of Singapore in 1942 and the National Museum of Singapore has launched its latest exhibition, Witness to War: Remembering 1942 to commemorate it.

The exhibition touches on the Asia Pacific war when Japan attacked the United States military and naval bases in Hawaii, Wake Island, Guam and the Philippines as well asthe British possessions of Malaya, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The attack on Singapore was part of a wider campaign waged by the Japanese Empire across the Pacific. It presents the complexities of the events that led to the outbreak of the war in Singapore in 1942.

With the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, anti-Japanese activities quickly gained momentum among the Chinese community in the region. In Hong Kong, actors and actresses came together to put up opera performances and organize charity sales to raise funds for the Chinese Nationalist Government's resistance against the Japanese Army.

Films from Hong Kong about Chinese patriotism and anti-Japanese resistance were also screened in Singapore.

The two opera actors in the photo above are of the same person, Hong Kong entrepreneur Ho Kom-Tong - Bruce Lee's maternal grandfather.

Photos of the Japanese community in the pre-war Singapore

The 25-Pounder Gun

One of the star exhibit recently acquired by the museum, is this 25-pounder field gun which was a standard weapon used by the British and Allied troops during World War Two. It was an improvement over the 18-pounder gun and had a firing range of approximately 12,300 metres.

Do keep a lookout for the 2.5 minutes sound and light immersive experience surrounding this exhibit. Take a deep breathe towards the end to see if you could catch a whiff of gunpowder, recreated through artificial means.

A ceremonial Samurai Sword, or Katana, belonging to Lieutenant-General Tomoyuki Yamashita

If you have studied Singapore history, you would have known that Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival surrendered Singapore unconditionally to Lieutenant-General Yamashita at the Ford Factory.

A sketch of Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival, displayed in a glass cabinet right next to the Katana

Japanese Army field telephone and carrying case

Geographical map and markers of places invaded by the Japanese

A notice issued by the Japanese Military Administration board headed by Lieutenant-General Sakai Takashi, announcing to the people of Hong Kong their plan to eliminate imperialism in the city.

Propaganda posters

A Union Jack flag captured from a government building in Singapore by a Japanese soldier in 1942. It bears the date of the British surrender and the soldier's name, Sergeant-Major Uchiyama.

Another highlight of this exhibition is the video interviews with the war survivors. Watch as they narrate their stories accompanied by animation on a screen. There is even an interview with Resistance Fighter, Lim Bo Seng's children.

On display is his diary, with a digitized copy from the last page which is a farewell letter to his wife.

A video interview with the children of Lim Bo Seng

Behind each of these walls, is a war-survivor waiting to share first-hand account of their stories with you.

The exhibition ended off with a reflection corner where you could write a letter to any of the war survivors or you could simply share your feelings by writing them down.

I find the exhibition rather short and the ending abrupt but there are two other permanent war-related exhibitions in the Museum on level 1 (Syonan-To) and 2 (Surviving Syonan).

This exhibition is held at the exhibition galleries at the basement of the National Museum from 10am to 7pm daily. The exhibition is from now till 25 March 2018.

Admission is free for citizens and PRs. Admission fee is applicable for international visitors.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE
93 Stamford Road
Singapore 178897

Telephone:
(+65) 6332 3659 / (+65) 6332 5642

Opening Hours:
10am - 7pm daily
Last admission at 6.30pm

http://www.nationalmuseum.sg

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