DINNER @ BEDOK SOUTH HAWKER CENTRE

This hawker centre (Bedok South Block 16) is well known for its many stalls of delicious local food. My friends and I decided to have our dinner there and ordered 3 dishes to share. First on the menu was fried hokkien prawn mee from Niu Ji 勿洛南 (牛记) 虾面 (stall #01-199). The dish was very delicious. It was the dry version, just what I like. The yellow noodles and vermicelli were not too soggy. Prawns, squid and small slices of pork skin were added. After mixing the dish with chilli (sambal belacan) and lime juice...ahhh yummy!!!

• Food & Beverage 8/10 • Ambience - • Service 5.5/10

Next was the cuttlefish kang kong (water spinach) from Wah Kee Cooked Food 华记鱿鱼蕹菜 (stall #01-193). There was a fairly long queue when I reached the stall. The dish was really good. I believe the special mixed sauce made it unique and tasty. Other than the fresh cuttlefish and kankong, sliced tau pok (deep-fried beancurd), sliced pineapples, sliced mangoes, sliced cucumbers, bean sprouts and grinded peanuts were really good. 

• Food & Beverage 7.5/10 • Ambience - • Service 5.5/10

 

Our last order was fishball soup from Hock Seng Choon Fish Ball Kway Teow Mee 福成春鱼圆果条面 (stall #01-211). Long queue at the stall as usual. The fish balls were nice and springy. I will try its famous dry noodles next time.

• Food & Beverage 7/10 • Ambience - • Service 5.5/10

 

MUTTON BIRYANI @ SRI KAMALA VILAS

This kopitiam-style Indian eatery is located next to the Tekka Food Centre (now under renovation). At $6.50, the biryani portion was huge, with delicious and tender mutton, 5 pieces of papadum (Indian crackers) and some vegetable salad. Really value for money. I must try the dosai and masala chicken next time. Service was average.

• Food & Beverage 7.5/10 • Ambience 5.5/10 • Service 6/10

THUNDER TEA RICE

While I was at Food Republic (Vivocity Shopping Mall level 3) for lunch, I came across a stall selling thunder tea rice (lei cha 擂茶). I have heard about this Hakka cuisine for years but did not get to try it. I thought I should try it this time. The dish included ingredients like tofu, pickled radishes, friend ikan billis, roasted groundnuts and assorted chopped vegetables. There was also a bowl of soup, made from the mixture of hot water, tea leaves, grounded roasted peanuts, basil and mint. The dish reminded me of the Korean bibimbap and Japanese ochazuki.

I was told by the stall holder to pour any amount of soup into the bowl of assorted ingredients and mix well. I told myself, "what the heck, just pour all in". I stirred well and the dish became a messy mixture. When I first ate it, I was not used to the strange taste of mint and tea. It was not bitter and blend. After a few mouthful, I gradually got to like the taste.

I will eat it again for sure. Certainly a healthy dish.

• Food & Beverage 7/10 • Ambience - • Service 6/10

CRAB DINNER @ MELBEN SEAFOOD (ANG MO KIO)

Two of my friends had strong cravings for big crabs and we headed down to Melben Seafood in Ang Mo Kio (Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 #01-1222). We ordered a claypot of crab bee hoon and a plate of creamy butter crab, with fried "man tou" (chinese buns). All big crabs from Sri Lanka. Very delicious! Both dishes are highly recommended.

• Food & Beverage 7.5/10 • Ambience - • Service 6/10

 

PERANAKAN FOOD @ KIM CHOO'S KITCHEN

One of my favourite cuisines is Peranakan food. I grew up eating delicious traditional Nonya dishes cooked by my late paternal grandmother. She was such a great cook. I previously bought Kim Choo's (www.kimchoo.com) popular Nonya dumplings a couple of times and I wanted to try their Peranakan dishes this time.

I ordered plain rice with (pic below, from left to right) fried egg omelette, ayam buah kerluak, achah and samba belachan. The omelette with shredded cabbage was tasty but too salty for my liking. The ayam buah kerluak was disappointing - gravy was too sweet, buah kerluak nuts' content too little and not so aromatic, chicken was not tender. The achah was delicious - crunchy with the right sweetness and spiciness. Not to mention the generous serving of spicy sambal belachan.

• Food & Beverage 6.5/10 • Ambience 6/10 • Service 6.5/10