Food Report

No matter how popular soccer is or how some love golf or whatever, the greatest common denominator other than death is food. Despite having more food stalls today, the food at most places are not as good as the old days. They do not prepare all the ingredients like they used to and most are factory supplied. Food has become too commercialized. As each generation passed, the old hawkers has no one to hand over their art and skills. I spoke to many of them who lamented their tough lives some having to work from 3am preparing and opening their stalls by 5am and the day's cycle begin till late.

I have worked at Cecil Street and around the Shenton Way, Robinson Road area since dinosaurs roamed the streets around Lau Pa Sat literally translated means "Old Market". In that time, there weren't hawker centres and food stalls were at the back streets between buildings. Can you imagine that in the afternoon? But Lau Pa Sat was already there but not refurbished.

I remember the wonderful Malay and Indian Food Stalls and the "Teo Heng" Teochew porridge with their perfectly cooked egg and the "tau kwa pok" and the very good "char kway teow". Once they shifted temporarily to the opposite warehouse as they restore the grand old market building. I remembered once during lunch peak hour with a long queue and a troublesome lady told him she wanted her cockle fried in a certain way, less chili and more bean sprout and many others and the char kway teow (fried flat rice noodle) man stared at her and told her to come back by 2pm and he will slowly fry it for her. Haha, stressed. Where is this stall now?

Today I think the place is too commercialized. All the OBG stalls (Oldies But Goodies) are gone but the place at Boon Tat Street gets interesting at night where the street is closed so that the hawkers can come out to peddle their wares in the open night air. Foodies from expatriates to locals still throng the place. The prices are up for sure, what do you expect if each stall may be paying $5k a month for rental. There is an Indian stall selling Mee Goreng and Kembing Soup but there are many Satay stalls.

I ordered my Satay here from "Fatman". Orignally they were from the famous "Satay Club" at the old Esplanade. I think they have a stall at Old Kallang Airport. Satay Club was such an interesting and wonderful place to be those days. When I started work and met executive type people they used to asked what clubs I belong to and I used to tell them I belong to the Satay Club. You can tuck in your mee rebus and then wallop the satay. Beautiful.

I didn't spot any fatman but hey the satay is fabulous. The chicken and mutton's texture are good and the seasoning simmers in the meat and melts in the mouth, almost. They were generous with the cucumbers.

The peanut sauce gravy is out of this world. Lots of well-grinded peanut, just sweet enough and a little spicy. Even as I write I wanted to dip a satay in it. I would like to do it again. Yummy.

Then we did some white tuna at Shin Minori. I know there are Great Whites or pink dolphins but white tuna? Albino? Or they were shocked till their blood spilled out till they turned white?

Lobster spaghetti. This is lovely.
















Been to Shinsen @ Novena Square again quite a few times recently. I really like their salads and the side orders. Fresh and delicious. It whets the appetite.

I love green tea cakes or ice creams especially eaten in combination with Japanese red beans. So yummylicious. Oh yes the mochi too. Let me tell you that when you eat these things in Japan, the quality you get are real stuffs and not all mochi you find has the same quality and texture as those found here. Well done!

Talking about green tea ice cream, few does it better than Haagen Dazs. Ice cream can be sinfully rich and deadly but .....

When you add on the Japanese red beans and if you want more throw in a few atap chees and bingo - I could sell state secrets for a bowl of this. Try this when you feel stressed.

Talking ice cream and still on Haagen Dazs, equally lovely would be the rum and raisin. Resistance is futile. More state secrets to sell? Try this too when you feel stressed because "Stressed" is "Desserts" spelled backwards.

Wandering to Kovan near to Heartland Mall, you will find a perpetual queue at three mee pok minced meat stalls. You can have up to 10 in the queue.

It is sumptuous with fresh ingredients and it comes in a hearty bowl.

















At humble Changi Village you will find this fried Hokkien noodle that is very good. Take away orders can come in lopeh leave which keeps the food warm and fragrant. Some would say the ones at Joo Chiat or Sims are better but this one is really good too. Try it and do check out the Come Daily or Tian Tian Lai at Toa Payoh.

It is harder to find beef hor fun in black bean gravy. There used to be one at Orchard Plaza which is no more and of course there's the famous one at Geylang. This one at Changi Village while not the best is more than passable. Or was it becuase I was hungry?

There's something about Basmati rice that attracts me. That's why the Adam Road Nasi Lemak is so good because they use Basmati like what you will find in your Nasi Bryani. Look at the queue here. This was the first time I looked at the queue and decided I have a chance on a Saturday late morning for early lunch. Parking is a real problem here along Beach Road between Crawford.

Finally I have made it! I got both the chicken and the fish bryani at last!

They were absolutely fabulous and to die for. The curry is fragrant and very special. The chicken and fish were tender and very fresh. Now we know why there is constantly a long line waiting everyday.

Comparing this to the one at Taj at Mosque Street below. The curry is different.


















Look at the chunky slice of fish. Viola!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhLozqBqPMk

Everybody loves food but we can only eat so much. Till we salivate again. Ciao!