Fragrant Garden

Humans are fortunate that we are at the very top of the food chain. When you are on top in any situation, remember that you have to act very responsibly because you have the power to change, sustain or create things. Equally you could also destroy like Luke Skywalker who went to the dark side.

Certain things can even happen due to unintended results. High rental, lack of manpower, business owners or chef retiring, etc. have recently been happening everywhere. What I have lamented and feared some 4-5 years ago has been coming true. Nothing lasts forever, so saviour the moment. 

Like when it comes to food, to me all culture have great food. It is the most important and interesting they can be cooked in so many ways and fashion. The Chinese themselves can make their food as different as their dialects. Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, Hakka, etc. 

If you remember the famous Teochew "Swatow'' Restaurant, you are in my league. There were so many fond memories there of the usual great typical Teochew fares like steamed pomfret, goose meat and yam paste/pumpkin with gingko nuts.

So talking about Teochew restaurants, the last one I used to patronise have also shut its door permanently - Mong Hing at the Keypoint. Fortunately, there is an old styled Teochew restaurant not too far from home at the Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre. If you know not where is this, this is the shopping centre that have always been there but few people notice. Just like original Hougang people - laid back. Just like me, so I moved to Hougang. I mean it is either Houston or Hougang. 

Welcome to the Fragrant Garden restaurant. It is as no frills as it gets man but nevertheless air-conditioned.

When you see the table layout, you will totally understand what I mean including the pink table cloth.

One of the most authentic Teochew dish is the ''Pig Trotter Jelly'' or ''Ter Kah Tang'' and of course it originated from Shantou. It is a time consuming dish to create as pig trotters are used after removing the bones and stewed for many hours using low fire for the collagen and gelatin to form. I used to try this as a child but disliked it and do not understand why it is so popular but this is a truly wonderful dish. The one served here at "Fragrant" was so good, I ordered a second round. Must try!

I thought were not supposed to or to avoid having century eggs? Well, sometimes we forget. These days, eat also die don't eat also die. Eat lah, eat lah.

We also tried the basic tze char fare like ''har cheong kai'' and they did well here.

Add tofu with crabmeat.

Teochew styled fried ''chai poh'' kway teow.

And a very well done oyster omelette. 

Teochew restaurants are increasingly using ducks rather than goose to braise for the meat. The Teochew are kinder to animals than the French whose mistreat geese for foie gras. We just eat the whole goose. Regretfully, the duck was a sold out that day.

We had some more noodles and a second round of their really excellent pig trotters jelly.

Mmm...wondering whether the pigs were wearing shoes or where they were walking. This is a good no frills Teochew restaurant located at a down to earth place. If I come down here often enough, I may even enroll to take up a most effective fighting art called Krav Maga. As the Terminator said: ''I will be back!"