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Lucha Loco

April 22, 2013, 8:30 am
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Lucha Loco, a place that sells gourmet mexican street food, has been receiving rave reviews since it opened last year and we were glad that our experience with the food there turned out to be an amazing and memorable one.


I did not regret ordering the Elotes($8) despite knowing that it was just a corn. No, I should correct myself and say that it was an extraordinary grilled corn smeared with chilli, mayonaise and cotija cheese that burst out sweet juices in each bite. I never knew a corn could have such a great allure.


Since tacos are the first thing that comes to mind for Mexican cuisine, we instinctively picked the Tacos de pesdacos ($11), which is the fish version instead of pork belly, beef or shrimp. Ceviche (raw fish "cooked" in lime and lemon juice) was another popular item on many tables but we did not feel like having it that day.


The tender chunks of grilled snapper dressed in chipotle mayo was smoky and slightly fiery. Admittedly, the tortilla skin was rather stretchy, but that extra red pepper salsa added a desirable crunch and zest to it.


I imagined the Crab Tostaditas with habanero, avocado and cucumber ($16) to be crunchy and creamy but somehow the dish did not deliver the taste. They were on the light, bland side.


Our favourite was this vegan dish, Chiles Relanos($24), an ugly-looking roasted poblano pepper stuffed with rice, herbs and wild mushrooms. Every spoonful of filling with the heavenly pumpkin sauce simply lifts up your mood. So delicious that I did not mind skipping other meaty mains.

Can you spot some yellow corn?
As a dessert lover, I was sad to see only two items but ended up extremely pleased with the Pastel de Elote Azul ($14), a crumbly cake made with blue cornmeal topped with mezcal alcohol-spiked whipped cream. (Though it was served after 20min and not 5min as informed by the waiter) Moistened with agave nectar, the cake had a unique coarse texture and a subtle sweetness.  Who says good cakes must be light and fluffy? This one is divine--a MUST TRY.

To conclude, this is definitely the place to go for some authentic Mexican street food. If you are coming here for a full meal, I recommend that you order the main meal that are larger in portions as prices adds up when you order those small-sized appetizers.

Plus, the cocktails here are not to be missed for those who loves drinking. Do go early before the crowd streams in as there is no reservations! Go late for their DJ music and u might meet the man in the mask below;)

Lucha Loco
15 Duxton Hill
Tel: 6226-3938
Opening hours:
4 to 11pm (Tues-Thurs), 4pm to 1am (Fri), 6pm to 1am (Sat)
Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
www.luchaloco.com
 
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Ah Long Pancake: Traditional Mee Chiang Kueh?

April 23, 2013, 5:55 pm
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I love Mee Chiang Kueh but those commonly sold are thick, chewy with more batter than fillings. It was only recently that I found out from the Folks about the earliest form of mee chiang kueh. They were smaller discs of crispy pancake that looked like Apam Balik, often sold by uncles who make them fresh off the griddle.

 
After a long hunt for the "ancient" mee chiang kueh aka 传说中的面煎馃, I was glad to have finally discover Ah Long Pancake at Lavendar Hawker Centre/ Food Square. It fits the description, only that they are no longer made in cast-iron hot plates that are still used to serve you hot plate tofu zichar. Plus, you get some novelty flavours like sambal and even durian.

peanut+cheese+egg
The best thing about having this kind of MCK is that every single piece are made fresh upon order, and it won't take minutes before you get a golden-brown crispy pancake. Ah Long specialises in pancakes with an egg, and thus we had the peanut+egg+cheese version at $1.90.

Eggless

There are also savoury fillings such as chicken floss or chye poh. I like the corn and peanuts (above pic-$1.20) for the creamy texture, even though the auntie unblatantly showed you that they are using canned corns instead of making their own corn filling. The coconut ($0.90) and peanuts ($0.90) were both aromatic.
Coconut ($0.90)
I tried to search into the history of Mee Chiang Kueh in Singapore but could not gather much information. Not sure if Apam Balik and Mee Chiang Kueh actually belonged to the same family or should be treated as two different types of snacks. Nonetheless, I am not rejecting the thick version of MCK, but my vote ultimately goes to this thin crisp version. It is more aromatic and not too filling (which means I can have more...hehe:p)

Do you know of any other places which sell this kind of Mee Chiang Kueh? Or if you have anything to share about this snack, please feel free to leave a comment here or on my facebook page

 
Ah Long Pancake
Lavender Food Market (Near Lavender MRT)
380 Jalan Besar
12.15noon-11pm daily
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Fika Swedish Cafe @ Millenia Walk

April 25, 2013, 7:37 am
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Fika Swedish Cafe has been on my radar for quite some time as I wanted to try Swedish cuisine in places other than Ikea. Traditional dishes like the Inlagd Sill, pickled herring platter ($12.90) , usually served in Christmas, Easter with vodka can be spotted on the menu. 

 
However, that platter was not sharing-friendly because the work of splitting the tough hard rye bread can be messy. The marinated fish was as savoury as smoked salmon, but did not bind well with other ingredients (eggs, sour cream,onions and chives). Would it be better if they were served in canapés style?


Swedish Meatballs (Kid's meal size)
Since we wanted the Fika Swedish Meatballs and a dessert, the kids meal that came with a drink with the above at $15.90 sounded more economical. Portion might be smaller but sufficient. Similar to Ikea, in place of tomato gravy was creamy brown mushroom sauce that was not overly rich. The sweet lingonberry compote took the dish up a notch by balancing the meaty flavours. The meatballs have a slightly charred crust that trapped moisture within.

 
Replace the meatballs with two huge beef patties, sautéed onions and you"ll get this Beef Plainbiff $18.90. They were less greasy than Blu Kouzina's version but the substantial amount of meat became overwhelming. Best recommended for sharing. Taste is rather similar to the meatballs so it's perhaps better to order either one instead of both.

 
The Skagen Crepe $16.50 is a cold crepe that is filled with smoked salmon, shrimp and fish roe. More fillings might be good to hold up what seemed like a deflated roll. It did not have a notable taste and the mayonaise was slightly diluted.
 

The Grilled Chicken surprised us with a smoky, well-perfected boneless chicken thigh in a subtle black pepper sauce. Only quibble was the undercooked parsley potatoes which were bulky and bland.

 
The dessert, part of the kids meal is truly one of its kind. The Swedish Raspberry Creamin cold milk is a semi-molten huge dollop of raspberry jam jelly submerged in unsweetened cold milk. Instinctively, I mixed everything up like how I always played with the 80-cent cup ice cream from mama shops and transformed it into an odd but delicious pool of gooey liquid.

 
The Chokladballs, or Swedish Chocolate Balls ($5.50 for 3) are refrigerator cakes aka no-baked cakes. Made of oatmeal, sugar, coffee, cocoa, butter then rolled in coconut flakes, this has a grainy, rustic texture similar to a compact wholemeal ball.

 
All except the Skagen crepe (from Denmark) and the grilled chicken are marked as traditional swedish dish with a logo of a deer on the menu. Though not everyone will be used to Swedish food, it is fun and exciting to explore such unfamiliar cuisines as we may never know how it taste from the menu. However, the service was quite offending and harsh, a sharp contrary to the bright, inviting atmosphere.
Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro
Millenia Walk Branch
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-20


 
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Singapore Food Trail @ Singapore Flyer

April 27, 2013, 7:55 pm
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Ice Kachang
I have always wanted to visit the Singapore Food Trail, which is a 1960s themed food street at Singapore Flyer and Food Republic Beer Garden at Harbourfront when they opened in early 2011. There was much hype when they opened but it seemed to have died down.
 


Before this, our visit to the Food Republic Beer Garden was disappointing as only a few stalls were opened on a weekend evening and the customers were sparse.

 
In fact, I have forgotten about this place until I chanced upon an ongoing promotion through its Facebook page recently. One item from each stall was at $2.50 instead of $5--cheaper than those at most Food Republic food courts. Since there are substantial savings, I decided why not head there for a try?

 
When we arrived, there were visibly more diners than the one at Beer Garden, but not crowded. Starting from the Old Airport Road Satay Bee Hoon Stall, I flashed the FB e-voucher to the uncle. "Ni mei you print chu lai ar" the uncle said and I pointed out the instructions on the fb page. The friendly uncle accepted and relayed my orders to another uncle in charge of cooking.
 

A copy of the discount booklet
Later, he was very nice to give me two books of coupons, asking me to help promote the place to others as the business was struggling. Hmm, but going back to his food...

 
The noodles of the Satay Bee Hoon ($2.50) are well-strained so it was not too wet. More of that piquant gravy would be wonderful. Apparently, the stall that began since 1950s is famous for its gravy made from 15 ingredients, but lard is no longer used.

 
The East Coast Lagoon Rojak was the star of that day. To be honest, we liked it more than the Kover Rojak because the sauce had the right consistency and a well-balance sweet and tangy taste. The best thing was the you tiao (dough fritters) which stayed fresh and crunchy till the end.

 
Instead of Sambal stingray, we ordered the Yang Zhou Fried Rice from Boon Tat Street BBQ since it was the dish on offer at $2.50. Nonetheless, the rice was fluffy and spicy, with a strong whiff of wok hei.

 
From the Bugis Street Ah Huat Hainanese Chicken Rice stall, we ordered half-a-chicken instead of the $2.50 plate of chicken rice as the Folks wanted more meat. The meat was tender and good, but not much different from those outside.



Conclusion: Food here are delicious and it is a relief to see that most stalls are still manned by Singaporeans--the owners or their relatives. Price wise, they are similar to Food Republic without using the discounts.

But many of the stalls were either closed (eg. Ann Chin Popiah ) or had permanently stopped operations. With an air of gloomy atmosphere among the hawkers, I hoped that the online promotions (till May 31st) can help to improve the business. But whether such concepts are sustainable in the long run remain a question.

Various dishes are going at $2.50. Check out their FB page for the e-vouchers.

Singapore Food Trail @Singapore Flyer
30 Raffles Avenue
#01-09/12
Mon - Thu: 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Fri - Sat: 10:30 am - 11:30 pm


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Domino's Pizza : Mesmerizingly Mediterranean!

April 30, 2013, 6:17 pm
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[Media Event]
Are you a pizza lover or someone who usually rings for pizza delivery because you just don't feel like getting out of your house? It's the perfect time to try Domino's Pizza if you have not yet done so. Domino's has unveiled 4 new delicious Mediterranean pizzas, specially created by Chef Julie (above pic) that is only offered in Singapore and for a limited period of time! 

These pizzas boast unique base sauces, which are inspired from the cuisines from regions that border around the Mediterranean Sea ( Southern France, Italy, Spain, Morroco and Greece)  



The first newly introduced sauce  is the Napolitana, made with a blend of onions, tomatoes, garlic and herbs to give the pizzas a tangy and punchy edge. This sauce is paired up with lovely cherry tomatoes, fresh prawns, Belgian spinach, caramelized onions to construct the Portofino Prawn Pizza.
   
Spicy lovers should not miss the Diavola Beef which contains red capsicum, onion and red pepper flakes--ingredients loaded with phytochemicals that are good against cancer. I loved how this Napolitana sauce-based pizzatriggered a burning sensation on my tastebuds without having to resort to packaged chilli flakes. 
Too much of Napolitana sauce? Have a slice of the Pesto-based Basilico chicken pizza. The aromatic sauce is made of basil, cashew nuts and vegetable oil. In fact, the use of herbs and spices in Mediterranean food is what draws me to the cuisine because this method enhances the natural flavours of meat without over-relying on seasonings. 

If you are on a meatless diet, try theRomano Margherita (Napolitana Sauce base), a simple yet delectable pizza topped with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes and olives. 
Signature Classified Chicken (Available for 2-for-1 Deal)
To try these new creations without breaking your wallet, grab the2 Regular-sized pizzas for $22 deal (save 50%!) or 2 Large@$33 by choosing from 9 flavors (4 Mediterranean + 5 Popular : Hawaiian/Pepperoni/Very Veggie/ Classified Chicken/Simply Cheese).
How to order?
Step 1. Choose the crust: the New York, a crispy hand stretched crust, is best recommended for Mediterranean pizzas; Cheese Burst (a sinful indulgence of creamy cheddar cheese sauce in between two crust); Crunchy Thin(for the least bloated) ; Classic Hand Tossed.
Step 2. Choose the size (personal/reg/large) and type of flavour. 


Step 3. Add on sides at special prices for any minimum purchase of personal pizza.

From the savoury selection, the Tom Yam Chicken Crunchies($6.80)served with thick cheese sauce and Garlic Cheese Onion rings ($2.80) are some of the noteworthy dishes that I personally recommend. But do note that crunchiness tend to be compromised in delivery food. 
Otherwise, order the Sweet Sides to end your meal on a sweet note. At $3.80 each, the Caramel Cake, a warm sticky date pudding that would be ideal with more sticky toffee sauce as it dried up easily.

The molten chocolate lava cake lived up to its name with its generous amount of gooey lava that reminded me of Morgansfield's version. In fact, I was honestly impressed by the quality of Domino's desserts, which are comparable or even better than some fine-dining places.

4) Wait patiently for food to arrive within just 30min (otherwise you can get a free pizza voucher--this also applies if your takeaway order exceeds 15min)

Signature Hawaiian Paradise (Available for 2-for-1 deal)

Savoury Twisty Bread
Conclusion: For a maximum variety of tastes, I recommend theNapolitana sauce-based Portofino Prawn on Cheese Burst crust and the Pesto sauce-based Basilico Chicken on New York Crust, though both are coincidentally "first class" pizzas ($4 surcharge each) and cheese burst crust calls for extra $4. They just had the right mix of flavours and dough textures that justify the extra price tag.


For more savings, order via thefree Domino's iPhone App("shake" phone to enjoy a free side) or website. You can choose the time, date of delivery, and check the status of ordered items via the GPS Tracker (aka. Great Pizza Service Tracker). Alternatively, there are 14 outlets for takeaway or dine-in. With Nth number of pizza permutations you can play with, I am sure you can find one that you like. Please remember to share your favourite pizza on my facebook page as I would love to try it!  

Thank you Janet and Alvin from omy.sg and the Domino's Pizza Singapore for the invite.


Domino's Pizza

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Kok Kee Wanton Mee @ Lavender Food Square

May 1, 2013, 8:38 am
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At our trip to Lavender Food Square, the stall with the longest queue it's none other than Kok Kee Wanton mee, which used to be located at Bugist Street. At $4, the dry wanton mee with chilli and few bite-sized dumplings is indeed a very small portion. Used to be $3 in 2006 but the smallest plate now is $4.


So what is the attraction of this dish that keeps people coming? I guess it was the springy noodles, despite not being handmade. When the noodles are mixed together with the flavoursome thin light sauce,  the entire dish turned out to be tasty and addictive, even without the tomato sauce! But the side ingredients like char siew and wanton dumplings are normal. Considering the price and the long waiting time, perhaps try once will do.

Kok Kee Wanton Mee
380 Jalan Besar, Lavender Food Square #01-06
Opening hours: 12pm to 2am
Closed every 3 weeks on Wed & Thur

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Public Garden Flea Market @National Museum

May 3, 2013, 6:14 pm
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Do you know Singapore holds several flea markets each month? if you are a frequent flea market hopper, then I'm sure you must be familiar with the Public Garden event held on every last weekend at the National Museum.

I thought the Public Garden would be situated outdoors but it turned out to be in an air-conditioned open space on cemented grounds. The stalls are arranged in two rows facing each other, leaving the in-between space for visitors to browse the goods.


The various stalls are operated by independent businesses, mostly online, or established shops. From barang barang like slippers, cameras to designer items, one can easily find some stalls that he/she is interested.

As for me, it's all about food! What else? Haha...especially since I've learnt that many are home/online bakeries, which means I can't try them unless I order it bulk( equals impossible as I can't finish them alone).


After browsing at all stalls, I realized no stalls were selling truly savoury snacks except for the healthy rice crackers by Snack Up. Second, they are either cupcakes, cookies, bread or buttercakes with frosting. These are non-refrigerated cakes, so don't expect mousse cakes or cream puffs. Thirdly, some stalls offer food tasting, some don't (but it depends on your luck, your age and the mood of the owners)

 
Overdough, the bakery-bistro shop of Artichoke, was the first place I wanted to check out. Though their hummus dip and flatbread was not available, they have a variety of very crunchy baklavas ($6.40/pair) and some tarts.
 

 
I wanted something savoury, and the cinnamon-roll lookalike bun called "Sweet Mother of Bacon" ($7.50) caught my eyes. According to the staff, it is not usually available at their main shop. 

 
The bun, after some reheating at home, was sinfully divine. Imagine cinnamon roll except that the cinnamon sugar are replaced by chunks of bacon. The top was nutty, sticky, and tasted like bak kwa, thus making this sweet-savoury treat worth every single calorie.

Overdoughs: www.facebook.com/overdoughss
 

Speaking of cupcakes, you can't miss Plain Vanilla, which was also selling coffee cakes(not coffee-flavored cakes but a term used for buttercakes with frosting) or bundt cakes ($4) and peanut butter brownies ($5 /slice). Instead of cupcakes, I bought the hazelnut cake with cream cheese frosting and caramel sauce($5).
 
Call me a cake snob but I am very concerned about how cakes are handled, thus the horror when my cake was ruthlessly wrapped in parchment paper like bakwa, stuffed into the brown bag. (I would not even have bothered if it is a bread or cookies as they do not disfigure easily)
 
I ended with a squashed cake, which obviously could not have stood in the bag without any supporting cardboard. Fortunately, it was the least sweetest cake out of those I've bought. Aromatic, with some dry crumbly edges.

PV: www.facebook.com/pvbakery


Confecti, was another shop with jar cakes($6) like Grin affair, with the exception that the jar does not contain mousse. Their potato chips cookies ($3) had the best texture and balanced flavor. But the Strawberry and Champagne Macaron ($2.80) was sweeter than an average one, literally a sugar bomb.

Confecti: https://www.facebook.com/confecti


Shortly established in 2012,  Kek is a home-based bakery run by owner Ann. Her cakes are generally buttercakes with a layer of frosting and I noticed that her carrot cakes were running out!


The Pandan cake in gula Melaka buttercream ($5), was cheaper than the average price of $6 but it has only 2 layers. The green cake was very fragrant, and with a finer texture. However, little did I expect the cake to be so sweet that I found it hard to swallow.


Its signature salted caramel chocolate tart ($5) was well-baked biscuit shell filled with caramel at the base. Perhaps, a few touches of salt in the caramel or a more intense chocolate layer would break the uniform sweet taste. I was surprised to learn that its cupcakes are sold at Penny University, a cafe in East Coast.


Fortunately, the sweetness of the green tea sables and chocolate almond sables ($4/ bag) are well-controlled but slightly hard.

Kek : www.fb.com/eatkek


The Butterscotch Cookies ($3.50/100g/pack) by Chunky Cookie had a very nice brittle texture but were too heavy-handed on the sugar. Other flavors such as white choc mac, peanut butter and even the low sugar wolf berry ones faced similar problem.

Chunky Cookie: www.chunkycooky.com


Maple and Market is a shop that will be opening soon. Peanut butter chocolate cake was a hot-seller that day. The elderflower bundt cake looked attractive shaped in a dainty flower.


But my eyes landed on the Popcorn Caramel ($6.50) which is a plain buttercake decked with caramel cheese ganache. The cake layer was not dry but lacked character(perhaps not enough or missing vanilla/eggs). It was a relief that the popcorn stayed crunchy.
 
Maple and Market: https://www.facebook.com/mapleandmarket


I wanted to buy the red velvet whoopie pie from the stall called "Red Chocolate" but ended up buying the Sweet and Salty Caramel Cake($6) as I could not resist caramel.

And I thought I made the right choice. This 2-layer caramel cake, similarly frosted with caramel cream cheese (not buttercream), had the most pillowy texture and intense caramel flavour that not too sweet.  In fact, this cake was the BEST out of all the cakes I've tried at the flea market as it had the right ratio of cake to cream and was not heavily rich like pound cakes.
 
Red Chocolate Bar : https://www.facebook.com/redchocolate.sg


Shers Kitchen was the stall selling only macarons. The flavors, especially the pork floss were interesting but could not bear to pay $3 for the tiny piece. 
 
Website: http://www.sherskitchen.com/

 
Bakerz@work is a stall that was selling biscotti, French bread and baking ingredients. They conduct baking classes which may appeal to those interested in baking.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/BakerzWork/347973101964903 

Conclusion:
While the pastries from these budding entrepreneurs do have hits and misses, I think this flea event is a very good platform for anyone to pursue their passion in baking and also for audience to know these stalls better. I never knew there were so many online bakers in Singapore and was so eager to try all their bakes. Yes, greediness led me to buy and consume these cakes all by myself but I never regretted :) With that, I hope to try more home-made goodies in future!

The Public Garden is a flea event held on the last weekend of every month at the National Museum. check out the next one in May!

The Public Garden
http://www.public-garden.com/index.php

**Dairycream is now on Facebook. "Like" the page to for the latest updates and food news=D Thank you!
 

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Lek Lim Nyonya Confectionary Shop

May 6, 2013, 6:07 am
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I didn't grow up in HDB flats, but neither did I grow up in condominiums or private houses. I grew up in now-demolished shop houses, where there was an old uncle who sold hand-made kuehs and only gave me, and not other kids, his freshly made kueh lapi (九层糕) for free. Till now, it was the best I've had in my life.

Although shops selling hand-made kuehs are dwindling in Singapore, I am glad to learn about Lek Lim Confectionery, a shop at Bedok which has been selling handmade kuehs since 1968. 

The place started from Changi South and moved to Bedok in 1987. From a humble shop selling Ang Ku Kueh, Lek Lim has expanded to nyonya kueh, Chinese kueh and the latest addition is the deep-fried yam cake.


What is special about Lek Lim is that there is No Eggs, No Meat in their Nyonya kueh and suitable for VEGANS. It is also Halal-certified.

 
Do you know that a piece of kueh which we finish off easily in a bite takes a long process to make? While everyone is asleep, this machine starts churning Gula Melaka(palm sugar) and grated coconut as early as 4am to produce the key filling for various kuehs.


The various ingredients such as the rice filling, ku chai(chives), soon kueh filling involves a lot of advance preparation, from cutting, stir frying to cooling.


In Hokkien tradition, the shape of Ang Ku Kueh indicates the sex of the first-month baby; the pointed one is a boy and the flatter one is a girl.

During this invited kueh-making session, we had a lot of fun as we do not have to follow the typical way of pairing which dough to certain filling. So we just randomly mix and match. We even wanted to stuff two fillings into one kueh! Though the outcome was not pretty, it made us realized that the perfect kueh is a matter of skills and experience.


And hence the experienced staff could churn out rice kueh and pulut inti (glutinous rice made from blue pea flower coloring, topped with fragrant grated brown sugar coconut ) faster than the speed of light!


Some of the steamed kueh resting on the trays include (from top left clockwise) steamed yam cake mixed with fresh bits of yam, kueh salat, kueh kao swee and ondeh ondeh without the coconut coating. All except for the yam cake ($0.80/piece) are priced at $1.20/pkt.

 
Besides ang ku kueh (green bean and coconut version), I like the kueh dadar which was bursting of aromatic, moist coconut filling in a thin pandan crepe. The Kueh Ambon is also surprisingly delectable and chewy.
From Left Clockwise : Beng Kueh ( Rice Kueh) / Ku Chye Kueh ( Chives Kueh)/ Soon Kueh
Even though I have a sweet tooth, the most outstanding kueh was in fact the savoury ones, especially the Ku Chai Kueh (chives kueh)-- 70cent/piece. The fillings are well-fried and the skin is glossy and thin. So good that I did not need the sweet dark gravy and chilli sauce. Even my Folks who tried them gave this ku chai kueh the highest score. It is a MUST TRY. Do get them early before stocks run out for the day!

If you like deep fried food, there is also (from top left clockwise) the yam cake, spring roll, curry puff and sardine puff. I had not tried the steamed version, I particularly enjoyed the crisp brown coating of the yam cake, which could not conceal its alluring fragrance when it was sitting in the package!


Conclusion:
Lek Lim is a place that serves honest hand-made kuehs that can easily beat any of the factory-made kuehs we often find in the neighbourhood or shopping malls. I am not a kueh-expert so I cannot claim that the kuehs here are the best. For the best taste of the savoury kueh and even some of the sweet kuehs, it might be good to reheat them before consuming.

While I have been fascinated with western pastries these few years, I am glad that my love for kuehs has not wavered. They were not just desserts or snacks, but my breakfast before I head to school. If you have not try any of the kuehs here, why not pay a trip down to this shop to buy some to share with your friends and family? You can even order online and Lek Lim will deliver to you!

Thanks to Gavan and family for the invite to this food-making session.
                                                      Lek Lim Nonya Cake Trading
 Blk 84, Bedok North Street 4, #01-21 ( Nearest MRT: Bedok / Tanah Merah)
Tel: 64490815

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Raj Indian Vegetarian Restaurant

May 8, 2013, 7:30 pm
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Going to an Indian vegetarian restaurant can be a problem for me because I am illiterate to the menu, especially those without diagrams. However, after the last visit and reading up a bit about the cuisine, I am feeling more at ease when dining at these places. Founded in 1965 in India, Raj landed on the Singapore island in 1988, serving Indian vegetarian food from ....North, South East West of India??? (the website says so)
Before you start navigating through the menu, it is good to have some Papadam (5 at $1.80) to silence the growling stomachs. After all, everyone may also need some time to decipher the long list of food, especially when the menu at Raj is more extensive than Ananda Bhavan. So, the million-dollar question is : What to order?
 
Well, the simplest step is to pick any items from the Dosai list. For instance, this Butter Marsala Dosai ($4.70) is a good set that will fill up any average adult. Its a typical triangular crepe filled with potatoes chunks, tomatoescooked down to a mash. They come with the three chutneys-mint, tomato and coconut.

Paper Thosai (above) that looks the same as Plain Thosai, except with a darker shade of brown.
Alternatively, go for the plain-flavoured ones like Sada Dosai ($2.90), Paper Thosai ($3.80-pic above), Garlic naan ($3.20-pic below) and choose from the array of vegetarian curry pots for dipping. The paper thosai is suitable for those who like it crisp but it is also more greasy to the touch. Ours came as shiny as a bald man's head that reflected the dining lights very well.

 
Our first dip was Palak paneer ($10), a familiar North Indian dish that consists cubes of home-made cottage cheese immerged in rich spinach puree. It had the smoothest texture out of the 3 and received the most number of thumbs-up at the table. But it should be consumed in moderation as it was extremely savory. Alternatively, there is the Dhal Butter Fry ($7.50) which had a slightly tangy flavor imparted by the spices in the pool of simmered lentil gravy.

 

The chef's specialty--Soya Keemar Mattar ($10), was a delectable pool of minced tofu and green peas (mattar) in an aromatic semi-solid gravy. It had a thicker consistency than the dhal butter but was less salty. The dhals were all tasty, but we underestimated the sizes of the dhals curry and still ended up with at least half a pot.

 
In order not to contribute to the amount of food Singaporeans are wasting each year, we ordered more sada dosai and also the above Sadam Uthappam ($3.30), a thicker version of dosai. Imagine tu-tu kueh minus the filling. One experiences a sharper tang even though both Uthappam and Dosai are made from fermented batter of rice and lentils.
 
And I am proud to say that all the food were 100% polished off at this farewell class dinner=D The slight hiccups in the service did not deter the mood as everyone chatted merrily into the night. While Indian vegetarian cuisine may not be the cup of tea for everyone, I believe it was a good cultural experience. Should you be interested to try out, Rajis a good and affordable place to begin with!
Raj Restaurant
20 Biopolis Way, #01-03 Centros Block
( 5 min walk from Buona Vista MRT)
Daily: 11am to 10pm
 
(another branch at Syed Alwi Road)
Visit : http://www.rajrestaurant.com.sg/ for full menu and outlet details



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Ann Chin 安真 Popiah @ Chinatown Complex Market

May 11, 2013, 8:03 pm
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After my failed attempt to have Ann Chin Popiah at Singapore Food Trail @Singapore Flyer, I headed to Chinatown Hawker Centre where the actual store is located as it sells my two favourite hawker food popiah and kueh pie tee!
 
I thought I was lucky as the hawker centre had just been opened for a few days since it shut down for refurbishment.


According to the news, the stall owner brought in the popiah from Fujian, China in the 1940s and it has since been running strong till present. This stall makes the popiah skin instead of ordering from manufacturers.

 
We ordered two popiah (one for $1.60/two for $3) one spicy and one plain. Overall, they were one of the better popiahs in Singapore, and as always, I prefer spicy to plain. The resilient skin did not wilt when it contacted the moist filling. There is also the crunchy fritters and peanuts, but the mangkwang (turnip) was not very flavorful.

 
In fact, I like the kueh pie tee ($3 for 6 pieces) with the crispy prawns sitted on top. The shells have been arranged in the container and are filled upon order. Try putting the entire thing in your mouth (if it is big enough:p) and let the flavors explode in your mouth. The fillings were warm, juicy and crunchy. 
Instead of popiah, the kueh pie tee would be something that I would want to have again. But, I just realised I missed out the Satay Bee Hoon on the right. Need to go back soon to have my fix!

Ann Chin Popiah
Blk 335 Chinatown Complex Market Smith Street #02-112
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm; Sat-Sun: 9am – 9pm; closed on Thurs
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Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine & Caviar Bar

May 14, 2013, 9:33 am
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Last October, I visited two participating restaurants namely, Ochre and Covelli, during the Singapore Restaurant Week for the $35 set dinner offer. Coincidentally both are Italian restaurants and their food were quite memorable. But at the SGW held in March 2013, I decided to venture into the unknown and pick one I have never tried--Russian Cuisine.

 
So, Miss K. and I embarked on a Russian lunch escapade at Buyan, named after a mythical Russian island in one local fairytale. To maximize the variety, we ordered different items from the 3-course lunch($25) menu. The unique Russian black rye bread served with velvety butter that resembled mini billiard balls were signs of a good meal ahead.

 
The first appetizer was Kharcho, a spicy Georgian lamb soup filled with rice grains and chunks of lamb. I usually do not expect much spiciness from western food but this soup had quite a robust peppery flavor.


The 2nd appetizer was a classic Russian bite, Pelmeni (cold dumplings stuffed with mixed meat fillings). The unleavened dough skin made with just flour and water was indeed thick and chewy. However, the overall taste surpassed its dull presentation as the filling had a pleasant savoury taste without any strange odour.

 
I thought the portion of the main course-Blinis with creamy chicken filling was only sufficient for kids. But unexpectedly, these traditional Russian pancakes had a sweet allure that matched perfectly with the savoury mushroom dip. The sauce was so delicious that we requested for more.

 
The Buckwheat kasha with Mushroom and Onion surprised us with its fine grainy texture. It tasted like a healthier version of fried rice as it is less greasy but yet extremely aromatic. Kasha generally means buckwheat but it can include cereal, mill, wheat,barley and oats.


There was only one option for the dessert-Milk Kissel, a mixed of milk and raspberry jelly. Though this was not fanciful western-style plated dessert, I like its gloopy texture and the fact that it was not too rich or sweet.

 
Fortunately, the restaurant agreed to change one of the set dessert to a dessert platter without any additional charge. Though the Milk Kissel made its appearance again, there were new faces such as the Napolean (vanilla Millefeuille with  fresh berries) and the Honey Cake. Both were excellent in their own arena; especially the Honey Cake which is more similar to a crunchy Baklava than a cake.


Conclusion: The $25-lunch menu may vary with the $35-dinner menu but the quality and portion of the food are similar. This was my first try at Russian cuisine, thus I had no previous reference to compare with. But we enjoyed the meal as it is easy to get used to the taste of Russian food (no particular exotique ingredients like bear paws, etc...). I would definitely return to try not the dinner, but the lunch deals at SGW, especially when there are more interesting cuisine worth trying.

Buyan Russian Haute Cuisine & Caviar Bar

9 & 10 Duxton Hill, (S)089953
Lunch: Tues-Fri 12-3pm
Dinner: Mon-Sat 6-10.30pm 
Bar Open till late
Closed on Sun
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Albert Street Prawn Noodles @ Lavender Food Square

May 17, 2013, 8:20 am
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If you visit Lavender Food Square, the Albert Street Prawn Noodles is another stall with long queues. Besides the original prawn noodles, their selection of prawn noodles is quite amazing. From Pig Tail, Pig Intestines to Scallop, these prices start from $5.   


Our noodles ($4) lavished with the fried shallots, taugeh (beansprouts) and some pork lard failed to impress. Probably because they were not the spicy version. However, it was saved by the robust and slurpy prawn broth with a layer of reddish shine. According to Makansutra yahoo, the stock is boiled with not only prawn heads but also old hen chicken.
 

Somehow, I felt that we've not had the real stuff from this stall. So for the next visit, we would definitely go for the $5 claypot sized version which boasts larger-sized prawns and warmer soup! 

[P.S. If you spot something familiar at Old Changi Airport Hawker, some say that it is helmed by the relatives of this stall at Lavender, which is the 正宗 or original one.]   

Albert Street Prawn Noodle
380 Jalan Besar, Lavender Food Square #01-10
Opening Hours: 10am – 3am, Closed on alternative Thursday
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Old Bibik Nasi Rendang @Lavender Food Square

May 20, 2013, 7:49 am
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I thought the Nasi Rendang from this stall called Old Bibik was sold by Malays or Peranakan auntie until I googled and found out that they were opened by two male Singaporean Chinese. The recipe of the stew comes from the grandmother of the young owners in their thirties, and thus the name Old Bibik. Their signature is beef rendang, but we went for beef and chicken combo set ($6.50). It comes with rice, wedge of omelette and papadum.


The mildly sweet gravy of the rendang went well with the rice, and the flavors seemed to penetrate the beef better than chicken. The add-on peranakan stir-fry long beans for 50cents were cooked till the right degree. But still the star was the beef, which was so tender having been cooked for 2 hrs. Not too dry nor limp. My only quibble was the soggy papadum that had "leaked wind". Remember to ask for more Balachan chilli..they are simply SHIOK!

Here is another worth-to-try hawker stall which has cleverly ride on the wave of social media with their FB page : https://www.facebook.com/oldbibik  

Old Bibik Nasi's Rendang
380 Jalan Besar Road, Lavender Food Square #01-30
Mon-Thurs: 12pm-11pm
Fri & Sat:12pm-1am
Sun:11am-11pm

For other food at Lavender : wanton mee / prawn mee / pancake
________________________________
Extra 番外篇:

This was not on our list but ordered because I was craving for Rojak.


At $4, the portion looked small to me as the ingredients were squashed together. The peanut gravy had the acidity that we wanted and most of the taupok and you tiao were crunchy.  
Well, not the best but somehow passable plate of rojak that you can find at Lavender Food Square. Perhaps their curry would be much better than their Rojak but it was the only stall offering Rojak.

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The Latin Quarter

May 23, 2013, 9:23 am
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Many Singaporeans are familiar with buffets but how about a South American themed buffet? The sister outlet ofLa Barra, The Latin Quarter has recently opened at Science Park, serving authentic Latin American cuisine at only $13.90 nett.
 
Being a chickpea fan, I was very happy to spot this ingredient in some dishes here. For example, the versatile bean is tossed into the Ensalada de Garbanzos (salad on the right), together with tomatoes and avocado. Alternatively, the Fresh Salad (left), dominated by cucumbers in yoghurt & chipotle dressing, looks simple but the innocent red onions would surely leave you with a dragon breath.

 
Out of the three mains, my favourite was the Brazilian Fish Stew. The fish simmered in an aromatic gravy of coconut milk and spices, turned out to be smooth,gloopy and fresh. It was creamy rather than spicy, but packed more character than the Chicken in Coconut Milk(below)

  

Would not it be strange if there were no rice to go along with the hearty stews? Besides the familiar white and yellow rice (top pic), the Mexican-spiced tomato rice (above) is something more unique and tasty . But the uneven cooking resulted in some grains being stickier and clumped together.


Another emblematic Colombian dish which I would recommend is the Red Beans with pig trotters.  No visible traces of pig trotters as they have been cooked down for long hours.  Though I doubt green bananas were added to this dish as called for in some recipes, the beans stew were vaguely sweet and just cooked till the right softness.
 
The combination of corn and ginger might sound odd but surprisingly worked for this Corn soup with ginger piccadillo. Mildly sweet with gritty corn and ginger mince that was not overwhelming fiery. The crunchy black beans were my personal add-on from the selection of condiments that include sour cream, green chilli and cheese.


Among the sides, those with heavier taste preferences may find the Egg & Potato Tortilla slightly bland but salt & pepper have been stationed by the side for diners to add accordingly.


Don't be deceive by the dull-looking deep fried yellow potatoes called Papas Criollas as their skins were well salted with soft roasted  insides. Hard-core French fries lovers might be unconvinced but these small buttery balls tasted better than fries to me and they were not oil-laden.

I also enjoyed the Yucas Fritas, deep-fried cassava, boasts crunchy and airy texture despite the fact that Cassava were actually fibrous tapioca-lookalike roots. They were nothing near starchy nor greasy, and should make a great snack with some beer.

Add extra $2 for Pura Fruit Shakes (usual $4.50) with flavours including  Soursop, Blackberry and Lulo- a native fruit in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

Speaking of beer (though its bright day-time and you do not mind returning to office half-sober), they have Colombian lagers such as Aguila and 12 international selections of wine. Otherwise, I think the Latin American fruit shakes here might be a healthier and even more economical choice.

Selection of Colombian Coffee made from renowned Juan Valdez brand

As a dessert lover, I wished there were more dessert items in future. Nonetheless, the Mango Yoghurt Parfait provided a sweet and tangy ending to the meal. Since their menu changed weekly, you are in luck if you get to try the Tres Leches, a very classic Mexican cake soaked in 3 milks :sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream.

 
For those who prefer to enjoy lunch within the comforts of your office/house or in front of computer, choose from the buffet selection and pack them into bento box for only $7.90 nett.

Overall, this buffet serves up quality food that would easily keep the hungry stomachs of office workers and students full and satisfied. The location at Science Park may not be very accessible but at $13.90, this is perhaps one of the best fuss-free lunch deals that offer variety. With the menu changing weekly and rotating every 2-3 months, it is no wonder that they are already attracting customers who are returning regularly to check out their new food.
 
Thank you Sera and Kelvin from Little Colombia for your gracious invite and hosting!
 
 
The Latin Quarter
87 Science Park Drive #02-02, Science Hub
(Nearest MRT : Kent Ridge/Buona Vista)
Mon-Fri, 12noon-5.00pm
(buffet ends at 3pm and hi-tea menu from 3-5pm will be introduced soon)



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Teo Chew Street Bak Chor Mee

May 25, 2013, 6:56 pm
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Do you like Bak Chor Mee? I enjoy the dry meepok version with lots of chilli and black vinegar. I don't remember queuing at least 25min for a bowl (except for Tai Hwa) and I guess this stall has broken the record. 

 
Why the queue? Because the uncle prepares bowl by bowl, from boiling noodles to the meat. And after each bowl, he cleans his working table with the super water jet hose. His wife takes the order. Watch the uncle in action on ieatishootipost. Prawns and wanton dumplings which used to be available were missing from our bowls.

 
So speaking of the taste, it is lighter, less salty or sourish than most outside. It could be  personal preference but I think more splashes of vinegar and chilli would do some magic. The folks find that both the mee pok (thin yellow noddles) were undercooked--perhaps due to the rush in cooking, but the springy bite suit my liking.

 
The best part of bak chor mee I look forward to is always the pieces of crispy flat solefish 扁鱼 and pork lard that impart fragrance to the noodles.
So conclusion, is it worth the queue? Yes if you have time. If not, I think you may want to skip it and go to other places.
 



潮州街香菇肉搓面
Chinatown Complex Food Centre #02-23
12.30pm-9pm Daily except Mon and Tues
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Encore: 美食番外篇


Hits 赞: Qing Qiao Hainanese Laksa (Unit#02-008)

On that day, the folk ordered from this shop which surprisingly tasted very yummy. The laksa gravy is rich, pungent and perhaps can rival the famous Katong laksa. Not sure what a Hainanese laksa should taste like but the one here won't leave you disappointed.



If you google for this stall, you won't get much results but more about another laksa stall "Terry Katong Laksa" which serves a healthy no-msg laksa . I haven't try Terry's version yet but for now, I am contented to uncover another rare gem at this hawker.
 
Misses: Shanghai Chee Cheong Fun Stall (Unit#02-174)



The factory-made skin turned out to be dry and the average homemade sauce did not help much. Save your stomach for other food.
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Mouth Restaurant : Dim Sum

May 27, 2013, 9:30 am
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Mouth Restaurant has revamped their menu since last year and the new items are reinterpretations of traditional dim sum. The Family went to its newly opened branch at Plaza Singapura during a weekend high tea session from 3-5pm but sadly, many items like the squid ink bun and their signature Xiao long Bao were not available.

The Rainbow Har Gao in 6 ($9.80) top picture is mimics the concept of multi-flavor Xiao long Bao. The skin was of the right thickness but the individual flavor of shrimp meat was not distinctive as its pork counterpart in XLB.

Do not mistaken this Squid Ink Seafood Soup 7.80 for herbal jelly.
The base is a egg white custard, topped with a thick soup that is rich and tasty.


The best thing I can remember is their Baked salted Egg Yolk (3 for $5) Unlike typical steamed bun, the mildly sweetened outer crust is crisp like a HK-style Bo Lo Bun, that released viscous and creamy golden lava.


Though some might find it to be much more greasy than usual kind, but who will say no to custard buns?:)


The Sweet Potato Roll $3.60 and Tako Cheese Croquette $4.80 sounded special but turned out to be dry, starchy and pedestrian.


Instead of the usual Chee cheong fun, we ordered the XO-style Pan Fried version with prawn and charshu $8.80. It turned out to resemble stir-fried kway teow. I like the slightly browned surface of the rice rolls that makes this dish fragrant but the taste of XO-sauce was not amplified. 


Some of the mandatory dimsum items included the chicken claws w chilli $3.90 and the Spare ribs with pumpkin $4.50 and the Fried Beancurd skin roll $ 3.20. 


The  Sauteed Premium scallops, wild mushrooms in XO sauce were slightly overpriced to me at $26 even though those jumbo scallops were fresh and not overcooked. The combination of crunchy celery and slimy fungi made this dish less boring.

Conclusion: Higher chances of securing popular dim sum items if we were to come in the morning. Would be more keen to revisit for their revamped ala carte dishes, which were in our memories, more delicious than the dim sum. Some items are creative but their quality vary. Hopefully my favourite egg tarts that were nowhere to be found, can appear on their dimsum menu one day...... 

Mouth Restaurant
#02-01 Plaza Singapura
Mon-Fri : 11.30am-10pm
PH/Weekends : 11am to 10pm
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SUR Nuevo Latino Kitchen : Round I

May 30, 2013, 9:05 am
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There was a time when French cuisine seems to be the hallmark of quality  western food in Singapore. But with the entrance of Spanish and the recent South American food, it is no wonder that the local news has marked 2013 as the year of Latin food.

Sur Nuevo is a homely Latin American kitchen opened by ex-MBS pastry chef, Alejandro Luna and and his close friend, Vitelio Reyes. "SUR Nuevo Latino" which means South New Latin, suggests that diners will be greeted with tantalising dishes inspired by Peru and Venezuela, the hometown of the chefs.
 
I having been plotting a visit after hearing very good reviews about it. And indeed, the entire meal was excellent, perhaps would be one of the best places I've dined in and written about so far. I've always associated Latin American cuisine with street grub food but this place totally transformed and elevated my dining experience.

 Of course, not every journey begins on a smooth note.  We thought we would fall in love with their highly popular Ceviche ( raw seafood marinated in citrus-mixture)but unfortunately not. The concentrated chilled lime, hot pepper juice and shaved red onions could not eliminate the fishiness of the raw fish chunks.  The sweet potatoes were  a temporary comfort but they were not as soft as we preferred.

 
Torte de Maiz ($17)--twice baked corn soufflé with mushroom ragout, was the shortest soufflé I've ever had but with the texture was soft and moist. As a starter, the portion is small. Each component was either very sweet or very salty, especially the crumble of rare Peruvian cheese Queso Fresco.  But they were a perfect match when eaten together.


The Arepitas, were a Colombian street food consisting of deep-fried plump cornmeal patties stuffed with filling. But the downside is the mini palm-sized portion for $8 each. Better to come during lunch if you like regular size.

The version of Avocado and chicken coated in a light and creamy mayonaise was quite plain whereas the Queso blanco was simply dominated by the savoury cheese. It became tastier when we mixing both types of arepitas together.

 
The spicy pork sausages in this Chorizo Carupanero ($18) were not spicy at all as kids who can't take a single tinge of spice chomped through the pot of sticky rice thrown in with bell peppers and white cheese.

Pisco Sour Cocktail ($15) : Boozy and Sweet
I believed we underestimated our appetite that day as we had not even reached our main courses. The Pescado Frito ($26) made a spectacular appearance with a whole fish encased in a crispy golden brown skin served with fried plaintains (not potato wedges) and refreshing coleslaw. 

 
Looks dry and lifeless? Wait till you dig your fork into the tender and fresh meat. This was the first dish that everyone concurred that it was excellent, and perhaps better than the Thai-style fried Garoupa. The specially concocted hot pepper cream sauce (warned by the chef to be extremely spicy) was not intense so we had to compromise with the next best option-Tabasco sauce.

 
Our 2nd main course-Pollo ala Brassa ($28) was one of the best grilled chicken which we came across in Singapore. The succulent meat beneath the lightly salted and peppery chicken skin complemented the bed of sweet corn purée. Nearly mistaken the green Mojo de Ajo sauce to be wasabi but its garlicky and limey taste never fail to awake our palates.


After so much food, we are still far from the end. For the savoury dishes, the main courses were so satisfying that I recommend skipping the first few appetizers and go straight for them. The climax was the DESSERTS! Not because I am a dessert fan but those here are really SUPERB. So allow me to pause a little while to digest....as this post is getting too long. hehe....To be continued......


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World Street Food Congress Jamboree Feast 2013

June 1, 2013, 7:14 pm
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When we travel to any country, one of the best ways to experience local culture is to head straight for the streetfood. Delicious, cheap and good. What could be better than that? 


From now to 9th June, food lovers now have the opportunity to enjoy streetfood from more than 10 cities at the World Street Food Congress, the first event in the world which allows public and industry players to gain more insights to the rich, vibrant street food culture.

Besides the food dialogue sessions and masterclasses, the highlight of the congress is none other than the World Street Food Jamboree, where the best street food masters are specially flown into Singapore to present their signature dishes.


Priced at $28, each ticket is inclusive of $20 food coupons to purchase the food at the Jamboree event. 

With the average cost of the dish at $8-$9, choosing what to have can be a tricky issue, especially if you do not want to leave the place feeling hungry. Of course, the easiest and fastest way is to purchase additional ticket coupons if they ran out.


After strolling one round, there were just too many food that I want to try. But first I zoomed to LA GUERRERENSE from Mexico for its signature Seafood Tostada. Voted as one of the "101 best places to eat in the World" in Newsweek and recommended by renowned chef, Anthony Bourdain, the item simply cannot afford to be missed. 


The assembly process goes like this: The deep fried corn chips were topped with juicy crab ceviche, next layered with fresh seafood (scallop, squid and crab meat), then drizzled with their various secret spicy sauces made by this smiling lady cum owner, Sabina Bandera Gonzalez (pic below). Lastly, a slice of avocado freshly scraped from the fruit tops the dish.


Mdm Sabina Bandera Gonzalez and her sunny smile
Despite the hefty price tag of $10, I did not regret because the flavours were punchy with a spicy kick. Sour, crunchy, creamy, chewy......everything simply exploded in the mouth. Besides the crab ceviche version, I tried the crab mayonaise salad on tostados which was equally good, with an extra sweetness from corn. A dish that truly lived up to its name. This is a MUST-TRY.


Just remember to ask for the spiciest level.  No fork. No spoon. Things got messy when eaten with hands but sometimes, street food is best savoured this way. Who cares if bits and pieces are dropped on the floor?



I love kuehs and thus had to try the Indonesian Kue Pancong (savoury) and Kue Pukis (sweet). Made from rice flour coconut batter, the Kue Pancong takes quite a bit of time to make in order to achieve a crispy texture (due to the dessicated coconut bits) and soft interior.


Instead of calling it savoury, it tasted more like a plain pancake topped with sugar. Some bites were tangy and so I wondered if fermentation was involved in the batter just like Indian's Thosai. For the sweet Kue Pukis, it was very fragrant, soft and somewhat similar to the Chinese sweet egg sponge cake, but denser. For $4, one gets a piece of each. Portion was small but it did satisfy my sweet tooth.



I heard there was a delicious chendol from this Big Nyonya Cafe and ordered one. 



Opened by a famous personality, Datuk Kenny Chan, this Malacca stall also sells Nasi Ulam--a Nyona dish of steamed rise mixed with coconut, Spanish Mackeral, prawns and sambal belacan.


Under the hot weather during my visit, the icy chendol ($4) provided temporary relief. Some found it not very aromatic but I liked the sweetness from the gula melaka and coconut milk. The green chendol bits and red beans were not many and slightly undercooked though.


Some people might tend to skip the Singapore stalls since they are available outside the event. But knowing that chances of travelling all the way to Bedok for the Heaven's Curry signature Putum Mayyam and Appam are slim, I had to try one at least and it was another memorable dish.


One thing about streetfood is that one should just forget about calories and leave diet to another day. I think my Appam with Butter ($5.50) would not have tasted as fragrant as it was if the Indian man did not toss half slab of butter into the half-cooked batter. It was instant love for the crispy edges as I plucked them off with the grated coconut and orange sugar.

Not Tau Sar Piah but Litti : a traditional Bihar food from India made of wheat flour, gram flour, garlic, onion, spices, rolled into a ball and then baked over charcoal. At Stall Shahi Litti Chokha
Due to limited stomach space, I did not manage to try everything at the event. However, I realised that $20 (or perhaps slightly more) can be substantial for an average person to enjoy a full meal. If one plans well, it would be equivalent to a four or five-set course meal, inclusive of desserts.

Vietnam's Chuoi Nuong(sticky banana rice) : a coconut-water infused glutinous ice wrapped around banana filling in banana leaves, toasted till crisp outside with a molten creamy banana lava inside. Topped with Sweet Coconut Milk and Sesame seeds. Pure Bliss for Banana Lovers! 
So if most people now are willing to pay $20 for one pasta, it would be unfair to complain for an $8 mee siam, isn't it? I guess I am guilty of the streetfood prejudice sometimes. But nonetheless, this event is highly recommended and I suggest you to grab some friends along to share the great food!

Visit and "like" the  facebook at: www.facebook.com/dairyandcream to view full pictures of all stalls with detailed description.

World Streetfood Jamboree Feast 2013
F1 Pit Building & Paddock (Nearest MRT: Promenade Station)
1 Republic Boulevard
Now to 9th June, 11am-10pm
One-day tickets ($28) can be bought on site
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SUR Nuevo Latino Kitchen : Round II Desserts

June 4, 2013, 9:05 am
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After our pig-out at the savoury dishes, we continued covering about 80% of the dessert menu. The Flambe Dulce Le Che filled crepes $14 made a stunning entrance with a LIVE fire show and it continued burning excitedly until I blew the flames off. 
The gooey-licious caramelized milk jam burst out from the crepe when you try to slice into half and it could be easily mistaken to be molten chocolate lava. But nope, this was BETTER. The candied orange ice cream melted beyond recognition and became a pool of mess but no one complained :)

 
For something classic and good, the Torta de Chocolate($14) is the molten chocolate lava cake baked in a jar. The version here shone above the rest with its intense bitterness and the chilly pineapple sorbet was a refreshing change to the usual creamy vanilla.
 

The Creme Caramel that everyone is raving about was only available on certain days. So we had to switch to Profiteroles $12, which thankfully had three crispy and airy domes sheltering coffee ice cream, sitted above an uncommon rectangular biscuit base.

 
It would be a loss to visit Sur without trying its signature Aljafores ($7), a traditional shortbread sandwich filled with the condensed milk jam. This was the PERFECT melt-in-your mouth cookie that justify the hefty price.


Another surprise find was the Millefeuille $7 as many of those sold in Singapore are soggy. The layers were miraculously crispy despite being so thin and in contact with the vanilla diplomat cream (not custard).





In conclusion, I recommend going straight for their main courses (eg. the chicken & the fish) and the desserts as they are more than sufficient to fill up the hungry stomachs of 4 pax. All desserts were wonderful but I would like to have the Alfajores and the Flamed Dulce Le Che Crepes if I could choose as they are not available elsewhere. Bring your loved ones here for a great treat and you won't regret.
 
Click here for Round 1 Savoury.
 
Sur Nuevo Latino Kitchen
13 North Canal Rd #01-01
Tue - Fri: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Sat: 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm


 
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Miow Sin Popiah and Carrot Cake

June 7, 2013, 1:41 am
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Miow Sin Popiah & Carrot Cake, is another famous stall at Lavender that used to be at Upp Boon Keng Road. But the popiah ($1.50) somehow failed to deliver the taste that day.

The portion was quite small and the filling did not had much texture nor flavors as the vegetables were too soft. I don't mind if they are using factory-made skin but it became a little soggy.

 
However, the white carrot cake ($3) was REALLY tasty and crispy. None of the carrot cake chunks were too huge and the chye poh makes it even crunchier and aromatic. Must not miss the powerful chilli here as it gives that extra oomph!
The same uncle who has been frying the carrot cake here. Only after this meal did I realise that the stall has been featured previously on Makan Places : Lost & Found Season 2. Wished my popiah experience had been really "pop!pop!" like what was shown here. 
 Miow Xin Popiah
#01-04 Lavender Food Square
Jalan Besar

Check out other yummy food at Lavender such as Prawn Noodle, Nasi Rendang and old-style pancake!

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