Sparklette Magazine » Malay

Fairmont Singapore Hotel – Buka Puasa Buffet at Asian Market Café

Melissa Koh — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:00:56 +0000

Having met the stringent requirements, Asian Market Café at Fairmont Singapore is now halal certified. During the month of Ramadan, the restaurant rolls out the authentic flavours of the Middle East combined with traditional Malay cuisine, boasting an extensive spread including pan-Asian cuisines and local favourites with live cooking stations, fruit and salad stations and a dessert station.

Ramadan dinner buffet
S$55++ per adult / S$30++ per child (6-12 years)

Separate male and female prayer areas adjacent to Asian Market Café are available, and the traditional fast breaking experience is further enhanced with television monitors placed around the restaurant indicating Salat al Magrib (the time to break fast). Each table is provided with a complimentary plate of dates and a serving of ayram (yoghurt drink) to be consumed upon breaking fast.

The dim lighting lends a distinctive cosiness, but you can choose to sit at the area closer to the food stations if you prefer somewhere brighter. Roomy with ample seats, the atmosphere is perfect for family gatherings, and a great place to bring foreign friends to experience authentic Asian cuisines.

Commence your meal at the fruit or salad stations; the fresh produce will get your appetite pumping for the main course.

Toss up your salads with the condiments and dressings provided.

Bamboo shoot with baby shrimp

Nyonya Achar

Grab some fresh buns, pita, crispy crackers or papadam to pair with the nutritional hummus spreads and Farrosh salad.

Tabbouleh

Chickpea salad

Kimchi

Savour the high notes of briny freshness as you slurp on the juicy oysters. The sizeable molluscs are soft, fleshy and distinctively fresh; you wouldn’t mind loading your plates with this low calorie appetising food that has lots of health benefits!

The Japanese cuisine offered includes various sushi, mini servings of soba and chawanmushi.

Clockwise from top: Fresh oysters, chawanmushi, turmeric chicken, deep fried fish, salmon sashimi

Kept warm in a traditional bamboo steamer, the tasty chawanmushi is light and so smooth that it slides right down your throat.

The hot favourite salmon sashimi gets polished off very quickly, so the staff will be busy replenishing them the entire evening!

Chicken Shawarma with condiments

The sumptuous buffet is complemented by live action stations that include meat carving, satay grilling and roti prata making, where you can watch the chefs show off their nifty skills!

The “Ouzi-style” lamb leg from the carving station looks juicy and tempting.

Satay (meat skewers)

The fried oyster omelette is the ultimate crowd pleaser. The chef is kept busy the entire night as the dish gets wiped out as soon as it gets to the tray! This dish certainly does not lose out to the famous hawkers out there! The ratio of flour, egg and oyster is perfect, and the aroma certainly attracts diners to the station like bees to honey!

The deep fried mantau (bun) is yummy enough to be eaten on its own — crispy on the outside and not oily. It also pairs the chilli crab gravy perfectly. Time to get your hands dirty!

Fried beehoon (rice vermicelli)

Nasi goreng (fried rice)

The sambal stingray is flavourful with a slightly spicy sauce that is bursting with richness. The stingray is slightly tough; a little tenderness would have made it a perfect dish.

Deep fried fish with Thai spicy sauce

The deep fried fish with Thai spicy sauce is amongst the top favourites. The batter insulates the fish so well that the flesh remains tender. The sauce isn’t over-the-top fiery and the spices are well integrated.

Turmeric chicken

The turmeric imparts an exotic fragrance to the chicken. The only disappointment is that the chicken turns out to be a little dry for my liking, though it certainly does not lack the taste factor.

Sayur Lodeh (Indonesian vegetables in coconut curry)

Sambal Udang Belimbing (spicy sambal prawns)

Daging Lembu Masak Lada Hitam

Nonya chap chai (mixed vegetables)

Nonya chicken

Kabsah Dajaj (Arabian “Briyani” with tomato and onion braised chicken on tomato rice)

The intense flavours and well-defined grains make a well-executed Arabian briyani. You will find this hard to resist once the aroma reaches your nostrils!

Foul Modmes (braised broad beans with tomato, onion and spices)

Ayam Panggang (roasted chicken with fresh spices)

The ayam panggang has to be my favourite chicken dish! The well-seasoned chicken is lip-smacking tasty and tender, unlike a few of the chicken dishes in the spread that turn out a little tough.

Mutton rendang

The mutton rendang is well executed in terms of texture, creaminess of the thick curry, the spiciness that is just right, and the robust aroma. There is no gamy smell at all.

Beef Semur (Indonesian beef stew)

If you like your meat well done, you will enjoy the aromatic beef semur — well marinated and full of flavour. The beef may be a little chewy for some who enjoy their meat done slightly rare, but the authenticity of this dish is definitely evident.

For the adventurous, you can try the exotic Moroccan Harira soup with chickpeas. The various textures from the chunks of tomato, lentil and chickpeas is palpable in every spoon. The soup is slightly thick and perfectly seasoned.

Soup Samunpai (Thai herbal soup)

Those with a lighter palate will enjoy the nourishing Thai herbal soup consisting of chicken, dates, ginseng and other herbs. The chicken meat is so tender — with no traces of fat — it falls apart easily. The soup is flavourful and must have been simmered for hours!

Laksa

Cook your own piping hot bowl of laksa with many condiments provided. Laden the noodles with the thick and rich laksa gravy that smells absolutely mouthwatering.

Roti prata (Indian pancake) station

Hop over to the roti prata station and watch the master in action, from kneading the dough to flipping the roti prata, and finally cooking it on the flat grill. You can have the traditional plain prata or egg prata, perhaps even a cheese prata! The friendly chef will gladly oblige to your requests as long as the ingredients are available.

Roti prata (Indian pancake)

The prata is perfectly browned, crispy on the outside with an eggy interior. Amazingly, it does not feel oily at all. Drench it in the accompanying fish curry, and you’re all set. The fragrant curry is so tasty, I am tempted to drink it like soup!

Teh tarik

You can order a cup of teh tarik at the live station, where your tea is pulled till foamy and frosty.

An aromatic cup of coffee is available upon order.

Save room for desserts — a dazzling array of sweet indulgence awaits!

Sweet papaya soup

For something healthful, go for the sweet papaya soup with white fungus, ginger and dates.

Nyonya kueh

The beautiful array of Nyonya kueh neatly arranged in contrasting colours sure make you want to sample every piece!

Cincau Soya

Ang Ku Kueh

Crème caramel flan

Baked jackfruit tart

The jackfruit tart is baked perfectly with a nice crispy texture that is slightly crumbly. The buttery tart has tiny bits of the fruit.

Macau egg tarts

Rice pudding

Turkish semolina cake

Unlike most cakes that are light and airy, the Turkish semolina cake is rich and slightly dense, and yet does not feel heavy on the palate. There is an extra punch of flavour from the orange zest that adds a fragrant citrusy zing. The texture is perfect and the cake isn’t crumply; cake lovers have to try this.

Durian fans must not miss the rich durian purée, a best-seller at Asian Market Café for more than 15 years!

You may also try your hand at making your own ice kacang (shaved ice dessert) at the ice grinding machine with various syrups and toppings.

Service is prompt and swift, and in fact, a little too efficient at times. You may not want to leave your food unattended, as it may be cleared once you leave the table!

The vast variety of delectable food offered at the Asian Market Café Ramadan buffet will make you wish for an extra stomach. Definitely a memorable Buka Puasa experience.

The buffet is available until August 30, 2011.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite type of rice dumplings? Are you a traditionalist or do you prefer new flavours? Tell us in the comments!

Asian Market Café ( )
Fairmont Singapore, level 2
80 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189560
Tel: +65 6431 6156 | Website

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Best Curry Puffs in Singapore: Old Chang Kee

Veron Ang — Sun, 15 May 2011 03:00:55 +0000

Old Chang Kee is probably most famous for their curry puffs. With a food kiosk at every other shopping mall, you can say that their curry snacks have dominated the local food scene. Do you think Old Chang Kee sells the best curry puffs in Singapore?

Apart from their famous curry puff, Old Chang Kee also has a wide range of finger foods such as spring rolls, breaded prawns, chicken wings and crab nuggets. I am quite a fan of the nuggets. In my teenage days, I used to buy these after school to snack on. They come in skewers, and you can help yourself to the sambal chilli which is so savoury as a dip.

The history of Old Chang Kee began with the humble curry puff in 1956. That makes the company older than Singapore herself! It started from a small stall at a coffee shop outside the former Rex cinema along McKenzie Road. People loved the puffs, and the rest is history.

Old Chang Kee curry puffs
S$1.30

Every curry puff is a pouch stuffed full with curry potatoes, chicken chunks, a slice of egg, and fried with several herbs and spices. With that very first bite, the curry aroma comes wafting out. Other than that, the curry flavour does somewhat lack punch, although it still makes a satisfying snack due to the ample filling. A couple of these pastries can be a meal by itself.

Apart from the Old Chang Kee curry puff, there is another curry puff that has stood the test of time. This one is my personal pick for the best curry puff in Singapore. The Tong Heng curry puff has a unique shape and flavour. It is a totally different rendition from your typical curry puff — much sweeter on the palate — and tastes so, so good. You’ve got to try it, too!

Have Your Say!

Are Old Chang Kee curry puffs the best curry puffs in Singapore? If not, where can you find the best curry puffs in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Old Chang Kee ( )
Website

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Adam Road Food Centre: Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak – Best in Singapore?

Veron Ang — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:00:57 +0000

Nasi lemak fans would no doubt be familiar with the famous “Adam Road nasi lemak“, referring to one particular stall at the Adam Road Food Centre. The exact name of this supremely popular stall is Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak, rumoured to be the best nasi lemak in Singapore.

Late one afternoon when a craving hit, I decide to drive down specially to grab some of the coconut-flavoured rice meal. It’s only my first time visiting the stall but spotting it is easy enough; it’s the stall with the longest queue and a prominent LCD display. After 20 minutes in the queue, I am proudly holding a plate of the famous nasi lemak. The friendly seller even threw in a potato patty for free. Perfect for the taste test.

The Selera Rasa nasi lemak is sold in sets with prices ranging from S$2.50 to S$5.50 depending on the ingredients. Every set has a catchy name like Full House or Royal Rumble.

Nasi Lemak
S$2.50 – 5.50
Rating:

The S$5 “Royal Flush” set includes an otah (spicy fish meat wrapped in banana leaf), a begedil (potato patty), a deep-fried chicken wing and a fried egg. All sets come with the obligatory ikan bilis (dried anchovies), cucumber slices and a large serving of coconut-flavoured rice teamed with a spicy sambal sauce.

As far as hawker food goes, this is a relatively expensive plate of nasi lemak. You can easily get cheaper renditions at places like Madam Tan’s or the air-conditioned Qi Ji outlets. But if what people say is true, then paying a little more for the best nasi lemak in Singapore is definitely worth it.

Thanks to the coconut milk, the rice is extremely fragrant, certainly among the best I have savoured when it comes to nasi lemak. The chilli sauce is sweet-tasting and very addictive, with enough fire to excite your taste buds. The seller doesn’t scrimp on it either.

As for the chicken, you get a sizeable wing with an appealing golden crusty skin that is perfectly crispy. Sinful, yes, but deeply satisfying. Owing to the brisk sales, the chicken wing is freshly fried.

While the potato croquette is a popular item that I observe many customers order, I don’t find it particularly tasty or memorable. It’s probably just not my cup of tea.

Overall, Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak delivers what it does best — a truly delicious plate of nasi lemak, quite possibly the best in Singapore. Just be prepared to queue if you want to enjoy the food. And it will be worthwhile.

Have Your Say!

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Where can you get the best nasi lemak in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak ( )
Adam Road Food Centre
2 Adam Road #01-02
Singapore 289876
Tel: +65 9843 4509

Opening hours: 7am – 6pm (Closed on Fridays)

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ABC Market: Nasi Ayam Geylang Serai – Colourful Ayam Penyet & Mee Rebus

Veron Ang — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:00:04 +0000

With the amount of good food available and abundant seating since the 2006 revamp, ABC Market has remained one of the more popular hawker centres in Singapore. Just hop into a cab and tell the driver “ABC Market”. Any cab driver worth his salt would immediately know where to take you.

There are a few stalls that I highly recommend, such as the Wow Wow West western food and Gu Zao Ren Taiwan Porridge.

From the Muslim section, one stall that I frequent is Nasi Ayam Geylang Serai. Ever since my favourite ayam penyet stall closed/moved, this is where I get my fix of smashed fried chicken when a craving strikes.

Ayam penyet (smashed fried chicken)
S$~~3.50~~ 4
Rating:

Ayam penyet has gained popularity here in the past few years, thanks in part to the Indonesian stalls at Lucky Plaza. With the fried chicken deliberately smashed, the flesh comes off the bone easily. It is served with lime, tomato and an enticing pool of hot chilli sauce that possesses just enough pizzazz to intensify your palatable pleasure without sending it into a tailspin. The crispy skin, though undeniably sinful, is no doubt the best part of this dish.

Served alongside is the obligatory plate of rice, paired with a colourful array of keropok (fried crackers). They say the first bite is taken with the eye. The multitude of colours, along with the plate that is fringed with red hibiscus flowers certainly brighten up one’s day! I have had ayam penyet many times before, but it’s the first time that I’ve seen the accompanying rice presented in such a colourful way.

Mee rebus (boiled noodles in sweet potato gravy)
S$2.50
Rating:

The same stall also sells a range of other Malay dishes such as mee rebus, a satisfying noodle dish comprising of piping hot sweet potato gravy with fried bean curd, bean sprouts, green chilli and egg. It comes with pieces of beef for some added wholesomeness.

If you frequent ABC Market, do let me know if any other stall here catches your fancy!

Have Your Say!

Which hawker centres do you frequent in Singapore? What are your favourite hawker food? Share with us in the comments!

Nasi Ayam Geylang Serai ( )
ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
6 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-07
Singapore 150006

Bus services: 123, 14, 147, 153, 196, 197, 198, 855, 961
Nearest MRT: Redhill

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Qi Ji – Quick Bites

Veron Ang — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:51:31 +0000

When you get a craving for nasi lemak, where do you normally go? I usually head to Qi Ji, which has ten locations scattered across Singapore.

The no-frills eatery first became popular for its popiah (spring rolls). Nowadays, it has diversified with a much larger offering of local dishes that include laksa, mee Siam, and of course, nasi lemak.

The halal eatery is operated like a fast food restaurant. Queue up, order, pay, and collect your food immediately. The process is pretty much quick and fuss-free. In true fast food style, the nasi lemak even comes in eight “sets” comprising different selections of ingredients!

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk)
S$4 / 4.90
Rating:

All sets come with the staple accompaniments of ikan bilis (dried anchovies), fried peanuts, cucumber slices, egg and sweet sambal chilli. The coconut rice bears a slight greenish tinge, and has a nice fragrance. For more oomph, always ask for extra sambal! In my opinion, the chilli is at the perfect spice level — mouth-tingling hot but not to the nostril-flaring extent.

My favourite nasi lemak set is the one that comes with otah (spicy fish paste), an omelette slice and a fried chicken wing that I love. On the occasions when my tummy calls for a fuller meal, the chicken cutlet set does the trick.

For a nasi lemak with even more pizazz, go for grandma’s!

Mee Rebus
S$3.30
Rating:

Also worth a mention is the mee rebus. The garnishes include a hard boiled egg, fried tofu, fried shallots, green chilli and beansprouts. It may not be the best, but the tasty sweet potato gravy is good enough for me.

Homemade drinks
S$1.30-1.50

To neutralise the spiciness of the food, Qi Ji offers a range of homemade drinks with cooling effects. There’s barley, chrysanthemum, grass jelly, and many more. Speaking of which, does anyone know how frequently these “homemade” beverages are replenished? I tend to stay away from them because, frankly, they don’t look very fresh!

Having visited the branches at Marina Square, Tiong Bahru Plaza and Century Square, I find that the outlet that serves consistently yummy food is the last one.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Where do you go for your favourite nasi lemak? Share with us in the comments!

Qi Ji ( )
- Bugis Village
- Century Square
- Changi General Hospital #01-09/10/11 (24 hours)
- Funan DigitaLife Mall #01-17
- Heartland Mall #01-133/135
- Hougang Mall #01-41
- ICA Building #01-B-3
- Marina Square #01-06
- NEX Mall #03-10 Nex
- Shaw Towers #01-01
- Suntec City Mall #01-181/183
- Tiong Bahru Plaza #02-11
Website

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Tanjong Pagar Railway Station – What’s Baseball Got to Do with Food?

Veron Ang — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:00:01 +0000

One of the more unusual places where you can dine in Singapore is the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. The many hawker stalls here cater to the travellers moving between Singapore and Malaysia. At night, residents living in the vicinity also flock here for the cheap and diverse chow.

But do you know what’s really unusual about this place? (answer’s at the end of this post. Heh.)

The station was established in the year 1932. With its dank and dreary facade, it seems like a place that time has forgotten! Nonetheless, it still houses enough food stalls to draw crowds every night. Looking at the clientele, most of the stalls do serve halal food if I’m not wrong.

Look what I’ve found at one of the stalls! Can you tell what it is?

Baseball Soto
S$2.50
Rating:

They call it the baseball soto! The “baseball” is actually a baseball-sized begedil, the Malay fried potato croquette. The base is akin to the spicy soup in mee soto. Hence, baseball soto!

The hot hot soup really makes you work up a sweat and your nose run. Not a pretty sight, guys. The auntie would even ask you if you’d like more chilli. And if you do she would gladly add a dollop of thick chilli paste to the baseball. Mmm… Challenging.

Tearing apart the soft baseball reveals an interior of fluffy mashed potato and tasty minced mutton. The whole ball has been dipped in beaten eggs before frying, resulting in a nice colour and flavour.

Simply sedap!

The dish can be bought at the colourful corner stall called noor Muslim food. The same stall also sells other fares such as laksa, mee rebus and gado gado.

Noor Muslim Food ( )

From a neighbouring stall, we get the nasi ayam sambal. This is another hot hot dish, with chicken and rice this time.

Nasi Ayam Sambal (chicken rice with sambal chilli)
S$4
Rating:

The bird is semi-smashed, like ayam penyet, and coated in a dark sambal chilli sauce. While it tastes good, the portion is rather small and pricey.

It’s a pity that the outdoor dining seems to have disappeared. previously, rows of tables and chairs were laid out on the road after dark. People could dine under the stars! The concept was exactly like Lau Pa Sat, just without the pesky touts and the smoke from the dozens of satay grills.

I remember back then there was only one lone seller grilling his satay in a corner. Now, the satay seller, along with the alfresco dining, are no longer around. This is what it was like before. Are they really gone?

Directly adjacent to the dining area is the central waiting hall. It boasts vast spaces and a high dome ceiling. If you stare close enough, you can see the beautiful wall panels depicting traditional Malaysian scenes such as rubber tapping and farming.

As for my earlier question: what’s really unusual about this place? Well, the railway station and the land it sits on are technically not part of Singapore. Ktm, the Malaysian railway operator, still hold the property on a 999-year lease.

So the next time you feel a need to go to Malaysia, you don’t actually have to travel far!

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
30 Keppel Road
Singapore 089059

Bus services: 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 100, 131, 145, 97E
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar

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Katrina – Love Mee!

Veron Ang — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:52:57 +0000

So there I am, standing in the middle of the jam-packed Tampines Mall on a Saturday evening and checking out Katrina. The place looks nondescript and plain, and the menu seemingly ordinary. In my mind I’m thinking: people are eating here only because they are unwilling to brave the queues at the more popular restaurants.

Succumbing to the hungry rumbling of my stomach, I venture in and order myself a bowl of Mee Rebus.

And if I haven’t done that, I wouldn’t have tasted the best Mee Rebus I’ve ever had.

Mee Rebus
S$3.20 / $4.80 (with chicken)
Rating:

What strikes you immediately is the colourful and tantalising array of garnishes on the dish: hard boiled egg, fried shallots, chopped green chilli, bits of fried tofu, crunchy beansprouts, half a lime and a dollop of sambal chilli. All the ingredients are so fresh and the portion is huge! Need we ask for more?

The most important component of Mee Rebus is the sweet potato gravy. It is wonderfully sweet (not the sugary sweet kind) with a spicy tinge that is just enough to give you a kick. The sambal chilli is most welcome, too. Some hawker stalls don’t provide additional sambal for this dish as it’s already spicy. But when the sambal is as tasty as Katrina’s, it makes the dish so much better.

The yellow egg noodles, which happens to be my favourite kind of noodle, are boiled to the perfect texture and totally slurpilicious! In Japanese cuisine, you are supposed to slurp your udon noisily to express appreciation for the chef’s cooking. I’d gladly do the same here, too!

Simply put, this is the most satisfying Mee Rebus I’ve ever had. But, of course, if you have an even better recommendation, I would love to hear it in the comments and sample it for myself!

Nasi Bali
S$5.50
Rating:

Another dish that is equally colourful and visually appealing is the Nasi Bali. It looks and tastes like nasi lemak to me. But if I remember correctly, the rice is different.

Once again, the dish has several accompaniments such as achar (pickled vegetables), peanuts, crisps, dried shrimp floss, vegetables and sambal chilli.

The grilled chicken is served on a separate wooden plate, like what hawkers normally do for Ayam Penyet.

For the price, we find that the size of the chicken is rather skimpy. The grilled chicken at the Plaza Singapura food court, you know the one with that never ending queue, is easily twice or thrice the size, and cheaper, too! The dark sweet sauce here is yummy though.

So the next time you’re in the east, whether it is to shop at Tampines one, or to catch a movie at Tampines mall, you can check out Katrina!

Katrina ( )
Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5 #B1-K21
Singapore 529510
Tel: +65 6781 7090 Website

Bus services: 3, 8, 10, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 31, 37, 38, 39, 65, 67, 69, 72, 81, 168, 291, 292, 293, 553, 969, 2N, NR7
Nearest MRT: Tampines

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Grandma’s – Wonderful Family Restaurant

Veron Ang — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:23:53 +0000

In Malaysia, I indulged in one of the best nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk) I’ve ever had in my life at Madam Kwan’s. Since then, I have been wondering if we can enjoy the same thing in Singapore.

With some googling, I struck gold. Grandma’s at Orchard Parade Hotel serve the same dishes whipped up by Chef Yong, a former chef at Madam Kwan’s for 8 long years! The restaurant also falls under the Akashi group, and is one that I would eventually visit and come to love.

Because I didn’t get to try Madam Kwan’s famous nasi bukhari in Kuala Lumpur, I’ve grown even more curious about it. That’s the first dish I go for, and Grandma’s certainly does not disappoint.

Nasi Bukhari (pilaf rice)
S$15.80++
Rating:

The nasi bukhari consists of (clockwise from top left):

beef rendang
rice cooked in coconut milk
assam prawns
a mega-huge chicken drumlet

The most impressive part of this dish is, no doubt, the big chicken. It has the thinnest, crispiest skin, and neither feels dry nor oily. You just want to chew up all the skin at one go!

Soaked in gravy and infused with the fragrance of spices, the beef rendang is soft and tender.

The weak link of the dish, I find, is the assam prawns that are cooked with loads of sauteed onion. The portion is skimpy (just two prawns of average size) and the taste is ordinary (bakerzin’s assam prawns with linguini is actually better).

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk)
S$10.80++
Rating:

If you can bring yourself to spend more than $10 on nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk), go for this.

The nasi lemak consists of (clockwise from top left):

sambal ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
cucumber
achar (pickled vegetables) in a separate small dish
curry chicken
rice cooked in coconut milk
hard boiled egg
dried shrimp floss

So basically, the accompaniments are identical to Madam Kwan’s.

The lemak rice is similarly aromatic and fluffy. Perhaps due to my own (high) expectations after having tasted madam kwan’s nasi lemak, I find that I’m not a big fan of the sambal and achar here. And for me, the sambal plays the most important role of this dish.

But where madam kwan’s falters, Grandma’s does a pretty good job. The curry chicken here is tastier and goes wonderfully with the fragrant rice.

Now that I have tried the nasi lemak at both restaurants, I feel I can fairly say that overall, Grandma’s nasi lemak pales slightly in comparison. (I feel horrible for saying that!) however my partner who has never eaten at madam kwan’s before loves it, so I think it has a lot to do with expectations; once you’ve had the best, nothing else seems good enough. Madam kwan’s shoes are hard to fill.

Sotong (calamari)
S$7.80++
Rating:

Apart from the two main dishes, Grandma’s also has a whole range of dishes that you can order, zi char style.

The sotong (calamari) is stir fried in either soya sauce or spicy tamarind sauce. We pick the first, which is an excellent choice. The dark soya sauce gravy is distinctly different from all the dishes we have ordered, with a refreshing sweetness coupled with a mild tinge of spiciness.

The sotong, in this case, is sliced into bigger chunks as opposed to the more common rings. The flesh is a little stiff, and would have been a perfect 5 had it been softer.

Otak Otak (spicy fish paste)
S$8.80++
Rating:

Another dish I would recommend is the otak otak (spicy fish paste). While it may seem quite pricey, you do get a fat slab of fish paste on the platter. More importantly, it is juicy and oh-so-satisfying, with the spiciness level turned up a notch compared to the earlier dishes.

You can also see that the otak contains many chunky pieces of fish and isn’t all mush. I like it that way!

Kang Kong
S$7.80++
Rating:

For veggies, we go for the kang kong (water spinach) stir-fried with spicy shrimp paste. There is also the choice of brinjal, long beans or lady’s fingers.

Besides the awesome food, here’s one more thing: they serve free chilled water in a carafe! Take that, you restaurateurs that refuse to serve free water. That’s how it’s done.

Of course, if you want something other than water, you can take advantage of the cheap beer. $3 pints of tiger or $5 pints of Erdinger, anyone?

Click to enlarge

I have attached Grandma’s menu here. It is worth noting that the service here is prompt and friendly. Both the manager and assistant manager are busting their asses along with the waitstaff, and still find time to chat with us and ask about the food.

From our conversation, I learn that Chef Yong is stationed at Orchard Parade Hotel. He’s the guy that prepares all the gravies and sauces (that is, the stuff that make or break a dish), which are then delivered to the other outlets. This way, the consistency of the food standards is maintained at both places!

Maybe it’s something to do with the restaurant’s name, I spot many families in the weekend dinner crowd. This is certainly one restaurant where you can bring your parents and in-laws to.

Well done, Grandma’s. I’m delighted to discover a new restaurant that I can frequent. I’ll certainly be back for more!

Grandma’s
- Orchard Parade Hotel, 1 Tanglin Road, Tel: +65 6732 3082
- NEX Mall, 23 Serangoon Central, Tel: +65 6634 8949
- Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Tel: +65 6737 7931
- United Square, 101 Thomson Road, Tel: +65 6356 5434

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – High-end Hawker Fare at Madam Kwan’s

Veron Ang — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:56:25 +0000

Aside from Nando’s, another place that I have been wanting to visit in Kuala Lumpur is Madam Kwan’s. Started by the 75 year old Madam Kwan Swee Lian in 1977, this 4-restaurant chain takes pride in dishing out true Malaysian cuisine. Even the ang mohs love it, judging by the number of expatriates dining in the swanky eatery!

While the menu consists of largely hawker fare, the sleek and classy decor gives the feel of a high-end restaurant. You can expect to feast on mamak food like nasi lemak, nasi bojari and assam laksa, which are the signature dishes here.

I go for the first, a natural choice for a nasi lemak lover!

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk)
RM$~~14.90~~ 15.90++
Rating:

Service is quick and the food is delivered pronto. The white lemak rice is accompanied by curry chicken, hard boiled egg, dried shrimp floss, spicy ikan bilis (dried anchovies), cucumber, and achar (pickled vegetables) in a separate small plate. What a delightful combination of colours and mouthwatering flavours!

With the fragrance of the coconut milk infusing every grain, the rice smells great and tastes even better. Despite how good it is, I can’t finish all of it due to the ample portions of the other ingredients. While I would expect the huge serving of curry chicken to be the “star” of the dish, it turns out only pedestrian. I find that it’s really the accompaniments that make this dish what it is.

Slanting towards the sweet side, the sambal ikan bilis are comfortably spicy and simply bursting with flavour! I only wish there’s more of it to go with the coconut rice.

Even the little saucer of achar packs a punch with its sweet-sour taste and crunchy quality.

Some people don’t mind paying steep prices for great food, even if it’s the seemingly ordinary hawker fare. This nasi lemak definitely falls into the category of highly-priced yummy food (though not as pricey as the Chatterbox chicken rice).

The Madam Kwan’s outlet I visited was at the posh Suria KLCC mall situated at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers. The same mall houses many designer boutiques like Prada and Louis Vuitton.

If you are in Singapore and hungering for Madam Kwan’s cuisine, Grandma’s may just be the place to satisfy that craving. Helmed by a former chef at Madam Kwan’s, this restaurant also sells the same style of dishes. I don’t know if the food tastes as good though. If you have dined there, perhaps you can share your experience with us!

Update: I visited Grandma’s and the food is awesome!

For now, I would continue to get my fix of nasi lemak from Qi Ji, and a certain small non-air-conditioned eatery at Toa Payoh Central.

How about you? Where do you go for your favourite nasi lemak?

Madam Kwan’s ( )
4 outlets:
- Suria KLCC
- Mid Valley Megamall
- Pavilion
- Bangsar Baru
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Chinatown Complex Market: Dong Li Cooked Food – A Couple of Gems Here

Veron Ang — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:10:59 +0000

If there is one kind of food that I can never resist, it is satay. Just toss me a plate of satay and watch me polish the meat off the skewers. Even after a sumptuous meal, I’ll still gladly down a few more sticks. Yes, I guess it suffices to say that I love satay.

Having satay without a decent peanut gravy would be incomplete. I can never understand why some people would choose to eat it without a dip. It’s like eating barbecued stingray without the sambal!

Some satay sellers even go the extra mile of adding a dash of pineapple sauce to the peanut gravy! Very few sellers do this though; I’ve only had it at Old Punggol Satay before. But recently I came across another stall — dong li cooked food at the recently reopened Chinatown Complex Market — that does the gravy the same way!

Satay (pork/chicken/mutton)
S$0.50 a stick
Rating:

Some may argue that satay gravy should be eaten the way it is, without the fusion with pineapple sauce. But that little bit of pineapple really spices things up, or should I say, zests things up! It adds a whole new layer of flavour to your usual sweet peanut gravy.

The peanuts here are ground extra fine, so the gravy is extremely smooth (but certainly not watered down) and slides down the throat easily.

The satay — pork, chicken or mutton — costs 50 cents a stick and a minimum order of ten sticks is required. (remember the good old times when satay cost just 30 or 40 cents?) top it up with the lontong (rice cakes) if you wish, also at 50 cents each.

I was so impressed when the satay came within 5 minutes. That has got to be the shortest time anyone took to deliver my satay! Having said that, I found the meat to be slightly tough. But the excellent gravy and quick service really cannot be faulted.

So the food isn’t halal. But to my Muslim readers, fret not. I sure know where you can treat yourself to the best halal satay in town!

Shui Jing Bao (crystal dumpling)
3 for $2
Rating:

In addition to satay, the other item that the stall sells is the shui jing bao (crystal dumplings). The vegetable filling is delicious, and goes great with the sweet-tasting sambal chilli.

My only gripe is that the dumpling skin is rather thick. So you somewhat get the feeling that you are eating more of the skin than the filling. The sambal chilli is really awesome, but a delicate translucent skin like how they do it at tiong Bahru lien fa shui jing bao would have made it perfect.

In any case, the food here is great-tasting and service is lightning fast. Whether you’re looking for a full meal or just some nice after-meal snacks, dong li cooked food is well worth checking out.

Dong Li Cooked Food
Chinatown Complex Market
335 Smith Street #02-191
Singapore 050335

Bus services: 2, 12, 33, 54, 61, 63, 80, 124, 145, 166, 143, 147, 190, 197, 851, 961, 970, 961C
Nearest MRT: Chinatown

Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Closed on alternate Thursdays)

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Alexandra Village Food Centre: Old Punggol Satay – Oldies, Goldies

Veron Ang — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:32:13 +0000

Craving for juicy bits of meat, dipped in a delicious gravy? Head to Old Punggol Satay at Alexandra Village. If I may use a Singapore slang to sum up the satay (meat skewers) experience here, the word is “shiok”!

Food on a stick is always fun to eat! That’s why satay is one of my most favourite food. Most of the time I would satisfy my satay cravings at stalls #7 and #8 in Lau Pa Sat, which I have raved about over and over again. In my opinion, that particular stall is where you would find the best satay in Singapore.

But today, I highlight a different satay stall that is slightly away from town. Old Punggol Satay is run by Chinese folks. The food is strictly non-halal, with pork being offered as well. Muslims would have to sit this one out, sorry!

Satay
S$0.50 per stick
Rating:

For 50 cents a stick, you get a good-sized portion of diced meat on the skewer, with options of chicken, mutton or pork. The tender meat slides off the stick easily, so you need not overwork those jaw muscles. Most importantly, the meat is nicely marinaded and perfectly grilled — neither too burned nor too underdone.

Even the ketupat (rice cake, also 50 cents each) is beautifully wrapped in pandan leaves, with the sweet fragrance permeating through.

The one key factor that distinguishes Old Punggol Satay from your run of the mill satay stalls is the peanut gravy dip. The special gravy is served with a large dollop of mashed pineapple sauce atop, resulting in an additional and much welcomed layer of flavour.

Very shiok!

Old Punggol Satay
Alexandra Village Food Centre
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-52
Singapore 150120
Tel: +65 9677 0074 / +65 9824 3730

Opening hours:
4:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon-Fri)
12pm – 9:30pm (Sat, Sun & PH)

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Padang Corner – Tasty Corner

Veron Ang — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:07:56 +0000

Like a typical Singaporean, I am very fond of spicy food, even if it means looking unglamorous while eating my favourite sambal dishes, nose dripping at the same time. For that reason, I love the robust flavours of Indonesian food, which tend to be red hot spicy most of the time.

At the kopitiam food court in Plaza Singapura, there’s always an impossibly long queue at the famous riverside Indonesian BBQ stall. But for people that are too hungry to endure the long wait, there’s another Indonesian food stall. The name is padang corner, a rather apt one as it is a corner stall too.

You can order the food here in the form of ala carte dishes, or rice sets.

Beef Rendang
S$2.50
Rating:

The beef rendang is prepared only upon ordering. Hence you can be assured of a freshly cooked bowl! Chunks of beef are served in a simmering rendang gravy. While the tasty gravy has just the right amount of spicy condiments, it is very oily too. (lately I’ve become more health-conscious so I tend to pay attention to such things.) had it been less oily, I wouldn’t think twice about slurping it all down!

Seafood Rice Set with Prawn
S$4.80
Rating:

For rice sets, you can choose from seafood, curry chicken or beef rendang, just to name a few. Each set comes with vegetables, and either an egg or fried beancurd. We ordered a couple of the seafood sets — one with prawn, the other sotong (calamari).

One conclusion I have come to is that the lady boss must really love to cook! All her dishes are cooked in different gravies. Even for the chilli gravy, she would have variations. For example, the prawns and the sotong are cooked in two very different chilli sauces. The prawn gravy is a bright chilli red colour with a sourish tinge. The sotong gravy is a deeper red, with a sweeter taste that is similar to sambal chilli.

And both of them taste good!

Seafood Rice Set with Sotong
S$4.80
Rating:

I do have a few major gripes though. The portions for the prawns and the sotong are rather skimpy for a $4.80 set meal. Also, the stall has yet to invest in a proper heater. So most of the food get cold if you go there in the evening. If you want non-soggy food with hot gravy, it’s a better idea to go there in the afternoon when all the food are freshly cooked.

Curry Chicken
S$4
Rating:

After discovering my most favourite curry chicken at Xin Wang, nothing else seems to compare. The one here is nothing to shout about, with a curry that’s watered down, non-spicy and bland. At the end of the day, it really is the curry that makes or breaks a dish like this.

In any case, an additional alternative for Indonesian food is always welcome. (it’s halal too!) the flavours at padang corner are tasty all right, without you having to wait long to be served your food. Just be sure to go there earlier in the day before the food turns cold.

Padang Corner (Stall 3) ( )
Kopitiam, Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#06-15/20 Singapore 238839

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Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel – More Than Just Teh

Veron Ang — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:11:18 +0000

Calling all night owls! If you’re looking for a nice supper place to grab some chow, you can visit Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel!

As the name suggests, you can find teh tarik here plus a gazillion other drinks. There’s Milo Dinosaur, teh halia (ginger tea), various ice blended drinks, just to name a few. Read my earlier review on Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel to find out more about the drinks!

Perhaps Mr. Teh Tarik is more well known for the vast variety of drinks. But do you know that they whip up many yummy dishes to go along too?

Roti John Chicken
S$3.50
Rating:

One of my favourite Muslim dishes is roti john. Most of the time, it is served with plenty of chilli sauce.

At Mr. Teh Tarik, the roti john is served with very delicious chilli sauce AND creamy mayonnaise too. Simply sedap (yummy)! This additional condiment makes a world of difference.

Plus, the way they squeeze it in a cute checkered pattern over the French bread is just neat!

Oh by the way, if you aren’t too familiar with this dish, check out my earlier writeup on how roti john came about and got its name. It’s pretty interesting!

Chicken Briyani
S$6
Rating:

Of course, there’s also nasi briyani for people that prefer eating rice rather than bread. We had asked for our chicken to be deep fried. It turned out pretty well, although I would still go for roti john any day!

So, for those of you looking for a late night supper place, you now have another option! That’s great for all of us, right?

Mr. Teh Tarik ( )
- 135 Amoy St #01-01 Far East Square
- 1 Raffles Place #b1-04 OUB Centre
- No 1 Changi Business Park Crescent #01-21 (Plaza 8)
- Blk 201D Tampines St 21 #01-1155
- Blk 503 #01-293 Tampines Central 1
- 902 East Coast Parkway Blk B #01-04/07 Playground@BigSplash
- 970 Geylang Road #01-02 Tristar Complex
- Blk 204 Bedok North St 1 #01-435
- Blk 608 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 #01-2771 (opening soon)
- Blk 306A Woodlands St 31 #01-01
- Blk 456 Jurong West St 41 #01-750

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Sri Bistari Changi Village – Best Ayam Penyet of the East!

Veron Ang — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:51:59 +0000

Being a huge fan of ayam penyet (smashed fried chicken), I am always on the prowl for this sinful dish. But now that there are so many places where you can find it these days, it’s becoming hard to sift out the really good ones from the rest. The latest gem I have uncovered is Sri Bistari Changi Village.

Don’t be misled by the name though. They actually have six outlets, albeit most of them in the east, with just one in the central area. My family and I visited one of their stalls at Changi Village while we were en route to pengerang.

So just what made me fall in love with the sri bistari ayam penyet?

Nasi Ayam Penyet (Smashed Fried Chicken with Rice)
S$4
Rating:

Upon savouring the chicken flesh, I knew I was gonna thoroughly enjoy my next 15 minutes of pigging into the sinful dish that’s served on its usual wooden platter. It was just so tender and juicy, much unlike the many severely dry ayam penyet I had tasted before.

The fluffy nasi (rice) here is flavoured a la Hainanese chicken rice — very fragrant and tasty! Even the soup tastes awesome with the dash of fried shallots.

No good ayam penyet is complete without a generous heap of sambal chilli. The chilli here is rather roughly ground. It is also extremely addictive, so much so that you would want to have more, and more, and MORE of it in your rice despite how spicy it is. Just be sure to have an iced drink and tissues ready while you ask for more chilli! You will not regret it!

At Changi Village alone, there are two Sri Bistari outlets. The original stall is at the wet market area, and the second one is at the Muslim section that includes the famous nasi lemak stall with the perpetually long queues. Look out for the purple signboard. There are 2 stalls with purple signboards so make sure you get to the right one!

Sri Bistari Changi Village ( )
2 Changi Village Road #01-53
Singapore 500002

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Tanjong Pagar Railway Station – Malaysian Food in Singapore

Veron Ang — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:53:49 +0000

As sinful as it is, satay (meat skewers) is one type of food I can never resist. I get my regular fix of chicken satay from the best satay stall at Lau Pa Sat. Besides the fact that it serves the best satay I’ve ever had in Singapore, the open-air dining also keeps me coming back for more.

Do you know that there’s another satay place in town that shares a very similar open-air dining concept? In fact it’s very near Lau Pa Sat, at the aged but still functioning Malaysia-owned Tanjong Pagar Railway Station!

How often do I ride the railway? Almost never! Only very recently have I heard of the dining area within the railway station. This part of the station is not exactly visible from the main road. If someone hadn’t told me about it, I would never have known that it existed!

Photo by scyll24

There are a few canteens and food courts within the station with mostly Muslim stalls. After all, this whole place, as well as the land it sits on, is owned by Malaysia.

Like Lau Pa Sat, a street by the side of the station is catered for outdoor dining. Indoor seating is available too, but personally I find greater enjoyment in dining under the stars!

I spot the lone satay man plying his trade in one corner, and excitedly order a few sticks from him (a few just in case the food isn’t too yummy). I don’t have to wait long.

Satay (meat skewers)
S$0.50 per stick
Rating:

The food sure seems promising! The glazed chicken meat looks extra juicy, too! But alas, both the meat and peanut gravy turn out to be really bland! You can probably tell from the picture that the gravy is extremely watered down. Argh!

What a shame. After hearing a couple of people proclaiming this to be the best satay in town, I am rather disappointed!

In the end, I got my yummy satay after all — back at Lau Pa Sat!

Nonetheless, I must say that dining in such a casual alfresco setting is pretty cool. It makes you feel like you’re right in Malaysia (without having to actually be there)!

(Update on September 4, 2009: after paying another visit to this railway station, it seems that the outdoor seating is no longer available!)

Satay stall (no name) ( )
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
30 Keppel Road
Singapore 089059

Bus services: 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 100, 131, 145, 97E
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar

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Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel – Perfect to the T(ea)

Veron Ang — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 10:03:22 +0000

I am sure many of you would be familiar with Mr. Teh Tarik at Far East Square. It’s the little pushcart stall with the green roof that sells all kinds of teh (tea). People would sit around on wooden stools to enjoy their drinks.

At least, that’s how I remember it.

When we paid a visit recently, we found that Mr. Teh Tarik has upgraded itself to Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel. No longer is it a modest little pushcart in the outdoors. Now, it occupies an actual stall unit in the Far East Square building!

But if you ask me, I still prefer its old look. There is somewhat of a 60s feel when you queue up at a wooden pushcart stall, purchase your drink and wait for the Indian seller to tarik (pull) your teh.

Photo by ixii

This is how Mr. Teh Tarik looks like in its (his?) former days. People would drink their teh under big umbrellas.

Photo by dc6

Still, it’s always a good thing to see a thriving business being able to upgrade itself! In fact, this reminds me very much of the game lemonade tycoon.

I used to run a little lemonade stall in the game. Similarly, I started out with a tiny lemonade pushcart and eventually was able to afford an air-conditioned stall with multiple upgrades! Haha!

But I digress. At Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel, you can enjoy both hot and cold drinks, including the Milo Dinosaur and Horlicks dinosaur! They also have all different renditions of teh. teh o, teh tarik, teh halia. You name it, they have it.

Iced Milk Tea & Hot Ginger Tea Si
S$1.50 & $0.90
Rating:

So I put that to the test. I ordered teh halia si (tea with ginger and evaporated milk), and — surprise, surprise — they actually had it!

Prices here are extremely affordable too. No wonder the place is always packed and people have trouble finding seats!

Not only do they have tea, they serve coffee too, similarly with all the different renditions. So the next time you’re done dining at one of the numerous restaurants at Far East Square or China square, do pop by Mr. Teh Tarik Cartel to get your fix of teh or coffee!

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Best Satay – Literally the Best Satay

Veron Ang — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:43:35 +0000

One of my favourite local delights is chicken satay (meat skewers), and it has to be the Muslim version. Somehow satay made by the Chinese just don’t seem to taste as good, perhaps due to a different use of spices.

The best place to get good satay is probably Lau Pa Sat, where there is an entire street dedicated to satay stalls! Competition is fierce; satay sellers from the various stalls would actively approach potential customers. There are more than a dozen satay stalls. So which is the best one?

For the past 5 years (at least), I have been a die-hard fan of stalls 7 and 8. They call themselves Best Satay, and I totally agree with them! In fact, an old blog post that I wrote years ago praising their satay is still being displayed prominently on their stall front!

Being an avid satay eater, I have honed my skills in sifting out the good satay from the bad. In my opinion, good satay should have the following:

- tender and moist meat
- decent-sized meat
- rich marinade that penetrates the meat
- meat that slides off the skewer easily
- grilled to perfection
- tasty peanut gravy that is neither too oily nor watered down
- fresh onion and cucumber

Satay (Meat Skewers)
60 cents per stick
Rating:

Stalls 7 and 8 exceed all my above expectations! And that’s not all. The sellers are always friendly and obliging, even going the extra mile to provide water and paper napkins for customers to wash their hands afterwards!

In my opinion, they really are the best satay stall around. I try to visit them at least once a week! Look out for the friendly lady boss, Ainon. She knows me by my Chinese name “Wan Ting”. The next time you go there, do help me say hi!

Best Satay (Stalls 7 & 8) ( )
Lau Pa Sat
18 Raffles Quay
Singapore 048582
Tel: +65 6741 3109

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ABC Market: Y.R.A. Aspirasa – Awesome Ayam Penyet! [Closed]

Veron Ang — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:11:10 +0000

Ever since I’ve been back from Japan, I have been eating ayam penyet (smashed fried chicken) almost everyday! What’s even more amazing is that I’m buying it from the same stall all the time. This particular ayam penyet stall is THAT awesome.

Ayam penyet is a popular rice dish found at most hawker centres. The chicken is deliberately smashed with a wooden mallet after deep-frying, apparently to loosen the meat from the bone.

Ayam Penyet (Smashed Fried Chicken)
S$4
Rating:

After my disappointment at Ayam Penyet Ria (the Indonesian restaurant at Lucky Plaza that just about everyone is raving about), I have become rather wary about trying this dish; I am afraid the chicken would turn out to be too dry and hence inedible!

But this particular stall consistently churns out an awesome ayam penyet! Not only is the chicken tender and juicy, along with the sinfully crispy skin, it also comes with a generous amount of super tasty chilli sauce! Even as I’m perspiring from the spiciness, I would still ask for more chilli because it’s just so shiok!

You know what’s the best part?

This stall is right at my doorstep! Haha! Bet you didn’t see that coming! It’s Y.R.A. Aspirasa located at ABC Market. Aside from ayam penyet they also sell numerous other ayam dishes. I’ve tried their ayam sambal, which was almost as good.

And if you go there on an evening, there’s a good chance you would catch me there too. Lol!

Note that there are a few stalls at ABC Market selling ayam penyet. So please make sure you go to the correct stall!

Y.R.A. Aspirasa ( )
ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
6 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-04
Singapore 150006

Bus services: 123, 14, 147, 153, 196, 197, 198, 855, 961
Nearest MRT: Redhill

Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily

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