The holiday season is deemed the most wonderful time of the year. Having family and friends come together for an unforgettable celebration is just about the best thing that one can ask for. Of course, special occasions like this warrant special treats, like mugs of indulgent homemade coffee that will warm the hearts of all we love.

In preparation for the festive season, we created a few refreshing and delicious holiday coffee recipes using Nespresso’s Limited Edition Festive coffees – Variations Nordic Almond Cake Flavoured, Variations Nordic Cloudberry Flavoured, and Nordic Black. Whether you like to sip on a hot mug of coffee or take your time with a glass of iced coffee, these recipes will power you through the festivities!

Toasted Marshmallow Latte with Nordic Black

Nordic coffee culture inspired the Nordic Black lungo. What’s better than adding your favorite holiday treats to some smooth Nordic Black coffee? The African and South American Arabica blend is full of sweet fruity notes, and it carries a smooth and lingering aftertaste of cereal.

You probably will love it just as it is, but we realised that it goes equally well with milk and toasted marshmallows. As you can see, I got greedy and added more marshmallows than the cup can hold. Stay home, and watch some Christmas movies with this festive drink in hand. Here’s our simple recipe:

1. Add a shot of capsule coffee
2. Fill ½ the cup with steamed milk
3. Fill ¼ of the cup with milk froth, leaving some space for the marshmallows
4. Place 3-4 marshmallows on the froth
5. Torch the marshmallows lightly for about 10 seconds

Honey Almond Latte with Variations Nordic Almond Cake Flavoured

The Honey Almond Latte comprises a shot of Nespresso’s Variations Nordic Almond Cake Flavoured coffee and streaks of honey. It is very easy to recreate the recipe. Of course, you can choose to replace honey with salted caramel sauce instead. It makes for a pretty picture, but you’ll need to take photos of your cuppa quickly. Here’s our recipe:

1. Drizzle honey in the cup
2. Pour in a shot of capsule coffee
3. Fill 2/3 of the cup with milk
4. And the remaining 1/3 with milk froth
5. Top with crushed almonds

Nespresso’s Variations Nordic Almond Cake Flavoured coffee carries caramelised notes and biscuity aroma. You can definitely taste hints of vanilla custard, whipped cream, almond, and meringue. It’s as though you are eating a cake! Now, for the grand finale — sprinkle some crushed almonds on top of the frothy milk. The toasty, nutty nuances make the drink so delicious.

Berry Brew Latte with Variations Nordic Cloudberry Flavoured

Our Berry Brew Latte is an easy dessert-like iced coffee you can make at home. It is crafted with Nespresso’s Variations Nordic Cloudberry Flavoured coffee, a medium roast with sweet fruitiness, and a hint of acidity. With the addition of blueberry syrup, those flavors are enhanced. Savour the drink right away after a sumptuous Christmas feast. Here’s our recipe:

1. Place 2-3 ice cubes in the cub
2. Drizzle 1 tsp of blueberry syrup in the cup
3. Add in a shot of capsule coffee, chilled.
4. Fill the cup to ¾ full with milk
5. Top with whipped cream
6. Finish off with more blueberry syrup if needed

GET YOUR NESPRESSO’S FESTIVE COFFEE TODAY

Just a touch of a button, and you can create moments of indulgence with Nespresso’s 3 limited edition festive coffees. Sit back, relax and enjoy these holiday creations!

Nespresso’s festive coffees are available online, and at all Nespresso boutiques (ION Orchard, Vivocity, Raffles City, Takashimaya, Tampines Mall (Pop-Up) and Marina Bay Sands(Pop-Up)). Don’t miss Nespresso’s exclusive festive offers of up to 20% off their machines!

May your holidays be bright and coffee-scented!

The post Christmas Coffee Guide – Create 3 Nordic-Inspired Coffee Recipes with Nespresso’s Festive Coffees appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I know Two Men Bagel has been around for a long while but I only had the chance to try it last week when I was in Novena for breakfast. Better late than never right?

I had my first bagel in New Zealand a few years ago while my husband and I were walking around the Sunday market. It was a cold and rainy morning, and there was a queue at this popular bagel kiosk. We joined the queue and ordered a bagel to share. Unfortunately, it was as hard as a brick.

So, when I pulled my husband out for breakfast at Two Men Bagel House, he was reluctant. “Later I have to finish up all the hard bagel by myself!” He exclaimed.

I am glad we went as we totally enjoyed our bagel. They serve different types of bagel — plain, seeded, salt blueberry, multi-grain, cheddar and more. The bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in honey water and baked fresh every morning in-house.

There were so many different options to choose from. My husband went for something very safe — the Hawaiian ($10) which is packed with spam, cheddar, sunny egg and caramelised pineapple. The warm pineapple was super juicy! This is like a genius combination that won’t go wrong.

I was recommended the Winner ($12), a huge stack filled with spicy chicken sausage, Pommery mustard, cheddar, hash, and a sunny egg. In case you think I hate vegetables, they actually run out of vegetables for my order. It did look good but I thought it was a little overkill after a few mouthfuls. I should have gone for some smoked meats since they smoke them on their own.

As messy as this breakfast was, it was also filling and satisfying. I had a cup of cappuccino to complete my meal. Bagels and coffee are definitely best friends. There is limited seating, so most people have their bagels to go.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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Stepping into Seng Steam Fish Restaurant, we were expecting a menu to be provided since it’s a zichar eatery. Mdm Chin, the lady boss, then informed us that the menu is on the board. All we saw were huge pictures of the dishes without any prices labelled. On top of their famous fried fish, Ah Seng (the boss) recommended three other signature dishes.

When asked what type of fish was used, Mdm Chin said “Any fish of the day, as long as there’s no fish head with it!” The fish is first deboned, cut skilfully, coated with flour, and then fried. The fish was so aesthetically pleasing that nobody wanted to dig into it!

Accompanied with Thai-style sweet and spicy chilli sauce, the crispy savoury fried fish was moist and tender. The fresh fish was clean tasting and we loved that the sauce accentuated its natural sweetness.

Seng Steam Fish Restaurant’s braised pork belly with preserved vegetables was cooked just right. It was not extremely salty and complemented the braised pork belly to the T.

The ratio of lean meat to fat in the pork belly was quite proportionate. The braised sauce was well-absorbed by the tau kwa (bean curd) and pork belly. My colleague couldn’t stop reaching for more (we had prata before this by the way)!

Salted egg bitter gourd! This unassuming dish was so good. Although this was stir-fried, the bitter gourd was crunchy and a little juicy. I believe the salted egg masked some of the bitterness because the dish was not bitter but very fragrant. Just give me this and a bowl of white rice, and I’ll be more than happy!

They say that the camera eats first. However, when this lala dish arrived, I immediately dipped my spoon in to try the sauce. The first sip revealed a strong taste of wine. A kick of sweetness from the fresh lala followed after, before a slight punch of garlic hit my senses. My dad taught me that the best way to enjoy shellfish is with my hands. Picking up the lala with my hands and sucking the flesh and juice out from the shell directly was so satisfying.

All in all, we spent about 100 RM for the four dishes. Seng Steam Fish Restaurant is a great family lunch venue since they operate till 3pm only. The next time round, I will try the steam fish!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to SENG STEAM FISH RESTAURANT. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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I was a huge fan of Assembly Coffee at Evans Road. So, I was, naturally, excited to know that Daphne, the owner, was opening Atlas Coffeehouse along Bukit Timah. Then came Lunar, then Columbus, and now, Apollo. Occupying a prominent spot along Serangoon Garden Way, the eye-catching and spanking new Apollo is committed to brewing great coffee, and serving fresh nosh, just like its sister cafes.

Just a few days old, the cafe is already the hottest hangout spot in the North East. We popped by for lunch and the cafe was almost completely full. The two of us got a little greedy and ordered 3 large plates to share.

Of course, we started off with some coffee.

The Shishito Chilli Chicken($18) was the first to arrive. Expect 2 large juicy drumsticks slathered with a spicy sauce, 2 garlic potato buns, and a yogurt dip. I appreciated the meaty and tender drumsticks but felt that they were lacking a little in the taste department. Sure, they were covered in a mildly spicy sauce but they probably could use a little more salt in my opinion. I really enjoyed the soft buns though! They were delish! And I thought that the cold yogurt dip lent a refreshing contrast to the spicy sauce.

The Miso Bacon Mushroom Farro Risotto ($22) was my favourite dish of the lot. The risotto was not mushy, and the texture of the grains was just perfect. The earthy flavour of mushrooms was well complemented by the savouriness of the bacon. If only there was more fried enoki! The dish was completed with an egg, not the usual onsen egg, but a more cooked version. While it looked prettier than an onsen egg probably would have, I think that an onsen egg would have been a better addition(I love a runny egg yolk!). Unsurprisingly, I found myself reaching for the hearty risotto repeatedly. It’s safe to say that I was hooked.

Inspired by our favourite tze char cereal prawns, of course, the Cereal Prawn Pasta($20) promises al dente spaghetti that’s lavishly topped with crisp cereal! We certainly had no complaints about the generous amount of prawns. It’s hard not to love this dish, especially if you’re a big fan of the tze char dish.

Apollo Coffee Bar is somewhere that you’ll return to for brunch, or coffee, again and again — very much like Atlas, Lunar and Columbus. The team behind these 4 establishments is definitely on the right track to becoming the biggest and most popular cafe operator in Singapore.

The post Apollo Coffee Bar – New & Possibly Best Cafe in Serangoon! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Opened in 1980, Haron Satay is known to send out some of the best satays in Singapore. Named as one of Singapore’s Hawker Masters by The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao, the title certainly isn’t just for show. Haron Satay used to supply their satay to Singapore Airline’s business and first class back when their founder was still around. The business was then passed down to the two daughters and they’ve been taking care of the business since.

Each satay is marinated for at least half an hour and cooked for around 7 minutes to get that slightly charred exterior we know and love. We got a plate of 15 sticks, 5 each of the golden trio of satay meats — chicken, beef, and mutton ($0.70 per stick).

The tender and moist chicken satay was sweet and savoury, and carried a hint of smokiness. It was also armed with a touch of spice that we enjoyed very much!

The beef and mutton satay are quite similar looking, so look out for the red-tip skewers — those will be the beef satay. The beef satay was slightly tougher than the chicken, but still tender enough for it to come off the skewer easily. The mutton was the toughest of the lot, but it was really tasty. Despite being tougher, the satay was still delicious. The flavourful marinade masked the gaminess of the mutton, and we relished every bite.

Haron makes their peanut dipping sauce in two batches daily. I don’t usually fancy peanut sauce but this one changed my mind. The sweet chunky sauce gave a bit of heat that paired really well with the satay. The peanut flavour wasn’t overpowering either, which is a good thing. As you can expect, the peanut sauce was the perfect accompaniment to the plain ketupat. I finished all the ketupat in a flash!

Haron Satay certainly serves one of the best satays you can get in Singapore. Pair the local delight with a pint of beer while you dine by the beach!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Haron Satay. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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“One Mouth Noodle” is named after the fact that Jim likes to eat a bit of everything (literally one mouth of everything). Jim, 38, has been helping his father out at a wanton mee stall since he was 13 years old.

Although he has been an interior designer for more than a decade, Jim needed a change of environment and decided to be a hawker with the skills imparted to him by his father. He hopped on to the NEA Incubation Program (50% discount on rental fee) since it was a good opportunity to venture into this industry.

When asked “why wanton mee?” Jim admitted that it is a dish he is most familiar with. The main challenge was having to live up to his father’s expectations of a good plate of noodles. He humbly shared that he feels he is only at 65% of his father’s standard. His father may have taught him the theory aspect of hand-making noodles, but the skills aspect of it depended very much on experience and constant practice.

Jim makes the noodles by hand daily. At about 2pm everyday, Jim spends around 2 hours to make 100 servings of noodles.

Using mainly 6-7kg of flour, and slightly more than a full tray of eggs every time, Jim equates the whole process to running 2.4km or more — it’s that tiring!

He kneads the dough by hand, repeating the process to form 2 long rolls of dough.

Using a machine to press the dough into flat sheets, he has to repeat the pressing process umpteen times. He will add more flour if the flattened noodles start cracking or get too dry.

Jim continues to repeat the pressing process until both sheets are thin enough for shredding.

Tada, uniformly-shredded noodles! Jim then further cuts them into about 100 portions. Each serving consists of about 80% egg and 20% flour.

Finally, time to eat! Jim recommended the Char Siew Wanton Noodle ($4.50) and Hong Kong Style Beef Brisket Noodle ($5.50), both dry versions.

The springy and firm noodles were pretty impressive! The smooth wantons were packed with and sweet and crunchy prawns. Jim adds prawn into his handmade wantons, unlike some other stalls which only add prawns in shrimp dumplings. Fun fact: Jim roasts his own char siew too. The char siew is not the most tender, but I enjoyed it.

While Jim was making the noodles, Jim’s brother (who also knows how to make the noodles and does the earlier shift ) served us the beef brisket noodles. The beef brisket could be pulled apart easily, though it would score more points if it was more moist. The star is still the springy handmade noodles!

In the past, Jim’s father made the noodles by hand to cut cost. Now, Jim does it by choice, despite having machines to complete the entire process. He shared that handmade noodles are more springy as compared to machine-produced noodles. There is just no shortcut to an outstanding plate of handmade wanton noodles!

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to ONE MOUTH NOODLE. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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After a long day at the beach, the best way to end off the day is with some good food. And all the regular beach-goers at East Coast Parkway will know that East Coast Lagoon Food Village is the best place to unwind and eat your heart out.

From satay, to bak kut teh, to barbecued stingray, East Coast Lagoon Food Village has a rather good pool of stalls to choose from. Here are 5 stalls that you absolutely can’t miss!

Haron Satay

There’s honestly nothing better than eating satay that’s straight off the grill. We got 5 sticks of mutton, beef, and chicken ($0.70/per stick) each. The tender meat was very well marinated, and carried hints of smokiness.

Dip the satay in the peanut sauce for that sweet, savoury crunch and extra nutty flavour. I really like the peanut sauce here for some reason. Normally, I wouldn’t touch the plain ketupat, but I dipped them in the peanut sauce and finished them all. Haron Satay definitely lives up to its reputation for having one of the best satays in Singapore.

Han Jia Bak Kut Teh

This is the first time I’ve seen a hawker stall with their own delivery app (named HANJIABKT). You can place your order through WhatsApp or by calling them.

If you’re indecisive like me and can’t decide whether to get the bak kut teh or the pig’s trotter, you will be pleased to know the you can have the best of both worlds by ordering the set ($9.50), which comprises bak kut teh, pig’s trotter, and a bowl of rice. You can also add on mui cai for $2.

My colleagues loved the pig’s trotter. The meat was tender and you can pick it off the bone so easily with just your chopsticks. The soy sauce flavour was really pronounced throughout too. The sauce is quite salty so be sure to have it with rice.

The pork in the flavourful bak kut teh fared just as well. Fall-off-the-bone-tender meat in a bowl of hearty soup. I must warn you though, it is quite peppery.

Ah Hwee BBQ Chicken Wings & Spring Chicken

Crispy, sweet and savoury skin, and juicy and succulent chicken. What’s not to love? The owner is really careful about how he barbecues his chicken. He ensures that the grease doesn’t fall onto the charcoal, which would normally emit an unhealthy smoke if that happens. This makes his barbecued chicken wings slightly healthier.

The delicious wings ($1.30 each) have this beautiful golden brown sheen. I highly recommend squeezing a bit of the line and dipping the chicken in the chilli sauce. The tanginess of the lime plus the spicy kick from the chilli just enhances the taste of the chicken. Trust me, you will be clamouring for more.

Song Kee Fried Oyster

The fried oyster ($4) can’t be missed. The really free oysters were cooked perfectly. Each bite of the oyster is like a flavour bomb of the ocean. The oysters were sweet and creamy, with a slight brininess. The eggs were not super starchy and wee still a little crispy by the time I had it. The whole plate was gone in no time. I would’ve gotten another if I wasn’t so full.

Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood

Barbecued seafood is quintessential beach-side food and it is no exception at East Coast Lagoon Food Village. And sambal stingray? The undisputed king of barbecued seafood. Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood wraps their stingray in banana leaf before placing them on the grill. This locks in the moisture of the fish, and introduces a fragrance to it.

The flesh was oh-so-tender and juicy, and it passed the “lift off the bone super easily with a pair of chopsticks” test. The fragrant and sweet sambal packed the right amount of the heat. You have to dip the meat into the cincalok. Its salty and tangy notes really complement the spicy fish! Even if you’re not a fan of the smell, you should still give it a try.

Going off on a tangent, stingray bones are edible, so it’s okay if you accidentally get one or two in a piece of fish, but you have to chew them well of course. They’re kinda like eating chicken or pork cartilage.

If you’re around East Coast Parkway, do pop by East Coast Lagoon Food Village for some good food! The place really comes alive in the evening, so come for dinner!

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Downstairs is a newly opened cafe in UE BizHub East (it’s located in the south wing). Inspired by a HDB void deck, it offers local dishes with a slight twist.

They’ve taken key elements of a void deck, and incorporated them into a cafe setting. You have a choice of sitting at a normal table, or the famous blue-tiled tables that you used to see at the foot of HDB blocks. My favourite part was the old letterboxes.

Now, let’s see if the food can evoke feelings of nostalgia as well.

I’m going to cut to the chase. The Rice with Honey Glazed BBQ Pork and Lava Egg ($6) really impressed. The sweet and spectacularly charred meat was perfectly moist and had the right amount of fat. It is honestly one of the best char siews I’ve ever had.

The lava egg and its jammy center acted as a dip for the char siew. After you’ve finished the yolk, just pop the whole egg in your mouth for a hit of soy sauce infused egg white.

Next up is the Braised Pork Belly Rice w Lava Egg ($6). My rule of thumb when eating lu rou fan is if you could eat the rice with just the gravy, you know it’s good stuff. This bowl fell just slightly short of that, unfortunately. However, I really liked the tender pork belly which had been slow-cooked for a few hours. The fatty bits gave a nice moisture to the pork as well. I also liked how the pickled vegetables on the side cut through the richness of the pork.

Last but not least, we tried the Nasi Lemak w Salted Egg Chicken ($8.50). The star of the dish was the crispy fried chicken coated in a salty, eggy sauce. The sauce was creamy but wasn’t too rich, so you won’t feel jelak after eating the whole plate. The chicken remained crispy throughout the meal, down to the last bite. I can see why this is one of the favourites amongst office workers in the area.

The sweet sambal, which had ikan bills in it, paired really well with the rice, so make sure to pile on the sambal in between bites for a delightful sweetness and a touch of heat.

Bring your kakis over to lepak at this void deck-inspired cafe. For each main course that you order, you can top up a $1 for a drink. Come downstairs for some good food, won’t you?

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Downstairs. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Downstairs – Void Deck-Themed Cafe That Will Bring Back Memories appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

This festive season, indulge in a resplendent buffet medley of Asian and International delights at Lime Restaurant. Let the holiday feasting begins!

FESTIVE FEASTS
FROM 25 NOVEMBER 2019 TO 1 JANUARY 2020

Revel in festive splendor with inviting Christmas favourites at Lime Restaurant. Be treated to a glorious festive spread featuring Turkey Masak Merah, Oven Baked Pork Prime Ribs with Spicy Tomato Paste, Grilled Beef Sirloin with Cognac and Mixed Peppercorn Cream Sauce, Lime’s Signature Assam Fish and more. I really love the Assam fish which was tangy and piquant.

Come dinner, the repertoire is enhanced with Irish Oysters on ice and a meatless Beef Wellington made from the BEYOND meat patty. This is indeed a fun spin on the classic beef wellington. It’s pretty impressive, especially for those looking for vegetarian options during the festive season.

Pamper your palate with a delectable range of festive roasts at the carving station. The classic turkey undergoes a culinary makeover at Lime Restaurant. The all-new Turkey Masak Merah is a simple yet flavourful dish. Don’t let its fiery red appearance scare you. It is actually marinated with tomato paste, red chilli and spices. This juicy roasted gem is slightly tangy, savoury and ends with a spicy kick.

Enjoy other signature items such as Honey & Citrus Glazed Ham, Squid Ink Linguini with Chilli Crab Sauce, Dong Po Pork Belly with Crispy Mantou, Pickering Lobster Laksa Noodles and more.

Of course, no Christmas feast is complete without exquisite sweets — traditional or otherwise. Lime Restaurant has no less than four creations this year. Dive into the rich and decadent Belgium Dark Chocolate with Passion Yule Log, deliciously dense Blackforest Yule Log, light and fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Yule Log, and the Instagram-worthy Durian Gula Melaka Rainbow Yule Log.

I went for a second serving of the Belgium Dark Chocolate with Passion Yule Log. Its citrusy note makes the dense chocolate log pretty refreshing. There are also Cherry Crumble with Gingerbread Vanilla Sauce, Stollen and Mince Pie. Don’t forget to do a toast with their festive welcome drink – matcha bubble tea!

PRICING:
Lunch (Mon – Sat): $69++ for adults; $39++ for child
Lunch (Sun): $99++ for adults; $49++ for child
Dinner (Sun – Thur): $99++ for adults; $49++ for child
Dinner (Fri and Sat): $109++ for adults; $59++ for child

Exclusively for UOB, Citibank and BOC cardholders: Enjoy 20% savings on festive lunch and dinner buffet (not valid on eve of public holidays and public holidays).

CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY BRUNCH & DINNER

24 & 25 DECEMBER 2019

This Christmas, PARKROYAL on Pickering takes the celebration up a notch, where diners will be serenaded in style by carollers as they enjoy brunch or dinner. Lime’s lavish spread of King Crab and Boston Lobster on ice, Lemon Caper Beurre Noisette Roasted Salmon with Rosemary Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli and more, will definitely dazzle your tastebuds.

The Braised Flank Steak is one of the more memorable dishes for me. Premium grade beef is braised to perfection in a rich red jus and topped with truffle mashed potato for an added layer of textured goodness. Pork can get dry and tough very easily, but the bronzed Caramelised Pork Chop with Braised Red Cabbage is tender and addictive. We finished the whole plate of Flambéed Tiger Prawns with Red Chilli Garlic Sauce which has an unexpected sweetness and depth of flavor.

Christmas won’t be complete without Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce, Christmas Pork Terrine, and Honey and Citrus Glazed Gammon Ham. Look forward to Mexican Quesadillas which will be served a la minute at the live station, and have some fun customizing your own cheesecake at the dessert station.

To make the occasion even merrier, there’s unlimited champagne, house pour wines and beer available at a special price of $199++. Carollers will also be serenading guests with classic Christmas tunes on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

So, are you ready for Christmas? See you at Lime Restaurant this December!

Christmas Eve Buffet Brunch and Dinner, 24 December 2019
Brunch: $119++ or from $179++ (includes unlimited servings of alcoholic beverages)
Dinner (6:00pm to 8:00pm): $109++ or $169++ (includes unlimited servings of alcoholic beverages)
Dinner (8:30pm to 10:30pm): $119++ or $179++ (includes unlimited servings of alcoholic beverages)

Christmas Day Buffet Brunch and Dinner, 25 December 2019
Brunch and Dinner: $129++ or from $179++ (unlimited servings of alcoholic beverages)

This post is brought to you by PARKROYAL on Pickering.

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Back in 1997, East Coast Lagoon Food Village did not house any barbecue seafood stalls. Which is why, Mr Paul Lee (second from the left), decided to set up shop here selling exactly that. He started by serving just purely barbecued stingray for the first few months, which prompted his customers to suggest a name change from East Coast Lagoon BBQ Seafood, to Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood.

His well loved barbecued stingrays come in two versions, sambal, and butter garlic. We ordered both ($12 each) to try.

He prepares the stingray fillets by placing the sambal or butter garlic on the banana leaf first, before placing the fillet on top, and then slathering them with more of the sauces. The banana leaf locks in the moisture of the stingray as it cooks, and at the same time gives the fish an extra fragrance. After a few minutes on the grill, he garnishes them and they’re ready to eat!

The best way to eat barbecued stingray is to squeeze a bit of lemon on the top before you dig in. This lends an acidic touch that simply whets your appetite.

The stingray was barbecued perfectly — the meat was still juicy and I was able to lift the meat off the bones easily without much effort. I mean, come on, just look at that tender flesh. The sweet sambal had a nice heat and a slight nuttiness. The fish itself had a delicate sweetness, which was complemented well by the sambal.

For even more tanginess, dip the fish into the cincalok. The spicy and sour sauce really is the perfect match for sambal stingray. The subtle funk from the cincalok didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.

Now, the moment I’ve been waiting for since I heard the butter garlic stingray existed. It’s made more for the kids and tourists who can’t take spicy dishes well. So, essentially, it’s made for me too. I will forewarn you — you can probably kill Dracula with just your breath alone after eating this. It will stink for awhile from the pungent garlic. They really loaded the fish with garlic. That being said, to all you garlic lovers out there, this one is for you. The mix of savoury oyster sauce and the garlic butter is another combination that really brought out the natural flavours of the stingray.

Another alternative to the butter garlic stingray is the fresh salmon with garlic ($12). It’s prepared the same way as the stingray, banana leaf and all.

The result was a tender, juicy and flavourful fish. You should definitely try this with the cincalok. The marriage of the flavourful cincalok and the soft, garlicky, flaky salmon is something not to be missed. I might actually like this more than the stingray, but it’s more so because I prefer salmon in general.

So, If you’re ever on a day out at East Coast Park, be sure to try the barbecued seafood here!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Stingray Forever BBQ Seafood – This BBQ Stingray Will Make Your Day! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The idea for 2nd Gen Foods stemmed from the owner’s penchant for cooking. He is still a full time insurance agent but since his hours are flexible, he’s able to go down to the stall every now and then to help out.

He learnt how to make fishball noodles from a friend’s father who wanted to pass down his recipes to the younger generation. So, the owner stepped in to learn, because, why not? Now, he has modified the recipes enough to call them his own. The seasoning he uses for his noodles is also the result of his own R&D.

We decided to go “all out” and try the Special Fishball Noodle ($5). It came with two prawns, one slice of mock abalone, and a bowl of fishball soup.

The noodles were eggy and springy, and the seasoning had a bit of heat to it. The prawns? Oh good golly, the prawns. They were so fresh, so juicy, and had the perfect bite. The flesh tasted sweet too, which I loved. The fishballs were the typical bouncy fishballs. Needless to say, I really liked this bowl of fishball noodles, especially the prawns.

Next up, we had the Chicken Feet Noodle ($4). The owner learnt this recipe from his friend’s grandmother. I must say it does have that homey touch to it. The noodles were well coated in the sauce, which made it smoother and easier to eat.

The shiitake mushrooms were gigantic. They were almost as big as the chicken feet. They had been cooked until they were tender, and were throughly infused with the flavours of soy sauce.

The chicken feet were, however, not as impressive as the mushrooms. The skin was a little tough, which made it hard to pull off the bone. It was a shame because the flavour was good.

To achieve such standards despite being a new stall is no small feat! Pop by and let us know what you think!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to 2nd Gen Foods. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 2nd Gen Foods – Newly Opened Fishball Noodle Stall That Will Impress! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The first time I tried Shi Shang Lao (SSL) was at its very first outlet at Outram Park. At that point of time, SSL was the only one of two brands to serve conveyor belt hotpot. When SSL opened its second outlet, I became a frequent patron because it was at Serangoon, which was more convenient for me! My late night hunger pangs can now be satisfied easily since SSL operates till 5am daily!

Interestingly, SSL provides chopsticks with wooden ends- probably to avoid scalding of the tongue or lips when using it to cook the food. They come together in a box that has tissue in it as well. I checked the receipt, they actually charge $1 under “Tissue”- almost as though you have to pay $1 for the tissue to use a proper pair of chopsticks!

One unique feature about SSL’s Serangoon outlet is that it transports your hotpot soup base ($5 each pot) and meats (starting from $8) via a toy truck.

SSL offers pork bellies, lean pork, beef, fatty beef and mutton, each on individual plates. The beef ($8) seen above was good enough for 2 pax.

The rest of the food is available on a conveyor belt, just like a sushi restaurant. Food on the conveyor belt starts from $1/stick. Premium items such as baby abalone and scallops are $3/stick.

They also serve pig organs that are decently clean! My advice is to cook the pig intestine in a soup base that has a stronger flavour. Personally, I enjoyed the tomato broth and herbal duck broth! Some of the more unusual hotpot items found at SSL are fish maw, smoked duck and huge fresh Hokkaido scallops!

If you feel that you need a staple to go alongside with your hotpot, you can opt for the instant noodles or glass noodles! They even have fried mantou and fried You Tiao!

Condiments are free and that is a plus point because they have about 14 condiments for you to explore! Since it is a China-chinese restaurant, you will see fermented tofu sauce and lao gan ma (spicy hot sauce originally from China).

Owned by a couple from China, SSL offers an authentic China hotpot experience with an epic toy truck as the main catch. This makes eating hotpot both fun and interesting! Remember to throw your unwanted sticks into the stick holder for the staff to count the total number of regular sticks and flat-tip sticks for your total bill!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to SHI SHANG LAO. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Shi Shang Lao – Hotpot Food Delivered via a Toy Truck & Conveyor Belt appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It’s that time of year again! Christmas is just around the corner, which means presents, decorating Christmas trees, and GOOD FOOD!

Nothing beats a good old Christmas gathering with your family like a table full of festive goodies that will keep you stuffed for days. Here are our top 12 choices for the best places to celebrate Christmas this jolly season.

Carlton Hotel Singapore

Immerse yourself in the fullest Christmas experience at Carlton Hotel Singapore!  Be greeted by a 14-feet live Christmas pine tree, decorated in the festive colours of red and gold, when you enter the hotel lobby.

Café Mosaic’s holiday buffet consists of fresh seafood on ice, toothsome appetisers, a carving station with roasted specialties like Roasted Whole Turkey with Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce and Honey Baked Ham with Pineapple & Raisin Sauce! They also offer mouth-watering mains such as Lamb Chop with Rosemary and Mint Pepper Sauce, Braised Pork Roulade with Shallot Port Wine Sauce, Buttered Brussels Sprouts with Winter Vegetables, Potatoes Au-Gratin with Honey-Glazed Chestnut and Penne with Shredded Turkey and Vegetables. Round off the feast on a sweet note with their freshly baked pastries and cakes.

All buffets include free-flow soft drinks and chilled juices. Receive a complimentary bottle of house red or white wine when you dine with 8 diners or more, and enjoy subsequent bottles at a 50% discount during Christmas Eve and Day dinner.

Buffet prices start from $58 for adults, and $29 per child. Enjoy 50% and 38% off buffet lunch and dinner with DBS/POSB and UOB credit/debit cards respectively from 12 to 23 December. To make reservations, call Café Mosaic at 6311 8195 or email cafe.mosaic@carltonhotel.sg.

Feel like taking a little of that Christmas spirit back with you? Now, you can pre-order the festive goodies to brighten up your dinner table with even more cheer! Relish Carlton Hotel’s selection of delectable sweet and savoury treats such as The Carlton Classic Log Cake or signature Homemade Hazelnut Chocolate Panettone. Don’t miss the spanking new Chocolate Log Cake with Pineapple, Mango and Pink Peppercorn, as well as the Black Forest Log Cake (Low Sugar) too!

Selected credit/debit cardmembers can enjoy 25% off the Homemade Hazelnut Chocolate Panettone, and 15% off Christmas goodies between 1 to 25 December. Visit their website to find out more!

Gangnam Kitchen

Convey your well-wishes with Gangnam Kitchen’s scintillating selection of Yuletide goodies. The Christmas Turkey, Christmas Chicken, and Honey Roasted Turkey Ham will make merrymakers grin from ear to ear.

The Gangnam Christmas Turkey  ($139.90+ | 4.5kg | 10-12 pax) is the crowning glory on any Christmas dining table. This glorious creation is first marinated for 12 hours, then stuffed with roast baby potatoes and thyme to keep the meat tender and moist within. It is then glazed with honey 10 times while it is roasted for two hours in the oven.

Whether the selected centerpiece is the turkey, chicken, or ham, each roast is packaged as a hearty set with five different sides, which include Couscous Salad, Mushroom Salad, Brussels Sprouts Salad, Ratatouille, and Roasted Baby Potatoes. You can also choose one of two homemade sauces, Korean Spicy Sauce and Brown Specialty Sauce, to pair with your chosen roast.

Gangnam Kitchen has the perfect Christmas platters for parties. The Christmas sets are available from now to 1 January 2020. Orders must be placed online via www.gangnamtorakitchen.sg at least five working days in advance. Customers can top up $20 for delivery to a single location, or opt for self-collection at the central kitchen in Admiralty.

Holiday Inn Atrium

In celebration of Atrium Restaurant’s Halal-certification, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium invites you to their Inaugural Singaporean X’Mas Buffet.

Their spectacular selection consists of fresh seafood on ice and a rotation of festive roasts such as the Traditional Roasted Tom Turkey with Fresh Herbs served with Chestnut Stuffing and Turkey Jus, Slow-roasted Australian Beef Ribeye Fillet with Thyme Jus, and Slow-roasted Leg of Lamb with Thyme Jus, live stations, an array of both festive and local desserts.

What’s more, if you dine in with a group of 15 people or more, you can enjoy complimentary soft drinks! Perfect for large family gatherings!

Buffet prices start from $72++ for adults, and $20++ for children. For more information, visit their website, call 6731 7172, or email atriumrestaurant.sinhi@ihg.com.

If you prefer celebrating the joyous occasion in the comfort of your own home, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has got you covered! You can choose between two Christmas Packages tailored for groups of 12-15 people. For more Asian flavours, you can choose the Yuletide Package ($278), which comes with Executive Chef Chua Yew Hock’s latest creation, the Roasted Mala Turkey served with Pickled Vegetables and Cilantro Gravy, along with a Pan-fried Salmon Fillet with Dill Sauce, a Cempedak Yule Log Cake, and a bottle of House White Wine.

Alternatively, go for the Traditional Christmas Package ($268), which comes with a Traditional Roasted Turkey with Stuffing, Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, accompanied with Market Vegetables and Roasted Potatoes, one Whole Five Spice Honey Glazed Ham with Pineapple Sauce, a Gianduja Latte Yule Log Cake, and a bottle of House Red Wine.

Celebrating the festivities has never been easier! Do take note that their Festive Takeaways are not Halal-certified. Visit their website http://singaporeatrium.holidayinn.com/eshop for more information.

Ichiban Boshi

In celebration of the festive season, Ichiban Boshi presents a Festive Indulgence menu featuring four delicious set meals to give you a special gourmet experience.

Love spicy food? Then you should go for the Kaisen Tomyam Gozen and Spicy Goma Kurobuta Gozen! The former features a tangy and spicy seafood tom yam broth, BBQ eel sushi, and breaded chicken on skewers. It has everything you’ll love. The latter has tender slices of black pork stacked tall and high in a spicy, sesame sauce, and grilled prawns.

For beef lovers, the Yuzu Truffle Beef Gozen is made for you. Think premium beef drizzled with truffle oil, and assorted mushrooms wrapped in a tasty omelette topped with yuzu mayo. It goes superbly well with the accompanying fried tofu with chicken floss, mini sushi rice bowl, and fruity Japanese salad.

The most Instagram-worthy set meal award goes to the Salted Egg Chicken Roll Gozen. Deep-fried till perfection, the golden brown ham and cheese chicken roll is topped with a heavenly salted egg sauce. The set also comprises assorted sashimi with salmon roe.

Good news for all Citi Cardmembers! You will get a $10 Ichiban Boshi return voucher with every festive set ordered. Promotion is valid till 9 February 2020. Visit your nearest Ichiban Boshi restaurant today!

InterContinental Singapore

This year, InterContinental Singapore invites you to spend a White Christmas with them. Be dazzled by the wintery holiday vibes inspired by the Nordic region at Ash and Elm.

Treat yourself to a quick tour of Europe as you indulge in Ash and Elm’s festive buffet which consists of European epicurean delights such as whole roast turkey with cranberry stuffing, coq au vin braised with red wine sauce, and turkey, brie and cranberry pizza. If you’re looking to spend a wonderful afternoon out, make yourself comfortable at The Lobby Lounge as you savour a nice Afternoon Tea, or sip on a midwinter cocktail delight, Joyeux Noel, over at Idlewild.

InterContinental Singapore constantly comes up with innovative desserts that are beautiful, and delicious. So you can only expect their festive selection to be even more impressive. Appearing for the first time is the Advent Calendar from the Festive Takeaway menu, which holds 24 surprises for you to uncover over the entire holiday season! Secrets include Santa’s Carousel Fruit Cake, White Christmas log cake, and a Choux Sleigh. You can order the gorgeous Festive Takeaways on the website and from Festive Shoppe. Self-collection is available until 22 December at the Festive Shoppe.

Visit their website for more information.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib

Looking for a trustworthy steakhouse to bring your loved ones to this festive season? Well, look no further, Lawry’s The Prime Rib at Mandarin Gallery is the place for you.

Everyone knows that Lawry’s signature dish, the prime rib, is a decadent treat. Expect the entire slab to be brought out and carved tableside for your viewing pleasure. The magnificent steak is fall-off-the-bone tender and is accompanied by side dishes such as creamed spinach, creamed corn, and buttered peas.

If you are in the mood for seafood, Lawry’s also has fresh sumptuous options such as the Atlantic Lobster Dinner. Three lobster tails are broiled to perfection, and served with drawn butter and red bell pepper mayonnaise which add a punch of flavour to the firm lobster meat. Every bite is a small taste of heaven.

Citi Cardholders can enjoy up to 40% off main courses (depending on the number of diners). For more information, head over to Lawry’s website.

Pan Pacific Singapore

Christmas is the season of giving. And we think it’s best to treat our loved ones and ourselves to a smorgasbord of food. Pan Pacific Singapore promises a festive feast like never before.

Dine at the award-winning Edge, where you’ll get to savour hearty holiday treats and succulent roasts including Christmas Bread Pudding with Stuffed Pistachios and Dried Fruits, Pineapple and Honey-glazed Bone-in Gammon Ham, Eight Spices Roasted Whole Turkey, Oven-roasted Tomahawk Steak with Herb and Butter, and Roasted Butternut Squash Pumpkin Velouté with Honey Chestnuts. If you’re looking for something a little more local, you’ll love the mix of English and Peranakan afternoon tea delights at Atrium, or the oriental delicacies with a fun holiday twist at Hai Tien Lo.

Pan Pacific Singapore bakes and cakes are always highly sought after. Their line of log cakes are now available for pre-order! For all durian lovers out there, the Mao Shan Wang and Gula Melaka Log Cake($70) will satisfy all your cravings for the king of fruits. Our personal favourite is the Jivara Milk Chocolate Pear William and Caramel Nut Log Cake($70), which is packed with pear cubes, pear curd, and caramelised hazelnuts. It is a heavenly creation that will leave a lasting impression. A fan of tropical flavours? Go for the Coconut Mango Calamansi Log Cake($70) which has the right balance of sweetness and tanginess. And, for all the chocolate aficionados, this one’s for you — the Hazelnut Chocolate Tart($65) with artisanal Araguani Chocolate and hazelnut praline mousse.

For a complete list of festive offerings and shop for festive goodies at http://pacificmarketplace.sg

Park Hotel Alexandra

Have yourself a holly jolly Christmas at The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra! Their Rustic Christmas Buffet promises a wonderful spread of heartwarming dishes that truly embody the spirit of Christmas.

Highlights include a 21-day Gin-aged Angus Beef Prime Ribs, Spit-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Orange and Aged Balsamic Glaze, Sticky Date Trifle, and Almond and Rhubarb Pithivier.

Buffet prices start from $51++ for adults, and $34++ for children. For more information, visit their website. All guests will receive a complimentary glass of Festive Velvet Alexander Cocktail (worth $19++) when you dine on a festive day.

Make your reservations via Chope, HungryGoWhere, or Quandoo, to receive a 20% discount from 2 to 30 December 2019, or use the 1-for-1 vouchers on the Burpple app, valid only from 1 to 30 December 2019. Reservations may also be done online, or by calling the restaurant directly at 6828 8880.

Can’t get enough of the Spit-Roasted Chicken with Sweet Orange and Aged Balsamic Glaze with its fruity sweet and tangy succulent roasted chicken? You can now pre-order it online or via telephone for takeaway for your Christmas party! Each 1.8 kg roasted chicken comes with Roasted Vegetables and Balsamic Orange Sauce ($46).

PARKROYAL on Beach Road

Hop onto the Polar Express-themed train at PARKROYAL on Beach Road’s lobby for a magical christmas experience that will send you on a journey to the North Pole.

Celebrate Christmas like a royal at sea with Ginger’s spread of crab dishes, all done in different cooking methods that bring out the best of the crabs. Anticipate the popular Claypot Crab with Pumpkin Broth, or the local favourite — Singapore Chilli Crab.

Looking for something a little more traditional? Go for the Traditional Whole Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Sauce, a classic that will not disappoint with its succulent and tender meat.

If you want to add pizzazz to your Christmas celebrations this year, you can consider the 7-course Sichuan Christmas feast at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, which has a Chilled Turkey in signature mala Sichuan Pepper Sauce!

Ginger’s festive buffet features a ‘no pork, no lard’ menu and is available from 9 December 2019 to 1 January 2020. Buffet prices start from $58 for adults, and $29 for children. For more information, visit their website.

For just an additional $50, you get unlimited servings of house pour wine, sparkling wine, spirits, and beer.

Experience that same magical Christmas world in your own home with festive takeaways from PARKROYAL on Beach Road. We recommend Ginger’s Manuka Honey Glazed Ham with Oriental Salsa ($68), Classic Chocolate and Hazelnut Log Cake ($68) and Sichuan Dou Hua Restaurant’s ‘Bi Feng Tang’ Roasted Crispy Chicken ($58)!

Enjoy 25% savings on orders placed with full payment from now till 8 December 2019, and 20% savings when you place your orders from 9 to 26 December!

PARKROYAL on Pickering

Revel in festive splendor with inviting Christmas favourites at Lime Restaurant. Be treated to a glorious festive spread featuring Turkey Masak Merah, Oven Baked Pork Prime Ribs with Spicy Tomato Paste, Grilled Beef Sirloin with Cognac and Mixed Peppercorn Cream Sauce, Lime’s Signature Assam Fish and more. I really love the Assam fish which was tangy and piquant.

Come dinner, the repertoire is enhanced with Irish Oysters on ice and a meatless Beef Wellington made from the BEYOND meat patty. This is indeed a fun spin on the classic beef wellington. It’s pretty impressive, especially for those looking for vegetarian options during the festive season.

On 24 & 25 December 2019, PARKROYAL on Pickering takes the celebration up a notch, where diners will be serenaded in style by carollers as they enjoy brunch or dinner. Lime’s lavish spread of King Crab and Boston Lobster on ice, Lemon Caper Beurre Noisette Roasted Salmon with Rosemary Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli and more, will definitely dazzle your tastebuds.

Of course, no Christmas feast is complete without exquisite sweets — traditional or otherwise. Lime Restaurant has no less than four creations this year. Dive into the rich and decadent Belgium Dark Chocolate with Passion Yule Log, deliciously dense Blackforest Yule Log, light and fluffy Strawberry Shortcake Yule Log, and the Instagram-worthy Durian Gula Melaka Rainbow Yule Log. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/parkroyal-pickering-christmas-2019/

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

If you’re looking for an amazing Festive buffet this Christmas, head to Marriott Cafe from 1 to 30 December 2019.

Showcasing a mix of western and oriental Christmas dishes, the buffet promises stars such as the succulent Roast Turkey with Dried Fruits & Chestnut Bread Stuffing, Slow-roasted Australian Beef Prime Rib and rich Gratinated Oysters. They also have a wide range of Christmas desserts that will please the palates of all with a sweet tooth. You will have a whale of a time here! Buffet prices start from $68 for adults, and $35 for children. For more information, visit their website.

Want to spend Christmas with your loved ones but don’t have the time or energy to whip up a Christmas feast? Well, fret not! You can bring Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s Christmas Gifts of Joy home! You can pre-order soups, salads, roasted meats, fresh seafood, and even rich and luscious desserts.

The brand new Whole Roast Turkey with Apple Cider Brine & Giblet Cornbread Loaf ($198) will definitely be a crowd pleaser. Each turkey is marinated for 12 hours in a sweet and sour apple cider brine, before it is roasted to a glistening golden brown. Tear it apart and you’ll find succulent and tender meat under the beautiful golden crust.

No Christmas is complete without Christmas log cakes! This year’s line up of yule logs include the Pandan & Mixed Berries Chiffon Log Cake($68), Brandy White Chocolate Chestnut Log Cake ($68), and Peanut Butter Speculoos Praline Log Cake($68). Christmas is always wonderful with Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel.

The Westin Singapore

What’s better than spending Christmas with your loved ones? Well, celebrating the holidays with them over a delicious feast, of course!

At The Westin Singapore, you can enjoy a delectable buffet spread while enjoying spectacular views of the beautiful Marina Bay and South China Sea. Expect Christmas classics such as the Rolled Turkey with Bread and Walnut Stuffing, Butter Poached Beef Tomahawk, signature Maple Truffle Glazed Gammon Ham, or the Miso and Whiskey Glazed Salmon.

That’s not all! Take your tastebuds on a well-deserved trip overseas as you sink your teeth into local and international cuisines. Be sure not to miss their Wok Braised Crab with Singapore Chilli Crab Sauce, Cereal Prawn with Parmesan Cheese, Buffalo Mozzarella Pizza, and Impossible Beef Lasagne. Sounds good? We promise you that the spread will taste even better.

Christmas Eve buffet lunch starts from $68++ per adult. Buffet menu is subject to change. For more information, visit their website.

Have you ever had a chocolate whiskey log cake before? If you haven’t, or if you’re a big fan of the winning combination of chocolate and whiskey, you absolutely have to get your hands on their Chocolate Whiskey & Chestnut Log Cake.

From 25 November to 13 December 2019, use  promo code ‘MTC20’ to enjoy 20% off the logcake online.

My mouth is drooling at the thought of all that holiday feasting. We hope your table will be filled with festive cheer as well! Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a delicious holiday season. Days of food coma, here I come!

By Megan, Jonathan & Maureen.

The post 12 Best Christmas Dinners and Takeaways 2019 appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Hong Ho Phang Hong Kong Tim Sum (oh my what a mouthful), is a dim sum shop that opened in 2008, and I have been patronising them ever since I was a child. I grew up eating their mini char siew pau and lo mai gai. I come here with my family every time we feel like having good and piping hot dim sum for breakfast. Their standard has been pretty consistent throughout the years. Every single time I return, I know the food will be as good as my last visit.

My absolute favourite thing to order here are the paus. They are all freshly handmade in-house every day, and are so, so delicious. Cha siew paus are my weakness, and the one from Hong Ho Phang Hong Kong Tim Sum has captured my heart completely. The Cha Siew Pau ($0.80) is so fluffy on the outside and when you break it open, you will see the inside filled with saucy cha siew. The cha siew is sweet, salty, and savoury, and the meat is so tender. There are even bits of fat inside, which makes the pau even more indulgent. The whole package just melts in your mouth!! I can probably devour one in 10 seconds. No kidding!

The Da Rou Pau ($1.80) is another winner here. Firstly, it is huge, so you can probably get full just having one of this. Secondly, similar to the cha siew pau, the outside of the pau is fluffy, and the meat filling inside is ever so juicy. There is even a slice of egg inside. However, you have to eat this pau quickly, as the juices inside will make the skin soggy. Thirdly, it is delicious. There is nothing better than having a yummy breakfast that is a total bang for your buck!

Lo Mai Gai ($1.60) is essentially, glutinous rice with a meat patty on top. Its simplicity however, is what makes it such a well-loved breakfast dish. The lo mai gai here has a drier rice than most. This is why you should eat it with the sweet chilli sauce, which will help moisten the rice. The rice has enough flavours to be eaten on its own, but you have to eat it with the patty. The succulent meat really elevates it a notch.

Last but not least, we had the Cha Siew Chee Cheong Fun ($1.50), which came with a sweet brown sauce. I have never really had the chee cheong fun here before so I was surprised that it came with a sweet sauce instead of the usual soy sauce. Unfortunately, the sweetness of the sauce overpowered the char siew so I could not taste much of it. The skin was smooth and soft though! Maybe it would be best to just stick to ordering the paus from here.

This dim sum stall is a staple for residents living around the area for some good breakfast food. It is also my favourite place to go for a satisfying cha siew pau. They also sell soon kueh, siew mai, yam cake, and many others- all made fresh daily. Stop by for a nice breakfast some time soon?

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Hong Ho Phang Hong Kong Tim Sum. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Hong Ho Phang Hong Kong Tim Sum – Melt In Your Mouth Char Siew Pau! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

While Bak Chor Mee and Fishball Noodle stalls can be found all over Singapore, it is not every day that you see a young, handsome Indian man running it. Li Na Fishball Noodles shot to internet fame when Ms May Leena Krishnan posted a video of her husband, Mr Jeevan Ananthan’s chiselled figure online. The video went viral instantly, receiving over sixty thousand views since it was first posted!

While Mr Ananthan was indeed very handsome, we had an important question that needed to be answered: How good is his cooking?

First up was the Bak Chor Mee ($3.50/$4.50) which had a generous amount of minced and sliced pork along with braised mushrooms, meatballs and my personal favourite: crispy pork lard. I often find that the sliced meat in Bak Chor Mee is dry and tough. Li Na’s pork slices however, were perfectly cooked and tender! The sauce base had great flavour, but was definitely on the spicier side. If you cannot take things too spicy, remember to ask for xiao la (less spicy)!

The fishballs in the Fishball Noodles ($3/4) were incredibly bouncy and had just the right amount of chew for a satisfying bite. The fishballs were also not overly fishy, and did not taste like it was packed with flour or other additives. We ordered the fishballs with a dry Mee Kia (thin yellow noodles) and added some vinegar for a lovely bit of tanginess. The fishballs were unfortunately not handmade like most other things in the stall, but still very tasty.

The Signature Noodles ($4.50) blend the best of both Bak Chor Mee and Fishball Noodles with the inclusion of minced meat and fishballs, together with Her Giao that is made fresh daily. The Her Giao was sufficiently flavourful and best enjoyed when dipped into the chilli padi infused soya sauce for a spicy kick. Her Giao is known for its chewy texture, giving it a pleasant mouthfeel when eaten. While I found Li Na’s Her Giao to be slightly too chewy, they were still great renditions of this unique type of fishball.

I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of noodles this young couple has managed to deliver, after being around for only three months. If I did not know better, I would have definitely guessed that the noodle dishes was from the stall of a seasoned hawker. The next time you are in the Toa Payoh area, save some stomach space for these Fishball Noodles!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Li Na Fishball Noodles. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Li Na Fishball Noodles – Young, Handsome Hawker Serves Up Delicious Fishball Noodles! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Listen up, there is a new halal buffet restaurant in town! Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium’s all-day dining and buffet restaurant, Atrium Restaurant, has attained its halal certification!

To celebrate, the restaurant recently relaunched its buffet selection, featuring Singapore’s most loved local dishes, international fare, and interactive live stations as well.

Sending out specialties such as Chicken Rice, Carrot Cake, Satay, Roti Prata and their Signature Laksa – Atrium Restaurant is definitely a great restaurant to enjoy some local favourites.

If it is your first time in Singapore, there are plenty of must-try dishes and Atrium Restaurant offers most of them at restaurant standard. Be prepared to be dazzled by an array of amazing delights.

Start from the restaurant’s popular seafood on ice section which serves a collection of seafood such as prawns, clams, scallops, mussels, and oysters. There’s even a whole baked fish that comes with 6 different types of sambal sauces — sambal terasi, nyonya sambal belacan, sambal ikan bilis, sweet chilli sambal, sambal tumis and garlic chilli sauce.

Chilli crab tastes best when eaten indoors, in the comfort of air-conditioning. Our eyes lit up when the chilli crab arrived on our table. The sauce was sweeter and less fiery than what we are used to, but we loved it anyway. We mopped up all the sauce with Mantous! Other highlights include Teochew-Style Steamed Fish and Peranakan ayam pongteh.

When I go for a buffet, I always look forward to the live stations because that’s where I can try to create a dish on my own. Here at Atrium Restaurant, you can make your own popiah and gado gado. Don’t play play okay, I am an expert in wrapping popiah.

But if you are feeling lazy that day and don’t want to dirty your hands, you can get the chef to help you with it. Don’t forget to grab a few succulent chicken and lamb satays at the signature satay station.

It’s not my first time at Atrium Restaurant and whenever I come here for dinner, I go all out at the Indian food section. Head to the roti prata live station for Atrium Restaurant’s prata which is particularly flaky on the outside, and soft on the inside. I thoroughly enjoyed the prata, biryani, fish head curry and palak paneer.

At the chicken rice live station, Executive Chef Chua Yew Hock greeted us with a wide smile. He takes care of the whole restaurant and makes sure that the food is of good standard. The rice is cooked in chicken stock to perfection. It was full of flavour and oily, just like how Hainanese chicken rice should be. The steamed chicken was tender and juicy, and the combination of chilli sauce, ginger paste and dark soy sauce goes hand in hand with the rice.

While handing me a plate of chicken rice, Chef Chua reminded me to try a bowl of laksa as it is their signature. I was so glad that I didn’t miss the laksa because the rich and robust gravy was so good!

For lunch and dinner, you will also find a wide variety of Peranakan dishes, Western favourites and even a Shawarma station with tender succulent meats ready for carving.

Atrium’s Restaurant has also expanded its dessert offerings. Expect a variety of hot local desserts, eis chendol, nyonya kueh, durian pengat, a variety of mini cakes, milk chocolate fondue, and matcha chocolate fondue. Head down memory lane with the restaurant’s very own ice cream bicycle and get your fill of ice cream sandwiches.

Atrium Restaurant serves all my favourite local food. I really love that I can dig into such a lavish spread in a comfortable, modern, and spacious restaurant. Best part? I can have unlimited servings of anything I want! For those who are looking for an awesome buffet, look no further.

IHG Rewards Club Members can enjoy 50% off Atrium Restaurant’s buffet and up to 30% off ala carte dining.

PRICING:

Weekday Lunch (Sun to Thur) $64++ per adult, $20++ per child
Weekday Dinner (Sun to Thur) $80++ per adult, $25++ per child

Weekend Lunch (Sun to Thur) $72++ per adult, $20++ per child
Weekend Dinner (Sun to Thur) $88++ per adult, $25++ per child

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Uptown Nasi Lemak is opened by two foodies, Simon (pictured on the left) and Mervyn (pictured on the right), who grew up in Damansara Uptown, where it is Nasi Lemak galore. Since they were unable to find the same taste of Malaysian nasi lemak here in Singapore, they decided to bring it over for us to try. While they are not trained cooks, the duo spent a good six to nine months trying to recreate the taste that they love and serve it on a plate. The result? Uptown Nasi Lemak.

One of their specialties is Nasi Lemak w/ Ayam Goreng Berempah ($6.50) (spiced fried chicken), which is marinated for several hours in various spices. The lemongrass and ginger, when fried with the chicken, creates a nice crispy outer crust.

What you get is a juicy chicken that is wrapped in a flavourful crispy spiced skin. This has a unique flavour that I have personally never tried before. The rice too was savoury and fragrant- a key element in all nasi lemak.

Sambal is another important component of nasi lemak and they make it spicy here. For now, the duo is still adjusting the level of spice by upping it a notch every week, and getting their customers’ feedback. To me, it was definitely spicy enough. A big spoonful of sambal is given for every plate of rice, ensuring that you have more than enough to complete your meal. Do not forget to eat the ikan bilis with the sambal!

While achar is not a commonly found ingredient in nasi lemak, the owners themselves love Peranakan achar so they added it to their nasi lemak anyway. Personally, I do not mind it as I grew up eating Peranakan achar myself.

Another one of their specialties is Nasi Lemak w/ Rendang Beef ($7.50). The rendang beef is cooked overnight till tender but it also tasted gamier than expected. When paired with the thick curry, the overall combination got a little too overwhelming for me. Someone who enjoys rich flavours will certainly appreciate this dish.

They also have side dishes available such as Sambal Sotong ($2.50). The sotong was cooked perfectly and was not rubbery at all. The sambal also packed a nice punch and coated the sotong well.  This was the perfect accompaniment to our nasi lemak.

Uptown Nasi Lemak is certainly something different from our Singaporean nasi lemak. If you love nasi lemak, this is definitely worth a try!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Uptown Nasi Lemak. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Uptown Nasi Lemak – Authentic Nasi Lemak from Damansara Uptown! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

When it comes to breakfast, nothing can beat the classic combination of fluffy buttery kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs with dark soya sauce. This, together with a good cup of kopi, is hands down my favourite way to start the day. 

Sen Yen Charcoal Traditional Toast is one such gem that still serves this classic Singaporean breakfast. What sets them apart is their use of a charcoal grill to toast the bread, giving their Kaya Toast ($1.20) that characteristic charred flavour. These subtle bitter notes in return, balances out the sweetness of the kaya. The stall also uses traditional white loaves, which are fluffier and softer than regular kaya toast joints. 

Sen Yen is also very generous with the amount of butter they put in their toast. I often find myself wondering if other coffee stalls had forgotten to put butter in my toast as I can hardly taste it. Here at Sen Yen however, every slice of kaya toast comes with a huge slab of cold butter that you can actually bite into. The combination of the butter sitting atop the thick, fragrant kaya is what makes this toast especially enjoyable.

Not to be forgotten also are the soft-boiled eggs. Be sure to mix the luscious egg yolks with dark soya sauce and white pepper for that familiar nostalgic taste! Top it off with your drink of choice and you will have a breakfast that will carry you through the day.

If you love breakfast like me, then a trip down to Sen Yen Charcoal Toast is definitely worth it for one of Singapore’s best traditional kaya toasts. Be sure to make your way down early, as their kaya toast is often sold out before noon!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Sen Yen Charcoal Traditional Toast – Kaya Toast Done The Right Way! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

All the way in the far west of Singapore, lies Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre.

This five-storey building holds some of Jurong’s best food. There are just so many stalls to choose from, and the many levels can be daunting. But not to worry! We are here to introduce some of our top picks that are not only wallet-friendly but also delicious!

Tom’s Kitchen

Our first stop of the day was at Tom’s Kitchen. They are known to serve big portions at a very decent price! We decided to get the Grilled Sirloin Steak ($8.50). The plate was indeed huge! The beef came slathered in your standard mushroom sauce. We sliced into our first piece of beef rather easily and got a cut of tender juicy meat. However, the cook on our next piece of steak was a little too well done and was quite tough to chew. That aside, the beef was seasoned sufficiently with black pepper and was delightful.

The beef came with a side of crispy crinkle-cut fries, flavoured with a special chipotle seasoning. The flavour was so addictive and all of us could not help reaching out for more!

Tom’s Kitchen dishes out quality food in generous portions at affordable prices. You would definitely get your money’s worth here!

B.b.q. Seafood

The sambal stingray ($10) here comes coated with sambal chilli and slices of raw red onions, served with a kaffir lime at the side. As a rule of thumb when eating sambal stingray, you have to squeeze the lime all over the fish before you eat.

The stingray was so soft, tender and juicy, with the smoky barbecue flavour permeating through the meat. It was as though the fish had been cooked in an outdoor barbecue under an open flame. The sambal chilli was fragrant but not too spicy. The flavour of the sambal and the smokiness of the fish worked hand in hand to make this a great dish.

The onion dipping sauce had a sweet, onion flavour, contrary to the norm of tangy sauces. It really brought out the flavour of the fish. Also, if you are not afraid of onion breath, go ahead and have the fish with the raw onions. This combination introduces a different flavour profile to the fish. Delicious!

Xin Sheng Gor Hiong Prawn Crackers

You can mix and match whichever ingredients you want on your plate. You definitely have to get the prawn crackers, which are the signatures of Xin Sheng For Hiong Prawn Crackers. They were wonderfully crispy although the bits of prawn imbedded in the cracker did remind me a tad of fossils.

The ngoh hiang was chewy with a five spice aroma. I actually really enjoyed it, alongside the prawn pancake that was just as flavourful. Add on a plate of bee hoon to complete this meal!

Sikkander’s Briyani

When at Taman Jurong, you cannot miss out on Sikkander’s Briyani. Their chicken briyani ($3.50) comes with fragrant long-grain basmati rice, crispy fried chicken, pickled cucumbers, and a bowl of curry. At first taste, the rice on its own, was not that impressive. The curry too, was only decent at best. However, when we ate them together, the aromatic rice and flavourful curry somehow worked so well together to create a perfect harmony!

Unfortunately, the skin of the chicken was not crispy anymore. They did however give some additional crumbs which made up for the lack of crunch. The meat itself was tender and juicy. It is no wonder this briyani has been raved about by many!

Leng Huat Fishball Noodle and Laksa

No hawker centre is complete without a famous fishball noodle stall. And Leng Huat Fishball Noodle and Laksa, is the best one here. The Teochew style fishball noodles ($3) (kway teow for me!) came with fish balls, fish cake, slices of lean pork, lettuce, and lard.

The noodles were flavourful especially after being tossed in the chilli, and were a little tangy from the vinegar. That helped to whet our appetites and we all finished our individual bowls despite eating so much before. The fishballs too were really bouncy and QQ- the mark of a good fishball. My colleague who loves fishball noodles gave this bowl her seal of approval.

Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre is the place to go if you are in the west! Do stop by for a meal and let us know which stall was your favourite!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre – 5 Cheap But Good Places For A Satisfying Meal appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Many celebrities have made a name for themselves by investing in their own restaurants. One of them is Yao Wenlong, who is taking a bite out of the food world. He recently partnered with a Malaysian chef known as Chef Sun (hence, Sun Gourmet Kitchen) to open Sun Gourmet Kitchen (新煌亭).

Chef Sun is the culinary consultant of Yi Yuan Ting, who manages Li Gong Restaurant, a popular fine-dining restaurant by the Sultan of Brunei. Even though Chef Sun does not cook much at Sun Gourmet, he came up with the concept and menu, some of which are also served at his fine-diner Li Gong.

As for Wenlong, if you are lucky enough, you may even be able to catch him cooking pao fan for you! He prepares all 11 types of pao fan offered, in an open-concept kitchen, where customers can watch him in action. “Sometimes, they will take photos of me cooking,” he said.

“Pao” means “to submerge” and “fan” refers to rice in mandarin. Pao Fan has always been considered one of the best comfort food for Shanghai locals. While in Shanghai it is largely eaten as a home-style dish, with a vegetable broth, Sun Gourmet’s Pao Fan is presented with a touch of luxe.

There are two kinds of rich in each pao fan – the fried and crispy puffed rice (made with “top grade” Malaysian jasmine grains). You can either drench your pao fan with superior stock or the golden superior stock which has more than 10 ingredients such as fish bones, chicken and herbs. The ingredients for the broth are boiled over many hours to achieve an attractive orange-hued soup. It is especially tasty after you add seafood into the broth.

We love the Signature Assorted Seafood Yuan Yang Rice (RM46 for 3-4 pax) which comes with abalone, prawns, scallops fish fillet slices and more. This is an insanely flavourful seafood pao fan. Its flavours are rounded by the delightfully sweet prawns, and firm fish. The combination of puffed rice and fried rice gives each spoonful an addictive crunch. All these add depth and dimension to the simple dish. For the most premium one, go for the Assorted Seafood & Crab Yuan Yang Rice Set (RM188) which even has crab, sliced abalone clam, sea prawn, scallop, fish fillet etc.

For something more comforting, order the lowest-priced Handmade Fish Curd & Fish Ball, Seaweed Yuan Yang Rice (RM30). Each pot is served with fish curd, fishballs, fish maw, seaweed, minced pork and pork lard. The restaurant makes its own fish curd and fishballs. Before serving, Wenlong finishes the dish with a drizzle of Shaoxing wine. This is a much lighter and affordable version. You can customise your pao fan with a la carte ingredients like pacific clams, minced pork, fishballs, pig’s kidney, mushrooms and more.

Another dish you should try is the Signature Salted Kampung Chicken (RM28 for half chicken | RM55 for whole chicken). Contrary to its name, there is nothing overwhelmingly salty about the dish, which is prepared by poaching the kampong chicken in a salted herbal concoction. It is, in fact, very succulent with its chicken juices flowing with each bite. The kampung chicken was smaller in size compared to the regular variety, but firm in texture and tasted good with the ginger and scallion dip.

Some other dishes we tried, include the Crispy Stuffed Fish Fillet top with Tobicco (RM18) and Binchotan Charcoal Bean Curd (RM16). The former is a Japanese inspired dish featuring four deep-fried fish fillet drizzled with their wasabi mayo and fish roe. The latter is a bowl of handmade beancurd cubes with Japanese charcoal powder. The silken tofu was soft and delicate.

Sun Gourmet Kitchen might have opened only just a few months back, but the restaurant has already managed to win itself a good crowd. The prices are wallet-friendly and the pao fan is really tasty. It makes a very comforting midday meal, especially during this rainy season.

To make your navigations easier, Sun Gourmet Kitchen is located in the bubble tea town of Mount Austin. So after finishing your pao fan, you can end the meal with some brown sugar pearl milk (that is cheaper than in Singapore).

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