Living in a small city means our living spaces are small. As many of you know, I finally got the keys to my new house and we spent a lot of time renovating it. We are really lucky to have a balcony. We may not get much use out of it in the inclement weather but it’s an important feature in our dream home because this is where I can create my own private getaway in the midst of the hustle and bustle.

Through a friend Jessie’s recommendation, we were introduced to the good people from Absolut Outdoors. They are an exterior renovation company and they do can everything to make your outdoor areas comfortable, functional and beautiful. So we met up with the team where they understand our needs and uses for the balcony. For me, I wanted something green and durable in the balcony that’s easy to maintain. With that, they made recommendations (based on budget) and we went ahead with a beautiful and soft artificial turf.

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Absolut Outdoors took our balcony measurement and the staff came over to install the turf. From planning to execution, it took about two weeks because I customized a wooden wall. If you have seen my Instagram, you probably have seen how disappointed I was with my wooden flooring with another established company. But at Absolut Outdoors, everything was very smooth sailing and it helps that they have an experienced team of installers who live and breathe outdoor renovation.

Why so? Because Absolut Outdoors uses sports grade landscaping artificial turf from GreenTurf. Not only does it look natural but it is able to retain its lusciousness and form over a longer period of time. Plus, it’s easy to clean by simple vacuum or washing with mild soapy solution.

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At the start of my renovation, I still remember my husband telling me that he doesn’t fancy balcony and asked me to give up my idea of having dinners in the balcony. But today, we always have dinners in the balcony and that’s the place for us to chill out with friends and family. What could be more pleasant than having breakfast on your balcony? Even if it is tiny, it still gives you enough space to install a table for two and a few nice decorations. We installed our own pots of artificial plants to beautify the space! Now we just need to wait for the bean bag to arrive to make this space feel extra cozy.

Other than artificial turf, you also have an option to install composite or natural wood decking and they have many designs for you to choose from. But if you have toddles running around barefoot outside, natural wood decking is not recommended as it may splinter over time. Of course, if you are very consistent with maintenance of the decking, it should not be a problem. They can also build an artificial green wall or even customize a wooden swing, or a sandbox for your children.

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Not only that, we have also done a beautiful plant structure right above our marble table. This one is super chio and it has become our masterpiece for the living room!

Yup that’s my balcony overhaul. As you can see, we tried to think of various types of decor within the house and I think I have successfully turn my small balcony into a relaxing space. Absolut Outdoors has done outdoor renovations for many homeowners living in landed properties and high-rise apartments in Singapore and are familiar with the rules and regulations of each type of property.

To enquire, call 67498087, email at enquiry@absolutoutdoors.com or visit http://absolutoutdoors.com/ for a free site visit.

The post Building Our Home with Absolut Outdoors appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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Located a stone’s throw away from Ang Mo Kio MRT station lies Chops Grill & Sides – the latest Western hawker craze! It might be tucked in a corner of a coffee shop but their business was extremely good on a Friday evening. We arrived around 7.15pm and there was already a queue forming. We were advised that the wait was approximately 1 hour 45 minutes but the food came around 30 minutes faster than what we expected.

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Chops! XXL Platter ($59.90) feeds around 6 to 8 people but we went in a group of 5 and managed to clear everything. The original platter consists of grilled cajun chicken, fried breaded fish, grilled garlic pork collar, pan-fried Norwegian salmon, Australian grain-fed ribeye steak and half a rack of spiced BBQ babyback ribs. However, they ran out of fried breaded fish and grain-fed ribeye steak so we had double portions of grilled cajun chicken and the spice BBQ babyback ribs. Such a pity!

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The grilled cajun chicken had a layer of slightly crispy skin and was quite tender. Marinated well, the flavours were distinct. The spiced BBQ babyback ribs had a good balance of sweetness and savouriness. The meat was slightly firm, yet tender enough to be easily detached from the ribs.

For the above mentioned meats, the sauces (Sriracha Mayonnaise, Tartar, homemade mushroom & black pepper) served weren’t required as they were already very tasty on their own. However, for the pan-fried Norwegian salmon and grilled garlic pork collar, we recommend that you dip these meats in the sauces. The salmon was cooked medium, and had a very nice texture. It looked a little pinkish-orangey and had a tinge of smokey flavour to it. The pork collar, on the other hand, wasn’t as good as we expected. It was a tad too tough and too dry for our liking.

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Chops! XXL Platter comes with a mixture of 10 hot sides and cold salads, including potato & egg salad, coleslaw, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, garlic fried rice, mash potato, aglio olio, mac & cheese, shoestring fries and pasta salad.

Our top 3 favourites were the super sweet cherry tomatoes that exploded with juices in our mouths, the well-seasoned, flavourful aglio olio and addictive shoestring fries. The pasta salad felt undercooked while the mash potato would’ve been better if it was creamier and smoother. The mac & cheese wasn’t cheesy enough to make us go, ‘wow’.

Chops! XXL Platter is indeed very value-for-money and the quality of food is very decent. Fitness buffs, if you’re up for a food challenge, you should consider devouring this meaty platter after torturing yourself at the gym. For the rest of us, it’s good to over-indulge once in awhile with friends and family who love food. Be here early to avoid the crazy crowds, as well as, to avoid the disappointment in case some meats are sold out.

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 Chops Grill & Sides. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Founded in the 1990s by owner-chef Madam Choo Hong Eng, Kwan Inn Vegetarian has established itself as a forerunner in the field over the years. Its immense popularity and following of loyal customers is due to Madam Choo’s generosity and charitable personality. Approximately 5 years ago, Madam Choo made the headlines when she won more than $400,000 from a casino slot machine at Marina Bay Sands, and then proceeded to give it all away. It was not the first time she had hit the jackpot only to donate the money to charity.

Madam Choo believes in working hard for her money and has been running a vegetarian food stall, which she started in Geylang 30 years ago. In December last year, her dream of opening a restaurant came true. Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant has a cozy ambience and can seat up to 80 diners. Their extensive menu includes Vegetarian Suckling Pig, Specialty Vegetarian Goose, and many more.

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Si-Chuan Spicy Soup ($15 small) acts as a good appetiser, boasting a good consistency and a fine balance of sourness and spiciness. Ingredients such as tofu, salted vegetables and capsicums give this soup more texture. This is perfect especially on cold nights, and it really whets your appetite.

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Cai-Pu French Bean ($13 small) is too bland for our liking. Preserved turnip usually has a very distinct savouriness to it but this dish lacked that particular flavour. However, the long beans are well-cooked, slightly soft with a great textural crunch.

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The two mock meats we had were Coffee Vegetarian Pork Ribs ($16 small) and Spicy Stir-Fried Vegetarian Diced Chicken ($16 small). The former was very well-prepared as we thought it tasted exactly like the real thing. The coffee flavour was very strong and enhanced the aroma of the dish. The ribs were replaced by sugarcane. The tender mock meat was crispy on the exterior, yet juicy inside. The latter was fried with mock chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chilli peppers. One mouthful featured succulent meat, which was very addictive. It goes very well with rice and the level of spiciness was manageable.

The pricing of Kwan Inn Vegetarian might be a little on the steep side, given the quality of their food. We heard that they are actually famous for their chicken rice but we didn’t get to try it. Perhaps, we will return again to give other dishes a shot. Do note that if you’re driving, there is a public carpark in front of the Canadian International School, and you just have to cross the overhead bridge to get to Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant.

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 Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant – Jackpot Auntie’s Healthy Recipes appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Within a year, I have written so many articles about Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice, you may think I am their spokesperson. But of course, I am not affiliated to them in any way! I first got to know Niven when he opened Uncle Chicken Rice at The Bedok Marketplace.

Since young, Niven and his brother, Benson, worked at their father’s Sin Kee Famous Cantonese Chicken Rice at the defunct Margaret Drive Hawker Centre. Subsequently, Niven and Benson opened “Uncle Chicken” in Alexandra Village Food Centre and “Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice” in Mei Ling Food Centre respectively. The brothers eventually shut down their stalls and Benson went to work for Niven at The Bedok Marketplace for a while before opening his own stall at Holland Drive. Yup, all that happened within a year.

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As for Niven, he ventured into something bigger after waving goodbye to The Bedok Marketplace. About a week ago, he opened an air-conditioned eatery along Havelock serving chicken rice and more dishes! UP ONE LEVEL LEH!

The menu is quite straightforward. For one pax, it costs $4.30. For set meals, it costs $16.80/$20.80 (for 2 pax), $24.80/$32.80 (3 pax) or $32.80/$42.80 (4 pax). Chicken is the star and you have a choice of poached chicken, soya sauce chicken or combo! Side dishes include garden vegetables, lava eggs and chicken feet with peanuts soup.

We had a party of 4 so we sprung for the set menu immediately. The chicken feet with peanuts soup was a little bland and would probably taste better if it was simmered longer. On the other hand, the lava eggs were excellent. Soaked in soy sauce, the soft boiled eggs have got a perfect custard-like egg yolk with some serious flow. As for the rice, expect a plate of fluffy rice that is mildly fragrant and not too greasy. Garlic flavour yes, but subtle.

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One thing that never changes is their dedication to the use of good quality ingredients. Their fresh chicken is simply poached, sits in cold water, chopped and served. The chicken is cut chunky with an ultra smooth skin and some beautiful gelatin layer between the skin and meat. The flesh? Absolutely tender and sweet!

The popular ginger dip still stays. It was made with roughly blended fresh ginger mash mixed with chopped scallions. The ginger dip has none of the watery base, it was still packed with lots of punch even though the blended ginger appeared more coarse and dry during our day of visit. But to be fair, we went on their forth day of operation so there are still some teething issues.

The “normal” chilli sauce caters to the masses with a balance of tanginess (from the Thai lime), sweetness and is not too spicy. But niven has got this special blended spicy chilli sauce which is only served upon request. I can only use one word to describe it – SHIOK. The spiciness is enough to send some droplets of sweat forming on my forehead. But it’s so good that I pair it with every mouthful of my rice.

The post Uncle Chicken Rice – Sin Kee Famous Cantonese Chicken Rice by Niven (Now in Havelock Road) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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Six different ramen from popular eateries all the way from Japan are featured right here at Ramen Gallery Takumen. We are all familiar with the ubiquitous tonkotsu broth, but this restaurant will open your eyes to more than what you already know about ramen. Originally kicked off as a online ramen store, they go to great lengths just to recreate the original authentic flavours in their first physical branch on our island.

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Ramen Gallery Takumen has recently introduced the new hype in Japan, Ramen with Cheese from Due Italian. The restaurant has won the Bib Gourmand of Michelin Tokyo for 3 consecutive years with their rich chicken broth and special homemade noodles. The Special Fromage (Cheese) Ramen ($18.90) consists of noodles in a hot bath of savoury chicken broth, topped off with a layer of creamy fromage. Stir in the melted gooey cheese and enjoy the result of a rich, milky broth that is unlike any other you’ve tried. Some might find it a tad too oily though. Instead of the usual marinated chashu, the chef has decided to go all the way by using parma ham that elegantly sits on the edge of the bowl. Personally, I love my bowls of traditional ramen, but this unique rendition didn’t disappoint.

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One of the crowd’s favourite – Special Bigiya White Shoyu Ramen with Yuzu ($19.40) also won the Bib Gourmand of Michelin Tokyo for the past two years. This is yet another special soup base boiled using fish and chicken, combined with an interesting citrus flavour. The light broth ends with an addictive bonito flavour. This broth wasn’t right up my alley, but my dining partner found it refreshing. The soft ramen noodles is made using whole wheat flour, which went well with the tender chashu. If you’re a fan of eggs, you should definitely order the well-cooked ajitama to complement your ramen.

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For sides, we ordered the Iberian Dumplings ($7.80 for 6) – pan-fried gyoza stuffed with Iberico pork, which are a staple in Japanese cuisine. The skin of the dumplings were very thin and smooth, but I would have preferred the them to be more crispy. Additionally, the filling itself was to our liking – juicy and flavourful. Dip the dumplings in the tangy acidic sauce, and you’re all set for a burst of flavours in your mouth.

Ramen Gallery Takumen, which is located at Raffles Place, has limited seating and was expectedly packed with businessmen on a weekday afternoon. If you’re planning to get your ramen fix, you may pop by the other 2 outlets scattered around CBD as well.

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 SBCD Korean Tofu House. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Ramen Gallery Takumen – Special Cheese Ramen Say What?! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain smells and places … Nasi Lemak is one of Singaporeans’ favourite dishes, and we grew up having this, hence our particular fondness for this indulgent plate of rice. There are two types of nasi lemak commonly found today – the Malay version with ikan billis, nuts, ikan kuning (fried fish), fried egg and cucumber slices, as well as, the Chinese version which offers a lot more variety in side dishes ranging from fried chicken drumsticks to luncheon meat to an assortment of vegetables.

It’s not just the ingredients that makes a good nasi lemak. Pandan leaves and coconut milk play a huge role in enhancing the fragrance and richness of the rice, complemented by the spicy sambal chilli sauce that you can’t miss out on. We hunted down 15 fantastic places for you to try!

The Coconut Club

The Coconut Club at Ann Siang Hill brought the standard of nasi lemak back with the use of quality ingredients. Little wonder why our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Détente here for lunch! Our plate of Nasi Lemak ($12.80) is really lemak with a rich fragrance. Using basmati rice grains, the rice we had that day was dense and a little chewy.

The Coconut Club’s standard nasi lemak includes coconut rice, ikan bilis, sambal chilli, cucumber, fried egg and fried chicken leg. Optional add-ons include beef rendang, otak and fried fish. We really like the chicken leg marinated with galangal, lemongrass and ginger. The chicken leg is first coated with tapioca flour before it is deep fried, resulting in a crispy skin with very moist and juicy meat. However, the sambal chilli needs a little more punch.

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Quan Jia Fu (全佳福) Nasi Lemak

Set up by popular ge tai singer Cheng Ze (承泽) and two other partners, Quan Jia Fu Nasi Lemak in Army Market is gaining quite a crowd. One of the partners used to be a cook in a nasi lemak stall in Boon Lay so she takes care of all the cooking while the two handsome young man do most of the serving. Its rice is milder in coconut milk flavour, but is light and fluffy.

What really stands out is the sambal, which has a strong taste of dried shrimp in the blend. It’s really robust in flavours, spicy with a strong presence of shallots. The fried chicken is crispy and goes well with the sambal dip which we paired with curry vegetables and an egg omelette too. We love the old school vibes which exude from the rustic-looking metal plates which we used to use in the past. Old vintage milo tins are also hung on the ceiling and used as their cash box.

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Revolution Cafe

Celebrity Mod Sin Chef Shen Tan is famous for her nasi lemak, which is steamed with fresh coconut every day  instead of being thrown into a rice cooker with coconut milk. Only the best Fragrant Jasmine rice is used and each grain of rice is distinct and fluffy but richly lemak and deserves to be called Nasi Lemak! It is so well flavoured that you will want to eat the rice on its own! The 5 Nasi Lemak rice sets feature dishes such as crispy pork, crispy fried chicken, 5 spice pork confit, beef rendang and chicken rendang. Instead of going for the usual beef rendang, we opted for the crispy pork instead. It’s so crispy on the outside yet juicy on the inside.

Each set comes complete with the Nasi Lemak rice, omelette, ikan bills, homemade sambal belachan and coffee sambal on cucumber slices. Coffee and chilli gives a unique earthy flavour. You have to sample Shen’s extra spicy Sambal Belachan with its nuclear explosive kick. Shiok! The price of nasi lemak ranges from $4.90 to $9.90.

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Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak

With a snaking long queue of customers eagerly waiting to place their order, it is hard to miss this stall. This stall still maintains the freshness of their nasi lemak ingredients and makes sure that their food is kept sizzling hot. The well-marinated chicken is deep-fried to a nice crispiness but maintains its tenderness on the inside. Fried ikan bilis and roasted peanuts are nicely done too. The otah paste is splendid with add-on coconut milk. It wasn’t too spicy but enough to give a kick. We could feel the enticing coconut aroma rising up from the fragrant rice and the sambal chilli – ooh, it was sensational. Despite the crowd, their standard seemed to have dipped over the years.

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Mizzy Corner

Everyone who frequents Changi Village would know about the nasi lemak served at Mizzy’s Corner. Although it is said that anyone would invariably leave with very satisfied tummies, we didn’t think this was the best nasi lemak in Singapore. The standard chicken nasi lemak set costs $3.50 and comes with a fried chicken wing, a fried egg and ikan bilis, sambal and a slice of cucumber. Unfortunately, the rice is not fragrant enough and it is too soggy. A piece of mackerel otak otak can be added for an additional $1. Such a very value for money meal!

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Tan Beng Otah Delights

Otah here is prepared on the spot and freshly wrapped. The otah has a good balance of chilli and fish and exudes ethereal fragrance when served hot. The filling within contains chunks of mackerel meat and the spices pack quite a punch. What we enjoyed most was the packet of traditional nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaves that this hawker still prepares. Consisting of fried fish, an egg, ikan bilis and peanuts, it made me reminisce the days when my late grandmother would tabao this back for me on weekends for breakfast when I was much younger.

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Sri Sujana Muslim Food

The standard chicken nasi lemak set which costs $3.50, comes with a fried chicken wing, a fried egg, ikan bilis, sambal and a slice of cucumber. Unfortunately, the rice is not fragrant enough and it is too soggy. However, we quite enjoyed the sambal here. While some sambal tends to be sweeter, Sri Sujana’s version is spicy enough and is fragrant enough. Their ikan bilis was also super crispy and still hot. The chicken wings have a nice crispy skin. A piece of mackerel otak otak can be added for an additional $1. We queued for 20 mins or longer for just two plates of nasi lemak. Actually, the diners mostly only buy 1 to 2 plates of nasi lemak. Service is really slow.

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Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak

Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak at Adam Food Centre has been labelled as one of the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore. Food comes in sets, with prices ranging from $2.50 to $5.50, depending on the ingredients you order. We ordered their “Royal Rumble” ($5.50) which consisted of Potato Croquette, Fried Egg, Deep-fried fish, Ikan Bilis, Otah and Deep-fried chicken wing. Our verdict? We have to agree that the rice was fragrant and well-enriched by the coconut milk. They use Basmati Rice which has a lighter texture and better flavour, and the grains are wonderfully separated. Expect a queue at this stall, but it’s worth the wait!

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No. 1 Adam’s Nasi Lemak

Located just beside Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak, we have to say that each stall has their own specialty. No. 1 Adam’s Nasi Lemak’s specialty lies in the mutton rendang, which possesses a thick, yet sweet gravy. The meat is tender and juicy. The fish cake had a bouncy texture while the otah was soft and tasty. We like the flavourful potato too. The highlight though, has to be the sambal chilli. It’s a tad sweet, not too spicy and very appetizing. Do note that the waiting time during lunch hours can take up to 60 minutes as many people would takeaway about 10 to 15 packets each.

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Fong Seng Fast Food Nasi Lemak

Fong Seng specialises in selling nasi lemak with the usual sides such as chicken wing, ikan bilis, peanuts, otah and egg etc. The chicken wing is fried to a perfect crisp golden brown while still retaining its tender, succulent meat within. The otah was fiery hot, with a hint of coconut milk to neutralise its spiciness. However, the rice served was normal steamed rice which Fong Seng makes up for by serving a plethora of other sides, which gives you a plate of hearty “cai fan”. There are a variety of vegetables, curry and various meats to choose from.

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Hon Ni Kitchen

Hon Ni has two stalls in the hawker centre, one to prepare the ingredients while the other to serve from. It sells nasi lemak at a very cheap price. While the must-order is chicken wing, they also have other dishes such as luncheon meat, fried kuning fish, fishcakes, stir fry long beans, ikan bilis, otah, fried eggs etc. The nasi is very light and fluffy because they use coconut milk sparingly. The rice is best eaten with their homemade sambal chilli sauce, which is made of fresh chilli, onions and ikan bilis. Very shiok! And many have raved about their delicious otah which is silky smooth and without a fishy smell. Be sure to try it out!

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Chong Pang Nasi Lemak

This famed establishment had its humble beginnings in the former Chong Pang Village Hawker Centre in 1973 before moving to the current coffee shop situated along the busy Sembawang Road. Serving Chinese-style Nasi Lemak with an array of dishes to choose from, the rice is light and not heavy on coconut milk. Of all the sides, the best-selling item is the chicken wings. Lightly battered and well marinated, each bite had a good crunch, with juicy, tender meat. The chilli packs a good punch and finishes on a tangy note.

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Punggol Nasi Lemak

Run by family members, Punggol Nasi Lemak is a favourite supper spot for many. I’ve been frequenting the outlet near Kovan for many years and there’s always a long queue during dinner hours. The aroma of their good quality rice is accentuated by coconut and pandan. Each grain is consistent, neither too mushy nor too hard. The eggs here are prepared just right, with a runny yolk in the middle surrounded by crispy, browned edges. The chicken wings are worth your calories too! They are crispy and succulent, even with such a high turnover. The sambal chilli is not too spicy and has a hint of sweetness. There are sides like otah, sambal belachan long beans, fish cakes and many more, which could be packed away for dinner.

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Market Street Nasi Lemak

Located at the hawker centre in the CBD, it’s hard to miss this stall when the queue is always snaking during lunch time. Run by two brothers, they are very efficient and offer a wide selection of items to choose from at very reasonable prices. At $2.50, our plate consisted of fragrant rice, fried chicken drumstick, fish fillet, otah, egg and ikan billis. What a steal! The chicken wings and chicken drumsticks were not too greasy and were fried to a crisp golden brown, while retaining its tender meat within. The rice was palatable, with a strong coconut aroma. If you work in the CBD and don’t mind queuing, this is definitely a wallet-friendly stall you can frequent.

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Bali Nasi Lemak

Aunty Susan came from a family selling nasi lemak. Her eldest sister is the owner of the famous Punggol Nasi Lemak while her second sister is the owner of Mt Faber Nasi Lemak. Even so, each stall has their own specialty. Here, the Kicap Manis Fried Chicken is their specialty. They deep fried the chicken wings with rice and wheat flour to hold that crispiness. You can have it in original or the kecap manis version which is tossed with sweet black sauce. They also serve unique dishes like sambal petai, otah, brinjal etc. Obviously no complaints about her rice, the Thai basmati rice is fluffy and lemak just like her sisters’.

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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 the stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 15 Nasi Lemak in Singapore for The Ultimate Indulgence appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I’m sure we all agree that Japan is one of the world’s top foodie destinations, famed for countless of delights ranging from fresh fish to desserts. Putting aside the usual Japanese favourites that we Singaporeans are all so familiar with, allow us to flip you into the world of Japanese savoury pancakes at Seiwaa.

Tucked away on a little street filled with backpacker hostels and Indian restaurants, lies this hidden gem. Before you jump to any conclusions about how “ulu” the location sounds, Seiwaa is in fact located only a 5 minute walk away from Rochor MRT station. I chanced upon it months ago, and we’ve made another trip down recently to share with you this amazing discovery.

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Okonomiyaki, which literally means “grilled as you like it”, is a Japanese savoury pancake. A typical Okonomiyaki will consist of ingredients such as flour, eggs, cabbage and toppings of your choice. At Seiwaa, you can DIY your pancake (don’t worry, clear instructions are provided) or feel free to ask the chef to help you out. Prices start from as low as $10!

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We were fortunate enough to have the chef help us out on the previous visit so this is actually our first DIY experience with Okonomiyaki. First, we mixed the batter well and laid it out on the griddle with a thin layer of oil. The estimated time taken for each side to cook is about 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the pancake. The hardest part was flipping the pancake without creating a mess. After all the hard work, you may top off your golden-brown Okonomiyaki with the condiments provided: topping sauce, Mayonnaise, Dried Bonito flakes and Aonoir powder.

We settled for Mix Okonomiyaki ($16) which includes pork, squids and shrimps. The sweetness of the seafood combined with the salty bacon makes this light pancake absolutely delectable. In addition, the finely-chopped pickled ginger in the chopped cabbage adds a pop of tartness, but nothing too overwhelming. Having this again just rekindles my love for Osaka and its specialties.

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Perhaps fewer people are familiar with Monjayaki, which is said to have originated from Tokyo. Although the batter ingredients are similar to that of Okonomiyaki, Monjayaki is more runny and resembles melted oozy Mozzarella cheese. We went ahead with Seafood Monja ($10) which includes shrimps, squids and fragrant Sakura Ebi. As this dish is trickier to handle, you may wish to hand over your spatulas to the Japanese sensei of Monjayaki at Seiwaa. After it is cooked, dive right in and enjoy it straight off the griddle with your mini spatula.

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Though not the most photogenic of them all, Monjayaki is almost like a concentrated gooey mess of Okonomiyaki. The rich flavours hit you immediately and the best part? The crispy bottom paired with the chewy surface. Trust me, you will scrape that griddle clean because it will hit all the right notes for you.

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Calm your whining tummies down with their Salmon and Bacon Fried Rice ($12) while waiting for your pancakes to cook. As if it doesn’t sound delicious already, let me just tempt you more by saying it tastes even better than it sounds – smoky, garlicky fried rice loaded with tender salmon chunks. Ugh, I am so craving for a plate of this right now.

Never underestimate Japanese street food, for they can fill you up as well as a bowl of ramen can. Expect to be treated with fresh ingredients all the way from Japan. Furthermore, if you’re up for a challenge, they have a 1 for 1 90 minutes Ala Carte Buffet that will fill you up to the brim. An unpretentious and homely restaurant offering an experience of Japan on a griddle; What’s not to love?

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 Seiwaa. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Seiwaa – Cheap and Good Okonomiyaki from $10 appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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What determines a good bowl of ramen? The noodles? The soup? The ingredients? I think it’s a combination of all that. In Orchard Road, we have got the world’s only Michelin-starred ramen eatery Tsuta. Here in Bukit Timah, we have a new ramen hawker stall Buta Kin selling ramen for less than $10!

Located at Beauty World Food Centre, Buta Kin offers quite a huge variety for a hawker – 5 types of ramen/udon dishes and 4 different Japanese curry dishes. Most of the items are less than $6, it’s really quite a good deal especially for foodies who crave for an affordable bowl of ramen.

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We went for the Special Tonkotsu Ramen ($6.90) – the most expensive item on the menu with a choice of ramen or udon. Each bowl comes with 3 slices of pork belly, black fungus, soft boiled egg and seaweed, quite a generous serving I would say. The charred pork belly was pretty good, not meltingly tender but comes with a good bite and marinade. Soft boiled egg was done well too with a custard like egg yolk. However, the pork broth was a little weak on our day of visit and the noodles had a texture that was relatively similar to Chinese la mian. Not complaining hor, just managing expectations here.

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We also ordered the Tonkotsu Black ($6) which I thought would be more flavourful because of the garlic oil. But sadly, it didn’t lift up the flavours a single bit. The ingredients here are similar to the tonkatsu ramen. Of course, being a hawker stall, you can’t expect ingredients to be premium nor can you expect noodles to be handmade from scratch. But, I believe they will do better if they can improve on their pork broth (i.e. simmer longer to bring out the rich depth of flavour).

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 Buta Kin. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Buta Kin @ Beauty World – Ramen For Less Than $10 appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Oooohhh my bittersweet friend. The trend of Matcha foods (desserts especially) is still invading our Instagram feed and there seems to be no one pulling the brakes yet. Here is a guide to assist you in conquering all these foods in Singapore one by one. And just in case you’re worried about dem calories, Matcha is actually proven to enhance weight loss by boosting your metabolism. (I KNOW RIGHT, this means time for more desserts!) Let’s jump right into our Matcha favourites, shall we?

1. Matcha Tang Yuan

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Pop goes the glutinous bubbles; feel the rich fillings disintegrate into a sweet mess in your mouth. Amidst all the innovative food fads that come and go, don’t we all just appreciate a bowl of some good old school Tang Yuan in a fragrant peanut soup? Despite having a few branches islandwide, Ah Balling Tang Yuan still makes their great balls of love by hand, and stuffs them generously with five types of filling, including a unique green tea flavour. The green tea glutinous rice balls, packed with a sweet green tea paste, are slightly chewy yet firm. You’ll be glad to know that they still keep prices affordable at 50 cents or less a ball, depending on the portion ($2 for 4 balls). I went for the classic peanut soup that was not overly sweet. Longan Soup, Ginger Soup and Almond Soup are available as well. You don’t need to splurge to get your green tea fix!

2. Matcha Egg Tart

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I was introduced to Fancy Delight’s egg tarts (or should I say cups) a few years ago. They have a wide variety of egg tarts, including a matcha one that not many are aware of. It may turn you off a little with the unusual combination of a green crust and yellow custard, but the taste will make you change your mind. Their Matcha Egg Tart ($1.50) breaks apart easily due to its crumbly, buttery green tea crust. The insides are filled to the brim with a soft and eggy custard. This egg tart is not too sweet, and perfect for those who simply wish for a mild matcha flavour.

3. Matcha Azuki Choux

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5cm in diameter, Ollella’s choux are beautifully topped with a matcha Chantilly that drew our attention from afar. The Matcha Azuki Choux ($4.50) features a green craquelin choux and sweet azuki beans. We couldn’t bear to destroy this elegant creation and snapped away with our cameras before finally breaking it apart. Every mouthful was bursting with flavours. While the matcha cream was light, the rich azuki beans provided a good contrast.

4. Matcha Pancakes

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Pacamara ranks high on everyone’s go-to cafes list, I believe. Not too long ago, this lovely café launched their Matcha Pancake ($17.50) with azuki bean paste, fresh berries, azuki ice cream and vanilla sauce. The pancakes itself were soft and fluffy but we wished that there was a stronger punch of matcha flavour. The little pot of sweet condensed milk for the pancakes did not impress us, but at least the azuki ice cream received more stamps of approval.

5. Matcha Croissant

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Tiong Bahru Bakery has long been a thing among cafe hoppers and pastry lovers. I, myself, have been a fan of their almond croissants since I tried them at the Tiong Bahru outlet. As we were wandering around looking for more yummy Matcha sweets, we chanced upon the Green Tea Almond Croissant ($4) at Tangs Plaza and boy, was I glad to have tried this rendition of the almond croissant. The Matcha taste did not overwhelm the classic buttery flavours. Despite the unappetizing flat outlook, this croissant will lure you in with its flavours. The exterior of the croissant was flaky and crisp, while the interior (which I go crazy for) has a bread-like texture and was buttery and moist. The difference between this and its predecessor is the light matcha paste, which generously filled the centre of the croissant. This is undoubtedly one of the better matcha desserts that we’ve tried.

6. Matcha Pudding

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Matcha Pudding ($2) for you? Top up just $1 for Taro Balls, Sweet Potato Balls, Red Beans and Konjac jelly for extra satisfaction. Shelves of puddings are refrigerated, and toppings are scooped atop the pudding upon order. The pudding itself is firm yet bouncy, with a hint of Matcha. I was told that their puddings are handmade, which is less common now considering how factory-made pudding appears to be a rather tempting option for many. The toppings added some chewiness to the otherwise simple curd. This ain’t your cup of pudding if you’re going for a rich dessert, but this pudding is a great dessert to follow a greasy Char Kway Teow meal at Golden Mile Food Centre.

7. Matcha Lava Cake (The Coolest one Around)

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Let it flow, let it flowwww~ Watch the hot bomb of Matcha White Chocolate Lava explode into the cold chocolate soil, almond nougatine and roasted green tea gelato. The Matcha Avalanche ($13.90) from Non Entrée Desserts is a good option for those who love their desserts thick and rich. Use a knife to slice open the lava cake and watch green magma drip into the glass cup. After all the action, crack the almond nougatine to let the lava cake fall into the glass. Enjoy this interesting dessert at this little cosy café situated along Rangoon Road.

8. Matcha Mochi

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If you see Stateland Café and are confused, step right in because you’ve actually arrived at the right place. Their Matcha Burst ($15) comes with a swirl of cookie butter soft serve and three matcha mochi balls that comes loaded with an oozing reservoir of molten matcha sauce. You’ll want to pop these chewy glutinous balls straight into your mouth – cutting into them makes for a foodporn worthy shot, but you lose all the molten goodness as a result. While the individual components tasted good on its own, the flavours ultimately failed to come together and we found ourselves eating the various parts of the dish in silo.

9. Cha Soba

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Hana Japanese Restaurant recently took Singapore by storm, riding on their magical flying noodles that easily captured the attention of Singapore. Even though it was located at a more secluded area on Orchard Road, don’t be shocked to see the queue form before the restaurant is even open for dinner at 6pm. We flew down to unravel the mystery behind their Flying Cha Soba (soba noodles made from buckwheat and wheat flour, infused with matcha) with Spam Maki ($16), but it seemed like it didn’t take us on the ride that we were highly anticipating for. We wished that the matcha taste in the noodles could be stronger, even though the texture was pretty springy. The noodles came with 2 dipping sauces – Soba dipping sauce and Cha Soba Sauce with onsen tamago, with the latter being our personal favourite. And if you’re wondering what to do with the raw quail egg served aside the noodles, you may have it together your noodles as the staff let us in on. Experiencing the novelty for yourself but don’t expect the taste to take you to the skies.

10. Matcha Bingsu

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O’ma Spoon has been around for quite a period of time, before a large number of Bingsu speciality shops started popping up one by one. The Matcha Bingsu ($13.90) was such a feast for the eyes. Standing tall, the Bingsu consisted of a large scoop of matcha ice cream resting mighty atop a generous tower of shaved milk shavings. We felt that the nuts (peanuts, cashew nuts and almond nuts) cut through the sweetness of the Bingsu and added a lovely crunch. The shaved milk shavings could have been creamier though. After all the shopping in town, have a seat and enjoy this refreshing cold dessert to recharge, mmhmmm.

11. Matcha Cheesecake

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When we think about Japanese cafes, it might not come as a surprise that Café&Meal MUJI pops up off the top of our heads. I personally enjoy shopping at MUJI’s food section, and I guess I was secretly hoping to feel the same excitement from their desserts. Unfortunately, I didn’t. While their Matcha Cheesecake ($5.40) wasn’t the best I’ve tasted, the mild matcha taste comes through the cheesecake well. Furthermore, the mixed nuts crust was a good change from the usual biscuit-based crust. However, the cheesecake might also come off a tad dry to some.

12. Matcha Parfait

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Hvala Waffle Bar has joined the closely knitted family of small bites at the basement of 313 last year. After trying their speciality, I finally get the hype behind their Matcha Soba Soft Serve. They offer a few signature Matcha Parfaits for your pick, although you may create your own if you wish to. The Tsubu Parfait ($10.80, including the puffle) appeared to be the most appetizing, as it included a few traditional Japanese elements such as grilled dango (sweet dumplings) and senbei (rice crackers). The chewy dango and salty senbei were interesting touches that we did not expect to go well with the soft serve. Just take a good look at that gigantic puffle in the background; even we were surprised. We particularly enjoyed the chocolate fondue sauce on the puffle, combined with the soft serve. Albeit on the pricey side, sharing this dessert with your friends will not cause a hole in your wallet.

13. Matcha Freak Cake

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Step aside freakshakes, freak cakes have arrived in town. These cakes are called freak cakes for a reason, but in a good way of course. Montana Singapore has launched this new series in September, which drew everyone’s attention to their gorgeous looking cakes that includes the Matcha Black Sesame Freak Cake ($14.80). The exterior is covered with matcha buttercream and there is black sesame frosting dripping down the sides of the cake. After slicing the cake in anticipation, this is what you get – moist distinct layers of matcha cake amidst smooth black sesame buttercream. If you’re particular about the cake texture, here’s a heads up – the cake itself seems to be more fudgy rather than spongy and airy. The only weird thing was the black sesame soil that was left untouched due to its slight rubbery texture. Montana Singapore has done a pretty good job in balancing the flavours, but it definitely looked better than it tasted. Do drag your friends along to share this large serving of cake!

14. Matcha Pretzel

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Auntie Anne’s started way back in 1988, and has done a magnificent job in keeping its business thriving for so long. You know Auntie Anne ain’t messing around with their pretzels, when you finally taste her work of art. Their Matcha Pretzel ($3.40) consisted of a buttery and bread-like pretzel tossed in some matcha powder and sugar. Unexpectedly, we enjoyed the Matcha Pretzel as the matcha powder did not overwhelm the hearty pretzel itself. I would definitely recommend this if you don’t mind spending a little more to indulge in a snack.

15. Matcha Soufflé

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I’m guessing Hoshino Coffee probably rings a bell in your head? Alongside their signature “Hand-Dripped” coffee and French toasts, they too whip up a relatively satisfying souffle. Their Matcha soufflé ($10.80) had a very light and wobbly interior encased by a crisp and nicely browned crust. Dusted with icing sugar and matcha powder, perhaps the soufflé dessert could be elevated with a scoop of ice cream for a hint of creaminess. In our opinion, it was slightly undercooked but the taste made up for it.

16. Matcha Milk Tea

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In the gently refurbished space in ICON Village lies Matchaya opened by Kaelyn Ong and Kevin Chee. Their dedication to pioneering the idea of providing organic premium matcha drinks shine through the milk teas that they have worked hard to create. Certified organic premium ingredients from different prefectures in Japan have been combed to produce a variety of Japanese milk tea. Keeping the sugar level to a minimum, there are four milk teas for you to choose from – Matcha Milk Tea, Houjicha, Royal and Kuromitsu. The fragrant Matcha Milk Tea ($4.90) is pleasant and juggles the sweet and bitter notes well. If you prefer a stronger matcha flavour, top up $1 for another shot of matcha.

17. Matcha Expresso

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This year, Starbucks Singapore released their Teavana series that revolutionized the idea of tea in the coffee chain. Lovers of matcha definitely would have heard the news about the new Matcha Expresso ($6.90 onwards) – their signature Expresso Roast combined with fragrant Matcha milk. The layering of the coffee and Matcha milk is beautiful, isn’t it? The expresso came through too strong, almost overwhelming the matcha flavours in the drink. Undoubtedly, the drink is definitely a caffeine booster for anyone who needs it, but if anything, it’s simply more of a coffee than a matcha drink.

Turning green with envy? Satisfy your matcha cravings and you will be grinning from ear to ear in no time. Ride along this matcha wave and enjoy the health benefits that comes along!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid for 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 these places. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 17 Matcha Foods that We Love So Matcha (We like No. 5 & 14) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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Previously, I have shared my aunty’s hakka abacus seed recipe. Today, it’s another hakka recipe which I learnt from her – Yi Zi Ban (忆子粄). This traditional kueh was made by a mother during the olden days to remember her son when he went on an expedition overseas. This is a dish that signifies reunion, so try making it at home with your family!

Typically the rice cake is only made with glutinous rice flour, but we added some yam to the to give it a light fragrance. It is wrapped with a filling of meat, beancurd, dried shrimp, black fungus and mushroom. If you have eaten them before, you will know that it requires alot of manual labour and patience. ENJOY!

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It’s always difficult to narrow down all the meals we have had in 2016 and choose the best of the best, because there are many special moments we remember. But after lots of contemplating, we are excited to share 35 Most Memorable Meals in 2016. Some may not be the best to you, but there is probably a touching story or beautiful ambience that make it memorable for us. Just like the saying, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it”. 2016 has been a very exciting year for the F&B scene in Singapore with the launch of the inaugural Michelin Guide Singapore. We are looking forward to see what 2017 brings us. I want to say a big thank you for all your support. Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017!

RESTAURANTS/CAFES/EATERIES

1. Fat Lulu’s Asian BBQ & Desserts
Housed in the same quaint premises Five & Dime formerly occupied on River Valley Road, Fat Lulu brings together two talented chefs Sam and Song to create “Wicked BBQ. Smooth Desserts”. The former is a BBQ dude, blasting kickass flavours into meats, fish, and vegetables seasoned with Asian spices and chillis. While Chef Song creates desserts of refined delicacy that are technique-driven and visually arresting. My favourite appetizers include Sataytay ($12) with Iberico pork collar on skewers, marinated one full day in sambal (chilli, garlic shallots mixed together with kicap main and kosher salt). Such tender and juicy meat with a hint of smokiness. Not forgetting the Berries & White Chocolate. It is a refreshing, frozen, fruity dessert using white chocolate and cassis, with elderflower-infused strawberries, making an excellent complement to the burn and heat of Asian BBQ. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/fat-lulus/

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2. Ash & Elm
The relatively new Ash & Elm in Intercontinental Singapore features three exciting culinary theatres – a Charcuterie & Cheese room, Wood-fired oven and an open-grill kitchen. Designed for diners seeking hearty and comforting European food, the menu at Ash & Elm offers a selection of sharing platters, house-cured and premium meats, as well as sustainability-sourced seafood, primed with the traditional craft of classic wood-fired ovens and charcoal-grill. Beef Tasting Platter ($108) gives diners the option of sampling a range of meat offerings from the “Mains” and the Charcoal Grill that uses specially imported Manuka woodchips from New Zealand, alongside charcoal to provide broad robust flavours and natural caramelisation to meats. We had USDA New York Striploin, Australian Rib-Eye steak and French Bavette dAloyau with béarnaise, peppercorn and natural jus. Some sides include handcut baked roseval potato wedges with paprika-rosemary, grandma’s mashed potatoes, sautéed mixed mushrooms and grilled green asparagus. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/ash-and-elm-intercontinental/

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3. Oscar’s
Oscar’s at Conrad Centennial Singapore is back with a new look, along with a whole new Sunday brunch offering that serves up an indulgent spread of international cuisines! In a compact setting, the buffet lines include seafood, carving stations and live cooking stations, along with a new 4-metre long salad bar for the health conscious eaters. Oscar’s has its own version of the famous London Duck at the carving station. The ducks are specially imported from farms in Ireland, where they are reared with extremely high farming standards such as free-range rearing and grain feeds. What is served on our tables is a glistening roasted duck with succulent meat. There is also oven-roasted US prime ribs and an entire suckling pig prepared in slow-roasted Argentinian, Mauritian or Chinese-style. The Supercharged Sunday Brunch is available every Sunday from 12.30pm to 3.30pm at $98++ per person. Read about it here: https://www.misstamchiak.com/oscars-conrad-sunday-brunch/

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4. Shashlik
When Shashlik announced in July 2015 that they were closing at the end of the year, there was a sudden rush of diners trying to book a table, including us. But guess what, after the restaurant shut its doors in December, good news came. The two sons of late Captain and Head Waiter, Mr Tan Niap Hin, have taken up the mantle at Shashlik to continue the legacy. To keep the heritage, the owners re-hired the older workers and majority of them agreed to continue working, so you can expect the signature gruff from them, which is part of the experience here. Go for the Shashlik beef skewers ($32), a dish which the restaurant is named after. The marinated tenderloin has first been grilled and then placed on a hotplate when served, together with Russian salad that was served separately. It doesn’t look too appetizing on first site but it was a different story on first bite. The meat was very tasty and full of beefy flavour, that’s why you don’t even need any sauce. My medium was also just right, mildly bloody on the inside yet retaining the moist and juiciness. Read about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/shashlik/

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5. Tsuta
Tsuta made global headlines after being awarded a Michelin star in 2015, becoming the first and only Japanese ramen eatery to receive the prestigious accolade. The base of the soy broth is made with three types of shoyu. One of the shoyu is formulated in-house. We like the Char Siu Ajiama Shoyu Soba ($22.80) which consists of 4 slices of pork collar char siu, bamboo shoot, leek, flavoured egg and truffle pureed in truffle oil. Pork collar is used instead of the usual pork belly as it is lower in fats yet retains the same texture and tasty flavour. Shoyu-based broth tastes earthy and is very flavoursome, with a distinct flavour of truffle. Read more about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/tsuta-singapore/

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6. Tensho
Tendon (天丼) is a type of donburi where crispy tempura is laid over freshly steamed rice and topped with a delicious light soy dressing. Tensho (天勝) is a Japanese specialty tendon eatery which serves fresh and crispy tempura with rice at The Centrepoint. Opened by Ministry of Food, we tried the two items on the menu – Mixed Tendon ($14.90) or Vege Tendon ($13.90). Crispy crunchy tempura on rice is simply delicious, and you really got to eat it hot to enjoy the freshness and crispiness. The Mixed Tendon comes with prawns, dory fish, onsen egg and vegetables served on Japanese rice, chawanmushi and miso soup. The batter is crispy but fluffy, and the sauce offers a good balance of sweet and salty. Remember to break the soft boiled egg and coat the tempura and rice with it. Read about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/tensho-centrepoint/

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7. Sandaime Bunji
Stepping into Sandaime Bunji in Millenia Walk makes you feel as though you’ve been transported to an authentic eatery in Japan. Boasting al fresco seats, counter seats, as well as, Zabuton seats (Japanese cushion for sitting on the ground), this Japanese eatery exudes a relaxing vibe. The impressive item that brought us here was their Wagyu Round Roast Beef Set ($19.90), a towering bowl with 250g of beef slices stacked on top of the rice. The beef was executed to perfection, it’s succulent, tender, yet a little chewy. Read about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/sandaime-bunji/

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8. Birds of a Feather
Birds of A Feather is the new all-day dining, cafe and bar in Amoy Street that is the perfect antidote to frenzied, stressed out lives. The owners are from Chengdu, where they own Good Wood Coffee, a successful chain of café across Chengdu. The space here is BEAUTIFUL! There is green everywhere with comfortable sitting spaces where you can really come and relax and bond over food. On the menu is superb contemporary Western cuisine with a pronounced Sichuan influence. Inspired by paper wrap chicken or shaker fries, Crispy Pork Trotter in a Bag ($12/5pcs) is positively exploding with flavour. We enjoyed the Oriental Bolognese ($20) very much. A modern version of zha jiang mian, thin angel hair pasta is cooked with pork ragout, onsen tamago, wilted kale and sakura ebi. Read about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/birds-of-a-feather/

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9. Kam’s Roast
Kam’s Roast first overseas branch has opened in Pacific Plaza, located next to the Michelin-starred ramen restaurant Tsuta! The flagship outlet in Hong Kong was awarded the Michelin Star in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong & Macau. Started by Mr Hardy Kam in 2014, Hardy was the grandson of the late Mr Kam Shui Fai, who founded the Hong Kong roast goose institution, Yung Kee Restaurant. Within 6 months of opening, Kam’s had earned a Michelin star. Using the family recipe and the same sauce and marinade techniques used back in Hardy’s grandfather’s day, signature dishes at Kam’s include roast duck, suckling pig and “toro” char siew made with premium pork belly. We are in love with the Toro Char Siu. The premium pork belly is seasoned with Kam family’s award-winning marinade. The slab of meat is barbequed and boasts a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Read about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/kams-roast-singapore/

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10. Tai Cheong Bakery
Ever since we tried Tai Cheong Bakery’s egg tarts in Hong Kong, we were converted. Few have even managed to come close to swaying our heart. For that reason, you can probably imagine how elated we were when Tai Cheong Bakery announced their opening of a Cha Chaan Teng in Holland Village. Look forward to experiencing traditional delights and beverages in a Hong Kong-style eatery setting, and we believe the snaking queue speaks volumes about what you’re in for. If you’re thinking flaky and thin short-crust tart shells, let Tai Cheong surprise you with their fragrant, buttery crust that will leave you begging for more. The filling is everything you would ever wish for in an egg custard – light and smooth, without driving you crazy on the sweetness. The surface was slightly firm yet bouncy, but when you bite into them, the egg custard was so soft that it almost breaks apart instantly. Do note that they only allow a maximum purchase of 2 egg tarts per dine-in customer. We have other favourites like Scrambled Eggs Toast Stack and Three Coloured Silky Eggs with Rice.

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11. Wah Kee Prawn Mee
Among the many popular prawn noodles stalls in Singapore, Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle from Pek Kio Market and Food Centre stands as a strong contender amongst its competitors. Building on its 65 years of legacy at Pek Kio Market and Food Centre, it has opened another outlet at a prime location, Esplanade Mall. Their signature big prawn Noodles, available in dry or soup, is a must-try. The succulent prawns sitting in a bowl of heavenly broth were perfect, slightly firm yet bouncy with a slight crunch texture upon biting into it. Dip your prawns into the specially crafted spicy sauce for the extra kick! The owner shared his secret recipe of using 6 different types of prawns and completely no meat to prepare the broth for 4 hours. The sweetness and richness of the prawns came through upon the first sip of the broth. A slight spice kick and hint of garlic elevated the dish further, and left us feeling satisfied. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/wah-kee-esplanade/

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12. Uncle Chicken Rice
After waving goodbye to The Bedok Marketplace, Uncle Chicken Rice opened an air-conditioned eatery along Havelock serving chicken rice and more dishes! One thing that never changes is their dedication to the use of good quality ingredients. Their fresh chicken is simply poached, sits in cold water, chopped and served. The chicken is cut chunky with an ultra smooth skin and some beautiful gelatin layer between the skin and meat. The flesh? Absolutely tender and sweet! The popular ginger dip still stays. It was made with roughly blended fresh ginger mash mixed with chopped scallions. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/uncle-chicken-rice/

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HAWKER

13. Guan Hin Homemade Carrot Cake
Guan Hin Homemade Carrot Cake has been under the radar for too long. At the stall, you will see huge round aluminium trays filled with homemade carrot cake. It’s such a rare sight because most of the carrot cake stalls do not make it on their own and are getting it from suppliers already. But everyday, the old coupe still makes it on the stall, cuts them up into huge chunks and frying it upon order. Each piece of carrot cake is so chunky and stir fried with garlic and preserved radish. There is an option for white or black version. I preferred the black one where the old uncle mix it with thick and rich black sweetened sauce for extra umami. Plus, he is generous with eggs too! Read about it here: https://www.misstamchiak.com/guan-hin-carrot-cake/

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14. Sumo Big Prawn
Sumo Big Prawn has been the talk of town recently. We queued for 45 minutes on a weekday morning for our bowl of Lobster and Big Prawn soup. It arrived piping hot, with a subtle aroma of Chinese wine and buttery fragrance. It consists of a whole lobster, two big prawns and plump, juicy clams. We have read some reviews about the lobsters being tough and dry, but thankfully, the lobster and prawns we had that day were cooked just right, soaking in the richness of the broth without compromising on its natural sweetness. I guess consistency is still an issue here but I believe they will be better.

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15. Ivy’s Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup
Owner Max is a Hainanese (fellow suki) and Ivy is the name of Max wife. Max was trying to woo Ivy then and he cooked mutton soup to win her heart. Of course he succeeded because they got married and Max opened Ivy’s Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup. Every morning, Max would marinate the lamb ribs with fermented red yeast and seared in oil to get rid of the gamey taste. Then, the meat is cooked with more than 10 different herbs for hours. The end result? Each spoonful of soup is flavourful with deep herbal flavours but not overpowering. Served with some tau pok, black fungus and wolfberries, the lamb ribs are tender. Read about it: https://www.misstamchiak.com/ivys-hainanese-herbal-mutton-soup-pasir-panjang/

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16. Mr Fish
Owner of Mr Fish, Mr Lee, only started selling fish soup in Chinatown about 2 years ago. As a family business, his son, Alan, who works as a It specialist at night helps in the stall almost every day and is now doing most of the cooking. When the Fish Head Bee Hoon ($5) finally arrived at my table, I got that whiff of aroma from the piping hot fish stock. They first fried the fish bones and then boil it for hours to get that creaminess and silky texture. This is time consuming but they have insist that no short cut is done – meaning no milk is added. One sip of the soup, you know it’s worth the wait. They are very generous with huge chunks of fried fish and some cabbage to give a refreshing taste. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/mr-fish/

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17. 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist
We have been raving about their very solid sio bak which is what owner Martin is known for. He has got the right formula – the golden brown skin is crispy brittle to the point that it is almost breaking. He takes more than 2 hours to make the sio bak, from braising to drying then roasting. The end result is a dry and crispy skin that has a biscuit-like texture, with the first bite producing a noisy crunch from the skin before it gives way to the juicy layers of well-seasoned tender and moist meat under it. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/88-hong-kong-roast-tyrwhitt/

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18. Hougang Muah Chee
Toa Payoh has got lots of good food, one of them is Hougang Muah Chee. Mr. Teo started making muah chee at a tender age of 14 and took over his father as a second-generation hawker. Being in the business for more than 60 years, he still prepares all the raw ingredients by hand, from milling rice to flour, to roasting and grinding peanuts for the muah chee coating. At the stall, Mr. Teo manually proportioning each ball of muah chee, meticulously pinching each small globule and dabbing a dollop of shallot oil on them before tossing them in either grounded peanuts or black sesame. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/hougang-muah-chee/

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FOOD GUIDES

19. 19 Popular Hokkien Prawn Mee in Singapore
Hokkien Prawn Mee doesn’t sound very difficult to cook but the secret lies in how good the prawn stock is as this stock imparts the essence to the noodle and is the key ingredient that makes the plate satisfying. You have the choice to eat it with Sambal chilli and a squirt of lime juice if you like, as these help cut through the richness of the dish. Traditionally, for take-out, Hokkien Prawn Mee would be wrapped in Opeh leaf to enhance the fragrance. With Hokkien Prawn Mee easily found in many hawker centres, we bring you a list of 19 stalls (in no order of preference) that we felt were worth the calories. Check it out: https://www.misstamchiak.com/hokkien-prawn-mee/

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20. 13 Things Everyone Must Eat In Timbre+
We have always loved the creative brains behind Timbre Group who offers us cool chill-out places, complete with delicious food and great live music. Their latest hipster joint, Timbre+ (Timber Plus), newly opened on 1 April 2016, has transformed the old Ayer Rajah hawker centre into a traditional-meets-modern gastropark. An array of graffiti and spray paint art are splashed all over shipping containers and vintage Airstream travel trailers transformed into food trucks. Timbre+ is home to 35 dining options, featuring 21 hawker stalls and 14 restaurant brands. An impressive list of culinary names makes up this gastropark so here are 13 noteworthy ones: https://www.misstamchiak.com/timbre-plus/

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21. 10 Outstanding Cafes In Holland Village You MUST Visit!
The dining enclave of Holland Village is known for its numerous food options. But amidst the constant upgrading and construction in the area, some new eateries have taken root in this new place. And with all of them located within walking distance from one another, this the perfect place to hop from cafe to cafe and sample what each place has to offer. With that in mind, here’s our ten favourite cafes in Holland Village that’s certainly worth a visit: https://www.misstamchiak.com/holland-village-cafes/

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22. 19 Awesome Places to Eat Korean BBQ in Singapore With Friends
Who can resist the multiple sensory pleasures of Korean BBQ – the spicy, salty flavours and the combination of textures and temperatures, not to mention the hands-on fun of going through a pile of lettuce leaves, wrapping your own individual “lettuce wrap” and popping them into your mouth? If you have yet to try, it’s time to call up some friends and get ready to be in for a culinary treat. Please wear clothes that you don’t mind reeking of smoke afterwards. We’ve come up with a list of 19 Korean BBQ in Singapore for you to pick from! Read more here: https://www.misstamchiak.com/korean-bbq-singapore/

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23. 25 Places to Eat Cheap & Good Food in Orchard under $10 (some even below $5)
Located within the central area of Singapore, Orchard Road is famous for its numerous shopping centres. However, it has always been painful when it comes to settling a meal in Orchard, as most of the time it involves us in burning a hole in our pocket. Do you know that you can easily get food under $10 or even $5 at Orchard? We’re talking about meals that can satisfy your tummy and your palettes. We have travelled into every nook of Orchard Road, and here’s a long list of places with cheap (and some with really good) food.

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24. 15 Nasi Lemak in Singapore for The Ultimate Indulgence
Nasi Lemak is one of Singaporeans’ favourite dishes, and we grew up having this, hence our particular fondness for this indulgent plate of rice. It’s not just the ingredients that makes a good nasi lemak. Pandan leaves and coconut milk play a huge role in enhancing the fragrance and richness of the rice, complemented by the spicy sambal chilli sauce that you can’t miss out on. We hunted down 15 fantastic places for you to try! Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/nasi-lemak-singapore/

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25. 9 Places To Enjoy Steaks Under $20 In Singapore
We all love having a good steak, soft and juicy. But, to enjoy a good cut can sometimes burn a hole in the pocket. So, to all steak lovers, here is a list of places that offers steaks under $20, some good but also a few that are barely there. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/steaks-under-20-singapore/

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26. 17 Sinful Char Kway Teow That Make You Exercise Hard for
We’re pretty sure no one can resist the scrumptious yet artery-clogging char kway teow. Flat rice noodles and egg noodles are often stir-fried over very high heat with eggs, cockles, Chinese sausages (lap cheong), fish cakes, bean sprouts and Chinese chives. Char Kway Teow is an old school common dish at hawker centres across Singapore but it’s tough to find one that really suits your personal preference. So, here’s a list of 17 Char Kway Teow hawkers for your enjoyment. Check it out: https://www.misstamchiak.com/char-kway-teow/

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27. The Guide to 17 Excellent Kway Chap Stalls in Singapore
Kway Chap is a classic and an all-time favourite food of most Singaporeans, that looks simple but requires a lot of effort in preparation. From tedious work in cleaning the innards to the long braising hours, some stalls start work as early as 12am. After researching some of the places that were highly recommended, here’s a list of the places with some that were good and some that were extraordinary: https://www.misstamchiak.com/kway-chap-singapore/

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28. Toa Payoh Food Guide: The Really Local Food Edition
As one of the oldest satellite towns in Singapore, Toa Payoh has a wide range of dining options spread across the estate, ranging from iconic food stalls and hidden gems in hawker centres and coffeeshops, to restaurants and cafes carving out niches for themselves. So besides the dragon playground, do check out these 31 cafes, hawker stalls and restaurants the next time you swing by Toa Payoh. Why did we pick 31, you may ask? Hint: take a look at the postal code. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/toa-payoh-food-guide/

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INTERNATIONAL

29. 13 Cheap & Good Food Near Johor Bahru Checkpoint
Johor Bahru, Malaysia – Thinking of making a quick trip to Johor Bahru for some cheap and delicious food? Read this post to find out where you can find cheap and good food near Johor Bahru Checkpoint (or Johor Bahru City Square). There is no need for bus nor taxi, start your food adventure by foot! Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/good-food-near-jb-checkpoint/

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30. Malacca Food Guide For Beginners – 15 Best Places To Eat In Malacca
Boosting an array of multicultural heritage buildings, ancient landmarks and colonial structures, Malacca is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage city. It was here that colonial forces first made contact with Malaysia, eventually shaping the country into its current economic and political system. Watch history come to live by exploring Malacca on foot to get the best experience of this old town. Besides their deep roots in history, the Malacca foods here are mostly influenced by Peranakans. We’ve hunted down 15 eateries that are worth checking out! https://www.misstamchiak.com/malacca-food-guide/

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31. Bangkok Latest Food Trend 2016 – Claypot River Prawn Tom Yam Porridge
Opened from 4pm till midnight, it is highly difficult to grab a seat the later you go. There are basically three types of porridge base: the tom yam porridge, the super chicken porridge, the original pork porridge. The most famous porridge here is the signature River Prawn Porridge (from 139 baht, approx SGD5.50), which is served with a open pot of piping hot tom yam porridge and huge river prawns. What impressed me was their Super Porridge (from 69 baht, approx SGD2.70). There’s something about sipping on hot broth that’s so comforting. Their Super Soup is mixed with a concoction of bird’s eye chillies, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. Super spicy, super tangy but super good especially with the soft boiled egg and chicken.

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32. Chinatown Bangkok: 8 Indulgence Food To Eat In Yaowarat Road
Yaowarat Road is the home of Bangkok’s Chinese community, just like our Chinatown. By day, it doesn’t look any different from other parts of Bangkok, but this big street has some hidden gems waiting to be explored. When night falls, the neon signs blazing with Chinese characters are turned on and many eateries spill out onto the streets filled with foodies. There are many articles about Yaowarat but mostly are just on the surface. We decided to go in depth to explore a few hidden gems, sat down with the owners to hear their stories. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/yaowarat-chinatown-bangkok/

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33. Ju Xing Home 聚興家 – Hong Kong Chefs’ Hidden Supper Spot
Big thank you to Mr Robert Chua, I had the chance to try Ju Xing Home (聚興家) during my last trip to Hong Kong. This hole-in-the-wall eatery beside Prince Edward Station Exit D is helmed by 38-year-old Chef Wu Jiang Qiao（吳江橋). Apparently, this is the hidden gem / secret supper place of many hotel Chinese chefs after work. One of the secret weapons of Ju Xing Home is this Clam Soup. Using freshwater fish to boil for hours, what you get is an opaque white in colour broth that has clearly extracted the essence from the fish. What makes the soup impressive is the addition of rice into the broth which allows it to reach a creamy consistency as well as added flavour into the broth. Clams were added to enhance the crustacean flavour while towel gourd absorbs the flavours. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/ju-xing-home-hong-kong/

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34. COBO HOUSE Hong Kong – Exciting Savoury Menu by Chef Janice Wong
Shek Tong Tsui is a unique neighbourhood with a mix of old and new. As one of the earliest developed district for Chinese people in Hong Kong, you still get to see a lot of traditional neighbourhood corner shops while new and interesting cafes and restaurants evolved. One of them is COBO HOUSE by 2am:dessertbar, a collaboration with Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Janice Wong. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/cobo-house-hk/

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35. 104 Travel Bloggers Revealed Their Last Meal To Have (I like 15th & 102th)
If tomorrow is your last day on Earth and you have one last meal to enjoy. What will that last meal be? I used to fantasize that if I was about to have my last meal, I would eat everything I never let myself have. We ask 104 of our favourite food and travel bloggers to find out their last meal on Earth. Read more: https://www.misstamchiak.com/travel-bloggers/

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FOOD WE MISS

1. Kim Keat Hokkien Mee
Mr Lee Eng Keat has been in and out of prison countless times for the past 20 years. He turned over a new leaf and opened his Toa Payoh stall last year but sadly, he decided to end his life. His Claypot Hokkien Mee was cooked twice – first stir fried, then cooked over fire. The noodles absorbed the superior broth, resulting in a gooey pot of goodness. Each claypot comes with a few pieces of sio bak, prawns and squid.

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2. Bukit Purmei Lor Mee
There are some hawker food that I always return for comfort, especially after all the festive feasting. One of them is lor mee – a garlicky bowl of noodles in thick gravy with additional vinegar. Relocated to West Coast, they have to close due to owner’s health issues. Their “lor” (braising sauce) made with a combination of pork ribs, egg-white, “five-spice” powder and starch is still as good. The dark, viscous sauce is thick and sticky, punctuated with copious lashings of black vinegar, homemade chilli sambal and pepper. The vinegar here is not the usual off-the-shelve kind. It’s aromatic and enhances the flavour of the gravy. Hope Bukit Purmei Lor Mee returns soon!

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The post 35 Most Memorable Meals in 2016 appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

A reader, John, dropped me an email in November to recommend me to try Muffles – a new hawker stall run by an ex 5-star hotel pastry chef. Located in Berseh Food Centre, it serves cheap but hotel standard desserts and bakes.

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So I visited Muffles before Christmas and met the owner May Chow who was in the midst of baking some cookies. With only one tabletop oven at the back of the shop, it’s quite hard to believe that she can churn out so many bakes in a day. “It’s all about organizing. You need to time your bakes properly.” That really sounds like what an experienced hotel chef would say. True enough, May worked as a pastry chef in Mandarin Orchard and Resorts World Sentosa. “It’s not easy, we have to bake much more than this in a day.”

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Long hours in the hospitality industry has taken a toil on the skinny chef and she decided to venture out to open her own bakery in a hawker centre. It takes immense courage to move from a huge establishment to work in a small little space. However, May seems to be enjoying it and she has garnered many loyal customers over just four months. One of the signature items is the pandan ogura ($1.50) cake which I really like. Baked using the chiffon cake method, the meringue was beaten till soft peaks and mixed with fresh pandan juice. The batter is steam-bake at a low temperature till the cake turns soft and moist. No baking powder is added! I like this cake so much that I want to try baking it at home.

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In addition, they also sell other bakes like traditional egg tarts ($1.20), apple crumble ($3) and brownies ($2.50). To be honest, the presentation was not exactly attractive but when you taste the bakes, they are really not bad. Another of my favourites is the apple crumble with a buttery topping and browned apple slices that aren’t too sweet. May also does muffins (from $1.50) that come in various flavours including yuzu, chocolate chips, banana walnut, blueberry etc.

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 Seiwaa. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Muffles – Sweet Treats at Hawker Prices by Ex Five-Star Hotel Pastry Chef appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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If you were thinking “meh, vegetarian food”, you’re actually wrong. There is more to this dish than just plain spinach spinach spinach. The stall specializes in 2 types of comforting soups ($3.50), which they boil from scratch. Furthermore, the male owner uses only ingredients such as chicken bones and fresh spinach to create a wholesome soup that is light on the palate. (No MSG!) If you wish to have some carbs to fill your tummy, you may opt for a selection of noodles or rice for 50 cents.

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The first soup (containing spinach, minced pork, prawns, mushrooms and wolfberry) has a subtle mushroom flavour, which offers the soup some sweetness. What I enjoyed the most was the addition of prawns which were fresh and had a good crunch. I ordered my soup with thick bee hoon ($4). However, this soup was unfortunately a tad too bland for me. Fret not, add their signature sambal belacan sauce which immediately elevates the taste. P/S you can even bring home a jar of the sauce at $5!

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Personally, the second soup that featured century and salted eggs, worked for me. It comes with spinach, minced pork and wolfberry as well. To highlight, the eggs added a unique touch of richness and saltiness, which for me, brought the whole dish together. Doesn’t soup macaroni just remind you of home? Well, at least for me, my mother’s cooking comes to mind. If you wish to savour a light yet flavourful dish, you won’t be able to resist gulping down this hearty bowl of soup to satisfy those cravings.

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The long queue lining up in front of Spinach Soup is a sufficient testimony of how tasty this simple fare is. These bowls of noodles are great for warming up your tummies on a rainy day (especially during this monsoon season) or when you simply want something light on the palate. Come on! Let’s relish our spinach to become as healthy and strong as Popeye, aye?

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 Spinach Soup. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Spinach Soup – A Taste of Uncle’s Healthy Recipes appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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The weather has been crazy recently. One moment, it gets really humid. Then it starts pouring in the afternoon… AIYO! Now that I have my own home, I started to cook more regularly. While cooking for our family one weekend, we also boiled Chrysanthemum drink for everyone. It only requires a few ingredients and 10 minutes to make. Not only does it help to quench your thirst, it also has cooling properties so it’s really good for tropical weather like Singapore. If you don’t have wolfberries and red dates, you can skip it but they are healthy additions. Enjoy!

The post Recipe – Chrysanthemum Drink with Red Dates and Wolfberries appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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Through Channel 8’s new TV programme “Let’s Cook It”, I got to know Uncle Tan Boon Kwang who owns the popular Redhill Lor Duck Rice and Noodles which has more than 50 years of history. Uncle Tan started off helping his father at a little pushcart where Redhill MRT is now.

He has taken over the stall with his wife for many years and whenever they are opened, the stall would definitely attract a long queue. Sadly, due to health reasons, Uncle Tan underwent a heart operation last year and said that he would be retiring within the next 2 years.

During the filming, Uncle Tan has kindly shared his recipe (watch our episode on 2 February 2017) and I was impressed by his braised duck and the noodle soup. The following day, I paid Uncle Tan a visit at his duck rice stall.

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Working alone in the kitchen is really tiring. While queuing for my duck noodles, I have witnessed how Uncle Tan has to concurrently chop the duck meat and cook the noodles at the same time, while his wife takes order and collect money. He told me, “没办法，习惯了.”

As with many good braised duck stalls, they have a braising liquid that has been kept over the years and simmered daily to get that flavour. Uncle Tan’s sauce has been braised for more than 10 years. He starts by frying white sugar till it caramelises, before slow cooking it with soy sauce and different types of herbs such as cinnamon, cloves and blue ginger. The sauce has a mild herbal flavour that balances the sweet and savoury notes. The skin is beautifully browned with tender meat slices.

With an option of either rice or noodles, most diners go for the kway teow noodle soup simply because it has been boiled for more than 8 hours. Some may complain that it is too oily but to me, this is a bowl of soup where you can taste the essence of all the flavours. The yam rice has generous servings of fried shallots.

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 of the stall. Thanks in advance!

The post Redhill Lor Duck Rice and Noodle – Another Hawker Retiring appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

European countries are big on the idea of healthy and green living. There are many vegetarian and vegan options available across Europe. However, this is not the case here, as most people still love feasting on meats, especially “bak kwa” (BBQ pork) during Chinese New Year. In recent years, a growing trend of healthy eating has been observed. Now, there are numerous vegetarian choices in Singapore as well. From vegetarian hawker fare to vegetarian tom yum to vegetarian sashimi, we bring you 11 international vegetarian cuisine.

Rojak Line

Owner Debbie has been a crazy rojak fan for years but she didn’t like hae ko (shrimp paste). So, she created her own vegetarian rojak sauce using quality ingredients. Hae ko (shrimp paste) is an important sauce for making rojak. The vegetarian version induced skepticism in us initially but it turned out to be outstanding. The sauce is rich and sticky, but tasted surprisingly light and zesty. With a hint of tamarind and ginger flower, the well-rounded flavours bind the ingredients perfectly.

Rojak Line Rojak ($4 / $5 / $6) has got prominent ingredients such as pineapple, turnip, you tiao and cucumber which give a refreshing dimension. My only gripe is that the you tiao (dough fritters) were not crispy enough, lacking the desired crunch.

Another popular item on the menu is Vegetarian Popiah ($1.80) which is made with braised turnip, carrot, shitake, homemade sweet sauce, peanut, chilli and garlic. Vegans can request for no garlic.

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Teng Bespoke Vegetarian Dining

Bespoke made a lasting impression when their Three-kind Sashimi ($19) set was served. Featuring mock salmon, mock squid and mock tuna, we thought these make-believe replications of sashimi were very well executed. Taste-wise, it had a fishcake-like chewy texture with a smooth exterior. Each of the mock sashimi boasted slightly different textures and tastes, almost similar to the real ones we have at Japanese restaurants.

The Unagi Maki ($15) is highly recommended by the chef. Although mock unagi tastes extremely different from the real eel, it features a crispy texture, with creamy sauces packed into the maki. Just pop the entire maki into your mouth and you get a burst of flavours, with a good mix of contrasting textures! So delightful!

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Pepper Jade Thai Vegetarian Cuisine

With a luxurious interior, dining here made us feel like we were dining with Thai royalty. Pepper Jade and Bespoke are actually sister restaurants, located in the same mall. There is an extensive offering of Thai vegetarian dishes here, from appetisers, all the way to desserts. We shared a plate of Deep Fried Chicken wrapped in Pandan ($12 for 6 pieces). If no one mentioned that this is a vegetarian dish, we would’ve thought that the “chicken” was authentic. The tender texture is similar to the actual pandan chicken and even the taste was alike, boasting a strong aroma, enhanced by the pandan leaves.

Tom Yum Soup in Claypot ($14) explodes with flavours as soon as it reaches our tastebuds. It has a well-balanced spicy-sour taste, making it perfect, especially on rainy days. According to the waitress, the soup is made with fresh and original herbs and spices before vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, tomatoes, mock meat-like crabsticks and prawns are added in. Pair this with the Blue Butterfly Pea Rice ($3 per bowl) to complete your wonderful vegetarian Thai feast.

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Greendot

Greendot is the place to go for salads, but they have recently brought back their vegetarian burgers due to high demand. Only available at the Paya Lebar and One Raffles Place outlets, there are five flavours of burgers to choose from. The Rendang Lion Mane Burger ($9.90) doesn’t come with fries. You have to top up $3 for Iced Lime Tea and fries.

Basically, Lion’s Mane is a medicinal mushroom, good for boosting immunity, memory and mood. This mushroom stimulates immune systems and boosts white blood cells count to help healing processes. Doctors are also known to use this nerve-regenerating mushroom to fight dementia and Alzheimer’s. One bite and you get a bouncy texture, with some juices that resemble shrimp or lobster meat. The rendang is not too spicy, delicious, and its fragrance was brought out by the coconut milk. Interestingly, the rendang here is better than some of the ones cooked with meat out there.

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Gokul Vegetarian

This restaurant offers a huge variety of vegetarian Indian food so, if you want to try many items, you either have to dine here with a big group or head back many times. The Potato Curry Puff ($1.50) came steaming hot. The deep fried pastry shell was crisp on the outside yet fluffy within. It complements the generous chunks of strongly-flavoured curry potatoes that were enveloped within.

The Masala Dosa ($5) was stuffed with lightly cooked potatoes and green peas and is served with two chutneys and sambar. The potatoes were slightly mashed, resulting in its creamy texture which goes very well with the dosa. Scoop the potato-filled dosa and dip it into the chutneys or sambar and you’ll get to taste different flavours and textures. The Mushroom Kurma ($6) is braised in a spicy sauce, made with yoghurt, cream and nut paste. It turned out to be quite rich, with a nutty finish.

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O’bean Organic Soya Vegetarian Place

When I told my dining partners that we’re going to have vegetarian bak kut teh, they were astounded. Without the ‘Bak Kut’ (pork ribs), and the ‘Teh’ soup base that is simmered with pork ribs, how can one even recreate the dish? Well, O’bean’s rendition comes in the form of mushrooms. Shrooms Bak Kut Teh ($14.80 per pax, with rice; $60.80 for 8-10 pax, soup only) has a herbal soup base. It contains vegetables and mushrooms of different types and sizes. The soup turned out to be surprisingly slurp-worthy, despite it not being that herbal-ish nor approximating bak kut teh. A small amount of soya powder has been added to the soup to give it a hint of soy taste, which actually made the soup a tad more substantial. The fried dough fritters were crispy and so addictive that we ordered an additional portion at $1.80. O’bean also serves vegetarian kway chap and vinegar braised trotters, among many other things.

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Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant

Approximately 5 years ago, Madam Choo made the headlines when she won more than $400,000 from a casino slot machine at Marina Bay Sands, and then proceeded to give it all away. It was not the first time she had hit the jackpot only to donate the money to charity. This is the charitable woman behind Kwan Inn Vegetarian Restaurant.

Their extensive menu includes Vegetarian Suckling Pig, Specialty Vegetarian Goose, and many more. Si-Chuan Spicy Soup ($15 small) acts as a good appetiser, boasting a good consistency of well-balanced sourness and spiciness. Ingredients such as tofu, salted vegetables and capsicums give this soup a mix of textures. This is perfect especially on cold nights, and it really whets your appetite for more. Spicy Stir-Fried Vegetarian Diced Chicken ($16 small) consists of mock chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chilli peppers. The succulent meat, which was very addictive, goes very well with rice and the level of spiciness was manageable.

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Victor Veggie

This is a superb supper spot for those craving for sinful skewers of vegetarian satay. Closing at midnight, this hawker specialises in satay, otah and Western dishes. Unfortunately, the otah was sold out when we were there so we only had the satay (80cents per skewer). The charred black segments gave the satay a nice smokey flavour and the mock meat was tender. Not to mention, the peanut satay sauce was such a good complement. Featuring a creamy texture, it was neither too spicy nor too oily. Be prepared to wait for about 15-20 minutes during busy periods.

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The Boneless Kitchen

Koreans are big on army stews, and it is rumoured that is started when Korean soldiers used to dump whatever rationed ingredients they have during their military days into their helmet and cooked them into a stew during meal times. Vegetarians can look forward to 4 different bases for ‘Jeongol’ (stew) at The Boneless Kitchen. Doenjang Jeongol ($35.90 for 2 pax) features a soybean paste hotpot, served with 2 bowls of rice. The refilling of soup is chargeable at $2. Ingredients such as carrots, cucumbers, tofu, different types of greens and an assortment of mushrooms fill up the hotpot. The savoury broth had a hint of sweetness from the ingredients as they have been simmered long enough. We also shared a Gyeran Mari (Rolled Omelet $5.90). The egg was done very well and had a fluffy texture. We might consider topping up 70 cents for cheese in future.

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Whole Earth

This Peranakan vegetarian restaurant has been awarded the Bib Gourmand Award in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2016. Although their menu is extensive, there’s only one page dedicated to true-blue Peranakan cuisine such as Nonya Curry, Nutty Buah Keluak and Assam Pedas Vegetables, just to name a few. The Nonya Curry ($20.90) takes 8 long hours of preparation. It contains shiitake mushrooms and potatoes in a thick yet smooth piquant sauce that was very tasty indeed! Huge crowds can go for the 5-spice Ngor Hiang Roll ($13.90) which is Whole Earth’s rendition of the Peranakan roll, served with traditional sweet sauce dip. It actually tasted and seemed like the real ngor hiang roll. It’s best to dine here in a big group so as to try more delicious dishes.

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Hwa Jin Vegetarian Family Restaurant

Tucked in the West side of Singapore, this family-oriented vegetarian eatery is always crowded during dinner time on weekends. Serving Chinese vegetarian dishes ranging from vegetarian hokkien mee to vegetarian claypot pig trotters to vegetarian orh lua (fried oyster), it’s no wonder one would be spoilt for choice here. The vegetarian Hokkien Mee ($8 big) was moist, with a flavoursome gravy. Thick bee hoon and flat yellow noodles are cooked with mushrooms, little cubes of mock meat, shredded carrots and vegetables. The chilli is very unique as it has a herbal taste to it, yet giving enough kick to spice up the dish. Go earlier to avoid waiting too long for a table.

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These eateries have proven that vegetarian food isn’t necessarily boring and doesn’t just contain vegetables. They have also come up with gimmicks to make vegetarian food appealing to the eyes, and not just the tastebuds. We hope you have more options for vegetarian cuisine in Singapore now.

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 the stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post 11 International Vegetarian Cuisine to Satisfy the Fussiest Eaters appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

There is nothing Singaporeans love more than sitting around a table where every inch is covered with food. And if there is a grill in the middle of it, that is even better. That is why over the past few months, Daessiksin Korean Hotpot & BBQ Buffet has proven to be popular amongst foodies.

At the newly opened outlet in United Square, you can have the best of both worlds – 2-in1 Korean buffet & hotpot for less than $20 on weekdays. Just pick a table, put down your bags and queue for a variety of marinated meats, fresh ingredients and a range of Korean delicacies at the buffet counter. When you are back, the grills will be heated and it’s time to eat!

Here are 5 Reasons Why We Love Daessiksin Korean Hotpot & BBQ Buffet.

1. Well Marinated BBQ Meats & Fresh Hotpot Ingredients

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Pick from Beef Bulgogi, Pork Bacon, Pork Belly, Chicken Bulgogi, Spicy Octopus, Korean Pancake, Glass Noodles and Kimchi Rice, which are all created by the young and talented Chef Emily from Korea. The dishes are prepared by her team daily. The spread is sufficiently wide to fill you to the brim without you getting bored of it.

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On top of the BBQ grill, you can also choose have chicken, miso or spicy soup to accompany your Korean hotpot! Plus, the soup bases and drinks are free-flow!

2. Unlimited Banchan for the young and old

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Korean food is all about sharing and can be best summed up by banchan, the series of side dishes that accompany every meal. At the United Square outlet, you can kick off the grilling party with an exciting range of appetizers like deep fried sweet potato, rice cakes, kimchi and more. I love pairing the kimchi with pork belly because the spicy and sharp pickled vegetables just taste so good with the savoury pork belly.

Diners can also expect bossam (pork belly), chicken wings, udon and tangsuyuk on a rotational basis. One of the things that I really enjoy when I was young is tangsuyuk, a Chinese sweet and sour pork dish adapted for Korean taste. Hence, I was excited when I saw tangsuyuk appearing on my table.

The key to a successful sauce is the balance between the sweetness and tartness. Chef Emily’s tangsuyuk was done well, it’s a plate of crispy deep-fried goodness in a delightfully sweet and tangy sauce! The inclusion of different vegetables added a colourful touch to the dish. Because of its sweetness, kids love it too!

3. Say CHEEESSSEEE!

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The table fills up before our eyes. It’s clear that the kitchen here knows its stuff. The centerpiece of the whole meal is meat, meat and more meat. And what makes Korean barbecue so special is that you get to cook the meat yourself. They are already beautifully marinated with a delicate sweetness waiting to be savoured. All we need to do is to grill it till it’s meltingly tender. Make sure to wrap your meat with lettuce and finish the bundle in a single bite!

Another unique dish in Daessiksin is its cheese dip which you can dip your meats in. It takes a while for the cheese to melt and you should stir it continuously to get a smooth custard-y texture. But trust me, you won’t regret it. We have raved about it in our previous post.

4. Coming up with our own creation – BULGOGI STEW!

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Bulgogi is also part of the barbecue tradition. Thin slices of beef are coated in a marinade that has honey which tenderizes the meat and add a characteristic sweetness, before they are seasoned with soy sauce, sesame and scallions. Even though we have dined at Daessiksin a few times, we are always looking at new and creative ways to cook our meat.

Chef Emily has showed us another way to cook our beef bulgogi, which is to prepare bulgogi stew using the hotpot in the centre. With a little planning, we went to pick up some beef bulgogi, onions, soy sauce and enoki mushrooms from the buffet table and added into the light chicken broth. Chef said bulgogi stew is very popular during winter time in Korea because it’s so hearty and the rustic dish will warm you from inside out.

We don’t need winter to savour this. As we watch the rain drops trickle down the window, the hot bowl of bulgogi stew awakened my sense of umami and staved off the blues. It’s the ultimate comfort food.

5. Lunch is LESS THAN $20!

As you can see, Daessiksin is a great place for gatherings with friends and family. The best deal is, their weekday lunch is less than $20! So, what are you waiting for?

Weekday
Lunch: $14.90 ++ (adult); $8.90++ (child 4-10 years old and senior citizen 55 & above)
Dinner: $24.90 ++ (adult); $18.90++ (child 4-10 years old and senior citizen 55 & above)

Saturday, Sunday, PH Eve & PH
All day: $24.90 ++ (adult); $18.90++ (child below 10 and senior citizen 55 & above)

Additional Cheese Dip: $3++

The post 5 Reasons Why We Love Daessiksin Korean Hotpot & BBQ Buffet appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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How do we jazz up a bowl of boring looking fish soup? YuTang Clan is a good example! From a famous “Market Street” hawker for 9 years to a new fish soup eatery in Shenton Way, Yu Tang Clan continue to serve its signature mackerel fish soups and broths incorporating self-ordering terminals and a unique branding.

So you just take your pick from the ordering system and once your ordering number is being displayed on the screen, you can collect your fish soup. I have been here a few times just to try the different soups. On one of the mornings, we met Aunty Jenny who has been working for the boss for many years. She cooks the soup in the stall early morning to prepare for the lunch crowd.

The first question I asked was, “Got milk anot?” Aunty Jenny shakes her head. Fresh shark cartilage simmered over low heat everyday for more than 10 hours without any MSG. When asked what other ingredients did she add into the soup, her lips are tight, she refuses to share a single ingredient. #OkYouWin

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There are a few choices for you to choose from – Tom Yam, Teochew, Sichuan Ma La, Beauty, Signature seafood and Fish Porridge! The fish soup base is mostly the same so it just depends on whether you want it spicy or not. My three favourites are Tom Yam, Beauty and Signature Seafood. You can order a set which comes with a drink and a side dish. Choose from prawn fritters, fish skin, braised peanuts etc.

Tom Yam remains as a strong contender as the soup is balance with brisk lime juice detected. The prawns provide a fresh crunch, and even the tender fish slices do not lose texture to the soup.

Being a huge fan of Beauty in a Pot, I definitely like the collagen-based soup that is rich and dense in flavours (and there are ginger root found in the soup). On normal days, I would go for the Beauty Soup but if I wanted something more extravagant, their Signature Seafood Soup ($18.80) works with a variety of ingredients like sotong ball, prawns, mushrooms, tofu, fried fish, sliced fish and fish skin.

Upgrading of location and branding also means the price will increase too. I welcome this change for YuTang Clan because I like the new concept better. But of course, I cannot speak for rest of the office crowd who are looking for a cheap lunch spot.

The post YuTang Clan – Famous Market Street Hawker Becomes a Cool Fish Soup Eatery in Shenton Way appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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Some of you might have caught sight of a HATTENDO booth at the Food Fest held at Takashimaya Square B2 and simply can’t wait to get your hands on one of their buns. Hiroshima’s hero puts meticulous effort and thought into ensuring that each mouthful is filled with a burst of joy. Let HATTENDO Cafe satisfy you with 5 delicious flavours of cream buns going at $2.50 each – Azuki Beans, Chocolate, Matcha and of course, their signature flavours – Whipped Cream as well as Custard Cream.

Kaoru Morimitsu, the founder of HATTENDO, opened the first store over 80 years ago. He wanted to cheer the Japanese up with sweet and delicious Japanese confectionery amidst the nation’s worst crisis. Similarly, HATTENDO Singapore hopes to bring that happiness to you right here at Tanjong Pagar Centre.

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The pillowy-soft bun encases an airy and velvety smooth custard cream – I bet you can’t resist stuffing another and another into your mouth, just like me(oops guilty as charged). Starting off with the classic Custard Cream Bun, the filling was slightly sweet with milky undertones; definitely nothing too rich. Don’t mix up the Custard Cream Bun with the almost identical-looking Whipped Cream Bun, which actually appears more whitish in colour. If you love the subtle flavours of fragrant butter, the Whipped Cream Bun was literally made for you. Both are the most popular flavours of HATTENDO Cafe, and without a doubt, deliver what they promise.

Let’s move on to other renditions, shall we? Honestly, I wish I could pick my favourite to share with you, but I actually adored all of them. All of them will spark off a creamy explosion in your mouth with their delightful filling packed within. The little touch of sweetness in every bun will please all ages. After chomping down those buns, don’t forget to lick off the leftover cream on your lips!

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Buns aside, I’ve got no huns but just good news for salad lovers out there! Personally, I’m one who would gladly choose proteins over salads any day, but nevertheless, this salad was probably one of the better ones which I will willingly trade my meats for once in a while. There are 3 mouth-watering Mason Jar Salads ($7) to choose from – Green, Vitamin and Stamina. In addition, you may like to top up $3 for a serving of salmon or chicken. Let’s not overlook the fact that they offer unlimited handmade croutons available in Plain, Garlic and Cheese flavours.

The casual yet elegant Japanese vibes of the cafe further enhanced my dining experience at HATTENDO Cafe. Not to forget, as expected of the efficiency of the Japanese, the queue system allows customers to pick up their order when their ticket number flashes on the screen. As we welcome HATTENDO Cafe into the community of Japan confectioneries here, let’s enjoy a taste of Japan’s pastries that have been mastered to perfection.

Note: This is an invited tasting.

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 KoKoPanda. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post HATTENDO Cafe – Cream of the Crop from Lovely Japan appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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[HONG KONG] Matcha expert Nakamura Tokichi from Kyoto has been cultivating tea since 1854. They have won commendations for their excellent yields, and have even served their teas to Japanese Emperors. Good news! They have opened their first overseas outlet in Hong Kong Mira Mall. So you don’t have to fly all the way to Kyoto for it!

We queued for about an hour just to enjoy their celebrated green tea-based snacks and desserts. The family replicated the same level of dedicated attention in the production of its teas and snacks, using ingredients flown in specially from Uji, impressing Hong Kong’s green tea enthusiasts.

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The cold soba noodles had a light matcha flavour and a very good texture.

I like the signature matcha green tea jelly which is accompanied with red bean paste and glutinous rice balls. Flown in from Kyoto daily, the jellies are imbued with the fresh, lively flavour of green tea. The wobbly texture has a good mouthfeel and is not sweet at all, making it a perfect pair-up with the creamy matcha ice cream.

The light and airy Matcha and Hojicha chiffon cakes were paired with chestnuts, red bean and chewy rice ball dumplings. Unfortunately, the parfait were sold out on our day of visit so we didn’t have a chance to try it. Nakamura Tokichi also has a shop in Mira Mall for you to purchase their matcha products.

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 Spinach Soup. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post Nakamura Tokichi – Kyoto Matcha Expert Opens in Hong Kong appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.