Delightful Grilling Surprise at Suntec City

I can't remember the number of times I've walked out of a foodcourt feeling dissatisfied with what I've ate, and at the insistence of my friend, I gave it another try at the basement foodcourt in Suntec City and found a delightful surprise at The "Indonesia Grill" stall.

My frowns faded as the chef grilled the chicken leg patiently, taking care of each piece that was ordered by the customers with undivided attention.  The outcome was plates of succulent chicken leg, thoroughly cooked without compromising its tenderness.  The chicken leg was then dipped into a silver tray of tar-black sauce which had a refreshing semi-sweet taste.  Accompanying the chicken was the light curry sauce which they spreaded over the white rice, and the taste can be enhanced by adding the spicy chilli sauce.  The uniqueness was that in spite that the different sauces retained its distinctness, there was a harmonious balance in the overall taste.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Recommendable to Friends: Yes.

"F" Cup Bun ~ slurpz slurpz...

Hidden in an unglamourous shophouse in Changi Village, a traditional Johore Dim Sum stall rests quietly, working on its range of mouth-watering steamed buns.  What strike me was the super big "F" Cup Bun, known as Ye Zi Mei Da Bao, a popular metaphoric name for this big bun in chinese, referring it to the voluptuous bosoms of a famous promiscuous actress. Inside this bun is a combination of juicy treasures: Marinated Chicken, slices of mushroom, an egg, and crushed pieces of chestnut.  At the first bite, the juice of the filling oozed out, dripped onto my hand, and left me licking the droplets on my lips.  It's amazing that for such juiciness and the heavy fillings, the bun is able to carry all its weight.  The bun is baked with perfect calculation; not too much and not too little flour.  Another great highlight is the chewiness of the bun!  It is not just flour, it emits an aromatic fragrance that is somehow sweet to the taste which forms a perfect complement for the delicious filling.

Other food products: Dim Sum, Vegetable Bun, Coffee Bun, Big Chicken Bun, Pork Bun etc...

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Recommendable to Friends: Bun lovers would beg for more.  Bun-dodgers will fall in love.

The Bee Hoon Match?

Wu Xiang Xia Bing is mostly found in hawker centres, and is also fast becoming a forgotten delicacy amongst the locals.  It is no longer easy to find the Wu Xiang which leaves you begging for more... It's just a simple mixture of different kinds of fried finger food like fishballs, sotong balls, fishcakes, chinese red sausage, prawn cracker, beancurd etc.  So what makes a good Wu Xiang Xia Bing? 

It seems so easy, just frying some finger food... but it's really more than meets the eye.  These small finger food is also made best when it is specially made by the chef.  With the right and fresh ingredients to hand-make those meat wraps, sotong yu tiao and fish cake etc, which differs from chef to chef, is what makes the real difference.  ONE Important note is that Wu Xiang Xia Bing meal cannot be completed without the bee hoon!  A tasty bee hoon is one which is not soggy like it is overcooked, has a distinct yet not overwhelming taste of the dark soy sauce, chewy that it is easily digested.  Some people would prefer to go with a little of pepper to add a little excitement to the otherwise plain staple. 

Another perfect condiment to go along with this Wu Xiang Xia Bing is the chilli dip, the hotter the better. =)

Over here in this hawker is this little Wu Xiang Xia Bing stall, where their food is fresh and crispy, and the bee hoon pretty much meets the standard i described (however, their quality is not always consistent).  I like their chilli dip topped with crushed nuts, it's a pretty good match for the fried food and bee hoon!

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Recommendable to Friends? Only if you are around the vicinity!

Disappointing Garuda...

I love Indonesian Cuisines; adore their tingy spiciness, combined with fresh ingredients, with all the signature sambals and ayam sauces.  Yet Garuda is a disappointing one. Why so?  Even though it looks very appetising with its display of the variety of dishes at the counter, the food upon being served was not warm enough.  Moreover, it lacks the traditional padang taste of spiciness, and the food is not very fresh.  It seems like an attempt to please foreigners' tastebud, rather than really showing off the true taste of Indonesia's sambal and ayam.... In other words, the concept of Garuda is like a Indonesian Fastfood cuisine, where they can serve you quickly with their pre-cooked food, thus compromising with quality.  Even their iced-tea, tasted more like sugar syrup which is too sweet, that I couldn't taste the "tea". 

What I ordered: Sambal Cumi Cumi (squid), Sambal Udang (Prawn), Sayur Lodeh (curry veg which is filled with long beans rather than anything else), fried dory fish and fried egg.

Venue: Vivocity outlet.

Overall Rating: 5/10

Recommendable to Friends? No.

Laksa Steamboat ROCKS!

Laksa, controversially originating from Malaysia, and popularised in Singapore is one of the favourite dishes of Singaporeans!  Almost every Singaporean knows about Katong Laksa, BUT, what about steamboat with laksa soup base??? I've found a delicious one in Telok Blangah!  Located along the AYE, is this restaurant in a shophouse lookalike.  The soupbase is neither thick nor blend, with a fragrant laska aroma, not too spicy that it sets your tongue on fire, but you could always add in more chilli paste to make it hotter!  They have a wide range of fresh ingredients; chicken/pork/beef slices, tau pok, fish paste, teochew fish balls, prawns, scallops, clams, bean sprouts, sotongs, quail eggs etc... simply an inexhaustible list!

In one sentence: Once you start, you cannot stop!  Go with an empty stomach and indulge in your laksa crave!

Venue: 404 Telok Blangah, along AYE.  Carparks in front of the restaurant can only take in 4 cars.  Should turn in at the next available lane entry to park your car if the carpark is full.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Recommendable to Friends: Definitely!

Crispy Ba Gua!

This Ba Gua (dried pork meat) stall, Kim Hwa Guan, is located in the hawker centre of People's Park, next to OG, where each piece of ba gua is tenderly grilled to perfection with the chef's 100% attention; the highlight of it is that it is thinly sliced, thus its texture is extra crisp, and it retains its juiciness!  Not only so, its pork doesn't taste of "porkiness"; a rather unpleasant smell emitted from some cooked pork.  It sets itself apart from the famous Lin Zhi Yuan as it is definitely less oily.  Lin Zhi Yuan is delicious, without doubt, yet its thick layer of honey glaze is often too greasy, and sometimes too sweet, for the lips.  Kim Hwa Guan's ba gua is a perfect deal for ba-gua-lovers whom are worried about their bulging stomach!  It is definitely a healthier choice for you and your families!

Products? Traditional Dried Minced Meat, Chilli Dried Minced Meat, Hand Made Dried Meat, Gold Coin Minced Meat, Pork Floss, Chicken Floss and Fish Floss.

Venue? Blk 32, New Market Road, #01-1022, People's Park.

Overall Rating (amongst other ba gua): 8/10

Recommendable to Friends? YES!