实里达南和, Seletar Nam Hoe Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh ($5 per serving), Rice ($0.50)

It was a gathering of co-workers at the Hainanese Village Centre in Hougang; taste of food was the last thing on my mind as this may be our last meeting in a long time to come. And everyone was hungry by 1pm. Many of the stalls were sold out. We were left with a preferred choice for Bak Kut Teh - which also had most of their items gone.

Formerly from the Seletar Hills Market & Food Centre, Nam Hoe serves a strange rendition of the soup. It tastes herbal like the Hokkien version of the Bak Kut Teh, yet peppery and hot at the same time. Maybe this gives you the best of both worlds, if you don't mind.

Serving size was generous and the meat was fresh and tender. Never a bad lunch decision drove by desperation.

Braised Pig's Trotter ($5)

Braised Beancurd Skin ($2)

老鸿生, Lau Hong Ser Rojak

Rojak ($3)

This is surely our favorite stall in Dunman Food Centre. A 'must eat' item since 2009. It is, in fact, our most unforgettable rojak on this island when I learned to fully appreciate it.

What's captivating? The rojak gravy. Can you see it? And the warm toasted fritters.

Come visit if you have a waiting patient of 20 mins. Stall opens after 5pm.

Dunman Road Char Siew Wan Ton Mee, 德明叉烧云吞面

Wanton Mee ($3)

We found them in 2009, and the most recent visit was in 2012.

Today, the famous chili sauce looked a little watery from their usual recipe, but also less starchy. The stall owner, none too friendly when we shifted the plates on the serving tray. An oddball. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our noodle as much as we left it. It is still ultra spicy, having a good handmade noodle texture and notable dumplings.

This post serves as an update; and maybe our last mention of the stall. If you have never been there, you ought to.

A-Poh Kitchen - A CNY Dinner

Abalone Yu Sheng, 鲍鱼鱼生

Having had some delectable fare at West Coz Cafe lately, we attended tonight's dinner with certain expectations at their other eatery, the A-Poh Kitchen.

Food was pleasantly reasonable; and it wouldn't be fair if we expect a restaurant standard by a kitchen and cafe operators. But the invitation was for a company year-end dinner, so it unwittingly falls short of the occasion by the simplicity of the food. It doesn't feel elaborated; more of a good cze char meal.

Alas, the 8 course menu was affordable at $338 nett. And i should specially mention the very enjoyable salted egg chicken, refreshing salad prawns and savoury lotus leaf rice, which was only available during the Chinese New Year. Maybe it is a good meal after all.

Bamboo Fungus Seafood Shark’s Fin Soup, 竹笙鲜菌海皇翅

Hong Kong Steamed Seabass, 港蒸金目鲈

Salted Egg Chicken, 金沙鸡

Broccoli w Scallop XO Sauce, XO带子扒西兰花

Salad Prawns Fritter, 沙律虾球

Lotus Leaf Rice, 荷叶饭

Longan with Sea Coconut, 海底椰龙眼糖水

Suki-ya Shabu Shabu Hot Pot Buffet

I love hot pots; and any scalding hot food.

So what's better than Suki-ya Hotpot buffets where prices ($18.99++, Adult weekday lunch. 1 for 1 Promotion till 29 Feb) are low and ingredients are fresh. Some complain about the lack of variety in their spread? But we were at their Kallang Wave Mall outlet today, and we thought the variety and quality of their spread were not bad at all.

Pork based broth, Butaniku and light Shabu Shabu were decided, and we can't wait to start at the buffet table. We like that the supply of fresh meat was al carte, which means that it will not be left to dry out at the communal counter. Together, two of us just managed to polish off 3 plates of beef and pork respectively.

Sesame sauce used to be my favorite dip, but here, it'll be their Sichuan Mala Chili! It enhances the flavor of the red meat; helping me eat more. Don't miss it.

Do wish to be back for another lazy afternoon of bathing - the meat in the sizzling soup; and we, in the contrasting comfort of the air-conditioning. Such, was the lure of 'battleshipping'.

Lunch Menu @ Suki-ya Kallang Wave Mall

4 Soup Bases Option: 

Shabu Shabu - Kombu stock & kelp, Sukiyaki - Soya & mirin,
Tonyu Miso - Miso, Butaniku - Pork broth 

Mains: 

Pork, Chicken, Beef

Plain Rice, Udon, Ramen, Glass Noodle

Dipping Sauce:

Raw Eggs, Ponzu (Shoyu with Vinegar), 

Goma (Sesame), Spicy Miso (Soybean Paste), 

Chopped Chili, Sichuan Mala Chili

Vegetables:

Bamboo Shoot, Potato, Long Cabbage, Pumpkin, Frisee Lettuce, Round Cabbage, 

Green Mustard, Cherry Tomato, Baby Carrot, Leek, White Radish, 

Corn cob, Shiitake Mushroom, Enokitake.

Sides:

Chicken Cheese Ball, Chikuwa, Cuttlefish Ball, 

Seafood Tofu, Beancurd Tau Pok, Silken Tofu.

Drinks:
Nestea Iced Lemon Tea, Peach Tea, Lychee Tea.
Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, et cetera.

Trivento Tribu, Cabernet Sauvignon Argentina 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon, from Mendoza Argentina, 13.5% vol (Promotion: 2 for $27.90)

Another quiet drink on a Saturday night.

We came to realize that Trivento Tribu from Argentina - a region not famous for their reds, actually tastes reasonable. We went in not expecting much, but upon first taste the tannins are rather rounded out, a slight fruity here; and i especially like its earthy feel.

The red doesn't fair badly for a bottle at this price range. We shared the bottle between us, and it doesn't dry us like our usual wineing. We simply don't feel thirsty after our drink tonight. Nice.

My last check of prices for the bottle at the NTUC Fairprice is now at $29.20 - which is a big jump from our buy last year. It now comes with an attractive print, but we don't know if its content has improved; else it shouldn't command the higher tag.

Breakfast at 1983 - Taste of Nanyang

Kaya Butter French Loaf, Set B ($2)

And we were back from yesterday, to Koufu @ the South Spine, NTU. This time to the second storey of the eating house where air-conditioned 1983 Taste of Nanyang, the concept store of Koufu Enterprise was sited.

I wanted to have their Mee Rebus which i saw yesterday; it looked so good. But it was not available for breakfast, they only have the Mee Siam and curry chicken. While i'm not usually impressed with Mee Siam, the one here is most memorable - spicy and sourish, it hits the right spot! And i have not even added in the extra chili paste. I made a mental note to rave about this.

The plump half-boiled eggs too, impresses me. Somehow, i find it easy to drink up today as the eggs are without the usual raw reek. I actually enjoy it. The lovely toast was crunchy and fluffy all at the same time; the coffee should have made it if we didn't leave it to cool.

Note: Prices at 1983 outlets in institutions are near halved of what's being charged at the shopping malls. Serving size is as big, just lesser on garnishing.

Mee Siam ($2.80) 

The Half-Boiled Eggs

Western Food at NTU, New Canteen B

Grilled Chicken Chop Set ($3.50)

Went on a walkabout at the newly renovated Koufu @ the South Spine, NTU for some lunch ideas. It was then the Western lunch set struck us at its low pricing - $3.50. So we try it out.

Not bad at all, albeit the tough, dry bits of the charred chicken chop.

We like the lightly buttered rice and wouldn't trade it for the plump scoop of mashed potatoes when the server offered it. The light salad was refreshing and healthy. Some students preferred their Dory fish & chips, but it's Tempura fish for us.

Tempura Fish Set ($3.50)

风盛, Fong Seng Fried Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow ($2.50)

Arriving at 163, Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, one would be swept away by the aroma from Fong Seng hot frying wok. We walked around the food centre, but found nothing more desirable - guess we already got baited at Fong Seng.

Both of us wanted the fried kway teow, and trusted the old hawker enough to order 2 individual serving. Alas, the small portion on the large plate was disappointing at first sight. The taste was surprisingly mediocre. We left scratching our heads.

50 Cents? Peanut Pancake

Traditional 'Min Chiang Kueh' ($0.50 each)

Saturday morning starts restfully as we savored light, refreshing sweetness of the coconut shreds within the spongy warm cake. Or if you prefer, the aromatic crushed peanuts with littlest sugar crystals. We like them both.

The red beans rounded pancakes (at $0.60) were often sold out; and Ric has yet succeeded in getting any for us. We almost did this morning, before a customer in front bought the last two pieces on the rack!

This hole-in-the-wall stall at Blk 492 Jurong West St 41 deserves your patronage.

Marimo Moss Ball - My Furry Pet

Through the Filtered Morning Sun 

In Japanese, Mari means bouncy ball and Mo is a term for plants that grow in water. So, Marimo means bouncy water plant. It doesn't actually bounce. The green algae ball is found in lakes in the northern hemisphere and now quite readily available from our local aquariums. This is a gift from Sis.

The quiet plant provides the Zen, or calm as it breathes silently, producing tiny dreamlike bubbles. Left on my work desk, it was often just me and it. So it immediately felt affectionate, as i wanted to protect its seemingly vulnerability. I especially love looking at it in the morning sun, where it is safe to bath in. And its soft, velvety appearance becomes obvious and exotic under the orange light.

Tap water is left to stand overnight before use for the weekly water change. During which, i would squeeze the moss ball dry to facilitate cleaning and also to make it float and bubbles excessively! In my boredom, i would swivel a mini tornado in the bottle and watch it spins!

After a Water Change and Squeeze - It Bubbles and Floats Up!

Beancurd Riceballs!

3 In 1 Beancurd, Sesame and Peanut Mixed ($2.40)

Ever since i developed an addiction for after-meal dessert, traditional glutinous rice dumpling has been on the radar. I wouldn't resist the traditional Ah Balling, or the latest fashion of having the riceballs in soy beancurd! This is comfort food.

The dessert isn't easily available, so i was overjoyed to find them with Mr Bean which has branches all over the island. It was a guiltless indulgence as i'll request for a less sugar serving; while being fully aware of the nutritional benefits of soya bean. Lust for glucose was well satisfied by sweet sesame and peanut paste within the riceballs. Ta-dah!

Let's drink up to a fulfilling New Year! Which these sweet round balls symbolises in the Chinese custom - prosperity, unity, bliss and fruition.