肥佬, Fei Lou Porridge

(#01-116)

Come dinner time, there are always 2 long queues in the Telok Blangah Crescent Market and Food Centre. One belongs to the char kway teow, and the other at Fei Lou.

Their bountiful items on the yellow board might make you feel lost. Well, you just have to get what the guys in front are ordering!

Boneless Fried Chicken Wings ($1.20 each), Porridge ($1), Fried Bee Hoon ($1)

Steamed Chicken ($6)

Primarily it's the boneless fried chicken wings! (better than IKEA's) and steamed chicken that makes it to everyone's table. They have this classic 'fried shallot oil with spring onions' dip for their steamed chicken which i find most nostalgic!

The scalding hot porridge and savory fried vermicelli are the carbo to indulge. Occasionally, we will have their herbaceous braised chicken feet with peanuts! Get you a photo of it soon.

Braised Chicken Feet with Peanuts

食福肉粥, Shi Fu A1 Rou Zhou - Charcoal Broiled

Century Egg Porridge ($3), added Mince Meat ($0.50)

It is difficult to locate porridge stalls when you need them. So please note down this stall in Bukit Merah View Food Centre that offers traditional charcoal-broiled porridge. We see their charcoal stove cooking.

The porridge is smooth and light tasting; the meat tender. Nothing sensational. But are every bit of a good plain porridge that comforts and quench the body.

家味, Jia Wei Vegetable Rice

Egg Omelet, Minced Pork Balls, Bitter gourd, Steamed Fish and 3 Porridges ($9.50)

At 2 recent gatherings, we had separately 2 gangs of elderly colleagues recommending fiercely the steamed fish at this 'vegetable rice' stall in 133, Ang Mo Kio Ave 3. Cheap and good, they said. We thus made an effort to be here on a Saturday afternoon. Noting they are close for dinner.

Maybe the Teochew styled steamed fish is indeed commendable; serves with full works of preserved plums, Chinese fermented beans, ginger and chili. But price isn't exactly cheap. And their other cooking is mediocre.

This returns us to Ann Hoo Vegetable Rice who is just next door. Next street actually. 

合顺, Hup Soon Rice & Porridge - since 1972

This is the other popular porridge stall at level 3 of the Taman Jurong Market Food Centre. Its charges are more economical than Sweet Potato Porridge at level 2. But i do prefer SPP for its overall sophistication - in terms of complexity of recipes.

Hup Soon doesn't do badly, of course. They have several delectable home-styled dishes, specializing in the unique dry steamed fish.

One thing's for sure, Hup Soon might be the last porridge stall in this entire island, who still prices their sweet potato porridge at 30 cents per bowl.

Braised Bean Curd with Pig's Skin, Bitter Gourd, Steamed Fish, Meatball. 3 Porridge ($11.90) 

Dry Steamed Fish

Steamed Meatball

Sweet Potato Porridge ($0.30). Option of steamed Rice at 40 cents. 

美味, Jurong East Tasty Mixed Rice & Porridge

Teochew Fish Cake, Braised Pig's Skin & Braised Tau Pok, Bitter Gourd, Omelette. 3 Porridge ($9.50)

Man can be simple creature. Often too simple we refuse otherwise, and seek to complicate lives with abundant choices. After a busy morning, all we really crave for are plain warm porridge with folksy fare. Maybe this explains the popularity of such meal in Singapore, as with many Chinese society.

This stall in Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre offers a mundane fair that is reasonably priced. We do find their handmade Teochew fish cake most exquisite, an eye-catcher among the many stalls we patronized. Remember to pick it up with your dishes selection when ordering.

Round up your lunch with a cup of thick Nanyang Kopi from the tea stall next door. You are now ready to kick start another busy afternoon.

番薯粥, Sweet Potato Porridge - Nostalgia cooking!

Remember the old Sixty Stalls (六十摊) Food Centre at Corporation Drive? I was fortune to come by some 15 years ago, when my immediate boss took me for a first-day-work lunch at this Teochew porridge stall. Which i later found out, this was their favorite lunch venue.

The original stall owner had since retired, and his younger helper (also an old Teochew man by now) took over his passion and work at the Taman Jurong Market Food Centre. But some things never change, and cooking skills just get better with time when you stick to old recipes! 

I couldn't quite put my fingers on it, but the plain looking cabbage and bitter gourd dishes were really flavorsome! I have to come back for my fix! Soon.

Teochew Steamed Fish, Teochew Fish Cake, Bitter Gourd with Eggs, Cabbage with Vermicelli. 3 Porridge. ($19)

Add +, Braised Pig's Skin and Intestine ($3)

欣美, Xin Mei Congee

煲仔面, Claypot Noodle ($3.50)

The all day rain have us craving for some really hot soup or smooth congee that fills the stomachs and warms our bodies! There's a nice congee stall (#01-214), just next to the 40 cents satay stall in Chong Boon Market and Food Centre - they serve freshly deep fried dough fritters with every bowl of their congee!

We love that. But for a change, Ric says, let's try their 'claypot noodle' that so many people are ordering too!

So we get to savor the unique flavor of the oven-dried noodle that works the rich broth together with fresh ingredients of minced meatballs, pork, pork liver and a beaten egg... Mmmm... Such gratifying bowl for the cold night!

皮蛋瘦肉粥, Century Pork Porridge ($3)

Soon Lee Porridge @ Clementi

Pork Porridge, with egg ($2.80)

This really looked good, don't you think so? 

I wished it was; for the stall has been famously good for 20 odd years in the Clementi Central area. We note that its consistency is less gooey, more watered down than what we had, just days back at Wong's, Bedok.

And our taste buds stubbornly rejected the heavily flavored porridge. Maybe by holding back their preserved vegetables (冬菜) might save us from our sufferings. Or was my Flu symptoms provoking my senses? No, no, i wouldn't have this porridge even under normal condition. 

On the other hand, if you enjoy much flavorsome porridge, like theirs, you'll be happy to know they charge just 30 cents to add an egg to the porridge, while many others cost you 50. And they are generous with ingredients.

Ric helped finished the bowl.

粥, Wong Porridge (since 1975)

When one is feeling under the weather, one craves for the comfort of a bowl of warm gooey porridge.

This Hainanese porridge stall in Blk 16, Bedok South Hawker Centre serves a most unpretentious version of home-cooked congee. It tasted plain when you compare theirs with other hawkers but the ingredients used are taste-catchingly fresh and sweet.

Pork Porridge, Pork with Century Egg Porridge ($3 each)

Having had more porridge these days (because we had both fallen ill), this is the porridge that most suited a patient's appetite. It tasted naturally good without irritating our sensitive senses. Adding a little light soy sauce waken our bitter tongues as the porridge nourish our weaken constitution.

We feel good having this for lunch today.

老二, Lao Er Teochew Porridge

Steamed Pork Belly ($3)

This is quite a famous Teochew porridge stall in Bedok North Market, Blk 216. The lunch queue is constantly long but moves fast. One of the 'must-eat' here is this plain-looking pork belly meat.

I was qualmish about eating it at first... ... but it does taste so good! Reminds us just how pure meat should be like. And i'll return, especially for this.

Lunch order for 2 pax, 3 porridge ($13)

The meal which includes one big steam fish is affordable, albeit a tad over-cooked fish. And do be cautioned that their stir-fried dishes tends to be more salted and oily; when ordering at the stall, look out for the lighter options.

With this precaution taken, i'll come back for my white porky belly.

Steam Fish

Bean sprouts with long beans (oily, saltish)

Long beans Omelette (oily, saltish)

Maxwell Teochew Porridge

Lunch for 2 ($8.20)

Another easy and comforting meal at Heng Heng Porridge, Maxwell. Besides our 'all-time must have', here is something for the first time - Steamed Baby Squids! Try it.

安湖, Ann Hoo Cooked Food

Pig's Skin and Braised Egg ($2)

Whenever i didn't know what i want for lunch, it is always well to err on the safe side by offering some Teochew Porridge fare.

As i frowned on the Pig's skin that Ric had ordered to go with our porridge (had too much of it these days), i was quickly appeased after the first bite. They are one of those very good ones.

Our lunch (total $8.80), with Chinese Cabbage ($1)

Minced Meat Fish Cake ($2)

Their other specialty was the fish cake that had a well mix of minced meat, not too much, lest the bouncy texture of a fish cake is compromised. It had just the right proportion.

Steam Fish Slice ($3)

And a tender slice of steamed fish remedied our lunch dilemma at Ang Mo Kio, Cheng San Market & Cooked Food Centre (01-126 & 127). I am happy now.

Another day. On Jan 2013. 

We can't get enough of the pig's skin and came back for more. So here is 2 more seafood pics for you.

Steamed Pomfret ($7.50)

Steamed Sotong ($3)

Teochew Steam Fish + Porridge

Teochew Fishcake, Braised, Steam Fish Combo, with 3 porridge bowl ($18)

Further to our post on Teo Heng Teochew Porridge where i promised to be back for their steam fishes, we did it today. But several choices of fish were sold out by 1pm, so were the food items.

Upon ordering, we observed fresh fish being tossed into a boiling soup broth with pickled vegetables. When these were served as garnishing for the fish, my first peck reaps a fishy taste? Subsequently, we don't notice it anymore as we got used to and began enjoying the tender sweet seafood.

Braised Pork Belly, Pig's Skin, Taupok

And who like Pig's skin? Kee Chew! I would raise both of mine.
The stall serves a good selection of these very best stews; and they are the 'must order' as they complete the meal. Burp!

12.07.2012 (Thurs)

Another day, another month, another warm afternoon. We came back as i missed having the steamed fish. The most modest bred of fishes easily satisfied, as long as freshness of the fish is guaranteed!

Shanghai Night Teochew Porridge

Pig's Liver, Braised Cabbage, Steamed Squids, Fish Cake ($9.20)

A bowl of hot porridge + some of the simplest Teochew dishes, calm the weary souls - as plain as it seemed; that's how good Teochew porridge's to be, simple yet utterly satisfying.

That may be the very reason for its mass appeal, especially among taxis drivers; long meal queue ensued everyday, got worse during the weekends. Then you might not get a table.

A meal of our standard order, of all our favorites. The pork's liver forever entices my palate and i fell in love with the braised cabbage (Chap Chye) all over again today.

Steamed Squid with Kumquat dip sauce

Teochew Fish Cake

Pig's Liver with Ginger Strips in Oyster Sauce

Address: Blk 116, Bukit Merah View