A good teh tarik is not easy to make. First you have to start with good ingredients — that goes without saying. You will never produce a good cup of teh tarik with lousy tea dust. But, that is only half of the equation. Even if you have the right blend of tea and condensed […]
Ah Seng Hai Nam coffee is nothing short of a living museum which we can be proud of. The passion that drives the family's insistence of doing everything the old school way in the face of modernization is a true inspiration for us all.
Katong Sin Chew Confectionery: Old School Curry Buns!!
My friend, Cactuskit, has been wanting to introduce me to this old school bakery for the longest time! I don’t know why it took me so long before I finally got to visit, but when I finally held the soft, fluffy and warm buns in my hands, I knew I was holding something special. The […]
Da Sheng Bak Chor Mee: The Key to Better Hawker Food!
Bai Yong Sheng, 36, has been helping out at his dad's bak chor mee stall since he was 15 years old. His father had, in turn, learnt the recipe from his grandfather who used to sell bak chor mee from a pushcart! That makes him an uncommon, 4th generation hawker!
Mui Kee Congee: Iconic Hong Kong Hawker Comes to Town!
Mui Kee Congee is one of those popular eateries which are often on “To Eat” list of anyone heading to Hong Kong for a holiday. So when Mui Kee did a pop-up event in Singapore last year, there was considerable interest. However, the quality of the food was inconsistent and understandably, the reviews were less […]
China Street Hainanese Curry Rice: Food for the Soul!
There has been much talk about Singapore seeking an intangible heritage item for the Unesco list. I am not sure if Hainanese curry rice would be iconic enough to be THE intangible item but I think there is enough grounds for it to at least make it into the shortlist.
I have been blogging for twelve years now and I thought I had seen it all. In the early days, a lot of hawkers were highly suspicious whenever I try to interview them, but as blogging and social media marketing got more popular, many hawkers have become media savvy and it has been easier to […]
I am sure most foodies here would be familiar with Ban Leong Wah Hoe or at least you should know it as that zi char place at Casuarina road. This venerable seafood restaurant has been at the same spot since 1986 and still has that old school coffeeshop feel about it.
The original owners of Song Kee Fishball noodles has resurrected their famous fish ball noodle shop and they now occupy the same Coffeeshop in Tembeling road, where another hawker legend, Hong Mao Wanton Mee, used to be!
This famously popular briyani stall is one of the most reclusive as well. Most people refer to it as the briyani in the coffeeshop next to Golden Mile Food Centre. The stall doesn't have a signboard and most people don't even know that it is called "Koothurar" restaurant. If there is any stall in Singapore that doesn't need extra publicity, then this is it.
Wei Ji Braised Duck: Keeping a family legacy alive
There are many heartwarming stories rising from our hawker heartland. Selling food and providing transport is a lifeline for many in most societies. Visit any metropolis and you will find new immigrants either selling food or driving taxis in order to provide for their families when they are unable find work in their own trade or profession. This was certainly the case for Singapore in the early days when many of our forefathers became hawkers or rickshaw pullers in order to eke out a living.
Scissor Cut Curry Rice: The Origins of Scissor Cut Curry Rice!
Behold, the ugly, gooey, glorious mess that is Beach Road Scissor cut rice. Those of you who have been to the original branch at Jalan Besar will know what I am talking about. It really doesn't look appetizing to those who have yet to experience the epiphany of the eclectic mix of curry chicken, braised pork, stewed cabbage and chilli.
