Hwa Heng Beef Noodles @ Bendemeer Hawker Centre • Original Odeon & Scotts Picnic Keeping the Faith since 1948 華興牛肉粉

Hwa Heng Beef Noodles 華興牛肉粉 |  Bendemeer Market & Food Centre, stall #01-86, Singapore 330029 🚅 5 minutes walk from Boon Keng station ⏰ 10am - 2pm (Sun, Mon, Tues off)

I love beef noodles and count myself lucky that I can still get one of my old favourites 旧爱 today.

I have two old favourites. One I cannot remember the location anymore.

Tonny Restaurant @ Geylang Lor 3 利宝饭店 ☏ 6748 6618

Tonny 利宝饭店 | 10 Lorong 3 Geylang, Singapore 388862 🚅 10 minutes walk from Kallang station    ☏ 6748 6618 ⏰ 12 noon - 2:30 pm | 6pm - 10:30 pm (Mon off)

Tonny Restaurant doesn't need any more introductions, especially among locals. I am just noting down, sharing my own latest experience, like letting you read my diary 🤭

Sek Tong Gai @ Commonwealth Crescent • Unique Singapore Hawker Centre Experience 食通街 ☏ 8138 7637

Sek Tong Gai 食通街  | Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre, stall #02-076, Singapore 149644 🚅 20 minutes walk from Farrer Road station ☏ 8138 7637 ⏰ 6pm - 10pm

When buddy Cat shared about her dinner at Sek Tong Gai, it was the delicious looking dishes that attracted me. So, I mentioned that we could have a future get together here.

La Familia Italian & Mexican Artisanal Pizzas & More @ Taman Tasek Johor Bahru ☏ +6019 895 5564

La Familia | 61, Jalan Glasiar, Taman Tasek, 80200 Johor Bahru ☏ +6019 895 5564 ⏰ 12 noon to 11pm

Newly opened La Familia serves excellent artisanal pizzas and tortillas - I tried them 👍 They also serve pasta which they also make in-house - I want to try them soon. Judging by their pizzas I am confident that their house made pasta will be nice too.

Scissor-Cut Curry Rice at Upper Thomson Road 美芝律剪刀剪咖喱饭

Beach Road Scissors Cut Curry Rice 美芝律剪刀剪咖喱饭 | 222, Upper Thomson Road,  Singapore 🚅  Nearest MRT: 5 minute walk from Upper Thomson station ⏰ 11am - 10pm

I have long been fascinated by the history of Hainanese curry rice how it is a unique fusion of Malay, Chinese, Peranakan and Western traditions. Beach Road Scissors-Cut Curry Rice is one of the most famous brands in Singapore for this dish. Since I have never been to their Upper Thomson Road outlet before, I decided to give it a try.

(Don't ask me to compare as I can't even remember when was my last time eating at their Jalan Besar shop.)

Self Guided NYC New York City Pizza Tour

One of the must do things when visiting New York City, especially for foodie travelers, is to taste NYC style pizza. 

But, why? What is so special about New York City pizzas? 

Wu You Eating Place • Culinary Treasure House at Lavender Street 五攸食坊 • 美食宝宅 ☏ 89131519

Wu You Eating Place 无忧餐厅 | 312 Lavender Street, Singapore 338816 🚅 5 minute walk from Boon Keng station ☏ 8913 1519 ⏰ 11am - 3 pm | 5pm - 10 pm

Met at Wu You Eating Place for lunch. Buddies had been to Wu You before and they love it. This was my first time here and half way through the meal, I already made up my mind to come back again.

Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku Pelangi Japanese Charcoal Grill 虎丸新山彩虹花园 ☏ +6010 668 5855

 Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku | 195, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru ☏ +6010 668 5855 ⏰ 12 noon - 2:30 pm | 6pm - 11pm (Tues off)

Visited the newly opened Toramaru Japanese restaurant in Pelangi which main attraction is wagyu beef. 

Pin Ming Xuan Dim Sum near KSL in Taman Century JB 品茗軒 廣式茶樓 (总行) ☏ +6017 767 7399

Pin Ming Xuan Cantonese Dim Sum 品茗軒 廣式茶樓 | 10, Jalan Serigala, Taman Century Garden, 80250 Johor Bahru ☏ +6017 767 7399 ⏰ 8am - 4pm (Mon close at 1pm)

Had long wanted to try Pin Ming Xuan Cantonese Dim Sum and finally made it this morning 🕺 It was so good! 

Shabusen Ginza 8F Shop Tokyo • No Reservations Shabu Shabu ☏ +813 3572 3806

Shabusen Ginza 8F Shop | Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−7−10 イグジットメルサ ８階 (level 2 EXITMELSA Mall イグジットメルサ) 🚅  5 minute walk from Ginza station ☏ +813 3572 3806 ⏰ 11am - 10pm

We didn't really have a detailed plan in Tokyo, except to taste and learn as much as possible about Japanese cuisine while enjoying ourselves. 

You Fu Fried Hokkien Mee 780 Woodlands 有富福建面 ☏ 8771 4119

Goldenmile YouFu Hokkien Mee | Food Park coffeeshop, 780 Woodlands Crescent, S730780 🚅 15 minutes walk from Admiralty station ☏ 8771 4119 ⏰ 11am - 8pm (Monday off)

If you are a Singapore fried Hokkien mee enthusiast, You Fu doesn't need anymore introduction. It's in the media limelight since it started in 2020.

It was earlier in Golden Mile Food Centre and I did a comparison between You Fu and the GMFC stalwart, Hainan Hokkien Mee. 

Lots went on at You Fu during the last five years and they have expanded to outlets and affiliates across the island now. 

SaraNest Bird Nest in Kuching Sarawak 钦燕临燕窝

Visited SaraNest in Kuching, Sarawak and learned how swiftlet or swallow bird nest is processed.

Sarawak is the world's third largest producer of bird nest products. 

Yeo's Johor Laksa at Taman Johor Medan Selera TJ Food Court 姚柔佛花园美食中心

Johor Laksa | 2, Jalan Ledang, Taman Johor, 81200 Johor Bahru ⏰ 7:30am - 1pm

Haven't tried this Johore style curry laksa which has been operating in Taman Johor hawker centre for over twenty years. 

I couldn't find this stall on Google. It is also not listed on Google Map, at the moment.

Ho Garden Yong Tau Foo in Taman Munsyi Ibrahim near Paradigm Mall 合家园客家传统酿豆腐 ☏ +6016 730 4134 ☏ +6014 317 9136

Ho Garden | 28, Jalan Dian 8, Taman Munsyi Ibrahim, 81200 Johor Bahru ☏ +6016 730 4134 ⏰ 7:30am - 3pm (Mon off)

Stumbled upon a good yong tau foo joint hidden away in Taman Munsyi Ibrahim. It reminds me of the bests of Ipoh (the Ho family is actually from Seremban and running Ho Garden for over 12 years). 

Neighbour Wok Fried Hokkien Mee 177 Bukit Batok West 街坊

NeighbourWok  | 177 Bukit Batok West Ave. 8, Singapore 650177 🚅 15 minutes walk from Bukit Batok station ⏰ 11 am - 2:30 pm | 4pm - 8:30 pm

NeighbourWok fried Hokkien prawn mee has been receiving a lot of media limelight and many raving reviews. This made me very curious, driving me to go try it 😁

Sarawak Self Drive Holiday Itinerary Kuching - Gunung Gading (Rafflesia) - Lundu - Sematan

During our recent trip to Kuching Division of Sarawak, we did an exciting self drive day trip from Kuching city to Gunung Gading National Park to see the Rafflesia flower, visited the little towns of Lundu and Sematan before turning back to Kuching city.

Kantin at the Granary Kuching • Creative Cuisine with Sarawak Soul ☏ +6017 520 0230

Kantin at the Granary | 23, Wayang St, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia ☏ +6017 520 0230 ⏰  10am - 10pm (Mon off)

I've long wanted to visit Kantin restaurant in Kuching, one of the pioneers which brought world attention to Sarawakian cuisine.

I had earlier visited the Kantin restaurant in Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport. 

Tian Xiang Yong Peng Fish Ball near KSL Mall 天香 永平鱼丸 ☏ +6016 653 7383

天香 永平手工鱼丸 Tian Xiang Fish Ball  | 173, Jalan Harimau, Taman Century, 80250 Johor Bahru ☏ +6016 653 7383 ⏰ 7am - 3pm (Mon off)

Stumbled upon Tian Xiang Yong Peng Fishball near KSL Mall in Taman Century, Johor Bahru. 

Uncle Tan Gading Liberica Coffee Farm Lundu Sarawak ☎️ 019 874 9089

Visited uncle Tan's Liberica coffee plantation at Gunung Gading near to little Lundu Town in Kuching Division of Sarawak. 

Fried Curry Mee Breakfast @ Ah Choi in Hua Hee Coffeeshop in Lundu Sarawak 阿财干捞面 • 歡喜咖啡店

Today's main event was to look for Rafflesia (largest flower in the world) at Gunung Gading National Park. But, first business of the day was to get a hearty breakfast and good shot of caffeine 😁

Shabu Shabuchin Namba Sennichimae Osaka ☏ +81 6-6643-1129

Shabuchin Namba Sennichimae しゃぶちん 難波 千日前店  | Japan, 〒542-0075 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nanbasennichimae, 13−18 難波 丸和ビル １階  🚅  Nearest MRT: 5 minute walk from Namba station    ☏ +81 6-6643-1129 ⏰ 11am - 4 pm | 5:30pm - 10:30 pm

I haven't been back to Japan for a very long time (transits don't count), and our first meal for this trip was shabu shabu. Which was a nice start as nowadays I like soupy things - sign of getting older 😂

Shunde Chencun Deyunju Sliced Fish Hotpot 顺德陈村德云居 ☏ 0757-2639 1908

Our local Shunde guide brought us to 陈村德云居 Chencun Deyunju for their signature Sliced Fish in Hotpot 顺德无骨鱼 using 正宗水库大鱼 Big Head Carp fish. 

Seorae Jib Korean BBQ • Everyone Eat Like Royals in Singapore ☏ 9385 5045

Seorae Jib founded in South Korea in 2007, came to Singapore in 2015, and in the last ten years grew to six outlets in every corner of our island, including in Yishun at Northpoint City (Singaporean joke 🤭). 

In Search of Rafflesia in Gunung Gading • World Largest Flower ☏ +608 273 5144

Wikipedia photo

Since I was an elementary school child I was fascinated by the Rafflesia flower. I read about it in books. Measuring one metre across, the Rafflesia's magic is undeniable - it's the largest flower in the world and naturally thrills any curious child. 

Cendol @ Ah Yong ABC at Wayang Street, Hong San Si Temple, Kuching ☏ + 6016 854 6643

Our Kuching local foodie buddy Joshua brought us to Hong San Si Temple 鳳山寺 at Wayang Street to try the cendol at Ah Yong ABC. The old ice dessert stall founded by Ah Yong in 1978 is in the collective memory of generations of Kuching folks.

(The roots of Ah Yong's stall is actually much older as he is the third generation of the business started by his grandfather. Joshua said about 80 years ago.)

Lunch in Sematan @ Yat Lau Coffee Shop Sarawak ☏ +6016 891 0116 憶劉海鲜餐厅

Back at seaside Sematan town in Sarawak again after one year away. Sematan at the far west of Sarawak is literally the edge of the world.

Making Gula Apong, Enjoying Attap Sugar • A Common Bond of Sarawak Communities

Gula apong or attap palm sugar, the finishing touch to cendol in Kuching, Sarawak. It is not cendol, if there is no palm sugar, and in Sarawak, it is best with attap palm sugar or gula apong (in Malay).

Hap Chen Hian Kuching Teochew Satay @ Hui Sing Hawker Centre 合眾香沙爹 ☏ +6016 857 9081

On our first day in Kuching, our local foodie buddy Joshua whisked us to try Hap Chen Hian Satay stall at Hui Sing Hawker Centre. 

Pork Leg Rice @ Cat City Night Food Tai Pan Corner Padungan Kuching Sarawak 猫城夜市

The very first day we arrived for this Kuching trip, buddy Aven said he would like to try the pork leg rice stall at Cat City Night Food in Padungan.

Braised Pork Leg Rice @ Huang You Liang Fook Seng Cafe Padungan Kuching 新福昇茶室 • 黄友良猪脚饭 ☏+6016 525 5323

Our Kuching local foodie buddy Joshua shared that Padungan in Kuching is well known for its Teochew braised pork rice shops.

I love pork leg rice but so far have only tried kha moo in Thailand.

Uncle Koh vs Grandpapatee Wanton Mee in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah Skudai

Grandpapatee (left) Uncle Koh (right)

Even though Johor Bahru is originally a Teochew enclave, hence its nickname Little Swatow, there are actually more wanton mee stalls than Teochew kway teow mee / thng stalls (based on my observation). And, Johoreans are spoilt for choice as Johor wanton mee standards are high with many stalls / restaurants still making their own noodles.

Wanton noodles, of course, is a quintessentially Cantonese dish.