Popped by Truly Test Kitchen at MacPherson Singapore today ;-D
It seemed an unlikely place for good food - this multi-storey industrial building at Kampong Ampat in MacPherson.
There is limited free parking inside the compound and street side coupon parking outside.
Take the lift to the 7th floor where Truly Test Kitchen is.
It's a very bright, slightly warm, comfortable cafeteria type space here on the 7th floor.
I first met the owners Joel and Deniece when they were running their Truly Curry Rice stall in Telok Blangah.
They have closed that stall and transferred their operations to here in Truly Test Kitchen. They have also expanded their food range from Hainanese curry rice to include noodles, porridge and Western staples.
You can read the story of how two high flying bankers in forex came to be hawkers here <- click
This is the Western section.
Noodle section.
The porridge/ congee section.
Then, there is the traditional Hainanese curry rice section. Which is at the core of Truly Test Kitchen which started life as Truly Curry Rice <- click.
This well balanced savoury sweet spicy curry is the soul of Hainanese curry rice as it is this curry that brings to life the rice and side dishes in Hainanese curry rice.
Traditionally, Hainanese curry rice is enjoyed with a variety of side dishes such as chicken chop, pork chop, fried squid rings, braised vegetables and many more.
I especially love this braised radish which is an old Cantonese staple. Joel is a Cantonese Joe like me ;-p People in Guangzhou (China) seems to eat everything with this. Tender and spongy, loaded full of mildly savoury sweet juices. Truly Test Kitchen does a great version of it :-D
Eat Hainanese curry rice must have this pork chop and enjoy it with curry (not brown sauce hor.... ).
->> If you are a Truly Curry Rice fan or a lover of Hainanese curry rice, the original is still here at Truly Test Kitchen. Bigger and better :-D
I love this Truly Curry Mee from the noodles section.
It's Joel's mum's recipe. Sort of...... it's just cooking whatever is in the fridge and whatever Joel likes with curry and voila! a customised curry mee. Isn't it always like that at every home? Truly a truly curry mee.
At Truly Test Kitchen, Joel and Deniece try to recreate this homely feel by letting customers choose their soup or curry base, noodle, meat and vegetable.
And, this large bowl for SGD3.50!? In Singapore, where to find? So delicious some more. Curry rice people makes good curry mee :-D
->> Curry mee fans, you got to check this out.
From the porridge / congee section, we tried this freshly cut and fried carrot cake. SGD2 nia nia.
This is good!!
The carrot (radish) cake cut in big chunks were slightly crisp and savoury outside while inside it was tender, moist and sweet. Dab a bit of that sambal balacan on it for more kick with a crustacean savoury spicy taste.
There is a choice of fried carrot cake, yam cake and pumpkin cake.
Just look at that real yam in the cake. Nowadays, where to find such real stuff in Singapore at such prices? I don't know where else to get this quality for SGD2.
From the Western section, a decent rendition of the classic chicken and waffle at a price everyone can afford at SGD4.
We love this SGD3.50 nett Chicken Aglio Olio. It sure kicked the asses of those SGD15-20++ wannabes at over hyped "hipster" cafes. The pasta is cooked truly al dente, which many cafes are not doing.
->> Growing guys and gals, NSFs, students etc get your ang moh chiak (Western food) at Truly Western. Have a party here :-D
Frankly, I still can't reconcile why two jet setting bankers in forex choose instead the daily gritty slog of a hawker's life.
Joel told me before that it's his vision to serve good food to everyone.
Three years on, it's no airy fairy spin but still a crystal clear vision. And, Joel and Deniece walk their talk. Everyday.
I saw the evidence in what we ate today.
Joel and Deniece, I take my hat off to you and keep up the great work! You are truly a blessing to people around you. Thank you!
->> If you live or work around the MacPherson area this is a great brekky and lunch place. There is something for everyone at truly affordable prices. If you are moving around the around here in the mornings or lunch time, swing by and check it out too.
Disclosure: Please note that this is an invited food tasting.
Restaurant name: Truly Test Kitchen
Address: #07-05, Jun Jie Industrial Building, 153 Kampong Ampat, Singapore 368326 (Just a short walk from Tai Seng MRT station)
GPS: 1.333969, 103.882872 / 1°20'02.3"N 103°52'58.3"E
Tel: 9008 3285
Hours: 7:00am to 2:00pm (Closed on Sunday)
Non Halal
Date visited: 3 Feb 2016
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Amazing couple!
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