Casa Bom Vento Express Nyonya Dry Laksa & Nasi Ulam @ Xin Tekka Singapore CLOSED

Today, went to check out the newly opened Xin Tekka food court which is just steps from Rochor MRT station. I like the 3 Nyonya dishes I tried at Casa Bom Vento Express including one of Singapore's rare nasi ulam, and it was a good one 😋.



Casa Bom Vento Express is a little food kiosk. There are a dozen independent food and beverage stalls inside Xin Tekka food court including Liang Ji char kway teow and Chef Pang's Hakka noodles. Comfortable, air conditioned, conveniently at Rochor MRT station - it's a nice new place to hangout in downtown Singapore.

The little Casa Bom Vento Express food kiosk serves Peranakan and Eurasian dishes. They have Blue Pea Nasi Ulam, Buah Keluak Fried Rice, Dabel Curry (with rice or baguette), Ayam Buah Keluak, Stingray Asam Pedas, Nyonya Laksa, Nyonya Dry Laksa, and Curry Fish Head.

I tasted the Nasi Ulam, Nyonya Dry Laksa and Ayam Buah Keluak, and enjoyed them all.

Nasi Ulam $8.20

I've always been a fan of nasi ulam because the vegan dish is the best guilt free, full flavour and full aroma eating I know. To me, it is "nasi biryani" of sorts sans grease and meat (in the sense that both are irresistibly flavourful and full of aroma).



Casa Bom Vento Express' version is a full blown rendition with the complete symphonic orchestra of hand picked herbs and spices mixed with boiled basmati rice.



In the mouth, there's a mix of tender, nutty and crunchy bits from finely hand diced herbs, vegetables and spices. Every bite was a firework of flavours bursting in the mouth and bloom of aromas in the nose. I told Lionel the boss of Casa Bom Vento that it is like eating perfume but it is all natural. (Don't worry, there is no hot spice.) 

You have to taste it to believe it. (Note that nasi ulam is served at room temperature, as it is basically a form of salad.)

Kudoes to Lionel and Lyn (whom are both Peranakan) for painstakingly assembling the full complement of ingredients and preparing them by hand. No one would do this complex dish at a small food kiosk except for pride and love. 



Ayam Buah Keluak, a quintessential Nyonya dish, some say the litmus test of any Nyonya eatery.

Ayam Buah Keluak on Blue Pea Rice $7.70

Though a food kiosk, Casa Bom Vento Empress' Ayam Buah Keluak comes lovingly plated. Chunks of boneless chicken and buah keluak stew set on top of basmati rice tinted blue with real butterfly pea flower.



Ayam Buah Keluak with rice is comfort food for Peranakans. It has layers of savoury flavours undergirded by the unique umami taste of the buah keluak nut. The delicate sweetness of basmati rice provided balance to the savoury buah keluak and chicken stew.



Casa Bom Vento's Ayam Buah Keluak comes with two bonus treats - house made sambal chili and pickled belimbing.

The sambal chili is robustly savoury and packs a sharp spicy hot punch. The belimbing pickled for a year tastes like a very juicy grape and its juices like sweet wine with a subtle zest.

Nyonya Dry Laksa $8.20

Dry Nyonya Laksa. If you want to cheat on Nyonya laksa, I mean if you want to enjoy the full flavours but avoid the grease and reduce the coconut milk, then this is for you.

The layers of savoury sweetness, crustacean umami and hints of chili and aromatic spices are all there. See how finely Lionel chopped his laksa leaf which he sprinkled over the dish?



Casa Bom Vento serve their dry laksa with spaghetti done al dente. The spaghetti adds a certain wheat taste to the dish. This is a good rendition of dry Nyonya laksa at a fraction of restaurant price.



Restaurant name: Casa Bom Vento Express
Address: Xin Tekka Food Hall, 2 Serangoon Road, Tekka Place, Annex Block stall #01-55 (door step of Rochor MRT station)
Tel: 8866 7866
Hours: 11:00am till sold out (Sun off except public holiday)

No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

History of Peranakan food 👈 click

Date visited: 5 Aug 2020