Pagi Sore @ Far East Square 🇮🇩 Authentic Indonesian Bento Box Sets

I miss the flavourful food of Indonesia, the proverbial spice islands that made brave men crossed oceans from China and Europe in millenniums past. Fortunately, even in these days of Covid-19 Heightened Alert, authentic Indonesian flavours by Pagi Sore comes to our doorstep with just mouse clicks, handphone swipes or a telephone call away.

Restaurant name: Pagi Sore

Address: 88 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 048470 (Far East Square)

Tek: 6225 6002

Hours: 11:00am - 3:00pm | 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Boiling Sea into Salt in the Kingdom of Singapura or Temasek 煮海為鹽

Today, we tend to think of salt as a flavouring, seasoning, or preservative. Actually, humans need salt or sodium chloride for bodily functions in the same way as we need air and water. Salt was relatively scarce and valuable (wars were fought over it and people taxed on it) until about a hundred years ago when modern technology made it cheap and widely available.

Handcraft Delights, One Kueh At A Time @ 230 Pandan Loop. Confessions of an OKAAT Convert

Today, got a gift of atas Teochew kueh from buddy 🙏 The dainty kueh were prettier, as well as a cut above their traditional counterparts in taste and texture. At average $2 a piece, they cost a bit more but I feel they are worth the slight price premium.

Stall name: One Kueh At A Time

Address: 230 Pandan Loop, #01-K1, Singapore 128415 (Lim Chee Guan bak kwa factory building)

Tel: 9795 6119

Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm (Mon & Tues off)

Hong Lim Crayfish Hor Fun by Tuck Kee Ipoh Sah Hor Fun 德记怡保沙河粉

I've long set my sights on Tuck Kee's famous crayfish hor fun 

but I was always either too early or too late at the stall. So, its quite ironic that it's only during Singapore's Covid-19 Phase 2 Heightened Alert that I finally checked it off my Must Try list. Today, buddy Paul kindly dabao-ed for me. Thanks so much 🙏

Stall name: Tuck Kee Ipoh Sah Hor Fun 德记怡保沙河粉

Address: Hong Lim Food Centre, #02-40, 531A Upper Cross Street, Singapore 051531  

Hours: 11:00am - 2:45pm (Sun off)

Decker BBQ @ The Quayside Robertson Quay 🍖 WOWed by East Texas Style Barbecue

Decker Barbecue's marvellous pork Rib Plate and Double Decker burger for day 13 dabao under Covid 19 Heightened Alert.

Restaurant name: Decker Barbecue

Address: 60 Robertson Quay, #01-17, Singapore 238252 (The Quayside)

Tel: 6635 8565

Hours: 12:00 noon - 9:00pm (Mon off)

Yuan Wei Handmade Soon Kueh, Ang Mo Kio People Don't Want You to Know About · Now at Blk 422 源味手工笋粿

✍️ 14 Nov 2023. Evonne jio-ed us to meet at her favourite Teochew kueh stall, at block 422 Ang Mo Kio (just 5 minutes walk from the MRT station).

Makansutra Gluttons Bay 🍽 Dabao from the Pandemic Frontlines

After my medical appointment today, I swung by Makansutra Gluttons Bay to dabao dinner.

Restaurant name: Makansutra Gluttons Bay

Address: #01-15, 8 Raffles Avenue (next to Esplanade), Singapore 039802

Hours: 3:00pm - 10:30pm

Spaghetti Bolognese & Ribeye from HQ Italia Pizza Addiction Delivery

Today's simple lunch on day 10 of Singapore Phase 2 Heightened Alert was steak and spaghetti dabao courtesy of buddy Brandon. It was tasty and satisfying - a lot of food for one person.

Restaurant name: HQ Italia Pizza Addiction

Address: 62 Ubi Road 1 Oxley Bizhub 2, Level 11 Rooftop, S408734 

Hours: 11:30am - 5:00pm (Sun off)

Wine Brewing in Old Temasek 🌴 Dawn of Singapura Drink Culture 700 Years before Singapore Sling 🍸

Today, Singapore has a thriving, innovative, exciting drinking scene. But, when did drinking start in Singapore? What is the original Singapore drink culture? Nobody really knows.

Apparently, people in Singapore were already enjoying their drinks 700 years ago. This we know, thanks to the travelogue of Wang Dayuan, a Chinese adventurer who passed this way around 1330.

Pangkor Satay Fish by Yujia 渔家 🌴 Hometown Taste of Malaysia in Singapore 🥡 Day 8 Dabao

Early this morning, received a message from buddy. "Be careful when you open your door, your breakfast is hanging on your gate 😄 ". What a nice way to start our Sunday 🌤 with a surprise gift of dabao Pangkor Satay Fish by Yujia 渔. Thanks buddy 🙏

Yujia Nyonya Nasi Lemak 渔家

Available on Sat & Sun only

WhatsApp ☎ Christine Lock 8297 8813 

The Beef House 🥡 Top Hakka Beef Balls, Yong Tau Foo & Bang Kuang Kueh @ Gar Lok Eating House, Syed Alwi Road

✍ 22 May 2021. Staying safe at home on Day 7 of Singapore Phase 2 Heightened Alert, we enjoyed one of the best beef balls, Hakka yong tau foo, Hakka noodles and bang kuang kueh today thanks to buddy who dabao-ed for us 🥡

Stall name: The Beef House 

Address: 217 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207776 (inside Gar Lok Eating House, REHAU Building)

Tel: 9821 5463 ☎ 9665 4919

Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm (Fri off)

Keng Heng Whampoa Teochew Lor Mee from Golden Mile F C 🥡 Day 6 Dabao

Today's dabao is from one of my favourite lor mee stalls in Singapore, Keng Heng Whampoa Teochew Lor Mee from Golden Mile Food Centre. Best eaten at the stall itself, but in these extraordinary times, dabao to eat at home is also very nice!

Stall name: Keng Heng Whampoa Teochew Lor Mee 庆兴黃埔潮洲卤面

Address: 505 Beach Road, Golden Mile Food Centre, stall #01-63

Tel: 9844 4853 (can pre-order)

Hours: 7:30am - 1:00pm (Sun off)

History of Ang Ku Kueh 红龟粿 · From Tortoise Worship to Trendy Snack

Ang ku kueh 红龟粿 or literally "red tortoise cake" in Hokkien Chinese is ubiquitous in Singapore and Malaysia, and is also common in Indonesia and Thailand. Often listed among Nyonya kueh, the glutinous rice cake with mung bean paste filling originated in China.

History & Guide to Different Types of Nyonya Kueh

Nyonya kueh are bite size cakes, sweets and snacks which are a big part of Peranakan cuisine. Nyonya kueh are often colourful and always addictively delicious. There are over a hundred varieties - this post trace their origins and highlight a selection of the most popular ones.

Braised Duck, Kong Bak & Ngoh Hiang Trotter by Quan Xiang Yuan Hokkien Restaurant ☎ 6294 6254 🥡 Day 2 Dabao

Today's dabao is from Quan Xiang Yuan which is one of Singapore's last traditional Hokkien restaurants. We had sea cucumber braised duck, ngoh hiang trotter and kong bak (stewed pork belly) all of which we ate with pillow soft steamed buns. Yummy! 😋 We are staying safe at home but our palates can still go on culinary adventures.

Restaurant name: Quan Xiang Yuan 泉馨园(清记)海鲜菜馆

Tel: 6294 6254

WhatsApp: 8266 6993

Pangkor Island Nyonya Nasi Lemak by Yujia 渔家 🌴 Taste of Malaysia Nasi Lemak in Singapore 🥡 Day 1 Dabao

Day 1 of Phase 2 Heightened Alert, today's dabao is nasi lemak by Yujia 渔家. Cooked by Christine Lock who hails from Malaysia's Pangkor Island (Perak state), her nasi lemak has the hometown flavours and aroma different to what we are used to in Singapore.

Yujia Nyonya Nasi Lemak 渔家

Available on Sat & Sun only

WhatsApp ☎ Christine Lock 8297 8813 

Ang Mo Kio Nyonya Kueh 💎 Hidden Gem Traditional Chinese & Malay Snack & Biscuit Shop in Hougang 宏茂桥娘惹糕

Of the many Nyonya / Malay kueh, ondeh ondeh is my personal favourite. Many sold are, however, overly sweet and a little flat tasting - 死甜 or literally "dead sweet" in Chinese. I like the ondeh ondeh by Ang Mo Kio Nyonya Kueh as it is not overly sweet and has subtle layers of sweetness and fragrance.

Shop name: Ang Mo Kio Nyonya Kueh 宏茂桥娘惹糕

Address: Hougang Avenue 3, #01-62 Block 7, Singapore 530007

Tel: +65 6455 4839

Hours: 6:00am - 12:30pm

Soon Kee Wanton Mee 🌶 Chili is King @ Pek Kio Food Centre 白桥.顺记云吞面

Stalking Pek Kio Market & Food Centre today, I noticed that there were three wanton mee stalls in this small hawker centre (less than 50 stalls). Only Soon Kee Wanton Mee had a queue and it was 10 deep even at 8am on the Friday morning when I was there. Naturally, it was the first WTM stall I tried out here.

Stall name: Soon Kee Wanton Mee 顺记云吞面

Address: 41A Cambridge Road, stall #01-44, Singapore 211041 (Pek Kio Market & Food Centre)

Hours: 5:00am - 1:00pm (Tues & Weds off)

Popular Spicy Sambal Wanton Noodles in Pek Kio Market & Food Centre

Stalking Pek Kio hawker centre, I saw three wanton mee stalls here and Soon Kee Wanton Mee was the only one that had a queue. It was 10 deep even though it was at the off peak early morning hour of 8am on a Friday. Naturally, it was the first wanton mee stall I tried here. What's it like?

[Note: This post was previously deleted by Google for suspected malware but re-instated after review and pronounced safe by Google on 15 May 2021.]

Stall name: Soon Kee Wanton Mee 顺记云吞面

Address: 41A Cambridge Road, stall #01-44, Singapore 211041 (inside Pek Kio Market & Food Centre)

Hours: 5:00am - 1:00pm (Tues & Weds off)

TANOKE Japanese Gastrobar @ Purvis Street 🍶 Fine Sake & Great Binchotan Grill 🍖

Great Japanese style BBQ with fine sake pairing at historic Purvis Street.

Restaurant name: TANOKE

Address: 7 Purvis Street, Level 2, Singapore 188586

Tel: 9106 3378

Hours: 11:30am - 2:00pm | 5:00pm - 10:30pm (Mon off)

Social Media Darling 🐟 First Street Teochew Fish Soup near Kovan MRT Station 第一街潮州鱼汤

One of the most famous and often touted as the best Teochew fish soup stall in Singapore. First Street is the social media darling of Teochew fish soup in Singapore.

Stall name: First Street Teochew Soup 第一街潮州鱼汤

Address: 1014 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534752

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Kovan station

Hours: 8:30am - 3:00pm (Mon off)

Flying Pig Golden Mile. Viral Thai Crab Meat Omelette Fried Rice

When Aaron jio (invited) me to join him to try out the famous Flying Pig Thai crab meat omelette fried rice, I was positively absolutely thrilled. I had been wanting to taste this highly raved dish which had gone wildly viral on social media for the last few months. I also haven't been to Thailand for a very long time already and missed good Thai food 😪

Restaurant name: Flying Pig

Address: Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Road, #01-39, Singapore 199588

Hours: 12:00 noon  - 3:00pm | 5:00pm - 10:30pm

Kovan 209 Yi Shi Jia Wanton Mee. I Love their Silky Smooth, Soft, Tasty, Aromatic Wantons 益食家云吞面

I was attracted to Yi Shi Jia Wanton Mee by the long queue at the stall and newspaper articles touting its "70-year-old recipe". As I am constantly on the look out for the taste of my childhood wanton mee, I just got to try it. Did I find what I was looking for at Yi Shi Jia?

Stall name: Yi Shi Jia Wanton Mee 益食家云吞面

Address: 209 Hougang Street 21, stall #01-57, Singapore 530209

Nearest MRT: At the doorstep of Kovan station exit C

Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm (Mon off)

Hussain Muslim Food @ Kovan 209. You Get a Whole Chicken Wing with their Soto Ayam

Stalking Kovan 209 hawker centre, I spotted a long queue at Hussain Muslim Food every time I am here. They have nasi lemak, soto, gado gado, mee siam, mee rebus, lontong, even nasi ambeng, etc. It will take me a few visits to try everything - they all look delicious. Trying their soto ayam today, I was very impressed 😋 Here's why....

Stall name: Hussain Muslim Food

Address: 209 Hougang Street 21, stall #01-54, Singapore 530209 (Kovan 209 Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: At the doorstep of Kovan station Exit C

Hours: 6:00am - 8:00pm

The First Nanyang Cuisine was Peranakan ● Its Malacca Roots during the Ming Dynasty 1368 - 1644

In the 1,000 years from the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) to the end of the Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368), Chinese presence in maritime Southeast Asia was limited to traders, pilgrim monks and envoys. Most were transients but some traders had families with local wives in the seaports of Malaya and Indonesia (i.e. Malay archipelago). Nanyang cuisine was born in the kitchens of these traders' local wives. 

Origins of Nanyang Cuisine Part One. Foodprints of Traders, Emissaries & Pilgrims (206 BC to 1368 AD)

This is the first of a series of four articles that trace the origins and influences that shape Chinese Nanyang cuisine of modern day Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines (maritime Southeast Asia).

Meng Kee Fried Kway Teow @ Havelock Food Centre. Popular with People who Like CKT Sweet

Meng Kee Fried Kway Teow is a popular char kway teow with many loyal fans who swear by it for its wok hei and robust sweet-savoury flavours.

Stall name: Meng Kee Fried Kway Teow

Address: 22A Havelock Road, stall #01-07, Singapore 161022 (Havelock Road Food Centre)

Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm (Sun off)

Peranakan Dinner with Chef Lionel Chee @ Tom, Dick & Hillary's in Singapore Chinatown

Caught up with chef Lionel Chee at his new location at Tom, Dick & Hillary's in Chinatown. I've always enjoyed Lionel's Peranakan and Eurasian cuisine. Lionel is an artisan - at his best, his Peranakan and Eurasian dishes are among the most delicious I've tasted.

Restaurant name: Tom, Dick & Hillary's

Address: 11 Mosque St, Singapore 059491

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Tel: +65 6260 0767 (reservation suggested)

Hours: 3:00pm - 10:30pm (Sun & PH off)

Russel Wong in Kyoto | Life in Edo @ Asian Civilisations Museum 16 Apr to 19 Sep 2021

I've been to the Russel Wong in Kyoto | Life in Edo show twice already, so far. It's a fascinating exhibition showcasing masterworks of Japanese woodblock printing from Edo-period Japan (1603 - 1868) alongside photographs of today's Japan by renowned photographer Russel Wong.

The show runs from 16 Apr to 19 Sep 2021, so I will be there many more times, as each time I gain different insights from the exhibits. The woodblock prints are displayed on rotation, so I'll also be seeing new exhibits.

Asian Civilisations Museum

Address: 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555

Hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm

Hawker Gems of Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre to Save You Wasted Calories

Ghim Moh Food Centre with some 50 stalls is popular with local residents and also with workers from office blocks nearby because it has many good food stalls. Here are local people's top choices (in ascending order of stall number).

Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre

Address: 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Buona Vista station