Chomp Chomp Food Centre at Serangoon Garden is considered a popular hawker centre in Singapore, yet not much has been written about it.

This is perhaps because many stalls sell similar food such as BBQ items, satay, chicken wings and fried food of Char Kway Teow, Oyster Omelette, Hokkien Mee, boosting few individual ‘star’ shops with notable names.

Located closest to the MRT Lorong Chuan station, Chomp Chomp Food Centre is commuter-friendly and is also accessible via bus (73,136,315,317). Walking from Exit A of Lorong Chuan will probably take you about 20 minutes.

This hawker centre is recommended for late dining, but unlike other hawker centres, it also opens till midnight and beyond.

Plan your visit as stalls start their daily business at 5:30pm onwards.

6For a first timer there, some of the popular choices include Chia Keng Hokkien Mee, Chong Pang Huat Chicken Wings, Chomp Chomp Fried Kway Teow Mee, Hai Wei Yuan BBQ, Ang Sa Lee Fried Oyster, and Ang Mo Kio 409 Fried Carrot Cake.

Two stalls are listed in the Singapore Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Plate”, which are Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee and Chomp Chomp Satay.

Priced at $0.70 per stick, the satay is available in pork, chicken, beef and mutton or ketupat, served with pineapple peanut sauce.

I ordered a combination of pork and chicken, and their well-marinated skewered satay meats are not overcooked so they turn out still tender and succulent.

Their charred exterior added a nice smoky taste that complemented the accompanying traditional peanut sauce.

I particularly liked the chicken satay which had slight sweet-honeyed coating, and was relatively juicy. My friend said it reminded of satays when he had as a child.

The mildly spiced satay sauce is thick as it should be and tasted sweet from the added pineapple puree – which is not that commonly found of late.

If you stay near Chomp Chomp, your occasional late-night craving for satay is solved.

Chomp Chomp Satay
20 Kensington Park Road, #01-34 Chomp Chomp Food Centre, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 530pm – Late about midnight (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee (Serangoon Garden)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

This is another under-the-radar Thai restaurant in Singapore.

Singaporean foodies who are smitten by the delicately balanced flavours of Thai cuisine can enjoy it at Ob Woon, located at Djitsun Mall along Bedok North Street.

If you have never been to the mall itself, it is of walking distance from Bedok MRT station and interchange.

“Ob Woon”, the Thai parlance for “warmth”, is that warm and happy feeling you get when sharing a meal with family and friends – which is what the restaurant hopes to achieve.

Deep-rooted in Asian culture, this feeling is given life at Ob Woon through its traditional home-made Thai fare offerings in a relaxed ambience.

Their array of strong-flavoured dishes speak nothing short of authenticity, using the freshest quality Thai ingredients available, cooked up by Thai chefs.

Other than family-style dishes, they have recently launched a NEW noodle menu. Ready to try Ob Woon’s new line up of dishes? Read on and give your palate a preview.

Pork Leg Noodle ($9.80)
Leading the new set of dishes is the Pork Leg Noodle, featuring Ob Woon’s signature braised pork leg served atop a bowl of Thai-style egg noodles noodles.

This fork-tender pork leg is braised in a home-made spiced soy sauce to give it a deep umami taste.

The pork meat and gelatinous fatty skin are balanced with some fresh kalian leaves on the side.

Pork Collar Noodle ($9.80)
A spin-off of Ob Woon’s bestselling signature grilled pork collar, this noodle dish combines the comforting warmth of noodle soup and the satisfying marbling of prime meat cut.

Its ideal fat-meat ratio makes it really succulent, especially when grilled.

Touted as the best Thai-style pork collar in Singapore, the grilled slices of meat (best when dabbed with their in-house Issan-style dip) are served over a mound of dry cooked egg noodles.

Served with half a boiled egg, fresh kailan leaves, and a sprinkling of crispy pork lard.

Tom Yum Noodle ($9.80)
The sour and spicy soup is full of umami and sweetness from Ob Woon’s home-made seafood stock with no added MSG.

Infused with the Thai trinity of herbs (lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves & galangal), the clear stock is then seasoned with nam pla (fish sauce), fresh lime juice, chilli paste, sugar, and salt, then mixed with the Thai noodles.

Garnished with half a boiled egg, cilantro and fresh Thai chilies, this noodle dish is best enjoyed as is or with a spread of other Thai dishes.

Dry Tom Yum Noodle ($9.80)
While tom yum is often associated with soup, tom yum in Thailand is available dry with the noodles mixed with a special sauce to prevent them from clumping.

An option for those who prefer dry-type noodles, the Dry Tom Yum Noodle packs the same, intense Thai flavours of tom yum (sour, sweet, spicy and salty) but minus the soup.

Tom Yum Noodle with Cheese ($10.80)
If you love both the flavours of tom yum AND cheese, you’re in luck. Ob Woon offers a cheesified version of this Thai classic, topped with melted cheese to give you that gooey stretchy cheese pull.

Birthday Noodle ($9.80)
Birthday noodles, also known as Longevity noodles, is a Chinese concept to symbolize long life.

Served with various meats and vegetables, this stir-fried noodle dish also comes with 8 pieces of quail eggs which are indeed the best things on the dish.

Cashewnut Chicken Wings with Cheese ($10.80)
This poultry dish makes use of chicken wings – both the drumettes and wingettes with tip- and recommended as an appetiser or paired with an ice-cold Chang Beer or their Mango Mango drinks.

Deep-fried, then glazed in a special home-made sauce, the chicken wings are topped with roughly chopped roasted cashew nuts and slathered with melted cheese.

Prepare the table napkins as this dish can get pretty-messy delicious.

Deep Fried Sea Bass with Sweet & Sour Sauce ($29.80)
This dish features a live whole sea bass, also known as ”squirrelfish” (sung shu yu) for the way it looks once the head and its curled up deep-fried body are arranged on a plate.

Preparation starts with a unique de-boning process, where they leave the 2 fillets still attached to the fishtail.

The fillet is scored in a criss-cross fashion to keep it from curling, then deep-fried in hot oil to achieve golden brown colour.

While crispy on the outside, the fish remains tender and moist inside. Served with a sweet & sour sauce to further enhance the flavour of the fish.

Deep Fried Fish with Fish Sauce ($29.80)
Another fish dish in the new menu is likewise served whole and deep-fried, but this time it uses a special nam pla (fish sauce) as its accompaniment.

Nam pla is an essential condiment in Thai cuisine, made from a mixture of fish, water and salt and fermented for at least a year or so.

To complement the crunchy fried fish flavour, you’ll get a side dish of mango salad, a mix of sour mangoes, chilli and shallots in a sweet-savoury sauce.

Tangy with a bit of heat, this Thai salad will cut through the taste of fat in your palate.

Mango Mango Bubble And Chizo Drinks
“Mango Mango” is the drink kiosk right next to Ob Woon, and you can always order the drinks as accompaniment to the spicy food.

Their signature cup is the Mango Smoothie ($6.80), layered with mango smoothie, signature cream, mango sorbet then topped with cubes of fresh mango fruit.

They have launched two new series, the Bubble and Chizo Tea.

Expect your boba pearls to appear in drinks such as Orange Latte, Thai Tea Latte, Varlhona Choco, Mango Latte and the trending Brown Sugar Milk.

As for the “Chizo”, the refreshing fruit drinks are topped with a lazy of cheesy-milk foam, and you can go for the Mango, Strawberry or an Oolong for a less-sweet version.

Ob Woon
Djitsun Mall, 445 Bedok North Street 1, #01-07, Singapore 469661
Tel: +65 9632 8135
Opening Hours: 11am – 12am (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 1am (Fri – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/obwoonsg

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Ob Woon.

[New Delhi] Five years old and still going strong, Guppy (previously called “Guppy by AI”) is the premier destination in Delhi for exquisite Japanese cuisine served in a fun and casual setting.

From launching India’s very first Poke bar to hosting themed food events, a visit to Guppy is never complete without gastronomic surprises to satisfy a hungry soul.

Under the leadership of Chef Vikram Khatri, Guppy has wowed diners since 2013 with its classic and sometimes experimental take on Japanese dishes.

The restaurant falls under the umbrella of the famous Olive group led by AD Singh, one of India’s most noteworthy and successful restaurateurs.

Guppy is a tropical fish that exists in a rainbow of colours. The restaurant stands right to its name by creating a vibrant atmosphere that is both eccentric and cheerful.

Situated in Lodi Colony, Guppy takes up a quiet corner in a commercial block, of a primarily residential area, rather nonchalantly.

Lodi Colony is also home to the Lodi Art District which is a collection of large street-art murals. The presence of Guppy in the same area somehow makes sense, as its striking decor fits in perfectly with the surroundings.

The interiors of the restaurant are a treasure trove of surprises for a first-time diner.

Bright and in-your-face, the bijou courtyard at Guppy is highly instagrammable and equally quaint.

The Poke Bar on one side is cosy and encourages a sense of communal eating with tables joined together with each other.

The main restaurant is in complete contrast to the food, which borderlines fine dining.

The room, spaciously decorated with what can only be DIY art projects, oozes a homely charm brought about by the bright tables, chairs, and green coloured floor.

The ambience at Guppy is laidback and encourages a relaxing time whether you are there for a date, with friends, or family.

Guppy’s menu has a variety of options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Whether it is sushi and sashimi you want or a poke bowl, there is something for all tastes, along with healthy options of the dishes.

The Black Rice California Roll (Rs 710, SGD$ 14.00) has become my all-time favourite sushi in Delhi. Perfectly executed, the slight crunch on the outside gives it a beautiful texture reminiscent of biting into a fritter.

The Cha Shu Miso Tsukemen (Rs 990, SGD$ 19.50) ramen bowl was admittedly challenging to eat.

Known as the “dipping ramen”, it involved taking the noodles from a dry bowl filed with absolutely divine pork belly, greens, and eggs and dipping them in a separate bowl of 72-hour simmered pork stock.

The stock was heavenly to taste, bursting with intense flavours, and had a filling richness to it. If I weren’t already full, I would have loved to go for another round of just the stock.

The Burnt Garlic Ramen (Rs 800, SGD$ 15.75) was equally good, and the chef was kind enough to accommodate the request for adding extra fried tofu to it.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that Guppy doesn’t take itself too seriously.

For example, the menu for the Ramen Festival includes a Spicy Ramen Challenge and a Slurp Challenge where diners are encouraged to slurp their noodles loudly to win a drink.

Sundays at Guppy are all about their Brunch menu which is an assortment of dishes ranging from soups and sushi to noodles and desserts.

It’s easy to get impressed with Guppy as it creates an aura that is welcoming and at the same time pleasantly unconventional.

The food though is the final cherry on top. There is a delicate balance in the dishes that honour the traditionality of the cuisine while testing the boundaries of Japanese flavours.

Guppy is undoubtedly one of the best Japanese restaurants in Delhi, and a must visit for any food lover.

Guppy, New Delhi
28 Lodi Colony, Main Market, New Delhi 110003
Tel: 011 2469 0005
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:30pm – 3:30pm, Dinner 7pm – 1am (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps

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* Written by DFD’s India Correspondent @tickereatstheworld. Raghav is a travel and food writer who enjoys the thrill of discovering new places and writing about them. When he is not working, he can be found driving around his two kids from one birthday party to another.

[Hong Kong] Talk about the most popular AND stylish indie coffee shops in Hong Kong, and NOC Coffee Company will probably be one of the shoo-ins.

No, they are not related to Singapore’s NOC aka Night Owl Cinematics, though they will probably think their coffee is “Food King Good”.

Yes, NOC actually stands for Not Only Coffee, an apt acronym to describe what guests can expect around here.

NOC Coffee Company is not only a coffee shop where you come in, drink and leave.

It is also a roastery and operates an online store where coffee geeks can order from their phone.

You can be assured you’re getting quality coffee here, especially if you knew that NOC Coffee Company was co-founded by 2011 Hong Kong Barista Champion Chan Chak Sum and F&B veteran Benny Leung.

The café and roastery in Sai Ying Pun is the company’s third and largest to date. The large and airy space is filled with natural light through the floor-to-ceiling window.

There are also outlets at Central, Sheung Wan, Causeway and Wanchai West.

The immaculately white counter tops, coupled with state-of-the-art equipment and tools like grinders and glass cylinders, make any genuine geek swoon.

When I first entered the outlet at Central Gough Street, I thought that everyone from the barista to the customers had a certain air of stylishness about them.

Was it cool? Yes.

At the roastery, only carefully selected Arabica beans are used for roasting. These roasted coffee beans, including the medium to dark roast blend of Colombian and Brazilian beans, are then packed and distributed to supply its six Hong Kong cafes.

For drinks, other than the standard Black and White, also available at Cold Brew (HKD55), Dirty (HKD40), Pour Over (HKD65+), Matcha (HKD50), Chocolate (HKD50), Chai Latte (HKD50), Iced Passion Fruit Tea (HKD50), and Ice Peach Tea (HKD50).

Prices are quite “premium” too though.

Go for a standard Flat White (HKD40, SGD6.94) with an even mix of liquid milk and smooth velvet foam, and served dressed up with latte art.

Or tread the road less travelled with the Fizzpresso (HKD55, SGD9.54), a rather unexpected combination of double espresso, passion fruit, lemon juice and tonic water, served on ice. It’s sweet, sour, bitter, and fizzy all at the same time.

Those who want to actually eat can order from their lunch menu, offering healthy salads, fruit bowls, and all-day breakfasts.

The 10-grain Rice Bowl (HKD98, SGD17) is worth trying, a light yet complete meal in itself loaded with sautéed mushrooms, shredded carrot, fresh cucumber, crispy seaweed, sweet and sour bamboo shoots, and a runny egg for the sauce.

For some of the smaller outlets, there are only baked pastries such as Croissants and Pound Cakes.

NOC Coffee Company
Shop 4 G/F Bohemian House, 321 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pung
Tel: +852 3611 5300
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/NOCRoastery

Other NOC Coffee Company Branches
Graham: 34 Graham Street, Central
Gough: 18 Gough Street, Sheung Wan
Wanchai West: Shop 3A G/F 2-4 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai
BA Tower: Shop No. G1A Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Road Admiralty
Lee Garden Three: Shop No G23 Lee Garden Three, 1 Sunning Road, Causeway Bay
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun), Except BA Tower which is closed Sat, Sun

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Pause It Café (Mongkok, Hong Kong)
%Arabica (Central, Hong Kong)

Click HERE for other HONG KONG Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Hong Kong] If you are looking for good coffee and Australian-inspired café fare at Hong Kong’s Central, The Cupping Room which is an award-winning small batch specialty coffee shop is often recommended.

It is also one of the first independent coffee shops to open in Hong Kong.

The one along Cochrane Street is the flagship store (located near Mid-levels), and there are outlets at Sheung Wan (Queen’s Road Central), Wan Chai (Swatow Street) with a roastery at Po Hing Fong.

(I been to both the Central and Wan Chai branches, so photos here are a combination of both.)

The Cupping Room is a small cafe with communal seating, and getting a seat could be challenging at certain times of the day due to its popularity and locations.

Open seating is available from 8am – 12noon and 1:30pm – 5pm, as the place is exclusively for lunch from 12noon – 1:30pm.

As seats are limited, they will only seat you if your party (in case you are part of a group) is complete.

My Hong Kong friends who work in the CBD say it is one of the typical places to buy coffee takeaways during lunchtime.

There is also a small bakery where bakes such as Twice Baked Matcha Croissant (HKD40), Almond Croissant (HKD36), Fruit Danish (HKD25) and Lemon Poppyseed Muffin (HKD28) are offered.

Expect to find espresso-based drinks using their House Blend, filtered coffee, tea by the pot (HKD45), cold brew tea (HKD40), and hot/iced chocolate. Coffee is roasted on a Probat UG15 Retro roaster.

If you want to try their filtered coffee, you can choose between House Black (HKD35) and Iced Black (HKD40).

Single Origin Filter (HKD50) is also available using any of their single origin coffees from Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, Rwanda, etc.

The Attaboy is a special blend of beans from Ethiopia and Colombia. Try it in Black (Chocolate, Praline, Blackberry) or in Milk (Almond, Milk Choco).

Coffee was decent, would remind you of Australia’s, though slightly on the acidic side.

Non-coffee options include orange juice (HKD45), rosemary lemonade (HKD45), sparkling water (HKD38), Chai Latte (HKD45/55), Turmeric Golden Latte (HKD50/55), and Uji Matcha Latte (HKD42/48).

The Cupping Room has a changing menu, but is known for their signature pastas and brunch items such as toasts.

The Full Brekky (HK138) with fried eggs, streaky bacon, vine tomato, portobello mushrooms, numburger sausages; and Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon (HKD128) are highly recommended.

This dish comes with poached eggs and smoked salmon, baby spinach, and aerated hollandaise sauce.

Depending on the season, you may also catch their Avocado on Toast (HKD128) served with poached egg, mayonnaise, ricotta cheese, radish, and almond.

Try also their House Cured Salmon on Toast (HKD128), combined with cucumber, lime dill mayonnaise, radish, and pickled onion.

All these are served on a honey malt toast.

If you are looking for a tasty breakfast and good coffee, the Cupping Room is worth a stop.

The Cupping Room – Central
G/F, No. 18 Cochrane St, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2511 3518
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 6pm (Sat), 10am – 6pm (Sun)

The Cupping Room – Sheung Wan
299 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2799 3398
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)

The Cupping Room – Wan Chai
32 Swatow Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2371 2338
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)

The Cupping Room Roastery
Shop 8, Silver Jubilee Mansion, 62-72 Po Hing Fong, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3705 0208
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)

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Queen Sophie 酥妃皇后 (Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The Botanist at 74 Neil Road has said its silent “Goodbye”, and has rebranded into a new café called Cheeky.

Also gone are most of the plants which added more character to the space. In comes a casual dining space – café in the morning, craft beer joint by night.

Perhaps it was still in a soft-launch phase, the interior was still looking kind of bare, and I did go in expecting to see some “cheeky” elements or some splashes of colour somewhere.

Cheeky purports to serve up hearty meals made with good ingredients, and signature items include Cheeky Burger ($16), Salmon Pasta ($14), Sambal Crab Scramble ($10), Avo Smoothie Bowl ($8), Smashing Avo ($14), and Coffee Lemon ($6).

I was also looking for something “cheeky” in the menu, which I reckon is still considered safe and similar to what brunch cafes around in the CBD would serve.

The Cheeky Burger ($16) contained beef patties with pickled cabbage slaw, added with their house special sauce, with a side of curly fries.

Having double patties was a nice-surprise, with the meat semi-juicy and above the average burger, but seemed to be on the blander side, perhaps the “special sauce” could have been more obvious.

The tangy slaw was to me the highlight of the burger.

My friend who wanted to have something more nutritious had “That Healthy Bowl” ($14) of Mediterranean Spiced Chicken with cauliflower rice, crumbled feta and burnt capsicum hummus.

Portion was good and considered generous, but I think they could afford to up those Mediterranean flavours.

The café also serves up house-made kombucha, filtered to allow its clean fresh notes to stand out, before being lightly-flavored with natural ingredients.

Perhaps because “The Botanist” was easier to brand, had prettier dishes and a more inviting space, people would inevitably compare the two.

My humble suggestion is that Cheeky can go in-line with its name and afford to be more “playful” in its menu and choice of ingredients.

Cheeky
74 Neil Road Singapore 088839 (Outram Park MRT)
Tel: +65 62200491
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6:30pm (Tues – Fri), 9:30am – 6:30pm (Sat), 9:30am – 4:30pm (Sun)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Hong Kong] If you are in Hong Kong and craving a cup of latte or an avocado toast, I believe a Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall would be the last place to look.

Many modern-styled cafés are popping up but Tai Wo Tang is going the opposite direction – by updating a Traditional Medicinal Hall which has been around since the 1930s.

The first thing you will notice is the vintage signboard “大和堂” and stepping into the café, it is almost like a walk down nostalgia lane.

Without overhauling too much of the décor, the café has retained the hundred-year-old dispensary-style cabinets, the iron gates and some of the original plaques.

The owners have also added some modern café vibes, giving the entire space, a modern twist.

Apparently Tai Wo Tang (the medical hall, not the café) has been through 3 generations and witnessed the key historical events in Hong Kong – Japanese occupation and the return of Hong Kong to China.

It was shut down in 2017 but was revived the following year into a café.

Located in Kowloon City, the best way to get there is either via a cab or a train to Kowloon Tong MTR station followed by a short cab ride there.

Serving the usual café grub items like English Breakfast Plate, Avocado Toast, Greek YTogurt Nuesli and so on. You get the drift.

Though their menu is quite basic, they still have a couple of more interesting items like Crispy Fried Chicken with Hong Kong style Egglet Waffles.

This can be paired with traditional Chinese tea brews like “Dampness Dispelling Tea” and “Vitality Tea”.

I ordered their Signature Tai Wo Tang Latte (HKD 48, SGD8.50), which is a Western version of the Yuan Yang (or Yuen Yeung in Cantonese).

This classic Hong Kong beverage is basically a mixture of milk coffee and milk tea but instead of the local brew; they have created a “Western” version mixing Earl Grey and cafe latte and slightly sweetened with local honey.

Overall, I enjoyed the beverage but just can’t pinpoint what I am drinking.

Perhaps not something for serious coffee drinkers but better for people who won’t mind tasting something ambiguous.

The Café Latte (HKD 40, SGD7) was not too bad.

The Tai Wo Tang Burger (HKD138, SGD24) came with thick beef patty from organic grass-fed cow, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, pickles and served with a side of fries with truffle mayonnaise.

While the burger was juicy and of a good standard for a café, for that price you can find more quality ones in proper burger joints.

The Egg Benedict with Smoked Salmon (HKD98, SGD17) ticked the usual boxes – runny egg yolk, homemade-tasting hollandaise sauce, good sour dough toast.

A safe choice if you just want something hearty but not too heavy for breakfast.

The food and drinks here are on the pricier side, even for Hong Kong standards.

For a café with such a distinct theme, my only qualm is I wished there were more “unconventional” food offerings on the menu since it seems Avocado Toast and Egg Benedict are like a standard cookie-cutter café food in Hong Kong (and everywhere else).

Nevertheless, it is still interesting to visit mainly for the “feel” and look of this place and have some token instagram shot taken at the door.

Tai Wo Tang Cafe
24 Nga Tsin Long Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2623 2006
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 6:00pm (Mon – Fri), 9:00am – 7:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

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Pause It Café (Mongkok, Hong Kong)
Mamaday Café (Causeway Bay, Hong Kong)

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* Written by DFD’s Hong Kong Correspondent @kara_the_explorer, who is the Singaporean “tai tai” living the foodie dream in Hong Kong. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Chomp Chomp Food Centre at Serangoon Garden is popular as a supper place, good especially when you have occasional late-night cravings for Hokkien Mee, Satay and Chicken Wings.

So plan your visit as most of the stalls start their daily business from 5:30pm onwards.

Located closest to the MRT Lorong Chuan station, Chomp Chomp Food Centre is commuter-friendly and is also accessible via bus (73,136,315,317).

Walking from Exit A of Lorong Chuan will probably take you about 20 minutes. Otherwise, cab or GRAB there, or find a friend who drives.

Something to note is many stalls serve similar hawker food, such as Carrot Cake, Oyster Omelette, BBQ Chicken Wings, BBQ Seafood, and Hokkien Mee. They all can be categorised ‘heaty’, and so quench your thirst with one of the many Sugar Cane juice stalls.

For a first timer, it can be hard to gauge which are the more note-worthy stalls, especially when there are no visual cues such as a queue. Food is generally sent to your table, but do sit somewhere near where you order.

After a poll done on @DanielFoodDiary’s Instagram and trying out most, here are the 10 recommended hawker stalls at Chomp Chomp.

Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee 亚福炒福建虾面
Stall #27, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 12am (Mon, Wed – Sun); Closed Tues

Easiest one of the most popular and known stall at Chomp Chomp. There is always a long queue here, so be prepared for the long wait of at least 30 – 45 minutes while uncle whips up your order.

Their Fried Hokkien Mee ($3, $4, $5) is a mixture of thick yellow noodles and thin bee hoon noodles combined with prawns and squid and simmered in a rich prawn-flavoured broth. Served with sambal chili (very delicious) and calamansi.

What I liked about the plate: The base was rich; the prawns fresh and you could still taste its natural sweetness.

If you love lard, you will be in for a shock since there are none of those crispy bits added.

I thought there could have been more wok-hei and so it lacked of that “wow” factor”. Perhaps it has to be with the hour I went – gone down quite late to avoid a long queue. Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee (Serangoon Garden)

Chia Keng Hokkien Mee
Stall #11, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Mon – Sun)

There are fans who prefer Chia Keng’s version to Ah Hock’s. I can understand why.

This is a wetter and more saucy version, with the magic lying in the stock that imparts this sweetness to the dish. Eat it while it is hot, and you would appreciate its wok-hei. The chilli sauce was also quite delicious.

However, I tried it another time and the flavours were not as robust. Plus, the stall doesn’t seem to be opened everyday – as indicated on Google.

Servings are priced at $3.50, $4, $5, and $8 with generous ingredients of prawns, tender pork belly, and crispy pork lard.

Waiting time is about 20 to 40 minutes, and can be longer if you head down during peak hours.

Chomp Chomp Satay
Stall #34, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 12am (Mon – Sun)

Two stalls are listed in the Singapore Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Plate”, which are Ah Hock Fried Hokkien Mee and Chomp Chomp Satay.

Priced at $0.70 per stick, the satay is available in pork, chicken, beef and mutton or ketupat, served with pineapple peanut sauce.

I ordered a combination of pork and chicken, and their well-marinated skewered satay meats are not overcooked so they turn out still tender and succulent.

Their charred exterior added a nice smoky taste that complemented the accompanying traditional peanut sauce.

Ang Mo Kio 409 Fried Carrot Cake
Stall #24, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

This stall is famous for both its Fried Oyster ($5, $8, $10, $12), and Carrot Cake ($3, $4, $5).

While a number of online reviews sing praises of its Orh Luak (which I thought was more to the starchy side and would prefer more eggs), I thought that the more stand-out dish was its Chye Tow Kueh.

Its Carrot Cake comes in both the white and black variety, and pay $5 and you can get a yuan-yang plate of half and half.

The white version had a slight crispy texture, contrasted with its soft and smooth radish cake which was quite pleasurable. The black version was also not bad, but I would prefer more distinct flavours of the sweet black sauce.

Ang Sa Lee Oyster Omelette
Stall #33, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

So in terms of Oyster Omelette, I personally prefer this stall. Its oysters were plump and juicy, and its sour-spicy chilli deserve a mention.

Ang Sa Lee stall serves up both Fried Oyster aka Orh Jian ($5, $8, $10) and Oyster Omelette ($6, $8, $10).

What I liked was the lack of excessive starch (which some hawker stalls can gear to), and it is generous with the among of egg.

However, its eggs were fried to the more ‘soggy’ style without those crispy edges as I would have preferred, and could be a little greasy.

Swee Heng Wanton Noodle
Stall #12, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Mon – Sun)

This is a stall you might have missed as it is located at one corner. I noted it as out of so many fried noodle places HERE, this stands out. (Okay, a friend who grew up at Serangoon Garden told me this is the only thing he eats here. Opps.)

Swee Heng offers Wanton Noodles, Spinach Wanton Noodles, Chicken Feet Noodles, and Prawn Dumpling Noodles, priced at $4 or $5.

While the Wanton Mee ($4) is not considered spectacular if you compare to the famous stalls elsewhere, but it had an appealing old-school taste.

The noodles were springy, had good portion of char siew, and tasty soup.

It is quite affordable and filling, and you won’t have to wait too long to get a plate, as the serving is swift and efficient.

Carrot Cake
Stall #36, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 12am (Mon – Sun)

Many people recommended “the Carrot Cake stall at the corner” when asked about Chomp Chomp.

Thereis no special name to this stall, with a white and red signboard that just states “CARROT CAKE”. It is hard to miss amidst a swarm of colorful signboards.

It serves up flavourful White and Black version of the Carrot Cake, BUT no mixed yuan-yang style.

The stall has a decent amount of crowd at all times, and you have to wait around 20 minutes to get served.

Go for the White Carrot Cake ($3, $4, $5) if you prefer SOME crispiness and chye poh which added a nice-savoury kick; but its Black version seems to be the more popular choice here with more intense flavours and hints of sweetness.

Chong Pang Huat
Stall #26, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 5pm – 12am (Mon – Sun)

So many BBQ Chicken Wings stall – which to choose? Many readers told me to go for Chong Pang Huat.
Chong Pang Huat specialises in barbecue items, namely Spring Chicken ($10) and Chicken Wings ($1.40 each, minimum order 2 pieces).

I thought that the Chicken Wings were indeed not bad, better than the average stall. The wings grilled till golden-brown were well marinated with tasty-savoury skin, matched with juicy meat. The chilli sauce while slightly diluted, packed some kick.

The aromatic charred fragrance may just make you hungrier.

Ah Mai Satay Bee Hoon, Hainan Beef Noodles
Stall #17, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Opening Hours: 4:30pm – 11pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

The only stall at Chomp Chomp Food Centre that sells BOTH traditional Hainanese Beef Noodles ($6, $8, $10) and Satay Bee Hoon ($5, $7, $9).

Kind of strange, as I seldom see both sold at the same place.

Plus, they also serve up other interesting dishes such as Crispy Mushroom Platter ($18, $20), Fried Pumpkin ($6, $8, $10), Fried Chives Roll ($6, $8, $10), Crispy Chicken ($8, $10, $12), and Fried Wanton ($5). I suppose it is to satisfy Chomp Chomp customers’ penchant for fried/deep-fried food.

The Satay Bee Hoon had gravy with an interesting tang – was divided on it; though the peanuts were crunchy and aromatic.

Ayman Alam Desserts (Traditional Cheng Tng)
Stall #13, 20 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557269
Tel: +65 97865544
Opening Hours: 4:30pm – 12:30am (Mon – Sun)

For a food centre with so many ‘heaty’ dishes, I wonder why so few dessert stalls around.

Two interesting aspects to this stall: it serves up JUST Cheng Tng; and the stall is Muslim-owned.

Their Cheng Tng ($2.80) was indeed refreshing, and the perfect way to beat the heat of this food centre.

Also note-worthy is that the bowl was chock-full of ingredients, from candied winter melon to soft sweet potatoes. Thankfully, not overly sweet too.

The only thing I wished were that the cold version was served with crushed ice rather than ice cubes.

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

You either go big or go small. Such is the case of some of our famous pau stalls in Singapore.

Teochew Handmade Pau 朝洲自制包点有限公司 at Toa Payoh Lor 1 Food Centre serves up small-sized dim sum items, and is relatively popular with residents around the area.

Located near the Braddell MRT Station, this small hawker centre consists of only 40 stalls yet the food offerings are varied and interesting – which includes Come Daily Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee, Chey Sua Carrot Cake, Lao Shen Ji Si Mian, Congee 88, and Deanna’s Kitchen serving Prawn Noodles.

The Teochew Handmade Pau stall is also listed under the “Michelin Plate” in the Singapore Michelin Guide.

After the sudden closure of Tanglin Teck Kee Pau, we may start to treasure all our favourite pau shops a little better, including Tanjong Rhu Pau, Ho Kee Pau, Tiong Bahru Pau, Lai Kee Pau, and Nam Kee Pau.

This stall popular for breakfast has been selling since 1993, and one of the few stalls in Singapore that still sells pau made by hand.

2nd generation hawker, Richard, has adapted his father’s Teochew-style pau recipe with leaner pork to cater to younger, health-conscious diners.

Their traditional paus are bite-sized and comes in delicious fillings, such as pork, lotus seed paste a.k.a. Longevity Pau, red bean paste, and home-made char siew.

Offerings include Char Siew Bao ($0.80), Small Pork Bao ($0.80), Red Bean Bao ($0.80), Lotus Paste Bao ($0.80), Lian Rong Shou Tao ($0.80), Glutinous Rice ($1.60), and Char Siew Rice ($1.60).

There are bigger versions of the Pork, Chicken and Shou Tao, sold at $1.60.

Their Shou Tao are extremely popular with families intending to celebrate a birthday, especially with the elderly.

For the Char Siew Bao ($0.80), they grill their own char siew in the central kitchen before mincing to fully absorb the sauce.

With a 50:50 dough-to-filling ratio, the pau skin is delicate and puffs to a nice, smooth finish. Caster sugar is used to prevent it from being dimpled, while lard oil is added to the dough for added flavour.

Some people may feel that it is too small and not substantial enough, especially when they expect meatier fillings. You can literally pop one into your mouth like a snack.

Another one of their specialties include Kong Ba Bao ($0.80), filled with kong ba pork braised in dark soy sauce ‘til tender. Harder to find in Singapore now.

Special mention to their Siew Mai ($0.80), made using fish paste instead of the usual pork and prawns. May not be everybody’s cup of tea though, especially if you come expecting something slightly fatty and succulent.

The tip is come in a group, and order a bit of everything – you may like some a lot more than the others. One thing for sure, such traditional hand-made goodies should be treasured.

Teochew Handmade Pau 朝洲自制包点有限公司
127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1, #02-02 Tao Payoh West Market & Food Centre, Singapore 310127
Tel: +65 6254 2053
Opening Hours: 6am – 2pm (Tue – Sat), 6am – 12pm (Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
Come Daily Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee (Toa Payoh)
Chey Sua Carrot Cake (Toa Payoh Lor 1)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Has it been a year already?

The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar will be back next week, slated to be held from 3rd May (Fri) to 5th June (Wed) 2019.

Last year, food items such as Satay Meatball buckets, Ondeh Ondeh Pancakes, “Crispy Rendang” (remember the MasterChef incident?), Durian Churros, Raclette Cheese and Grilled Beef Cubes were some of most popular, with customers queuing at these stalls for up to an hour.

Based on feedback from the previous years – that food is too “hipster” and rental is high, there will be some changes that will be implemented.

There will be about 60% of the food stalls offering “traditional Malay food”, while the other 40% can sell “contemporary” or “hipster” options.

Also, these stalls are required to be certified Halal by MUIS, fulfill a set of Halal criteria, or need to be Muslim owned. Vendors need to be responsible for ensuring that food products are Halal.

Organised by cultural heritage hub Wisma Geylang Serai, a cap has been put on rental costs at $14.000.

This is in contrast with vendors who paid up to $15,000 in 2017, and $20,000 in 2018.

There will also be less stalls this year, at 500 compared to 800 in 2018.

With these measures in place, hopefully price of food items will be more affordable, there will be more space for visitors to walk around, and the feeling of nostalgia will return to the bazaar.

In terms of the food, it is interesting to note (at least for me) that many vendors remain tight-lipped about what they are going to sell until the time ‘is right’, partly for fear that there will be copy-cat versions.

However, the Catch 22 situation is that stalls which start marketing their food earlier generally gain more media attention, and thus publicity and long lines.

(I know I will be expecting loads of emails next week onwards with regards to tastings, but I say on the onset that I queue and pay for my own food.)

It will be interesting to see how stalls get creative enough to incorporate traditional aspects into food that can appeal to younger customer base. I thought last year’s Satay Meatballs and Ondeh Ondeh Pancakes were great examples.

The one stall we can look forward to is BURP Live Station Catering which will be offering Lobster Rolls ($19) using Maine lobsters. (Okay, so this is part of the 40% hipster food.)

The Lobster Rolls come in 2 different flavours – London Lobster Roll with coating of melted lemon butter, and Laksa Lobster Roll with a local Singapore twist.

The rolls are served with a side of Cassava Chips.

Also available is White Rabbit bucket drink that could bring back childhood and old school memories, and provide a refreshing respite from a hot weather.

For first timer visitors, remember to wear casual clothes, hydrate yourselves, bring enough wet tissue, cash and coins, and just immerse in the celebrations. Have fun!

How to get to Geylang Serai Market
MRT: Paya Lebar Station
Bus: 2, 7, 13, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 51, 67, 76, 154 and 155

(Click PLAY for highlights of Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018.)

It is about time. The most famous fluffy pancakes from Osaka Japan – Gram Café & Pancakes will be COMING TO SINGAPORE. (Also read: 12 Delicious Pancake Places In Singapore)

The confirmed location will be at Level 2 of VivoCity, and the pancake café is set to open in June.

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Gram Café & Pancakes in Bangkok.)

This is indeed the year of many high profile openings in Singapore, including Shake Shack, Burger and Lobster and The Alley at Jewel Changi Airport.

As for Gram, THIS is the OG of Japanese instagrammable wobbly pancakes.

You may have seen videos of Gram’s Pancakes which made their way around social media, of stacks of 3 pancakes being ‘shaken’ on plates.

Gram is famous for its 3-stacked “Premium Pancakes”, each 4 cm thick, served with syrup, butter and whipped cream.

It is all about the texture – ultra-fluffy, soufflé-like, and melt-in-your-mouth.

You can possibly look out for offerings such as Classic Pancakes, Tiramisu Pancakes, Caramelised Banana Pancakes, Mixed Fruits & Chocolate Pancakes, and French Toast.

I once had the Tiramisu Pancakes, which had a more typical pancake texture, though the cocoa powder and light delicious cream made it a lot more appealing and enjoyable.

Expect long queues and loads of “pancake selfies” and boomerang videos when it opens. Stay tuned here for updates.

Gram Café & Pancakes Singapore
VivoCity #02-110/111, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585

Other Related Entries
12 Delicious Pancake Places In Singapore
10 Family Friendly Restaurants in Singapore
10 Afternoon Tea & Weekend Brunch Places in Singapore
10 Popular Cafes In Singapore With 1-For-1 Mains
10 Underrated Bakery Cafes In Singapore

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights.

King Albert Park (KAP) still remains rather ‘quiet’ for café-hoppers, but there are always food places to be found there such as EagleWings Loft, Kindred Folk, and Camaca.

Then, I spotted The M Plot, which on first glance may not give you an indication what they are actually selling.

They actually serve up Macarons, and offer many types with creative flavours.

The unique flavour selection is inspired by Asian food cultures, and you can find anything from Salted Egg Yolk x Curry, Thai Tea, Purple Yam, to Lychee x White Chocolate.

By adding say a hint of curry leaf into the classic sweet dessert, they hope that customers can have a surprising outcome. As though there is some roller coaster in your mouth.

Also available are cakes such as Chocolate Mango Mousse Cake ($8), and Grapefruit x Cheese Tart ($8).

I was curious about their “Big Macaron” ($8.50), which comes in flavours of Raspberry Rose Lychee
Rose, Chocolate Hazelnut Praline, and Black Forest.

The Black Forest turned out to be quite delightful, of 60% dark chocolate based, with a layer of premium Madagascar vanilla beans ganache, topped up with sour cherries and finished with classic chocolate flakes.

There were components of both desserts in one. You get the crispiness on the outside like a macaron, and chocolate-cherry touch of the black forest.

The ordering area is downstairs, while dining area is upstairs. While the space may seem small, it is cozy enough with pop culture artworks around to add some character.

The M Plot
No. 9 King Albert Park, KAP #01-05, Singapore 598332 (King Albert Park Downtown Line)
Tel: +65 6223 1986
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

Other Related Entries
EagleWings Loft (King Albert Park)
Kindred Folk (King Albert Park)
Camaca (King Albert Park)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

There are a number of new dining options at KēSa House along Keong Saik Road, from Olivia Restaurant & Lounge (Barcelonan food), MAG’s (Modern French cuisine), Pasta Bar, The Old Man (cocktails), The Guild, and The Affogato Lounge.

Some restaurants have more visibility than others, with a couple going quite under-the-radar.

The Affogato Lounge is a spin-off from The Affogato Bar at Cluny Court Bukit Timah Road, specialising in alcoholic infused affogatos, micro-batch ice cream, and Italian bites such as Paninis, Bowls and Baked Quiches (available from 8am to 5pm).

Their Panini include varieties such as Duck Croque Monsieur, Black Forest Ham & Cheese, Spicy Italian, Truffle & Cheese, and Mediterranean, priced from $12 to $16.

Beyond the attractive turquoise coloured façade, the interior certainly looked artfully-designed, with geometric wooden panelling, mood lighting, and contemporary vibes.

Guests walk in and out of the Lobby Lounge, and certainly brings out the mood of the space.

The Affogatos are certainly the highlight of the menu, but so is the pricing – from $14 to $20. The highlight being the alcoholic Tiramisu ($20) served with a double shot of Paramount and house blend liquor.

If you have yet had an Affogato before, it is an Italian coffee-based dessert, which typically has a scoop of gelato “drowned” with a shot of espresso.

I had a Trilogy ($16), with 70% dark chocolate sorbet with caramel blanc and dark cacao, served with a double shot of Fitzroy.

The intensity of both the sorbet and coffee shot made it a moment to remember, when the bitter and sweetness, hot and cold ‘collides’ together in one spoonful.

That happiness is short-lived though, as the dessert was small and quick to finish.

Specialty coffee is also served, with beans sourced from Ozone Coffee Roasters New Zealand.

Get the Bittersweet Symphony ($6 for hot, $7 for iced). With its addition of dark cocoa and vanilla chai, it made me wonder if this would be the love-child of a marriage between mocha and chai latte.

With its pricing, The Affogato Lounge may not be an everyday kind of café, but when you want to indulge in a once-in-a-while affogato treat.

The Affogato Lounge
55 Keong Saik Road, #01-02, Singapore 089158
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

The Affogato Bar
501 Bukit Timah Road #01-04B Cluny Court Singapore 259760
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm

Other Related Entries
The Affogato Bar (Bukit Timah Road)
Baristart Coffee (Tras Street)
Cafe Leitz Singapore (Raffles Hotel)
Alchemist (MacTaggart Road)
The Matcha Project (Marina Boulevard)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Usher in the merry month of May with a preview of the best Mother’s Day dining promos out there.

There are 5 Restaurants to Treat Your Mothers during the month of May, which includes dining deals such as 50% OFF your buffet meal, “Mum-Dines-Free” with every 2 paying adults, and 1-for-1 Weekend High Tea Buffet.

There are other 5 Restaurants to Treat your Mothers on Mother’s Day (12th of May), in which you can enjoy special promotions with up to 30% OFF dining bill on Mother’s Day.

Whether your mom prefers to celebrate over Sunday buffet lunch, dim sum meal, or a laid-back afternoon tea, your choices are varied and could be difficult to narrow down to just one.

So go ahead, read, and choose which one is best suited to her liking. Make her feel special and loved with a carefully chosen venue and menu that speaks to her heart – and tummy!

5 Restaurants to Treat Your Mothers in the month of May:

Marriott Cafe, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Rd, Level One, Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Opening Hours: Breakfast 6.00am – 11.00am (Mon – Sun)
Lunch 12.00pm – 2.30pm (Mon – Sun)
High Tea 3.00pm – 5:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Dinner 6.30pm – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Marriot Cafe offers one of the best and freshest international buffets in town, located in the heart of Orchard Road. The dishes here are freshly-made, prepared-a-la-minute by the team of chefs that run the restaurant.

Start off your meal at the impressive salad bar, where they offer more than 15 varieties of salad leaves presented market style. Create your own salad combination by mix-matching the 20 accompanying condiments available.

Once ready for the main courses, head off to the Gourmet Roast Section where you and your family can indulge in their succulent roasts like the Australian Roast Beef Sirloin, Australian Roast Prime Ribs (only available Sunday lunch), and the signature Roast Pork Saddle with Prunes & Pancetta Stuffing.

Mom loves seafood? Let her pick her fave from the Seafood on Ice station. There are Boston Lobsters and Snow Crab Legs (only available on Sundays), as well as freshly shucked oysters, poached prawns and crayfish.

Of if she prefers the comfort of local dishes, the traditional Singapore Chili Crab, Laksa and Chicken Rice are available as well as vegetarian delicacies.

Finally, pamper mom with something as sweet as her. The decadent Sticky Date Pudding is a beautifully handcrafted dessert that will put a smile on her face after a satisfying meal.

Price of Buffet, Lunch Buffet Monday to Saturday: (Price before discount)
Adult $59++
Child $35++ (Age: 5 to 12 years old)

Sunday Lunch Buffet:
Adult $78++*/$98++**
Child $38++ (Age: 5 to 12 years old)
*Inclusive of free flow of soft drinks & juices
**Inclusive of free flow of sparkling wine, beer & juices

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
50% OFF Daily Lunch Buffet

T&C:
– Reservations to be made at least 3 days in advance via 68314605.
– Not valid with other promotions, discounts or privileges.
– Applicable from Monday to Sunday. Not valid on the eve of and on Public Holidays and any other special occasions as defined by the Hotel, such as on Mothers’ Day and Father’s Day.
– A max of 6 pax per reservation, limited to 50 seats per day
– Discount is applicable only on the food bill and not applicable on
service charge.
– For reservations, please visit singaporemarriott.com/dining or call 6831 4605.
– Prices are subject to 10% service charge and 7% Goods & Services Tax (GST).

The English House
28 Mohamed Sultan Road Singapore 238972
Tel: +65 6545 4055
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri) and 11.30am – 3pm (Sat),
Dinner 5pm – 12am (Mon – Sat), Sunday Roast 12pm – 8pm (Sun)
Last Order 10:15pm (Mon – Sat)
Sunday Roast 11:30am – 8:00pm. Last Order 7pm (Sun)
(The restaurant does not serve à la carte dishes on Sunday)

Inspired by colonial Singaporean heritage, The English House is an elegant house and restaurant with private dining rooms helmed by renowned Celebrity Chef, Marco Pierre White.

Step back into time this Mother’s Day, and treat mom to a graceful dining ambiance filled with classic relics of the glorious past.

The place is dramatic, accentuated with glimmering candles and black and white photographs by Terry O’Neill, a British photographer renowned for documenting the style and fashion of the 1960s.

Go for the 4-Course Menu, which includes canapés, starter, choice of roast or main course, and dessert at $75.

To start off, you’ll get 2 types of canapés and 1 starter from the Starter Selection. Choose either a Roast item – pick from either the Roast Chicken Properly Garnished, Roast Rib of Black Angus Molly Parkin or Honey Roast Pork Belly with Apple Sauce (served with sage and onion stuffing and honey roasting juices) or any of the main courses from the Mainboards.

The Wheeler’s Fried Cod (served with beef fat chips, gros sel, sauce tartare, and marrow fat peas) and Mr. Lamb’s Shepherd’s Pie (made with jus a la fleur de thym and buttered garden peas) are recommended mains.

For dessert, pick one from the 6 items in the Puddings & Cheese section, including a Vintage Stilton (served with a sherry-soaked fruit cake), Bread & Butter Pudding with Fresh Cream, and The Box Tree Eton Mess.

Good news! Every mother who dines at The English House will receive a Chef-curated dessert for free. If you’re lucky, she may share with you the Macaron, Orange Madeleine and Chocolate Tart included in the complimentary platter.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
– 25% off à la carte on selected items for lunch and dinner (Mondays to Fridays only)
– 25% off à la carte on selected items for lunch (Saturdays only)
– 15% off Mother’s Day Sunday Roast Menu (12 May 2019)
– Marco’s Set Lunch at $45 (U.P. $65)

T&C:
– The Offers are applicable for food only, not applicable to all beverages.
– The Offers are not valid on eve of Public Holidays, Public Holidays, blackout dates and special occasions determined by the Merchant.
– The Offers are not valid in conjunction with other discounts, offers, promotions, privileges and vouchers.
– To enjoy the Offers, payment must be made with a HSBC credit card.
– Reservations must be made in advance. Cardholders must quote “HSBC” when making reservations.
– To enjoy the Offers, cardholders must quote “HSBC dining privileges” prior to ordering.
– This Promotion is valid from 1 May 2019 to 31 October 2019, except for the Mother’s Day Promotion which is only available on 12 May 2019.
– HSBC is not the supplier of and accepts no liability for the goods and services provided by the Merchant involved in this Promotion.
– The Merchant and HSBC reserve the right to vary any of these terms and conditions, or to withdraw this Promotion, at any time in their discretion without prior notice.
– Merchant’s terms and conditions apply. Please contact the Merchant directly for full details
– The Merchant and HSBC’s decision on all matters relating to privileges, terms and conditions in this promotion will be final and binding on all participants
– All information is accurate as at time of publishing or posting online.

Azur, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
75 Airport Boulevard (Level 2) Singapore 819664
Tel: +65 6823 5354
Opening Hours: Breakfast 6am – 10:30am, Weekday Lunch 12pm – 3pm, Weekend Brunch 12pm – 3:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm

Another dining option you should seriously consider for Mother’s Day is Azur at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, a buffet and a la carte restaurant listed on Singapore Tatler in its Best Restaurants Guide for 2018/2019.

Reserve your tables early and get the best seats in the house as you dine with a view of their “cooking theatre”.

Azur features an open-kitchen where chefs serve an extensive buffet spread combining Asian delicacies and Western favourites.

Signature items include a selection of seafood specials like Chilli Crab, Seafood Paella, and the family-friendly Whole Salmon in Rock Salt. If no meal for you is complete without meat, you can try their signature Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib served with their House-made BBQ Sauce.

You shouldn’t miss the Prawns in Herbal Soup, a nourishing bowl of goodness combining the naturally sweet prawns and the aromatic mix of herbs and a special soup base.

For dessert, cleanse your palate with a Double Boiled Pear with White Fungus or enjoy the flavours of a Mini Cuppa Durian Mousse.

As a special treat to all mothers who dine at Azur for the Mother’s Day Brunch, they get a relaxing and complimentary 20-minute back and shoulder massage, courtesy of Essence Vale Spa at Level of Crowne Plaza Changi Airport. Don’t forget to claim the massage vouchers.

Finally, all diners who troop to Azur for the Mother’s Day Brunch get a free serving of Braised Abalone and Sea Cucumber in Superior Sauce.

Price of Buffet:
Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet (11 & 12 May 2019)
$88++ per adult | $44++ per child (6 – 12 years)
*Children below 6 years old dine free.

Usual lunch and dinner buffet prices in May are:
(Mondays – Saturday) Lunch – $58++ per adult | $29++ per child
(Sunday) Brunch – $88++ per adult | $44++ per child
(Monday – Thursday) Dinner – $68++ per adult | $34++ per child
(Friday – Sunday) Dinner – $78++ per adult | 39++ per child
*Children below 6 years dine free

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
Mom dines free with every 2 paying adults
*Offer is applicable for Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet on 11 & 12 May 2019, and lunch and dinner buffet at Azur in May

T&C:
– Reservation is required.
– Payment must be made with a HSBC credit card.

Escape Restaurant & Lounge, One Farrer Hotel
1 Farrer Park Station Road Singapore 217562
Tel: +65 6705 7828
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 2:30pm, Dinner 6pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Make this Mothers’ Day that day to escape the daily humdrum and explore the tastes of the world by visiting Escape Restaurant & Lounge at One Farrer Hotel.

With their nine interactive stations, it will be hard to choose where to start.

They offer Chinese, North Indian, Japanese, Western, local cuisine and more. Spoil mom with choices of cold cuts, salads, hot-off-the-grill mains, and even a selection of Tandoori items made fresh upon request in their custom-made Tandoori oven.

Feast over their signature items, including a freshly tossed Classic Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice, and a Crispy Lobster Noodle.

Don’t miss the crowd favourite Durian Pengat, a rich and creamy dessert that’s rightfully the star item in the buffet spread. People simply love how luscious this Asian creation is, and for durian lovers, this is the perfect ending to a great meal.

Otherwise, there’s an array of other standard sweet stuff like tarts, cakes, and petit fours. If you have kids in the family, the chocolate fountain will keep them entertained for a few minutes.

If you’re still undecided where to go, consider this. Gather up the 4 of you (include mom, of course!) and go for their lunch buffet spread and you’ll get complimentary Mother’s Day Cake (500g).

Price of Buffet:
Lunch – $50++ (Everyday)
Dinner – $65++ (Sun-Thurs)
Dinner – $68++ (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH and PH)
Local Hi Tea: $38++ (Sat, Sun and PH only)
Teochew porridge: $16++ (Fri, Sat and Eve of PH only)

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion 1:
Lunch Buffet Food Spread at $200++ for 4 persons with complimentary Mother’s Day Cake (500g).

T&C:
– Valid from 1 May to 31 May 2019
– Valid on eve of PH and PH.
– Reservations required 2 days in advance.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion 2:
1-for-1 Weekend High Tea Buffet

T&Cs:
– Maximum 8 persons per table per bill.
– Valid on PH
– Valid from 1 May to 31 July 2019.

Man Fu Yuan, InterContinental Singapore
80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 6825 1008
Opening Hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm (Mon- Sat), 11:30am – 3pm (Sun & PH)
Dinner: 6pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Make it a fancy date with mom at Man Fu Yuan, a trusted name in the Singapore fine dining scene located at InterContinental Singapore.

Lauded by Singapore Tatler as of Singapore’s best Chinese restaurants and recipient of the Michelin Plate, Man Fu Yuan is the place to make her feel special. Delight her with traditional Cantonese dishes artfully presented in a modern way, and allow her to bask in a refined ambience complete with premium tea pairings.

Go for the Dim Sum Brunch Buffet on Mother’s Day and enjoy an unlimited selection of delicately handcrafted dim sum delicacies at a special discounted price. Plus, you get Man Fu Yuan’s signature dishes, such as Steamed Abalone with Yunnan Black Garlic and the comforting Steamed Prawns in Herbal Broth.

There’s also a specially prepared Peking Duck carving station to celebrate the occasion.

In between appetisers and desserts, try any of their well-loved classics such as Lotus Leaf Glutinous Rice with Chicken and Mushrooms, Black Bean Spare Ribs, and Bean Curd with Century Egg and Chicken Floss.

If you’re still hooked on the salted egg taste, they have Salted Egg Custard Buns to calm those cravings.

Dim Sum Brunch Buffet Price:
$78++ per adult

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
15% OFF Weekend Dim Sum including Mother’s Day on 12th May at Man Fu Yuan. Minimum two to dine.

T&C:
– Offer is valid till 31 July 2019.
– Reservation is required.
– Payment must be made with a HSBC credit card.

5 Restaurants to Treat your Mothers on Mother’s Day:

Element, Amara Singapore
Amara Singapore, Level 1, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539
Tel: +65 6879 2607
Opening Hours: 6.30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate Mother’s Day in Tanjong Pagar area, try Element at Amara Singapore, a unique restaurant-bar that fuses food, drink, and lifestyle all in one.

Make it an extra special meal with Element’s version of the popular delicacy Drunken Prawns, a Chinese/Singaporean dish prepared with fresh, live prawns made drunk and cooked with Chinese wine.

Complement mom’s beauty regimen with the health-boosting dish Braised Oxtail Broth, known for its luxuriously collagen-packed soup. Excellent for the skin, the oxtail broth is braised for 48 hours and enhanced with fresh thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and paprika to create a deep, herbal flavour. She’ll not only enjoy the soup but also the tender, slow-cooked oxtail and hearty vegetables.

If she prefers white meat, go for the Chicken Ginseng Soup, which is also highly esteemed for its amazing health benefits.

Other collagen-rich non-soup options include the Pork Rind Jelly and Black Vinegar Trotters with Boiled Quail Eggs.

Price of Buffet for Mother’s Day Sunday Brunch:
$68++ per adult
$34++ per child (6 to 12 years old)

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
Enjoy 30% off dining bill on Mother’s Day (12 May 2019) Buffet High Tea / Dinner
(To enjoy the offer, bookings must be made by 4 May 2019.)

T&C:
– Valid on 12th May 2019.
– Bookings must be made by 4 May 2019.
– Not valid with other promotions, privileges, discount cards and promotional vouchers, whichever is applicable.
– All prices quoted are in Singapore dollars and subject to service charge and prevailing government taxes.
– Amara Singapore reserves the right to change the Terms and Conditions without prior notice.

White Rose Café, York Hotel Singapore
York Hotel Singapore, 21 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore 228516
Tel: +65 6737 0511
Opening Hours: 6am -11pm

This cosy 110-seater café located in the lobby of York Hotel Singapore offers gourmet specialties with distinct local and authentic Asian flavours. White Rose Café is also known for its popular thrice-yearly Penang Hawkers’ Fare featuring perennial Penang street food classics every March, September and December.

Create new buffet memories with mom through the café’s signature “Treasured Flavours of Singapore”, a daily a la carte lunch buffet featuring the house special Fish Head Curry and a long list of 25 creative dishes.

Be an early bird and partake of the Early Mother’s Day Appreciation Lunch on 11 May, serving the Treasured Flavours of Singapore Daily a la carte buffet lunch. Highlights of the special menu include seafood dishes like Black Ink Sotong and Fish Head Curry, Chicken Masala (an Indian-inspired dish in a spiced curry sauce) , and a veggie dish featuring Stir-fried Long Beans with Dried Shrimp.

If you decide to celebrate with the rest of the world on May 12, the Mother’s Day International Buffet Lunch will give you the likes of Grilled Salmon, Beef Sirloin or Chicken, and Chilli Crab, Stir-fried Honey Pork Ribs, Chicken Yakitori, Sayur Lodeh served with Rice Cake, Mee Siam, Hot Pulut Hitam, and Assortment of Tang Yuan in Ginger Soup.

For tea aficionado moms, the Mother’s Day High Tea Buffet on 12 May is worth getting. Pair your freshly brewed tea with a selection of sweet and savoury bites, including Chwee Kueh with Chye Poh, Oyster Omelette, Putu Mayam, Hot Tau Suan, and Assorted Nonya Kuehs.

Price of Buffets:
Early Mother’s Day Appreciation Lunch* on 11 May
12pm to 230pm
$36++ per adult, $18++ per child (5 to 11 years old)

Mother’s Day International Buffet Lunch on 12 May
12pm to 230pm
$42++ per adult, $21++ per child (5 to 11 years old)

Mother’s Day High Tea Buffet on 12 May
3pm to 5pm
$32++ per adult, $16++ per child (5 to 11 years old)

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
Enjoy 10% off total bill for Mother’s Day promotions with full payment received before May 5, 2019.

T&C:
– Full payment must be made before May 5, 2019
– *Minimum 2 pax to dine for Mother’s Day Early Appreciation Lunch

Spice Brasserie, PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208533
Tel: +65 6428 3160
Opening Hours: Breakfast 6:00am – 10:30am
Lunch 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Dinner 6:00pm – 10:00pm

As the name implies, the Spice Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road is where you can find dishes that are rich in flavour from a medley of spices and seasonings. And like the French concept of brasserie, the ambiance in this 300-seater all-day dining restaurant is relaxingly casual.

The all-day dining Spice Brasserie offers you and your mom an extensive buffet of local and Asian fare this Mother’s Day. There are live stations to prepare your dishes upon request, an exciting Japanese sushi bar, and a variety of appetisers and desserts.

Key highlights from the spread items include local delights such as Double Boiled Chicken Soup with White Fungus, Thai Style Crab Tang Hoon, Oyster Mee Sua with Big Intestine, and Baked Half Shell Scallop with Salted Egg.

For diehard fans of durian, their rendition of Durian Pengat with Sticky Rice is worth tasting. It’s sweet the way it should be, this dessert is velvety smooth and has a buttery flavour. While the aroma of the fruit may be strong, the flavour is actually mild and not overwhelming.

To welcome and celebrate with all the mothers who come to Spice Brasserie, each one gets an exclusive Osmanthus Raindrop Jelly. What makes this freebie special is how it is individually plated for every mom. Admire how this transparent dessert is shaped like a beautiful water droplet.

Mother’s Day Buffet Lunch on 12 May 2019 (Sunday)
Price: $58++ per adult, $29++ per child

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
Mom dines free with three full paying adults

T&C:
– All prices quoted are subject to GST and service charge.
– Advance reservations are required.
– Offer is not valid in conjunction with other existing discounts and promotions.
– Child prices are only applicable for children below 12 years old.
– Offer and event is valid on 12 May 2019, from 12:00pm to 2:30pm only.

The Salon, Hotel Fort Canning
11 Canning Walk Singapore 178881
Tel: +65 6799 8809
Opening Hours: 7am – 11pm Last order 10.30pm (Mon – Sun)

Pay tribute to the beloved matriarch in your family with an unforgettable Mother’s Day meal at The Salon in Hotel Fort Canning.

Leading the culinary team is Chef Jeffrey Tan, who’s ever so passionate about Peranakan cuisine and upgraded lunch buffet with over 10 Nyonya creations.

What’s special about these Nyonya dishes is that they’re off-menu, i.e. they’re typically offered upon special requests for the hotel’s events and functions.

Spice up your palates with these signature dishes, curated from the chef’s treasured recipes. Try his version of Nyonya Laksa, Ayam Buah Keluak, Sambal Kimchang Udang and Handmade Otak-Otak.

There’s even a dedicated kids’ buffet so you don’t have to worry about what to feed your picky little ones. For the globetrotter in the family, he or she can choose from an array of western delights like Roasted Buttermilk Herb-crusted Leg of Lamb and Crispy Whole Duck Confit, available to complement the Peranakan specials.

Now here’s a bonus. Dine at The Salon on Mother’s Day and your mom earns a chance to win a 60-minute Organic Aromatherapy Facial from the Chinois Spa. Time to pamper the most special woman in your life.

Price of Mother’s Day Buffet:
Adult $75++, Child $38++ (4 – 12 years old)

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
20% savings on Mother’s Day Lunch Buffet (price above before discounts)

T&C:
– Offer is applicable to adult and child lunch buffet prices on Mother’s Day, 12 May 2019.
– Child under 4 years old dines for free when accompanied by a paying adult (limited to 2 children per adult).
– Reservation is required and subject to availability.
– To enjoy the Offer, full payment is required with HSBC credit card upon confirmation of reservation; payment made is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
– For reservations and enquiries, please call +65 6799 8809 or email thesalon@hfcsingapore.com
– Offer cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions, discounts, vouchers, and privileges, unless otherwise stated.
– Buffet items may be served on a rotational basis.
– Hotel Fort Canning reserves the right to amend or terminate the offer without prior notice.

The Square Restaurant, Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
177A River Valley Road, Singapore 179031
Tel: +65 6433 8790
Opening Hours: 6am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

On the 7th floor of Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay is The Square Restaurant, a modern hip venue known for its international themed buffets.

Strike up an interesting conversation with the chefs at the different stations. Designed with an open kitchen, The Square allows you to interact directly with the people actually cooking your food. Watch how they transform the ingredients into a dish just for you.

Go local with their Signature Laksa, prepared a la minute at the live station, mixing rice noodles with bean sprouts, prawns, eggs, and bean curd in a spicy shrimp coconut broth.

Also prepared live is The Square’s selection of pasta, where you can choose from penne, fettuccine, spaghetti and fusilli. Pair that with your choice of sauce, from carbonara to aglio olio, arrabiata, pesto or tomato.

Other stations to explore include appetisers and a Healthy Salad Counter, a cheese & dried fruits for those who love to nibble, and a Hot Station where you’ll find the signature Chili Crab.

Go surf and turf by combing the freshest catch from Seafood on Ice (the oysters are a must-try) and the various roasted meats at the Carving Station.

Exclusively available on Sunday/Mother’s Brunch is the Thunder Tea Rice, a traditional Chinese-style tea-based soup served with white rice, fried peanuts and a medley of vegetables. Looking for something with salted egg? Look for their Wok Fried Salted Egg “Cray Fish”.

If mom’s got a sweet tooth, get her the signature dessert Durian Pengat or the Chocolate Fondue complete with assorted sauces and toppings.

Wait, there’s more! End your celebration big-time with a Giant Cake that weights an incredible 3 kg! This heavyweight cake is specially made for Mother’s Day and will be cut and shared among diners on May 12 for both brunch and dinner. Don’t miss it!

Price of Buffet:
11 May Mother’s Day Brunch $68++
11 May Seafood Dinner $78++
12 May Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner $68++

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
30% for Mother’s Day – 11 May (Lunch Only) & 12 May (Brunch and Dinner)
20% off total F&B bill with 3 or less diners valid from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2019
25% off total F&B bill with 4 or more diners valid from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2019

T&C:
– Offer is not valid on eve of public holidays, public holidays, blackout dates and special occasions determined by Merchant.
– Not valid with other discounts, privileges, set menus, special menus, vouchers, membership privileges, VIP cards.
– Discount is not valid on service charge and taxes.

For more details on the latest #HSBCDining promotions, hop on over to www.hsbc.com.sg/dining. Terms and conditions apply for all promotions herein.

*This post was brought to you in partnership with HSBC Credit Cards.

Planning a meal after viewing the Rain Vortex? Renowned Chinese restaurant brand PUTIEN has opened a NEW outlet at Jewel Changi Airport.

This is its 13th outlet in Singapore, and 62th in the chain of restaurants across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan and Beijing.

You may not know that PUTIEN actually began in 2000 as a no-frills coffee shop-style eatery at Kitchener Road, specialising in Heng Hwa cuisines. I have been dining there since then (in fact it was one of my first few reviews), and seen how it has expanded yet still serve those familiar, comforting food.

The Michelin Guide noticed it in 2016, recognising its Hong Kong Causeway Bay outlet as a Bib Gourmand Restaurant, and awarding one Michelin Star to its Kitchener Road outlet consecutively every year.

Rooted to its namesake city of Putian (a Fujian coastal suburb), PUTIEN’s menu reflects the city’s heritage – fresh, light, and invigorating.

PUTIEN DUOTOU Clam Specials
If you dine at PUTIEN Restaurants from now till 31st August 2019, look out for the clam festival featuring DUOTOU Clams, a treasured delicacy, aka the “King of Clams”.

These popular clams have reached celebrity status, with over 80 tons of DUOTOU Clams sold worldwide last year.
DUOTOU Clams are named after Duo Tou village in the coastal city of Putian, where they have been bred for more than 600 years.

They are prized for being plump and meaty (they’re not called King of Clams for nothing) and for their unique, succulent taste.

These distinctly large clams can grow up to 6 cm in length, thanks to the abundant minerals, organic matter and brine algae from the fertile, sand-less, black mud in Duo Tou.

Compared to other areas, Duo Tou villages have a higher salinity level. This makes the clams especially fresh and sweet.

Enjoy these beautiful golden-shelled molluscs at PUTIEN, freshly flown in from Putian, and creatively prepared in eight different ways.

Also don’t miss out the new promo – order 2 DUOTOU Clam dishes for a special price of $39.80++. Consider trying the two new spicy flavours of Stir-fried Sambal Chives with DUOTOU Clam and Thai-flavoured DUOTOU Clam.

Stir-fried Sambal Chives with DUOTOU Clam ($22.80)
Welcome this new spicy taste in your plate of DUOTOU Clams, drawing heat from the distinctively South-East Asian condiment sambal.

Made from a mixture of chili peppers, shrimp paste, garlic and other seasoning, the spicy sambal paste is stir-fried along with the luscious clams to yield a savoury-spicy combo.

This dish is big on harmony as it displays a good balance of flavours, including a light onion taste from the heap of crunchy chives added to it. Fried over high heat, you would also love its wok-hei.

Thai-Flavoured DUOTOU Clam ($21.80)
The second new spicy flavour is inspired by the cuisine of Thailand, where fresh, succulent DUOTOU Clams are tossed in a special home-made Thai sauce.

This sauce is a refreshing mix of six different types of fruits and vegetables combining to create a unique flavour, which may just remind you of the Thai Papaya Salad dish.

Taste how the clams acquire a whole new taste with this slight spicy-sweet sauce.

Baked DUOTOU Clam on Hot Plate ($21.80)
Order this dish and find out why it has been Putien’s bestselling dish for three consecutive years.

These DUOTOU Clams are baked, then served steaming hot on a bed of sea salt. What you do it get a piece of the fresh clam and gently dip into the salt.

If you want to taste the original freshness of the clam sans any additional sauces, this would allow you to savour its succulence and natural flavours.

Steamed DUOTOU Clam with Minced Garlic ($19.80)
Another cooking method that brings out the best in clams is steaming.

The Steamed DUOTOU Clam with Minced Garlic allows you to experience this through a beautifully arranged spread of lightly steamed clams served in half-shells. This reminded me of the comforting dish of Steamed Bamboo (Razor) Clams.

As simple as it may sound, steaming preserves the flavours of clam better.

Each plump and juicy clam-on-a-shell is topped with a dollop of and sprinkled with spring onions, enhanced further with a splash of soy sauce.

My personal favourite DUOTOU dish – it would be hard to stop at just eating one piece.

Stir-fried DUOTOU Clam with Ginger & Spring Onion ($21.80)
One of the most loved traditional cooking methods among Fujian locals is stir frying. This home-style stir-fried dish is something you can actually find in most homes in Duo Tou village.

Fresh DUOTOU Clams are stir-fried over high heat and served with chopped scallions (spring onions) and ginger.

Enjoy this dish like a Fujian local by pairing it with Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon or PUTIEN Cabbage Rice.

Steamed DUOTOU Clam in Fermented Wine ($22.80)
Huadiao, a traditional Chinese wine, is central to this dish.

The fresh DUOTOU Clams are steamed in this fermented wine until the natural sweetness of the clams are infused into the alcoholic broth.

Order this and you will be served a bowl filled to the brim with steamed DUOTOU Clams, and some nourishing broth with a heady aroma.

DUOTOU Clam Omelette ($22.80)
This dish is specially created by the chefs of PUTIEN as a symbolic appreciation for the clam farmers of Duo Tou Village (Do you know that most of the head chefs of PUTIEN are from Putian itself?)

Combining clams with eggs is traditional way of eating among the residents of Putian.

The succulent clams add a meaty texture to the egg, creating an omelette that’s a bit crunchy and chewy at the same time.

Similar to the local delicacy of Oyster Omelette, this should be a favourite of family and children.

Salted Spicy DUOTOU Clam ($22.80)
Prepared simply by coating the DUOTOU Clams in a light batter seasoned with salt and pepper and chopped chillies, the clams are then deep-fried to a crisp.

Despite the seemingly basic ingredients used, this dish is potentially addictive to munch on.

The salty spicy taste makes this a good starter, but excellent as a food pairing with your favourite drinks.

PUTIEN at Jewel Changi Airport – 3 Signature “Classic Treasures of Fujian”
The new PUTIEN outlet at Jewel Changi Airport features an open kitchen to showcase how they uniquely prepare their signature dishes.

These dishes are the “Classic Treasures of Fujian”, namely the PUTIEN Bian Rou Soup, ‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker, and the famous PUTIEN Lor Mee.

PUTIEN Bian Rou Soup – pork meat wrappers in traditional soup ($4.90 per pax)
This signature Fujian specialty soup made with bian rou (similar to wonton dumplings) is backed with more than 500 years of history.

The delicate paper-thin wonton wrapper is actually made of pork meat, is handcrafted using a technique originating from the Chinese Imperial dynasty of Qin.

The pork meat is kneaded and rolled with wooden sticks, a method exclusively practiced in Fujian.

Imagine 3 hours of continuous pounding and rolling on the meat paste, tenderising it for more than 10,000 times to achieve a 0.3cm thickness. It is this degree of thinness that gives the pork meat wrappers a good bite and springiness.

The bian rou are presented in a light, tasty broth with specially-made vinegar and seaweed, which would have a comforting, warming effect on the belly.

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker ($14.90)
Commonly found in Taiwan Strait, the Yellow Croaker is best known for its tender and boneless texture.

What makes this dish special is how PUTIEN sources the fish from its original habitat. The fishes are flown in from Ningde, a seaside city in the province of Fujian.

It is so fresh the fish is delivered to the restaurant within 24 hours from harvest from the breeding grounds of Xiapu.

Named as such because it was cooked precisely for 100 seconds, the fresh Yellow Croaker is stewed with ginger and spring onions to create a light yet appetizing dish.

You can savour the tender flesh and natural sweetness of the fish, sliced to separate the flesh apart and yet keeping the shape of the fish intact. If you are looking for a healthy dish, this is a top choice.

PUTIEN Lor Mee ($10.90, $21.80, $32.70)
A crowd-favourite, this unique version of lor mee is a PUTIEN specialty, made with silky Putian noodles mingling with chunks of pork belly, fresh prawns and clams.

The ingredients are altogether braised in the signature PUTIEN Lor Mee broth, a lusciously thick pork-based stock.

Unlike most lor mee broth which is dark-coloured, PUTIEN has set itself apart by creating a mellow-tasting light-coloured broth.
Tip: Add a dap of vinegar, or PUTIEN’s original Spice Mum Chilli Sauce.

PUTIEN – Jewel Changi Airport
#02-249 Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Other PUTIEN Outlets
Kitchener Road – 127 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208514
VivoCity – 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-131/132, Singapore 098585
Marina Square – 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-205, Singapore 039594
Tampines Mall – 4 Tampines Central 5, #B1-01/27, Singapore 529510
Jurong Point – 1 Jurong West Central 2, #02-34 JP1, Singapore 648886
Parkway Parade, 80 Marine Parade Road, #02-13/13A, Singapore 449269 (closed till 4 May for minor upgrade)
nex – 23 Serangoon Central, #02-18/19, Singapore 556083
Resorts World Sentosa – 26, Sentosa Gateway, #01-203/204, The Forum Singapore 098138
Raffles City – 252 North Bridge Road, #02-18, Singapore 179103
ION Orchard – 2 Orchard Turn, #04-12, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Northpoint – 930 Yishun Ave 2, Northpoint Shopping Centre, #02-42/43/44, Singapore 769098
SingPost Centre – 10 Eunos Road 8, #03-106 Singapore Post Centre, Singapore 408600

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with PUTIEN.

This is another under-the-radar Thai restaurant in Singapore.

Singaporean foodies who are smitten by the delicately balanced flavours of Thai cuisine can enjoy it at Ob Woon, located at Djitsun Mall along Bedok North Street.

If you have never been to the mall itself, it is of walking distance from Bedok MRT station and interchange.

“Ob Woon”, the Thai parlance for “warmth”, is that warm and happy feeling you get when sharing a meal with family and friends – which is what the restaurant hopes to achieve.

Deep-rooted in Asian culture, this feeling is given life at Ob Woon through its traditional home-made Thai fare offerings in a relaxed ambience.

Their array of strong-flavoured dishes speak nothing short of authenticity, using the freshest quality Thai ingredients available, cooked up by Thai chefs.

Other than family-style dishes, they have recently launched a NEW noodle menu. Ready to try Ob Woon’s new line up of dishes? Read on and give your palate a preview.

Pork Leg Noodle ($9.80)
Leading the new set of dishes is the Pork Leg Noodle, featuring Ob Woon’s signature braised pork leg served atop a bowl of Thai-style egg noodles noodles.

This fork-tender pork leg is braised in a home-made spiced soy sauce to give it a deep umami taste.

The pork meat and gelatinous fatty skin are balanced with some fresh kalian leaves on the side.

Pork Collar Noodle ($9.80)
A spin-off of Ob Woon’s bestselling signature grilled pork collar, this noodle dish combines the comforting warmth of noodle soup and the satisfying marbling of prime meat cut.

Its ideal fat-meat ratio makes it really succulent, especially when grilled.

Touted as the best Thai-style pork collar in Singapore, the grilled slices of meat (best when dabbed with their in-house Issan-style dip) are served over a mound of dry cooked egg noodles.

Served with half a boiled egg, fresh kailan leaves, and a sprinkling of crispy pork lard.

Tom Yum Noodle ($9.80)
The sour and spicy soup is full of umami and sweetness from Ob Woon’s home-made seafood stock with no added MSG.

Infused with the Thai trinity of herbs (lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves & galangal), the clear stock is then seasoned with nam pla (fish sauce), fresh lime juice, chilli paste, sugar, and salt, then mixed with the Thai noodles.

Garnished with half a boiled egg, cilantro and fresh Thai chilies, this noodle dish is best enjoyed as is or with a spread of other Thai dishes.

Dry Tom Yum Noodle ($9.80)
While tom yum is often associated with soup, tom yum in Thailand is available dry with the noodles mixed with a special sauce to prevent them from clumping.

An option for those who prefer dry-type noodles, the Dry Tom Yum Noodle packs the same, intense Thai flavours of tom yum (sour, sweet, spicy and salty) but minus the soup.

Tom Yum Noodle with Cheese ($10.80)
If you love both the flavours of tom yum AND cheese, you’re in luck. Ob Woon offers a cheesified version of this Thai classic, topped with melted cheese to give you that gooey stretchy cheese pull.

Birthday Noodle ($9.80)
Birthday noodles, also known as Longevity noodles, is a Chinese concept to symbolize long life.

Served with various meats and vegetables, this stir-fried noodle dish also comes with 8 pieces of quail eggs which are indeed the best things on the dish.

Cashewnut Chicken Wings with Cheese ($10.80)
This poultry dish makes use of chicken wings – both the drumettes and wingettes with tip- and recommended as an appetiser or paired with an ice-cold Chang Beer or their Mango Mango drinks.

Deep-fried, then glazed in a special home-made sauce, the chicken wings are topped with roughly chopped roasted cashew nuts and slathered with melted cheese.

Prepare the table napkins as this dish can get pretty-messy delicious.

Deep Fried Sea Bass with Sweet & Sour Sauce ($29.80)
This dish features a live whole sea bass, also known as ”squirrelfish” (sung shu yu) for the way it looks once the head and its curled up deep-fried body are arranged on a plate.

Preparation starts with a unique de-boning process, where they leave the 2 fillets still attached to the fishtail.

The fillet is scored in a criss-cross fashion to keep it from curling, then deep-fried in hot oil to achieve golden brown colour.

While crispy on the outside, the fish remains tender and moist inside. Served with a sweet & sour sauce to further enhance the flavour of the fish.

Deep Fried Fish with Fish Sauce ($29.80)
Another fish dish in the new menu is likewise served whole and deep-fried, but this time it uses a special nam pla (fish sauce) as its accompaniment.

Nam pla is an essential condiment in Thai cuisine, made from a mixture of fish, water and salt and fermented for at least a year or so.

To complement the crunchy fried fish flavour, you’ll get a side dish of mango salad, a mix of sour mangoes, chilli and shallots in a sweet-savoury sauce.

Tangy with a bit of heat, this Thai salad will cut through the taste of fat in your palate.

Mango Mango Bubble And Chizo Drinks
“Mango Mango” is the drink kiosk right next to Ob Woon, and you can always order the drinks as accompaniment to the spicy food.

Their signature cup is the Mango Smoothie ($6.80), layered with mango smoothie, signature cream, mango sorbet then topped with cubes of fresh mango fruit.

They have launched two new series, the Bubble and Chizo Tea.

Expect your boba pearls to appear in drinks such as Orange Latte, Thai Tea Latte, Varlhona Choco, Mango Latte and the trending Brown Sugar Milk.

As for the “Chizo”, the refreshing fruit drinks are topped with a lazy of cheesy-milk foam, and you can go for the Mango, Strawberry or an Oolong for a less-sweet version.

Ob Woon
Djitsun Mall, 445 Bedok North Street 1, #01-07, Singapore 469661
Tel: +65 9632 8135
Opening Hours: 11am – 12am (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 1am (Fri – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/obwoonsg

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Ob Woon.

[New Delhi] Five years old and still going strong, Guppy (previously called “Guppy by AI”) is the premier destination in Delhi for exquisite Japanese cuisine served in a fun and casual setting.

From launching India’s very first Poke bar to hosting themed food events, a visit to Guppy is never complete without gastronomic surprises to satisfy a hungry soul.

Under the leadership of Chef Vikram Khatri, Guppy has wowed diners since 2013 with its classic and sometimes experimental take on Japanese dishes.

The restaurant falls under the umbrella of the famous Olive group led by AD Singh, one of India’s most noteworthy and successful restaurateurs.

Guppy is a tropical fish that exists in a rainbow of colours. The restaurant stands right to its name by creating a vibrant atmosphere that is both eccentric and cheerful.

Situated in Lodi Colony, Guppy takes up a quiet corner in a commercial block, of a primarily residential area, rather nonchalantly.

Lodi Colony is also home to the Lodi Art District which is a collection of large street-art murals. The presence of Guppy in the same area somehow makes sense, as its striking decor fits in perfectly with the surroundings.

The interiors of the restaurant are a treasure trove of surprises for a first-time diner.

Bright and in-your-face, the bijou courtyard at Guppy is highly instagrammable and equally quaint.

The Poke Bar on one side is cosy and encourages a sense of communal eating with tables joined together with each other.

The main restaurant is in complete contrast to the food, which borderlines fine dining.

The room, spaciously decorated with what can only be DIY art projects, oozes a homely charm brought about by the bright tables, chairs, and green coloured floor.

The ambience at Guppy is laidback and encourages a relaxing time whether you are there for a date, with friends, or family.

Guppy’s menu has a variety of options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Whether it is sushi and sashimi you want or a poke bowl, there is something for all tastes, along with healthy options of the dishes.

The Black Rice California Roll (Rs 710, SGD$ 14.00) has become my all-time favourite sushi in Delhi. Perfectly executed, the slight crunch on the outside gives it a beautiful texture reminiscent of biting into a fritter.

The Cha Shu Miso Tsukemen (Rs 990, SGD$ 19.50) ramen bowl was admittedly challenging to eat.

Known as the “dipping ramen”, it involved taking the noodles from a dry bowl filed with absolutely divine pork belly, greens, and eggs and dipping them in a separate bowl of 72-hour simmered pork stock.

The stock was heavenly to taste, bursting with intense flavours, and had a filling richness to it. If I weren’t already full, I would have loved to go for another round of just the stock.

The Burnt Garlic Ramen (Rs 800, SGD$ 15.75) was equally good, and the chef was kind enough to accommodate the request for adding extra fried tofu to it.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that Guppy doesn’t take itself too seriously.

For example, the menu for the Ramen Festival includes a Spicy Ramen Challenge and a Slurp Challenge where diners are encouraged to slurp their noodles loudly to win a drink.

Sundays at Guppy are all about their Brunch menu which is an assortment of dishes ranging from soups and sushi to noodles and desserts.

It’s easy to get impressed with Guppy as it creates an aura that is welcoming and at the same time pleasantly unconventional.

The food though is the final cherry on top. There is a delicate balance in the dishes that honour the traditionality of the cuisine while testing the boundaries of Japanese flavours.

Guppy is undoubtedly one of the best Japanese restaurants in Delhi, and a must visit for any food lover.

Guppy, New Delhi
28 Lodi Colony, Main Market, New Delhi 110003
Tel: 011 2469 0005
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:30pm – 3:30pm, Dinner 7pm – 1am (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps

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* Written by DFD’s India Correspondent @tickereatstheworld. Raghav is a travel and food writer who enjoys the thrill of discovering new places and writing about them. When he is not working, he can be found driving around his two kids from one birthday party to another.

[Hong Kong] Talk about the most popular AND stylish indie coffee shops in Hong Kong, and NOC Coffee Company will probably be one of the shoo-ins.

No, they are not related to Singapore’s NOC aka Night Owl Cinematics, though they will probably think their coffee is “Food King Good”.

Yes, NOC actually stands for Not Only Coffee, an apt acronym to describe what guests can expect around here.

NOC Coffee Company is not only a coffee shop where you come in, drink and leave.

It is also a roastery and operates an online store where coffee geeks can order from their phone.

You can be assured you’re getting quality coffee here, especially if you knew that NOC Coffee Company was co-founded by 2011 Hong Kong Barista Champion Chan Chak Sum and F&B veteran Benny Leung.

The café and roastery in Sai Ying Pun is the company’s third and largest to date. The large and airy space is filled with natural light through the floor-to-ceiling window.

There are also outlets at Central, Sheung Wan, Causeway and Wanchai West.

The immaculately white counter tops, coupled with state-of-the-art equipment and tools like grinders and glass cylinders, make any genuine geek swoon.

When I first entered the outlet at Central Gough Street, I thought that everyone from the barista to the customers had a certain air of stylishness about them.

Was it cool? Yes.

At the roastery, only carefully selected Arabica beans are used for roasting. These roasted coffee beans, including the medium to dark roast blend of Colombian and Brazilian beans, are then packed and distributed to supply its six Hong Kong cafes.

For drinks, other than the standard Black and White, also available at Cold Brew (HKD55), Dirty (HKD40), Pour Over (HKD65+), Matcha (HKD50), Chocolate (HKD50), Chai Latte (HKD50), Iced Passion Fruit Tea (HKD50), and Ice Peach Tea (HKD50).

Prices are quite “premium” too though.

Go for a standard Flat White (HKD40, SGD6.94) with an even mix of liquid milk and smooth velvet foam, and served dressed up with latte art.

Or tread the road less travelled with the Fizzpresso (HKD55, SGD9.54), a rather unexpected combination of double espresso, passion fruit, lemon juice and tonic water, served on ice. It’s sweet, sour, bitter, and fizzy all at the same time.

Those who want to actually eat can order from their lunch menu, offering healthy salads, fruit bowls, and all-day breakfasts.

The 10-grain Rice Bowl (HKD98, SGD17) is worth trying, a light yet complete meal in itself loaded with sautéed mushrooms, shredded carrot, fresh cucumber, crispy seaweed, sweet and sour bamboo shoots, and a runny egg for the sauce.

For some of the smaller outlets, there are only baked pastries such as Croissants and Pound Cakes.

NOC Coffee Company
Shop 4 G/F Bohemian House, 321 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pung
Tel: +852 3611 5300
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/NOCRoastery

Other NOC Coffee Company Branches
Graham: 34 Graham Street, Central
Gough: 18 Gough Street, Sheung Wan
Wanchai West: Shop 3A G/F 2-4 Tai Wong Street East, Wan Chai
BA Tower: Shop No. G1A Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Road Admiralty
Lee Garden Three: Shop No G23 Lee Garden Three, 1 Sunning Road, Causeway Bay
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun), Except BA Tower which is closed Sat, Sun

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%Arabica (Central, Hong Kong)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Hong Kong] If you are looking for good coffee and Australian-inspired café fare at Hong Kong’s Central, The Cupping Room which is an award-winning small batch specialty coffee shop is often recommended.

It is also one of the first independent coffee shops to open in Hong Kong.

The one along Cochrane Street is the flagship store (located near Mid-levels), and there are outlets at Sheung Wan (Queen’s Road Central), Wan Chai (Swatow Street) with a roastery at Po Hing Fong.

(I been to both the Central and Wan Chai branches, so photos here are a combination of both.)

The Cupping Room is a small cafe with communal seating, and getting a seat could be challenging at certain times of the day due to its popularity and locations.

Open seating is available from 8am – 12noon and 1:30pm – 5pm, as the place is exclusively for lunch from 12noon – 1:30pm.

As seats are limited, they will only seat you if your party (in case you are part of a group) is complete.

My Hong Kong friends who work in the CBD say it is one of the typical places to buy coffee takeaways during lunchtime.

There is also a small bakery where bakes such as Twice Baked Matcha Croissant (HKD40), Almond Croissant (HKD36), Fruit Danish (HKD25) and Lemon Poppyseed Muffin (HKD28) are offered.

Expect to find espresso-based drinks using their House Blend, filtered coffee, tea by the pot (HKD45), cold brew tea (HKD40), and hot/iced chocolate. Coffee is roasted on a Probat UG15 Retro roaster.

If you want to try their filtered coffee, you can choose between House Black (HKD35) and Iced Black (HKD40).

Single Origin Filter (HKD50) is also available using any of their single origin coffees from Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, Rwanda, etc.

The Attaboy is a special blend of beans from Ethiopia and Colombia. Try it in Black (Chocolate, Praline, Blackberry) or in Milk (Almond, Milk Choco).

Coffee was decent, would remind you of Australia’s, though slightly on the acidic side.

Non-coffee options include orange juice (HKD45), rosemary lemonade (HKD45), sparkling water (HKD38), Chai Latte (HKD45/55), Turmeric Golden Latte (HKD50/55), and Uji Matcha Latte (HKD42/48).

The Cupping Room has a changing menu, but is known for their signature pastas and brunch items such as toasts.

The Full Brekky (HK138) with fried eggs, streaky bacon, vine tomato, portobello mushrooms, numburger sausages; and Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon (HKD128) are highly recommended.

This dish comes with poached eggs and smoked salmon, baby spinach, and aerated hollandaise sauce.

Depending on the season, you may also catch their Avocado on Toast (HKD128) served with poached egg, mayonnaise, ricotta cheese, radish, and almond.

Try also their House Cured Salmon on Toast (HKD128), combined with cucumber, lime dill mayonnaise, radish, and pickled onion.

All these are served on a honey malt toast.

If you are looking for a tasty breakfast and good coffee, the Cupping Room is worth a stop.

The Cupping Room – Central
G/F, No. 18 Cochrane St, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2511 3518
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 6pm (Sat), 10am – 6pm (Sun)

The Cupping Room – Sheung Wan
299 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2799 3398
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)

The Cupping Room – Wan Chai
32 Swatow Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2371 2338
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)

The Cupping Room Roastery
Shop 8, Silver Jubilee Mansion, 62-72 Po Hing Fong, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3705 0208
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)

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Queen Sophie 酥妃皇后 (Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The Botanist at 74 Neil Road has said its silent “Goodbye”, and has rebranded into a new café called Cheeky.

Also gone are most of the plants which added more character to the space. In comes a casual dining space – café in the morning, craft beer joint by night.

Perhaps it was still in a soft-launch phase, the interior was still looking kind of bare, and I did go in expecting to see some “cheeky” elements or some splashes of colour somewhere.

Cheeky purports to serve up hearty meals made with good ingredients, and signature items include Cheeky Burger ($16), Salmon Pasta ($14), Sambal Crab Scramble ($10), Avo Smoothie Bowl ($8), Smashing Avo ($14), and Coffee Lemon ($6).

I was also looking for something “cheeky” in the menu, which I reckon is still considered safe and similar to what brunch cafes around in the CBD would serve.

The Cheeky Burger ($16) contained beef patties with pickled cabbage slaw, added with their house special sauce, with a side of curly fries.

Having double patties was a nice-surprise, with the meat semi-juicy and above the average burger, but seemed to be on the blander side, perhaps the “special sauce” could have been more obvious.

The tangy slaw was to me the highlight of the burger.

My friend who wanted to have something more nutritious had “That Healthy Bowl” ($14) of Mediterranean Spiced Chicken with cauliflower rice, crumbled feta and burnt capsicum hummus.

Portion was good and considered generous, but I think they could afford to up those Mediterranean flavours.

The café also serves up house-made kombucha, filtered to allow its clean fresh notes to stand out, before being lightly-flavored with natural ingredients.

Perhaps because “The Botanist” was easier to brand, had prettier dishes and a more inviting space, people would inevitably compare the two.

My humble suggestion is that Cheeky can go in-line with its name and afford to be more “playful” in its menu and choice of ingredients.

Cheeky
74 Neil Road Singapore 088839 (Outram Park MRT)
Tel: +65 62200491
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6:30pm (Tues – Fri), 9:30am – 6:30pm (Sat), 9:30am – 4:30pm (Sun)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.