Hungry-Spot: March 2014

Saturday, 22 March 2014

Char Kway Teow (CKT) Wars

Updated Mar'17

What are your Key Performance Indicators for voting the best Char Kway Teow?

Some like it wet whilst others dry.
Some like it for the "hum", the raw cockles - and how fresh and firm they are.
Some like it sweet and black, some prefer closer to the Penang style, with "wok hei" and fragrant.
And some even put green vegetables on top...

Let's Agree to Disagree on Who's Best in the CKT arena...

1. Hai Kee Char Kway Teow
Telok Blangah Crescent

http://hungry-spot.blogspot.sg/2017/04/hai-kee-char-kway-teow.html

2. Outram Char Kway Teow
Hong Lim Food Centre

3. Zion Road Char Kway Teow
Zion Road Food Centre

4. Meng Kee Char Kway Teow
Havelock Road

5. Lao Fu Tzi
Old Airport Road

6. Guan Kee
Ghim Moh Market

http://hungry-spot.blogspot.sg/2017/08/guan-kee-char-kway-teow.html

7. Stall 73 Char Kway Teow
Beach Road Food Centre

8. Amoy Char Kway Teow
Amoy Food Centre

9.Dong Ji Char Kway Teow
Old Airport Road

http://hungry-spot.blogspot.sg/2016/10/what-to-eat-in-old-airport-road.html

To be Added:
Hill Street Char Kway Teow - Bedok South Food Centre

Brunch at Jimmy Monkey

It was one of those overdue catchup sessions with old friends over Sunday brunch. Andrew decided to introduce us to a friend's cafe in a location setaway yet nearby to where we stayed.

Tucked away in the tech parks of Biopolis area in Buona Vista was Jimmy Monkey's. Turns out that the place is ran by a fellow Karateka, Michael Ryan. Small world!

If you are looking for a no-nonsense authentic Aussie brekkie, that pays attention on the brew and the food, this is the place.

On the "Lazy Weekend Menu", I ordered the Jimmy Monkey's Cooked Breakfast ($14) which comes with 2 eggs, a sour dough toast, and rockets - with butter and preserve. Then you can add on the sides. Perhaps a considerate and modular way of customising your meal, but I would never do brunch without BACON! Streaky Bacon ($3) and Grilled Roma Tomatoes ($4), eggs Scrambled and we are good to go.

I would otherwise highly recommend the Creamy Sage Mushrooms ($3). They are so tasty!

For those who are just sick on the Bread and Butter, you could opt for the pasta. Spaghetti with Sauteed Mushrooms ($18). Didn't expect them to be able to pull this off for a coffee joint, but yes this stuff is good. Spaghetti was cooked al dente perfectly, good hand of dressing, not too oily especially with the influence of Mushrooms (no pun intended).

The muffins were on the house. Firm on the outside, moist and fragrant on the inside. Great stuff!

What is a Cafe without tasting the coffee? Full marks for the latte I had. They had invested good money into some serious machinery to roast their beans. And the product is pretty amazing.

The only setback is the lack of space, given the crowds that comes in, I recommend calling for reservations or come early. Otherwise this is the next place you should be for your Hearty Brekkie.

Jimmy Monkey Cafe & Bar
Phone: 6777 8470
Open Daily · 8:30 am – 8:30 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Address: 9 One-north Gateway, 138643

Taste: 4/5
Service: 2.5/5
Ambience: 2.5/5
Price: 3/5 (ave $30 per pax)

Whole Earth - Vegetarian

I used to be a staunch Carnivore... I hated plain tasting vegetables.

But this time for a colleague's farewell, before he returns to India, I decided to bring him to a Vegetarian restaurant that represents local cuisine at the same time. But I was in for a surprise myself!

The signature Olive Brown Rice ($7) came first and it blew me out of the park! Fragrant and Grainy, it was all I could ask for in a Fried Rice dish, but it was also healthy as it is fried using Olive Oil.

The other must try dish as a spice and detox loving vegetarian, was to be the stinky "petai". This came in a heavenly mix of what they call the "Sambal King" ($15). A toss of Long Beans, Eggplants, Petai and Sambal chilli.

I guess the most disappointing and the most pricey dish was the Nonya Curry. It was thick and tasty, and a tad salty, but would go well with white rice. But it just wasn't wow. It tasted more like a slightly spicier Japanese curry.

All in all, I think that they have Tasty Quality food in a Comfortable and clean location. But all these comes at a cost, as I feel that the dishes here are a bit pricey for what you are eating...

The Whole Earth Vegetarian Restaurant
76 Peck Seah St, Singapore 079331
6323 3308

Operating Hours:
Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm (last order at 2:30pm)
Dinner: 5:30 to 10pm (last order at 9:15pm)

Chilli Crab Wars

Many friends and colleagues visiting Singapore have always asked me the perpetual question: Where has the best iconic Singaporean Chilli Crab?

It had never come across to me a dish that I can savour often and I'd probably only crave for it once or twice a year. But here are my recommendations as of now...

Ah Yat's Seafood @ Turf City

Jumbo Seafood @ Riverwalk

Kian Seng Seafood @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 10

Melben Seafood @ Toa Payoh Lor 1

Rong Guang Seafood (Previously at Alexandra)

Others to be included: Uncle Leong, No Signboard etc...

Sunday, 2 March 2014

Fishing for the Best - Fish & Chips

Molly Malone's Famous Fish & Chips

Greenwood Fish Market - Catch of the Day

Level 33 - Lunch Menu

Smith's Fish & Chips @ Balmoral Plaza

Fish & Co - Swiss Cheese

Rotisserie at MBFC II

Manhattan Fish Market - Fish & Chips Lunch Offer

Manhattan Fish Market - Grilled Dory Fillet

Botak Jones' Fish & Chips

Tim Ho Wan

添好運

Since it arrived on our shores from Hong Kong since Apr 2013, it has quickly sprouted into outlets in Plaza Singapura, Toa Payoh, Bedok Mall and Westgate. I've tried the one in Hong Kong, IFC, and attempted to do a comparison.

On the menu, they immediately focus you to four popular items they call the "Big 4 Heavenly Kings" - Baked Bun with BBQ Pork, Pan Fried Carrot Cake, Steamed Egg Cake, Vermicelli Roll with Pork Liver. We decided to give the Pork Liver a miss and order the rest, and save our space for other items on the menu.

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork ($4.50)