Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014

Hoy hoy! Great news everyone! Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 is coming up soon (this weekend!!) and we're gonna run down some Halal options for you to head down and check out!

This is the 3rd year the event is running and this year promises to be even bigger and better. We're talking about some of the best hawker fare out there and great to see that there are some Halal options featured which look set to be big hits!!

And best of all - everyone can do their part for charity!
All profits will go to 32,000 beneficiaries under Touch Community Service!!

So what exactly can we expect in terms of Halal fare at the festival?

Prata with Poached Egg and Indian Hollandaise Sauce ($10.00)

The Ultimate Hawker Fest is not just about showcasing the bestest and most power hawker food in our beloved Singapore but also a chance for the masters to showcase their skill and creativity by incorporating new and unique ingredients and cooking methods to create fantastic spin-offs of our favourite dishes.

The masters at The Prata Place - one of the most popular prata joints in Singapore - have truly outdone themselves with this dish which will remind you of Eggs Benedict or Eggs Royale when you take a look at it.

So you have a Prata Kosong as your base (and yes, it's still good ol' crispy prata!) and on top of that you have a slice of turkey ham for an extra bite and some savoury flavour. Next, you have a poached egg which is super power when you break into it and the yolk runs all over the shop. *drool*
If that's not enough, they top it off with an Indian Hollandaise Sauce which incorporates curry and spices and gives you a unique flavour kick like no other!

And just how power is the poached egg???

ZOMG DAMN POWER RIGHT!!!!
You know we have a thing for poached eggs and this one does not disappoint at all!!
And the finished product when you're about to dig in?

Looks like a big yummy mess! I am sure some of you are going ZOINKS just about now.
We had our doubts when we first heard the idea but we hail to this excellent food invention!
Don't be put off by the idea - just try and it and you'll know just how power it is!!

The Prata Place has been at the festival for 3 years straight and has always been a big hit.
First it was The Ultimate Murtabak and then it was The Murta-burger (which we will review separatelt very very soon!) and this year they have come up with yet another sure hit!

Look out for another Halal choice too!
Asam Tree Cafe will be there at the festival with their offering - 'Longtong!!

Well, trust us - the Prata with Poached Egg and Indian Hollandaise Sauce is more than enough reason to go! We still can't get over how surprisingly power this dish was! LOL

A unique twist on classic dishes and so delicious - that's what Ultimate Hawker Fest is all about!!

The Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 will be held this weekend, Saturday 22 November 2014 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre Halls 401-402. Festival will run between 11am til 5pm but take this tip from us - head down early to grab some of this prata fast because it's confirmed gonna sell out fast we tell you!!

Entry is free but you'll need to buy coupons to get your hands on the food.
Coupons can be purchased at www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg and you can collect them at TOUCH Community Services at Bukit Merah Central or at the event booth at Suntec on the day itself.
You can also make a donation at the site! Let's do our part to help out while enjoying some makan!!

Special thanks to one of our idols, Ms Maureen Ow aka Miss Tam Chiak and also Derrick Tan from SGFoodOnFoot and Ian Low from The Silver Chef who happen to be curators of this year's festival. With these names involved, you can confirm it's gonna be power!

And a special hearty thanks to Mr Guna from The Prata Place for blowing our minds with the prata!!

See you all at  Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 this weekend okay!! YES YOU!!

Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014

Saturday 22 November 2014
Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre Halls 401-402
11.00am til 5.00pm

www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg

Prata Scholar Workshop @ Casuarina Curry

Advertorial

Hey everyone! Looking for something fun and unique to do AND get stuffed with prata at the same time? Well, we have just the thing for you!!!

Casuarina Curry is an icon when the topic of Prata is brought up. It's been around for ages and is one of the most popular prata places in Singapore. In fact, it's my mum's favourite!!

Well besides offering dozens of Prata variations, Thosai, Mee Goreng and Briyani, Casuarina is now also offering the chance to learn first-hand how to make Prata like the pros and then reward yourself with as much prata as you can eat afterwards! Perfect for family outings or gatherings with friends. And the kids are sure to love it!!

Mr Baboo - The Prata Professional

A real Prata Professional is on hand to show you the ropes and teach you the tricks on how to flip the perfect prata. Mr Baboo has been flipping pratas for a long time so he surely knows what he's doing right? And he's the real deal too... How can we be so sure?

If he can do this, he's a professional

Anyways don't worry he's got most of the stuff ready for you when you arrive.
So all you'll need to bring are your hands and a sporting attitude and you'll be flipping prata in no time! Let me show you how it's done *ahem ahem*

Step 1 - Flatten it out

Step 2 - Flip it (Flip it good!)

Step 3 - Stretch it out

Step 4 - Realize you need a bit more practice

My first try EVER at making prata and it was actually really fun. I initially thought it was sure to be a cinch and "confirmed no problem one lah!!" and the I realized it's a lot harder than it looks! But it was really fun!

I actually ruined my first one before I even had a chance to flip it because I pressed to hard when I flattened it out. But once you try it a few times you start to get the hang of it.

Let's see how Mein Brudder fared...

Looks like not bad right... Even Mr Baboo looks impressed..
And then suddenly...

Check out Mr Baboo! Totally LOL-ing.
Okay never mind... Maybe we should try it together...

Ready to flip (check out my face of concentration)

FLIP!!

SUCCESS!!!

Mr Baboo gives us the thumbs up!

Okay so maybe we both need more practice but this Prata Workshop is actually something really unique. I'm not aware of anywhere else that you can go and learn the ropes to making prata like this.
And like we said it's great fun especially for the kids!!

Great activity with the family on a weekend out or even with a bunch of friends who want to try something new just for fun and laughs. Got some friends or guests from out of town? Perfect chance to show them some of our local food culture!!

Anyways, the good news is that the price you pay is not just flip pratas.
You also get ALL THE PRATA YOU CAN EAT plus one drink! Is that a great deal or what!!!

YEAAHHHH!!!

So for $15, you not only great a great session of prata-making but you also get to wolf down all the prata you can stomach too! I can think of a few people who would definitely jump at such an offer!
We are talking about Casuarina Prata! one of the pioneers of Crispy Prata in Singapore and you get an unlimited supply of prata til you are filled to the max!

Pssssttt here's a tip for you all... The $15 price applies to unlimited Plain Prata (aka Prata Kosong) only... top up with a few more dollars and you could enjoy the special pratas too!! We're talking about more than a dozen types of prata to choose from!! Trust us - that's a great deal!

And you get a nice souvenir certificate too! Something for the kids to hang up on their wall.
Who knows... if I ever visit a prata place in future and I see this certificate hanging on the wall of the shop, I'll know Mr Baboo's student is running the joint!!

They've got several time slots daily so this will be great for the holidays too!
Start planning now and book your places for this coming weekend!!

Casuarina Curry

136 Casuarina Road (Thomson)

Tel: 6455 9093
www.casuarinacurry.com

Operating Hours:
7.00am til Midnight
(Please refer to poster for Prata Workshop timings)

One Cupcake A Day

Advertorial

BEHOLD THE AGE OF THE CUPCAKE!

Let's face it. Cupcakes are the in-thing. I mean, how many cupcake shops (online or not) can you name right off the top of your head. I can think of about 9 myself and that's just skimming the surface I'm sure. And sure there are still a majority of shops which are not Halal for one reason or another but trust me there are still plenty of options for us to choose from.

But when someone says "Cupcake", I'm guessing the first thing that came to your mind is a nice sweet treat with sweet icing and sweet fillings. Am I right? Am I right?

Well today, I bring to you - The Savoury Cupcake!!

One Cupcake A Day is really unique because it offers not only sweet cupcakes but also savoury ones!
I honestly can't think of another place that offers this and in fact I'd never even thought that Halal savoury cupcakes existed in SG!

Their flavours are unique and reflect Singaporean tastes too! Just wait and see!
I know that you're probably thinking "Savoury cupcakes? No way!" but give it a chance okay
McGriddles also sweet and savoury mah... Read on!!

And the adventure begins...

Oiishi Voom

Inside Oiishi Voom

Oiishi Voom is a Japanese themed cupcake.
A White Chocolate Cupcake with Teriyaki Chicken filling and Wasabi frosting with seaweed.

I was expecting an explosion of Wasabi with the frosting but you'll be glad to know that the Wasabi flavour is not overwhelming and quite sweet (it is a frosting after all). The Teriyaki Chicken filling was actually quite tasty in my opinion. It may be an acquired taste but it was actually pretty good!

Gado-Gado Satay

Inside Gado-Gado Satay

Gado-Gado Satay is something a little bit (a lot more) local!
A Vanilla cupcake with Beef Satay and Peanut Sauce filling and Clove Buttercream frosting and keropok.

I think among all the 6 cupcakes we tried, this one had the combination that worked the best.
Although it was quite subtle, you could taste the clove flavour in the frosting and the beef satay was actually really tasty. I think maybe the reason why it worked well is because the vanilla flavour of the cupcake was not so overwhelming.

Maharani

Inside Maharani

Maharani might appeal to all you curry-lovers out there.
A spicy Chocolate cupcake with Minced Beef Curry filling topped off wit Mashed Potato, coriander and fried shallots.

The curry filling was tasty! The mashed potato was a good choice to go with the filling since curry and potatoes go so well together. The spicy cupcake wasn't that spicy by the way. In fact it was a little on the sweet side. But this was good enough to be my Darling Wife's favourite cupcake of the day!

BF (Breakfast Favourite)

Inside BF (Breakfast Favourite)

Breakfast Favourite - A cupcake fit for breakfast?
Maple cupcake with Chicken Ham filling topped off with Cream Cheese frosting and Turkey Bacon.

Let me start by saying that the Maple cupcake was the bomb! Really tastes like maple syrup!
The chicken ham had a bit of a woody taste but you won't notice it when you get the maple and cream cheese combo in one bite!!

Krabi Love

Inside Krabi Love

We're more of Phuket people but Krabi Love is fine too :P
Coconut cupcake with Seafood Tom Yam filling. Up top is Lemon Cream frosting.

Well the Tom Yam flavour actually packs quite a kick! It's not super spicy (the chilli padi will take care of that!) but you can definitely taste the Tom Yam flavour over everything. Great combination of flavour!
This was my Brother's fave cupcake of the day!

Uniquely Melayu

Inside Uniquely Melayu

Uniquely Melayu definitely lives up to its name.
A Pandan cupcake with Sambal filling and finished off with Coconut frosting and Ikan Bilis.

This was my favourite cupcake of the day. I think there's just something about the Sambal and Ikan Bilis combo that always gets me.And the Pandan cupcake was delicious!!
This was pretty much Nasi Lemak in a cupcake!!

I'll admit that my reaction was pretty much the same as everyone I mentioned this to.
I wasn't so sure if I was going to enjoy the savoury cupcakes but I have to say I was very very pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

The flavours are really out there and you might need some time to absorb the info but once you get your mind around that roadblock, trust me - TRY THESE CUPCAKES!!!
I mean come on, at how many other places are you gonna find something so unique?

Cupcakes cost about $3.50 each but they do have Bake Sales sometimes so you can grab a good deal!
You just need to look out on the Instagram page!!

You can place your orders via onecupcakeaday@gmail.com

One Cupcake A Day

www.onecupcakeaday.com
Instagram: www.iphoneogram.com/u/615193298

Order at  onecupcakeaday@gmail.com

Afghanistan: Chapati & Kheema

Chapati & Beef Kheema Set ($4.00)

Okay just a quickie one here boys and girls.
Just wanted to share a recent quick meal at Afghanistan with all of yous.

The North Indian Stall aka Yes Boss Too has been one of the faves of quite a number of people who visit Afghanistan regularly. They have quite a number of North Indian favourites including Naan and Tandoor.

We're having something a bit simpler this time for a start - Chapati!!

It's quite easy to get Chapatis nowadays and you can even buy them in frozen form to cook at home but even for something as simple as Chapati, some people take great pains to find a Chapati that they like!
I remember there used to be a stall at the old KTM Railway Station in Tanjong Pagar that used to serve a great Chapati but that's gone now I'm afraid.

The Chapati at Afghanistan is quite standard I guess.
But I think that what some people pay closer attention to is the Kheema that comes along.

The Kheema at Yes Boss Too is made up of minced beef and some veggies.
There isn't as much beef as it looks like in the picture I'm afraid but plenty of potatoes. Some peas and carrots make up the rest of the lot.

Something you might have noticed by now is that the Kheema is a bit 'wetter' than some versions you might get at other places. I kinda like it this way. Gives a bit extra for you to mop up with the Chapati!

Maryah's Verdict:
Chapati & Beef Kheema Set 3/5

I'm not really sure where else we might be able to find Chapati of a spectacular standard that makes it stand out. Perhaps our dear readers might have some tips?

 Afghanistan Family Restaurant

201E Tampines Street 23
North Indian Cuisine (Yes Boss Too!!!)

Tel: 6783 7746

Operating Hours:
7.30am til 11.30pm Daily
(Opens at 3.00pm on Friday afternoons)

The Quest For Briyani Part 5: Afghanistan

So it took us awhile but we're back on the trail and The Quest For Briyani continues!
(You can read the rest of the series by clicking HERE if you're just joining us)

For the longest time, even before I started this blog by the way, people have been telling me about how great the Nasi Briyani at Afghanistan in Tampines was. In fact, I've been hearing about its 'legendary' status since I was in my teens.

It's actually quite surprising that this would actually be the first time I was going to try it especially since it was so accessible to me in the first place.

Mutton Briyani ($5.00)

Let me start of by saying that they're quite generous with the serving.
Definitely enough to fill you up if you're hungry or just right to share between 2 people.

The one thing that I noticed when I sat down with the Briyani was that something was missing.
You know how you get the aroma you get when you just sit down with a nice hot place of Nasi Briyani still steaming from the freshly served rice? Well, that was missing.

The rice was fluffy and no doubt the traditional Basmati but that's about all I have to report.
There was no fragrant aroma and the rice was severely lacking taste. Very surprising for a plate of Briyani which I've been hearing about for years.

I will not claim to be an expert on Briyani and I know there are plenty more Nasi Briyani places for me to visit but I think I know what I'd expect from a decent plate of Briyani and something is quite wrong if that distinct aroma is missing.

The meat wasn't exactly super tender but I guess it was okay. You could still tear it apart without much effort.
Unfortunately the masala was quite bland as well. Again, another shocker.

The acar gave some life to the dish I guess. Nothing spectacular but at least there was some flavour to it.

Actually, I realized something about halfway through my dish.
The individual parts of the dish on their own were severely lacking. The rice was tasteless on its own. The meat was not that enjoyable on its own. And there's no point just eating the acar on its own. The only way I could get though it was to eat every single spoonful with a bit of everything. There was simply no chance of enjoying my meal by eating the rice or the meat on its own.

Adam's Verdict:
Mutton Briyani 1.5/5

Who knows. Maybe I'm just being fussy? Maybe the Chicken Briyani is better?
Well, whatever the case may be, I was actually really disappointed. Has the standard of Afghanistan really dropped?

Perhaps I'll try it again some time and hopefully then I might be able to relive the high standards that everyone seems to remember so fondly.

Afghanistan Family Restaurant

201E Tampines Street 23
Briyani / Murtabak Stall

Tel: 6783 7746

Operating Hours:
7.30am til 11.30pm Daily
(Opens at 3.00pm on Friday afternoons)

Saffrons Cafeteria - Mee Kuah

I know Saffron is a big favourite with the crowds.
Prata is always the bomb here. Mee Goreng is always able to satisfy. Briyani and Nasi Campur is top notch.
But one thing I've always wanted to try was the Mee Kuah.

Never really got the chance because we always end up ordering Mee Goreng or Prata when I go with my darling wife. So when I visited with my 2 bros-in-law, we ended up as 3 guys with Mee Kuah.

Mee Kuah ($4.00)

I've heard people mention the Mee Kuah at Saffron to me before and the response was always the same...
"Not bad but I've had better."

I think the main reason for this is the gravy itself.
Mee Kuah is supposed to pack a punch through its gravy which is a melting pot of spices and pepper and whatever else goodness they throw in there. You can expect the noodles to give it any kick right?

In this case, the kuah definitely has taste but seems to lack a strong flavour. I mean, it's definitely spicy but I guess that you'd expect a more tasty gravy. I've had Mee Kuah where it's not just the spice that gets you but you can really taste the different spices that make up the complex and mysterious flavour.

And if that's not enough, the gravy is actually pretty watery. Not that bad but maybe that plays a part in the lack of flavour?

And by the way, if you've got a big appetite for the noodles, the serving of noodles is pretty small you might wanna ask for extra if you're feeling really hungry.... But if you're like me and not really after the noodles then don't worry - the kuah will keep you company.

Adam's Verdict:
Mee Kuah 2.5/5

Razali's Verdict:
Mee Kuah 3/5

Azim's Verdict:
Mee Kuah 3.5/5

I guess the Mee Kuah is not that bad but when I go back to Saffron, I'm probably going to order the Mee Goreng or some good old Prata.

Saffrons Cafeteria

Blk 201D Tampines Street 21
#01-1163

Tel: 6787 6010
www.facebook.com/SaffronsCafeteria

Operating Hours: 24 hours Daily