IndoChili Part IV

That's right we are back again!

IndoChili is the most reviewed makan place on The Halal Food Blog!! 4th visit and counting!!
And it's not just that the food and service are great. It's also because even though we've visited so many times, we're still trying something new with each visit!!

Azlan & Yana - Resident Reviewers

This time we are visiting with Azlan & Eriyana aka Mein Brudder and Mein Sister-In-Law who have heard us talking so much about IndoChili that they finally couldn't take it and decided to meet us for lunch.

We had the usual favourites like the Sate Ayam Madura which is THE BOMB no matter how many times we have it. We had 2 servings as usual because 1 is never enough.

My darling wife decided to have the Nasi Timbel which I had during our first visit.

Rendang Sapi ($9.80)

We also had the Rendang Sapi which we sampled during one of our recent visits.
Meat was still tender and so full of flavour (a little on the salty side this time though). If you love Rendang, this is a must-have when you visit IndoChili. A great accompaniment when you're having rice!

Ayam Kari Padang ($8.80)

Something new we decided to try was the Ayam Kari Padang.
Despite it's name, it's not really what you'd expect when you order a 'curry'. In fact, from the picture, you might probably guess it's more of a 'lemak' dish.

Full of wholesome 'lemak' flavour with just a hint of curry from the curry leaves. But it's definitely not a curry so it's you're looking for a 'curry', this is not for you. But having said that, this chicken we got was huge!
The thigh part you see above was enough for 2-3 people to share!

Tahu Telor ($8.80)

Now the Tahu Telor was a horse (or rather a beancurd) of a different colour!

Beancurd and egg deep-fried to a crispy perfection on the outside but a steaming wonderland inside. Smother it with peanut gravy and top it off with beansporuts, carrots and keropok udang and you have yourself a winner!

If tucking into the hearty egg/beancurd is not enough to grab you, the peanut gravy was excellent and very very tasty. Come on! How can you pass up on some Tahu Telor!!

Tumpeng Mini ($9.80)

JENG JENG JENG!!
Here's something that I've been dying to try since our first visit but it's either sold-out or I end up ordering something else because I'm eating in a group.

Well since this was my 4th visit, I had no excuse.
It was definitely - TUMPENG TIME!

Well let me introduce you to the gang.

You've got a nice mount of their special Yellow Rice surrounded by a lot of goodies to go along.
The meat portion is a piece of Ayam Bumbu Rojak which is chicken with some 'rojak' gravy. This was my first time trying it and I thought it was delicious! It definitely went will with the yellow rice and very tasty!

You've also got some perkedel aka bagedil. Let's face it - chicken and potatoes are like... chicken and potatoes. Must have combination! Some peanut acar, vegetable (cucumber, carrot and pineapple) acar and keropok round thing off.

This is actually a very famous Javanese dish and the bigger full version is meant to be enjoyed by a whole group of people which gives everyone a chance to bond and share in the happiness found when sharing a meal. IndoChili also has the full version (for catering) but the Tumpeng Mini is a perfect intro if you've never had anything like it before and a hearty meal to enjoy by yourself or even to share between 2 people.

Mein Brudder decided to try the Strawberry Cream Soda because it looked damn nice.
It was quite tasty but here's a tip for you. Just mix the cream in and drink. Don't worry if it's a little sour. We checked with the staff just to be sure and it's meant to be that way. Kinda like a yoghurt. Refreshing!

Yana actually had the Es Kopi Durien (which I am so sorry I didn't take a picture).
And she says it was the BOMB! Surprisingly, durian and coffee apparently go very well together and they do it perfectly at IndoChili.

She even went as far as to say that if she had to order just 2 things from IndoChili, it would be the Es Kopi Durien and the Es Teler.

Es Teler ($6.80)

That's right. You heard me. ES TELER!
You didn't think we'd miss out on a chance to order it did you?
If you had to bet your last dollar on what we'd order at IndoChili, bet on the Es Teler.

Too sweet for some. But it's the bomb.

Es Delima ($6.00)

We also decided to try something new in the desserts department so we tried the Es Delima.
This is also another pretty popular Indo dessert. A bed of shaved ice with Red Ruby, coconut and jackfruit.
Not as sweet as the Es Teler so a good choice if you're looking for something to coll down without the sugar overload.

Adam's Verdict:
Sate Ayam Madura 4/5 -- Kari Ayam Padang 2.5/5 -- Rendang Sapi 3.5/5 -- Tahu Telor 4/5
Tumpeng Mini 3.5/5 -- Es Teler 5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Nasi Timbel 3/5 -- Tahu Telor 4/5 -- Es Delima 1.5/5

Azlan's Verdict:
Sate Ayam Madura 4.5/5 -- Rendang Sapi 3/5 -- Tahu Telor 4.5/5
Tumpeng Mini 3.5/5 -- Es Teler 4/5 -- Strawberry Cream Soda 3.5/5

Yana's Verdict:
Sate Ayam Madura 4/5 -- Kari Ayam Padang 1/5 -- Rendang Sapi 3/5 -- Tahu Telor 5/5
Es Teler 5/5 -- Es Kopi Durien 5/5

Needless to say, another happening visit to IndoChili.
We heard they might be making some changes to their menu items this year so we hope we get to visit soon and we will report back our findings soon!

IndoChili

54 Zion Road

www.indochili.com
www.facebook.com/IndoChili
Tel: 6445 1766 / 8168 4958

Operating Hours: 
11.30am til 10.30pm Daily

Soon Lee (Bedok Corner): Fried Carrot Cake and Fried Oyster

In the past, the only place that I could eat Fried Carrot Cake aka Chai Tau Kway was at home.
My Dad would fry it up (always the 'black' version) and we would promptly devour it because it's the bomb.
But now with more and more different types of cuisine getting certified Halal, you can get Fried Carrot Cake at any one of a number of places these days.

Many many years ago, I stumbled upon a stall at Bedok Corner selling Fried Carrot Cake, Fried Oyster and Char Kway Teow. And best of all - it was Halal! And plenty of people seemed to be flocking towards it so I guess they had to be doing something right.

So we hadn't visited Bedok Corner in quite awhile and one day, I grabbed the opportunity to get my Chai Tau Kway fix. And that's where the mystery began... (Watch out for the twist later)

Fried Carrot Cake (Black) ($3.00)

Definitely my preferred of the two versions is the 'Black' Fried Carrot Cake which is fried with thick sweet sauce to give it a nice sweet and soggy perfection. Comfort food and very tasty!!

Carrot cake pieces are mixed in with the sweet sauce and egg and it sounds so simple but it takes real skill to dish out a nice serving of Fried Carrot Cake (as like most other dishes). And for $3.00, you have to admit that Soon Lee definitely dishes out a very generous serving. That's enough for 2 people!

Only one problem though - the Chai Poh (Salted Radish) was missing!!

Fried Carrot Cake (White) ($3.00)

Very very very very seldom do I order the 'White' version. In fact, I think this might be only the 3rd time I'm doing so in my entire life!! I'm not saying it's bad (maybe just a bit boring) but I guess it's just individual preference.

The 'White' version as you can see is a lot less messy than it's sweet sauce counterpart. I guess this means you will get a more 'original' taste when you tuck into the fried carrot cake which has a nice semi-crispy omelette to top it off. You will definitely get a strong peppery taste.

One of the things I notice about both versions at Soon Lee is that it is not too oily which is a plus.
But again - no Chai Poh!! I'm not sure about you guys but that minced up pickled radish is a must for me in Fried Carrot Cake... Kinda lacks a certain kick without it. Anyone feel the same?

Fried Oyster ($5.00)

The best Fried Oyster we've reviewed (so far) was at the now-closed Mr Teh Tarik in Changi Village.
Could this version match up??

Definitely (again) and very generous portion for the price you pay and plenty of oysters for you to tuck into if you're a fan. But I think most of you go for the egg and flour part right? Admit it!!
Well the texture of the egg/rice flour part was quite crispy in some parts but definitely lacking a nice gooey texture overall.

On top of that, the sambal was actually quite disappointing. You can see from the picture that it's a bit watery and didn't have quite as much kick as you'd expect from the sambal.

But like I said - you oyster lovers should be happy :)
Pity about the rest of the dish though... I always remembered it being much nicer than this leh...
Oh well I guess the search continues...

AND HERE COMES THE TWIST!!!
The whole time I was eating, I was thinking to myself "How come the staff at the stall was different?". I'd ordered from that same stall location for many years and it was pretty much the same people all the time (aka a Chinese lady and the 2-3 cooks insides), This time, it was a Malay guy and one Chinese cook.

At first I thought maybe they were still on CNY break or something.
But then - we saw it.... Another stall behind us with the name 'Green Sky' and guess what - I saw the Chinese lady from the original stall there with the cooks!!

NO WONDER LAH!! It seems like the original people shifted to a different stall location. Soon Lee's signage looks similar to the old one so I guess it would be easy to overlook since the location of the stall is what most people would remember (kinda like the Internation vs Mizzy Nasi Lemak at Changi Village).

Adam's Verdict:
Fried Carrot Cake (Black) 3.5/5 -- Fried Carrot Cake (White) 2.5/5 -- Fried Oyster 2/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Fried Carrot Cake (Black) 3/5 -- Fried Carrot Cake (White) 3/5 -- Fried Oyster 3.5/5
Well, whatever happened there I am not sure. But I'm pretty sure we'll be visiting again soon to try out the 'original' stall at its new location and maybe even a Makan vs Makan??

Soon Lee (Bedok Corner)

Bedok Food Centre (Near Bedok Camp)
#01-02

Operating Hours:
10.30am til 9.30pm Daily
Closed on Mondays

Bumbu Desa: Es Kacang

So my darling wife and I have been spending a bit more time at Novena Square recently because we go nearby for some medical checks. This that after these checks, we do makan most of the time at Novena Square and/or the surrounding area.

One of those particular days, my darling wife suddenly decides she feels like having something "icy and sweet". Luckily for us, we came across Bumbu Desa!

Es Kacang ($4.30)

So the Es Kacang is a nice big bowl of sweet Red Beans, cononut milk and ice.
That's about as simple as it gets I think and yet it can still be so good!

They're not stingy with the coconut milk so you get a nice rich coconut milk flavour with every spoonful you shove in your mouth. And the beans are big, sweet and really really satisfying if you're having a *ahem* craving. SATISFYING TO THE MAX!

But I do wish they would have done a bit of a better job with the ice instead of having one big block in the middle like that. I guess the best way to sum this one up is Cendol but without the Cendol.
Weird right?

Adam's Verdict:
Es Kacang 3/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Es Kacang 4/5

They actually have quite a interesting menu with a nice big spread of Indo classics. Looks like we might drop by for a full meal the next time!

Bumbu Desa

Novena Square 2 #B1-01 to 05
10 Sinaran Drive

Tel: 6397 2783
www.bumbudesasg.com

Operating Hours:
11.00am til 10.00pm Daily

Selera Cuppage

So I've heard about the legendary Selera Curry Puffs which used to be sold around Rex Cinema back in the old days. We're talking about a curry puff that could go up against (Old) Chang Kee apparently!
Well, unfortunately I never got the chance to try those curry puffs and I thought I would never get the chance.

Pak Busu Zul & Abang Razali

Apparently I was wrong! Thanks to Pak Busu Zul and Abang Razali, just found out recently that Selera has survived and is currently located at Cuppage!(Heard they also have a restaurant along Mackenzie Road?)
That's right. That includes the famous curry puffs as well!

But when we visited this time, it was quite late and the curry puffs were already sold out so we decided to have a proper meals instead.

Sliced Fish Soup Noodles ($5.00)

My darling wife was feeling a little under the weather so she decided to have something soupy.
And when it comes to 'something soupy' and 'under the weather', you can bet on some fish soup right?

When the dish arrived, the smell was actually kind of a put-off.
The fish had that hamching smell that is so fishy that it puts most people off eating completely.
Fortunately in this case, it was only the smell that was fishy. The fish itself didn't taste fishy and was quite fresh so I'm not quite sure how come the smell ended up being like that.

You have a choice of noodles and my darling wife chose her favourite Bee Hoon.
The soup itself was actually quite bland. I guess overall, you'll probably end up trying to justify the rather high price of $5.00 for this bowl of fish soup.

Fried Hokkien Mee with Prawn and Sotong ($5.50)

Pak Busu decided to have the Fried Hokkien Mee aka Rochor Mee.
The best Hokkien Mee we've had outside of home was the Fried Hokkien Mee found at the now-closed Mr Teh Tarik at Changi Village. So it was going to be interesting to see how this matched up.

I guess it definitely looked the part but Pak Busu says it was nothing spectacular.
The one thing I can definitely spot that was out of the ordinary was the sambal on the side.
How can you have Hokkien Mee without Sambal Belacan??

Bee Hoon Hong Kong ($5.00)

Here's something that Razali says he has pretty much every time he goes there.
Simple and satisfying with noodles, some greens and seafood (like fishcake, prawns and squid).
And it's quite a generous serving too.

But something that I actually didn't really appreciate was that they just poured the gravy and everything else over the noodles. That means when you dig into the noodles, the middle of it is still dry and you have to mix up the gravy first. Maybe it's just me being fussy but I feel that they should mix the whole lot up while cooking.

Wanton Noodles (Dry) ($6.00)

And last but not least of the mains, I had the Wanton Noodles (Dry).
Seems like everyone had noodles eh.

I've had Wanton Noodles at many many makan places (including the now-closed Tong Seng) and hold this dish in quite high regard. It's quite a simple dish and I guess it's quite widely available but everyone has that one stall that they will always go back to for their favourite Wanton Noodles.

Well, for me, after eating at Selera I can safely say -- I have yet to find my favourite Wanton Noodles.
Because this was definitely not it.

You get quite a generous serving of noodles and some greens and shreds of Char Siew Chicken. The Wanton (in case you can't seem them) are the boiled type but they don't come in any soup. This made them rather dry. And they weren't exactly the tastiest dumplings around.

Oh well. Better luck next time I guess.
And speaking of dumplings.

Fried Wantons ($8.00)

As usual, gotta have some of the fried version right?
But this is also where we got the most debate. After all, everyone has their fave wanton like I said.

Abang really liked the Fried Wantons here because they were crispy and even went as far as to say that he found them better than the ones found at Puncak (Far East). My darling wife on the other hand, says that the skin was too thick and the filling was too dry. Puncak's Fried Wantons was still tops in her books.

For me, I felt that the thicker Wanton skin they used here definitely gave more crunch when you chomped down but I think I too prefer the thinner-skinned (and maybe even smaller) Wantons.
And was the filling really too dry?

You be the judge

Fried Baby Squid ($14.00)

I really love Fried Baby Squid. And so does my Brother.
Never had to pay $14.00 for it before though! Bloody expensive!

The baby squids here were actually smaller than where you might get at other makan places (maybe they used Foetus Squids). The tentacle parts were really crispy but the bodies were kinda tough and chewy (which I actually don't really mind).

One thing I did like was that the sauce has a very lime-y tangy twist to it which was very appetizing.
Unfortunately there was very little sauce so it ended up being a bit dry.

Adam's Verdict:
Wanton Noodles (Dry) 2/5 -- Fried Wantons 2.5/5 -- Fried Baby Squid 3/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Sliced Fish Soup Noodles 2/5 -- Fried Wantons 2/5 -- Fried Baby Squid 2/5

Pak Busu's Verdict:
Fried Hokkien Mee with Prawn and Sotong 3/5 -- Fried Wantons 3/5 -- Fried Baby Squid 3/5

Abang's Verdict:
Bee Hoon Hong Kong 3/5 -- Fried Wantons 4.5/5 -- Fried Baby Squid 3/5

Overall I felt that our meal was really pricey and not really up to standards.
I'm not sure how it was in the past at the original location but I'm guessing perhaps times have changed.

Guess I'll go back to try their famous Curry Puffs someday.

Selera Cuppage

Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Road
#01-11

Tel: 62350520

Operating Hours:
12.00pm til 11.00pm Daily
(Closed on CNY)

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)

Gofre

So we chanced upon this place while we were actually next door buying some kain and baju.
It's a good thing I stepped out for a breather and happened to notice it because it wasn't there the last time I visited (whch to be fair was quite long ago).

So it's a place called Gofre.
And I'm not 100% sure but my research tells me that Gofre loosely translates to 'Waffle'.
Which happens to be one of the specialties here.

And when you have waffles, you're almost definitely going to have Ice-Cream.

Triple Chocolate ($5.90 double scoop)

Just a simple cup of ice-cream with no additional topping and it was more than satisfying!
Sometimes, something simple is enough!

The Triple Chocolate really lived up to its name with a rich chocolate flavour and laced with chocolate chips.
You chocolate lovers will really enjoy this. You can even chocolatify (is that a real word?) it further by adding on some chocolate toppings!

But if you're looking for something other than Chocolate, they also have French Vanilla, Minty Chocolate Chips, Coconut, Salted Caramel, Macadamia Caramel and my personal favourite - Strawberry.

A check with the person serving us the ice-cream and we found out that the ice-cream is handmade but not on location. They actually purchase the ice-cream from a local source which means it's fresh and guaranteed to be a good quality.

Waffle Pops ($6.50)

So my darling wife and I were almost going to try the signature offering there which was the Gofre (waffle) but we decided to try something a little different that caught our attention.

So Waffle Pops are basically little balls made out of the waffle batter.
You can choose from either the normal waffle batter or the Pandan flavoured one. We chose the latter.
And please do not be fooled. These are not your average Pandan Dough Balls.

This the real deal with a really thick one for you to chomp down on.
Nice and dense and it doesn't get too soggy from soaking up all the ice-cream. Nice Pandan flavour too!

So you have Pandan Waffle Balls with ice-cream and some toppings.
We chose to add on some White Chocolate Chips and Blueberries to give it a nice sweet and tart finish.
You could also choose from other toppings like Mixed Nuts, Fruity Pebbles, Banana Nut Crunch, Love Letters, Cocoa Crunch or Rainbow Sprinkles.

And let me tell you - the Strawberry Ice-Cream is delicious!!
It's not overly sweet and just tart enough that you can tell that whoever made the ice-cream use real fruits.

Adam's Verdict:
Triple Chocolate Ice-Cream 4/5 -- Waffle Pops with Strawberry Ice-Cream 3.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Triple Chocolate Ice-Cream 4.5/5 -- Waffle Pops with Strawberry Ice-Cream 4.5/5

It's a pretty small place and easy to miss but if you're in the area and you want a sweet treat (they also have coffee and other beverages like Sodas), look around the corner of Zam-Zam Restaurant and you'll find this little gem.

I'm not sure if they rotate or change their ice-cream flavours and toppings but hopefully they do so that we have more variety to choose from! Here's to more Gofre soon!!

Gofre

118 Arab Street

www.facebook.com/GofreSingapore
Tel: 9662 1187

Operating Hours:
1.00pm til 9.00pm Mondays - Thursdays
2.00pm til 10.00pm Fridays - Sundays

Fish & Co

I remember the big fuss when Fish & Co opened in Singapore all those years ago.
Seems like not so long ago but that was 1998! About 15 years ago! Well it wasn't always certified Halal because they did serve alcoholic beverages along with their famous seafood but no worries about that now!

And I know that a lot of people would label Fish & Co as one of those restaurants that is overrated and would rather avoid but I guess it's not so bad in my books and I quite like it to be honest.

Well we are visiting their flagship store at Glass House in Dhoby Ghaut and hoping for a good hearty meal! I remember all the fanfare when they first opened at Glass House and would make regular visits there with family and colleagues especially since we were all working in the area!

Well, that was a pretty long time ago and plenty of people have given feedback about Fish & Co over the years. Some good. Some bad. But hey that's the same with a lot of places right?

Well I'm hungry so let's start with some appetizers shall we?

Mushroom Soup ($4.50)

I know that doesn't look very spectacular but hey I have to include the soup right?
We actually ordered the Soup of the Day and it happened to be Mushroom Soup today.

Despite it's rather pale colour, it actually tasted okay. There were bits of mushroom here and there with a nice earthy and warming taste. I guess if they would only do something to improve the look of it.
But having said that, it's definitely an improvement from the time when they used to serve their soup in teacups. (Does anyone else remember that?)

Anyways, I personally prefer their Chowder (either fish or clam or seafood)

Fried Calamari ($9.95)

Now this is a MUST HAVE especially if my Brother is around!
I think this might actually be one of the best things that they serve at Fish & Co because it's deep fried, tasty and simple enough for everyone to just pick up and enjoy!

The coating is seasoned really well and makes it really tasty with a really crisp bite when you chomp down.
The calamari itself is succulent and not at all rubbery. Goes great with the accompanying mayonnaise!
 And if you're not a fan of the deep fried, they also have Grilled Calamari!

Soft Shell Crab Salad ($11.95)

Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken ($9.95)

We also decided to try some salads to make it a complete meal.
After all, we're supposed have 2 servings of vegetables a day right? :P

The Soft Shell Crab Salad was err... interesting to say the least.
As you can see from the picture, the batter coating on the soft shell crab was really really thick. No doubt it was crispy but you end up having to bite into more batter than crab. I guess some might like it but I guess I personally prefer a little less batter. And as you can see, besides the soft shell crab, the salad itself it pretty basic.

And as for the Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken, sigh.
Yeah sure you get a rel nice big serving of the grilled chicken but because of the hot chicken, the salad below kinda gets.... disappointing. And it's so oily!

Look at how the lettuce leaves have wilted because of the heat from the grilled chicken!
I'm definitely all for a nice hot meal but this might be the first time that I've had a salad where the accompanying meat was so hot that the salad leaves wilted. I'm not sure if this is how it is at all their outlets but this is good if you're going more for the chicken but not if you're hoping for a nice crisp salad.

Crispy Whole Line Fish ($19.95)

This has recently become one of my favourite things to have when I visit Fish & Co.
(It used to be the Swordfish Collar everytime in the past by the way)

Imagine a whole barramundi (which is pretty much like a seabass aka siakap) coated and depp fried til it gets super crispy on the outside but still remains nice and tender and flaky on the inside. You then get to choose if you want to top it off with Sambal OR Lemon Butter Sauce!

I really love the crisp on this fish and when they serve it hot and you peel the flesh back your appetite really gets going! I normally choose the Sambal because I think it goes well. The Sambal itself is not super spicy nor is it the sweet type so it goes well with the fish overall.

When you order, you also get to choose 2 sides to go along.
Either rice, chips, coleslaw, mashed potatoes or stewed vegetables. I always choose the rice (so-called makan nasi with ikan lah konon) and then add it up with either some potatoes or coleslaw. Perfecto!

Adam's Verdict:
Mushroom Soup 2/5 -- Fried Calamari 4/5 -- Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken 2.5/5
Crispy Whole Line Fish with Sambal 4.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Fried Calamari 3.5/5 -- Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken 1/5

Unfortunately it seems like the standards (including the service at Fish & Co Glass House seem to be on the down and down.
There's actually so much more to the Fish & Co menu since they recently revamped it. So look forward to more posts including some sole-ly (geddit geddit) dedicated to the different types of Fish & Chips!

And here's a tip - Top-up $5.50 when you order your main to "Complete Your Meal" with the Soup of the Day and also a choice of drink!

Fish & Co.

Glass House Park Mall
9 Penang Road #01-24

Tel: 6334 1858
www.fish-co.com

Operating Hours:
11.30am til 10.00pm Daily

Old Town White Coffee Part III

Happened to have some spare time so I popped by the newly opened Bedok Mall with some colleagues over lunchtime. Heard about a lot of new and interesting makan places opening there (and some exciting ones to be certified Halal soon!!) so we figured we might try and hunt down some lunch.

And we ended up at Old Town White Coffee!!

You may remember our previous visits to OWTC in our Part I and Part II posts and like I've mentioned - there are so many things on the menu to try! Even after 2 visits, we've barely scratched the surface!

This time I decided to try something I really wanted to try for so long.
I've passed by a few places that sold this kind of steamed/stewed in a pot kind of thing with either rice or soup inside. So what they do is they pack everything into the pot and steam it to cook the things inside.
Unfortunately, none of the places I passed by were Halal.

But at OTWC, there was finally a chance for me to try...

Steam Salted Fish and Chicken Rice ($7.90)

So the version I decided to try first was the Steam Salted Fish and Chicken Rice.

So basically what they do is pack a metal bowl with rice, some chicken meat, salted fish and veggies.
If you take a close look at the first pic, you'll see that the dish is plastic so at OWTC they just steam the metal bowl then put it in the plastic bowl. Not really the traditional way but it'll do I guess.

They douse a little dark and light soy sauce over the rice which gives it most of the flavour.

I was a little disappointed with the chicken meat. I thought they'd put a layer of minced chicken meat (which is what I saw at the other shops) which would cook in the steamer when the bowl was put in but here it seems like the chicken patty was already pre-cooked. At least there was some taste to it though.
Would have been a total fail if the meat was bland.

But I think the biggest disappointment was the salted fish.
What? You can't see any salted fish there? Look closely. It's the tiny thing on top of the chicken.
Can you see it yet? Yup it's that small.

Adam's Verdict:
Steam Salted Fish and Chicken Rice 3/5

I guess despite it's shortcomings, I don't have much of a choice if I wanna eat this kind of dish.
Just wish it would be a little bit more worth it but I guess it'll do for now.

Just a few things to note though.
1) It takes about 20 minutes to prepare so be ready for a bit of a wait
2) The serving may not be enough for big eaters
3) They have a special MyLunch menu where you can have this (from a selection of other dishes) plus a drink for $9.90.

Old Town White Coffee

Bedok Mall
311 New Upper Changi Road
#02-03/04

Operating Hours:
8.00am til 10.30pm Daily
(Last Order 10.00pm)

Tash Tish Tosh

So one of our readers @NoorShareena posts on our FB wall and says we have to drop by this little nook in Onan Road (updated to new location) which "Yummy Halal Subs" and also some pretty great pizza too. We'd actually passed by Onan Road a few days before that and didn't notice any such place.

But as always, our readers know best so we simply had to make our way down and investigate...

So anyways we realized the reason we missed it the first time is because the makan place known as Tash Tish Tosh is actually situated within Best Hawa* restaurant itself. So you might not see it straight away but look out for the red posted outside with the thumbs up and you know you've found it. *(Updated to new location at Katong as of May 2014)

RBP ($5.90)

So one of the specialties of this place is their Subs aka Submarine Sandwiches.
At the introductory price of $5.90, you get a 6-inch sandwich and you can choose from 6 types.
And to make thing interesting, they've abbreviated the names of the sandwiches!

For example, EM = Egg Mayo. THTB = Turkey Ham and Turkey Bacon. CPCB = Chicken Poloni and Chicken Bacon with mushroom. Well, you get the picture right?
Any guess what my sandwich name stands for?

I had the RBP which stands for Roast Beef and Pepperoni (because you know I loves me some meat) and it is (like all their sandwiches) served with romaine lettuce and cheese to accompany your choice of filling.

TCB ($5.90)

My brother decided to go a different route and tried the TCB aka Turkey Ham, Chicken Salami and Beef Bacon for his choice. You can definitely see them pile on the slices of meat in there along with some lettuce to give you a little bit of extra crunch.

One of the owners, Mr Wahid, was nice enough to sit down with us and have a chat. We found out that they use top-grade meat products and bread for their subs.

And when we peeled back the slices of bread, we noticed that even though it was dripping with any sauce, it still have some nice vinaigrette-style action going on to give your sub a little bit more oomph in the taste department.

And apparently, we didn't realize that we actually had a choice of bread between Cheese Focaccia, French Baguette and Oatmeal & Flaxseed.

I'm guessing we got the... Oatmeal and Flaxseed? MAYBE...
Oh who knows. One thing we did know is that the bread was fresh and tasty and definitely a change from your normal everyday loaf.

And I know a lot of you are thinking that the subs look small and maybe not enough to fill you up?
Well, fret not. Simple solutions could be to either 1) Order more or 2) Order some additional items.
And they do have quite a number of additional items for you to choose from!

The one thing that seems to be popular is the Pizza.

Apparently they make it from scratch from the pizza dough to the tomato sauce. Now that's what I call pizza!
We can still remember when our Dad used to make pizza from scratch and it was the best damn pizza we've ever had EVER! And I guess the fact that they make it from scratch here too might be one of the reasons the pizza is a winner with the crowd here. Hopefully we get to try it on o9ur next visit?

But if pizza is not your thing, then please allow us to recommend something to you...
They've got fries and fried stuff and even pasta but we're going with something else...

Buffalo Wings ($5.90)

Believe us when we say this - THESE WINGS ARE THE BOMB!!!

Firstly, the chicken wings are marinated and flavoured perfectly.
Secondly, they are fried to crisp perfection. The inside is nice and juicy and cooked while the outer layer is still crisp even after being smothered in all that sauce!

Now here comes the contention.
It's labelled as Buffalo Wings but it doesn't have the traditional BBQ-sauce taste which you are supposed to get with Buffalo Wings. Instead, the sauce here is more of a... I'd call it a sambal.
It's not the thick type but it covers the chicken well and it's not overly spicy but it definitely packs a full punch of flavour. Definitely a unique and delicious take on a classic.

Well, call it whatever you want but we'll say it again - THESE WINGS ARE THE BOMB!!!
They're so much the bomb that after the subs and the wings, we ordered 2 more bungkus and bring home to makan. How's that? Have we managed to convince you on the BOMBNESS OF THE WINGS!!

Brownie ($2.50)

And for dessert, why not have a Brownie!
It's not the thick fudgy type if that's what you were thinking. It's more of a brownie-cake with a light fluffy texture. Definitely welcome after a large meal.

You could also consider topping up $1.00 and have it Ala-Mode (with vanilla ice-cream).

Adam's Verdict:
RBP 3/5 -- Buffalo Wings 4.5/5 -- Brownie 2.5/5

Azlan's Verdict:
TCB 3.5/5 -- Buffalo Wings 5/5 -- Brownie 2/5

We were quite intrigued with the very unique name of the place and Mr Wahid was kind enough to explain how they decided on it. Quite simply put - Mr Wahid and his wife have a daughter named Natasha aka Tash.
And that makes us the front part of Tash Tish Tosh :) In fact, that's here on the logo!

Thanks to @NoorShareena for the tip! This place is definitely worth a visit!!!

*Updated to new location 18th May 201

Tash Tish Tosh

125 East Coast Road (Inside Alibabar)

www.ttt.com.sg
Tel:

Operating Hours:
12pm to 2pm / 6pm to 11pm Mondays to Fridays
12pm to 11pm Saturdays and Sundays

S.K. Connection - Lontong

First thing that's probably going through your mind is - "Where the heck is this place?" or maybe you're thinking "SK Connection? Tak pernah dengar pun...".

Well that's because this is a place I visit quite a bit during lunchtime at work.
This place is probably more famous for its Nasi Ayam Penyet (which I will officially review soon) but this time I decided to have something I had been craving for at the time.

Lontong ($3.50) + Bagedil ($0.50)

Don't be confused by the giant menu on the wall that has wrongly put up 'Lontong Milinerim' (I believe they were going for Lontong Millenium". Just ask for the Lontong.

And it's actually not bad too. The lodeh is very tasty without being 'too lemak' if you know what I mean.
Lots of veggies come along and make a very satisfying bite. I've added a Bagedil for an extra $0.50 by the way. Just felt like a little bit extra if you know what I mean.

Oh and don't worry about the sambal on the top. It's spicy but not overly so you won't really have that burning mouth sensation. But if you're not keen, let them know to leave it out.

The only disappointing part about this dish is that they use the instant type of rice cakes.
I'm talking about those packets (Like Adabi brand) where you just need to boil the packet and you get instant lontong which you just need to cut up and serve.
I guess I'm the type who prefers the original type of Lontong (the round one). Just a preference I guess.

Adam's Verdict:
Lontong 3.5/5

Just a quickie here and an intro to this place.
Next time it'll be the main star - Nasi Ayam Penyet!!

S.K. Connection

Blk 36 Chai Chee Avenue
#01-169

Tel: 9824 7500

Operating Hours:
6.30am til 5.00pm Mondays til Saturdays
Closed on Sunday