Founder Bak Kut Teh

We were bored. Jigga Man was free and the Mrs had something else to do. I was having my pre natal cravings (I hear pregnant women have it constantly) again. Jigga Man wanted to bring me around in his new ride and I decided on Bak Kut Teh(BKT). Something that I have mentioned several memoirs ago and was thinking about.

As some of you might know, Bradell is a strange place. A place not unlike Mars but more similar to the atmosphere on Saturn. The line was long and I was reassured by Jigga Man that when there is a long line, "they will come." So we came, and waited. And after an approximate wait of 20 mins and my hunger pangs pang-ing, we finally got our seats.

We had already pre ordered while waiting in line and can I say this? I think I can because its my blog, this BKT was out of this world. There are 2 types of BKT, the darker broth that is supposedly more herbal and the clearer broth that is more peppery, it depends on whether you are Jackal or Hyde that day I guess, or Michael Jackson but I digress ... The BKT soup served here was only a tinge of pepper and a whole lot of garlic sweetness. The broth was clean and delicate. The pork ribs were meaty and succulent, the salted vegetable were well done and their vegetables broiled in broth was lovely.

Maybe like the Singapore version of the Carnegie Deli in New York, there were tons of pictures of local and Asian celebrities on the walls, so I guess some people like it.

A place worth re-visiting over and over again. Highly recommended. 12 thumbs up! But beware the line and wait.

TV: Enviromental Rant

I don't want to go on a rant here but I have no choice. I have already used the word rant in my title and you bloggers know that once you use a word in the title, you can't go back.


If you stop reading this rant in 2 sentences. It is this. Being "eco- friendly," stinks. Yes, I said that. It stinks. Take that you granola eating, pot smoking, tree hugging hippies.


Why is it that toilet urinals with the sign above always happen to be the smelliest toilets in malls? Sure, the toilets in the local hawker centres, coffee shops or even homes might have worse smelling bathrooms, but the ones using "eco-friendly," technology smells off left over urine. And what's the kicker, the flush doesn't work for these urinals and it wreaks of somebody who ate asparagus and stinky cheese, thinks that the urinals is a water fountain and goes No. 2 again in the same urinal/water fountain.


I think more people would adopt environmentally friendly technology if it didn't stink. If right now, I were to be asked if I want Mother Earth to die or die of stench, I think I would pick the former. That's how bad the smell is.


Rant out!

Warong Nasi Pariaman

So I'm left alone by the Mrs as she headed to her pedicure? Or is it manicure? With her buddy Hazelicous. So what do I do? I look for Batik shirts! As usual, Pampadam's recommendations are spot on, but before I go on a rant here; she is beginning to be more right about stuff like this than most.

I walk around aimlessly in the Arab Street area and I have to say that the place is lovely. I have hardly been to that part of the island before and the people were nice. I was thinking to myself where are they from?

Anyways, I walked into the Briyani House which my parents recommended. There weren't alot of people and the 3 "varieties," of different briyani were, well, different because its all just different rice types. I was confused. And when the guy behind the counter placed the rice and chicken for the customer in a microwave oven, I did what most normal human beings would do. I walked out of the store. (That's why I will never eat in a Burger King even though how cool the ads are)

Right across the street was Warong Nasi Pairaman. For those who don't understand Malay, the name basically means something rice something.

This place was full of people, the service was quick and painless and the dishes looked, outstanding. I was just taking a look when the lady stopped me and asked if I wanted to eat. How can one refuse? I just said yes. She recommended 3 dishes and I ordered 4.

The beef rendang was fresh out of the pot and it melted in my mouth. I never really liked Achar before but can I just say that this was the freshest Achar I have had in my life? Freshly cut pineapples, cucumber and sliced onions with green and red chillis and my guess, a hint of freshly squeezed lemon. I didn't really like the fish because I thought it was over fried hence too tough. The cabbage kuah was done al dente, lovely and slightly milky. And out of greed, I ordered a side of fried chicken, which was lovely. All this and a can of coke, $9.

What a fine. I was so satisfied that I just sat at a bus stop to read a copy of the newspaper whilst waiting for the wife who was about 20 mins away.

And can I add, the people at the store were absolutely friendly.

TV: EAT LOCAL CHALLENGE.

The Eat Local Challenge is an initiative taken from the United States where customers are encouraged to pick food vendors based on the quality of the food and their commitment to socially responsible practices.

Now, I am a very practical person. Singapore is an island. So we can't grow our own produce or have our own water, or have space to grow free range chickens, or breed grass fed cows or can we have any say in the practice of fair trade because we are, well, surrounded by water. We are in one heck of a disadvantage. And more importantly, I do love MacDonald's and KFC and I do indulge in fairly expensive culinary adventures right in Singapore. But even in our country's short history, our lack of National identity (just my opinion) and culture, I have been thinking about what is something that we can preserve or to keep as our own?

And since this is a food blog. Why not Food !?! The way I see it, before everything turns into a "KopiTiam," "Banquet," and now Food Republic (which I still enjoy but I think is ridiculously expensive) food court; we should preserve what Singapore already has. Great food! Who wants to eat at a chicken rice store at a food court where the chicken rice is over priced, deadly stale, and highly processed and we go there purely out of convenience and nothing else, when there is a smaller chicken rice store that is cheaper and maybe 10 mins away?

I have been thinking about this because I have been wanting to eat Bak Kut Teh recently, and I realized that all the great stores are never at a mall or at a food court. They're in the neighborhood stores, in the nook that I have never been to (Yes, even though Singapore is SO SMALL), at that part of town that I hardly visit. All this wonderful food at great prices and nostalgic local atmosphere.

If we don't support their business, then these stores will slowly disappear, just like our culinary identity.

My version of the Eat Local Challenge Poster!

TV: Thai Style

My bro in law K-bo was performing in Bangkok and we decided to take a road trip and meet up.

One of the places we went was Ban Chiang, in the Silom area near the BTS. I was expecting locals, instead we saw tons of tourists. Your mind must be screaming "TRAP! TRAP!" But it was not. How was the food? I think it was outstanding.

Rated #8 in the trip advisor list of restaurants and recommended by both Fodors and Tatler. The service was outstanding. The food, specifically the darn coconut ice cream was fantastic. Probably the best I have had. Ever. And the pineapple fried rice was delectable, Tom Yum Soup which I was wish was slightly more spicy was already tremendous.

Everyone loved the meal. The deco is a comfortable and nostalgic, the servers were competent in their english and gave good recommendations. Sometimes when you travel to a foreign country, all you want is a place to eat genuine local food that is well cooked and loved by the locals.

The damage in total was about SGD $80 for 4 people. I think its on the high side but still worth a try.

TV: Hittin It 4th of July Style

It's 4th of July and I decided to have a party.

The ManGohs were gracious enough to host the BBQ. The Tasty Bits brought black angus steak and foie gras, and we brought burgers, pasta salad, hot dogs, buns , and a salad. And pampadam brought her big personality.

7 people and too much food. Some beer and a whole lot of fun at a condominium name that sounds like a city.

The picture posted above is mr tasty bits cooking the foie.

If this was a review, I would say that the beef was best I have had in a while, and I have to say that tasty bits might own some cows in the United States without telling me because the steaks tasted happy, cooked happy and made everyone happy. So happy that the ManGohs were dreaming steak that very night. You think I am kidding?

My drool on the ground disagrees.

Wah Wah Wahiro!

First, the bad news. Like wanting to quit my job every day. I really do want to close this blog. Who reads a blog nowadays anyway? Seriously. If you are younger, you either tweet, or have a facebook account and I have none of both. I don't have a myspace booty call page and I don't have a web cam that follows me around to record me eating. Who wants to know thoughts when pithy schmug comments and phrases are sufficient for our attention deprived minds?

The good news? 5 Japanese restaurants in around my area and I think I have found the best one yet! Wahiro at Tanjong Katong Shopping Centre, located at the corner of a cross junction of Joo Chiat Place and East Coast Road lies a small treasure of Wahiro restaurant.

We were hungry. We wanted Japanese. And any restaurant in town was filled with a long queue and an even longer stench of mediocrity. This place can sit 30 at best and some on the floor. The food was fresh and delightful and service sometime non existent but the food more than made up for it.

The sashimi is fresh. Yakitori was good, soba noodles delightful, sushi rolls out of this world.

Pithy enough?

Highly recommended.