Batam Boomz - Crab Dinner

In Batam, one has to try the seafood. The catch is fresh from the sea and the chillies, zinging hot. Best of all, the prices are one-third that of Singapore's.

Just a stone's throw away from Holiday Inn is Delima Seafood Restaurant. It's a open air eatery by the sea and most interestingly, the kitchen is across a small road from the restaurant. Throughout your meal, you'll see the waitresses running across the road taking your orders or carrying large platters of food.

JT and FT were extremely hungry. As they weren't really into seafood, I ordered a large plate of fried rice for them. A simple yet delicious dish. The glossy grains of rice were well tossed with light soya sauce, egg and chicken.

We ordered an assortment of familiar dishes - Sweet and Sour Fish, Nestum Prawns, Hot Plate Beef - but the highlight of the meal was the crabs. Fresh succulent crabs, cooked to perfection, with firm flesh bursting from the shell.

PT opted to have one crab steamed for us to savour the sweet, original flavours. It was a fantastic decision. The crab, cooked in its shell and steamed in its own juices, was a pure, unadulterated delight.

What's a seafood meal without Chilli Crab? The sauce was light and sweet at first taste and then pow! the chilli kicks in. I peeled off the meaty flesh, still briny with the taste of sea, swirled it around the eggy chilli sauce and slowly enjoyed every single bite.

Delima Seafood Restaurant
Near Waterfront Terminal

Batam Boomz - Ayam Penyet

To all Ayam Penyet fans out there, Ria Restoran at Megamall Nagoya Hill is the place to go for your fix. At Rp12000 or $1.80, you'll get one of the best Ayam Penyets you've ever eaten.

First, the Avocado Juice is out of this world. Blended to a smoothie and mixed with gula melaka, this sinfully fattening drink is worth every single calorie.

Next the Gado Gado. The peanuts were ground to a fine paste and cooked to a fragrant gravy. Take a crunchy prawn keropok, dip it into the nutty gravy, swipe it in the belacan and pop it into your mouth. Then sit back and savour the explosion of textures and flavours. The sambal belacan gives this dish a real kick. One thing about this restaurant is that evey dish comes with its unique sambal. For a Sambal Queen like me, it's a gastronomic, tongue-burning delight.

The Ayam Penyet was deep fried to mouth watering juiciness. This is definitely not your usual steroid injected chicken. The chickens here are kampong born and bred. Eaten with mint leaves and a fat dollop of sambal, every mouthful was pure bliss. The accompanying tempeh and tauhu goreng disappeared quickly too.

If you like chilli, then the Milkfish Goreng with Sambal Bali is a must. Marinated with exotic spices and coated with a sambal that gave a sweet barbecue aftertaste, this fish keeps you going for more.

Finally, the Catfish Goreng came, also with its own sambal.  Those little fellows taste very good and the flesh is so fine that it seems to just glide down your throat.

Restorant Ria

Megamall

Nagoya Hill

Batam Boomz - Breakfast @ Ferry Terminal

Despite its perpetual state of haphazard stalled developments, widespread lawlessness, dust and heat, Batam has found its way into my heart. I love the food in Batam, the great bargains and the genuine friendliness of the locals.

Sitting at the food court  while waiting for the rest of my travel companions to arrive, I ordered one of my favourite breakfasts -Kopi O and Kaya Toast. Somehow, everything tastes better when a fun-filled adventure beckons.

The coffee was thick and fragrant. As for the Kaya Toast, it could give Yakun a run for its money. Two slices of brown crispy toast held a thick spread of lovely kaya. Every crunchy bite was lemak satisfaction.

I'm a Kopi O addict. There's no way I can function without my daily poison.

Singapore Cruise Centre

Foodcourt (Level 1, near Lobby C)

Rojak Rojak

The gang and I were at Tiong Bahru Plaza for lunch and we decided to pop into the Kopitiam for a quick bite. Feeling rather full, I ordered a bowl of Beef Pho. Generous with the mint leaves and beef slices, but the soup was rather bland.

Luckily PT saved the day with a plate of rojak. The best thing about rojak is that though it's so darn unhealthy and ladened with calories, you still think that you are having a healthy meal because of all the veg and fruits in it (not counting the you tiao, of course).

Tiong Barhu Plaza
Kopitiam, 3rd Storey

Gaia @ Suntec City

One of the best ways to gauge the authenticity of a restaurant is by its clientele. Today, when my usual makan kakis PT, FT and JT joined me at Gaia Korean Restaurant, we were the only Singaporeans there. The restaurant was about three-quarters full (not bad for a rainy Wednesday night) and all the other customers were Koreans.

I studied the menu in anticipation. While the range was limited, we were looking for quality, not quantity. Basically, there were 4 categories of food -  Bibimbabs, soups, barbecues and specials.

 As we waited for the dishes to arrive, several plates of sides were served. I love sampling the Korean side dishes. No two restaurants prepare them the same way or even serve the same dishes. The kimchi here was zesty and spicy, a great way to begin the meal. The other favouful surprise was the green spinach. I took a small bite, expecting the usual boiled tasting greens. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the light sesame dressing that was drizzled over the vegetable.

The pork rib or Daeji Galbi ($22) came in a long rolled slice which unfurled into a plump slab of pork attached to a single rib. The friendly waitress placed it on hot plate and the sizzling fragrance instantly whetted my appetite.

 The meat was cooked within minutes. The friendly waitress came again and sliced the meat to bite-sized pieces. Each piece was charred to perfection on the outside and sweet and succulent on the inside. The garlic and sesame marinate permeated every inch of the meat. A plate of vegetables for wrapping and a delectable bean paste dip accompanied the pork.

The Beosut Bulgolgi Jungol (mushroom beef hotpot) arrived, piping hot in a cast iron wok. A wonderful dish to warm up cold hungry stomachs. The stew a ladened with assorted mushrooms, tang hoon and slices of well-marinated beef. Sweet and tasty, the soup was an instant hit with JT and FT. At $30, it was large enough to feed a party of 4.

By now, the gang was on a role and wanted more meat. PT ordered a plate of Jumullluck (Sirloin) ($36) at it was easily the highlight of the evening. The meat was well-marbled,  tender and lightly seasoned. Just a few seconds on the grill was sufficient to draw out the juices. Each bite was a melt-in-your mouth ecstacy. This is a dish that could give Aburiya a run for its money.

Finally, the last dish to arrive was Mool Naengmyun or cold noodles (about $15). I was quite curious to try it after having heard that Gaia prepares this dish even better than the ones in Korea. I was half expecting something similar to the zaru soba of Japanese restaurants. Was I mistaken. The two noodles couldn't be more different. I found that enjoyng the noodles was an acquired taste. The soup and hard boiled egg were icy cold. The thin buckwheat noodles were frozen. As for the soup, the only word to describe it is 'pickled'. Yes, the soup tasted pickled and I couldn't take more than 4 to 5 spoonfuls before the slightly sour aftertaste grew too overwhelming.

The grey lumps are the frozen noodles and the egg is ultra cold. The little specks you see in the soup are ice. But many fans are raving about this dish. Glad thave tried it, though not my cup of tea.

Gaia Korean Restaurant
Suntec City
Tower 1, 3rd  storey

Sugar Rush @ Concorde Hotel

I skipped dinner in favour of shopping at the Mega Mall. Having had just a quick bite at Popeye's in the late afternoon, I was feeling rather peckish. Fortunately, supper came and it was a sinful, sugary affair.

 The Krispy Kreme Doughnuts did me in. The glazed doughnuts were light, fluffy and sweet enough to send sugar levels skyrocketing through the roof.

Another packet of doughnut balls was revealed. A delectable variety of sprinkles, icing sugar and cream.

The light butter biscuits went superbly with the thick, black coffee. Dunking those biscuits in the aromatic black liquid and savouring it as it melted in my mouth was simple pleasure at its best.

Malaysia Escapade: River View Restaurant @ Karang

When I arrived at the restaurant, my hopes were raised. According to the guide, it was a popular eating place for the locals and the residents from KL would take the 1.5 hour drive to Karang just for its seafood.. Just look at the restaurant, doesn't it just scream "Malaysia!" ?

I ordered a nice lemak coconut and waited in anticipation for the food to arrive.
But when that blasted bowl of soup came, my hopes were dashed to a thousand pieces. Fortunately, ithe meal was salvaged by the seafood dishes that came forth. The steamed fish came with a spicy kick (thank goodness) and the fish was fresh and sweet. The best dish of all was the minced prawn coated with salted egg. Extremely lemak with generous pieces of salted egg yolk hanging off the prawns. I steered clear of the soup.

If I weren't so jelak of the sit down Chinese meals, I would say that this was the best meal I had so far.

Malaysia Escapade - Breakfast @ Concorde Shah Alam

There was a good variety of dishes at the breakfast buffet - noodles, dim sum, porridge, cold cuts, an egg station, hot chinese dishes and local malay fare. But, I ate a highly restricted meal. With long hours in the coach ahead of me, woe be it should I suddenly need the washroom.

Trust me..this breakfast does not do the buffet line justice

Malaysia Escapade - Turf Club

Dinner was in a Chinese Retaurant at the Turf Club. Racing season must have been over as we were the only souls there.

When the dishes came, it was deja vu - same food, same taste...nothing to shout about.

The usual soup. Luckily it was a clear Seaweed and Egg Drop Soup.

The rest of the dishes were more or less the same as lunch..so here's the spread. Thank goodness for the Crispy Skin Chicken. It was a life saver.

Ohhhh....how I long for some Bak Kut Teh, Mee Goreng or Nasi Lemak.

Malaysia Escapade - Lotus @ KLCC

Just 2 hours after lunch at Putrajaya and my stomach was grumbling. All that talk about teh tarik had given me a craving for a glass of piping hot fragrant tea.  The guide recommended a popular local hangout called Lotus, just a stone's throw away from KLCC.

I ordered a cup of Teh Halia and it did not disappoint. Hot, bubbly and thick, the scent of the ginger infused tea wafted across the table.

My snack came next..a curious little thing. Is it a curry puff? Nope. It's Fried Ice Cream.

The crunchy, almost biscuit-like, pastry opened up to a scoop of chocolate ice-cream. The combination of savoury shell and sweet ice-cream was truly a delight for the tastebuds.

A highly satisfying detour  ; )

Malaysian Escapade - Putrajaya Taman Botanasi

Having a meal in Malaysia brings back a sense of rustic nostalgia, to a time less stressful and much less complicated. As I sat looking at the placid waters of the lake that meanders through Putrajaya,  it was easy to imagine the stress and worries flowing away as well.

The day was hot and humid. With KL being nestled within a valley, there was hardly any wind as the heat of the sun bore down on us.  The ice cold water served immediately never looked so good.

The food was simple but tasty (also largely due to the high salt content in each dish). Quite a spread for RM$ 20 per pax.

First to arrive was a starchy mushroom soup.

Then the perennial favourite, Egg Fu-Yong. Mmmm...light and fluffy

A string of vegetable dishes came next...a slight waste of calories, but nonetheless necessary for the daily fibre intake. Standard fare - taukwa with mushrooms, cabbage and mixed veggies.

Finally, the meat came. The lemon chicken was crispy and juicy and the lemon sauce was a good balance of sweet and sour.

The sweet and sour fish fillet was average, especially after the lemon chicken.

An interesting end to the meal - Kung Pao Sotong. Even though I like eating squid (it is scientifically proven that squid is good for the complexion) the taste of squid and spicy sweet sauce was just too jarring for me.

It had been a long journey and we were all tired and hungry.  The food disappeared as fast as it arrived.

Porridge at Kang Kar Mall

After reading the Sunday Times article about Kang Kar Mall, I decided to drop by after work for a bite. The Kopitiam coffee shop had been featured in the newspaper article and the moment I read about the frog's legs in thick gravy, my decision was made. I had been craving for frog's leg porridge for some time after seeing Sharon Au raving about it on TV.


It had been a dreary and overcast day and porridge seemed to be the perfect comfort food. The pictures around the stall looked impressive and the stall had apparently won an award for its dishes. Unfortunately, the frog's leg in gravy came with rice. The legs with the porridge were the pale and pasty version. In the end, I ordered the frog's legs, omitted the rice, and ordered a bowl of shredded chicken and scallop porridge.
 
 

The legs came bubbling hot on the hot plate. But it wasn't the spicy kung pao version that I wanted. Instead, the gravy tasted very much like the one found in beef cooked in ginger. Still, it wasn't too bad.

The chicken porridge was tasty. It was piping hot with shredded chicken slices and small brown scallops. It went well wth the frog legs.

Long queues formed quicky at the porridge stall so going before 630pm is a wise move.

Mouth Restaurant @ Toa Payoh Safra

One of the best things about Chinese food is its eclectic variety. There is a mind boggling array of restaurants in Singapore to choose from - Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew, Sichuan, etc - and each dialect group presents its own unique signature taste and dishes which are a feast for the palate. Coupled with the creativity of the chef, the imaginative interpretations of familiar dishes can yield wonderful gastronomical innovations.

The Mouth Restaurant at Safra Toa Payoh is one such restaurant that chooses to surprise and delight its customers with its reinvention of traditional Cantonese fare. PT, JT, FT and I made an unexpected detour there for lunch. We had originally planned to try the famous chicken rice balls at Toa Payoh Lorong 1, but the soaring temperatures sent us scuttling for a cooler spot instead.

DBS is currently having a one-for-one set menu promotion at Mouth. At $49.80 and with the quality and range of dishes provided, it comes highly recommended as a great value for money meal. The set meal began with a bowl of thick and tasty chicken soup which was full of chicken, black fungus and mushrooms. It came with a side of crunchy crackers that added an addictive texture when added to the soup. Surprisingly, JT took to the soup immediately, polishing off two bowls.

The dimsum appetizers comprised the usual siew mai, ha kao and spring roll. But take the first bite and you find out quickly enough that this is no ordinary coffee shop fare. FT finished both the siew mais even before I noticed it.

PT's favourite dish, the Cui Pi Ji, was next to arrive ($13 for half a chicken). This was an additional item we ordered and a must have for PT. Not too bad, but I found the chicken a tad too dry. The best I've tried so far is the one at Hua Ting at Ochard Hotel.

We were pleasantly surprised with the Fish in Cream Sauce. Served over a bowl of dry ice, the rich cream sauce was a perfect balance to the lightly salted fish.

PT was just wondering if the set came with any rice or noodles when the next dish arrived. It was called Chicken with Pasta and to our surprise, we realised that it was carrot cake generously covered with a savoury mushrooms and chicken pasta sauce. The melt-in-your-mouth carrot cake with its fried, crunchy outer skin was such a innovative substitute to the usual carbo fillers.

By this time, we were stuffed, but the last dish and desserts have yet to arrive. The final main dish was the Duck Wrap. It was just too heavy for me, espcially with the thick sauce that coated the inside of each wrap.

Dessert was Yam Ice-cream with Gula Melaka Sauce. Wonderful! The gula melaka gave a delightful kick to the lemak ice-cream. Despite commenting repeatedly how full he was, PT still went for his dessert with gusto.

I couldn't resist ordering the Durian Glutinous Rice Balls  ($4). And was I glad I did! The soft skin yielded a rich filling of cold, rich-tasting durian. Fantastic!

A highly satisfying lunch! Reservations are highly recommended. By 1230, the restaurant was packed with diners.

Mouth Restaurant
Safra Toa Payoh