Niu Che Shui Famous Glutinous Rice 牛车水著名糯米饭

The owner was once well built and muscular. Through the many years of assiduously working in the kitchen and serving. The stress has taken a toll on his back and now he has a hunch. However he still bounces like a teenager as he serves his glutinous rice to his customers.The glutinous rice served can either be sweet or salted or one could request to have a mixed of sweet and salted. I was also told that many such stalls sprung up after the war as it was considered a daily staple or comfort food.

I was not particularly fond of glutinous rice but my encounteer with Niu Che Shui Famous Glutinous Rice certainly made me return for more...

牛车水著名糯米饭
Niu Che Shui Famous Glutinous Rice
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-40 Chinatown Complex Food Centre

Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu

The yong tau fu here are freshly made and steamed at the adjacent stall. One could taste the freshness of the fish paste. The tofu presents itself and tender and fresh. The queues are long, but fast moving. Be prepared for a 15-20 minutes wait.

The signature taste comes from the sprinking of ikan bilis on the noodles. This gives cruch and sweetness while one savour the noodles, fresh yong tau fu accompanied with ligh sweet broth.

The chilli sauce adds extra acidity to the noodles and makes the experience more appetizing. The frequent customers here simply pour the chilli sauce next to the noodles to save time. I did the same and loves the kway teow infused with the chilli sauce and it makes an excellent photograph too.

Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Fu
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-87/88 Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Opens Daily 5.45am to 3pm

Thye Moh Chan Cake House



Tau Sa Piah (Before Baking)

With the influx of commercialisation and globalisation. Traditional pastry shops face the grim destiny of fierce competition and a tussle for talents to continue the business. Thye Moh Chan which has been in operations for nearly 70 years selling traditional tau sa piah and peanut brittle cakes had succumb to such challenges.

Freshly baked Tau Sa Piah

Another one bite the dust........

Thye Moh Chan Cake House
53 Geylang Lorong 27

中秋節 The Mid-Autumn Festival

The mid-autumn festival which falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar months is a much celebrated chinese festival.

According to a famous chinese fable, the legendary archer Hou Yi and his kind-hearted wife Chang Er were a loving couple. To reward Hou Yi for his heroic deeds, the Goddess of Immortality granted him an elixir that promises eternal youth. One fateful day, the evil Feng Meng slipped into Hou Yi's residences to steal the heavenly elixir. To prevent the elixir from falling into the wrong hands, Chang Er swallowed it and immediately found herseld drifting towards the moon.

The common folks heard of Chang Er's sacrifice and flocked to ask for continued peace, showing their gratitude with sweet pastries and fruits. It is now said that during the mid-autumn festival, when the moon is full and at its brightest, one can see the willowy silhouette of Chang Er - Now the Goddess of the Moon.

The custom of gift exchanging during this festive period has since been observed and mooncakes remain the favoured gift of the season.

咖喱饭 Curry Rice @ Whampoa Drive

This is the curry rice at Whampoa Drive that keeps me wanting to go back for seconds.

The sotong is a must try that is slightly sweet and spicy. It has a firm texture and goes well with the curry rice.

Pork chop is cut to bite size and glazed with tangy gravy cooked with onions.

Lor Bak is not cooked to the point that it melts in your mouth but texture is good. It goes well with the rice and medium acidic curry.

Stewed cabbage with black fungus is a must order. The ingredients especially cabbage is infused with flavours of the gravy.

咖喱饭 Curry Rice
Block 94, #01-13
Whampoa Drive
Whampoa market & Food Centre