Jiang Ji Traditional Hainanese Chicken Rice @ 745 Havelock Road

It is an honour that Bobcat pointed silverchef and myself to the pioneer of Singapore Chicken Rice. Mr. Kiang Joon Toh was the pioneering batch of chefs that started Chatterbox Chicken Rice @ Mandarin Hotel. He even had to bring his expatriate chef around Singapore to taste chicken rice before getting the approval to include in Chatterbox's menu.

He once operated in Rasa Singapura off Tanglin Road in the 80s next to the Singapore Handicraft Centre . It was among the many experiences he had accumulated.

Sergeant Kiang got his nickname as he started from the army in Ulu Pandan Camp.

According to Sergeant Kiang, the most important aspect to a good chicken rice is the chilli dip. And I must say, his chilli is fierce but not repelling and compliments the taste of his chicken and rice.

His display shelf is not full as now his business is brisk and most importantly he cooks on location and his chicken are prepared based on demand. Prices range from $2.50, $3.00 and $3.50 if you want your chicken served separately. Half a chicken is $10, while a complete chicken is $20. The chicken rice is served with minced ginger, dark soy sauce and chilli.

Hong Xiang Coffee Shop which Jiang Ji resides is scheduled to close in mid March for renovation which is pending Authority approval.

Jiang Ji Traditional Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hong Xiang Coffeeshop
745 Havelock Road

Close on alternative Sundays

Xin Yang Thai Food

This stall is a gem, hidden away in the corner of Woodlands. I have been coming to this stall ti get my simple Thai food fix for many years. This stall is run by two people and serves about 8 dishes only but he does well. Some of my favourite are Fried Chilli Chicken Rice with Egg, Thai Fried Rice, Pineapple Rice, Pat Ci You (Fried Kway Teow), Prawn Omelette Rice and Tom Yam Soup. Two relatively newer variants will be Tom Yam Noodles and another version of Fried Kway Teow which is not as dark as Pat Ci You.

I like the Fried Chilli Chicken Erice with Egg. The chicken is tender, fried with dark sauce and peppered with green chilli and chilli padi to add to the "Oumph" to this dish. A lovely rice dish that will also go well with a bowl of spicy Tom Yam Soup. For dinner, silverchef and myself ordered Pat Ci You, Tom Yam Soup, Fried Chilli Chicken Rice and Prawn Omelette. Silverchef did not finish the Pat Ci You not because he does not like it but because of his flu.

Overall, a nice cosy place to try out hawker food, Thai style.

Xin Yang Thai Food

2nd Floor
Woodlands North Plaza 884









Hawaiian Fillings Puffs

Yesterday I had the honour to taste Puffs filled with pineapples from the Philippines, honey glazed ham with onions, potatoes spiced with pepper.

When the puffs were served it was so hot that I could not break the puff the usual way to have a photograph taken.  I had to resort to biting bits of it off, so that the cool breeze and chatting in between, to cool the fillings.

The taste was lovely with a slightly sourish sweet taste mixed with taste of honey glazed ham spiced with pepper, potatoes and onions. Imagine having spiced Hawaiian pizza in a puff....

This product is still not a regular on Pie Connection menu as its ingredients are more costly. This opportunity came about as a Hokkien family has ordered a hundred puffs. Incidentally, the pineapple fillings does have an auspicious meaning linked to Prosperity and a natural inclusion to the Lunar New Year menu.

The puffs taste just as good when cold just that the spiciness becomes more profound. Great puffs to eat hot or cold.

Pie Connection
Blk 320 Shunfu Road #02-06
Singapore 570320

Hotline Order 91850339
www.pieconnnection.com.sg