Restaurant HOME (家) @ The Rail Mall

Celebrity Chef Tan Yong Hua is no stranger to the culinary scene having appeared in many TV programmes. He is also known to be the first Singaporean to trump the Iron Chef Thailand. Having helmed the kitchen at Peach Blossom, Sze Chuan Court, Pearl River Palace and Lingzhi Vegetarian Restaurant, Chef Tan has decided to venture on his own and opened Restaurant HOME (家) at the rail mall.

Barbecued Peking Duck Skin 4/5

Restaurant HOME (家) is popular for its Barbecued Peking Duck Roasted with Lychee Wood ($68 whole duck). There is three ways to enjoy this delicacy. We started with the roasted skin that is extremely crisp with a slight hint of the lychee wood aroma. Dip it into the specially prepared sugar dip for a different but much welcome appreciated of the delightful crispiness.

Barbecued Peking Duck Roasted with Lychee Wood in Wrap 4.2/5

The second way to enjoy the Barbecued Peking Duck Roasted with Lychee Wood is in a wrap. The sliced duck meat still with the thin layer of skin intact wrapped together with cucumber, spring onion and a sweet plum/hoison sauce in a thin crepe. This is probably my favourite way of appreciating the beautiful poultry with the succulent meat and the different layer of textures.

Deep Fried Peking Duck 3.5/5

Lastly the remaining of the Barbecued Peking Duck Roasted with Lychee Wood is chopped up and deep fried with dried chilli, roasted minced garlic and capsicum pepper fine salt. An extra $10 for this servicing. Due to the deep frying, the meat was dryer and tougher but the aroma of the dried chilli, roasted minced garlic and capsicm pepper fine salt made it very tasty. A perfect dish to go with a bottle of beer.

Baked Marble Goby in Claypot 4.2/5

Besides the signature Barbecued Peking Duck Roasted with Lychee Wood, Restaurant HOME (家) offers a good selection of cooked food on the menu too. A worthy dish to try is the Baked Marble Goby in Claypot ($9/100gram) with Chef Tan's in house recipe. The fish was cooked to perfection with lemon grass, galangal, spring onions and Chinese shaoxin wine. The flavours did not overpowered the taste but instead complemented the natural sweetness of the tender and moist fish.

Homemade Egg Beancurd in Pi Pa Style 4/5

The Homemade Egg Beancurd in Pi Pa Style ($36) is another delectable offering on the menu. The homemade egg beancurd with shrimp paste, crab meat and roe is a bit grainy but I actually enjoyed the roughness in texture. I am not complaining as it is not common to get freshly made beancurd from scratch nowadays with many restaurants resorting to getting it from factory made ones.

Another dish on the menu that caught my attention is the Stewed Golden Noodles with Lobster and Spring Onions wrapped in O Ba Leave ($12.50/100gram). The noodles and the lobster are served separately. The egg noodle is specially made to Chef's specifications which has a nice springy texture sort of like those you get from wanton mee stall.

Old Cucumber Soup 4.5/5

Restaurant HOME (家) is currently having a lunch promotion with a 3 course meal ranging from $20 to $26 per person). It comes with a Soup of the Day, a Noodle Dish and a Dessert. For our soup of the day, we tried the Old Cucumber Soup which was comforting and nutritious.

Homemade Ramen with 8 Head Quality Amidori Abalone 4.2/5

For the noodle main of the 3 course set meal, there is a variety of selections. We tried the Homemade Ramen with 8 Head Quality Amidori Abalone ($26), Crispy Roast Pork with Homemade Yellow Noodle ($24) and Barbecued Duck with Lychee Wood served with Homemade Yellow Noodle ($24).

The ramen noodle for the Homemade Ramen with 8 Head Quality Amidori Abalone has a softer texture compared to the yellow noodle but the sauce made the whole dish slurping good.

Crispy Roast Pork with Homemade Yellow Noodle 4/5

Barbecued Duck with Lychee Wood served with Homemade Yellow Noodle 4.2/5

Both the Crispy Roast Pork and Barbecued Duck with Lychee Wood used the same noodle served for the Lobster Noodle dish. The roasted pork belly may look kind of pale in colour but we were quite surprised by the crispy skin. It may not have that charred and smokiness but overall still a decent main.

Chilled Rosella Flower Jelly with Diced Mango 4/5

Finished the 3 course lunch set with the Chilled Rosella Flower Jelly with Diced Mango. The dessert comes with a bit of sourish sweetness which is really refreshing.

Chilled Japanese Pumpkin Puree with Black Glutinous Rice

Chef Tan also treated us to an addition dessert in the Chilled Japanese Pumpkin Puree with Black Glutinous Rice. The subtle sweetness of the pumpkin puree and the black glutinous rice worked for me. I will gladly order this dessert in my next visit.

Chef Tan Yong Hua will be taking part in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014. He will be preparing the Barbecued Peking Duck Rice with Lychee Wood to delight your palate. Do drop by his stallto try the delicious barbecued peking duck.

The Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Hall 401 & 402 on 22 November 2014, 11am to 5pm is a fund raising event for the beneficiaries under the care of Touch Community Services regardless of race and religions. Coupons is required to purchase the food from the various hawkers and can be purchased at https://www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg/. While the hawkers sacrifice their time and some even a day's income to do a part for the needy and disadvantaged, I hope you can support them and do a part for charity too. See you at the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014.


Restaurant HOME (家)
The Rail Mall
392 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 678046
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restauranthomeatrailmall
Website: http://www.restauranthome.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left onto Upper Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Upper Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.[Map]

SEN Restaurant and Bar @ Geylang Road

After the discovery of Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy at Geyland Road, I met up with Chenyze and Bee Bee to check out another Vietnamese restaurant just across the road in SEN Restaurant and Bar. Chenyze has been telling me about this place and I was looking forward to find more from her recommendation.

Grilled Shrimp Surimi 4/5

We started off with the Grilled Shrimp Surimi ($7.90). Hailing from Hue region, the grilled shrimp surimi is wrapped around a sugarcane stick. A yummy starter to kick start the lunch. One can actually suck on the sugarcane stick to cleanse the palate.

Grilled Pork Rice Vermicelli Dry 4/5

For Vietnamese noodle dish, patrons usually go for the Pho but Vietnamese dry rice vermicelli is also quite popular too. The Grilled Pork Rice Vermicelli Dry ($12.90) comes with a mixture of fried spring rolls, fresh vegetables, grilled pork with rice vermicelli. To eat, pour the sauce and mix well to enjoy the smooth and silky rice vermicelli in a mix of sweet, sour and spicy.

Special Mixed Beef Noodle 4.2/5

A must try at SEN restaurant is their Special Mixed Beef Noodle ($14.90). Served with rice noodle in a robust beef broth and brewed with the finest Vietnamese spices. The Pho Bo is served with tender sliced beef, beef balls, beef brisket and a side garnish of Asian basil, long parsley, bean sprouts, lime, chilli sauce and black bean sauce. The noodle was smooth and silky, the broth was robust and tasty, it was a great bowl of pho that is both comforting and hearty.

Vietnamese Sandwiches 3/5

Vietnamese Sandwich or Banh Mi is another staple Vietnamese cuisine. Three different types of banh mi are served here. Chicken ($7.90), Mixed Ham ($7.90) and BBQ Pork ($8.20). The French influenced baguette sandwich is completed with fries and salad which is quite an substantial meal. While I applauded the flavourful and well marinated bbq pork, the baguette was a let down for me. It was hopefully for something that is more toasty and filled with more salads.

Tofu Pasted Duck Soup 4/5

The Tofu Pasted Duck Soup ($12.90) caught my attention as it is something unique. A family recipe inherited by the chef from her grandfather, this is a rare dish even in Vietnam. The duck was cooked to a nice tender soft. The soup with homemade tofu paste served with silky rice vermicelli has a complex flavour that is somewhat rich, sweet and comes with hint of sourness that is very delectable.

Overall I have enjoyed the food at SEN restaurant. The restaurant is pretty hard to be spotted from the outside due to its dark exterior. However once you step inside, a warm and pretty interior welcomes. SEN restaurant also has pretty decent lunch set offer at $14.90 that comes with 2 courses and a drink.


SEN Restaurant and Bar
704 Geylang Road
Singapore 389620
Tel: +65 68415653
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenBarRestaurant
Website: http://www.sen.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk towards the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Geylang Road. Cross the road at the junction and turn right onto Geylang Road Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Old Geylang @ Geylang Lorong 23

Nestled along the stretch of Geylang Road, the huge compound of Old Geylang housed a 3-in-1 concept of Old Punggol International Seafood Restaurant, Turtle House as well as a durian stall. What a steal for food lover as you can savour the delectable food from all the 3 establishments at one venue.

It was quite unfortunate that during my visit, the durian season was over. The stall only has those Thailand durian breed so we gave it a miss.

Peking Duck

I have my fellow food blogger friends, Celes (Celestialdelish), Samantha (BondingTool) and Tony (JohorKaki) joining me in the sumptuous dinner.

Peking Duck 4/5

The beautiful Peking Duck ($20 half/ $38 whole) has its crackling skin thinly sliced and wrapped in a delectable crepe like skin. Paired with  spring onion and cucumber plus a bit of the homemade sweet sauce, this is an excellent starter to kick start the dinner.

Stir Fried Shredded Duck Noodles 4/5

Adding another $10, the chef took the rest of the duck and wok up a plate of Stir Fried Shredded Duck Noodles. I wasn't expecting much from the simple presentation but I was taken away by how fragrant it tasted. I also like the fact that their version was more peppery giving it a nice aroma.

Herbal Turtle Soup 4/5

One of the item I was looking forward to try is the nourishing Herbal Turtle Soup ($20/$40/$60) service in a claypot. I was very privileged to have Mr Ong the founder of Turtle House with me for dinner. He has came out from retirement to help his children oversee the reborn of Turtle House under the brand of Old Geylang in a new dining concept. There was so much stories and knowledge he shared with us over dinner. I have learnt so much from him about food especially ingredients such as turtle and crocodile.

Back to the food, the Turtle Soup has a nice herbal flavour but not overpowering. Add a bit of rice wine to enchance the flavour. By the way, do you know which is the most delicacy part of the turtle? It's the turtle feet! I tried one and I liked it. It had a crunchy gelatinous texture some what like eating black fungus.

Braised Crocodile Tail with Mushroom 4/5

Mr Ong is not only an expert with Turtle. He is also an expert with crocodile. I was told that he has to teach the the farm where they get the supply how to slaughter and portion the crocodile tail. Each crocodile tail can serve about 3-4 portions. The Braised Crocodile Tail with Mushroom ($12 per person) was my first but definitely would not be my last. There is nothing to scare or worry about the exotic meat. The braised crocodile tail was braised to a texture that felt like eating Dong Po Rou.

Steamed Boston Lobster with Garlic 4.2/5

In my own opinion the best way to appreciate the Boston Lobster (seasonal price) was to steam it with garlic. The flesh was cooked to a nice succulent allowing one to enjoy the natural sweetness of the lobster. If you prefer other preparation styles, the kitchen can do it too.

Crispy Roasted Pork and Roasted Char Siew 4/5

The kitchen at Old Geylang does their own Hong Kong style roasted meat. The Crispy Roasted Pork ($8 per portion) and Roasted Char Siew ($8 per portion) was nicely executed. I preferred the roasted pork over the char siew as I disliked the fact the char siew was too fatty.

Deep Fried Soon Hock 4/5

The Soon Hock (seasonal price) was deep fried to a nice golden brown crisp. The moist fish paired with the special homemade brown sauce was a great dish.

Chilli Crab 4.5/5

Forget about the other Chilli Crab served at other restaurants. You just have to try the Chilli Crab ($52 per kg) offered at Old Geylang. The special gravy has a good balance of spiciness and sweetness in a sumptuous mix of eggs and crab roes. It was understand that the red dates and dried shrimps have been added to the gravy to gave it that unique taste.

Salted Egg Oyster 4.2/5

It was quite excited when I knew I was having Salted Egg Oyster. The Salted Egg Oyster ($8 each) was lightly battered and topped with salted egg sauce. I like the combination but the oyster that day was a bit too small to showcase the potential of the dish. Checked with the restaurant and its confirmed that the size of the oyster was not ideal. Usually it is much bigger.

Chilled Beancurd 4.2/5

Wrapping up the feast was a bowl of delicate Chilled Beancurd. It was actually quite a welcome dessert which was light, refreshing and smooth after the heavy meal.

Word is that the huge compound maybe adding a new Western fare concept to the umbrella arm of Old Geylang. I like the concept of Old Geylang of housing hierachy brands allowing foodies to be able to enjoy the delectable food of this traditional brands. The spacious restaurant has plenty of parking lots at the back of the building. To get to the carpark, access via Sim Ave onto Geylang Lorong 23. Turn right to the carpark after the new Singapore Badminton Hall. The restaurant also offers valet parking for patrons.


Old Geylang
1 Geylang Lorong 23
Highpoint Block 6
Singapore 38352
Tel: +65 68446041
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Geylang/525332554158513
Website: www.oldgeylang.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 2am

Direction:
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to bus stop along Aljunied Road (Stop ID 81089). Take bus number 62, 63, 80, 100 or 158. Alight one stop later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.

2) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to Aljunied Road. Turn left and and continue down Aljunied Road until the traffic junction of Aljunied Road and Geylang Road. Cross the junction and walk towards New Cathay Hotel. Continue straight and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.

Tanglin Halt Delicious Duck Noodle @ Tanglin Halt Food Centre

Located at one of the earliest HDB neighbourhood at Tanglin Halt, Tanglin Halt Delicious Duck Noodle has been around since 1969. Founded by Mr Chua's father in law since 1960s selling the braised duck noodle dish to coolies and workers at Teochew Street in Clark Quay. The stall is now run by Mr Chua and his wife. Having learnt the duck braising skill from his father in law, Mr Chua continues painstakingly braising the Teochew style duck at his stall in the early hour.

Duck Noodle 3/5

After queuing for about 15-20 minutes, I got to order my bowl of Duck Noodle Dry ($4). I opted for kway teow instead of yellow noodle. After cooking the noodle, Mr Chua will topped the bowl of noodle with pre-sliced duck meats, duck gizzards and livers.

Duck Noodle 3/5

Duck Noodle 3/5

So how did I find the nostalgic flavour of 1960s? While the duck meat was flavourful but I felt it was a tad dry. The kway teow texture was a a bit too thick and not as smooth as I would like. Overall it was still a decent bowl of duck noodle that comes with a rustic taste that probably will bring back childhood memories for a lot of people.


Delicious Duck Noodle
Tanglin Halt Market & Food Centre
48 Tanglin Halt Road
#01-23
Singapore 148813
Nearest MRT: Commonwealth (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 4am - 2pm
(Closed on Mon & Fri)

Direction:
1) Alight at Commonwealth MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Sheng Siong supermarket. Turn right at Sheng Siong supermarket. Cross the traffic light at Tanglin Halt Road and walk towards destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Nostalgic 1960s Food Trail

My humble food blog SG Food on Foot has been shortlisted as one of the Top 10 finalists for OMY Singapore Blog Awards 2013 Best Food Blog category for the second consecutive years. First and foremost a big thank you to all the fans, supporters and friends for making this journey possible. It is a recognition I would like to share it with each and everyone of you. If you are interested how I started this blog you can read about it here.

To vote for my blog, you need to register and vote at OMY Singapore Blog Awards 2013 website at http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2013/category/?cat=food

For this year's finalists, there is a new challenge set by the organiser. We need to write a blog post in line with the 60s theme this year. Since my blog is about finding food experience near MRT stations, I have decided to go on a Nostalgic 1960s Food Trail around the island to find tradition 60s flavours near the MRT stations.

I hope you will enjoyed the Nostalgic 1960s Food Trail which I have put together. I have enjoyed myself checking out these places. The trail has been an educational journey for me into Singapore food culture and history.

XI DE LI (西得利) since 1966

Traditional Taste for the New Millennium that reads on the signboard, how fitting to kick starts the Nostalgic Food Trail at Xi De Li Snacks. It all began from a 10 years boy selling You Tiao and Hum Chin Pang (Buttery Bun) from his bicycle at Beo Crescent in the morning before rushing off to be on time for school. The founder Ah Sai (addressed by his neigbours and friends) has since passed down the business to his 3 children. Business has since expanded with 9 branches island wide with a central factory in Kaki Bukit. This outlet at Clementi is their main branch. Besides You Tiao and Hum Chin Pang, Xi De LI also offers red bean bun, salted bun, sesame balls, mix fritters and curry puffs at their branches now.

Xi De Li (西得利)
Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre
Blk 448 Clementi Ave 3
#01-39
Singapore 120448
Tel: +65 67499018
Website: http://www.xideli.com.sg/index.html
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards the bus stop and turn right to the cluster of HDB blocks behind. Journey time about 3 minutes.

Delicious Duck Noodle (美味鸭面) since 1969

If you are still hungry after coffee and You Tiao. The next stop brings us to one of the earliest HDB estate and hawker centre in Singapore. Founded by Mr Chua's father in law back in 60s selling the braised duck noodles dish to coolies and workers at Teochew Street in Clark Quay. The stall is now run by Mr Chua and his wife, you can find him waking up at midnight and braising and simmering the delicious Teochew style duck at his stall at 2am.

Delicious Duck Noodle (美味鸭面)
Tanglin Halt Market & Food Centre
48A Tanglin Halt Road
Stall No. 23
Singapore 148813
Nearest MRT: Commonwealth (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 4am - 2pm
(Closed on Mon and Fri)

Direction:
1) Alight at Commonwealth MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Sheng Siong supermarket. Turn right at Sheng Siong supermarket. Cross the traffic light at Tanglin Halt Road and walk towards destination. Journey time about 3 minutes.

FOSTERS STEAKHOUSE since 1960

Singapore used to be under British control before merging with Malaysia in 1963 and eventually becomes an independent country in 1965. Hence it is inevitable that there were restaurants serving the British citizens in Singapore. For lunch, we are going to walk down memory lane to a ode charm classic English steakhouse, Fosters Steakhouse since 1960. Fosters Steakhouse was first established at 25 Amber Mansion of old Orchard. Moving another 2 times to Specialists Shopping Centre and Palais Renaissance before settling down at the current venue, tucked at a corner of Holland Village.

Fosters Steakhouse
Holland Village
277 Holland Ave
Singapore 278994
Tel: +65 64668939
Website: http://www.fosters-restaurant.com/
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. At the exit, turn right and walk to the end of the shop houses. Journey time about 3 minutes.

RI YE XIANG (日夜香) since 1965

For some light bites after the heavy lunch, the next stop brings us to Ri Ye Xiang (日夜香) since 1965. Mr Edward Koh has been preparing Rojak since the age of 20. With 48 years of history, Ri Ye Xiang probably is one of the oldest surviving rojak stalls in Singapore. Rojak which means mixed in Malay is a dish born from our cultural diversity of Singapore incorporating both Chinese and Malays elements in the ingredients.

Ri Ye Xiang (日夜香)
Kopitiam
Blk 450 Clementi Ave 3
Singapore 120540
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 3pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight towards CityVibe and continue straight to block 450. Journey time about 3 minutes.

HILLMAN RESTAURANT (喜临门大饭店) since 1963

Dinner for the day which is also our last stop of the Nostalgic Food Trail brings us to Hillman Restaurant since 1963 founded by the late Mr Wong Lin Ooh and Madam Chan Ah Chee located along Cantonment Road (now the Pinnacle at Duxton) serving Cantonese Claypot cuisines before moving to the current location in 2003. Ironically, this is where the late Madam Chan started her roadside hawking days back in the early 1940s. The restaurant has won many recognition and awards in the culinary industry and it is currently run by the 2nd and 3rd generations.

Hillman Restaurant (喜临门大饭店)
135 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208518
Tel: +65 62215073
Website: http://www.hillmanrestaurant.com
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit I. Cut across City Square Mall to the exit to Kitchener Road. Cross the traffic junction and turn left onto Kitchener Road. Journey time about 8 minutes.

Medan Town @ Tanjong Katong

Named after the fourth largest city in Indonesia, Medan Town is located at the growing dining enclave of Tanjong Katong.  The casual dining restaurant offers home style Medanese food which reflects the diverse cooking styles of the different races living in Medan.

Bihun Bebek Dry  4/5

The marquee dish at Medan Town is the Bihun Bebek Dry/Soup ($5.80). I tried the beehoon dry served with duck herbal soup on the side. The bowl of beehoon was topped with generous amount of shredded duck, fried garlic, spring onion and bean sprouts. I understand the rice noodle is made in Medan. It comes with a unique springy texture that is different from others.

Nasi Redang Sapi 4.2/5

The other dish at Medan Town that caught my attention is the Nasi Redang Sapi ($6.50). The redang was extremely tender but it was the flavour that woke my palate. At that instant, memories of Indonesia trips flashed across my mind, an authentic taste that has long been forgotten.

Klepon 3/5

The Klepon ($2.50 for 5pc) is boiled rice cake stuffed with palm sugar and rolled in grated coconut. Singaporean will probably known it better as oneh oneh. The rice cake has a nice chewy texture but I am a bit disappointed with the fillings. I prefer the palm sugar filling to be of flowing fluid form.

Es Campur Medan 3/5 and Es Chendol Medan 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we ordered the Campur Medan ($3) and Chendol Medan ($3). Both are shaved ice dessert with coconut milk and palm sugar. The different is the ingredients used. I preferred the Campur Medan over the Chendol Medan. Although the chendol was homemade, the colour was unappetising and lacking in texture.

I previously visited a Medanese cuisine restaurant and was not impressed with the food. Medan Town has changed my opinion with Medanese cuisine and I am glad to discover the casual dining restaurant. Now I am another restaurant to go to when I am crave for Indonesian food.


Medan Town
253 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437041
Tel: +65 63489227
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line), Paya Lebar (EW Line, CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take bus no. 10, 31 and 32. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 6 minutes.

2) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Walk to bus stop along Paya Lebar Road (Stop ID 81111). Take bus no. 43, 76 and 135. Alight 4 stops later. Journey time about 6 minutes.