Pang's Hakka Noodles @ Sprout Hub (Henderson Road) - Traditional Hakka Food By Ex-Antoinette Chef

I have known Chef Pang back in the dates at Antoinette. After the closing of Antoinette, he has moved on to open Pang's Hakka Noodles, from a restaurateur to being a hawker. I recently paid a visit to his stall at Sprout Hub at Henderson Road.

Hakka Noodles with Scholar Soup 4.2/5

I had the Hakka Noodles with Scholar Soup ($5.50) which comes with a bowl of soup on the side that consists of radish, fishball, pig's liver, minced pork and pork slices. The tale has it that Hakka mothers during the ancient Qing Dynasty dish cooked the dish for their children taking the imperial exam. It even comes with three cuts of pork, symbolising the top three places in the imperial exam. The highlight to me is the noodle texture that has a delightful bite tossed in a homemade minced pork sauce, and crispy pork lards.

Hakka Red Wine Chicken Noodle Soup with Egg 4/5

On the menu, a traditional Hakka dish is the Hakka Red Wine Chicken Noodle Soup with Egg ($8). The red wine broth is not as strong, making it more drinkable. On top of the soft and silky mee sua, the bowl of slurping goodness comes with black fungus, tau kwa, tau kee, egg and chicken.

Hakka Fried Wings 4/5

To complete the meal, you can add on the Hakka Fried Wings ($4 for 2pc) marinated in fermented red beancurd. What sets the chicken wings apart is that extra crunch that is extremely crispy.

Hakka Braised Pork Rice 3.8/5

Chef Pang has also recently launched the Hakka Braised Pork Rice ($7), which comes with braised pork belly, braised tau kwa, braised egg and salted vegetable. The braised sauce is on the sweeter side, which is tasty when mixed with the fluffy white rice. I only wish the braised meat could be fatter.

I am glad to see Chef Pang holding the torch for traditional Hakka food. It is a cuisine that is not commonly available nowadays. Furthermore, the tasty food is reasonably priced, allowing more people to try traditional Hakka cuisine.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
Pang's Hakka Noodles
Sprout Hub
102 Henderson Road
Singapore 159562
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 9am - 3pm
Sat: 11am - 4pm
Sun: 9am - 4pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10209). Take bus number 132 or 145. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 14 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 16 or 851. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Ristorante Takada @ Alexis Condominium - An Italian-Japanese Restaurant By Chef Masahiro Takada

Ristorante Takada is an Italian-Japanese restaurant located at Alexis Condominium. It is helmed by Chef Masahiro Takada, who has honed his skills in Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy and Japan. We have the 5-course Omakase Dinner priced at $158.

Before starting the omakase dinner, we are served complimentary bread paired with olive oil and balsamic.

Mushroom Soup 4/5

We started with dinner with Mushroom Soup served in a coffee cup. With the layer of foam, it felt like we were having a cup of mushroom cappuccino.

3 Kind Of Mix Appetizer 3.5/5

Our first course is a Trio of Appetizer. We have Scallop & Prawn, Burrata with Tomato & Parma Ham, and Smoked Duck on the plate. I felt the appetizer lacked the finesse I was expecting, but they were good tasting.

Lobster with Hokkaido Scallop and Hamaguri Clam 4.2/5

The next course is the lavish Lobster with Hokkaido Scallop and Hamaguri Clam drenched in a bright orange sauce. I am not sure what the sauce is, but it is sweet, creamy, and tangy that complements the fresh seafood.

Tagliolini Hokkaido Sea Urchin with Squid Ink Sauce 4.2/5

For the pasta dish, we have the Tagliolini Hokkaido Sea Urchin with Squid Ink Sauce. There are two ways of enjoying the pasta. The first is to appreciate the creaminess and sweetness of the uni. Second, you can have it with the squid ink sauce to enjoy another taste profile from the sea.

Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Tenderloin Steak with Red Wine Sauce 4.8/5

For mains, it was the Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Tenderloin Steak with Red Wine Sauce cooked beautifully to medium-rare. Known as the best wagyu beef in Japan for its signature marbling, the meat stood out for its buttery texture and dense beefy flavour.

Dessert 4/5

Wrapping up the five-course dinner is a trio of desserts. On the plate, we have a slice of Burnt Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Raspberry Sorbet. The tiramisu is a bit heavy for me with the soaked alcohol in the finger. I have a light palate; hence my preference is the burnt cheesecake and raspberry sorbet.

Petite Four

Last but not least, we have Madeleine for Petite Four. The soft sponge cake with crispy edge completes an enjoyment omakase meal at Ristorante Takada.


Ristorante Takada
356 Alexandra Road
#01-07
Singapore 159948
Tel: +65 63393969
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 10pm
*1st & 3rd week of month, closed on Mon & Tue
*2nd & 4th week of month, closed on Mon

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT Station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT Station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33, 120. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Wen Xin Fish Soup. Lu Wei @ Bukit Merah View Food Centre - A Simple And Yet Satisfying Bowl Of Fish Soup

During my recent trip to Bukit Merah View Food Centre, I got to try Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake at the food centre. Since I have made a rare trip down to this food centre, might as well try something else. Hence we settled for Wen Xin Fish Soup since there was a queue, which usually is an indication that the stall is quite popular.

Batang Fish Soup 3.8/5

We ordered two bowls of Fish Soup. One with Batang Fish and the other with Red Grouper. Each bowl of clear soup comes with the fish slices,, lettuce and tofu. While the soup may be light and clear, it imparts a refreshing sweetness, allowing the natural flavours and freshness of the fish slices to come through. Starting from $3 a bowl, this is very reasonably priced.

Red Grouper Fish Soup 3.8/5

Besides their fish soup, you can also order Pig Trotter and Mei Cai to go along with your meal. I will usually order the Pig Trotter if the stall sells it, as I enjoyed drenching the braising gravy into my bowl of rice. The braising gravy is light, slightly sweet and comes with a tad of herbal aroma. The braised meat thought a bit on the tough side, I could not resist sinking my teeth into the fatty, wobbly skin.

Pig Trotter 3.5/5

Overall I enjoyed the fish soup, which is simple and light. Perfect for those days that you want something comforting. As for the pig trotter, I think it can be better if the braised meat is more tender. I won't complain much because for the price I am paying, I can get a satisfying meal that does not hurt my pocket.


Wen Xin Fish Soup. Lu Wei
Bukit Merah View Food Centre
Blk 115 Bukit Merah Central
#01-42
Singapore 150163
Nearest MRT: Redhill (EW Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 2pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Red Hill MRT station (Stop ID 10209). Take bus number 132 or 145. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 16 or 851. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake @ Bukit Merah View Food Centre - I Prefer The White Carrot Cake Here

I really can't remember the last time I visited Bukit Merah View Food Centre, it probably could have been more than 5 years ago. I supposed to check out a Lor Mee stall, but it is not opened. Hence we decided to settle for Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake for lunch.

The stall used to make their own carrot cake, but now they get their supply from a factory that still mills the rice to make the carrot cake instead of those made from rice flour. It offers both the white and black carrot cake.

Unlike most carrot cake stalls, the carrot cake here comes in chunky pieces, soft but yet holds its form. For comparison, I ordered both the black and white carrot cake to try. The Black Carrot Cake ($4) comes coated in a sweet dark sauce, with caramelised charred edges. However, the dark sauce somewhat lacks the fragrant to elevate the dish from good to excellent.

Personally, I prefer the White Carrot Cake ($4). The wok hei and egg fragrant come through more, not cancel out by the sweetness from the dark sauce.  Not seen in the picture is the addition of chye poh, which gives the carrot cake the extra flavour and texture.

White Carrot Cake 4/5

I was informed that the stall is run by 2 brothers, each taking up a shift in the day and night. Hence depending on the time of your visit, the cooking may vary. A little tip for customers, it seems like the default for the plate of carrot cake comes with chilli. Hence do inform the uncle during your ordering if you do not want chilli in your carrot cake.


Bukut Merah View Carrot Cake
Bukit Merah View Food Centre
Blk 115 Bukit Merah View
#01-37
Singapore 151115
Tel: +65 93252500
Website
Nearest MRT: Redhill (EW Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 130pm, 430pm - 130am

Direction:
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Red Hill MRT station (Stop ID 10209). Take bus number 132 or 145. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 16 or 851. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Danger Close Beverage Co. @ Alexandra Village Food Centre - Gourmet Tea & Nitro Cold Brew Coffee On Tap

Having been to Alexandra Village Food Centre so many times, I didn't know that there is a hawker stall by the name of Danger Close Beverage Co., selling gourmet tea and coffee on tap besides draught beer and craft beer. All thanks to KF Seetoh for introducing me to the stall.

We ordered the Chinos and Lady Grey, which are pulled from the tap directly. The layer of foam and colour of the tea looks like a glass of beer, isn't it?

Chinos and Lady Grey

The Chinois is a sparking tea on tap that has a fruity taste of lychee, dried fruit and honey. On the other hand, Lady Grey has a citrus and smoky flavour.

Ping Pong Tie Guan Ying

If you want to see some showmanship, order the Ping Pong Tie Guan Ying. Calvin, the stall owner, will brew the Tie Guan Ying from Pek Sin Choon, one of the oldest tea merchant in Singapore, in a traditional teapot. It is then mixed together in a cocktail shaker like a cocktail. It is a light and refreshing drink that is suitable for the humble Singapore weather.

Abyss Nitro Cold Brew

For the coffee lover, you may want to have the Abyss Nitro Coffee on tap. It has a soft, creamy finishing, almost like having a stout. I have to warn you that coffee quite intense as nitro cold brew contains a much a higher level of caffeine.

Danger Close Beverage Co. definitely brings fresh air to the hawker scene in Singapore. Besides crafted beers and the classic coffee selections, it also offers gourmet tea and nitro cold brew on tap, which is something very unique for the hawker scene.


Danger Close Beverage Co.
Alexandra Village Food Centre
Blk 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-05
Singapore 150120
Contact: +65 94359194
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 11am - 2pm, 530pm - 9pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33 or 120. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time 10 minutes. [Map]

Tai Lok Claypot Chicken Rice @ Alexandra Food Village - Formerly From Margaret Drive Food Centre

Tai Lok Claypot Chicken Rice may sounds familiar to some. The stall used to be at Margaret Drive Food Centre and moved to Alexandra Food Village when the building was demolished. I remembered I reviewed the stall back in 2010 when I started blogging. It is almost a decade, and I am glad that they are still around.

The pricing of the claypot rice is based on the servicing portion. I had the claypot rice for 2 pax which costs me $12. The other pricing is $18, $23 and $28 respectively for 3, 4 to 5 pax. I usually add extra chicken for my claypot rice, and that cost me an additional $5.

If you did not pre-order, be prepared to wait for around 30 to 45 minutes. As you can see from the photo, for $17 ($12 plus $5 for extra chicken),  I get a pot of claypot rice brimming with ingredients. It comes with chunky pieces of tender chicken, Chinese sausage, liver sausage and vegetables.

Give the fragrant rice a good toss in the dark soy sauce for the sweet, savoury finishing. I would recommend drizzle a bit of oil into the claypot rice, for that lift in the aroma as well as giving the rice a smooth texture. Not to forget their chilli sauce. It is really power and shiok.

Besides the claypot chicken rice, the stall also sells several soup dishes to go along with the rice. I had the Peanut and Chicken Feet Soup ($3.50) which is really flavourful, packed with the essence of the ingredients, boiled for hours. The other soups available on the menu are Watercress with Pork Rib Soup, Old Cucumber with Pork Rib Soup, Preserved Vegetable with Duck Meat Soup, Herbal Black Chicken Soup and Pig Stomach with Pork Rib Soup.


Tai Lok Claypot Chicken Rice
Alexandra Food Village
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Singapore 150120
Tel: +65 64740439
Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 5pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33 or 120. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time 10 minutes. [Map]

The Carvery @ Park Hotel Alexandra - A Festive Forest Feast

To ring in the festive season, The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra rolls out a series of stellar eats as part of their Festive Forest Feast themed menu where diners can partake in yuletide feasting for the entire month of December, available from 5 December 2018 to 1 January 2019.

The indulgent meat buffet offers a scrumptious spread of seasonal goodies with quality roasts flavoured with aromatic herbs and spices, including the 'diamond of the earth' itself, black truffle, as well as other earthy bites come by way of a harvest bounty of root vegetables, fresh greens and fruits.
 

Dingley Dell Pork Rack 4.2/5

Known for its marbling and tender texture due to the special cereal-based diet feed and stress-free environment the Dingley Dell pig is reared in, the pork rack is brined with Chef's Ian secret recipe brining mix for 12 hours to tenderise the meat and enhance its flavours. It goes well with the house made pineapple sauce which provides a tangy flvour to the dish.

Whiskey-Aged US Angus Beef Prime Ribs 4.2/5

Considered as one of the most flavoursome cuts of beef, its Whiskey-Aged US Angus Beef Prime Ribs flaunts a fine-grained texture and generous marbling. The meat is dry-aged in house for 14 days by being wrapped in a cloth soaked in bourbon, before being slow roasted to a perfect medium rare doneness, boasting tenderness and succulence in each bite.

Spit-roasted Chicken with Truffle 4/5

Pre-soaked for up to 24 hours in a special brine full of fresh herbs and vegetables, the Spit-roasted Chicken with Truffle is further slathered with house-made truffle butter inside and out which imparts a distinct truffle aroma and retains the succulence of the meat at the same time.

Beef Wellington 3.8/5

The Beef Wellington features a hunk of fillet steak coated with duxelles before being wrapped in a golden crusty puff pastry and baked.

Balsamic Braised Beef Short Ribs 4/5

The hot food section features several other glorious dishes for the enjoyment of diners, which includes the Balsamic Braised Beef Short Ribs. Coated in a flavourful gravy, the beef short ribs boast a soft tender texture, which fell apart easily in the mouth.

Yorkshire Pudding 3.8/5

To soak up all the luscious drippings and gravy, the Yorkshire Pudding is a welcoming addition on the plate.

Raspberry & Lychee Trifle 4/5

In line with the forest feast theme, the Raspberry & Lychee Trifle features glorious layers of lychee and rose custard, vanilla sponge soaked with fruity kirsch liquer, crunchy hazelnut crumble, raspberry macaroons, berry compote and a generous toppings of fresh cream and berries.

The Forest Feast is available from 5 December 2018 to 1 January 2019. With a slew of exquisitely crafted festive delights to look forward to this Christmas season, some of the highlights on the Festive Carving Board includes the premium meats - Roasted Pork Knuckle, Whiskey-Aged US Angus Beef Prime Ribs, Spit-roasted Chicken with Truffle and Dingley Dell Pork Rack are available for weekend dinners only.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Carvery
Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road
Level 7
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 68288880
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: RedHill (EW Line), Queenstown (EW Line)

Opening Hours;
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 2 stops later. Walk towards Ikea, At Ikea, continuing walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33 or 120. Alight 4 stops later. Walk towards Ikea, At Ikea, continuing walk to destination. . Journey time 10 minutes. [Map]

The Original Katong Laksa Janggut Laksa @ Queensway Shopping Centre - A Good Bowl Of Laksa Since 1950s

If you are interested how The Original Katong Laksa started, you would like to read my visit to its Paya Lebar outlet. For the westie that is craving for a bowl of their laksa, the closest outlet will be The Original Katong Laksa Janggut Laksa at Queensway Shopping Centre.

Laksa 4/5

Just like how the founder Mr Ng served his customers back in the 1940s, the thick beehoon is cut into short strips for easy consumption. With a good rempah cooked in coconut milk, the laksa broth is creamy and mildly spiced. The laksa comes with slices of fish cake, cockles, laksa leaves and a dollop of sambal chilli.

I also noted that the price has increased. A bowl of Laksa starts from $4.50 for small portion. Medium portion is $5.50 and Large is $6.50. A slight different is the broth here, maybe it is a new batch as I find the broth not as fragrant as the one I had at the Paya Lebar outlet.

The Original Katong Laksa Janggut Laksa
Queensway Shopping Centre
1 Queensway
#01-59
Singapore 149053
Tel: +65 64404633
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 9pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33 or 120. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time 10 minutes. [Map]