Restaurant HOME & Bar (家) @ Cosford Road (Changi) - A New Home With Kampong Vibe

Restaurant HOME (家) owned by Chef Tan Yong Kang, also know as the first Singaporean chef to beat the Iron Chef Thailand. has moved from the rail mall to its current location at Cosford Road in Changi. For those familiar with the East, this is where Catch Restaurant used to be located. Compared to the previous premise at rail mall, the new location is bigger and it has a kampong vibe to it. Besides the indoor dining area, the restaurant also has an alfresco bar area with a bar.

A separate menu is specially curated to cater for the bar area focusing on barbecued items. We tried some of the barbecue item such as the Barbecued White Snapper Fish with Salt ($7/100gram), Barbecued Prawn ($16/order), Barbecued Sliced Beef ($16/order), Barbecued Sliced Pork Belly ($16/order) and Poached La La ($18/order). The group seemed to enjoy the barbecued sliced beef for its tenderness while I preferred the barbecued sliced pork belly for its marination and rich flavour.

Baked Golden Snapper Fish with Sea Salt 4.2/5

While Chef Tan has retained most of his signature items of the menu, he has also incorporated new items inspired by the kampong surrounding, bring cooking to its basic and showcasing the natural flavours of the ingredients. One of such dishes is the Baked Golden Snapper Fish with Sea Salt ($7/100gram). The whole golden snapper is covered with sea salt and baked to a nice moist texture which comes with slight hint of saltiness that enhanced the sweetness of the meat.

Baked Chicken with Herbal Sea Salt 4.2/5

The other dish that is worth trying is the Baked Chicken with Herbal Sea Salt ($24). The chicken is marinated overnight for the flavours to be absorbed into the tender chicken meat. It is baked for another 1.5 hours wrapped in lotus leaf and cooked with herbal sea salt before serving.

Hot-Stone Sauteed Pig Liver with Ginger and Onion 4.5/5

Not many people will appreciate the pig liver and it is even harder to cook it perfectly. Besides KEK seafood, Restaurant Home is the second place which executed the dish perfectly. The Hot-Stone Sauteed Pig Liver with Ginger and Onion ($14 small) was soft and tender which is complemented beautifully by the savory brown sauce.

La La Crispy Rice 4.5/5

A hearty and comforting dish on the menu is the La La Crispy Rice ($10/pax). Fragrant crispy fried rice is poured into the sweet clam broth. It's like having a delicious bowl of porridge in superior stock with the addition of extra crispiness from the crispy rice.

Black Pepper Crab 4/5

Singapore loves their crab and it is inevitable that the menu showcases the crustacean. We had the Black Pepper Crab ($58/kg) which is tossed in a fiery and piquant black pepper sauce. It goes well with the sweetness of the crab meat.

Chilled Rosella Flower Jelly with Diced Mango 4/5

For dessert we had the farm to table Chilled Rosella Flower Jelly with Diced Mango. Chef Tan grows the rosella flower himself at his garden. The dessert has a sourish sweetness that is very refreshing.

Besides the food at Restaurant Home, there new location offers a mini attraction for family and kids. It is actually located at the old Johore Battery where a huge firing barrel is still there. On top of that, Chef Tan is using the plot of land to do some farming, growing some of the ingredients that are used in the kitchen. Definitely a good education for the kids to roam and learn more about nature

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Restaurant HOME & Bar (家)
27 Cosford Road
Singapore 499549
Tel: +65 64651698
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tampines (EW Line), Tanah Merah (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sin: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tamplines MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tampines Bus Interchange (Stop ID 75009). Take bus number 29. Alight 13 stops later. Cross the road to Cosford Road. Walk down Cosford Road to destination. Journey time about 50 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tanah Merah MRT station (Stop ID 85091). Take bus number 2. Alight 16 stops later. Cross the road to Cosford Road. Walk down Cosford Road to destination. Journey time about 55 minutes [Map]

The Burning Oak @ The Bedok Marketplace

The food centre at Simpang Bedok has undergone renovation and presented with a new look earlier this year with a mix of traditional and modern hawker stalls. It is also renamed as The Bedok Marketplace. The Burning Oak at The Bedok Marketplace is one of these moderns hawker stalls that has moved into the new food centre specialising in Yakitori and Japanese Don.

Wagyu Rump Cap & Iberico Pork Cheeks Don 4.2/5

There were many reviews covering their signature yakitori that is grilled over binchotan charcoal, a premium charcoal from Japanese Oak. During my trip, I did not try the yakitori as my intention was to check out the Wagyu Rump Cap & Iberico Pork Cheeks Don ($15) recommended by Uncle Martin.

Wagyu Rump Cap & Iberico Pork Cheeks Don 4.2/5

For just a mere fifteen dollor, the bowl of fragrant rice comes with a generous portion of wagyu ramp cap, iberico pork cheeks and an onsen egg. Grilled to a nice smokey aroma, each mouthful of the rice is accompanied by tender meats. The wagyu rump cap was flavourful and tender. The iberico pork cheek was also cooked to perfection with an enjoyable crunchy bite to it.

Wagyu Rump Cap & Iberico Pork Cheeks Don 4.2/5

It is rare to find such a gem servicing quality grilled meat in hawker centre. The price point is also very reasonable for the huge servicing. This is definitely one value for money Wagyu Rump Cap & Iberico Pork Cheeks Don to be found in a food centre.


The Burning Oak
The Bedok Marketplace
348 Bedok Road
Singapore 469560
Tel: +65 98736093
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 130pm, 6pm until sold out

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tanah Merah MRT station (Stop ID 85091). Take bus number 2 or 9. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road at the traffic light. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Uncle Chicken Rice @ The Bedok Marketplace

Many of you may still remember the popular Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre. The former owner's two sons have gone their separate way to open their own chicken rice stall in Mei Ling Food Centre and Alexandra Village Food Centre after Margaret Drive Hawker Centre was demolished to make way for new development. Both of Niven and Benson have since closed their respective stall and work together at Uncle Chicken Rice in The Bedok Marketplace.

Chicken Rice 4.2/5

Both Niven and Benson has worked at their father's stall since young and has inherited his recipe. Until today, they are still using the same old recipe that has made Sin Kee Chicken Rice famous. The poached  chicken is still natural air dried, moist and tender. They are chopped into large pieces for the fullest enjoyment.

Chicken Rice 4.2/5

Besides the cleaning chopping skill that helps to preserve the moisture of the meat, the other condiments that goes along with the chicken rice are good too. The fresh ginger and scallion dip is not something you can common get nowadays. Together with the chilli and sweet dark sauce, this further accentuated the flavour of the chicken and chicken rice.

Niven has also introduced the Lava Egg ($1) at his new stall. Check out the lava eruption when it is cut open.

Hong Kong Style Lo Ding 4.5/5

A must try at Uncle Chicken Rice is their latest creation, the Hong Kong Style Lo Ding ($4). The plate of maggie like noodle cost only a mere four dollar but it is filled to the brim with soy sauce chicken, luncheon meat, lava egg and vegetables. I would recommend tossing the noodles with the ginger and scallions to give it a fuller slurping goodness.


Uncle Chicken Rice
The Bedok Marketplace
348 Bedok Road
Singapore 469560
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 8pm
(Closed on alt Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tanah Merah MRT station (Stop ID 85091). Take bus number 2 or 9. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road at the traffic light. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

No Name Cheng Tng @ Bedok South Ave 3

I guess if I would to ask most people where to get the best Cheng Tng, many would have recommended me Ye Lai Xiang at Bedok Corner Food Centre. However my foodie kakis brought me to No Name Cheng Tng stall instead. This little stall is hidden inside the coffeeshop at block 69 Bedok South Ave 3. I was told that it used to be at the front but has now moved inside.

Cheng Tng 4.5/5

The first impression of the Cheng Tng ($1.50) with its generous ingredients already won me at first sight. In the bowl there was dried longan, white fungus, gingko nuts, dried persimmon, winter melon, glutinous ball, malva nut and sweet potato. Unlike most Cheng Tng, the uncle prefers to use ice cube instead of shaved ice. I like the idea as it keeps the cheng tng cold while not over dilute the broth when the ice melted.

Cheng Tng 4.5/5

A sip of the cooling broth and one will be able to taste the sweetness of the longan and know it is genuine, not like some stalls that took shortcut and uses syrup.

Cheng Tng 4.5/5

I have not tried Ye Lai Xiang's Cheng Tng but accordingly to the foodie kakis, the Cheng Tng here is comparable if not even better. Furthermore, it is only $1.50 which is like fifty percent cheaper compared to Ye Lai Xiang. Anytime I would be happy to have 2 bowls of it. The stall may be called no name but it is already making a name for itself when it is invited and took part in the World Street Food Congress Singapore 2013.


No Name Cheng Tng
Blk 69 Bedok South Ave 3
#01-468
Singapore 460069
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 9pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Tanah Merah MRT station (Stop ID 85099). Take bus number 48 Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road and walk to block 69. [Map]

Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh (順發肉骨茶) @ Simpang Bedok

Food has this magical power of bringing people together and through this food blogging I have met a lot of new friends who shared the same interests. Recently I have learnt that food can also change a person. During one of the makan sessions, the foodie friends brought me to Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh at Simpang Bedok which opened in April 2013. I was introduced to a ex-criminal turned entrepreneur, Mr Jabez Tan who is the main chef/owner of Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh. It was through the love of food he has found a new aim in life and in a good cause he is also giving ex-offenders a second chance in life.

You can read about Jabez's inspiration story at the restaurant on how he turns over a new leaf and worked from ground zero washing dishes all the way up in the prison kitchen. Sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment, he found a new lease of life in God. Coming up with his own Bak Kut Teh recipe, he started his F&B business in 2011 and employs mainly ex-convicts to work at the restaurant giving them a second chance in life. The current restaurant at Simpang Bedok is his own venture after parting ways with his previous business partners.

Bak Kut Teh 4.2/5

I have not tried the Bak Kut Teh in the previous food establishment but accordingly to my fellow foodie friends, it was quite bad then. However just like giving ex-offenders a second chance, he tried the Bak Kut Teh ($5.90/$11.90/$22.90) again after 2 years. This time the recipe has been fine tuned and improved. Soon Huat uses Argentine pork for the Bak Kut Teh. The pork ribs was nicely cooked until it fell off the bone with ease. The soup is a in between of the peppery and herbal versions, in a way creating his own style. Judging from the crowd when I was there 2 times, the soup is well received by the customers.

Braised Trotter 3.8/5

Whenever I have Bak Kut Teh, I will usually ordered Braised Trotter to go along with my bowl of rice. The Braised Trotter ($6.90) here was nicely braised with the meat absorbing all the lovely flavours. The meat was still a tad tough to my liking but my second visit was much better.

Braised Tau Kee 4.5/5

Jabez shared with us that the Braised Tau Kee ($3.90) was not originally in the menu. A customer has requested for the dish and he was very apologetic that they did not serve it at the restaurant. With an open mind and listening to customer feedback, he experimented and introduced this delectable braised Tau Kee dish into the menu. Now the sheets of crispy beancurd skin have become one of their popular dishes.

Dried Bak Kut Teh 4.5/5

The signature item at Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh has to be there Dried Bak Kut Teh ($6.90). Using the same soup from the Bak Kut Teh, it was reduced in a concoction of soy sauce and oyster sauce coating the pork ribs with its sweetness with the dried chilli giving it a nice kick in spiciness. The whole enjoyment is rounded off with the aromatic topping of the fried cuttlefish. This is a must try.

Just a note not to be confused with another Bak Kut Teh chain with a similar name with the character Xin in front. Jabez's new Bak Kut Teh restaurant, Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh (順發肉骨茶) is located at Simpang Bedok.


Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh (順發肉骨茶)
Bedok Shopping Complex (Simpang Bedok)
302 Bedok Road
Singapore 469460
Tel: +65 62733338
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soonhuatbakkutteh
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tanah Merah MRT station (Stop ID 85091). Take bus number 2 or 9. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road at the traffic light and turn right. Walk towards the end of the shop houses or Jalan Chempaka Kuning and turn left. Walk all the way in to the back row of shop houses to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Changi Village Carrot Cake @ Changi Village Food Centre

Do you like your fried carrot cake white or black? If you like it black cake, you must try out this stall at Changi Village food centre. It is one of my favourite fried black carrot cake stalls.

I have not eaten at Changi Village food centre for a very long time. Back from Ubin cycling trip, the first thing I checked out was whether the carrot cake stall was opened. I was glad it was opened and I ordered a plate from the auntie while the uncle works the wok. The sweetness from the black sauce eaten with the softness of the carrot cake and egg was still very good after all these year.

Black Carrot Cake 4.5/5

To get here,
(a) Alight at Tanah Merah MRT station and take bus no. 2 to Changi Village Bus Terminal, or
(b) Alight at Pasir Ris MRT station, take bus no. 109 along Pasir Ris Drive 1 or bus no. 89 opposite Pasir Ris Town Park.


Changi Village Carrot Cake
Changi Village Food Centre
Blk 2 Changi Village Road
#01-31
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah (EW Line)

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

View Larger Map

Western Chow @ Bedok

I got to know of this place from the food tweet community. The concept is western food with a Hainanese twist at coffee shop price. In addition, they are Halal too. Currently, they have another 2 branches at Lorong Ah Soo and Bishan.

I ordered the rosemary lamb rack, black pepper chicken, 2 teh tarik and a mushroom soup all came to a total bill of $20.20. That was cheap isn't it? For the price I am paying, I was surprised by the standard of the food, especially the main courses. The lamb and chicken were very good. Definitely better than some restaurants I have eaten. However, the mushroom soup could be better. I thought it is a bit diluted and lack the thick mushroom flavour I was looking for.

Rosemary Lamb Rack 4.2/5

Char-grill Black Pepper Chicken 4.2/5

To get here, alight at Tanah Merah MRT station, go to exit B bus stop. Take bus 2 or 9 and it is just a bus stop away.


Western Chow
Blk 351 Bedok Road
Nearest MRT: Tanah Merah, EW Line