Cai Lin Ji (蔡林记) @ Jurong Point - Exploring the Unique Flavours of Hubei Street Food

Cai Lin Ji (蔡林记), located at Jurong Point, introduces the unique flavours of Hubei cuisine, featuring a range of street food from this region, including the famous Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles. Service here is quick, reminiscent of a fast-food restaurant, making it a convenient choice for a satisfying meal.

Three Delicacies Dou Pi (三鲜豆皮) 3.5/5

My curiosity was piqued by the Three Delicacies Dou Pi (三鲜豆皮), priced at $4.50 for one or $8.50 for two pieces. This traditional Hubei snack is a multilayered dish, with potato flour forming the base, steamed egg or glutinous rice in the middle, and a top layer featuring bamboo shoots or minced meat combined with pork belly and mushrooms. It's somewhat akin to our local prata, with layers of ingredients that create a delightful texture.

Fresh Meat Soup Bun (鲜肉汤包) 4/5

The Fresh Meat Soup Bun (鲜肉汤包), priced at $5.90 for three pieces, closely resembles our beloved Xiao Long Bao. These little pockets are filled with juicy and well-marinated pork to be savoured with a side of vinegar dip.

Signature Shao Mai (重油烧卖) 3.8/5

The Signature Shao Mai (重油烧卖), at $3.90 for three pieces, offers a unique twist on the Cantonese-style siew mai we're familiar with. This peppery rendition features a mixture of sticky rice, raisins, rock candy, peanuts, osmanthus flowers, orange peel, and shredded carrots. It's a delightful blend that somewhat resembles our local Png Kueh.

Signature Zha Jiang Hot Dry Noodle (炸酱热干面) 3.8/5

The Signature Zha Jiang Hot Dry Noodle (炸酱热干面), priced at $7.90, was a novel discovery. Hailing from Wuhan, this dish holds the title of "Top 10 Noodles in China." It's served dry and coated with a secret black sesame sauce. While it's undoubtedly a good bowl of noodles, I needed time to adjust to the unique pairing of black sesame sauce with noodles.

Xiang Yang Beef Noodles/Beehoon (襄阳牛肉面/米粉) 4.2/5

The Xiang Yang Beef Noodles/Beehoon (襄阳牛肉面/米粉) at $10.90 is a staple breakfast in Hubei. I opted for the beehoon, which had a silky texture with a delightful bite. It came with crunchy bean sprouts and was served generously in rich beef broth laden with beef and offal. I found this bowl of noodles incredibly enjoyable and versatile enough to have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Shrimp Wanton (虾仁馄饨) 4.8/5

We originally wanted to order the Han Kou Wonton, but it was sold out. We settled for the Shrimp Wanton (虾仁馄饨), priced at $9.90 for ten pieces, which were freshly made daily. These wantons featured fresh shrimp encased in tender, chewy skin and cooked in a flavorful broth.

Signature Osmanthus Paste Rice Wine (桂花糊米酒) 4/5

My culinary journey took an exciting turn with two Hubei speciality soups. First up is the Signature Osmanthus Paste Rice Wine (桂花糊米酒), priced at $3.90. This delight combines rice wine with glutinous balls in a sweet, slightly starchy broth. The second is the Egg Drop Rice Wine (蛋花米酒), priced at $4. It involves dropping a raw egg into boiling water at 100 degrees and adding rice wine. The more I indulged in these unique flavours, the more I appreciated the new tastes that graced my palate.

Signature Egg Drop Rice Wine (蛋花米酒) 3.8/5

In summary, my visit to Cai Lin Ji at Jurong Point expanded my culinary horizons. The menu featured dishes I'd never tasted before, emphasizing the vastness of the culinary world and the endless possibilities for exploration.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cai Lin Ji
Jurong Point
63 Jurong West Central
#03-56
Singapore 648331
Tel: +65 9238 0368
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Nearest MRT: Boon Lay (EW Lne)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 9pm

Direction:
1. Alight at Boon Lay MRT station. Take Exit C, D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

EatAlley @ Orchard Gateway - A Malaysian Food Court Featuring Popular KL Street Food Brands

EatAlley, located in basement 2 of Orchard Gateway, is Orchard's latest Malaysian food theme foodcourt. This 150-seater houses 8 top KL street food brands- Koon Kee Wanton Mee, Hong Lai Hokkien Mee, Siong Huat Bah Kut Teh, Kam Heong Braised Duck, Soong Kee Beef Noodle, Fatty Nasi Lemak, and Restoran Chuan Huat.

Kampung Nasi Lemak (adapted for EatAlley) - Founded a decade ago, the Malaysian founder, nicknamed Fatty, has been making nasi lemak kukus the old-fashioned way using wooden steamers. So here we have the signature dish - Nasi Lemak with Ayam Rempah, complete with fried ikan bilis, peanuts, sunny side up egg and sambal ($8.80), finished with a ladle of curry sauce doused over. The rice was incredibly fragrant and fluffy, making it a perfect match with the robust sauce and sambal. The fried chicken leg had a good crunch on the outside, with the meat tender and juicy. We also had a serving of Beef Rendang that was pleasingly tender.

Kam Heong Braised Duck - Established in 1976 by Tan Boon Seong, the Teochew-style Braised Duck is cooked with eight herbs. The duck meat carried a light herbal fragrance and was at its right tenderness, and the sauce left a delectable lingering herbaceous aftertaste.

Koon Kee Wanton Mee (adapted for EatAlley) - Established in the 1940s on Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, their thin egg noodles, minced pork wanton and roasted char siew are prepared and cooked in-house. We had the Signature Duo Combo of Char Siew, "Flower" Mushrooms, and Braised Chicken Feet with KL-style dark sauce noodles ($10.80). The noodles coated in a flavourful dark sauce had a good bite to it. The pork shoulder char siew was succulent with pronounced layers of fats that stood out against the glossy, blackish caramelized exterior.

Soong Kee Beef Noodle - was founded by Siew Wei Hann's father, who started the business right after the second world war in 1945. What's interesting about their beef noodle is that the dish is made with two components - housemade noodles coated with dark soy sauce and decadent with a scoop of umami-rich minced pork and beef mixture and served alongside a bowl of clear beef soup containing beef tripe, juicy beef balls and tender beef slices from Australia. The latter acquires its light depth of flavour from the brewing of only beef balls without the bones, and its cleaner taste makes it the perfect accompaniment to the noodles.

Uncle Beh Pork Noodle - was started by Beh Chin Kiang's late father in 1963 at a rented stall in Pudu Raya (Pudu market). The Signature Pork Noodle Combo with Kway Teow in Soup ($10.80) features minced and sliced pork and pigs' intestines, liver and kidney. The much-anticipated soup was savoury sweet with a good depth of flavour, and I relished it till the very last drop.

If I were to pick three dishes to eat again, I would go for the Pork Kway Teow Soup, Wanton Mee and the Nasi Lemak. They are my favourites among the 8 stalls.

Words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


EatAlley
Orchard Gateway
277 Orchard Road
#B2-12
Singapore 238858
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am – 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

Estate @ Hilton Singapore Orchard - Unveils New Epicurean Buffet Offerings For Lunch And Dinner

Hilton Singapore Orchard's residential all-day buffet restaurant, Estate unveils a range of sumptuous new gourmet offerings on their spread for lunch and dinner from May 5, 2023 onwards. Diners can indulge in a tantalising variety of elevated local and regional dishes, each crafted with the finest and freshest ingredients to delight the taste buds and awaken the senses.

Guests looking to start their dinner light can first head to the Raw and Seafood Bar, where in addition to the succulent seafood available for lunch, diners can also enjoy freshly shucked seasonal oysters on ice and thick cuts of sashimi and sushi rolls.

Exclusively for dinner are the Premium Meats and Live Carvings of Estate Signature Black Truffle Roasted Duck with fried tofu and peanut crust, as well as the locally sourced Whole Barramundi with green pepper, chilli, potato, coriander and spring onion.

Another new highlight exclusive to dinner is a refreshed take on flavours for the Grilled Skewers, where carnivores will find a delectable range of meats well-marinated with homemade marinades created by Sri Lankan chef and butcher Bala from Estate's culinary team. Highlights include Chicken Shish Taouk, Fish Kebab, Beef Kofta, and Black Curry Pork Skewer.

The dinner buffet boasts a daily rotational menu of Western and modern Asian delights that will appeal to every palate. Diners who enjoy French specialities can indulge in the Baked Chicken with Dijon Creme Sauce and Grilled Angus Cube Roll with rich peppercorn brandy cream sauce.

The Carribean Coconut Mussel Curry is not to be missed, where perfectly cooked mussels are drenched in a rich and fragrant coconut curry sauce.

One of our favourites is the cooked-to-order Cantonese-style Wagyu Beef Handmade Noodles with tender beef tendon, white radish and a rich, soothing beef broth at the Noodles Kitchen.

Other Asian specialities include Szechuan-style Spicy and Soup with tofu, black fungus, mushrooms, sea cucumber and shredded chicken to start, and stop by the porridge station for a comforting bowl of Hong Kong-style Chicken Ball Congee with minced chicken ball, braised peanuts, century and salted eggs.

The dessert selection for dinner offers guests an even more comprehensive choice of toothsome treats like Rose Velvet Cake, Mixed Nuts Fudge Brownie, Bread and Butter Pudding. Diners can also head over to the Charcoal Waffle Ice Cream corner to enjoy freshly made charcoal waffles with creamy vanilla and chocolate gelatos.

Estate offers a range of sweet treats served in the restaurant’s iconic glass jars. Highlights include the Black Sesame Taro, Lychee Sakura Velveteen, and Coconut Pineapple Panna Cotta.

Estate Dinner Buffet
• Mondays to Sundays | 6:30 pm to 10 pm
• $88++ per adult (Sundays to Wednesdays)
• $108++ per adult (Fridays, Saturdays, Public Holidays & Eves of Public Holidays)
• Children aged between 6 and 12 years old dine at 50 percent off adult price. Children aged 5 years and below dine for free.
• Estate’s Lobster, Crab and Seafood Dinner Buffet (Every Thursday), priced at $158++ per adult

Estate Lunch Buffet
• Mondays to Saturdays | 12 pm to 2:30 pm
• $72++ per adult (Mondays to Thursdays)
• $78++ per adult (Fridays, Saturdays, Public Holidays & Eves of Public Holidays)
• Children aged between 6 and 12 years old dine at 50 percent off adult price. Children aged 5 years and below dine for free.
• Estate Grand Champagne Brunch (Every Sunday), priced from $158++ per adult

Prices include chilled juices, soft drinks, homemade iced tea, coffee and tea.

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.


Estate
Hilton Singapore Orchard
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 67374411
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 10pm
Breakfast: 630am – 1030am
Lunch: 12pm – 230pm
Dinner: 630pm – 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to ground level. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Walk down Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Viet'Spice @ Circular Road (Boat Quay) - Authentic, Yummy Vietnamese Cuisine By SG-based Vietnamese

Viet'Spice, located along Circular Road, is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant founded by 35-year-old Helen Vy in 2021 against the backdrop of the pandemic. Viet'Spice strives to introduce and popularise Vietnamese dishes not commonly found in Singapore. Besides its flagship restaurant at Circular Road, Viet'Spice has another two outlets at Smith Street (takeaway kiosk) and Geylang (Kopifellas Coffee Shop).

Cha gio 4.2/5

Vietnamese cuisine is known for its fresh spring roll, but I prefer the Fried Spring Roll ($9.90) more. The spring roll is deep fried until the rice paper turns crispy and golden brown, stuffed with delicious minced pork.

Banh Bot Loc 4.2/5

The Vietnamese Rice Dumpling ($12.90), said to originate from Hue in Vietnam, is a small, transparent, chewy tapioca dumpling filled with shrimp and pork belly. It is topped with fried shallots and served with sweet chilli fish sauce for a lift in enjoyment. It resembles the Chinese crystal dumpling.

Banh Xeo 4/5

Banh Xeo ($14.90) is a traditional Vietnamese savoury pancake made from rice flour, coconut milk, turmeric powder and water. The yellow colouring of the thin and crispy pancake comes from the turmeric powder, filled with bean sprouts, sliced pork, shrimp and onions. The popular street food can be eaten like a roll using lettuce leaves and fresh herbs to wrap the crispy pancake along with the dipping sauce. The result is a delicious combination of textures and flavours, crunchiness, sweetness, and herbal aroma.

Grilled Pork Banh Mi 4.2/5

Banh Mi is another iconic dish in Vietnamese cuisine, a fusion of Vietnamese and French culinary influences, as Vietnam was once a French colony. We had the Grilled Pork Banh Mi ($9,90). The Vietnamese baguette is light and crispy, stuffed with flavoursome grilled pork and complemented by the freshness of herbs.

Bun Bo Hue 4/5

Instead of the usual Pho, we decided to go for the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup ($13.90) originating from Hue. The silky rice vermicelli comes in a bowl of complex and robust broth, served with sliced beef, pork rolls and fried pork. Actually, I don't have the bowl of slurping goodness spicy at all.

Caramel Flan 3/5

Lastly, we had the Caramel Flan ($4.90) for dessert. Unlike the usual flan, the Vietnamese Caramel Flan is steamed instead of baked, served with ice and poured over with coffee. It is my first time having Vietnamese flan, so I am unsure what to expect from its texture. I suspect the flan was slightly overcooked, as it did not have the creamy texture I expected.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Viet'Spice
14 Circular Road
Singapore 049370
Tel: +65 97341761
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road. Walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down the road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to Circular Road. Walk down Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 7 minutes. [Map]

Niu Dian Beef Noodles @ Balestier Road - Taiwan Michelin Bib Gourmand Beef Noodles

The famous Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee - Niu Dian Beef Noodles from Taipei, Taiwan, opened in Singapore at VIIO @ Balestier. The establishment was founded by Mr Lin Chun Ying, a former head chef at a 5-star hotel in 2005, recreating his childhood memories of a delicious bowl of beef noodle incorporating some of his western cooking methods into his unique bowl of beef noodle.

Chrysanthemum Milk Tea and Lychee Mint Black Tea

Niu Dian has also collaborated with homegrown bubble tea brand Palace Tea to provide diners with an authentic Taiwan dining experience. We tried its Chrysanthemum Milk Tea and Lychee Mint Black Tea.

Trio Specialty Beef Noodles 4/5

The Trio Specialty Beef Noodles in Original Soup ($19.90) comes with boneless rib cut, tendon, and golden coin. The chewy texture of the handmade noodles stood out for me, followed by the consomme-like soup brewed over 24 hours with various beef bone parts, mirepoix and herbs.

Combination Specialty Beef Noodles 3.8/5

Diners can also pick the braised soup to go with the noodle for an additional one dollar. To try the difference, we ordered the Combination Specialty Beef Noodles ($19.90) with boneless rib cut, tendon, tripe and golden coin in a spicy soup base. I prefer the original flavour to taste the depth and body of the soup, as the chilli did not raise the taste profile but only gave it a spicy finish.

Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flaks 4/5

Braised Beancurd 4.2/5

Complete the meal with a number of sides, such as the Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes ($5.90) and Braised Beancurd ($3.90). They are delightful sides that are worth ordering to go with the noodles.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Niu Dian Beef Noodles
VIIO @ Balestier
520 Balestier Road
#01-01/02
Singapore 329853
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Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 930pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 139 or 145. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]