Colonial Club @ Changi Airport Terminal 3 - Discover Singapore's Heritage Story

A new restaurant has landed at Changi Airport Terminal 3 offering colonial favourites from different parts of Singapore, Penang and Malacca. Colonial Club is located at the departure hall, level 3 of Changi Airport Terminal 3.

Colonial Platter 3.5/5

Good for sharing is the Colonial Platter ($18.90) which comes with kueh pie tee, satay, inche kabin (nyonya fried chicken) and popiah. There is something for everyone. A delectable starter before the mains are served.

Otak Otak 4/5 and Roti Ayam 4/5

Inche Cabin Chicken 3.5/5

If you are not into a full meal, there are also delectable snacks such as Otak Otak ($6.90), Roti Ayam ($8.90) and Inche Cabin Chicken ($13.90). The Otak Otak, wrapped in banana leaf boosts the aroma of the spices mix in the fish paste. The Roti Ayam comes in a parcel of egg washed bread that has been pan fried and stuffed with chicken meat fillings marinated with Asian spices. Not forgetting the Inche Cabin Chicken which has been marinated withover 10 spices and coconut milk, then deep fried to crispy.

Straits Nonya Laksa with Soft Shell Crab 4.2/5

The Straits Nonya Laksa with Soft Shell Crab ($18.90) comes in a spicy rich coconut broth with rice vermicelli, cucumber, egg, fish, tofu, prawns and soft shell crab. The chef even travelled to Malacca to learn from local chefs. Its definitely a delicious bowl of laksa but its rather pricey.

Signature Colonial Club Nasi Lemak 4/5

The Signature Colonial Club Nasi Lemak ($15.90) is staked up into a tower. At the base is a piece of otak otak, followed by the fragrant blue pea rice, cucumber, fried egg and short rib rendang. I really applaud the effort to plate a simple nasi lemak into such a beautiful dish.

Colonial Style Hainanese Chicken Chop 3.8/5

Tender and juicy is the Colonial Style Hainanese Chicken Chop ($15.90). The chicken thigh coated with cracker crust is pan fried and then drenched in a special in-house tomato Worcestershire sauce. I love the addition of cubed fruits for that invigorating bite and fruity finishing.

Colonial Style Oxtail Stew with Toasted Bagutte 4/5

A classic dish on the menu is the Colonial Style Oxtail Stew with Toasted Bagutte ($15.90). Cooked for hours, the oxtail falls off the bone with ease. You can also find potatoes and carrot in the rich gravy. The best way is to enjoy it is to pick up the toasted baguette to mop up the piquant stew.

Kapitan Chicken Curry 4.2/5

Comes in a thick and creamy gravy is the Kapitan Chicken Curry ($13.90). The chicken is chopped into chunky pieces with big pieces of potatoes. It is great to go a bowl of rice or some toasted baguette to soak up that delicious gravy.

Crispy Skin Roast Chicken with Aromatic Hainanese Chicken Rice 4/5

You can find chicken rice almost at every corner of Singapore, so what makes the Crispy Skin Roast Chicken with Aromatic Hainanese Chicken Rice ($18 half/ $36 full) special here? Well I can't say it is special but definitely a notch better than a lot of chicken rice stalls out there. The succulent chicken has a delectable crisp on its skin and this is paired with aromatic rice. Not forgetting the chilli and ginger scallion sauces, which is an essential for the whole packet.

The menu at Colonial Club is quite huge catering for both tourist and local. This is a great place for tourist to get a bite of our local delicacies before leaving Singapore. However I do find the price a bit on the steep side but then its a known fact that food at airports are usually more expensive.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Colonial Club
Changi Airport Terminal 3
Departure Hall
65 Airport Boulevard
#03-33
Singapore 819633
Tel: +65 62140268
Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily; 1030am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport. Take Exit B. Walk to Departure Hall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Tai Cheong Bakery @ Holland Village - First Overseas Dine-In Concept

After a year of selling their famous Hong Kong egg tart at a food kiosk in Takasimaya, Tai Cheong Bakery has finally decided to open its first overseas dine-in concept at Holland Village, Singapore. Besides their popular egg tart, bakes and cakes, the 42 seater cafe also offers Hong Kong "Cha Chaan Teng" dishes.

Three Egg Macaroni Soup with Luncheon Meat 4.2/5

A comforting and hearty offering on the menu is the Three Egg Macaroni Soup with Luncheon Meat ($8.50). Yes you did not hear me wrong, there is a total of three sunnyside up eggs. What stood out is the rich tomato and chicken broth. This is goodness in a bowl and probably you can only have it here at Tai Cheong Bakery for the moment.

Scrambled Egg Toast Stack with Chicken Chop 4/5

Getting bored with waffle and chicken? How about having a change with the Scrambled Egg Toast Stack with Chicken Chop ($9.50). This is cheaper than your waffle and chicken. What is more important, it tasted as good or even better. The creamy three-egg scramble paired excellent with the buttered toasted. Not forgetting the juicy chip chop underneath that is resting on a bed of mushroom sauce.

French Toast 3.5/5

A quintessential Hong Kong cafe snack is the Homemade French Toast with Maple Syrup or Dulce De Leche ($6.50). Instead of deep fried, the toast coated in an egg wash with milk is pan fried instead. It is then topped with a slab of salted butter. This resulted in a fluffy interior with a contrasting crispy exterior. I would recommend not to spend too long taking photo or it can turn soaky pretty fast.

Three Coloured Silky Eggs with Rice 4.2/5

Making an impressive entrance is the Three Coloured Silky Eggs with Rice ($9.90). This is like the Hong Kong version of omurice. The steamed rice is covered with a three-egg omelette, kailan and a choice of two meats. I had the roasted pork and crispy pork belly. Dinner has a choice of either roasted pork and prawn or roasted pork and beef too. This is a dish which I will go back for.

Beef Brisket Curry Rice 3/5

Another rice dish on the menu is the Beef Brisket Curry Rice ($10.90). The curry is the sweet type with a creamy consistency, coming from the peanut sauce. It also comes with a dash of sesame oil for a aromatic finishing. The beef brisket was also cooked to a soft, fork tender texture. There is also an option of chicken if you don't eat beef.

Bolo Bun 3.5/5

A visit to Tai Cheong is not complete without trying out their signature bakes. Customers can expect to look forward to treats such as the Bolo Bun ($2.20), Coconut Tart ($2.50) and famous Egg Tart ($1.90). The unique butter cookie-like crust and smooth egg custard is what make the egg tart legendary.

Egg Tart 4.5/5, Coconut Tart 4/5, Durian & Cheese Tart 3.8/5

A special creation only available at Holland Village outlet is the Durian & Cheese Tart ($3.60). This exclusive tart is made using premium D24  durian plup and cream cheese encased in their famed crust. The creation can be quite heavy if you are not into the rich and heavy custard, and of course durian.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tai Cheong Bakery
31 Lorong Liput
Singapore 277742
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Pastries & Drinks
Mon-Fri: 10am - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 9am - 10pm
Mains
Daily: 11am - 230pm, 530pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Lorong Liput. Walk towards to the junction of Lorong Liput and Lorong Mambong. Turn left onto Lorong Luput. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Truly Test Kitchen @ Jun Jie Industrial Building (Macpherson Road)

The two young hawkerpreneurs that have started Truly Curry Rice at Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre has closed their stall and made a bold expansion move, taking over an entire coffee shop inside an industrial building at Kampong Ampat with a rather hip name - Truly Test Kitchen. Located on level seven of the industrial building, Truly Test Kitchen is a concept that consists of Truly Curry Rice, and another 3 other stalls - Truly Western, Mian and Handmade Meatball Porridge.

Hainanese Curry Rice 4/5

I was quite amazed to see the inner rice clean of gravy, after sitting there for quite some time with gravy coated all over. That to me was already a huge plus. The consistency of the curry allows it to just glaze the rice without drowning it. It is flavourful yet not overpowering the other dishes. I highly recommend their braised dishes - Radish, Chap Chye and Bittergourd.

Curry Chicken Noodle 3.5/5

Homely Noodle 3.5/5

From the Mian Stall, we had Homely Noodle and Curry Chicken Noodle. I have never seen such a huge portion for only $3.50. After observing that most customers working in the area will head straight to the rice stall without giving the noodles or porridge stall a chance. The two hawkerpreneurs increased the portion for a value return to counter that. Hence, both noodles and porridge are made extremely hearty to satiate their hunger. Homely Noodle is something that comforts your soul, while the Curry Chicken Noodle sets to fire your energy for the rest of the afternoon.

Homemade Pumpkin Cakes 3.8/5

Their Homemade Pumpkin Cakes are also worth trying. They are slightly differently from the usual. Crispy on the outside soft on the inside, the special sauce and chilli at the side make it extra moreish.

Meatball Porridge 3.8/5

Chunky homemade meatballs and velvety porridge, the liking for their Porridge is unanimous.  Thick and gluey, this hearty porridge is slow cooked for 2 hours to achieve such consistency. Hence, you wouldn't see your porridge turning watery till your last drop. That happens when potato starch was being added to quicken the thickening process. 

Chicken Chop Baked Rice 3.5/5

Chicken Chop 4/5

From Truly Western, their Baked Rice, Chicken Chop and Chicken Waffle ($4.50 each) are their popular dishes. Their baked rice is more towards the Hong Kong style. Perhaps it's the batter, I must say their Chicken Chop is really good, hence be it we had it by itself or as Chicken Chop Baked Rice, both were equally satisfying.  Their pasta, however, pale in comparison.

Pasta 2.8/5

Their Chicken Waffle ($4.50) may excite you as much as it had excited our table. Isn't it interesting to see how hawker food has evolved?  Some may see it in a negative way but such evolution may give people a chance to taste new things that is almost out of their imagination. This particular dish actually made an old couple coming back for it consecutively everyday for weeks!

Chicken Waffle 4/5

Joel and Deniece, former forex traders and colleagues, are the two young people who made it happened, barely after a couple of years after Deniece's dad handed over the hawker stall at Telok Blangah Food Centre to them. They took over the defunct coffeeshop on the 7th storey of the industrial building, spent months to get the entire space up and running, to what you see today. Hungry for success, you can see that in their eyes.

I can't imagine how this place was like back before Joel and Deniece took over, but to see so much energy going on at a level so high up in an industrial building on a Saturday, Truly Test Kitchen has definitely breathed a new lease of life into this place.

Written 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.



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Truly Test Kitchen
Jun Jie Industrial Building
153 Kampong Ampat
#07-05
Singapore 368326
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line), Aljunied (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Mon-Sat: 7am - 2pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B.Walk down Harper Road. Turn right onto Playfair Road and then left onto Mactaggart Road. Walk to the end of Mactaggart Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the overhead bridge. Walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 62. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Kampong Ampat road. Turn left onto Kampong Ampat road. Continue on Kampong Ampat. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Lee's Taiwanese @ JEM

Celebrating its 3rd anniversary, Lee's Taiwanese has refreshed its menu with the returning of old favourites and new delights. On top of that it has also introduced an a la carte buffet with a selection of over 20 dishes. The a la carte buffet is available on weekday only with free dessert and drinks. Do note that the buffet is available at JEM outlet ($16.90) from 1130am to 5pm while Star Vista outlet ($19.90) is from 3pm to 10pm.

Pig Intestines & Meat Ball Mee Sua 4/5

Probably the very first dish that I am introduce to Taiwanese cuisine is the Pig Intestines & Meat Ball Mee Sua ($10). The version at Lee's Taiwanese is as close as the one I had in Taiwan topped with garlic, chilli and vinegar. The rice vermicelli which comes with a nice silky bite is imported from Taiwan.

Sweet Potato Fries 3.5/5

Instead of buying an air ticket to fly to Taiwan, Lee's Taiwanese has brought the popular Taiwan street food dishes to their menu. I tried some of the street snacks such as Sweet Potato Fries ($6.90), Salt & Pepper Chicken ($6.90), Pig Intestines with Scallion ($7.50) and Crispy Chicken Chop ($7.80).

The Sweet Potato Fries has a nice thin batter coated around it, giving it a nice crispy bite. The sweet potato itself thickly cut, allowing one to appreciate its sweetness to the fullest.

Salt & Pepper Chicken 4/5

A very enjoyable snack delight is the Salt & Pepper Chicken ($6.90). These crispy and juicy chunks of chicken meat are popping goodness that is perfect with a a glass of beer.

Pig Intestines with Scallion 3.5/5

The Pig Intestines with Scallion ($7.50) was fried to a nice crunchy bite. The scallion stuffed into the pig intestines is a clever idea to mask the gamey taste of the innard.

Crispy Chicken Chop 3/5

Another popular Taiwan street food dish is the Crispy Chicken Chop ($7.80). This is really a huge piece of offering on the plate. While the meat still retained the juiciness, I thought the batter was a pale shadow compare to the other Taiwanese restaurants or stalls.

Crispy Bean Curd Rolls 3/5

Golden Tofu with Taiwan Kimchi 3/5

Some other dishes I tried on the menu are the Crispy Bean Curd Rolls ($4.80) and Golden Tofu with Taiwan Kimchi ($4.80). Nothing much to shout about but a nice complement to the meal at Lee's Taiwanese.

Century Egg Tofu 3/5

I am a big fan for Century Egg Tofu ($4.80) but this at Lee's Taiwanese did not manage to excite me. The whole execution felt very individual. I still miss the authentic century egg cold tofu I had in Taiwan years back.

Signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup 4/5

Not to miss is the Signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup ($13.80) which comes with a hint of spiciness in the soup base. Severed with tender beef, salted vegetables and handmade noodles, this is a good slurping bowl of springy noodles dish.

Braised Minced Pork Rice 4/5

Shredded Chicken Rice 3/5

For those that needs their daily intake of rice, there are the Braised Minced Pork Rice ($9.80) and Shredded Chicken Rice ($7.80). The braised minced pork rice is really flavoured which I don't mind polishing it off. The shredded chicken rice which is so called the Taiwanese version of hainanese chicken rice will find it hard to win the palate of the local who are already used to their own authentic version in locally. However I must applauded the shallot oil that perfumed the bowl of plain looking rice which surprisingly is very fragrant and aromatic.

Mala Spicy Stir Fry 4.2/5

It seems like Mala Guo is the latest trend and craze in Singapore. Despite the fiery spiciness of the dish, Singaporean seems to enjoy it. With that, Lee's Taiwanese has also come up with its own Taiwanese style Mala Spicy Fry (from $12.80). It also has a Mala Guo Set ($28) with appetizers and drinks that is good for 2 pax. With three different spicy levels to choose from, this is one of the most memorable new dishes that I tried.

Signature Red Bean Ice with Yam Balls 3/5

Last but not least, the Signature Red Bean Ice with Yam Balls ($5.80) to cool off that fiery tongue after the Mala Spicy Fry. The portion is quite huge. It is perfect for sharing.

Lee's Taiwanese is one of the few Taiwan restaurant I would go to if I am looking for some authentic Taiwanese food. The quality has been pretty consistent. The new dishes look promising and the a la carte buffet is very value for money.


Lee's Taiwanese
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#03-05/06
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 66941588
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leestaiwanese
Website: http://www.leestaiwanese.com/
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Drirection:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

King's Roasts @ Balestier Food Centre

Using modern technique to roast his pork belly or also known to my local as sio bak. Chef Kingsley Tan uses the combi oven which is commonly used in hotels but not in hawker. He started King's Roast selling is combi oven roasted meat at newton circle food centre before relocating to his current premises at Balestier Food Centre.

Sio Bak 4/5

After moving to Balestier Food Centre, he changed his menu to offer more western cuisines but the roasted Sio Bak is one pride that he kept it on the menu. Using combi oven to roast his pork belly, he ensures the consistency in every roast as the temperature, timing etc can be pre-programmed. The crispy and crackling skin, the moist and juicy meat all is roasted to his preference.

Char Grilled Chicken Chop 3.5/5

Fish and Chips 3/5

Char Grilled Pork Chop 4.2/5

During my visit, I also managed to try the Char Grilled Chicken Chop ($6.50), Char Grilled Pork Chop ($6.50) and Fish & Chips. Among the three I tried, my favourite was the Char Grilled Pork Chop. The pork chop was beautiful marinated and tender. However the star has to be the sauce that complemented the pork chop. Each set also comes with a coleslaw and a choice of fries or garlic butter rice.

photo credit: misstamchiak.com

King's Roasts will be taking parting in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 doing their signature Roasted Pork Belly. However for the fund raising event, the will be using the premium Kurobuta Pork for their sio bak. The sound of it already makes my saliva drips. So drop by King's Roasts stall at the event to bite into the crackling Kurobuta Sio Bak.

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.


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King's Roasts
Balestier Food Centre
Stall 8
411 Balestier Road
Singaopore 329930
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kingsroasts
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 145. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]