Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink (福记燕窝水) @ Chomp Chomp Food Centre

Dated back to 1950s, Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink (福记燕窝水) was started by Boon Leng's grandfather on a push cart travelling around Singapore. Boon Leng, now 26 years old is the 3rd generation taking over the business from his father has found a permanent stall for the traditional drink at Chomp Chomp Food Centre instead of the hassle of moving from one Pasar Malam to another.

Not known to many younger generation, a cup of birds nest drink is not just sugar water with agar agar. A cup of bird nest drink may look simple but it actually requires a lot of time, preparation and hard work behind the scene. The water are all 100% daily boiled to fragrance and the bird nest (Cui Yan) requires detailed picking and cleansing before serving each cup to customers.

At Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink, you can get the birds nest drink served in regular size cup ($2) and jumbo size cup ($3.50). The fragrant drink boiled with pandan leaves is very refreshing and cooling. After all the yummy hawker food at Chomp Chomp food centre, this will be the perfect drink to wash down all the greasiness or cooling oneself from the heat. If you are not into bird nest, the flagship stall has also introduced Ai Yu Drink at Chomp Chomp food centre.

For those that wanted to packet it back home to have the birds nest drink anytime of the day, Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink also sells them in bottle at $2.50 each. My little tip is to get the bottled one as it is more concentrated without the ice.

Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink (福记燕窝水) will be taking part in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 selling their Birds Nest Drink and Ai Yu Drink at the fund raising event. Do look out for Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink with the swallow bird signage.

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.


Hock Kee Birds Nest Drink (福记燕窝水)
Chomp Chomp Food Centre
Stall 28
20 Kensington Park Road
Singapore 557269
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hockkee1950
Nearest MRT Station: Lorong Chuan (CC Line), Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 5pm - 1130pm
Fri-Sun: 5pm - 1230am
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Lorong Chuan MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at New Tech Park (Stop ID 66021). Take Bus 73. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre. Journey time about 15mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit B or E. Walk to bus stop at Serangoon Central (Stop ID 66351). Take Bus 315. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre. Journey time about 15mins. [Map]

Teochew Handmade Pau (潮洲自制包点) @ Toa Payoh Lorong 1

In this modern days, not many hawkers would still continue the tradition of painstakingly handmade their food. I mentioned Chey Sua Carrot Cake in my earlier post whereby they still steamed their own radish cake for their fried carrot cake. Just a few stalls away at the same food centre is Teochew Handmade Pau (潮洲自制包点) which is started by Mr Yeow Eu Tiew in 1993, still continues to handmade their Teochew Pau.

Richard Yeoh is the 2nd generation of Teochew Handmade Pau (潮洲自制包点). He has given up his mechanical engineering job to help out his dad. As he shared with us, things were not smooth in the beginning. There was a clash of the old ways and his new methods to quantify the recipes. Richard has also started a central kitchen to supply a small quantity of paus to the hawker stall. He explained that having a central quality does not mean using machines to make their paus. The Paus are all still handmade at the central kitchen. One advantage of having a central kitchen is better quality control and consistency. For example, a pau will be exacty 30gram in weight so as a consumer you will not be felt cheated too.

Teochew Handmade Pau offers a variety of their delightful steamed bun but one of my favourite is their Big Pork Bun. The flavourful and juicy pork filling together with the soft fluffy skin is a winner for me. I understand from the owner a lot of efforts are put into ensuring the texture of the skin is soft and fluffy, such as the type of sugar used, the proportional of water and flour.

The different types of Teochew Paus sold at the stall are smaller in size compared to most that you see at coffeeshops. This means you can enjoy more and a variety of the delightful bite size snack. Another difference at Teochew Handmade Pau is their Char Siew Bun and Stewed Pork Bun (Kou Rou Pau). The fillings are minced and leaner instead of the usual Cantonese style buns where you still can find small pieces of meat inside. On top of that, the Siew Mai is also substituted with fish instead of the usual prawn.

Here is a video of Teochew Handmade Pau done by Republic Polytechnic's Diploma in Mass Communication students winning them the too prize in the City Hawker Food Hunt Video Competition 2013. It captures the heartfelt story of continuing the heritage of Teochew Handmade Pau (潮洲自制包点).

I am very glad to announce that Teochew Handmade Pau (潮洲自制包点) has agreed to take part in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014. They will be selling an assortment of their handmade buns to raise fund for charity. The assortment with consider Small Pork Bun with Egg, Salted Egg Yolk Longevity Bun, Char Siew Bun, Siew Mai and Stewed Pork Bun (Kou Rou Pau).

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.


Teochew Handmade Pau (潮洲自制包点)
Toa Payoh Blk 127 Market & Food Centre
Blk 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
#02-02
Singapore 310217
Tel: +65 62542053/66595786
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teochew-Hand-Made-Pau/115358958476616
Website: http://teochewhandmadepau.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Braddel (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 6am - 2pm
Sun: 6am - 12pm
(Closed on Mon and Alt Tues)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit B. Follow the blue sheltered walkway and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Chey Sua Carrot Cake (青山菜头果) @ Toa Payoh Lorong 1

What do Singaporean likes to eat for breakfast? One of my favourite local breakfast item is Fried Carrot Cake. Commonly served in Singapore is the white and black carrot cakes. I personally prefers the white over the black because it allows me to appreciate the original taste of the radish cake. One such stall that still insists on only cooking the white carrot cake is Chey Sua Carrot Cake (青山菜头果) at Toa Payoh West Market & Food Court.

Currently Chey Sua Carrot Cake is run by two sisters, Shirley and Grace who has helmed the stall and skill from their mother with over 50 years of culinary heritage. The radish cakes are still painstakingly steamed and prepared at the stall freshly everyday unlike most stalls that source their ingredients from factory nowadays.

White Carrot Cake 4/5

At Chey Sua, the stall only sells the White Carrot Cake. The carrot cake is fried to crisp on one side with a nice coating of eggs. Unlike other stalls out there, the carrot cakes at Chey Sua is cooked into square cube shape and each plate comes with about five pieces of them.

White Carrot Cake with Chilli 4/5

If you like your carrot cake to be spicy then you still need to try the White Carrot Cake with Chilli at Chey Sua. Once again the stall has its unique way of cooking it. Instead of servicing the chilli at the side or mixing it with the radish cake, the chilli is coated on the exterior of the crisp side. The spicy sweet chilli gives the carrot cake another lift in taste in enjoyment.

Chey Sua Carrot Cake will be taking part in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 cooking that traditional white carrot cake with the ultimate original recipe of more than 50 years passed down by the mother using their homemade steamed radish cake.

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.


Chey Sua Carrot Cake
Toa Payoh Blk 127 Market & Food Centre
Blk 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
#02-30
Singapore 310127
Nearest MRT: Braddell (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6am - 1pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit B. Follow the blue sheltered walkway and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Centre Satay Bee Hoon @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 Food Centre

You may wonder why there are very few Satay Bee Hoon stalls around the island. Satay bee hoon may seems like a very easy to make dish. You just need to cook the rice vermicelli, ingredients and pour the satay sauce over it. In actual fact, the making of the satay sauce or peanut gravy is a very labour intensive job. Long hours are needed in the roasting, grinding and cooking of the peanuts to get the soft nutty consistency.

Satay Bee Hoon 4.2/5

Whenever I have craving for the Satay Bee Hoon ($3.50/$4.50), one of my favourite stalls to go to is Centre Satay Bee Hoon at Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 Food Centre. What I like about their satay bee hoon is the smooth nutty consistency of the satay sauce. I have come across stalls that sold me very coarse peanut gravy which felt like the stall took the sauce from the satay stall and pour it on my plate.

Satay Bee Hoon 4.2/5

In the plate of satay bee hoon at Centre Satay Bee Hoon, you can find many ingredients such as prawn, cuttlefish, pork slices, cockles, kang kong and the supporting actor the rice vermicelli. The soft rice vermicelli still retains a bit of bite coating the fragrant satay sauce in each mouthful.

Centre Satay Bee Hoon will be taking part in this Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 and they will be introducing some ultimate ingredients for the event. Centre Satay Bee Hoon will up their game for the charity event by doing their Ultimate Seafood Bee Hoon with Tiger Prawn, Cuttle Fish, Mussels and even shabu shabu Pork Belly.

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.


Centre Satay Bee Hoon
Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 Market & Food Centre
Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
#01-12
Singapore 560724
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Mon: 11am - 9pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to traffic light. Cross the right and turn right. Walk down Ang Mo Kio Ave 8. At left Jubilee Square and cut through the estate. Walk to destination Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh 榕城(新民路)肉骨茶 @ Midview City (Sin Ming Road)

Among the different style of Bak Kut Teh in Singapore, my favourite is still the Teochew Bak Kut Teh. To savour this local delicacy, one of my favourite place to visit is Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh at Midview City 榕城(新民路)肉骨茶. Don't be confused by the other Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh that is a stone throw away at Blk 22 Sin Ming Road. In fact, that is the original stall runs by Lionel's dad, Mr Lim who started the business back in 1976. Both outlets uses the same ingredients and recipe just that one is a stall in a coffeeshop while the other at Midview City is a standalone restaurant which is more spacious and offers a variety of cooked food on top of their popular teochew style bak kut teh.

Pork Rib Soup 4.5/5

Not known to many, in the earlier days no one uses the prime ribs or better known as 龙骨 (dragon bone) for their bak kut teh. It was Uncle Lim who started to use them and everyone follow suit. Nowadays the prime ribs are a priced item as the demand has increased but there are just the number of spare ribs available in each pig. Lionel shared with us that he has an open kitchen and he will cook the doneness of meat accordingly to the customer. He told us the young generations prefer their meat to be tender and fall of the bone while the older generation likes it tougher with a bite. I belong to the young group. I like my meat to be tender and my soup to be peppery. Rong Cheng bak kut teh hits the right spot for me.

Sliced Belly Meat Soup 4/5

Uncle Lim was the first to introduce the prime ribs bak kut teh. His son, Lionel inherited his entrepreneur spirit and came up with the Sliced Belly Meat Soup ($7) or what I called the sliced pork bak kut teh. This is the first in Singapore catering to the young and more health conscious crowd. The soup may not be as robust compared to the pork ribs but it has a more subtle clean flavour.

Salted Vegetable 4/5

Braised Beancurd Skin 4/5

Besides the bak kut teh, Rong Cheng also offers some side dishes to go with the delicious bak kut teh. During my visit, I got to try the Salted Vegetable ($1/$2), Braised Beancurd Skin ($1/$3) and the Liver & Kidney Soup ($6). The comforting and hearty sides are perfect to the complete the whole meal.

Liver  & Kidney Soup 4/5

Drinking tea or more correctly 功夫茶 (Gong Fu Cha) is part of the whole food heritage of bak kut teh. In the early days, after finishing the bowl of pork soup, it is refilled with tea to wash down the greasiness. As time evolved, the tradition of consuming the pork soup and drink tea becomes our modern day's Bak Kut Teh. Rong Cheng still continues this tradition servicing their bak kut teh with gong fu cha. Their tea are from one of the oldest tea merchants in Singapore, Pek Sin Choon.

If you feel intimidated by the different steps in drinking Gong Fu Cha, Rong Cheng's staff is more than willing to guide and assist it. If not, Lionel has also introduced Floral Tea to pair with bak kut teh. While the tea taste is milder, it comes with a more floral fragrance. Lionel hopes to upkeep the tradition of pairing tea with pork rib soup with a modern element to arouse the interests of the younger generation.

Besides floral tea and sliced pork belly, Lionel in recently years has also switched to using natural pork for their bak kut teh. Natural pork has no antobiotics, no medicated feed, no growth hormones and no animal protein by-products.

Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh definitely is my favourite to go place for a Bak Kut Teh whenever I have a craving. The outlet at Midview City is spacious and has ample parking lots. With its extended menu offering cooked food and steamed fish, it is ideal for a family meal together or group gathering.

Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh will be taking part for the very first time in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Hall 401 & 402 on 22 November 2014, 11am to 5pm. This is a fund raising event for the beneficiaries under the care of Touch Community Services regardless of race and religions. Coupons for the event can be purchase at https://www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg/. Let's do a part for charity while at the same time savour of the best bak kut teh in Singapore. See you at Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014.


Rong Cheng Bak Kut Teh
榕城(新民路)肉骨茶
Midview City
Blk 26 Sin Ming Lane
#01-117
Singapore 573971
Tel: +65 66841889
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rongchengbkt
Website: http://www.rongchengbkt.com/
Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 9pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 1. Turn left and walk down Bright Hill Drive. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Joo Chiat Road

In my previous post, we went to Toh Thye San Farm to source for our Anxin chicken for the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014. After a week or two after our trip to the farm, we gathered again at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Joo Chiat to put the chicken in to a taste test.

The first thing that we noticed about the Anxin Chicken is that the size seems bigger than the commercial broiler even though it is slightly lighter in weight. Kenny the 3rd generation from Toh Thye San Farm explained by using a simple illustration of a rugby ball and a football ball even though the weight is the same, the Anxin Chicken looks bigger in size.

We started with the Anxin Chicken, texture wise I thought it is comparable to the normal commercial broiler, probably just a little bit firmer. However what stood out is the sweetness of the meat even without any sauce. We also chopped a plate of the normal commercial broiler to try. It tasted bland almost tasteless compared to Anxin chicken. That is how great the difference are. I realized maybe for that reason, nowadays chicken rice stall likes to drench their poached chicken with a sauce to lift the flavour.

Sambal Kang Kong

Salad Prawn

Baby Kailan

Thai Style Fried Tofu

Mentioned Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice and the first thing that came to our mind probably is the stall at Maxwell Food Centre. Actually Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice has expanded with a couple of stalls around the island. The outlet at Joo Chiat is a full fledged restaurant servicing many delectable cooked dishes on top of the popular Hainanese chicken rice. It is perfect for family lunch or dinner with its variety of dishes.

Due to the high cost of Anxin chicken, it is not sold at any of the Tian Tian chicken rice stalls. So if you want to have a taste of this beautiful poultry, make your way down to Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 on 22 November 2014 from 11am to 5pm at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Hall 401 & 402. It is a one day fund raising event for the beneficiaries under the care of Touch Community Services

Here is short video of our visit to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Joo Chiat.

See you at Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014.


[CLOSED]
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
443 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427656
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tian-Tian-Chicken-Rice-Joo-Chiat/344208003809
Website: http://www.tiantianchickenrice.com/

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1030am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later opposite Roxy Square. Walk to the junction of East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road. Turn left onto Joo Chiat Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes.  [Map]

Toh Thye San Farm and Anxin (安心) Chicken

In support of the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 happening on 22 November 2014 at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Hall 401 & 402 from 11am to 5pm, Tian Tian Chicken Rice will be back again dishing our their fragrant and delicious Anxin (安心) Chicken Rice in support of the fund raising event for the beneficiaries under the care of Touch Community Services.



You maybe wondering what is so special about these chicken? To know the answer, we have to make a trip down to Simpang Renggam Johor Bahru in Malaysia to visit Toh Thye San Farm that is breeding these special Anxin chicken and supplying it to Tian Tian Chicken Rice for the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014.

Commercial broiler chicken are usually breed for around 28-30 days before being slaughtered and served on the table. Unlike the commercial broiler, Anxin chicken came all the way from France. The chicken is breed in a free roaming environment and corn fed for 100 days.

This is the batch of Anxin chicken that Tian Tian Chicken Rice will be using for the Ultimate Hawker Fest.These beautiful birds actually have a common characteristic. Their neck are featherless hence they are also known as Naked Neck Chicken.

Even Miss Loi, the 2nd generation of Tian Tian Chicken Rice joined us in the trip to inspect her ultimate ingredients for the upcoming Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 on 22 November 2014 at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Hall 401 & 402, 11am to 5pm.

Here is a short video of our visit to Toh Thye San Farm.

Toh Thye San Farm is established in 1979 in Singapore. Due to circumstances, the farms have been relocated to Simpang Renggam in Johor Bahru. Toh Thye San Farm not only supply their chickens to Tian Tian Chicken Rice. Their chicken are also used by upscale restaurants such as Gunther's Modern French Cuisine, Corner House, Bincho etc.

We will be putting the commercial broiler and Anxin chicken into a taste test in my next post. If you are interested to check out for yourself how is the taste of Anxin chicken compared to commercial broiler, then do drop my Tian Tian Chicken Rice at Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 on 22 November 2014 at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Hall 401 & 402 from 11am to 5pm.


Toh Thye San Farm
Blk 684 Hougang Ave 8
#02-967
Singapore 530684
Tel: +65 63869300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TohThyeSanFarm
Website: http://www.oeo.com.sg

Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 @ Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 401 & 402

Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 will be back for the third year on 22 November 2014 at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 401 and 402 from 11am to 5pm. More than 20 hawkers will be gathered at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre to raise money for the beneficiaries under the care of Touch Community Services.

In the past 2 years, the ultimate factor brought together our hawker heroes to produce version of their hawker dishes using some of the most premium and exceptional ingredients to bolster their dishes. This year together with Maureen (www.misstamchiak.com) and Ian (www.thesilverchef.blogspot.sg), we have handpicked and curated the hawkers for this year's fund raising events for the needy and disadvantaged.

The "Ultimate" element will also be not restricted to using premium or exceptional ingredients. This year the ultimate aspect will include the essence and authenticity of our classic hawker/street food. With the new concept, we present to you three Ultimate Food Zones.

1. “Ultimate Original Recipe” - celebrates the heritage of pioneer generation hawkers through stalls helmed by chefs from the second, third and fourth generations of famous hawkers.

 2.“Ultimate Pursuit of Happiness” - celebrates the enterprising spirit of budding chefs and hawkers by featuring individuals who left their jobs in other sectors to pursue their passion in the hawker industry.

 3. “Ultimate Ingredients” - features hawkers who have added special ingredients to conventional hawker fares to create dishes that are truly a league of its own!

Details of the hawkers and menus can be found at http://www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg/menu

The three of us have been going around inviting our hawker heroes to take in this year fund raising event. This is not one easy task as we have talked to almost 100 hawkers but the most common rejection is no manpower. It is understandable and they also need to make a living from their little stall. Nevertheless, we are proud and delighted to have over 20 hawker heroes sacrificing their time to do a part for charity. On 22 November 2014 from 11am to 5pm, Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 401 & 402 will be transformed into the Ultimate Hawker Centre where one can savour all these delicious local hawker food while at the same time helping the needy and disadvantaged.

To find out more about the hawkers and dishes in this year Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 which has been picked and curated by us as well as the details of coupon purchase and donation online , you can visit http://www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg/

Guest of Honor, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Defence will be gracing the event too on 22 November 2014.

As per the previous years, tickets will be pre sold as coupons which can be used to purchase the food items at the event. All the proceeds will be going towards charity, so that alone is a good enough reason for everyone to come down on that day to partake in the activities.

So do mark the date 22 November 2014, 11am to 5pm at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 401 and 402 and come down to support the hawker heroes and us. Let us all play a part for the needy and disadvantaged. Hope to see you there on 22 November 2014.


Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014
Date: 22 November 2014
Venue: Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 401 and 402
Time: 11am to 5pm
Website: http://www.ultimatehawkerfest.sg/