Toa Payoh 93 Soon Kueh @ Geylang Bahru Food Centre - Freshly Handmade Traditional Kueh

After more than a year of renovation, it is great that Geylang Bahru Food Centre is finally opened for business again. A year ago, it is rather hard to get to the food centre but now the new Geylang Bahru Downtown line station is just 3 minutes walk away. It is now so convenient to get to the food centre.

A stall that caught my eyes is Toa Payoh 93 Soon Kueh with their handmade traditional kueh. The sight of the stall owners and staff kneading and rolling the dough, making the various kueh and steaming the freshly handmade kueh, just drew me to the stall.

Soon Kueh 4.2/5 and Png Kueh 4/5

I have the Soon Kueh ($1 each) and Png Kueh ($0.90 each). The Soon Kueh has an enjoyable chewy texture stuffed with shredded turnip, further flavoured by mushrooms and dried shrimps. My only complain is that the shredded turnip is a bit coarse. For the Png Kueh, it is stuffed with fragrant glutinous rice, peanuts and mushrooms. A balanced proportion of filling to rice flour skin ratio. The size is a bit small compare to elsewhere but for 90 cents, I am not complaining.

Abacus Seed 3/5

I also tried the Abacus Seed ($3) which is a traditional Hakka dish made with yam. Unfortunately the consistency is not there, some of the abacus seed tasted rather bland while some I can taste the yam taste. Besides that, the whole execution of the dish was not fragrant enough.

Toa Payoh 93 Soon Kueh 
Geylang Bahru Food Centre
Blk 69 Geylang Bahru
#01-12
Singapore 330069
Tel: +65 62948065
Nearest MRT: Geylang Bahru (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Geylang Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Bookhemian @ Old Phuket Town [Phuket]

The need to refresh my diving skills brought me to Phuket at the start of 2018. An island frequent by Singaporeans, this was actually my very first trip, finally after years of putting it off. And what might possibly make me return, is certainly not the overcrowded beaches but the quaint Old Phuket Town.
Old Phuket Town - what an escape from the jam-packed streets of Phuket. Most importantly, scrumptious authentic Thai food and smiley faces of the locals. If time is not on your side, Talang street would be the main area to explore.

Lined with cafes, boutiques, little souvenir shops, this area shares a similar vibe with that of Malacca's Jonker Street. With only an hour to spare, I managed to squeeze in 15mins at Bookhemian.

As with its moniker, its interiors is made up of books and cute souvenirs. Coffees are great too. Many had the Iced Bookhemian Coffee than comes with a torched marshmallow cream atop. I had Magic, which comes with double ristretto. Though the milk came slightly too hot, it still carried the bold flavour and body.

Walk deeper into the space and you will find yourself away from the busy streets. As with most of the cafes and bistros housed in this entire stretch of narrow terraced houses, the extended 'alfresco' hallway provides a respite from the hustle and bustle.

Words and photos 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.


Bookhemian

61 Thalang Road

Talad Yai Subdistrict, 
Phuket Town
Phuket 83000, Thailand

Tel: +66 980900657
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Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 830pm