Lai Bao @ Toa Payoh Lorong 1 - A New Affordable 1960s-inspired Zichar Stall

Lai Bao is a brand new 1960s inspired zichar stall at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 opened by the Baoshi F&B Management Pte Ltd. The zichar stall seeks to bring affordable Singaporean zichar cuisine to the masses with recipes passed down by their grandmas as well as family recipes from their childhood friends. Diners can look forward to a menu rooted in Chinese traditions but sprinkle with some unique twist.

Charcoal Silken Tofu 4/5

Charcoal seems to be the new trend for Chinese restaurants lately, and now we can even have it at the neighbourhood zichar stall. The Charcoal Silken Tofu ($5/$8/$10) modernise the classic dish, giving the soft silky tofu a contrasting layer of crispy charcoal-coasted exterior.

Old School Sweet & Sour Pork 3/5

Another classic dish that incorporates the charcoal powder is the Old School Sweet & Sour Pork ($8/$10/$12). I am not sure whether it is due to the black vinegar used or the charcoal powder, it lacked the zestiness I was expecting from a dish that I enjoy.

Duck Fried Teochew Duck Fritter 3.8//5

Both creamy in the interior and crispy on the exterior is another classic Teochew dish, Duck Fried Teochew Duck Fritter ($10). Smoked duck meat is mixed with hand-mashed yam and encased in deep-fried popiah skin.

Ginger Spring Chicken 4/5

A simple but yet tasty dish is the Ginger Spring Chicken ($6 half/ $12 whole). Not only is the chicken moist and juicy, the hand-cut ginger and garlic sauce gives it a subtle fragrance, allowing each bite to be savoured with relish.

Lai Bao Wok Fried Fine Bean 4.2/5

Lai Bao Wok Fried Fine Bean ($7/$9/$11) is a vegetable dish that is packed with textures and flavours. Stir-fried to a delightful crunch is the fine bean complemented by the crispy yam strips for extra bite. It is further flavoured by the dried cuttlefish, Chinese sausage and chye poh head for a fragrant finishing.

Crispy Fried Aubergine & Pork Floss 4/5

The Crispy Fried Aubergine & Pork Floss ($7/$9/$11) is a vegetable dish that will be enjoyed by both young and old. The aubergine or eggplant is thinly sliced, deep-fried and drizzled with savoury pork floss.

Grandma's Recipe Pork Belly 3.8/5

Braised over low heat until soft and tender are the mouth-watering Grandma's Recipe Pork Belly ($12). However, I felt that the braising sauce was lacking the richness and the robustness that I would seek for a tasty braised pork belly dish.

Lai Bao 13 Spices Black Pepper Crab 4.5/5

Not to be missed is Lai Bao 13 Spices Black Pepper Crab ( $30 for 1 Crab / $50 for 2 Crabs). Each crab weighs around 600-700g. Besides the peppery kick, the crustacean is elevated by an aromatic blend of 13 spices, allowing the sweetness of the crab meat to come through even more.

Seafood Lala Ying Yang Hor Fun 3.5/5

Good for sharing or as a one-dish meal is the Seafood Lala Ying Yang Hor Fun ($5/$7/$10). The hor fun is packed with wok hei, drenched in a light and sweet lala gravy. The rice noodle dish also comes with clams, prawns, fish slices and topped with deep-fried hor fun for that extra crunch. It is a hearty dish, but I would prefer the gravy to be heavier in flavour to match the smokiness of the wok's breath.

Sixties Fish Head Charcoal Steamboat (Grouper) 4.2/5

The highlight at Lai Bao has to be their Sixties Fish Head Charcoal Steamboat (Grouper $15/$25/$35, Snapper $10/$18/$24), using traditional recipes and cooking methods. The all-natural collagen soup is simmered over charcoal for 10 hours brimming with fresh ingredients such as hand-minced meat pie, cabbage, seaweed, yam, black fungus, cherry tomato and tofu.

Lai Bao
Blk 168 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
#01-1040
Singapore 310168
Tel: +65 62615825
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus 141 or 231. Alight one stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Blue Ginger @ Great World City - Making Their Peranakan Food More Accessible To New And Younger Audience

With the revamped of Great World City, several new food establishments have opened at the shopping mall. One of these new restaurants is The Blue Ginger, an established Peranakan restaurant brands in Singapore with its flagship restaurant in Tanjong Pagar. This is only the brand's second outlet after being in the food scene for the past 25 years. The new restaurant strives to create a balance between contemporary and traditional, preserving the soul and heritage of Peranakan cuisine, while making their well-loved family recipes more accessible to a new and younger audience.

Kerabu Timun 4.2/5

Something new on the menu, at least for me is the Kerabu Timun ($8.50). I have not eaten this dish, whereby crunchy cucumber and chicken gizzards are tossed in a spicy dressing. I was told the chilli used is quite spicy, but I didn't feel it. This is probably balanced by the refreshing cucumber.

Kerabu Kacang Botol 4/5

Another refreshing starter is the Kerabu Kacang Botol ($11.50) in which crunch wing beans are tossed in a spicy, tangy dressing and topped with shallots and toasted grated coconut.

Beef Rendang 4.8/5

Not to be missed is their Beef Rendang ($20). The beef cubes which uses shin meat are cooked to fork-tender, infused with the aromatic and damn shiok rempah. You just have to enjoy this with a plate of steamed rice to savour the delicious gravy.

Ayam Panggang' Blue Ginger' 4/5

 Another delightful dish is the Ayam Panggang' Blue Ginger' ($16). The grilled boneless chicken thigh is cloaked in a rich sauce permeated with the nuances of lemongrass, galangal and coriander.

Terong Goreng Cili 4/5

The Terong Goreng Cili ($13) is cut into batonnets, deep-fried and crowned with fresh chilli paste. To balance the spiciness, sweet soya sauce is drizzled over it. I like that it still retains a soft interior, with contrasting crispiness on the exterior.

Pork Ribs Assam 4.2/5

Instead of the usual pork belly, Blue Ginger's rendition uses pork ribs instead. The Pork Ribs Assam ($16) is braised in a tamarind sauce with fall of the bone meat. The sweet and sour flavours are very appetising that will definitely whet up the appetite.

Sotong Keluak 4.8/5

The dish that got me all excited is the Sotong Keluak ($22). Unlike the usual sotong hitam that uses the squid's black ink sauce, Blue Ginger replaces it with buah keluak. The squid is stir-fried in the nutty black sauce further elevated by the addition of tamarind juice. Having tried buah keluak with chicken and pork ribs, I am surprised that sotong is my new favourite pairing. I hope more Peranakan restaurants will adopt this pairing in their menu.

Kerabu Laksa 3.8/5

Nonya Noodles 4/5

For diners looking for a quick meal, there are three one-dish meals to choose from. They are Kerabu Laksa, Nonya Noodles and Buah Keluak Fried Rice. All priced at $15 each. Probably new to a lot of people is the Nonya Noodles. It is not commonly served in restaurants as it is a treat customarily reserved for birthdays and special occasions. Quite similar to our local hokkien mee, the yellow noodles are cooked in a rich prawn and pork stock with bean sprouts, kang kong and garnished with omelette and cucumber julienne. What makes it different to the local hokkien mee is the addition of tau cheo (fermented soy bean paste) in the sauce which enhances the dish umami flavours.

Chendol or Durian Chendol 3.8/5

Not to forget to end your meal on a sweet note with a bowl of Chendol ($5). For durian lover, you may go for the Durian Chendol ($7). We thought the green rice flour jelly is a bit firm in texture as we prefer it to be softer. Hopefully, the restaurant will make that small adjustment.

Founded in 1995, The Blue Ginger is one of Singapore's oldest Peranakan restaurants, and one of the first to share the delights of Nonya cuisine outside the Peranakan home. It is great to see that they have opened a second restaurant after 25 years, making their delicious heritage food more accessible to the new and younger audience.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Blue Ginger
Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade
#01-106
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 62357042
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Great World (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Great World MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]