Rendezvous Restaurant Hock Lock Kee

Merry Christmas Everyone! Where did you spend your Xmas?

In our hot and tropical country Singapore, no one would have thought of us having Xmas dinner in a spicy flavoured Nasi Padang restaurant! We did! And it was Restaurant Hock Lock Kee at Hotel Rendevous that we went! It was a fantastic dinner with superb flavours of spices and chilli!

The current frenzy over the Channel 8 TV drama serial "The Little Nonya" depicting the heartwrenching story of a girl and her ups & downs in life in a Peranankan family has got everyone interested in the lifestyles, food, desserts, chilli spices and flavours of a Straits nonya-baba & their Peranankan dishes again! Failing to find a Peranakan restaurant nearby Dhoby Ghaut area, we settled for a close Nasi Padang Restaurant.. at Hotel Rendevous.

This restaurant was established since 6 decades ago and is famous for its delicious Western Sumatran Nasi Padang. Even our Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had patronized them. They had quite a few shifts in their restaurant location previously from a modest coffeeshop along Bras Basah to Raffles City to finally being here at Hotel Rendezvous. The simple yet tasteful decor of the Straits kopitiam (coffeeshop) sums up the atmosphere and quality of food you expect there.

Big bro joined us this time for dinner. The three of us ordered the Assam Pedas Fish-Head @ S$23. The fish was tender and fresh. The dish was also spicy hot and correctly soured with the Assam spices. One of the rare few well cooked Assam dish you can find!

We added on with dishes of salad appetisers (of cucumber, onion and chilli), fried batang fish slices and fried mashed potatoes. The staff also served us with big plates of chicken curry gravy and green curry gravy to go with the rice and food. I tell you - the gravies are all I need! They are simply heavenly delicious and spicy. The food like the decor of the restaurant - are simple yet tasteful! You also got to try the icy cold and sweet colourful dessert, Chendol laden with thick coconut milk with sweet brown sugar. This dessert is a simply wonderful end to your dinner!

You have to visit this place to try their food if you love chilli, spices and Chendol! Restaurant Hock Lock Kee is at #02-02/03, Hotel Rendezvous Gourmet Gallery, 9 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189559 Tel: (65) 6339 7508.

Happy Chef Seafood Noodle House, Sydney

While away from home, sometimes you just get a sudden craving of your usual local delights. So this time while at Sydney, I ended up at this foodcourt in Chinatown Mall... in the hope of finding some local Singapore food to satisfy my tastebuds!

Happy Chef Seafood Noodle House was the name of the stall in the Sussex Centre foodcourt I chanced upon. I was attracted by their colourful signboard of photos displaying the huge variety of Asian noodle dishes they served. They seem to have a long list of accolades including – recommendation by some popular TV programs - “Yan Can Cook” (hosted by the famous Martin Yan), Chinatown series on Foxtel and Channel 7’s “Sydney Weekender”.

They are also voted as a finalist in the I LOVE FOOD AWARDS 2007. In particular, the stall is renowned for their delicious laksa which has been complimented by many including Luke Mangan, one of Sydney's top 10 chefs.

Their famous laksa is a fusion of ingredients of all sorts – wanton (Chinese dumplings), roasted pork, chunk of Tau Pok (fried beancurd), bean sprouts and vermicelli noodles. I thought the laksa would probably be customised to the local Aussie taste, which should be unlike the typical thick Nonya & coconut milk laden laksa we have back at home. To my pleasant surprise, their laksa gravy taste just like ours, although the flavour is much lighter but its more spicy by the Singaporean standard. I was a happy and satisfied man when I finished the whole bowl of laksa, perspiring all over because of the spices! One could not have asked for more … away from home yet being able to savour this delicious local dish!

Verdict - one of the better tasting laksa we had (outside Singapore)! Would go back again when craving for local food. Price is also reasonable at A$8.50. Worth visiting as it also serves many other authentic Asian cusines (Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese/HongKong,etc..)

Happy Chef Seafood Noodle House is at Sussex Centre, Shop F3, 401 Sussex Street, Haymarket, NSW 2000, Australia Tel: (02) 9281 5832

Waterfront Restaurant, Sydney

Was away for a week to attend a conference in Sydney, Australia. Took the Singapore Airlines SQ A380 direct night flight to Sydney and was whizzed off there in approximately 8 hours. What a great way to fly! Onboard the SQ A380 flight, I was already served like a king with sweet delights like two dosages of delicious magnolia magnum ice-cream, sumptuous dinner and breakfast! The inflight entertainment programme was also very interesting and definitely dated with the latest movies. I watched the “Mama Mia” (the latest summer movie by Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan) / musical by ABBA which was a musical movie about the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular '70s group ABBA. I was greatly moved and definitely enjoyed every minute of the movie! Never knew Pierce Brosnan could sing!

Sydney was very sunny when I arrived. Had to go to the must-see scenic spots like: Sydney Opera House and Harbourbridge, and to take a few photos as momento.

Dining in Sydney was great and made of the freshest too! The most memorable one in my opinion was at Waterfront Restaurant, Circular Quay. We had a sumptuous feast – ordered the Waterfronts Seafood Platter (costing A$150) which are a succulent selection of lobster, crab, prawns, bugs, oysters, mussles, smoked salmon & market fresh fish served chilled and hot with hand cut fries, dipping sauces and salad... plus complementing the meal with the great white Australian wine! O what more could we ask for! We also ordered the Grilled Wild Barramundi Fish Fillets at A$35 which we thought was quite just average.

Here’s what memories are made of :

Waterfront Restaurant is at 27 Circular Quay West Sydney NSW 200027 Australia Tel : +61 2 9247 3666

Ah Balling Peanut Soup

Got to tell you about my favourite dessert stall - Ah Balling Peanut Soup at Golden Mile Hawker Centre! Ah Balling is the literal translation in Hokkien referring to this sweet dessert of "round shape rice dumplings" served in peanut soup! And if you are at the hawker centre, you probably wont miss this stall as there is persistently a queue for the dessert. Its located among an interesting row of stalls on Level 1 of the hawker Centre - just beside the German Waffles Stall, opposite an Italian pasta stall and diagonally opposite the "Ice Queen Ice-Cream Stall".

Recommended by several food guides and local newspaper, I think I know why its so. This delicious hot dessert consisting of glutinuous rice dumpling in peanut soup is painstakingly boiled for many hours by the stall owner. Its recipe was passed down from family generations with its business established since 1947. No wonder its so yummy sweet and soft! The chewy glutinuous round rice dumplings comes in many different fillings e.g. sesame, peanut, red bean etc and they are all specially made by them. The peanut filling is the recommended one and I understand its specially made using ingredients like sugar and peanuts. The dessert costs S$1.50 per bowl with 4 rice dumplings and only $2 for 6 dumplings. Reasonable and delicious.

If you still have space for some delicious desserts, dont forget to try the Ah Balling Peanut Soup at Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 #01-75 Beach Road Singapore 199583.

Botak Jones

Char-grilled Salmon Fillet Meal at S$14 with additional "Shiitake Mushroom" sidedish

We heard the Botak Jones advertisement many times on the radio and being in the vicinity around Bukit Merah, we thought we will make a trip there to try.

Botak Jones, what a quaint name for a food place! This place serves authentic American food such as grills, burgers and pastas. Supposedly I understand that the concept for the Jones outlets is to make great western food available for the Heartlanders. So you would notice their outlets are located at the industrial and housing estates. As its slogan suggests, this place serves "damn good good at a damn good price"! This is because they prepare 95% of the food themselves and hence the prices can go so low. And as they claimed, we definitely got some great food at great prices there!

The meals were reasonably priced at S$7-19, burger sets at S$6-15. The steaks are at a different price but am sure it will be well worth the money. I ordered the recommended "Char-Grilled Salmon Fillet Meal" at S$14 and Ted went for the "Cajun Chicken Meal" at S$8. We also went for the additional S$2 deal where you can order a sidedish - and we ordered the "Shiitake Mushrooms". I especially love the mushrooms due to its fragant flavour! The char-grill salmon was also just nicely done and came topped with their own basil and garlic sauce . It was tender and almost melts in your mouth! The cajun chicken was likewise. It was juicy tender and there was a layer of cheese melting over it!

The sets were also served with any 2 sidedishes with the entree and the choices include:

* FRIES * COLESLAW * POTATO SALAD * CHEESE POTATO * DAILY VEGGIE * MEXICAN RICE * * FRESH DILL PASTA * AND MORE. We chose the coleslaw and fries. See what a great meal we have!

Cajun Chicken Meal at S$8 with additional "Shiitake Mushroom" sidedish

Botak Jones Depot Lane Outlet is at Blk 118, Depot Lane #01-02 Stall 10, Singapore 109754 Tel: 6272 3225.

Japanese Kikumasmune Sake

Happened to see this interesting Japanese Matsuri Festival at Central Shopping Mall probably two weekends back. Matsuri means festival. Maybe the festival was to celebrate harvest of some sort. I did not ask further. So there was some celebration over at Central, nearer the end facing the Riverside Quay. The event was a rather short one. Japanese music were playing in the background and cocktails were served to everyone at the mall. At the auspicious time of 9pm, the Japanese danced and celebrated, followed by opening a big wooden cask of Japanese sake wine /of brand known as "Kiku-Masamune". (Supposedly this is a famous brand of Japanese dry sake!)

After the opening of the big wooden casks, the Japanese were crazily inviting everyone at the Mall to have a taste of the Japanese sake wine as celebration. The sake was scooped using wooden ladles from the big wooden casks and everyone was served tiny little glasses of the Japanese sake. Very interesting. There was a lot of Japanese fun and giggles! There were also booths providing information on tours to Japan at the mall. A lot of shoppers joined in the fun! So we did too... the sake was very aromatic despite it being a small glass. Very sweet and rather strong. I understand that the sake was kept in the wooden casks to absorb the cedar wood from it and so as to produce the refreshing and wonderful aroma. We had a tiny glass for sampling and would say thanks for the sweet sake experience - and cheers ! Arigatoo gozaimasu ne.

Astons Express

We ventured to the neighbourhood this time. Its Serangoon Gardens! Yep the place where the famous hawker food centre is affectionately known as "Chomp Chomp". But no, we did not go to Chomp Chomp. Instead we detoured and visited one of the coffee shops round the corner of Farleigh Avenue, just diagonally opposite the Serangoon Maju Mall.

We walked along the row of shops and found this "New Huak Hin Coffeeshop". Surveying the stalls, we found this Grill place called "Astons Express" where all the staff at the stall don the same look - an Astons T-shirt with a khaki apron and cap. The grill looks good and they boast of serving Wagyu tender beef grill, tender chicken grill and many other choices at pretty competitive prices!

I was attracted and went for the "Chargrill Chicken". The complete grill set costing S$5.90 also allows for 2 side dishes to be served from a choice of items like; baked potatoes, baked beans, corn, mashed potato, vegetable salad, seasonal vegetables... among others. My choice for the day was the mashed potato and seasonal vegetables which was reasonably good!

See what a great meal I got above. The chicken was very tender and soft. Grilled well but still does not feel hard. It was served with mushroom sauce and the chicken was sprinkled with lots of black pepper. Nice! The mashed potatoes were soft and quite comparable to that served at the Punggol Park Bliss Restaurant (See earlier post on "Bliss Restaurant"). For a grill set of this price and NO GST, I would say what more can I ask?? Quick go and try it.

Astons Express is at 56, Serangoon Way, New Huak Hin Coffeeshop Tel: 6258 8839.

31 Sungei Road Laksa

Nothing beats a bowl of smooth thick spicy Laksa in hot sunny Singapore! And you can find the perfect bowl here at Sungei Road, Singapore! It is not famously acclaimed for no reasons and when you try it, you will know...

There has been many Laksa stalls found in Singapore claiming to be either the best Sungei Road or Katong Laksa. These 2 are supposedly the best Laksas in Singapore so many use that name to pose as the stall hoping to draw crowds. The original Sungei Road Laksa is in fact located at the Jalan Besar area, at Kelantan Lane within Seng Chuan Eating House. It is a coffeeshop that not many may find it unless you make an effort or perhaps while visiting the infamous "Sungei Road Second Hand Market"... The eating house is opposite a bike shop and those bikers who visit the "Lim Ah Boy Motorcycle Servicing Shop" will probably know where this Laksa stall is!

My opinion on the Laksa there is that its darn good! The coconut milk blends so nicely with the Laksa curry and spices. Its not too thick but just enough to bring out the taste. Very nicely done. Served with the cockles, fishcake and some bean sprouts, the dish is perfect!! Moreover, its served at a reasonable price of $2, $2.50 or $3 so its really a great deal. Maybe the only thing is that I wish there were more and bigger cockles in it.

Sometimes I wonder if there is a standard recipe that they use for the concoction of the Laksa because each time, I visit the place, the standard never falters and I wonder how they do it! The stall also serves a fantastic Mackerel otak (@ S$1) to go along with the Laksa so its great for spicy lovers as you don't just get Laksa served there (as if you dont have enough of the spices)! Well, but even for non-spicy lovers like me, I also found it hard to resist the delicious Laksa and Mackerel otak there. And I was definitely one pleased satisfied customer!!! Will be back for sure again.

Sungei Road Laksa is at Blk 31 Kelantan Lane, #01-12 Seng Chuan Eating House, Singapore. Opening hours 9am - 6pm. Closed on first Wednesday of the month.