ChinaTown Complex Rpt 01

Chinatown Complex had since open after it renovation from May till now, havn't really write anything about it. So today I decide to start with my first report (hopefully there are more to come .... #slurp)

I was doing my recce at there last week, and walk past this stall (not the usual Hokkien Mee or Fried Kway Tiao stall). It called itself a 'Cooked Food' stall. Surprise that such a boring generic name can stop me in my tracks. Actually what tempted me to stop was not the name of the stall, but I walk past a lady eating a big delicious looking plate of Chao Kway Tiao. I was very tempted to go up and ask her where she got her plate of Chao Kway Tiao. But my senses overcome my greed and stop me. I don't want people to cry sexual harassment, especially not here. But my foodie star shone on me. A few meters later, I spotted a stall using similar plate that hold the Chao Kway Tiao that the lady is eating. So I decide to end my hunt and give it a try.

The price range from $3-$5 per plate. I order a $3 plate, and yes indeed, the portion is similar to what the lady has. But other than price, how it taste is the main thing that will make me think whether should I come back again.

It does not disappoint me. It does not taste like your normal Chay Kway Tiao, which is full of egg and sweet sauce. It taste more like what you get from a Zi Cha stall (maybe thats why the stall is called 'Cooked Food' rather than xxx Chao Kway Tiao. The Kway Tiao is moist enough, not too sweet. It has generous portion of greens and fish cake. What is lacking is the 'Hum' or cockles. There are a bit on the small side, nothing close to the one from Outrum Park Chay Kway Tiao. What make it up is the chili (sambal). It taste good, just spicy enough but a bit of saltish. But must try. The Chay Kway Tiao is not really that fantastic, but overall, it taste better than usual. I personally think that one should give it a try.


Today, I decided to give this stall again. This time round, I ordered their Fied Hokkien Mee ($3) (which supposing is their popular dish). It comes with 3 prawns, fishcake, good portion of greens and slice pork belly. It too served with a small plate of their chili. And again, slightly from your usual Hokkien Mee, and less egg. It was wet, and a perfect match with the zasty taste of lime. However, given that I tried their Chao Kway Tiao, this dish is a bit disappointed. It doesn't really taste like how a good Hokkien Mee should taste like and lack the 'wok' taste (which is critical for a good Hokkien Mee). Not worth to go there just for this, but if you are not picky, it should be fine.

For the Chao Kway Tiao, I give is a Ahpui score of 7/10, Hokkien Mee 6/10.

The location is at :
Ah Ang Cooked Food
China Town Complex
#02-149
(Near the side that is facing the Buddist Temple)

Volcano is sooooo good

Well Hidden is the 2nd floor corner at The Central, lies a volcano ... bursting out bowls and bowls of delicious hot ramen. This little ramen stall (yes, the seats are very limited.) is called Ramen Santouka. With the Jap (or chinese ....) writing on the signboard .. it directly translate into fire-head mountain. I shall call it Volcano Ramen (correct me if I am wrong).

It is a Jap restaurant franchise with shops all over Japan and even the states. This franchise is different from your usual franchise, the ramen taste great. Unlike some other franchise, which claims to be best ramen in Singapore ... but come on, I can easily find 10 stalls than serve much better ramen. You won't regret stepping into this stall and the time spent waiting for a seat.


I ordered a Char Siew Shoyu Ramen ($15) that comes with about 3 pieces of fat juicy pork meat served with rich and nicely brewed soup. The noodles was springy, just nice for ramen. The fat juicy pork meat was sinful, but the feeling of the fats melting (yes, it really melts in your mouth) throw away all my worries of putting more 'reserve' in my waistline.



Ahpui soh ordered a Charhan Shio set. ($15.50) It comes with a Ramen, Japanese Fried Rice and a nicely braised egg. This version is served with a piece of the same juicy pork char siew in a rich milky broth. This taste equally great, although the Fried Rice is not equally impressive. And you should try the braised egg, it is different from the usual braised egg you got from your Kway Chap store.

For this stall, I will give a Ahpui score of 8.5/10. The Char Siew Shoyu Ramen is a must try !


The location is at :
Ramen Santouka
The Central
#02-76
Tel : 62240668

Ah Pui Goes Cooking

Having always looking everywhere to satisfy my craving for good food, I decide to venture into a brand new frontier ... cooking class to learn how to cook myself. So that I won't have to pay through my nose to someone to cook for me, using ingreidents that only cost <>
Attended this 'French' cooking class at Raffles Culinary Academy 2 weeks ago, hoping to come out of the class to be able to cook up a meal worthy of a Michelin star.

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The 'classroom' actually is a state of the art kitchen, with working stations for us to test out our cooking skill. We are suppose to learn 3 dishes,

a) Homemade Truffle 'Brioche' with poached Foie Gras and Braised 'Granny Smith'.




Quite a mouthful, but to put it simple, it is just Foie Gras with 'chopped -Vinegar soaked green apple' and butter bread. Call me suaku, this is the first time I tried truffle sliced from the actual whole truffle itself. By itself, it does had much taste, but it do have a strong and nice fragrant. The Foie Gras is really soft and it melts in my mouth nicely.

b) Roasted Turbot with steamed Baby Bak Choy and Smoked Potato 'Vine Tomato Confit'



aka .. A very small piece of roasted fish (slice) with a piece of bak choy and some other veggie with potato.
This is the first time I heard and saw a Turbot. But I got to say that the texture of the fish is really good. I will sure to try this fish again when I got the chance. It was not too soft like Salmon, Grouper or Cod. It is a bit firmer, sort of like soft tender chicken. The balsamic and olive oil soaked roasted tomato is great. A bit of sweet and smell great with the balsamic and olive oil.

c) Vanilla "Panna Cotta", Raspberry and Hazelnut Ice Cream.

Who can say no to ice cream .... especially good soft ice cream.



Overall, the experience is good, although we don't get much hands-on except for the 2nd dish. So there goes my dream of coming out with a 1 Michelin Star dinner. As a typical 'French meal' the food are nice to see, nice to eat but expensive and can't really fill your stomach.

Spending hours to prepare the dishes. The Foie Gras need to clean and remove its vein, then preapre and poached it, spending at least 2 hrs on this. And for the 2nd dish, we will need to prepare each of the item (fish, tomato, potato, bak choy) seperately, another 2 - 3hrs gone. And end of the day, only a tiny portion goes to our plate .... I don't think French cooking is for me.

Food, Ah pui score of 8/10. Cooking .... 3/10 and unless you have plenty of time to spare.

Happy Lunar New Year !

Went over to Chinatown yesterday night after my dinner and man, it is really crowded.







A 'peek' to the stage.


Happy New Year to everyone !