Hock Kien Klang Bah Kut Teh - “In a class of it’s own”

Bah Kut Teh is the cuisine that is so popular in both Singapore and Malaysia that you can find it almost anywhere. Bah Kut Teh can be classified into two main types, Teochew or Herbal Style. Teochew style is characterized by clear soup and white pepper. Herbal style has a dark soup and heavy herbal taste coming from star anise, cinnamon, cloves, dang gui, fennel seeds and garlic.

Both styles are very well accepted in Singapore and Malaysia. In Singapore we have "Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha" in Singapore and across the straits in Johor, Permas Jaya we have the "Shi Hwa Bak Kut Teh" which belongs to the teochew style. For the Herbal style we have from Johor near KSL City we have "Ah Soon Bah Kut Teh".

Today’s recommendation is a place that stands out from the rest by paying attention to the details.

After being in the trade with ups and down for almost 30 years the owner and chef has eventually come to an answer for what makes a good Bah Kut Teh.

The soup is that of a light herbal soup that encourages one to drink it mouthful after mouthful and not get bored of it.

The ribs, the chef-owner said that unlike in the past he thinks that it is important to select and serve only the good cuts of meat. Hence, diners are served with nice ribs that have a good amount of meat.

Cooking rice is not an easy task to do well, the chef has taken additional steps to ensure that the rice served is always at it’s best. To avoid overcooking the rice, it’s taken out slightly underdone and transferred into a steamer till serving. Resulting in rice that always retain its shape, soft and warm for consumption.

Besides Bah Kut Teh another must try is the braised “Keok Wan” that is like meat from the ankle/wrist area. Besides being braised so well that each piece of meat has very rich flavor, the skills of the chef and the cut of meat ensures that the skin and fats remains tender and yet has a bite to it making it better than normal fatty cuts I have ever had.

For the Bah Kut Teh lovers out there, there’s something else that is available at this place too!

Ever imagine eating chopstick length pork ribs? Imagine no more! Using pressure cookers, the chef is also able to prepare and cook long pork ribs too! However, it’s not something that is readily available at a moment’s request, it must be ordered at least 1 day before hand. 

Each set of long ribs comes in a pair. 

Address:

Restoran Heng Kee Bah Kut Teh

31, Jalan 3/62A

Bandar Menjalara

Kepong

52100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 016-905-3600, 016-983-0399

Fook Loong Chicken Rice (福龙鸡饭) - Perspective changing chicken rice!

Like many people, I too think that Roast Chicken (烧鸡) with it’s aromatic skin but slightly dry meat has always been a secondary choice as compared to Hainanese Chicken (白斩鸡) that in comparison is succulent and tender. 

But now i have been converted!

Nested in a coffee shop “M Two” in the suburbs of Selangor is a Chicken Rice store, Fook Loong run by a couple, they serves Hainanese Chicken and Roast Chicken, Chicken liver (鸡肝) and gizzard (鸡肫), Roast Pork (烧肉) and Char Siew (叉烧).

Having tried both style of chicken, I will strongly recommend the roast chicken.

The roast chicken and its perfectly roasted skin, which is aromatic and cannot be achieved in Hainanese Chicken and yet the couple have managed to find a way to allow their roast chicken to be as succulent as a normal white chicken!

The Roast Pork served here is also very good, has a nicely done crispy golden brown skin and they usually serve cuts that have a good balance of fats to meat. The BBQ Pork/Char Siew is a tad too sweet for my liking but it’s roasted well and I wasn’t served with parts that are very burnt.

Another thing that they do well as compared other stores is the soup they serve, chicken feet and winter melon soup that is refreshing and compliments the meal with its subtle taste.

During our visit the total bill for 3 came up to RM21 for 2 serving of chicken, 1 serving of roasted pork, chicken liver and gizzard.

Address:

Jalan Burung Bebarau 4

52100 Kepong

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Operation hours:
10am - 3pm
*Closes on one Wednesday every two weeks

Riders Cafe

Nested in an area just beside a stable, the naming makes a lot more sense once you reach here, and you start seeing people riding around on horses. Opened by Janice Yeo in 2007. A popular hangout place despite its out of the way location. Booking is most definitely needed as it fills up pretty quickly. Breakfast menu on weekdays ends before 11 am, the last order seems to be around 10:30-45 am. Weekends would last until
3 pm.

 Riders Cafe

 Rider Cafe

I can understand why people would hangout here, The ambiance was fantastic. The ceilings were high and the area was spacious. The natural light and the white walls really lit up the area and gave the location a really  relaxing and cheerful feel. I felt really at ease at the cafe as it was also far from any form of traffic.

 Latte ($4.50)

The coffee wasn't impressive. The weak latte didn't have much of a coffee kick to it. It was almost too bland, tasted mostly of milk. The foam was too airy too, it didn't have that creamy sensation which makes you want to have more, it just felt like it was in the way.

 'The Usual' with Scrambled Eggs, Back Bacon, Breakfast Banger,

Mushrooms, Tomatoes & Sourdough ($16)

A pretty scrumptious breakfast. The scrambled eggs were slightly too over cooked for me, i prefer the creamy ones instead, but it was pretty good nonetheless. Not much can be said about this but it was pretty good. What you'd find in it are pretty much "The Usual" things you'd find in a breakfast set.

 Ricotta Pikelets with Berries Compote & Vanilla Cream ($14)

A lemony, zesty and fluffy hot cake. This hotcake gives you a very complex mixture of flavors and texture upon your first bite. Its light fluffiness paired with the lemons and cheese would give you a refreshing yet sinful hotcake.

Ricotta Pikelets

The ricotta hot cakes at riders scored pretty high with the flavor point! But I can't really say that about its texture. It was very dense. Kinda sticky in your mouth but paired with the refreshing flavors of the lemons and blueberry compote, it was acceptable.

 Blackstone Benedict with Bacon & Tomatoes,

Poached Eggs & Hollandaise on Rustic Sourdough ($15)

A classic dish in most breakfast menus. A simple dish consisting of an english muffin (or any bread) a form of cured meat, a poached egg and topped with a classic hollandaise sauce.

 Blackstone Benedict

Blackstone Benedict 

This was pretty ok. The sauce was nice and smooth, buttery and it went pretty well with the poached eggs. It was well done, but i would've taken out the roasted tomatoes which they slid cunningly under the eggs. It gave the dish a surprising SOUR tang. It shocked me for a bit. But all in all, this was pretty good.

Riders cafe is a good hangout area for families, couples (which we saw a lot ) and friends. It's brightly lit area, calm scenery and cooling area (didn't even need air conditioning ) can really root you in your seat. The service staff were attentive and kind, so that's another + point to come back for. The food however was pretty normal, nothing to flaunt about. Pricing was steep to normal, it's what you'd find normally on any other breakfast menu.

Address:

Bukit Timah Saddle Club

51 Fairways Drive

Singapore 286965

Contact: 

6466-9819

Opening Hours:

Tues to Thurs and Sun - 8am to 9pm

Fri and Sat - 8am to 10pm

Saveur

Saveur actually means flavour. This little hideout is extremely popular in recent days. Been hearing so much about them from all my friends and I knew I had to try. Arrived on a Friday evening at around 7pm (probably the most peak day/hour) and was told that the wait could be longer than 30 mins and they would call me when the table is ready.

Main door with a large crowd of people outside waiting for their table

I went back after 30 mins but my table wasn't available yet. Finally, my phone rang after about 55 mins. Well, to be very honest, Friday night at 7pm and the wait was about 1 hour? That's quite reasonable (I ever waited much longer at other places). If the food is good, i'd say the wait is worth. So here goes.

Starter Menu

Mains Menu

Dessert Menu

Special menu

Salmon Confit - Confit of Salmon, & Apple and Fennel Salad ($9.90)

I have to say i'm impressed with the taste. The confit was nicely done, maintaining the freshness and juiciness of the fish. Chives adds some fresh spiciness to perk up the dish. And the black bits were abit of a mystery. But I determined it to be minced/chopped preserve plum. This adds to the savoury aspect of the dish which keeps me going back for more. It's the first time I've seen this combination and this is smart cooking, very commendable. Oh and the salad's acidity helps to cut through some of the fats in the salmon which completes the dish. The presentation may appear slightly plain but for the price and flavours delivered, this dish easily scores 9.5/10.

Foie Gras - Pan-seared Duck Liver served with Apple-Infused Port Wine and Vanilla Bean ($9.90)

If you had always wanted to know how foie gras taste like, and prices elsewhere always puts you off, fret not. You've come to the right place. At only $9.90 a portion, it can't get any better.

Foie Gras - Pan-seared Duck Liver served with Apple-Infused Port Wine and Vanilla Bean ($9.90)

Foie Gras, being basically a fattened liver, is filled with fats. Some people may not be able to fully appreciate its gooey texture. Saveur has done well to combine it with apples and port, which blends perfectly.

Duck - Duck Leg Confit, Homemade Mashed Potato, Sauté Shiitake Mushroom,

Orange Segments, Orange Infused Natural Jus ($10.90)

The presentation was much to my disappointment but if a $10.90 duck confit could satisfy my tastebuds, i'd have no complains. First up, I was disappointed with the mashed potato. Although it was soft and silky, it was overly powered by butter. The duck leg confit had a nice crispy skin with soft and juicy meat. That was exactly how i'd like my confit to be. I've had friends telling me that Saveur's duck confit was always too dry. Either i'm lucky or they've realised. Whatever happened, do give them another chance and you might be amazed.

Chicken - A Roulade of Chicken Thigh Stuffed with Foie Gras-Infused Chicken Farce,

Creamy Basmati Rice, Parmesan Sauce ($9.90)

Presentation was good and I was looking forward to taste it. The basmati rice was really creamy but lacked flavours, made it really plain. The roulade of chicken also taste quite plain, under-seasoned, not salty enough. The entire dish felt kindda heavy and lacked flavours. Also, I do not get the foie gras part of this dish, it felt non-existant. 

Pistachio Panna Cotta - Pistachio Flavoured Cooked Cream,

topped with ground and Caramelised Pistachio ($6.90)

I've got to say i'm absolutely mesmerised by this. The panna cotta had a rich heavy pistachio flavour which I didn't expect. The nuts on top gave it a perfect crunch. I'm a big fan of pistachios, and if you are one too, this is a beauty. I'm coming back for more.

From Special Menu: Cookies & Milk ($9.90)

Extremely surprising presentation. Only a layer of foam and I instantly knew we would be in for a treat.

Cookies & Milk - Cookie Dough Ice Cream, Milk Soil, Honey Cloud, Cherries in Kirsch, & Peanut Butter ($9.90)

If you are a fan of peanut butter, this is exactly what you need. It's a lot of peanuts in different forms and textures. I love the cherries soaked in Kirsch. Also, the surprise element in this dessert are popping candies. There was a layer of it on the ice cream and it caught me by surprise. This is a childhood dish, anyone would like it.

Overall, I am happy with the meal and would be back again. Despite having to queue for almost an hour, the food did not disappoint. On top of that, this is perhaps the only place where you can get decent quality french fare at such affordable prices. I'm not sure whether the 'special menu' would change regularly, but I hope it does. There are a couple of really interesting addition to their usual menu and this would make me come back frequently.

Address:
5 Purvis Street, #01-05

Contact:
6681-6448

Opening hours:
Mon to Sun - 12pm to 2.30pm
Mon to Sun - 6pm to 9.30pm

Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro

Total. Coincidence. Eric just happened to park there, and we stepped out of the car and saw this restaurant. It was bustling and crowded, the ambience just drew us in. A nice warm lighting, lots of chit chatting around, great for a casual gathering. But do be warned, service isn't great during crowds.

 Foie Gras, Crispy Duck Magret & Apple Skewer (S$5)

A sachet of fats is how I would describe a foie gras. This was really affordable, and a really good choice as a starter. Dear readers who have never tasted the real pricey thing, this is a good place to sample it. The foie gras is nicely balanced out with the apples and crispy duck, it gave a rather refreshing feel and an over satisfying texture. Do try if you like foie gras.

 Beef Sirloin, Mushrooms & Wedges with Red Wine Sauce (S$18)

The rear back portion of a cow, the sirloin is one of the better cuts of beef. Preferably cooked rare or medium rare to retain the flavours and texture of this cut of meat.

 Beef Sirloin, Mushrooms & Wedges with Red Wine Sauce (S$18)

I ordered mine rare. I have very little exposure to beef but i thought this was done pretty well. As in it was....accurately rare. Though Ben and Eric did mention it was actually medium rare, as there were no blood piercing the meat. Well i guess i need to learn more. It came with sides of sauteed mushrooms, ratatouille and potato wedges, accompanied by a red wine jus sauce. The steak had a nice "grilled" flavor to it, very nice and smokey. A pretty decent meal considering the price.

 Margarita Pizza (S$12)

This was a pretty dainty pizza. The tomato sauce was very light, it wasn't heavy, which allowed you to taste the cheese. This was pretty normal, the flavor of the tomato base wasn't something to brag about.

 Bread Crumbed Chicken Breast (S$15)

Chicken breast is one of the most common cuts of a chicken, but it's always cooked until its dry and chalky. Presentation wise was perhaps a tad too simple. Well, let's check out the taste.

Bread Crumbed Chicken Breast (S$15)

This was pretty well done i must say. It was nice and juicy, tender and the crumbs really gave it a nice contrast of textures. The red wine jus gave it a little lift of flavors. This was pretty good, go for it, chicken lovers! <3

Ravioli with Mozzarella and Spinach (S$13)

Ravioli with spinach and cheese is a classic combination. This one didn't really manage to catch my palate though.

Ravioli with Mozzarella and Spinach (S$13)

The tomato base was slightly too heavy for a mild cheese like mozzarella. It was overpowered and i couldn't get much of a taste from the fillings itself. Might have been a better choice if it had a lighter cream sauce rather then a tangy tomato sauce.

The bistro had  a nice lively ambiance, warm lightings and decently priced menu, this place is a good hangout for a casual dinner. Note that some of the staff here can't manage crowds and tend to fly off to other tables as soon as they think that they're done with you. You'd need a lot of patience to get things going. But we will be back again simply because of the affordable mass market pricing.

Sad though that we didn't order any wine at a WINE CONNECTION TAPAS BAR & BISTRO. Eric was driving. We're responsible. Don't drink and drive.

Address:
11 Unity Street, #01-19/20
Robertson Walk, S(237995)

Contact:
6235-5466

Opening hours:
Mon to Thurs - 11.30am to 2am
Fri to Sat - 11.30am to 3am
Sun - 11.30am to 12am

Liberty Coffee

The local gourmet coffee scene has been brewing up recently. If you are coffee fanatics like we are, this is one place you gotta fix your eyes on. Liberty coffee started brewing in 2010. They are a gourmet micro roaster that majors in wholesale business.

We're pretty sure that if you are reading this post, you are either a coffee addict or cake lover. Before you carry on with the rest of this post, go search for them on Facebook and 'like' their page. In mid-Nov 2012, they were awarded the Best (and most frustrating) Guerrilla cafe. Why? That's simply because they open for business to the public 'as and when they like'. They are usually open only on random Saturdays. To ensure you don't make a wasted trip, check for announcements on their Facebook page.

Liberty Coffee's shop front

Just like most other popular cafes in the country, we are seeing a 'dodgy' styled shop front. Looks are always deceiving. Stepping into the cafe only to realise that it was almost full house and a few people queuing for take-away. It is a very small space with seating for only about 20 people. Do head there early if you want to secure a space for yourself, especially when they open their doors once in a blue moon, expect traffic to be high.

Gula Melaka Pandan Cake

On the menu, there is only coffee or cakes. If you are looking for anything more, you're at the wrong place. The people here at Liberty are a passionate and innovative bunch. There are about 6 varieties of cakes on sale and this gula melaka pandan cake caught our attention.

Gula Melaka Pandan Cake

Using local ingredients and flavours to create something for the local masses is impressive. Biting into the cake, it delivers a soft pandan/coconuty scent. It is fluffy yet slightly moist. The brown top layer is a blanket of grated coconut which I assume have been seasoned with gula melaka. Topped with crushed pistachios, that is the icing on the cake. Overall, the flavours are gentle and lingers through. This is the moment for a sip of coffee.

 Chocolate Cake

If you are a chocolate maniac, this is exactly what you need. The sponge is extremely moist and rich. Chocolate chocolate chocolate. This is it. They probably used some good quality dark chocolate, and to counter the bitterness, a good amount of sugar was used. But not to worry, the sweetness is in balance with the dark chocolate. It is a good slice of cake but probably too rich for my liking. Too jelat for me to finish by myself.

 Orange and Lemon Cake with Poppyseeds

This little beauty is definitely worth a mention. The sponge was soft and buttery and emits a slight acidity. The icing gels the cake together and made it extremely refreshing. It was the favourite of the day. This is exactly what you need in Singapore's unbearable weather - A cake to cheer you up, perk you up.

Ethopia Yirgacheffe Gelana Abaya Natural (Hario V60)

It has been pretty easy to get your hands on a Ethopia Yirgacheffe at most gourmet roasters recently. This one by Liberty is distinctive. One the nose, the very first impression was an intense 'ba zhang' flavour. To put this in perspective, it is probably what gourmets would call as an umami flavour. In addition, it exerts a heavy vanilla and bergamot flavour.

Café Latté 

Not too sure if this is Liberty's style, but this is the first time we receive a latté that is not filled to the brim. The nutty and cocoa flavour with slight acidity makes it a decent latté. However, we would prefer a heavier body.

Roaster

Everything is done in-house. Liberty has a team of knowledgeable coffee connoisseurs and seems like there is potential for growth. Overall, the lemon cake is most memorable. We would probably come back again in future but the opening hours is one annoying factor.

Address:
131 Rangoon Road
S(218409)

Contact:
6392-2903

Opening hours:
Once in a blue moon. Check Facebook page.