Local Delights / 本地美食
This is your Roti, John!
According to a local legend, the name of the local food “Roti John” derived from a Malay hawker in the 60s. “Roti” literally means bread in Malay.
There was an Englishman, John. He ordered a hamburger at Malay store in Sembawang (a local old town).
The Malay hawker has no idea how to make a burger, as Hamburger was not a local cuisine. But he ingeniously managed to substitute the meat to minced mutton and slices of onion in between the French loaf, and dipped the whole bread in the beaten eggs and pan-fried it.
When the food was really, he called upon the Englishman, “Silakan makan roti, John”, it means “Pleas eat this bread, John” in Malay.
Since then, this Malay cuisine adopted an English name in this genius invention.
Something fit for a vegan
I had an awesome vegetarian meal at Beets located at 22 Dempsey Road. This unique restaurant offers a variety of high quality and creative range of food fits for non-meat eaters.
The foods and the lounge setting are equally refine, a new definition of modern vegetarian cuisine you must experience.
Tofu Burger
This is one of the signature dishes. The seaweed tofu burger served toasted with grilled pumpkin, truffle aioli, relish and pumpkin crackers are enough to make your mouth water and wanting more from every bite.
This dish may look bare but it comes with a taste you’ll never forget. Baby roquette, grilled butternut squash and tofu served with sambal olek dressing. The sweet, sour combination come just too perfect with the leaves. You will never let go this mouthful experience.
Char-grilled Vegetable Platter
A mixture of grilled vegetables come with a fresh selection of red and green pepper, Portobello mushroom, asparagus, roma tomato, corn and Bombay onion complete with the homemade garlic aioli. One of the most delicate dishes on the table, the crunchiness of the asparagus and the fragrant of the freshly grilled greens with a spray of flower petals will lure you back to the next visit. The edible flowers is new to my taste buds, It’s hard to resist the next trip there!
The restaurant is located at the entrance of Dempsey Road. Operation hour for lunch is 12pm to 3pm and 6pm-11pm for dinner.
For a stylist and healthy meal, this is the right choice. Just chill out..
4) I am no normal tea
“擂茶”, in Chinese literally means Lei Tea (pounded tea). The name Lei arises from the Lei stick (wooden stick) that was used to grind the ingredients. This iconic Hakka food is healthy and body cleansing. It was known that Lei Tea was originated from the Three Kingdom, China.
In Singapore, Lei Tea is also known as “Thunder Tea” as the word “Lei” has the same pronunciation as “Thunder” in Chinese language. The dish is served with brown or white rice, tops up with various chopped ingredients like long beans, tofu, peanuts, cabbage, pickled radish and green vegetables. The ingredients can be varies, as for vegetarian Ikan Bilis (anchovies) is optional.
The tea soup itself is a composite of different types of tea leaves. Herbs (like mint, basil), nuts, seeds and beans ground together with the Lei stick to form a light green paste or powder. Hot water is then added to the tea paste/powder to go along with the rice.
For some, trying the savory soup for the first time may find it raw. But it has a refreshing after taste! The healthy green fragrance may lure you back for more each time! Unlike the normal tea we have daily, Lei Tea is a healthy food mix with tint of ancient culture and healthy modern lifestyle people adore these days!
If you happen to see it, try it! You may like it! But beware, not to let the tea steal the thunder out of you!
3) Dinning with you and the “Kuehs”
“Kueh” is a Malay word literally means traditional biscuits or cakes.
These are the three types of Kueh I would like to dine with you.
Binka Ubi
Binka Ubi Kueh is rich in golden color, with a layer of brown-coated skin
Ingredients include Tapioca, Coconut Milk, Sugar, Salt and Water.
It tastes sweet, flavor of Tapioca enhanced by the heated exterior of coated sugar.
Kueh Lapis Sagu
This is one of the most famous among the “Kueh”. It has nine layers of Kueh laying on top of each other. It is laid layer over layer after each layer settles.
Traditionally, it comes in multi-color, red, green, blue and white. But, choice of colors is still up to the baker’s creativity!
Colors are usually red, green and blue, is up to the maker creativity.
Ingredient are Tapioca, Sago Flour, Mung Bean Flour, Rice Flour, Coconut Milk, Sugar, Water, knotted Pandan leaves and finally the coloring.
Peeling off layer by layer at the same time enjoying the fragrance sweetness of the Kuey, is one of our traditional ways of eating.
Kueh Talam
This Kueh is special in term of its simple and yet refreshing color combination, just white and green.
The green portion is make of Pandan leaves coloring, coconut milk, sugar etc. For the white portion are make of sieved rice flour together with sago flour.
This is a very delighting Malay Kueh as it appears visually in a soothing way.
2) Local delights / 本地美食
Discover a Seafood BBQ stall at East Coast Park Food Center. Surprised by both by the delicious and reasonable priced food.
It is an added point having a nice meal while enjoying the sea view next to it. It is to me, a simple luxury.
The stall has been there since 1996 when the old lagoon was there.
A medium serving of fried Kai Lan (S$6/-) comes with fried shrimpfish toppings. The price does not come with how much the chef pays an effort to this little detail. The combination ► is just too perfect to my taste bud.
◄The spicy plate of mussels cooked similarly like Chili Crab cost S$10/-. It is definitely worth the sweat I have paid for.
This Stall No. 43 has so many varieties on their menu that are so yummy and with reasonable price. I am definitely going to reserve all those on the menu for my next trip !▼
1) Local Delights / 本地美食
Had a dinner at this coffee shop in Kambangan.
It comes with a plate of Hokien mee, a BBQ chicken and fried vegetable.
The Hokien mee has a smooth texture with fresh ingredients and chilly is a perfect match.
BBQ chicken is so juicy and tender, the size of meat is just right.
The fragrantly fried veg is smooth and not so oily.
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