fishy business


This may look like any other ordinary kopitiam in any heartland but whenever it comes to lunch time, this place will be packed with people.

这间咖啡店看起来和其他邻里区的咖啡店没什么两样,但每当午餐时间一到,这里的顾客是络绎不绝的。


When you walked past the kopitiam, you must be wondering why there are clothes pegs lying around on the tables? This is actually for the staff to remember what you have ordered. Once you have placed your order at the stall, the staff will pass you the clothes peg. Different orders are represented by different colours. How innovative!

如果你是第一次到这里的话,你一定会觉得奇怪,为什么每张桌子上都有晾衣夹子?原来咖啡店里某个超受欢迎的摊位的员工就是这样通过不同颜色的晾衣夹子来辨认每张桌子的订单。还蛮有创意的。


If you don’t know which stall to order from, just look for ladies wearing red t-shirts. If you are going there in a big group but afraid that you can’t find seats, no worries! Do you know that you can actually call and make reservation first! Hmmm…so you must be wondering what “special” food you can find here?

摊位的员工们都身穿红色上衣,方便食客们认出并直接向他们点菜。不仅如此,如果是一大班人担心找不到位子,还能预先打电话定位。说了那么多,到底我们要介绍的菜是什么呢?


Here you go! The “special” food that I’m referring to is…Fish Soup! This is their signature dish here. It might look like any other fish soup you have tried before but the moment you sip it, you will know why it’s so different. Slices of bitter gourds, fresh tomatoes and lettuces are added to enhance the taste of the soup.

原来要介绍的就是这里的招牌菜 – 鱼片汤。除了主角鱼肉,其他馅料还包括苦瓜片、番茄、生菜等。这么一碗简简单单的鱼片汤想必一定有其独特的口味,不然也不会吸引到那么多的食客慕名而来了。


In fact they do not only sell fish soup, they also sell other dishes like Bak Kut Teh. This is another dish that you MUST try! Their preserved vegetables (mei-cai) is simply irresistible!

这里当然不止鱼片汤,还有肉骨茶以及梅菜,味道可是顶呱呱的。

Address:
WISENG EATING HOUSE
Block 416 Bedok North Ave 2

Posted in Hawker Food 小贩食物, Our Island ~ 走走吃吃 | Leave a comment

Authentic Teochew Zee-Char


Looking for a Zee-Char stall is easy BUT looking for an authentic TEOCHEW Zee-Char is not. Swee Kee is one of the authentic Teochew Zee-Char you can find in Singapore.

新加坡煮炒摊多得是,但要吃正宗的潮州煮炒就一定要到瑞记。


Wooo…this is a MUST order dish at Swee Kee. Fried fish head with black bean paste. I don’t really fancy bitter gourd but the way the chef cook this dish, it’s so good till I don’t really taste it at all! I must say…Yummilicious!

在这里非点不可的一道菜就是豉汁炸鱼头配苦瓜。不喜欢吃苦瓜的人别担心,因为根本吃不到苦苦的味道。厨师炒得太棒了。


Sambal Fried Potato Leaves is another dish that you would not want to miss. The vegetables were cooked just right, very tasty and crunchy.

另外不能错过的一道菜是三巴辣椒炒番薯叶。番薯叶的口感丰富爽口。

Health Tips:
Potato leaves are known as “Queen of Vegetables” in Hong Kong, and “Longetivity Food” in Japan. They are highly recommended for those suffering from constipation and those who intend to slim down or lose weight.
健康小贴士
不说不知,原来番薯叶能调理便秘和帮助减肥瘦身。香港人称其为“蔬菜皇后”,日本人则推崇其为长寿菜。


What is a MUST dish in a Teochew meal? Ans: Steamed Pomfret. The pomfret they serve here are very fresh. It just melts in your mouth…

吃潮州菜怎么能少得了潮州蒸鲳鱼呢?滑嫩的鲳鱼肉在口中融化,可见它有多新鲜。


Simple yet delicious hand made “Hei-Cho”. Taste even better if you dip with the sweet dark sauce. You definitely would not stop at just one.

外皮酥香的手工干炸虾枣。放入口中之前先沾点黑甜酱吧,会更美味哦。一个?哪会够啊?

**顺便说一下,为了找出 hei-cho 的中文名,还真费了劲儿。最后通过一位旧同事的福建籍主管才确认了“虾枣”这个名字!谢谢我的这位“孙朋友”还有他的主管。


Crispy “Ha Cheong Gai” (prawn paste fried chicken). This is not a teochew dish but I guess due to the popularity among Singaporeans, the chef decided to add this dish into the menu.

香脆虾酱鸡虽然不是潮州菜,但也许是太受新加坡人的欢迎了,因此厨师把它也列入菜单里头。

Address:
Swee Kee Cooked Food Restaurant
Block 211
Serangoon Ave 4, #01-02
Tel: 62541961

Posted in Our Island ~ 走走吃吃, Zee-Char 煮炒 | Leave a comment

Where can you find $2 Loh Mee?


Where is the 1st place you will think of when someone ask you where to find a nice bowl of Loh Mee? You would probably think about Tiong Bahru, Bukit Purmei..etc. Maybe it’s time that you try this stall at Bukit Ho Swee? They have cheap and yet delicious Loh Mee. You must be thinking how cheap right? It’s $2.00!! Yes, you didn’t see wrongly. It’s $2!!! Where can you find such price now?

这年头真的还能找到$2的一碗面吗?真的有吗?
有的,要找又便宜又好吃的卤面就要去躲在河水山一座组屋楼下的档口了。
照片里就是档口的老板娘。原来早在35年前,老板娘的祖母就开始卖卤面了。档口共搬迁了三次,从最早的中峇鲁戏院附近到小贩中心到现在组屋大牌4号的咖啡店。

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This is the lady boss and actually this business was started by her grandmother 35 years ago. Their 1st stall was along Tiong Bahru near Kings cinema, then they shifted into the hawker centre and finally into this kopitiam.


Ta-Da!!! Here you are for a cheap and yet delicious Loh Mee. In this pic I have added 1 “Loh Neng” (hard boiled egg) so it’s now $2.50 BUT still, where can you find a $2 meal these days right?
美味可口的一碗卤面还能加料呢!加了一粒卤蛋后,也不过$2.50。
这样的价钱真的很不错了,各位,你们还等什么?!!

Address:
Block 4, Bukit Ho Swee
(Very easy to locate because this is the only kopitiam you will find at block 4)

Posted in Hawker Food 小贩食物, Our Island ~ 走走吃吃 | Leave a comment

It’s DELIcious…

KUALA LUMPUR 吉隆坡
DELIcious at The Marc Residence is a stone’s throw away from KLCC. It is also near Jalan P. Ramlee, one of the city’s hottest nightspots.
Besides Marc Residence, I also saw 2 other outlets at Mid Valley and Bangsar Village II.

因为工作的关系来到了吉隆坡,然后只有在收工的前一晚大伙儿才有机会一起慢慢地吃一顿晚餐。餐馆就位于双子塔附近的一座服务公寓的底层。这家DELIcious 餐馆在吉隆坡应该有相当的名气,在Mid Valley和孟沙购物中心里也设有分行。

Wild mushroom soup with garlic bread
菌菇汤

Balsamic wild mushroom salad
意式香醋菌菇沙拉

The mushrooms are really nice and juicy!
菌菇细嫩多汁,很新鲜、很可口。

Thai crabmeat pasta with aromatic herbs, spices and olive oil
泰式蟹肉意大利面

I had this as my main dish. It’s a light yet appetizing dish.
这道就是我的正餐了,很开胃。

Seafood linguini tossed in homemade sundried tomato pesto
海鲜意大利扁面条

Mushroom mascarpone spaghettini with lemon zest, walnuts and coriander
意大利面配蘑菇与意大利奶酪

Other than the broad range of main dishes, there is also a long list of desserts, but we were so full by then we could only pick just 3 of them.
这里的甜品选择多得不知从何选起,大家简直是被宠坏了!可惜肚子就只能装得下那么多,能点三样甜品算不错了。

Tiramisu in a glass
杯状提拉米苏

Macadamia cheesecake, topped with crunchy macadamia nut brittle and caramel
坚果芝士蛋糕

Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla icecream
枣布丁配黄油硬糖汁与香草冰淇淋

The DELIcious cafe at The Marc Residence is chic and stylish, and what is special is the interior deco of white trees with white birdcage lamps hanging from the white branches. Frankly, just the bare trees alone can be rather spooky, but with the addition of the birdcage lamps, it actually created an alternative kind of romantic feel. The overall atmosphere is cosy, warm and inviting, which makes it a good place to hang out.

这家餐馆的室内环境很有格调,尤其是餐馆中央的布置设计非常特别。干枯枯的树干其实有点阴森森的感觉,但将白色的鸟笼灯悬吊在白色树干上,便营造出了一种另类浪漫的气氛。舒服的环境,绝对是适合与朋友轻松聚会的好地方。

Address:
DELIcious Cafe
The Marc Service Residence
A-6-01 Ground Floor
No. 3 Jalan Pinang
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (603) 2166 9099

Posted in Kuala Lumpur 吉隆坡, Out of the Island ~ 出外吃吃 | Leave a comment

叽叽吖吖千层饼

SHANGHAI 上海
这里简单介绍一个在上海找到的简单小吃–千层饼,听说很受欢迎。
千层饼还蛮松软的,中间夹着薄薄的一层豆沙。口味分甜味和咸味两种。

Puff Pastry – consists of a layer of red bean paste in the middle.
There are 2 versions: sweet taste and salted taste.

而能买到千层饼的就在这家叫叽叽吖吖的店了。
地方不会太难找,就在长乐路和襄阳北路的交界处。

Look for this shop at the intersection of Chang Le Road and Xiang Yang Bei Road.

Address:
叽叽吖吖(长乐路店)
静安区长乐路606号(近襄阳北路)

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台湾传统美食 Taiwan Traditional Cuisine

TAIPEI 台北
The authentic taste of Taiwanese delicacies…you simply just can’t stop loving them!
台湾一点都不乏充满道地风味的美食,让你吃得爱不释手!

Fresh Bamboo Shoots 鲜竹笋

Sautéed Fresh Clams 炒大蛤

Fried Eggplant 九层茄子

Fried Pork Liver 煎猪肝

This is my favourite dish among all the rest. The taste is superb and the tenderness of the meat is just right.
这是我最爱的一道菜了。爽口不带涩味,口感好、咬劲十足。

Braised Pig’s Trotter 卤猪脚

Stewed Chicken 三杯土鸡

Founded in 1965, this Umeko Restaurant serves really good food, and the prices are quite all right especially if you get a big group of people to share out the cost.
这家梅子台湾料理店创立于1965年,可说是道地的台湾料理传统老店。菜色多,食物好,价钱也蛮合理的,如果是一群人一起吃的话,还挺划算的。

Address:
Umeko Taiwanese Cuisine & Seafood
梅子台湾料理店
台北市林森北路107 巷1 号
Tel: 886-2-25213200~3

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小龙虾

SHANGHAI 上海

上海有条寿宁路,是出名的一条专卖小龙虾的街。来到这里,看得出这是一个只有当地人才会光顾的地方。四月至九月夏秋季节是麻辣小龙虾的天下,而夏季更是最佳的时候,因为小龙虾肉比较嫩,壳也没那么硬。这里吃小龙虾以斤计算,因此大部分人都是一篮一篮地吃。

Shanghai Shou Ning Road is a small street with many stalls selling crayfish, and visited mainly by the locals. Apparently the period from April to September is the hottest season for crayfish in Shanghai. Summer is the best time to eat crayfish because the meat is much tender and the shell is not so hard.

There are so many shops along the two sides of the road that you can just choose any of them and get to eat a whole basket of crayfish.


Raw crayfish 还未煮熟的小龙虾


Cooked crayfish 红彤彤的小龙虾

Caution: As you walk along the street, you will notice that the hygiene condition may not be so desirable. So will you still dare to try?
注意:街道两旁都在卖小龙虾,但卫生状况看起来似乎不是很理想。有那么多的选择,就看你敢不敢试一试了。

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3 inch sin 三寸的诱惑

This shop has been opened for around 3 months by a brother and sister team, Kevin and Celine Yeo.
由姐弟组合一起经营的这家甜品店开张已经有差不多三个月了。

The main colour here is orange, which makes the place bright and cheerful.
简单的装潢,配以亮丽的橙色,让小小的空间很阳光。

Interesting presentation of menu on a baking tray.
以烤盘的形式带出菜单,有创意。

The main product here is the molten chocolate cake with 2 sizes: 3-inch size and mini size.
这里的主角是熔融巧克力蛋糕,分“三寸”版本和“迷你”版本。

With 8 flavours of fillings to choose from you are definitely spoilt for choice!
蛋糕里面的馅有八种不同的口味任你选择哦。除了原味巧克力的,还有薄荷、酸橙、咖啡、榛子、山莓、花生酱和白巧克力。

The lady below was adding in our different choices of fillings. It’s fun to watch how the molten chocolate cake is being done on the spot.
熔融巧克力蛋糕是现做即吃的。我觉得这里的卖点之一是可以直接看到熔融巧克力蛋糕的制作过程。

Fresh from the oven! 新鲜出炉了!

Raspberry flavour 山莓口味

Peanut Butter flavour 花生酱口味

We ordered 2 sets of 3 mini molten chocolate cakes, and because there were 6 different flavours of fillings, we enjoyed the little surprise each time our spoons broke through each mini molten cake’s outer crust.

如果选择点迷你熔融巧克力蛋糕,可以一次过尝试最少三种不同的口味。小小的乐趣就来自每一次破开蛋糕外壳的一刹那,再将蛋糕放入嘴后的感觉。
熔融巧克力蛋糕…不多也不少,正好是三寸的诱惑,让你欲罢不能,躲也躲不了!

Address:
3 Inch Sin
501 Bukit Timah Road
Cluny Court #02-27
Tel: 6314 1217

Posted in Desserts 甜点 | Leave a comment

“monster ice” & bitter gourd juice

TAIPEI 台北

This is 3P 霸王冰(“monster ice”). It consists of 3 kinds of fruits: mango, kiwi and strawberry, and 2 ice-cream flavours: mango and strawberry.
3P 霸王冰有三种水果:芒果、奇异果和草莓,以及两种雪糕口味:芒果和草莓。

The only problem is the size…we got a big shock when the dessert was served to us!
霸王冰一送上来,我们马上就后悔了。这份甜点果然很有霸王的气势。

Compare it with a 500ml bottle and my hand, that was definitely not a normal size loh!
与旁边的500毫升矿泉水瓶装和我的手掌比较一下,就知道它不是普通地大!

This dessert shop “三兄妹” is along a food street of Xi Men Ding. (The food street is opposite a hotel called Rainbow Hotel.)
Apparently some tour groups will come here for desserts, because it’s very near one of the entrances of Xi Men Ding where tour buses usually will stop.

I also saw a number of youngsters around in the shop. Here is the basement of the shop, and look at the walls, they are all scribbled with words and pictures, not a single corner is spared!
这间甜品店位于西门町的一条小小美食街。除了旅行团之外,当然也少不了年轻人的踪影,尤其从整间店的墙壁、天花板就可看出这些年轻人的“创意”。


彭暄媛有E罩杯!Bra size E Cup!

Another drink that is famous here is the bitter gourd juice, you can opt for original bitter taste, normal, or not so bitter taste. But I think the below small shop which is beside “三兄妹” is the first shop to sell the original bitter gourd juice. I tried the juice from this small shop and thought that it tasted better than that from “三兄妹”.

另外在“三兄妹”甜品店里也可以尝到苦瓜汁,怕苦的可以加蜜糖。但老实说,后来试了位于隔壁的这间柠檬屋,觉得他们的苦瓜汁比较好喝喔。或许你们也可以自己去做个比较。

Address:
柠檬屋正宗苦瓜原汁
西门町
汉中街 21号

Posted in Out of the Island ~ 出外吃吃, Taiwan 台湾 | Leave a comment

Our First Post…我们的第一篇

Hmm…what should we write? how should we start?
Well, here you go for our 1st entry*so excited!*…
2 friends of almost 15 years, Ah Keow *food lover and chaser* and Ah Moon *food seeker* have decided to start a food blog.
Instead of the common “Ang Moh”(english version) blog that most of us normally read, we want you to have the best of both worlds – a Bilingual blog!

找食趣…
这是 ah keow 和 ah moon 从一时兴起到越谈越认真的 project…
ah keow 超爱吃的,ah moon 则是好吃的都不介意吃多点…
结果两个认识将近十五年的朋友就这样在百忙中开始研究如何进行这项“部落格大行动”…
这是双语部落格,英文、中文任你选读…
最重要是能让大家以自己最舒服的语言品尝我们带来的不同食趣…
希望会是个好玩的过程…

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