Roast Chicken - How to Do a Great Roast Chicken This Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought this would be an ideal time to share some great tips on doing a beautiful roast chicken during this festive season.

I have always advocated about eating at home and the positives about doing so, and during Christmas, this aspect is even more important.

Liu He Taiwan Night Market Snacks - Deep Fried Goodness in Tampines

I am not a big fan of deep fried food, and these days, I consciously avoid places like KFC and the once popular Shilin outlets.

Speaking of Shilin, it is amazing how fast a trend can die down. There was a time when you could see such long queues waiting for their deep fried chicken chops sprinkled with MSG laden seasoning.

Hill Street Char Kway Teow

I have long held out that Outram Char Kway Teow at Hong Lim is the best char kway teow stall you can find in Singapore, but I was hoping to savor the legendary Hill Street stall before making a final judgement.

Well, I finally made it to this famous char kway teow, now situated in Bedok and I have to say, this is seriously, the best char kway teow anywhere in the world.

Amy's Laksa - More Than Just Laksa, But Delicious Prawn Mee and Mee Siam

Usually, when a stall tries to sell more than one type of food at a hawker center, it usually comes off as more of jack of all, and master of none. So, when you hear of a stall that has Laksa in the name, and also sells prawn mee and mee siam at the same time, you would think that the other 2 are basically supporting dishes.

Well, you would be very wrong, for at Amy's Laksa, the trilogy of hawker classics is as brilliant and brilliantly consistent as the Lord of the Rings movies combined.

Yong Lai Fa Ji Shu - A Beautiful Fish Head Soup

When it comes to fish head dishes, it is always a challenge to find fresh tasting fish heads in Singapore, even in high class restaurants.

And most of the time, we will probably be taking fish head with curry and the reason is simple, curry is a great way to mask the fishy odor that tend to permeate most fish heads here.

Carbonara Risotto

I first had this dish cooked for me by Chef Peter Neo at Pietro's, and it is now a staple on the menu. Up until then, I have never had risotto done in this way, and I have certainly had my fair share of carbonara pasta, including my own.

And thanks to Peter, who was kind enough to share with me how to make this beautiful tasting dish, I decided to try it at home, using the simplest of ingredients.

Indonesian Food House at Aljunied - Incredible Lontong

Being Chinese, I have always wanted to savor more of non-Chinese fare, especially as one gets older and one's palette gets more subtle, and malay food has been something that I been very keen to try.

And I was informed by my foodie veteran that the best Malay food comes from Indonesians who have migrated here, as they cook with real passion and skill.

Minced Pork Noodle - Excellent Bak Chor Mee in Tampines

I have never been a real fan of Bak Chor Mee, or minced pork noodles as it otherwise known here. Somehow, I have never found one that really tickled me pink and while I have heard of famous ones like Tai Hwa, I have never been there to savor it either.

Thankfully, in a corner of Tampines, tucked away in a rather large coffeeshop, is a inconspicuous looking food stall that actually serves up a very good Bak Chor Mee.

Chye Kee Chwee Kueh - Best Chwee Kueh in Singapore

One of my morning breakfast staples has always been chwee kueh, which is basically steamed rice cakes with preserved turnips, chai poh as it is known here.

And for years, we have always been told that Tiong Bahru Chwee Kueh was the best around town. Well, thanks to my experienced foodie friend, I was brought to a very modest stall in Circuit Road that trumps all other chwee kueh stalls.

Twe Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice

Personally, I have always preferred the more subtle versions of our favorite Hainanese chicken rice, and not the overly powering variants served by Boon Tong Kee and Tian Tian.

That is why I have always enjoyed Sergeant Kiang's chicken rice when he was running it as Jiang Ji last year, and until he resurfaced recently at Kovan, I admit, I was having a bit of chicken rice cold turkey.

Lai Kee Pau at Bedok

Restaurant prices are really getting more and more ridiculous these days, and what is worse, the quality has taken a nosedive in most places.

Driven by marketing hype and foreign talent, Chinese restaurants, especially, has been giving our local food establishments a very bad name. With the exception of maybe Crystal Jade and Imperial Treasure, I tend to avoid most restaurants these days.

SP Pratas and Curry at Seletar Hill Estate

Today, I thought I do a very quick post on a prata joint I recently discovered by chance in a very quiet place in Seletar Hill Estate.

Well, maybe not that quiet as the morning crowd was quite bustling and being the only coffeeshop around, in a place surrounded by private houses, it would definitely be the place to get your morning breakfast and such.

58 Prawn Noodle at Bedok Reservoir Road

A foodie friend of mine actually brought me to this incredible prawn mee stall last week, but it was already sold out by the time we were there after 2pm.

This time round, we made it a point to be there just before noon, and one of the things that stood out was this stall was in a coffeeshop humorously called See Beh Ho Eating House.

Beer Braised Pork Belly With Apples

Being Chinese, we are used to eating braised pork belly done by our mums and grandmums over the years, and it is indeed one of those classic family dishes that will evoke your earliest childhood food memories.

Yet, for all its tradition and history, I have never been entirely satisfied with the way it is made. And I was seeking how to improve this dish using some of the modern cooking techniques out there.

Singapore Fake Food - Plastic Food Models

Take a look at this picture, and it sure looks like a delectable bowl of local wanton mee, and you will be hard pressed to think it is fake.

But it is, for this entire bowl is made of pvc and plastic, and it is totally inedible. Yet, it looks incredibly realistic and utterly yummy. It is, in fact, a prime example of Singapore food models.

Hai Sheng Fried Carrot Cake at Bedok North

Here is the first of two posts on fried carrot cake. And for me, fried carrot cake is something I simply adore as an outside snack, and also something I don't do at home.

The combination of daikon, carrot, egg and spring onion has a simplicity that can always still impress any palate. Yet, good hawker stalls that service this dish is still a rarity here.

Classic Spaghetti Bolognese

It is unfortunately sad but true that most pasta places you find in Singapore serve pretty much mediocre pasta, and nothing gets worse than a plate of watery and sour Bolognese.

I will not name names, but the popular cafes here just do not take the effort to make a good sauce for this classic dish, and hence, make a mess out of it. It is amazing still, that most younger folks who patronize such outlets think they are eating real Spaghetti Bolognese.

Hougang 6 Miles Famous Muah Chee at Bedok

Muah Chee is one of those evergreen local desserts that seems to be increasingly fading away to obscurity. I remember I used to take it for granted when I was a young boy, but as the years passed, it became harder to find.

It is only now that I realise how much I miss this simple but tasty local treat. And when I was brought to this somewhat obscure location in Bedok by a friend, I was delighted to be reunited with an old "friend".

Ratatouille - The Actual Dish From the Pixar Movie

Ratatouille remains one of all my all-time favorite films, and not just because it features food as a theme, but Brad Bird's film is simply perfect from start to finish.

It is also an animated feature that is equally meant for adults as it is for children. The final speech given my the food critic, Anton Ego is simply one of the best endings to a film ever.

Mao Shan Wang Mooncakes From Prima Deli

When it comes to mooncakes, in recent years, I have become somewhat jaded with what has been on offer. One one hand, you have the hotels who is bent on coming up with even more insane flavors and variations of this simple dessert.

On the other hand, you have 80 or 100 year old shops touting how mooncakes that are handmade are still the best, and to be perfectly honest, I have never subscribed to either faction. That is why, this year, I have decided to write about something in-between.

Butter Basil Rice With Salted Egg Yolk Prawns

Last weekend, I was asking Pauline what she would like to have that we have not cooked at home before, and the first thing she came up with was salted egg yolk pork ribs, a dish which she enjoyed at Mellben.

Well, I was fine with the salted egg yolk portion, but did not like the pork rib as much as I always felt it was not a great combination. She suggested prawns instead and I agreed without hesitation.

The Silver Seabass - Basted Seabass With Cauliflower Puree and Sauvignon Apples and Prawn Oil

For the past few months, I have been experimenting and exploring various ways to cook a signature fish dish, and mixing different components and ingredients to attempt to achieve the perfect balance of flavors on a plate.

Well, I believe I have come to a point where I am reasonably satisfied to present my Silver Seabass dish. Reasonably, well, because I don't think I will ever be 100 percent happy as I will keep on trying new things on a plate.

How To Make An Italian Pizza Video With Mauro And Peter

In a new series of cooking video which I have the fortune of having Chef Peter and Mauro from Giorgio Ferrari to host, I wanted to start on something that is a favorite of everyone.

By everyone, I mean it is something that locals and westerners adore, a comfort food that is universally enjoyed, and yet, very hard to get right. I am referring to the perennial pizza. So for this very first video, it is on how to make an authentic Italian pizza.

Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist at Hong Lim Food Centre

For me, I have always had a hard time finding great wanton noodle stalls here. And so far, Nam Seng has been my favorite simply because it gets most of the things right in a bowl of wanton mee.

But it is not perfect. And that is the problem with wanton noodles. You simply cannot find one perfect bowl where the noodles are perfect, the sauce is perfect, the wantons are perfect and the char siew is perfect.

Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Roasted Tomato Sauce

There is something about a classic Italian tomato sauce that just wows me, but ever since I had that first taste of authentic Italian pasta cooked right in the heart of Pisa, I have not been able to get that same beautiful taste here.

Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful Italian pasta places to go to here, including my favorite Pietro's, but restaurants here still tend to use canned tomato pastes and purees instead of making tomato paste from scratch.

Ikea Styled Beef Meatballs with Mini Potato Fondants

Sometimes, it is always good to go back to an old recipe and simply try to improve it, and that was the case with my original meatballs dish which I have now sought to get it better.

And not only that, Ikea themselves have recently done the same thing, improving their original recipe. While I am not sure if Ikea's new recipe has gone down well with the general public, I am personally more satisfied with this newer meatball dish of mine.

Tang HK Cafe at Neil Road - Superb Roast Duck

I met the owner of Tang HK Cafe, Benson Tong at a radio station and remembered him bringing us his roast duck for us to sample. We thought it would be just a regular roast duck, but was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.

And so it was, we eventually patronised his HK styled cafe at Neil Road a few weeks later to sample his full range of dishes and food. And it was a really delightful discovery.

Seabass With Beurre Blanc Sauce and Brussel Sprouts

There is something that is genuinely classic French when you pan roast fish with butter, and pair with a white butter sauce, and I set out to do a classic French dish last week.

It is actually a relatively simple dish to do, and making use of components that you can easily obtain from your nearest supermarket. And that is the point here, to make quality food using regular ingredients.

Ice Edge II - Upper Thomson Outlet

One of my favorite chill out places has always been Ice Edge Cafe at Simon Road near Novan, and when I heard that Damien, the owner, was opening a second outlet at Upper Thomson, I was absolutely ecstatic.

The main reason for my elation is that I stay in Bishan, and having an Ice Edge outlet in the heart of Thomson means I can patronize it very easily and it is also a stone's throw from Pauline's office, meaning she can lunch there very often and easily.

Pan Fried Salmon with Butter Cream Sauce - Cooking Demo at Woodlands

After my culinary demo with Chef Peter at Chong Pang Community Centre last February, I was again invited last week to do a cooking demo for a group of housewives at Woodlands.

The first thing that came to mind was this simple but tasty salmon dish and my regular tomato basil pasta which I posted on Terry aka Food Canon's blog recently. So, I thought it would be a good time to post this delicious recipe here.

Fatty Cheong - One of the Best Char Siew and Sio Bak

Ever since I have been to Foong Kee and savored what I consider to be the best char siew in Singapore, I have always been recommended to try Fatty Cheong's Cannot See Daylight Char Siew at Brickworks Food Market.

Well, I have finally made this culinary pilgrimage with my regular food kaki, Ken and I was certainly not disappointed. But is it as good or even better than Foong Kee? Read on to find out.