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.