No sign of Dutch (except windmill) in Holland V

Took a ride to a place I last visited more than 10 years or so.


If my memory don't failed me, Holland Village is actually named after a Caucasian with the other name of the Netherlands.

Just that the misperception that folks used to think this part of the island used to reside by the Dutch because of that name.



Probably, the only sign of Dutch-ness in this lively place is the windmill (pictured above).

The recent opening of the "Circle Line" (CCL) train service has helped to draw many heartlanders here, which till the recent past were largely patronized by those who drive and willing to take a few buses before arriving.



So for a period, this place was long misunderstood as an "atas" domain dotted with some fine dine and wine restaurants that an uproar was caused sometime ago with a local resident urge the "stop of influx of heartlanders" as it threaten the "unique ambience of the community".



Yet little do she know with the commencement of the CCL has actually bring the place closer to the rest of Singapore with lunch crowds being swayed here to fill their hunger.

Eat your words...

Not to belittle or demeaning...

As the title suggested, this entry is not meant to be discriminating against those "pekerja orang asing".

But a mere reflection on how things can be frustrating and a start of a day can be ruined.

Was at the Roti Prata shop along Upper Thomson Road for my brunch and was being served by the waiter.

"Roti John Prawn." as I told him in his native language.

The waiter seemed to be taken aback with my order and asked:"Is it on the menu?"

I pointed the word PRAWN to him under the submenu of "Roti John" and he duly penned down my order.

While sipping my less-than-desirable "Teh Halia", I was stunned to see a plate of "Mutarbak" placed right in front of me.

"I told him already!" said the hapless waiter who pleaded his innocence by saying he ask told the kitchen what was my order.

Good thing, the boss was right on spot to pacify everything and served the "Roti John Prawn" I had ordered moments later.

When making my payment, the boss apologized and said it was a case of misunderstanding, while I told him the uncertainty of the waiter when I placed my order.

Oh while ... Nevermind...

"Commandment of the Patrons" - Guidelines to follow when placing your order at Hawker Centre

As someone who helps out at a hawker stall during his non-working days, I thought it would be a good thing to come up with a set of guidelines for patrons while placing their orders with the stall they patronize.

Sounds a bit ridiculous, but from the perspective of someone who is over at the other end of these patrons one would come to appreciate it's that necessary to have such guidelines being enforced.

And therefore, I would name this set of guidelines as "Commandment of the Patrons"

• Thou shall be clear and precise of what you're ordering.
  
  
• Thou shall not add on a few more orders after being served (especially when at busy period).
  
  
• Thou shall not to be offended when being asked to repeat your orders.
  
  
• Thou shall place your order when thou are absolutely sure that thou are being attended to.
  
  
• Thou shall not take advantage of those hawker just because thou are a regular patron.
  
  
• Thou shall be ashamed of thou self when thou ask for a refill of any kind when thou are about to finish thou meal (especially those well-off).
  
  
• Thou shall not fight with thou follow patrons over who shall pay for the meal when serve at thou table.
  
  
• Thou shall be prepared (if possible) to come up with loose changes when paying up.
  
  
• Thou shall not place on your order from afar (not all are superhuman to make out what thou order from a distance).
  
  
• Thou shall be grateful that you are being served when thou are lucky not to serve.
  

Leave them alone!

Don't in the name of making them look good and provide better dinning environment for the patrons by upgrade them, all in the expense of ending up jacking up the price for the public and the hawkers.


Yes, I agree with what KF Seetoh of "Makansutra" mentioned on the other day in his TNP column (pictured above).

Behind of those renovated facade and eye-catching fixtures that came along after those upgrading also meant a few other things - adding on to the business costs.

Simply asked around those who are earning a livelihood as a hawker, the chances of having them say times are difficult as a hawker nowadays.

As there's tendency of having the rental hike up after those upgrading works that come with better facilities and also because those food providers have to cope with the increase of other costs such as the ingredients', manpower, utilities, etc.

Therefore, it's not common to see many hawkers eventually give up the trade after they decided to call it a day.

And the worst of all is the lately suggestions of getting private food courts operators to take over the operating of this national institution.

I would certain hope this day would never come, though I would not be surprise it happen tomorrow.

If it does, it's a sad day indeed...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

宅男的一顿餐

不能说是懒散，不过就是不想跨出门户买晚餐，于是上网预订了一个“批萨”来填饱肚子。


手续一点也不复杂，不过是在键盘上打转几圈就行了，最多是能不能挨得饿。

但好在我是以“骆驼”著称，还可以耐地住。

一切处理好后，就打印出收据等我的晚餐到来。

Wendy's at Liat

This is probably the most famous "Wendy's" branch in Singapore, for the wrong reasons that is.

You see when you ever heard a mint branch being forced to undergone a major repair work before it ever start operating?


So eventually the authority had to erect a wall along Orchard Road to avoid the repetition of the flood that caught the whole Singapore by surprise.


So this must the reason why we have this chairs and tables at the height, in case Ooops...


And here's my late lunch this afternoon... Blurp!!

Mee Rebus

I'm not sure this qualify as one of the best Mee Rebus served in Singapore?

I'm sure many of you had sampled this unique style of this Malay delicacy at BLK724 Ang Mo Kio Centre Hawker Center.

It's not hard to locate the stall - "Yunus & Family", as it's tucked right at the corner of the hawker center.

Try this "Mee Rebus Tarik" which is served together with choice of either chicken or mutton satay, laden with satay gravy on top the main sample - the Mee Rebus.

有＂色＂眼光

人们难免会有那么点偏激的心态，通常会以某种标准来决定那样事务的好与坏。

好比说刚不久前，我来到驰名的旧机场路熟食中心，由于不知道要吃什么就望人多地方去。

于是，来到一档卖炒粿条的摊位，只因有人在排队(也获奖，上报无数)就不假思索地跟着排队。

排了大概十来分钟，叫了一盘炒粿条，结果发现也不过一般。



刚好，斜对面也有一档类似的炒粿条档，人潮就没那么多但也不之于“拍苍蝇”。

所以，就顿时觉得我们是否常用这种以外表来判断事务的心态呢？

说真的，或许这位"获奖无数”的摊贩如果之前不被赞许的话可能也许保持他原有的水平。

但是到如今，位面对顾客的需求，难免在手艺上或许逊色些也说不定。

End of the Game？....游戏玩完了？

If you people remember this Channel 8 program - 抢摊大行动 (Buzzing Cashier) that went round the island to help those struggling hawker stalls to revitalize their business with help from some of the top local chefs in Singapore.

So after much hype and controversies that surrounded the program,

• How much help had it done to those in need?
• Did the business of those stalls really sustained after the hype?

Perhaps, it's not the case after so much fanfare ...

This is the stall (pictured above) which claimed the first "GOLD MEDAL" of the second season of the program - the stall that sells the Fried Hokkien Mee at Toa Payoh Lorong 2.

Unfortunately, things did not turn out well as negative public scrutiny and the inability to sustain the hype that since middle of this month, the stall remained shut after it "decided to take a break for a short while".

Shortly after their episode was aired = Crowds following the hype.. (Picture credit : Buzzing Cashier2's Facebook Group)

Nobody knows what actually happened to the fate of those who involved in this stall, as I was told.

Nonetheless, back to those listed questions does it worth the effort after all these fanfare and hype?

I almost miss you, Arnolds

I gonna say something not many people gonna believe it, but it's true that someone actually said I'm "losing weight"! Even though, days ago I was having a high-cholesterol meal at a rather secluded place.

This was just only the starter - Potatoes Wedges.

Follow that, here was the main course - half spring chicken set, with coleslaw and french fries.

And you might thought the location must be one of those dozens new shopping malls that sprung around the island - WRONG!!

Looked kinda "retro", so it's unlikely for one to associate a food outlet among those clothing and "cam barang" stores, eh?

In fact, I was hunting high and low for this outlet that some claimed their chicken meals are better than "Finger Lickin' GOOD!", when I realized it is actually "hidden at one corner" (I almost gave up at one stage).

So "Arnolds" is still at CP - City Plaza along Geylang Road.

It was an enjoyable meal on a carefree afternoon, the only grouse was that you may have eat those chicken without using any utensil but with your own bare hands (Caution: It's HOT!!)

(P.S: the content of this entry is my own initiative with no single part of it being meddled, influenced by whosoever or whatsoever, thank you.)

Pizza Thosay, anyone?

The waiter apologized to me for the almost 35 minutes wait to have my order served.

"We are sorry, as the oven was not working properly while preparing your order." explained the middle-aged man who served me.

"Well, it's OK..." replied a weary-looking me after a day of long hard work chasing the national team in their preparation for their crunch qualifier.

As I suddenly had an urge to have some thosay for my dinner (having skipped my lunch for the day), I decided to head down to Syed Alwi Road's Ananda Bhavan Vegetarian Restaurant (pictured below).

And so when I asked for thosay, I was being recommended the counter cashier to try their latest dish to offer - Pizza Thosay.

"It'll be ready in FIVE minutes." said the cashier after I made my payment.

Nonetheless, I was too tired and hungry to protest why the kitchen broke their promise until the waiter apologized.

So I went on to savour my new-styled Thosay (not those conventional type) that was prepared in a shape of Pizza, with ingredients such as those found in your typical Italian pancake but minus those meat (as I was having my meal at a vegetarian restaurant).

I chanced upon this outlet years ago while hunting around for a place to fill up my stomach with a colleague and saw us having our dinner settled in this eatery opposite the famed Mustafa shopping center.

Since then, whenever I'm around this part of Singapore I would make it a point to have my meal there.

Some Penang cuisine sampling....

How often can you find this old-styled kopitiam in Singapore nowadays?

One of the things that travellers must do while in Penang is TO EAT!! Of course.

Since this part of Malaysia is also well-known to be a food hub as well...

Just as I mentioned on my FACEBOOK page that I'm not sure if I was that hungry, but this ought to be one of the best Mee Goreng (above) I sampled.

To be honest, I was actually hunting around for a bowl of Assam Laksa around the hotel I'm staying before I decided to opt for this plate of Malay-styled fried noodle served by a Chinese "auntie".

What makes it so delicious I can't describe it, but the moment of truth came you have the noodles into your mouth and yummy as the fish cakes, the bean sprouts etc. blended well with the chili paste that fried with it...

I had a plate of dried "Koay Teow Mee" served with chili paste (above) as my lunch, before I headed to "Hai Kee Chan", as I was told one must try the "Koay Teow" in Penang as the texture is slightly different as compared to one we have in Singapore and its true as it's tender and smoother.

So, here the crowning glory - The Assam Laksa, which I found it, ironically, near the hotel where I stayed.

Like what many people told me, it's a totally different type of Laksa we have back home, which the Penangites call it the "Curry Mee".

Initially, I thought why the hawker gave a spoonful of prawn paste and later I realized it's a way to help to dilute the "sourness" one would experience when sampling the thick Assam gravy.

And the rice noodle that goes with it, is also smooth and tender like the "Koay Teow" I had earlier.

其实，参加类似《抢摊大行动》的节目不一定能达到期望的效果甚至也是恶梦的开始。

(照片提供∶抢摊大行动2 Facebook 区)

借由名厨指点和加上电视的大批宣传一番后，如果日后无法维持原先所传受的一切，即使挂着印有这节目的标志的招牌也无法能挽回食客的谓。

但也有些人认为向节目寻求援助的落难档主是受到节目播出后的社会，舆论压力而崩溃渐渐无法发挥节目内“大试吃”所展现出的水平。

与此同时，制作组因公信力的考量也为这节目设下严格的标准，就因为地给欢众一个交待。

也就因在这公信力的前提下，观众如果无法尝到节目所塑造成的口碑，就有这权利来发表对食物的评价和看法。

也因如此，残酷的现象都几乎出现在多数参与的档口—节目播出后所带来的另一批“坚定团”。

通常来者，多数是试吃的心态，一旦达不到所设的标准，就会有那种“吃过一次就算”的心理。

另方面，被债务和许多开销的负担所累，这些档主也会趁这“热潮”能赚多就尽量应付大家的“期望”。

也就是这样不眠不休的情况下,也难怪长厨的人可能在体力耗损后影响了所端出的佳肴。




而预告片呈现出的画面是不会撒谎地，名厨们大多也为了自己的面子及名誉，而好无保留的斥责这些无法保持水准的徒弟。

像那位卖肉脞面档主的经典语录：“师父，我，我不可太压力地，我会疯掉地！”已很好地印证参与这节目过程地背负起的义务及责任。

结果，忙到来也是一场空。

Predicament as a Hawker...

As you can see for yourself... Singaporeans are generally fickle lot. Especially, you are someone in the F & B line.

If your food is good, you need not to have get external help to boast your business (BEFORE).

On the other hand, when your food is good all along, publicity will come to you uninvited (AFTER), even if it's a while as well.

Paying for the rental instead....

"潮州卤味"(Teochew-style braised meal)

How many time aren't we not paying premium for the meal we had at those air-conditioned food court in those higher-end shopping mall?

Perhaps, that's the price we have to accept and pay for it as we are not just paying for our meal, but also for the costs that indirectly incurred on us like - the rental, the area maintaining, the electricity etc.

Face the fact folks, at least we can having our stomach filing up as what some folks are trying to tell us to be grateful to what they have done for us (above)....

Prawn noodles soup at Kallang

Normally, I would prefer my noodles to be dried and ladled with chilli paste (a lot of them) but it was such a hot and scorching weather that I thought a soup prawn noodles would be a nice change.

And there I was at Kallang for my lunch, while outside doing some errands.

The location of this shop, that sell the prawn noodles I had as my lunch this afternoon, is located at the back alley of the main road not far from Kallang MRT station.


Whether the noodles I had was good or bad, it's depend on individual... Judge it yourself.

[SWINE] - Do you bother??

A sorry but common sight everywhere...

Isn't it sad that whilst the world is still bracing the on-going financial meltdown that out of sudden another crisis had caught everybody flat-footed??

The Swine Flu is now the talk on everybody's lips ever since it crippled the whole Mexico and spread to the neighbouring United States, Canada etc.

So what on earth had actually happened?

This flu, commonly found in pigs, had already caused considerable damage to a lot of industries, directly or indirectly.

Even though, at this stage nothing had medically proved that consuming pork products will cause one to contract to this disease, some can't help but feel wary of it (not me at this stage till it is confirmed.)

One of my favourite dishes - "Kway Chap" - comprised of mixtures of pig's organs and other ingredients.

So the only things we can do is to follow whatever guidelines given by the local health authority and see a doctor if one is feeling unwell.

However, if the general public don't do their part and simply maintain that kind of "don't-give-a-damn" attitude, so what's the point?

One of the many Youtube clips on proper procedures to wash your hands

My Favourite: "Kilkenny"

A glass of Kilkenny goes with a hotdog on my rare night-out last weekend.

It's probably the best beer in the world.

Doesn't matter if both Tiger Beer and Carlsberg claimed that tag long ago, it's the best in the world FULL STOP.

Managed to source some information of this Irish Beer on the net.

• It's originated from Kilkenny in Ireland
• It was first brewed in 1710
• There is this little "ball" thing inside each can of "Kilkenny" beer which helps to form the creamy top when pour into a "Kilkenny" glass.
  

Brunch at "Carl's Jr"

Initially, the idea was to ultilize my discount coupon at a restaurant but only to realize it's not valid on weekend, so I decided to go the "Carl Jr's" next door instead.

So this is the burger outlet that created a hoo-ha lately for its rather suggestive promotional slogan (as depicted above).

Having placed my order, I waited to be served (unlike Macdonald's "self-service" practice) and liked what I was told it was big and juicy. The fries were not soggy and must had just fried before served to me (unlike the 'M", where they just tossed aside and leave them under the strong ray of lights).

Compromised due to bad timing?

When you have TWO stalls side-by-side, it's obvious this kind of "war-of-wars" is unavoidable.

This nasi lemak stall is reputed to be the best in town that it was royally patronized by both the sultans of Johor and Brunei.

Even if the stall number is NOT ONE.

With its stall front adored with screen-shots of the awards and the media coverage it gathered over the years, it's a common sight to see line formed to buy the nasi lemak they are selling.

The "ROYAL RUMBLE" set at $5.

Unfortunately, given the economic crunch everybody is facing, it's must the fact why the chicken wing it offered for its "Royal Rumble" set shrinked and not as crispy, juicy as before.

The other side dishes that accompanied with the rice, such as the "ikan bilis" (anchovies) and "ikan selar kuning" (a type of small fish that come with the dish) sparsely filled up the plate and made this popular set meal less appealing.

Must be the fact that the economic crunch might had compromised the serving we used to enjoy.

ADAM Food Centre - a regular haunt.