Food-at-Large

We are big fans of Ji Xian's juicy and tender steamed bamboo clams and were disappointed to learn that they were out of season. The folks at Ji Xian therefore suggested that we check out their mini bamboo clams prepared the same way.

Unfortunately, everyone felt that the mini version fell short of our expectations. They were noticeably smaller and tougher with a 'stringy' texture.

Not a fan of the ingredient itself tbh.

We really enjoyed Charen's fried garlic pork which was juicy, tender and nicely marinated. The perfect savoury snack on its own or over rice. We loved that they were topped with fried garlic bits that were strangely addictive.

My only complaint was that I nearly consumed a little rock in their pad thai on our 2nd visit there. I was rather disappointed with their lacklustre response when I raised it to them. I could have easily broken a tooth, biting on it. I accept that it might be accidental but surely they could have shown a little concern or acted on it in a visibly manner instead making me feel ignored.

We do spend quite a bit of time in the Hougang area but Charen Thai Kitchen is located in a part of Hougang which we do not usually go to except to visit our friendly dentist.

As usual, we had to have the pad thai. Charen's rendition is 'wetter' as you can see from its glistening look in the photo and on the sweet side. It is a good balance of sweet and savoury and we really enjoyed it.

There has been load of (much deserved) rave about Bao Er Cafe's kaya toast and hokkien mee that the majority of their other offerings gets cast aside!

They also serve a good bowl of prawn noodles (or prawn mee or hei mee depending on what you call it). I had their dry version and their noodles were spot-on al dente and topped with good portions of sliced pork, prawns and lard! The sauce was well balanced and their chilli tasty. The soup was umami filled and flavourful.

My favourite prawn mee remains One Prawn & Co for their luxuriously cream bisque-like prawn stock. This is not in the same class but definitely better than most versions which are way too salty and MSG-laden!

Sabai Sabai also does a tasty salted egg calamari.

The squid is chewy and tender with a good bite to it and the batter crisp. The salted egg sauce is a good blend of creamy and savoury. I like the use of laksa leaf which complements the sauce.

The food at Sabai Sabai can be a tad pricey but I think it's value for money quality-wise!

I am a recent convert to the culinary delights of the humble eggplant and it has been a must order for me, be it in the neighbourhood cai png store or a Thai/Chinese restaurant.

Sabai Sabai serves a really wonderful stir fried eggplant with minced pork. I can't seem to find this dish on their regular menu so it was probably an off the menu item. The eggplant is flavoured with an umami filled sauce made from fermented bean sauce, garlic, Thai sweet basil, soy sauce and oyster sauce. All of these flavours are soaked into the tender "meat" of the eggplant. I also love the sweet caramelised notes of the minced pork and onions, and the licorice-like taste of the Thai basil.

This dish is excellent over rice and a literal rice thief!

Sabai Sabai is literally and figuratively a little hidden gem. It's hidden in the sense that it is located in a small little enclave in an obscure corner of another eatery (i.e. Nam Kee Pau) in Valley Point. You literally have to enter Nam Kee Pau to spot the entrance to Sabai Sabai.

I have visited this cosy and intimate restaurant several times over the years and their food has never failed to disappoint. I usually have their green curry fried rice but their green curry chicken is good as well.

I love that Sabai Sabai's green curry chicken comes with nice decent chunks of chicken meat (instead of scraps) and loads of Thai eggplant.

For the uninitiated, Thai eggplant has a nice crunchy bite and its mild bittersweet and earthy flavours remind me of brussel sprouts! The curry is creamy and packs a nice fiery kick. It is enjoyable on its own or over rice!

Ma Maison also runs seasonal specials from time to time. When we were there a few months ago, they were running a foie gras special!

We are big fans of their beef stroganoff which goes very well with rice though there are times when the sauce is a tad too salty and the beef too sinewy. At this price point, I wasn't expecting a refined smooth buttery piece of foie gras but this wasn't too bad!

IMHO Ma Maison serves one of the best value for money set lunches.

For $25.80, you get a soup of the day, salad, hamburger steak topped with a fried egg, omu rice, spaghetti and a drink to boot! That's a lot of food and probably enough to feed two pax! And the food is actually better than decent!

For desserts, we had their brie cheesecake, a light airy cheesecake made of creamy and rich brie cheese on a light crumbly cookie base.

I actually rather enjoyed this. The brie cheese was creamy, buttery and nutty and the cookie base was not too heavy.

Tapas24 is a wonderful place for Spanish food. The prices are a little steep and the portion a little on the small side. But the service was delightfully sincere and personable.

Paella is often considered the soul of Spanish cuisine, representing its rich cultural history, identity and communal spirit. It's a symbol of hospitality and togetherness.

Arroz Negro is a Valencian and Catalan form of seafood paella. Its signature black colour comes from squid ink and cuttlefish and it is usually made with garlic, green Cuban elle peppers, sweet paprika, olive oil and seafood broth.

I love its deep, umami-rich flavours of this dish - the uniquely earthy and mineral notes of the squid ink and the sweet savoury and oceanic essence of the seafood broth, enhanced by spices such as garlic, onions, smoked paprika and saffron which add more depth to the flavours.

I like that Tapas 24 serves a garlicky saffron aioli on the side as its rich and creamy elements complement the rich, briny and savoury flavours of the seafood. My only qualm is that the portion is a little on the small side!

Gambas Al Ajillo is a classic must order tapas in any Spanish restaurant that features sautéed prawns with garlic, chilli and extra virgin olive oil served hot.

Tapas24 serves a decent rendition of this classic dish. The shrimps were fleshy and juicy. However, the olive oil was lacking in garlic flavours and tasted rather flat. It was surprisingly my least favourite dish of the night.