We visited Penang Kitchen at Tanjong Katong Road to taste authentic Penang dishes.The location is along the main road and transportation to this place is easily accessible. This is their second outlet with the first nestled at Bukit Timah neighbourhood. Upon arrival, I was welcomed with a glass of cold Nutmeg Lime Drink. At the price of S$3.20, a great quencher. Slightly sourish and believed to improve digestion and reduce flatulence.The first dish of the night was Penang Fruit Rojak. With a combination of different types of fresh fruits and vegetables such as green and red apples, star fruit, pineapple, cucumber, turnip and in- house keropok smashed into bite pieces with a good mix of special prawn paste and generous amount of peanuts and sprinkled chopped ginger flower. Taste was good with a strong thick flavour of the special prawn paste. Priced: S$7.80Nasi Goreng Kampong Penang was next on the menu. The not too spicy fragrant fried rice served with a big piece of Papadum and small portion of Achar pickles. The flavorful pickles goes well with the fried rice. The ingredients for the fried rice includes a few pieces of medium size fresh prawns, a good mixed to Grago (small shrimps) and beaten eggs topped with a good sprinkle of deep fried shallots. Priced: S$8.90The Penang Sampler dish of Lor Bak and Belachan Chicken Wings served with sweet sauce and chilli. The skin of the Lor Bah was not crispy but the taste was delicious with a good balance of both lean and fatty pork and went well with the sweet brownish sauce. I could not taste the belachan from the chicken wing. Priced: S$13.00I was impressed with the Penang Prawn Noodle Soup. The accompanied ingredients consisting of fresh prawns, sliced of leaned pork, hard boiled egg, crunchy bean sprouts and water spinach. The not so spicy broth was flavoursome resulted from the pork stock and pulverized prawn heads and shells. Priced: S$8.30Penang Assam Laksa, the staple of Penang hawker food. The gravy supposed to be hot, spicy, sour, pungent and full of fish broth was mild and lack of richness. I was a little disappointed with this dish. There was no trace of Ikan Kembong (Mackerel). The noodles were springy with a good serving of mint leaves and shredded lettuces topping. Priced: S$8.30Another popular legendary dish was the Penang Char Kway Teow. There was a good mixture of sliced Chinese sausages, fresh prawns, eggs, ku-chai (Chinese chive) and crunchy bean sprouts. One missing ingredient was cockles. The presence of small lard pieces has added a fragrant taste to this plate of flat noodles. Priced: S$8.30Hmmh Herbal Duck Mee Sua which is Penang traditional soup with broth herbs simmered for many hours. There was a large piece of the duck drumstick combined with a good tasting soup of various ingredients including wolfberries. This soup reminded me of the Pig Kidney and Liver Mee Sua.
Priced: S$9.00We had Chendol and Almond Tang Yuan for desserts.

The Chendol definitely cool me down. The shaved-ice and thick rich flavour of the Gula Melaka and coconut milk has an extremely smooth and creamy consistency.

The black sesame Tang Yuan in almond paste was smooth and nutritious. Cooked with grinded almond into a paste together with egg white.

Indeed a wonderful dining experience with Penang cuisine in the company of friendly OpenRicers, meeting new friends, sharing food experiences and taste buds.

This is my first visit to Ambush @ JEM and the shopping mall at Jurong East. At Ambush, we get to experience casual European dining with OpenRicers on Saturday 5th October 2013. Indeed a gastronomical journey around Europe without having physically be at all these place to savour the authentic dishes. Lucky and priviledged to be invited for the third time to savour not only European dishes but also some of Ambush Oktoberfest specialities such as CurryWurst and Schweinmedallion and also Ambush Signature Paella.From Berlin – CurryWurst which is Berlin’s Star Pan seared Bratwurst (Sausages) topped with curry-tomato dressing and accompanied with fresh onions, fries and mesclun salad.

Priced: $16.50. One of the five dishes available from Oktoberfest 2013 menu.

Fragrant, tasty and juicy sausages topped with curry-tomato dressing.

Mesclun salad a mixture of refreshing salad greens that are harvested together. These greens are sown close together and picked young, like spring mix.
The fries and the diced small bits of onion complement the dish well.
The curry tomato dressing added an unique flavour to the sausages.Half portion of Roasted Pork Knuckle served with sauerkraut, light brown sauce and mashed potato.
Priced: $18.00

This classic pork knuckle was roasted moderately well but definitely not served directly from the oven because some of the pieces are pretty cold and not warm. The knuckle has a crackly golden rind richness over the tender meat and fats. The light brown sauce and mashed potato goes well with the meat.Chicken Gordon Bleu also from Oktoberfest 2013 menu. The breaded chicken breast meat are stuffed with smoked ham and cheese. The mushroom cream sauce and spatzle are served along with this dish.

Tender chicken meat with a tasteful flavour of the smoked ham and the oozing cheese coming out from the wrapped chicken. The julienne purple cabbage are sautéed with pepper and salt.

Priced $18.50Then came along the colourful fizzy mocktails and punchs. Price ranging between $5.50 to $5.90 per serving.

From Left to Right:

Tropical Sparkles – Pineapple and Mango juice combined and topped with Soda and twist of lime.

Shirley’s Temple – Using Grenadine syrup and lime juice topped with Soda and Maraschino Cherry.

Lime Ricky – Lime juice mixed with Mojito syrup topped with Soda and lemon wedges.

Green Apple Mojito – Syrup from sour green apple with added Mojito syrup topped with Soda and fresh mint leaves.

Sun Riser – Combination of orange and lime juice with added Grenadine syrup and lemon wheel.

Passionate Mission – Using Passion Fruit syrup together with tea liquid topped with Soda and added fresh mint leaves.

This is the first part of the wonderful food experience.

Follow me as I walk you through my food trail Part 2 Food Tasting at Ambush (JEM).

Kim Choo Kueh Chang not only popular to our locals but also to tourists and foreign dignitaries.

Other than authentic Nyonya dishes from Kim Choo kitchen, they also showcase the Peranakan culture with their unique showroom of Peranakan porcelain wares, Nyonya Kebaya collections and items related to the Peranakan heritage.Kim Choo well known for their best version of Nyonya Bak Chang and kueh kueh first establishment was setup at Joo and now expanded to East Coast Road and their latest branch at T3 Changi Airport Departure Transit.

Having blood ties with the Peranakan heritage, I felt homely at each visit to Kim Choo at East Coast Road.

During this trip, I bought 20 mini Nyonya Chang (minced pork, winter melon strips wrapped with glutinous rice) at S$1.20 each. What I like about these bak chang are the ingredients and just small bites compared to original bak chang with too much glutinous rice wrapping. One bite and it reminded me of my late “Mama” (grandma) Nyonya bak chang.Also bought five mini Kee Chang (yellow in colour) made with rice lye water together with glutinous rice. My hubby’s favourite. Each costing S$1.30.

I normally prepare some Gula Melaka syrup to top with this Kee Chang for better flavour. To differentiate the dumpling ingredients, they use colourful raffia strings as identification tags.They also provide demo sessions on “How To Make Bak Chang” for both local and foreign visitors and coincidentally there was a setup area today for a tour group due to arrive for lunch.

This year 2013, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 19. This day is also known as the Moon Festival and in olden days at this time of the year the moon is said to be at its roundest and brightest.

Moon cakes are sold in various flavours as a celebration.

Well its never too late to discover that Eater Place (Eater Palace Food Management) is one of the pioneer brand offering Flaky Teochew Yam Mooncake aka Or Nee Mooncake.I have always enjoyed yam paste and pumpkin and Or Nee (Yam Paste) probably stems from my Teochew background.

There was a promotion for UOB Card Members of 20 percent discount for any purchase of the Mooncakes from Eater Place.

Without hesitation, I chose the 2 pieces actual price at S$20.50.For tea break, I took half portion of the flaky classic teochew yam paste with pumpkin mooncake and its was just delicious. Paste smooth, the skin fragrant and when I sliced the pieces its still crispy fresh.The ingredients added are specified as flour 32.4%, yam 28.35%, pumpkin 20.25%, vegetable oil 13% and sugar 6%.

Will remember to purchase more of these flaky bites next Mid Autumn Festival.

I have been vouching to find a good pork satay near home and at last I found one.

This is my third trip to BBQ Hub Satay at Every Day Come Coffeeshop at Blk.476 Tampines St. 43.I can have 20 sticks of satay all by myself for dinner .

There are two types of set Satay at this stall costing S$6.50 per set. Options of all pork or chicken or a combination of five of pork and five sticks of chicken.Satay is always presented with sliced cucumbers and big onions and ketupat (rice cake) and served with a thick sweet hot peanut sauce.

Ketupat (Malay rice cakes wrapped in a weaving pattern of coconut leaves).

“Must- try” BBQ Hub satay are well marinated and perfectly grilled with just a slight char on all sticks.

To barbeque the satay over an open-flamed charcoal fire brushed with oil to give the final finish of well browned glaze without over burning the meat requires the correct mastery skill.The 20 sticks of pork satay I ordered are tender and succulent. The perfect grilled pork on skewers has a good combination of pork and fats in between layers which makes the meat succulent, juicy and delicious.

The satay gravy just the right amount of peanut added neither too coarse nor diluted. There is a sweetish in the sauce but not too chilli hot.This stall traditional ketupat (rice cake) are soft unlike some stalls who provide lontong rice which are hard if kept too long or over exposed. One ketupat comes together with the set but if you wish for more pieces they are sold at 80 cents each.

For Tampines resident, if you happen to be at this vicinity and a satay lover like myself you should try some of these delicious pork or chicken skewers.

What I normally do is to call Shawn to place my order and pick them up later.

The stall is closed on Thursday.