Category: Singapore Food Haven

McDonald’s Releases New ‘Har Cheong Gai’ Burger And Drumlets As Part Of National Day Menu

Just last week we saw the release of the D24 Durian McFlurry. And when you thought McDonald’s was done with their offerings for National Day, they’re back again with more.

This time round, in conjunction with Singapore Food Festival 2018, they’re going all out with a ‘Har Cheong Gai’ burger and a new breakfast burger.

More Singapore-Inspired Food

Named the Ha Ha Cheong Gai Chicken Burger ($6.05), chicken thigh is marinated in real prawn paste, then breaded and fried to ‘har cheong’ perfection, and finally topped with more prawn paste-flavoured mayo for even more flavour.

If you love your Har Cheong Gai as much as we do, then hold on just a minute because there’s MORE.

McDonald’s will also be launching the Ha Ha Cheong Gai Chicken Drumlets ($2.20 for 2pcs). McWings be damned.

You can also order the Ha Ha Cheong Gai Chicken Burger Feast ($10.25) which comes with the burger, drumlets, a drink, and the new Criss-Cut fries.

For breakfast, why not try their new Breakfast Curry Burger ($4.20)?

It’s basically McChicken with curry sauce, melted cheese, and a sunny side-up.

We don’t know about curry AND cheese in the morning, but if you can handle it, go for it.

Lastly, McCafes islandwide will also be seeing the return of their popular Kueh Salat Cake.

These new local creations will be available from 10 July 2018 at McDonald’s outlets islandwide, McDelivery, and GrabFood.

Are you excited to try the new Ha Ha Cheong Gai Chicken Burger? Because we definitely are.

Also read KFC Brings The Salted Egg Trend Back With Their New Goldspice Chicken

(Header Image Source: McDonald’s Singapore)

‘Don’ You Love A Good Rice Bowl? Get Them Delivered, Or Self-Collect Them From NTU, NUS and CBD

Singapore’s Japanese food scene has evolved a lot ever since we were introduced to the cuisine. From sushi to Ramen, Udon, Don, Teppanyaki, and Shabu Shabu steamboats, there are plenty of restaurants offering Japanese food all over Singapore.

However, not many have the option of delivery because the cuisine places emphasis on the freshness of the food as it is prepared and presented – and delivery directly contradicts this aspect of Japanese cuisine.

Enter Don Play Play.

As their name suggests, they don’t mess around when it comes to their dons.

Don’t Play With Don Play Play

Don Play Play is a new food delivery service that provides and delivers Japanese rice bowls (dons) at wallet-friendly prices to students and faculty of NUH and NTU, as well as workers in the CBD.

They have 6 items on their complete menu. While the menu seems limited, the demand is quite overwhelming.

You can choose from the Truffle Beef Yakiniku Don, Salmon Chirashi Don, Chicken Grain Bowl, Salmon Sashimi Salad, Unagi Don, and Salmon Mentaiko Don. Everything on the menu is $12.80.

Their bestsellers are the Salmon Chirashi Don that comes with fresh salmon sashimi, tamago cubes, ikura, vinegared sushi rice, wasabi and pink ginger, and the Unagi Don which comes with Teriyaki-glazed grilled unagi, 63-degree onsen egg, and Japanese garlic fried rice.

Look at the gorgeous glaze on that unagi. Mmmm…

The Salmon Mentaiko Don uses fresh Norwegian salmon and their own homemade spicy mentaiko sauce, and comes topped with a 63-degree onsen egg.

To be honest, everything on their menu sounds delicious.

Delivery And Pickup

So currently, you can choose to have your food delivered to you, or pickup your food from a fixed location.

For delivery, there is a $64 minimum order (5 rice bowls) and a $10 delivery fee on top of that. However, delivery is free for orders above $128.

Orders for NTU, NUS and the CBD can have their orders delivered at no minimum order amount and no delivery fee, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively.

Now, if you choose to pick up your food, there are fixed pickup points in NUS, NTU, and the CBD.

Check out their pickup locations and timeslots here.

If you’re ordering from NUS, NTU or the CBD, better do so earlier because the rice bowls sell out FAST.

Don Play Play have also mentioned that they will be further expanding their menu in future, so keep a look out!

If you’re thinking of ordering from Don Play Play, it’s best to do so in a group so delivery is free. Now, who’s up for don?

Don Play Play
Website

Also read Hokkien 101 – Words And Phrases You Can Use Everyday Without Getting Slapped

(Header Image Source: Don Play Play)

Does It Taste Like Home? 2 Filipinos Found The Best Pinoy Fare In Singapore

One of the least prominent cuisines in Singapore is probably Filipino cuisine. I’ve personally never tried filipino cuisine, and my filipino colleagues haven’t had proper filipino food since they left their motherland (Jollibee doesn’t count).

So today I decided to take my filipino colleagues, Raymond and Ardhel, out to lunch, for REAL filipino food and at the same time, have them do a comparison of the standard of filipino food in Singapore to the ones they have back home.

I’ve already done a bit of research on 3 of the best, crowd-favourite places for filipino cuisine. It should come as no surprise that they’re all in Lucky Plaza.

Inasal Restaurant

The first place we went to was the highly-acclaimed Inasal Restaurant.

A good part of the restaurant is hidden behind a tiny store-front. The actual entrance to the restaurant is down a corridor to the side of the store-front.

We ordered the Pork Kare-Kare ($8.25) and Sisig ($11)

A little background – Kare-Kare is a savoury peanut meat stew while Sisig is a dish made with diced parts of pig’s head, liver, and seasoned with lime and chilli peppers.

I was a little confused because as far as I know, beef was usually used in Kare-Kare, and not pork. But it was small issue.

The Pork Kare-Kare came with a side of Bagoong (fermented fish paste). Firstly, the gravy of the Kare-Kare was like a watery, savoury peanut sauce. While I’m not irked by it, it certainly was an unusual taste.

The pork, however, fared much better. It was so tender, it disintegrated the moment my jaws closed. And paired with the gravy, the dish finally made sense.

Now, I was informed that I should put a tiny bit of Bagoong on the pork and have it with the gravy, and so I did. All I can say is, mind-blowing.

The Bagoong is basically a pure force of salty umami, hence the tiny amount. Have this sparingly.

Next, the Pork Sisig. It was a little disappointing. Raymond and Ardhel were expecting to hear sizzling. But the only sound the Sisig made was when the hotplate hit the table.

“I mean, it’s called Sizzling Sisig for a reason.” – Ardhel, 6 July 2018.

So points off for the lack of sizzle.

Apparently, some Sisigs are also crispy because crispy pork crackling is added into it for texture. But this version uses diced parts of pig’s head and presented uniform textures. And it didn’t help that it was a little bland because there was no chilli or lime given.

However, the Sisig came with a small bowl of Bulalo Soup.

Bulalo is the filipino version of Soup Tulang and it’s a clear soup that packs so much umami, it’s almost unbelievable because it doesn’t look rich.

Overall, Ardhel rated the food at Inasal Restaurant a 3.5/5 and Raymond gave it a 3/5.

Points were taken off because the Sisig wasn’t sizzling, and the Kare-Kare was a little heavier on taste.

Inasal Restaurant
Address: 304 Orchard Road, #04-49/50/51 Lucky Plaza, Singapore, 238863
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 8.30pm
Contact no.: 6733 2752
Website

Kabayan Restaurant

Kabayan Restaurant is situated in a corner to the left of the escalator on the third level of Lucky Plaza.

The whole restaurant resembles a canteen of sorts, with 2 counters right inside, one of which is a huge glass display of all the dishes they’re serving.

Once again, we ordered the Kare-Kare ($4) and Sisig ($6.50).

The Kare-Kare here uses beef and comes served with a side of Alamang (fermented shrimp paste). Unfortunately, it was too dry and tough. The gravy was smoother and milder than the one we had at Inasal Restaurant though the portion leaves more to be desired.

The Alamang, though splendid, did nothing for the texture of the beef.

Next, the Sisig here is a feast for the stomach AND the eyes.

It was a beautiful sizzling plate of Sisig, and it was closer to authentic Sisig, served with chilli and lime and also more substantial, thanks to the addition of chopped pork belly for additional textures.

Ardhel and Raymond loved this Sisig and they even packed one more to go.

Finally, the Sisig was served with a bowl of Sinigang – a soup made with tamarind, either pork, beef, chicken or prawns, and fish sauce. It tastes exactly like Sze Chuan Vegetable soup to me.

Overall, both Ardhel and Raymond rated the food at Kabayan Restaurant, 4/5.

Kabayan Filipino Restaurant
Address: 304 Orchard Road, #03-25 Lucky Plaza, Singapore, 238863
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 9pm
Contact no.: 6738 0921
Website

Kamayan Pinoy

Kamayan Pinoy is a stall in the Asian Food Mall. It’s not an actual mall. It’s just the name of the food court in Lucky Plaza’s basement.

No prizes for guessing what we ordered, once again. It’s for fair comparison.

Right off the bat, the Sisig here is terrible. It’s pre-cooked and just scooped onto a plate upon order. There was no egg, chilli, lime or SIZZLE. The dish was chunky but extremely bland. Don’t order it.

Next, the Beef Kare-Kare here was a surprise. We were expecting a small bowl but it was a huge pan.

And the taste was even more surprising, maybe because our expectations were at a new low after tasting the Sisig, but the Beef Kare-Kare here was extremely tender and the gravy was smooth and mild, with a strong taste of peanut butter.

It was by far the best Kare-Kare we’ve had so far.

Overall, Ardhel rated the food at Kamayan Pinoy a 3.5/5 and Raymond gave it a 3/5. The salvation lies in their Beef Kare-Kare. It’s a must-try.

Kamayan Pinoy
Address: Lucky Plaza, Basement 2, Asian Food Mall, 304 Orchard Road, Singapore 238863

Overall Verdict

Singapore’s Filipino cuisine is pretty decent, with some establishments presenting dishes that makes filipinos feel at home.

If you’re looking for great Sisig, Kabayan Restaurant is your best bet, for just $6.50 a plate, it also comes with rice so you’re set for a filling lunch. Though we’ve heard of issues with freshness and consistency, it’s still one of the cheapest places offering filipino cuisine.

But if you’re with company and you’re craving Kare-Kare, Kamayan Pinoy serves up one of the best in Singapore.

But all in all, if you’re looking for great filipino food, Kabayan Restaurant is where you should go.

Also read 10 Budget-Friendly Karaoke Studios In S’pore From As Low As $1 For 2 Songs

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

This Local Popcorn Brand Offers Un-cornventional Flavours Like Chicken Rice And Bak Kwa

Are you a sucker for popcorn?

Do you buy a large bag of popcorn before a movie, yet go through half of it by the end of the commercials?

Do you have stashes of Garrett’s popcorn sitting at home in your kitchen cabinets?

If you answered yes to any 2 of the 3 questions above, then we have good news for you.

There’s a local brand of popcorn that’s been making waves for their uniquely local flavours.

Enter The Kettle Gourmet.

Local Flavours In Popcorn

While they initially started off with Salted Caramel popcorn, eventually they started experimenting with local flavours.

Some of their best-selling flavours include Salted Caramel and Bak Kwa. The Bak Kwa-flavoured popcorn was sold out within days of release.

Now they’re launching a new Chicken Rice-flavoured popcorn, adding to the list of locally-inspired flavours.

The full list of flavours can be seen below.

They even have a seasonal flavour – Bailey’s. Mmmm…

While the flavours have continued to impress, our biggest gripe is that the bags are too small. We need bigger bags for more popcorn.

Unfortunately, to get your hands on this a-maize-ing popcorn snack, you’ll have to order it online because they don’t have a physical store yet.

You might be able to catch them at local events like ArtBox, where they usually have a booth selling their popcorn.

In the meantime, you can buy the popcorn from their online store here.

So…popcorn anyone?

Also read 10 Budget-Friendly Karaoke Studios In S’pore From As Low As $1 For 2 Songs

(Header Image Source: The Kettle Gourmet)

BreadTalk Buns Are Going For Only $1 On Their 18th Anniversary

Singapore’s very own BreadTalk is finally coming of age and turning 18 this month! Time really flies.

Anyway, the lovely creators of the pork floss bun hype in Singapore are celebrating their 18th anniversary with a few new additions to their signature product.

That’s not all, they’ll also be running a few promotions in July and August, where you can get their baked goods for $1!

Let’s not be lazy, read on for details.

What’s In Store In July

A New Flosss Flavour

BreadTalk has had many variations of their signature Flosss bun, with Wasabi Flosss, Sambal Chicken Flosss, and Black Pepper Crab Flosss.

Now, they’re introducing a new limited edition addition (say this quickly 10 times) – Golden Lava Flosss.

This new creation features ‘golden lava’ a.k.a salted egg filling and it’s topped with cereal floss, a local favourite in tze char stalls.

Imagine salted egg sauce with cereal floss. It sounds really good, to be honest. The Golden Lava Flosss will be available for 2 months, from 2 July to 2 September 2018.

What’s more, from 2 to 22 July 2018, mix and match any 6 flosss flavours at any BreadTalk outlet for just $8!

$1 Buns, Tea Cakes And Muffins

From 9 to 16 July 2018, you can purchase tea cakes, muffins and a selection of 18 types of buns for just $1 each, from 12pm onwards!

Some of the buns in the selection include the Butter Sugar Loaf, An Pan, Coffi-O, Croissant, and Pillow Raisin.

The promotion is valid while stocks last so don’t dilly dally!

If you miss this first round of $1 promotions, don’t worry. From 17 to 29 July 2018, purchase from the same selection of 18 buns – the first bun will go at its original price and you’ll get the 2nd bun for $1.

That’s not all, BreadTalk’s signature Hokkaido Snow Roll will retail for just $10.90 instead of the usual $15.80.

Also, do note that the July promotions will not be available at the following outlets: Citylink Mall, ION Orchard Link, Raffles City, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore Cruise Centre, and Vivocity.

What’s In Store In August

BreadTalk Celebrates National Day

This year, BreadTalk is the principal partner of National Day Parade 2018, which means we’re getting new breads with locally-inspired flavours!

First up, the new Chilli Crab Puff ($2.20). No prizes for guessing what inspired this. Real crab meat is used in the chilli crab mixture that’s encased in flaky puff pastry, baked to perfection.

This sweet and spicy creation will be available in all BreadTalk outlets from 30 July to 19 August 2018 at $2.20 per puff, or get 4 at the promotional price of $8!

The next one is a Durian Mini Croissant ($1.50) that’s made with real Mao Shan Wang durians. Rich, bittersweet, and buttery. Get yours at all BreadTalk outlets from 30 July to 19 August 2018 at $1.50 per piece, or get 6 at the promotional price of $8.

While these 2 lead the charge, there are 8 other buns inspired by local hawker favourites.

Choose from the satay chicken and sambal shrimp-flavoured Bibi Baba, a coconut milk-infused kaya bun, Singashake, the spicy Rendang Pedas, Curry Chicken, Curry Naan, Ikan Bilis, Bak Kwa Delight, and Otah Oleh!

The prices range from $1.70 to $2.20.

Join BreadTalk as they celebrate their 18th Anniversary and National Day this July and August!

Also read Celebrate Food And Feast – Sentosa Holds A Grill Fest And BQQ With Outdoor Movies From Jul To Aug

(Header Image Source: BreadTalk)

Celebrate Food And Feast – Sentosa Holds A Grill Fest And BBQ With Outdoor Movies From Jul To Aug

For those of you who frequent Sentosa, we’ve got good news for you.

This July and August, Sentosa is stepping up the game in a celebration of food, with not 1, but 2 events!

While food options in Sentosa have been known to be a little pricey, this July and August, you don’t have to worry because they’ve got a food street lined up just for you.

Sentosa GrillFest

Lining Siloso Beach is the Sentosa GrillFest.

That’s right, Sentosa GrillFest returns once again for its second edition, transforming 1km of Siloso Beach every Friday to Sunday from 13 to 29 July 2018, into a food street.

This year’s edition of Sentosa GrillFest features over 100 local and international food and drink options from 21 F&B establishments!

Expect local favourites such as Salted Egg Yolk Chicken and unique creations such as Laksa Mentai Soft Shell Crab Rice Bowl. There will also be local favourites such as Hokkien Mee, Char Kway Teow, and Satay.

If you’re not feeling any of the available options, feel free to curate and make your own at Sentosa GrillFest Festival Gourmet Market!

Just pick your raw ingredients from the market and bring it to any of the chefs on-site for preparation!

Of course with good food, we require good entertainment. There will be local bands such as The Jumpstart, AnchorBlanc, and Pam Khi & The One Boy Band performing for guests at the GrillFest!

Sentosa “Kaki” BBQ

From 8 to 12 August, join Sentosa as it celebrates National Day with the very first Sentosa “Kaki” BBQ.

Held at Palawan Beach, this beach barbecue will feature outdoor movie screenings next to communal barbecue pits at Palawan Green.

You won’t have to bring your own food, because ingredients that have already been marinated and seasoned for cooking, will be provided. Everything is provided actually. From the BBQ pit to the ingredients and the cutlery. All you have to do is bring friends and family and barbecue.

If you require professional assistance, chefs will also be available to assist you.

That’s not all, if you’re there on National Day, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the National Day flypast!

So this July and August, if you’re looking for dining options and ideas, why not head over to Sentosa?

Sentosa GrillFest
Venue: Siloso Beach
Date: 13 – 29 Jul 2018
Opening Hours: Fri – Sun: 6pm – 11pm

Sentosa “Kaki” BBQ
Venue: Palawan Green
Date: 8 – 12 Aug 2018
Opening Hours: 6pm – 11pm
Website

Also read Est. Since 1944 – We Checked Out Ya Kun’s First Outlet To See If The OG Is Really The Best

(Header Image Source: Sentosa)

Est. Since 1944 – We Checked Out Ya Kun’s First Outlet To See If The OG Is Really The Best

A traditional Singaporean breakfast would undoubtedly be the humble kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and kopi.

While it is a common staple in many coffeeshops across the island, there is a brand that’s synonymous with GOOD kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and kopi.

Enter Ya Kun Kaya Toast.

This humble brand started way back in 1944, before Singapore’s independence.

The first concrete stall was located in Lau Pa Sat, where it was simply known as Ya Kun Coffeestall. It remained there for 15 years before relocating in 1984 to Telok Ayer Transit Food Market, and then again in 1998 to its present location at Far East Square along China Street.

As someone who loves eating Ya Kun’s kaya toast, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never been to this OG Ya Kun outlet.

So this morning, I decided that I had to see for myself, to see if the quality of Ya Kun toasts changed with its expansion. And off I went with my kopi-connoisseur colleague.

A Simple Traditional Breakfast

At first glance, the shophouse outlet looks huge and rustic, with the little tiled roof extensions on the side entrance.

However, the indoor seating space is actually quite limited, with more spacious seats available outside. Stepping in, the interior of the outlet is actually quite old-school, with simple tiled walls and raw concrete floors.

The old-school vibe is further accentuated by the marble top tables, wooden stools, and the kopitiam posters with almost-tacky lines.

While the outlet itself isn’t big, the kitchen and food preparation area sure are.

You can choose to order at the counter inside, or from any of the roving aunties – one of the few things that’s not available at other outlets across the island.

This Ya Kun outlet also has portable menus, in contrast to the menu boards typically found at other outlets.

I decided to order my usual Kaya Peanut Toast Set ($4.80) for optimal taste comparison. That’s when I noticed, there was only 1 drink size available.

I always upsize my drink at Ya Kun, so this was a bit of a downer.

Service was incredibly quick and efficient, with the aunties, serving drinks, eggs, and cleaning tables in one swift dance-like movement.

Even the cups used here are different, with a more classic kopitiam look, compared to the usual white Ya Kun cups.

Call me biased, but even the toast here is sliced slightly thinner than the other outlets.

Overall, the meal was splendid. I expected nothing less from Ya Kun. The toasts were thin and crisp and the eggs perfectly soft-boiled (great for dipping).

I loved my cup of Teh while my colleague’s freshly-made kopi was aromatic and sufficiently “gao” without being too sweet.

While Ya Kun has always maintained a high standard for their food and service, what we got at this original outlet was beyond good.

It wasn’t a Ya Kun meal, it was a Ya Kun experience.

Just to clarify, this isn’t sponsored. I just have very strong feelings for Ya Kun Kaya Toast. Though if Ya Kun would like to sponsor, hello, I am available.

Sponsored or not, I will still continue recommending people to Ya Kun Kaya Toast for a good traditional Singaporean breakfast. With over 40 outlets across Singapore, you can find a Ya Kun outlet easily.

However, if you’re looking for the perfect Ya Kun meal, then you should head to this original outlet.

And if you haven’t had Ya Kun Kaya Toast, have you truly lived?

Ya Kun Kaya Toast (First Outlet)
Address: 18 China Street, #01-01, Singapore 049560
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 7.30am – 7pm, Sat: 7.30am – 4.30pm, Sun: 8.30am – 3pm
Contact no.: 6438 3638
Deliveroo Singapore Offers Halal-Only Delivery Bags To Cater To Their Muslim Customers

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

Deliveroo Singapore Offers Halal-Only Delivery Bags To Cater To Their Muslim Customers

If you frequently use food delivery services, you’d realise that the same bags are used for all orders, regardless of restaurants, Halal certification, or Vegetarian orders.

Also, what if the food spills out?

So in response to this potential concern and at the request of Muslim restaurants and customers, Deliveroo has decided to just straight up separate halal from non-halal food – by introducing Halal-only delivery bags!

Halal Food Meets Halal Bags

Singapore will be one of the first of the 12 countries that Deliveroo operates in, to receive halal-only delivery bags.

The halal bags are set to be distributed to 3,000 riders in various phases in the month of July.

If the public’s response is favourable, Deliveroo will increase the number of riders carrying halal bags to its remaining 6,000-strong fleet.

In conjunction with this launch, the Deliveroo app will be updated to indicate the Halal certification of a particular restaurant, and riders will be expected to use the Halal-only bags for those orders.

By the end of July, your food order might be delivered in Halal-only bags if you’re ordering from a Halal certified restaurant.

At least now, whenever I order for a party, my Muslim friends can eat in peace.

Also read KFC Brings The Salted Egg Trend Back With Their New Goldspice Chicken

(Header Image Source: Deliveroo Singapore)

KFC Brings The Salted Egg Trend Back With Their New GoldSpice Chicken

This July and August, KFC will be launching new items on its menus.

Inspired by Singaporeans’ love for salted egg, curry, chilli and fried chicken, KFC has come up with a limited time menu item specially to commemorate our national pride.

Starting from 4 July 2018, KFC will be launching their new KFC Goldspice Chicken.

Gold-Standard Salted Egg Fried Chicken

For those of you who haven’t gotten it by now, the KFC Goldspice Chicken is salted egg-flavoured spicy fried chicken.

Fresh chicken meat is marinated in the signature KFC Hot and Crispy marinade before being breaded and fried, and coated with salted egg seasoning, chilli, curry leaves and basil powder.

What you taste in the first bite, is a strong hit of salted egg seasoning. However, as you progress, the spice slowly kicks in. So it’s a slow burn.

But if you’re a fan of salted egg-flavoured anything, then you’ll love this, because it tastes authentic.

A 2-piece Goldspice Meal costs $8.55 while the 5-piece Goldspice Meal is $19.55.

You can also get the Goldspice Box at $10.55, which comes with 2 pieces of Goldspice chicken and Hot & Crispy Tenders, 1 regular whipped potato and fries, and Sjora.

But if you’re feeding a family, then go for the Goldspice Feast ($38.95), which comes with 9 pieces of Goldspice chicken, 12 nuggets, 2 medium whipped potato and coleslaw, and 4 Sjoras.

Egg Tarts Meet Nutella

The Goldspice Chicken isn’t the only thing they’re launching. KFC is also launching a Chocolate Hazelnut Egg Tart.

They probably can’t officially claim that it’s Nutella but I know Nutella when I taste it.

While it seemed like a weird combination, I’m no stranger to egg tarts in various flavours, so this didn’t really come as a surprise.

The flavour combinations actually work quite well. The egg custard in the tart is already sweet, but the addition of the Chocolate Hazelnut filling didn’t make it saccharine. My only gripe with it is that it flakes too easily.

It’s brittle and fragile, which makes it a struggle to eat.

Dessert Fries

The last item they’re launching came as a surprise. It’s so simple, yet so good? I’m genuinely surprised at how good it is.

It’s Chocolate Hazelnut Fries!

Now before you revolt in horror, I do know that there are people who eat their fries with ice cream. So chocolate fries should not come as a surprise. It’s the lesser of two evils.

The Chocolate Hazelnut Fries will be sold at $4.20 ala carte or $2.90 for add-on.

However, the Chocolate Fries will only be available in 10 KFC outlets islandwide – Jurong Point, Lot 1 Shoppers Mall, Causeway Point, Sun Plaza 2, Compass One, Waterway Point, Tampines CPF Building, Kallang Stadium, and Tampines Hub.

Dine And Win An Audi!?

Together with the launch of the new menu items, KFC has also partnered with Sjora and Mediacorp to present the Everyday Wins Contest!

Every purchase of a Goldspice Meal will entitle you to a chance to win the grand prize of an Audi Q2, daily cash prize of $488, as well as KFC Instant Rewards like free Sjora, Milo, Whipped Potato and 1 piece Goldspice Chicken!

These new items will be available until 9 August 2018.

It’s time to return to KFC for some salted egg action this July and August! And also to potentially win an Audi Q2.

Also read A Throwback To The 90s – What S’porean Kids Used To Play With Before The Smartphone Era

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

From Teochew To Hakka, How Our Grandparents’ Heritage Shaped S’pore’s Chinese Cuisine

I’m not a foodie. I’m averse to too many types of food, primarily seafood, to be a foodie.

But I enjoy learning about food and different cuisines. I love learning about what goes into a dish, and how it is cooked and prepared.

I’ve spent way too many weekend afternoons watching cooking programs, from Rachael Ray to Jamie Oliver and Curtis Stone.

However, as a Chinese kid, one thing greatly annoys me about western chefs and cooks. Their version of “Asian” cuisine is always wrong. Just because a dish has fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli, or sesame seeds, does NOT make it an “Asian” or “Asian-inspired” dish.

It’s a sin that’s committed by almost all western celebrity chefs. So today, with my own knowledge, I’ll educate you guys on the different types of Chinese cuisine, specifically from the different dialect groups.

Cantonese Cuisine

Growing up, I always associated Cantonese cuisine with Dim Sum, mainly because it’s so popular in Hong Kong.

However, Cantonese cuisine is so much more than Dim Sum.

Cantonese cuisine also has very bold and strong flavours and it can be seen in the types of sauces that the dishes are usually paired and served with. Examples include Black bean sauce, Oyster sauce, Sweet and Sour sauce, and even our favourite Shrimp (Prawn) paste.

There’s also a lot of preserved and dried ingredients used to improve or layer flavours in a dish. Ingredients such as Century egg, Salted egg, Preserved radish (better known as Cai Po that we eat with Chwee Kueh), and Salted fish.

Hakka Cuisine

My encounters with Hakka cuisine are mostly thanks to my maternal grandfather. He’s proudly Hakka and we used to visit his hometown back in the Hakka province in China.

While Cantonese cuisine relies a lot on the condiments for flavour, Hakka cuisine has flavourful ingredients. The main ingredients is usually already preserved or braised, which already imparts a lot of flavour into the ingredient itself.

The garnish and condiments are usually to complement the main ingredient. One example of this is Braised Pork Belly with Preserved mustard greens.

One of my personal favourites is Hakka Yong Tau Foo. Unlike the one we commonly find in Singapore, the ingredients in Hakka Yong Tau Foo are stuffed with minced pork or a meat paste and served with a yellow bean stew.

A variant I’ve tried is a dry stir-fried version of minced pork-stuffed beancurd in a peppery, starchy sauce and garnished very generously with spring onions.

Other Hakka dishes you might be familiar with include Thunder Tea Rice (Lei Cha Fan), Salt-Baked Chicken, and the famous Abacus Beads.

Hokkien Bak Kut Teh is the dark, herbal version that’s usually found in Malaysia. I personally prefer the Teochew version.

Another famous Teochew dish is Teochew porridge. In contrast with the thicker Cantonese congee, Teochew porridge has a thinner consistency with loose grains. The porridge is usually served with salted vegetables, boiled salted egg, fried peanuts and salted fish.

Singapore’s cuisine has its roots primarily in Hokkien and Teochew cuisine, with a few influences from Cantonese cuisine. Chinese cuisine is as diverse as the provinces in China, each with its own influences, ingredients, cooking style, and flavour.

So before you go throwing sesame seeds into a dish and calling it Asian food, you might want to have PROPER Chinese cuisine first.

Also read McDonald’s Brings The Popular D24 Durian McFlurry To S’pore – Available From July 5

(Header Image Source: Burppler Denise Ong, Saltalk, Asian Inspirations)