Places that I Grew Up In (Part 2/5)

Who will ever forget the ‘Growing Up’ Years of their childhood and for me; Bukit Timah has played a huge part in this period where at least 2 decades of it had been revolving around this area.

From Pre-Primary to Primary School right to Secondary School and even till today, this area still brings me fond memories and was also the place I studied, make friends (and foes), great makan sessions and fun!

Pei Hwa Presbyterian

First place that entered my mind when I was about to embark on this memory lane write-up has to be Beauty World Centre. To me, this was not just an ordinary shopping mall but a place where I made a bunch of amazing friends through basketball, meals and created a bond that I still remember so clearly till now.

Beauty World Centre

The Food Centre situated right at the top of the shopping mall was where I spent many of my after school hours at, gobbling down at chicken rice and western food.  I remembered that there used to be a chicken rice stall that my buddies and I like to patronize. Being students, we had a limited ‘budget’ and therefore we always ordered a place of chicken rice with an extra bowl of rice full of Chap (Gravy)! Fan Xiang Western Food was another fond memory of mine where I always order my favourite lamp chop right at the start of the week before I ran out of pocket money later on. I just had the lamb chop after almost 2 decades of absence and it still bring me many memories upon having it.

At the basement of the mall lies a stationery shop Grassland that belongs to my classmate’s father and this was also the place where I used to get most of my stationery at and of course at a discount. Till today, the shop is still standing strong and still packed with students!  

As I slowly walked towards Bukit Timah Plaza, I saw Beauty World Plaza where I remembered playing arcade games on some days when there were no extra curriculum activities and was always with 1 particular friend, Peter. I still remembered he used to say I only know how to play games that involve planes which I agree till today! 

Bukit Timah Plaza

Beauty World Plaza

Bukit Timah Plaza played a significant role during my childhood days. It was the place where I got my very 1^st sports brand tee shirt Adidas from Gallen Sports, where I ate my 1^st bowl of Mee Siam from Nonya Delicatessen and Popular Bookstore where I got most of my assessment books from.

Gallen Sports

Nonya Delicatessen

I remember visiting a fast food chain – Waffletown USA every other week at basement 1 because I loved their Egg and Hotdog Waffles! (They are now located at Balmoral Plaza after a stint at the ex- World Trade Centre). Opposite WaffleTown USA was a family restaurant Wishbone where my mum would bring me for a meal whenever she fetched me from school. My favourite dish was the Chicken Chop with black pepper sauce.

Wishbone Family Restaurant

Walking down the slope and i saw my Favourite Landmark in Bukit Timah, King Albert Park. It was a must 'be at' for every kid during my era living and studying around the area. It is a place to gather, to chat, to study and everything else. I still remember clearly that when this flagship store first opened, there was a toy train track that went around! Sadly to say, it will soon be a memory of the past because it will give way to a new architectural structure in the near future. All who loves this place, please come and visit before it becomes just a memory..

My All-Time Favourite Macdonald - King Albert Park

As I walked towards Bukit Timah Hawker Centre for He Zhong Carrot Cake, something caught my eye – My mother school, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School. Many have changed over the years, the school was torn down and rebuilt into its current state and none of the teachers that I knew are still there. Yet I still feel a sense of belonging when I walked past as I have spent a good 8 years there and my form teacher Mr Ong still remains in my memory as the one who said: “It is better off for you being a Writer when you grow up.” Till today I do not understand but he got this spot on!

Bukit Timah Hawker Centre

What I have learnt and understood over the years is that, the days of childhood played an important part in shaping what I am today especially the all-important 8 years I spent in my mother school. It gave me the faith, motivation and belief to do what I like and enjoy today.

Memories of these years will always be part of me and till today, it never fails to remind me of the fun, sadness, happiness and experiences I learnt to be the man I am now.

To my friends out there, thank you for being part of this experience and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Signing Off,

I Eat I Breathe

Food ‘K’ Maestro

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Places I Grew Up With (Part 1/5)

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A Leisure Weekend Along Marina

Weekends have always been a short welcome break for me (even though I might still be looking out for hidden gems J). This is the time I believe most of us will lie back, relax and do something at our own leisure time.

Thinking back to the 90’s when Marina Square Shopping Centre was the only Mall in the vicinity and was also the place where I will hang out with my friends to catch a movie or have a game of bowling. After which, we will go over to the Park where Esplanade is currently standing.  Flying Kites, having picnics and playing Frisbee were some of the leisure activities for us.

Fast Forwarding to 2012 and it is a different scenario all together with skyscrapers overseeing Marina Square Shopping Centre and Suntec just beside it with Marina Bay Sands a stone’s throw away. Many have changed over the decade or so, none of the shops that was housed in this mall are around (I remembered there was an NTUC Fairprice right at the corner facing the sea).

Over the years, I didn’t really notice the massive change in Marina Square and something prompted me to drop by the area when I came to know that Carrefour is ending it’s time in Singapore.

I took some time walking around the Mall and decided to grab lunch at the Food court located on the 4^th Floor. A stall at the corner caught my eye because it was selling Claypot Rice, one of the dishes I like to order if there is such a stall available anywhere (The Last time I had was at Malaysian Food Street in Resorts World Sentosa).

It is a simple dish with Rice, Chicken, preserved sausages and Salted Fish. Nothing to shout about but enough to fill my tummy and I ended it by having a cup of Kopi-O which turned up to be the best in the meal. Other dishes that made up this meal were Fried Hokkien Mee and Pork Ribs Prawn Mee.

Claypot Chicken Rice

Fried Hokkien Mee

Prawn Noodle Soup

The Mall has put aside a corner of the mall on the 2^nd Floor for Parents and Kids with Mothercare, Kiddy Palace and a number of children boutique stores. What I love about this corner is that there is a playground for kids and Marks and Spencer (Food) for parents to do some light shopping. For me is to get a bottle of red wine with some cheese and biscuits to go along with.

After which, I decided to drop by Suntec and realized it is in a state of renovation with Carrefour closing their doors in a couple of weeks’ time. On the way there, a niche and small café caught my eyes – Ella J Lifestyle Café, which is helmed by a Korean Lady who makes the cakes and muffins on her own. Even the cups served in the café can be bought or I can chose those displayed on the retail shelf.

Hot Chocolate

I had a couple of cakes to try out and was pretty impressed by the freshness of the cakes like “Lady Grey Bundt Cake with Rosewater Icing”. For a start, this cake is pretty hard on the surface but once I bit into the inner part, it was soft and full of taste. A little on the sweet side, it will suit ladies working around the area and female shoppers on weekends. Personally, I find the café quiet which suits me well if I need some quiet time and the background music is not at loud too. I like the Flatwhite made by the Korean Owner.

 Lady Grey Bundt Cake with Rosewater Icing

Flourless Chocolate

I ended the day having Dinner at Mr Curry because I am a fan of Japanese Curry (and because it is sweet!). Appetizer was Waruku Salad which contains lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sliced hard boiled egg, mashed potato and sauce. It was pretty good to get my appetite going and ready for my main course which was Sausage Omelette Curry Rice. Curry Sauce was sweet with the Egg wrapped over the rice and sausages scattered over the dish. It was light on the tongue and easy on the stomach as well, good for children whom will like to experience Curry for a start!

Curry Sausage Omelette Rice

Waraku Salad

Curry Omu Rice Kids Set

Being Full and exhausted from a day of walking around Marina Square and Suntec, I decided to end my day with a Tall Cup of Café Latte at Starbucks and then retired to my room with an amazing breakfast buffet spread that awaits me the next day….

Prawn Noodle Station

Sushi Bar

Grilled Items - Steak anyone?

Chocolate Fondue

Fruits Bar

If you are a 70’s, 80’s baby, take some time to remember if Marina Square have impacted you in a

way or another. For me it sure did and it is encrypted in my memory for a long time to come!

Signing Off,

I Eat I Breathe

Food ‘K’ Maestro  



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Food that I Grew Up In (Part 3/5)

3. Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant

Easily recognizable with its huge signboard along the road of Jalan Bukit Merah, it will be so hard to miss “AH ORH SEAFOOD RESTAURANT”. To many, it is just your usual seafood or “Zi Char” Place but to Teochews and patrons from the Ellenborough Market and Food Centre, this is the place where they can reminisce the past and enjoy some of their favourite dishes.

To me, Ah Orh has played a significant part in terms of me falling in love with the Steamed Pomfret which was unsurprisely one of their signature dishes. The Origin for the love of this dish has to go back to my mother. Since young, she has been madly in love with Steamed Pomfret and my father has always been facing a challenge to bring her to seafood places that serves fresh ones (She has a sensitive stomach).

Whether it was by chance or by fate, my father founded Ah Orh which was and still is famous for this dish that has made my mother coming back even since. The dish itself is very simple and light on the taste with tomatoes, chili, mushrooms, gingers, preserved vegetables and lettuce. Once I bite on the flesh, it immediately melted in my mouth and I can taste the freshness immediately. One downside of it has to be the price as the smallest portion cost from $40 upwards.

Fish Maw Soup is slightly different from others I have tasted over the years as the soup base is not clear but filled up ingredients from the Fish Maw. The Fish Maw is tender and goes very well with the soup base. It always makes me want to have a second bowl (If nobody else is scooping!)

My favourite on the menu has to been the “Orh Ni” which is also known as Yam Paste. Traditionally a homemade Teochew Dish, many of us now get to enjoy this dish in many of the restaurants. Not many in this line had churned out delicious Yam Paste and Ah Orh is making one of the best, if not the best around.  The Paste is sticky yet soft and smells very good. With special ingredients like Red Date, it gives this dish quite a different taste to it.

Over the years, I have grown up and so does Ah Orh and both of us have a similarity – getting valuable experience along the way. Ah Orh – satisfying customers day in day out and me – trying to churn out write ups for readers like you who have been supporting me all these while.

Part 4 of this series will be another unknown place but I am sure will be known to some of you whom are food lovers. Keep a lookout!

Signing Off,

I Eat I Breathe

Food ‘K’ Maestro

Related Links
Food That I Grew Up With (Part 1/5)
Food That I Grew Up With (Part 2/5)

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Places that I Grew Up In (Part 1/5)

1. Far East Plaza

Everyone has some places that will always be in their memories even when they have moved into another phrase of their lives and i am no different.

One of the first places that came to my mind has to be Far East Plaza which is along the main stretch of Scotts Road. Being one of the first shopping malls that lighted up Asia’s Premium Shopping Belt back in the 70’s, nothing much has changed over the years. 

Facade View of Far East Plaza

What still makes me feel at home whenever I visit this shopping centre is that most of the shops have been ever present for the last 20 years or so. However, the changes in this place are also evident with Basement 1 turning into a shopping haven for teenagers and youngsters alike.

As usual, Far East Plaza has always been one of my first choices to have a quick meal in Orchard (barring Lucky Plaza) with its cheap and affordable food stalls on the 5^th  Floor of the shopping centre.

Homemade Iced Lemon Tea

Cahaya Restaurant is the food stall that I have been visiting ever since I knew of its existence. How I came to know about this place had to be by pure chance. In the mid-90s, I was looking for a particular bookstore and lost my way. Being the person that always wanted to catch a breather, I decided to drop in and have a cup of coffee. A Chinese Auntie showed me the menu and a dish immediately caught my eyes – Oyster Sauce Chicken Rice.

Cahaya Restaurant on the 5th Floor

That was the turning point for my love towards Oyster Sauce Dishes. I always like to order the Oyster Sauce Chicken Drumstick Rice and oh my, the meat is very tender and the skin has the full taste of the Oyster Sauce that was used to marinate the chicken. With the oyster sauce “Lam” all over the rice, the fragrant smell of the rice just went right up my nose. To date, I have never failed to finish the dish everytime i drop by.

Oyster Sauce Drumstick Rice with extra "Chap"

Another dish worthy to mention is the fried wanton. The skin is crispy and the filling is wrapped in full by wanton skin. The fillings are actually turnip and carrot which makes it slightly healthier after some intensive frying right behind the kitchen! What completed this dish is actually the dark sweet sauce which makes this dish simple yet tasty. My then girlfriend and current wife loves this dish and is a must order on our 'Food' minds.

Fried Wanton With Dark Sweet Sauce

Enough of food? Over the course of the years I have been there, I never failed to drop by Ana bookstore that was originally on the 3^rd floor but moved to the 5^th floor in 2003. I remembered borrowing books from this particular Indian uncle who always recommended me books I like to read (History and English Literature). Come to think of it, the cost of renting a book was only $1 and I always managed to get fantastic books I love which I never got a chance to loan it at the National Library.  Till today, I can still find pretty up to date books at this store.

Fresh Fruits Stall on 4th Floor

Ana Bookstore on the 5th Floor

As I walked down memory lane, what intrigued me the most is I still walk the same direction to the shops I patronize and the feeling are similar to yesteryears. For me, I always like some things to remain un-changed, do you feel the same way as I feel?

Signing Off,

I Eat I Breathe

Food ‘K’ Maestro

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Places that I Grew Up With (Part 2/5)

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Food that I Grew Up With (Part 2/5)

2. Ke Kou Duck Rice @ FoodPark Block 207 Bukit Batok

I was pleasantly surprised that many readers were not aware of Jurong Hilltop Japanese and Korean Restaurant that was featured in Part 1 of this Series – Food I Grew Up with. On another note, I am happy to keep uncovering hidden gems for all of you!

This Duck Rice stall – Ke Gou Duck Rice is into its 23^rd Year at this particular location where it has survived 3 revamps over the years. Other than the Chicken Rice stall right at the other end, I have seen its fair share of tenants changing every other 6 months in this particular Kopitiam.

I have to say that my family with an exceptional mention; my mother who totally love this ‘Duck Rice Shrine’. Despite the fact that we patronize this stall almost every other week, she never failed to order one whole duck during Chinese New Year for our Reunion Dinner for the last 20 years.

What makes this duck rice stall different compared to many established brands all over the island? 1 thing stood out; the tenderness of the duck meat along with the ever thick and savory sauce. The meat is ever so tender that I never knew whether it is a drumstick or other parts of the duck. Complimented with the savory sauce (I always ask for an additional bowl) and braised egg with plain white rice, this dish had brought me through my childhood for the last 23 years.

In recent years, the owner also started serving Kway Chap with its signature duck meat as part of the ingredients served. Whenever I have noodles, I will order braised pig’s intestines topped with Braised Egg and lots of ‘Chap’ Somehow, this dish has become a must order whenever I drop by this Kopitiam.

Unfortunately, the owner does not have anybody to take over the business and he planned to retire when the youngest of his children grows up which is an absolute pity. Somehow, many good foods are ‘allowed’ to go into extinction because there are no predecessors to take over. I must try to get his secret recipe so my mother and family can continue enjoying this dish!

For me, I will continue to savor and enjoy the dish with plenty of “Chap” while I can with my family, especially my mother who totally loved the duck wings!

Do drop by if you are around the area, it is a stall not to be missed in the western part of Singapore and feel the friendliness and authenticity of the place.

23 Years, Same Stall, Same Dish, Same Taste that I grew up with –  Ke Kou Duck Rice, My very own ‘Duck Rice Shrine’.

Signing Off,

I Eat I Breathe

Food ‘K’ Maestro


Related Links
Food that I Grew Up With (Part 1/5)
Food that I Grew Up With (Part 3/5)

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