Lao Ah Di (老亚弟肉骨茶)

The family was in the mood for some bak kut teh one afternoon, so we trooped over to Lao Ah Di. Personally, I don’t like my bak kut teh to be too peppery. If the soup is herbal or has a strong tea taste, I’m fine with it as long as it doesn’t taste medicinal (the way Traditional Chinese Medicine can taste).

For bak kut teh, I’d usually head down to Founder Bak Kut Teh opposite Shaw Plaza along Balestier Road. Yes, they are pricey compared to the rest along Balestier, but they are good. Another bak kut teh place I patronise (seldom now because it’s a tad inconvenient) is Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha (No. 7 Keppel Rd #01-05/07, PSA Tanjong Pagar Complex, Tel: 6222 9610, Open: 7am-3pm, Closed Mon)

Back to Lao Ah Di – a meal of bak kut teh, you char kueh (fried dough fritters), preserved salted vegetables (a staple in any bak kut teh meal), pig intestines, and rice will set you back $5-$6 if you dine in a group of 6. One thing I didn’t like was their very puny portions of rice. Trust me, you’ll need at least 2 bowls of rice unless you’re on a diet.

The bak kut teh was a bit of a letdown. The meat was tasteless and the soup was on the mildly peppery side. Everything had a rather watered-down taste to it (I don’t take my food with a lot salt either) with the exception of the salted vegetables and pig’s intestines. But according to my mum, their bak kut teh isn’t always like this. Therefore, I’ll give them a second chance though my first visit was a disappointment.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 6/10
Price – $
Service – 4/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 7/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address:
#01-67 Block 34 Whampoa West, Singapore 330034

Opening hours:
7am – 3pm daily (Closed Monday)

Dress code: Casual

Nearest MRT: Boon Keng (NEL)

Buses: 31, 133, 147, 985, 66, 23, 65, 64, 13, 857…

Collagen Ramen at Koufu

Boasting a variety of 13 types of ramen on their menu, this stall should have something to suit your liking. Don’t expect Japanese ramen though, their speciality is collagen ramen (not egg-based ramen) in different soup bases, with different toppings. Collagen has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as anti-ageing and weight loss benefits (or so I’ve heard).

This stall’s ramen is more chinese than anything else if you ask me. Although I’ve had my share of bad experiences with food court ramen…this one’s different. Each strand of noodle is silky smooth, and the soup’s really tasty. Previously featured by the Straits Times, this stall makes it a point to have promotional prices for different items on the menu. Today, their Roast Pork & Corn Ramen (usual: $5, promo: $4.50) was one of a few.

The Roast Pork & Corn Ramen [***.] had generous portions of corn, roasted pork cubes, seaweed, carrots, and surprisingly…stewed egg. Well not the yummy Japanese sort from Ken Ramen House, but fairly decent nonetheless. A big bowl worth ordering. Prior to this I’ve also tried their Seafood Ramen ($5.50) [***], but I still prefer their Roast Pork & Corn. Other ramen favourites on the menu include the Char Siew Ramen ($5.50).

My mum ordered her usual Fried Fish Ramen ($4.80) [***] which had the same soup base as mine. The fish wasn’t oily so the overall combination was quite satisfying.

I’d definitely drop by this place again to try their spicy ramens. Looks like there’s hope for food court stalls just yet.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 7/10
Price – $
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 5/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Website: http://www.koufu.com.sg

Address:
500 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
#02-30 HDB Centre
Singapore 310500

Opening hours:
Open daily | 9am-9pm

Dress code: Casual

Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh

Solace for a persistent cold

Unlike most people who would opt for a warm cuppa or a comforting stew…I go for a rather toxic combination of things to ease my cold. Remember Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie at Paragon? Here’s what I ordered from them that fateful day when I was stranded in Orchard Road with a persistent cold:

Earl Grey Ice-cream with Milk Chocolate Shards & Raspberries ($8.50) [*****] - A perfect infusion of earl grey tea and vanilla ice-cream, leaving a lingering finish of earl grey on the palate. The ice-cream had good ‘longevity’ in my opinion - it took its time to melt – allowing you to savour this delightful dessert. There’s a nice balance of flavours here with a mildly sour tinge of raspberries, sweet milk chocolate, and sufficient earl grey to satisfy tea-lovers.  A definite must-try for ice-cream fans.

A warm, hearty concoction from Canele, this Rustic Bacon & Pea Soup ($8.50) [****.] has pieces of bacon, baby corn, chicken, peas and mushrooms. The essence of each ingredient can be tasted with a mere spoonful of soup. It’s light, definitely no MSG and such, and made with fresh ingredients that makes it a tasty start to a meal. The soup is served with Canele’s bread on the side, so dip away…

Now this is what I’d call a cure to a cold. 

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8.5/10
Price – $ to $$
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Locations:
Paragon

B1-25 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road

Telephone : (65) 6733-8893
Opening Hours : 11am to 10pm daily

Website: http://www.canele.com.sg

Other branches: Raffles City Shopping Centre | Shaw Centre | Robertson Walk