Kwong Hup Cafe Lei Cha in Kuching 廣合茶餐室 双香擂茶

On our way from Kuching to Lundu, we needed a breakfast stop. SP's friend suggested lei cha or so-called thunder tea at Kwong Hup Cafe 廣合茶餐室. I was glad to go along as lei cha is one of my favourite comfort dishes, as it is so rich in flavours and tradition.

Fiz @ 21 Tanjong Pagar · Tasteful Modern Take on Traditional Malay Cuisine

Elevated Malay cuisine. 

Sedap!

I love traditional Malay food which I grew up with. Chef Hafizzul updates it with touches from his global experiences from renown fine restaurants from London, to Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, and now Singapore. I love chef Fiz's creations which delight with contemporary takes while preserving the essence of its Malay and Nusantara soul that inhabits this ancient land and the sea.

Im-Em Thai Kitchen (Formerly Dee Tongue) @ Aperia Mall

We decided to go Thai food for lunch on a whim, and Marcus suggested Im-Em Thai Kitchen at Aperia Mall near Lavender MRT station. Im-Em Thai Kitchen is the successor of the former Dee Tongue at Golden Mile Centre.

Foliage 🍀 Passionate Creative Singapore Fine Dining that Tastes Great · Onze @ Tanjong Pagar

We gathered at Foliage restaurant for dinner. We were wow-ed by the familiar dishes with delightful surprising but tasteful, tasty twists.

Why Does Thai Cuisine Have So Many Portuguese Sweets? Tragic History of Thailand's Queen of Desserts Maria Guyomar de Pinha

When you enjoy foi thong, the popular Thai sweet dessert of golden threads of egg yolk cooked in sugar syrup, you are keeping alive a 400 year old connection with the Ayutthaya kingdom.

Cute Thai Mung Bean Fruit Dessert @ Baan Luk Chup บ้านลูกชุบ (สาขาอรุณอมรินทร์)

When in Thailand, we all have seen this way too cute mung bean snack / dessert / candy that look like real fruits. They are known as kanom luk chup or "lovely" which they absolutely are ♥️

Breakfast & Dinner in Quaint Little Sematan Seaside Town · Forgotten Bauxite Mining in Kuching Division Sarawak 三马丹

We visited Sematan, a small coastal town in the western end of Sarawak during day 5 and 6 of our 6 day Kuching self drive holiday. 

Jala Jala Seafood Shell Out Bucket Kuching 网红手抓海鲜

Our last dinner in Kuching was at Jala Jala Seafood 网红手抓海鲜 before catching our flight back home to Singapore. Seafood shell out or Louisiana boil restaurants were popular in Singapore and West Malaysia a while back but have since faded out.

It's a pity as seafood shell outs are such great fun, especially for parties. Fun gatherings with good friends and family is an idea that never goes out of fashion as Jala Jala Seafood so well proves.

Chu Huang Hong Kong Royal Concubine Chicken in People's Park Centre @ Chinatown MRT 厨皇香港贵妃鸡

I was quite curious about Chu Huang Royal Chicken after hearing about it, and so was glad that buddy SN jio-ed (invited) me to visit the little restaurant at People's Park Centre.

厨皇香港贵妃鸡 literally translates Chef King Hong Kong Royal Concubine Chicken.

Nimman Soi 9 Thai Hawker Stall in Tampines

We gathered at Nimman Soi 9 stall in Tampines BLK 139 (near Tampines Round Market).

Bak Kut Teh Gazetted a National Heritage of Malaysia in Mar 2024

In Malaysia, bak kut teh is a meat dish with dark soy sauce, herbs and spices

On 24 Feb 2024, Malaysia gazetted bak kut teh as one of ten dishes as national heritage objects. The other nine are:

Ho Chi Minh Quan Hai San Ut Lien · Local Preferred Seafood Restaurant 乌连海鲜餐厅

Marcus, a Vietnam foodie veteran was full of enthusiasm and eager for us to try out Ut Lien seafood restaurant. Indeed, it is the hyperlocal type of seafood place I would come back for and recommend to others. It serves excellent fresh seafood and prices are reasonable (codeword for not cheap 😄 ).

Hai Ka Lang Seafood Review @ TRX KL ● JB Branch @ Sentosa 海脚人海鲜粉

Buddy Rayner happened to be in KL and wanted to try out the famous Hai Kah Lang seafood place together. Hai Kah Lang has a new outlet right outside the spanking new, swanky TRX shopping mall. 

(Originally from Cheras KL, they also have an outlet in Taman Sentosa in Johor Bahru.)

Year of the Iron Ahat · Championing Bak Kut Teh Tea Culture in Singapore

Since the early days of bak kut teh in Singapore, BKT is enjoyed with hot Chinese tea. Bak kut teh is considered "heaty", so cups of "cooling" hot tea restore the balance in our body.

Singapore Hokkien Bak Kut Teh in 1949 福建炒麵肉骨茶 · 洪錦棠

This Chinese article titled Fried Hokkien Noodle and Bak Kut Teh by 洪錦棠 published in Nanyang Siang Pau in Jun 1949 gives us insights into what bak kut teh was like at that time.

Roia French Cuisine @ Singapore Botanic Gardens

Lunch at Roia at the Singapore Botanical Gardens.

Feng Ling Cafe Famous Seafood Restaurant in Lundu Sarawak 倫樂楓林小館

Feng Ling Cafe 楓林小館 is actually a zhi char type seafood restaurant, and according to locals it is THE eating place in little Lundu town in Lundu District, Kuching Division, Sarawak.

Lingham's Historic Chili Sauce · Memories from SAF Cookhouse

Everytime I walk a supermarket aisle (I rarely do nowadays unless absolutely necessary), I would check out the chili sauce section to see if they have any Lingham's chili sauce.

It's like checking in on a good old friend and see how are things with them now.

iKKA GOYO Kaiseki @ Hidden Exquisite Gem in Amoy Street Back Lane 一花五葉

We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at iKKA GOYO. Price was SGD250++ per pax which is excellent value for authentic kaiseki experience and exquisite quality of dishes served by a master chef.

Tanyu Review @ Tampines 1 Spicy Grilled Fish 探鱼烤鱼

Had wanted to try Tanyu, the trendy spicy grilled fish chain for a long time, so I was glad that Brandon suggested meeting at their Tampines 1 outlet.

Manila Galleon · How Chocolate Connects Philippines, Mexico & Spain

When in the Philippines you may experience their tsokolate or traditional chocolate beverage. It is made with milk and tablea / pure roasted cacao. It's a frothy, rich, full body, milky, bitter sweet, chocolaty brew.

Pork Chop with Broken Rice @ Cơm Tấm An Dương Vương in Ho Chi Minh City

Buddy Marcus brought me to a chup chai png or Singapore economic rice type affordable restaurant which serves rice with lots of side dishes.

Eco Ca Phe Vietnam · Best Here is Pure Coffee Beans with Nothing Added

Vietnam is perhaps best known for pho, banh mi and ca phe or coffee. That, of course, is a gross simplification - Vietnam has a lot, a lot more than that (more next time).

Tiệm Cà Phê Linh 1975 Cafe @ Ho Chi Minh District 1 · Best Here is the Nostalgic Decor

After a satisfying brekky at Pho Viet Nam, I walked back to my hotel. Just steps away, the rustic coffee shop at the intersection of Pham Hong Thai street and Truong Dinh street caught my attention.

Stopped me in my tracks 👣

Pho Viet Nam Michelin District 1 Menu Review · Best Here is their Fresh Rice Noodle

I came here with some healthy scepticism. This wasn't really my first choice but today I have a plane to catch and I don't want to wander too far from the hotel. I also don't want hotel breakfast.

100 Year Old Traditional Teochew Bakery · Trieu Minh Hiep in Chinatown Ho Chi Minh Vietnam 赵明合

Trieu Minh Hiep 赵明合 Teochew bakery in Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown (Cho Lon) really doesn't need anymore introduction. Many people including tourists know about the century old Trieu Minh Hiep and come to buy their traditional hand made bakes for gifting.

Cháo Gà Vân Hương Vietnamese Chicken Rice in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

I asked buddy Meng to bring me to a Vietnamese chicken rice place.

Phở Miến Gà Kỳ Đồng · Soulful Chicken Noodle Soup in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Stumbled upon Phở Miến Gà Kỳ Đồng while on my way to a meet up. When travelling I like to walk and see where it takes me. Like the late Anthony Bourdain once said, you can't really see a city from the window of a taxi (or something to that effect).

Reboot Bistro for Singapore Food in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

When I am overseas, I don't normally miss Singapore food because I am eager to explore the local cuisine. But, I know many people who crave for the taste and smell of Singapore food, especially people who have to be away for long periods of time. I would be keen to try Singapore food overseas too, if I am abroad for a long time.

Snakehead Fish Porridge · Cháo Cá Lóc Cây Sung · 55km Southwest of Ho Chi Minh City

Secretly, it was quite a relief for me that we decided to have fish porridge for dinner. I had eaten way too much the last few days in Ho Chi Minh City and besides, I love fish and porridge 😁

Pork Noodle Hủ Tíu Mì Cật in Ho Chi Minh City District 1, Vietnam

Buddy Marcus was raving about this Vietnamese noodle shop. Marcus is an independent foodie, meaning he prefers to seek out his own favourites rather than rely on guidebooks or influencers. He travels widely from America, to Europe and Asia, and has been in Vietnam many times in the last decade.

Hủ tíu mì (rice noodle) shops are common in Ho Chi Minh City but this Hủ Tíu Mì Cật is Marcus' favourite.