River Hong Bao 2018

Happy Chinese New Year!

I visited the River Hong Bao at The Float @ Marina Bay on the second day of the Chinese New Year.

While walking over from MBS via Helix Bridge, the 18m tall God of Fortune caught my attention. Unlike previous years, this year's God of Fortune is more jovial.

The afternoon sun is such a killer. I cannot even open my eyes due to the glare!

I recommend coming in the evenings since it would be cooler and more comfortable. Besides, there will not be any golden showers from the God of Fortune till 7pm, 8pm, 9.10pm and 10pm so this is another consideration if that is what you are coming for.

Furthermore, the lanterns will look better in the dark when they are all lit up.

Lau Phua Chay Roasted Delicacies @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

Shocking would be an understatement to describe my first impression of Lau Phua Chay Roasted Delicacies at Alexandra Village Food Centre.

I was actually queuing for the avocado juice next door during my previous visit to the food centre when I saw the darkest char siew I had ever seen hanging behind the glass window.

That certainly got my attention and I made a mental note to try this out during my next visit here.

Hor Fun Premium - Beef Hor Fun @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

Hor Fun Premium is another one of the more popular stalls along the same row as Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa at Alexandra Village Food Centre. I was there on a Sunday morning and had their beef hor fun for breakfast.

Hor fun sounds a tad too heavy to have at 10-ish in the morning if you ask me but the charred kway teow (flat rice noodle) drenched in the alluring eggy gravy is tough to say no to.

Apart from beef, you also have the option of sliced fish or seafood. Or, if you prefer, you can have those options with mui fan too if it rocks your boat. They serve pork ribs rice, ginger & spring onion sliced fish rice and ginger & spring onion beef rice as well.

Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

Singapore and its nearby region seems to have been hit by an unusually cold weather spell since the beginning of the new year. At a time like this, having a hot, steaming pot of claypot laksa doesn't sound like a bad idea.

I have always wanted to try Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa not because of its Bib Gourmand status but I am a sucker for claypot-anything. Food seem particularly tasty when served in claypots, don't you think?

The stall at Alexandra Village Food Centre is located along the row just opposite to Tai Chong Kok Confectionery at Blk 122 so it is really easy to find.

Hai Tang Lor Mee @ Mei Ling Market & Food Centre

Update: Hai Tang Lor Mee has permanently closed.

About six months ago, I was checking out Mei Ling Market & Food Centre for good eats. I tried the recommended Xin Lu Teochew Fishball Kway Teow Mee and Shi Hui Yuan Hor Fun Specialty which I had already blogged about then. At that time, I also had the lor mee from Hai Tang Lor Mee.

Sadly, the photos for the lor mee did not turn out satisfactory so I had to make a return visit to take the photos again. However, on the day of my visit, the stall was closed and there is a notice on the shutters informing customers that they would be taking a two months break.

This post eventually got pushed down and lay forgotten in the drafts section.

Ah Ma Lor Mee @ Blk 328 Clementi Ave 2

The row of aquarium shops at Blk 328 Clementi Avenue 2 is my to-go-to place for my aquarium supplies.

At the end of the row is a coffeeshop which I have always walked by but never patronize. Who would when the coffeeshop always seemed so quiet and not all the stalls are in operation? 

Furthermore, the popular 448 Clementi Market & Food Centre is just a five to ten minutes walk away.

But, little do I know that hidden in the coffeeshop is a lor mee stall called Ah Ma Lor Mee which happens to be run by the third generation of the popular Feng Zhen Lor Mee (凤珍卤面).

I would not have known about them if not for the fact that Ah Ma Lor Mee was among the Top 10 most-voted-for stalls of the Singapore Food Master 2017 competition and it emerges as one of the top 3 in the west zone category.

Eng Kee - Fried Bee Hoon And Fried Chicken Wing @ Redhill Market & Food Centre

I have long heard about Eng Kee and their famous fried chicken wings but have not gotten round to visiting them as I still have not figured out how to get to their location at Commonwealth.

As fate would have it, they opened a branch at Redhill Market & Food Centre which is easier for me as I already know how to get there. But of all places to set up shop, they opened their branch at the previous stall of YAN (焱), who is also famous for their fried chicken wings.

Since I have just visited YAN (now renamed YON YAN) at their new location at West Coast Market, I thought I might as well visit Eng Kee to see the difference between the two? This is something that I have wanted to do but procrastinated till now.