KUEH JONG KONG!

HEAR:
Click here for this week’s sweet sounding dessert!

SEE:

Kueh Jong Kong looks like a little square purse before unwrapping

This week, join our Makan Kaki, Chef-Owner of Summerhill, Anthony Yeoh for a trip down memory lane for an old forgotten favourite called Kueh Jong Kong. Never heard of it? Don’t worry, neither had Chef Tony or Denise, till now. In fact, it was Chef Tony’s grandmother who recently introduced him to this rare delicacy. It’s quite hard to find it now in Singapore, but we do know of at least one place that sells it – oldie but goodie, Glory Catering along East Coast Road. This Eastside stalwart sells all manner of snacks and kueh-kueh for takeaway, but did you know they also have a Halal dining room in the back?

Their restaurant serves up potent Nasi Padang with all the favourites like sambal udang, sayur lodeh, sambal goreng, beef rendang, chicken curry and more, but before you leave, be absolutely sure to grab some Kueh Jong Kong (their stocks go really fast, so if you see it, order it immdiately)!

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Nourish Yourself with Crossroads Cuisine

HEAR:
CLICK HERE to listen to/ download the podcast of this week’s episode!

SEE:

This week, we welcome Chef Jason Jones of the Loco Group back to take us on another culinary adventure and he delivers with celebrated Restaurant Nouri. This is a wonderful place for bang-on-value executive lunches and mind-blowingly creative, delicious degustation dinners & cocktails. Helmed by Chef-Owner Ivan Brehm (he’s worked at famed restaurants Per Se in New York, Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in England & led The Kitchen at Bacchanalia in Singapore to its first ever Michelin Star in 2016), Nouri serves up dishes with a global flair,  highlighting the similarities and connections we all share across food cultures. Little surprise, since Chef Brehm himself is a bit of a global citizen with his mixed heritage of Italian, German, Russian, Spanish, Lebanese, Syrian and Brazilian – he calls his cooking style Crossroads Cuisine.

It is here at Nouri, that our Makan Kaki Chef Jason had an incredible meal and he says from the get-go, you will be embraced by the warmth of people who know how to practice hospitality and creating not just a meal, but a moving experience that combines wonderful flavours that may be familiar yet presented in whimsical, surprising ways.

A stand-out dish was the deceptively simple Burrata dish called Tomato and Oat, evoking childhood memories of eating oats with warm milk. Featuring fresh and fermented tomatillos, cape gooseberries and cherry tomatoes from Nouri’s farm suppliers in Cameron Highlands, this dish is served warm with chunks of creamy cheese in an oat broth (see above).

Especially moving was the start of the meal in which everyone “broke bread” together with a story of how the very first restaurant came about. It’s all about bridging differences and building community in a convivial space over astonishing food and this first encounter with Nouri’s Bread & Broth left a very lasting impression on Chef Jason.

Every dinner at Nouri starts with this ritual, in which a silken cheese/ panna cotta/ tofu (here is where crossroads cuisine kicks in, it will remind you of any of these) is served as  dip/ spread for house-baked sourdough bread. You follow up the bread and cheese with a light, yet flavoursome broth that is packed with the steamed extractions of seven different vegetables, designed to revive your palate and nourish your body.

Indeed, just like Nouri gets it’s name from the Latin for nourishment, it’s time to pay them a special-occasion visit and get nourished, body, mind and soul! Chef Jason is always on the lookout for their innovative Four-Hands collaborations with guest chefs and especially when it comes to Nouri, MORE IS MORE! He recommends going for the full Omakase dinner along with drink pairings to really get a complete experience of Nouri. This is one place you’ll always think about returning to once you’ve been!

• 5 Course Chef’s Dinner Tasting Menu: $145 + Wine Pairing $90 / Sake Pairing $95.
• 5-Course Omakase Lunch Menu: $85/105/135. This is really great value and a beautiful fast introduction to Nouri and its cuisine.

TASTE:
RESTAURANT NOURI
72 Amoy Street, S(069891)
Open Monday – Saturday: Dinner 6pm – 12 midnight; Lunch (Tue to Fri) 11.30 am – 3pm; closed on Sunday
Tel: +65 6221 4148

Heart Attack Fried Rice

Greetings Greedies! Please meet our new Makan Kaki, Jeremmy Chiam! He’s the Chef-Owner of Le Binchotan at Amoy Street, a unique restaurant that combines classical French techniques with fresh Japanese produce and the art of Japanese charcoal grilling. This is a place you can go to for excellent lunches or better yet, unwind after work with a cocktail, sake or whiskey and a really delicious dinner in a super-cool space featuring domed ceilings, wood panelling & looks like an underground bunker.

HEAR:

• Find out more about Chef Jeremmy here: Part 1
• And here: Part 2
• Listen/ download the podcast to this week’s heart-stopping Makan recommendation here.

So where does a chef like Jeremmy go after a long hard week of service at his restaurant? Our new Makan Kaki is all about creature comforts, kicking back at a down-to-earth, fuss-free eating place with his family. That’s why on Sundays, he heads to New Ubin Seafood for Cze Char – it’s casual and has a varied menu with something for everyone from his parents to his son.

WHATTA WADEH!

We welcome back Chef-Owner of Summer Hill Bistro Anthony Yeoh this week and catch up on the big things have been happening with him, PLUS of course, get him to share some of his new local Makan discoveries!

HEAR:

• Listen/ download podcast of Chef Tony talking about his new bistro: Part 1 & Part 2
• Listen/ download podcast of this week’s sizzlingly crisp description of wadeh!

SEE:

Hands down, this is one of the best Wadeh (or Vadai, as some spell it) that Chef Tony has ever eaten (& Denise has to agree with him!), but to find it, it’s a bit of a treasure hunt because they don’t actually have a shop. They’re a travelling stall that operates solely out of Pasar Malams (night markets) across our island! But you’ll definitely smell and hear it frying before you see it. So Chef Tony was at Clementi running errands near his restaurant when he stumbled across a Pasar Malam. He noticed fresh Wadeh being made and he just had to give it a try.

Made-to-Order Fish & Chips

You know him as your NiteFlite pilot on Gold 905, but this week, he sets aside the flying for some swimming! So take a dip into the freshest seafood with Mr X at Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro, or in his words, his “Neighbourhood Chippy”.

Click picture to watch the Makan Kakis @Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro video!

• CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF OUR SWIMMINGLY GOOD TIME!
• CLICK TO LISTEN TO/ DOWNLOAD PODCAST.

Living just down the road from this Fishmonger/ Seafood Import/ Export establishment has its perks, especially when the craving for good old traditional British Fish & Chips hits and you want it as fresh as possible. As its name suggests, the “fish market” side provides you with the catch of the day – stroll in, pick your species, from a whole variety of fresh fish, oysters, crabs & even live lobsters in a tank. They’ll help you with your selection, clean and prep your choice for taking home.

Vernetta Lopez’s Fave Bak Kut Teh

Vernetta Lopez from early mornings on Gold 905 is our next Makan Kaki and she takes us to try one of her favourite places for Bak Kut Teh, or pork rib soup. We are well aware that everyone has their preferred regular place, especially along Balestier Road, but we can probably say this is one of the lesser-known BKT places that deserves a mention and a visit.

• CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO
• LISTEN / DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST

Ah Hak Bak Kut Teh has around for 30 years and you can tell the history when you walk in. You’ll be transported back in time, within a retro-tiled shophouse space that probably hasn’t changed in their three-decade history.

Tacos, Tamales & More!

We continue our special focus on the Gold 905 family by getting Mike Kasem to share with us one of his favourite places to eat at in Singapore! Being from Los Angeles (in his words, “We’re practically Mexico!”), Mexican food was always a staple and you really do get some of the most delicious Mexican food in LA. After moving here, he’s always on the look out for that authentic taste and he’s just about found it at this little gem of a store.

SO TOM YUMMY!

Greetings beloved Greedies! For the next few weeks, we’re doing things with a little twist and getting to know our favourite Gold 905 DJs better through their favourite eateries. Kicking things off is the man who drives you home daily, Chris Ho of the Homestretch (5-8pm). Looking for a new place to try superb Thai food at?

Love the Esan cuisine of North-Eastern Thailand? Then you’re gonna love this new episode of Makan Kakis!