Back in SIN - Yee Kee Specialist Roasted Duck

Just like everyone else, my family have our go-to favourites and these places never fail to satisfy our hunger. Yee Kee Specialist Roasted Duck is one of these wonderful places that always put a smile to our faces.

Having patronised this stall for at least a decade, one thing about Yee Kee that differentiates them from other roast meat hawkers is that they always serve you a complimentary bowl of piping hot soup. Made with dried Mandarin peel and dried vegetables, this flavourful and comforting soup is further enhanced with the addition of the necks from the roast ducks.

We never had to specify our order, apart from telling the stall owners how many of us were there for the meal. We were then served with a mixed platter of roast meats - roast pork belly, roast duck and char siew.

A big favourite of ours is the Roast Duck. While the standard may have dropped a little with the change of stall location, their duck still retains an awesome flavour and bite. The glistening skin is tasty and perfect by itself or with a bit of their chilli sauce.

A quick word with the stall owner revealed that customers go with the healthier option nowadays and request for the lean meat when ordering Char Siew. This is a big no no for me. I love the cuts of meat with some fat in it, giving it both flavour and texture. This is something I can just order a whole plate of, and enjoy with Mister T over a jug of Tiger Beer, kopitiam style.

This stall has been around for a very long time but may unfortunately close in the near future as the owners have mentioned numerous times they are considering retirement in the coming years. And while I reminisce and crave for a platter of roast meats from Yee Kee as I type this, I hope that Mister T and I get at least one more chance to feast on their dishes on our next trip home.

Yee Kee Specialist Roasted Duck
Blk 148, Silat Avenue #01-14
(Jalan Bukit Merah)
Singapore 160148

Phone: +65 9697 7083

Back in SIN - Chin Mee Chin Confectionery

It is astonishing to realise that I have never been to Chin Mee Chin all my life! I would like to say that it is because it was on the other side of Singapore but that is not an excuse is it? A bigger surprise is that my family too, have never patronised this well-known establishment as well!

This popular bakery has been around for a long time, and well loved by many, especially the locals living around the area. I love the old school coffee shop interior, with the marble table tops and wooden chairs.

The nostalgia continues with the open kitchen, where one can have a peek back into the past, where the kaya (coconut jam) is still made in house.

We ordered the Kaya Toasts and Kopi and boy was it delicious! The buns were toasted perfectly, as the bun still retains its soft, chewy texture underneath its crisp, toasty goodness. The kaya is lovely, creamy and not overly sweet. All of this is combined with a nice cold slice of salty butter to give you the ultimate shiokness and umami in a bite!

The pastries here are also really good. The cream puff and tart are not something you would see in the popular cafes and bakeries everywhere, but they are old school classics that will bring a smile to many peoples' faces, including mine.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is an institution that has stood the test of time with its traditions and scrumptious goods. As much as I love my Egg Benedict and Lattes, I cannot go past a good Kaya Toast and Kopi in an old coffee shop setting. I am just salivating thinking about the wonderful toast and pastries, and hope that this old time favourite will continue to satisfy the hunger of its fans, and attract more with its delicious goods and nostalgic charm.

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
204 East Coast Road

Phone: +65 6345 0419

Back in SIN - Eighteen Chefs

It is always inspiring to hear about people getting a second chance and making it big. Without the trust and support people give one another, we may not have the chance to have a restaurant like Eighteen Chefs!

A casual eatery that targets the youths, Eighteen Chefs is a brand that is opened by Chef Benny that was blessed to not only have been given a second chance, but took it and made the best out of it. Having trained at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, Chef Benny is now paying it forward by doing his best to hire ex-convicts and delinquents to allow them an opportunity to make it on their own.

The food at Eighteen Chefs is simple fare of pastas, steaks, salads and burgers, with plenty of fried finger food items that are ideal of students to munch on together.

My friends and I chose to have the Cheesy Snack Platter to pig out on. Imagine having a big serving of fried onion rings, calamari rings, chicken nuggets, fish nuggets and fries, WITH a pot of cheese fondue! The fried foods was almost like a trip down memory lane, like I was back a primary school friend's birthday party. The cheese fondue was a fun addition to the platter, and we loved it!

The highlight of the meal was the Heart Attack Fried Rice. Wonderfully cooked steak served with delicious rice and a garlic chilli sauce, this certainly was a dish worth getting while at Eighteen Chefs.

Eighteen Chefs is a mish mash of many things, from the food to the staff, but what I love about it all is the determination by Chef Benny to keep his dream alive. Definitely a place worth going to for a casual meal that is easy on the pocket.

Eighteen Chefs
Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
8 Grange road
#04-02
Singapore 239695

Phone: +65 6736 3800

Back in SIN - Itacho Sushi

One of my must haves in Singapore is sushi at Itacho Sushi. A Japanese restaurant chain from Hong Kong, this very famous chain is known for its delicious sushi and soon made its way to the sunny shores of Singapore. With so many Japanese sushi establishments all around Singapore, the success and popularity of Itacho Sushi is still evident with the snaking queues every lunch and dinner.

They occasionally have promotional items or popular food on the menu that are going at attractive special offers. The smoked duck sushi was on special this time and I thought it would be a good chance to give it a shot. It was nice to have smoked duck that is not overly salty or too tough, but it was not amazing in a way that I would have to order it again.

One item that caught my eye was the Roasted Squid Leg and that was so delicious! A combination of crunch and chewiness, this was an amazing party in my mouth and I could not get enough of it.

The reason why I love patronising Itacho Sushi is for their aburi sushi. I never miss any opportunity to dine there, be it for a full meal or a light snack. And my must haves are Roasted Salmon Belly and Roasted Fish Dorsal sushi. The fish was torched wonderfully, still retaining the fresh, raw fish underneath.

Knowing that I will not be able to dine at Itacho Sushi as often as I used to, I decided to go all out and have the Whole Sea Eel sushi. As a fan of grilled eel, it was a sight to behold! The eel was soft and smooth, and was not overly baste in sweet sauce.

Itacho Sushi is still as good as I remember it - fresh and delicious sushi, and has yet to disappoint. Try to snag yourself a seat at the sushi bar to see the chefs in action. It is amazing to watch them work during the dinner crowd, and anticipating the next morsel of tastiness coming your way!

Itacho Sushi
Ion Orchard
#B3-20

Phone: +65 6509 8911

Back in SIN - Saveur

A trip home is always exciting. The thought of meeting up with family and friends is already so amazing, but to know that I get a chance to try new foods and revisit old favourites is the perfect cherry on the top!

Saveur is a restaurant that I was dying to try. It received plenty of glowing reviews from food bloggers and friends on the internet, and now I get to try French fare at affordable prices? Sign me up!

The Saveur's Pasta is beautiful, where the pasta is cooked perfectly al dente. The Japanese Konbu and Sakura Ebi added a touch of Asian and it was a delight to eat.

Another brilliant starter was the Foie Gras with Apple Infused Port Wine and Vanilla Bean. The duck liver was seared nicely, with a sauce that worked well with the creaminess of the liver. This was a treat for me as I have difficulty looking for foie gras in Brisbane.

I also had a Duck Leg Confit but forgot to take a photo. That too, was delicious.

Saveur is a fuss free, wallet friendly restaurant that is perfect for people to have a good meal, or to try French cuisine! Expect to experience a no frills meal with pleasant, good service, and still be wow-ed by delicious foods. The throng of people waiting in line is proof of the popularity of Saveur, and I hope that this little chic eatery will be around the next time I am back because I cannot wait to feast on the rest of their menu.

Saveur 14 Scott Road
Far East Plaza
#01-07B
Singapore 228213

Phone: +65 6736 1121

Never again

... will I watch Singapore's National Day Parade 'live' via webcast. The video kept freezing up after 30 seconds and would lag as well. Better off waiting a day and catching it the next day. That way I get to skip the parts (if any) and go straight to the fireworks!