Ci Yuan Hawker Centre @ Hougang

 Singapore - Sometimes, visiting a hawker centre is not just about finding something delicious to eat. It is also about discovering the story behind the place.

Today, I made my way to Ci Yuan Hawker Centre, located within Ci Yuan Community Club at 51 Hougang Avenue 9.  This is the 3rd hawker centre in Hougang and was quite a unique place in Singapore because the hawker centre is actually integrated into a community club; one of those interesting co-location concepts that makes Singapore's community spaces so distinctive.

Ci Yuan Hawker Centre opened on 4 August 2015 and was the first new hawker centre built by the government since 1985. More interestingly, it was the first hawker centre to be co-located within a community club. The idea was to bring affordable food and community facilities together under one roof.

My first stop was HK Wanton Noodle at #01-06, where I ordered their Mushroom Chicken Feet Noodles for $4.50.   I have always enjoyed chicken feet, especially when they are braised until they become tender and absorb all that wonderful savoury sauce. This bowl did not disappoint.

The noodles had a nice texture, the mushrooms were flavourful, and the chicken feet were soft and delicious. It was a simple bowl of noodles, but one that really hit the spot. For just $4.50, I thought it was a very satisfying meal.

For my second meal, I headed over to Man Man Chi 慢慢吃 at #01-38 to try their handmade salty glutinous rice.

This was another pleasant surprise. The glutinous rice was nicely cooked with a good texture, and the savoury flavour made it a very enjoyable dish. There is something comforting about traditional handmade food with simple, filling and full of character.

By then, I was happily satisfied with my two meals.

Unfortunately, Singapore's weather had other plans for me. Just as I was getting ready to head home, it started to rain!  So, instead of rushing off, I had to find a sheltered spot and wait for the rain to stop. Eventually, the weather eased, and I made my way to the bus stop to catch the bus home.

Another food adventure completed!

What I enjoyed most about this visit to Ci Yuan was not only the food but also discovering another interesting corner of Singapore. From a unique community club and hawker centre combination to affordable and delicious local food, Ci Yuan is a reminder of what makes Singapore's neighbourhoods so special.

Mayflower Market & Food Centre @ AMK: A 30-Minute Bus Ride for One Amazing Plate of Hokkien Mee

 Singapore -  Some hawker food adventures begin with a long queue. Others begin with a long bus ride!

Today, I made my way to Mayflower Market & Food Centre in Ang Mo Kio. It took me about 30 minutes by bus to get there, all in search of one particular stall — Ho Ji Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles at #01-39.

When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. There was absolutely no queue! I thought, “Wow, maybe I’ve come at the right time.” But I soon discovered the secret — this stall uses an electronic queue system. You simply take a queue dongle, make your payment and wait for your number to be called.

And wait I did… almost 30 minutes! 

Interestingly, the lady boss had already warned customers that the waiting time was around 30 minutes. Yet people were still happily paying, taking their queue dongles and waiting patiently. That itself was a very good sign.

Finally, my plate of Hokkien mee arrived — and honestly, it was worth every minute of the wait!

The noodles were beautifully fried, moist without being soggy, with a wonderful depth of prawn-stock flavour and that unmistakable wok hei. The prawns were fresh and succulent, while the pork belly and crispy pork lard added another layer of richness. The sambal chilli gave the dish a fantastic spicy kick.

I have eaten plenty of Hokkien mee around Singapore, and I have to say this is one of the best I have tried so far.

I later discovered that the stall has been getting quite a bit of attention from Singapore food bloggers too. Leslie Tay of ieatishootipost recently featured Ho Ji and gave it 4.5/5, praising the skill of the hawker behind the wok.

As for the rest of Mayflower Market & Food Centre, I must admit I didn't find much else that really caught my attention during this visit.

But perhaps that's okay.

Pickleball, Laughter and Old Friends at Apex Tennis

 Singapore - Some of the best moments in life happen when you get together with old friends, pick up a racket and simply have a good time.

Today, I had the pleasure of playing pickleball with three former colleagues — Edmund, Willy and Lesley. What started @ 7pm and the game of pickleball quickly turned into a game filled with laughter, friendly competition and plenty of jokes. It was great to catch up with people I had worked with before, but this time without the pressures of meetings, deadlines and work!

We played at Apex Tennis at 33 Admiralty Road East, a rather beautiful and unique location in Singapore. The venue is set within a charming black-and-white bungalow, surrounded by greenery. What was once a lovely bungalow setting has been transformed, with the beautiful lawn now accommodating a number of tennis courts.

The surroundings themselves made the experience special. There is something quite relaxing about playing sport in such a green and open environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There were good shots, missed shots, unexpected returns and plenty of moments where we just laughed at ourselves.

What I enjoyed most wasn't really who won or lost. It was the opportunity to reconnect with Edmund, Will and Lesley, share stories from our working days and create some new memories together.

Pickleball is becoming increasingly popular, and I can understand why. It is easy to pick up, keeps you moving and, most importantly, is a fantastic way to spend time with friends.

A Hawker Food Adventure at Cheng San Market & Food Centre @ AMK Ave 10

 Singapore - Today’s lunch adventure took me to Cheng San Market & Food Centre along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. It was a sunny day, and the bus ride was about 25 minutes on a direct route — a convenient journey for another neighbourhood hawker food exploration.

Cheng San in Ang Mo Kio were named after Kampong Cheng San, a former village and large rubber plantation that previously occupied the area before HDB towns were built.

My first stop was Teochew Fish Ball Noodles at #01-148. The fish balls were wonderfully springy, with that satisfying bounce that tells you they have been made well. 

The noodles were generously tossed with oil, giving them a rich, savoury flavour that went surprisingly well with the fish balls. A simple bowl, but definitely a tasty start to lunch.

Next, I queued for Chwee Kueh at #01-136. Two young ladies were busy preparing the fresh steamed rice cakes, and the stall is famously focused on just one thing — chwee kueh. At $2 for four pieces, it was an easy choice. The rice cakes were soft and almost melt-in-your-mouth, while the generous topping of finely chopped chai poh (preserved radish) was savoury, fragrant and delicious. Freshly made and very satisfying.

For my next stop, I visited Fu Hua Soya Bean at #01-108, run by an elderly couple. I had the tau fu fa with gingko, and it was lovely — smooth, fresh and comforting. 

There is something special about these small family-run stalls where the food is prepared fresh and served with a personal touch.

I finished my food trail with fried banana fritters at #01-138 for $1.30 and a peanut pancake for $1.50. The banana fritters were wonderfully sweet, although the peanut pancake was unfortunately below my expectations.

Overall, Cheng San Market & Food Centre was another enjoyable neighbourhood food discovery — good fish ball noodles, excellent chwee kueh, fresh tau fu fa, and a couple of mixed dessert experiences.

A Hot and Humid Food Adventure @ Maxwell Food Centre

 Singapore - Today, I met Edmund at the ever-popular Maxwell Food Centre, one of Singapore's well-known hawker destinations. There were so many tourist of different nationalities.  With its many famous stalls and Michelin-recognised names, I was looking forward to exploring some of the food here. One thing I wasn't quite prepared for, however, was the heat and humidity inside the food centre! It was really hot, and after walking around looking for food, I was already sweating.

My first stop was Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake, a famous heritage stall that is Michelin awarded that has been at Maxwell Food Centre since 1986. The family business dates back even further, having started on Tras Street in 1962. Today, third-generation hawker Deitrich Mohan runs the stall alongside his mother, Madam Hoon Poh Hwa.

This was actually my first time trying a Fuzhou oyster cake. I ordered two and watched it being prepared and fried. It was crispy and packed with fillings including oyster, minced pork, prawns and coriander. Personally, I found it much too oily for my taste, although I appreciated the traditional preparation and the history behind the dish.

The mother was extremely friendly, and we started chatting while waiting. It was a lovely interaction with a hawker who has clearly dedicated many years to preserving this family tradition. Around 1pm, her son arrived to take over the stall, continuing the family legacy.

Next, we tried Jin Hua Fish Soup. The fish was fresh, but unfortunately it didn't have the flavour or texture I was hoping for. Looking back, we probably should have ordered their fried fish meat noodles with milk, which is their speciality. Sometimes you learn from ordering the wrong dish!

For dessert, we went for 75 China Street Peanut Soup with handmade glutinous rice balls for $3.50. This was a pleasant surprise — warm, comforting peanut soup with soft and tender handmade glutinous rice balls. A refreshing way to finish our meal.

By then, the heat had really got to us, so we walked over to the URA Centre to enjoy some much-needed air-conditioning!

A Disappointing Sushi Experience at Iro Iro

 Singapore - I recently visited Iro Iro with Edmund, as we both share a deep love for Japanese food. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to enjoy sushi at many restaurants, both in Singapore and Japan, so we have developed a fairly high expectation when it comes to the quality and freshness of sashimi.

Unfortunately, our experience at Iro Iro was rather disappointing, particularly when considering the quality versus the price we paid.

Iro Iro is a family-run business, and I must say that the hospitality was warm and personal. An elderly lady welcomed us, served us hot tea and looked after the dining area, while her daughter and husband worked behind the counter preparing the food. There was a genuine homely feeling to the restaurant, which we appreciated.

We both ordered the Maguro Chirashi Don. When the bowls arrived, however, we could immediately tell from the appearance of the maguro that it was not at the quality we had expected. Having eaten high-quality tuna in Japan and Singapore, we look for that translucent, glistening, jewel-like appearance that reflects freshness and quality. Unfortunately, the maguro here lacked that visual appeal and did not meet our expectations.

We also ordered the Sushi Moriawase, hoping the selection would be better. Sadly, this too fell short of the quality we would expect from a restaurant at this price point.

Iro Iro certainly has the warmth of a family business, and the service was friendly. However, for two diners who appreciate high-quality Japanese cuisine, the food quality did not justify the price.

It was an experience, but unfortunately, not one that left us wanting to return.

A Morning at Sembawang Hot Spring Park with Friends

 Singapore - There is something refreshing about starting the day with a simple outing, good friends and a little bit of nature. This morning, we met at Canberra MRT at 9am and began our short walk to Sembawang Hot Spring Park. It took us about 15 minutes on foot, and soon we arrived at one of Singapore's more unique natural attractions.

Kiat Leng, Carol, Heng Choo and Shih Ting

My last visit was on 2 May 2022, when I came here with my two sons. This time, it was nice to return with friends and create another set of memories.

One of the highlights of our morning was breakfast. Kiat Leng started cooking the eggs, placing them in the designated egg-cooking area. While the eggs were cooking, we laid out our picnic mat and prepared ourselves for a relaxing breakfast.

Eggs cooking station

We also had freshly baked focaccia, beautifully wrapped and tagged by Heng Choo as freshly baked. The focaccia was delicious — soft, flavourful and a wonderful accompaniment to our eggs.

Of course, we could not leave without soaking our feet in the hot spring. The cascading pools provide different temperatures, starting from around 90°C, then 70°C and finally 40°C, which was the temperature we could comfortably enjoy. We settled our feet into the 40°C water and relaxed for about 30 minutes.

Sitting there under the scorching morning sun for half an hour certainly worked up an appetite!

The eggs were ready — half-cooked, with a little light soya sauce and pepper. Together with the freshly baked focaccia, it made for a surprisingly delicious and satisfying breakfast. There was something special about enjoying such a simple meal outdoors with friends.

After spending around two hours at Sembawang Hot Spring Park, we decided it was time for our next adventure. We packed up and walked towards Chong Pang Market for lunch.

A simple morning of hot springs, good food, sunshine and friendship sometimes, that's all you need for a great day!  

An interesting find....