Travel: Eating our way in Singapore

My friend Len & I spent four glorious days in Singapore.  It was a business & pleasure trip.  It was my second time to visit Singapore. The first time was seven years ago when my youngest brother worked and lived there.  During those 10 days in 2005, all we ever did was eat.  Too bad I wasn’t into blogging & photography yet.  We feasted on Hainanese chicken, rojak, roti prata with curry, murtabak, tandoori, horfan noodles, oyster cakes, laksa in Chinatown, iced kachang, beef rendang, and the most memorable was the chili crabs we had at No Sign Board restaurant in Geylang. 

This is what we ate during our 4 day Singapore trip…in pictures.

This was what we had for our late lunch/early dinner on the day we arrived. A noodle soup with wanton & char siu pork. It was in one of the hawker center along Balestier road near our hotel.  Dinner for me was a whole durian fruit.

Hainanese Chiken & chili crabs at Wee Nam Kee in Marina Square.

Durian crispy pancake paired with grape juice at Bugis Market.

A wide variety of fruit juices to chose from for S$1.00 at Bugis Market.

Durian ice cream inbetween 2 thin wafers

In Chinatwon, we found this German stall selling sausages, pretzels & other bread.

Len & I shared this grilled bratwurst.

Laksa dinner at Marina Bay Sands food court

And the peri peri chicken wiht spicy rice & grilled vegetables at Nando’s

Travel: Nando's of Singapore

Eversince I saw a restaurant named Peri Peri in Greenhills, my curiosity was stoked. I haven’t had the chance to try it though. On our last day, a Sunday, of our 4 day Singapore trip, I was able to get to know what peri peri is all about. It was on a bus going to Marina Bay area on our second day that we saw Nando’s along Victoria Street in Bugis. Len said we should try it.

Pili pili is the Swahili word for 'pepper pepper'. African Birds Eye Chili is also called peri peri, pili pili, or piri piri. Piri piri is the spelling of the name as used in the Portuguese language.

Piri-piri sauce (used as a seasoning or marinade) is Portuguese in origin and "especially prevalent in Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa". It is made from crushed chillies, citrus peel, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika, pimiento, basil, oregano, and tarragon.

~ source, en.wikipedia.org

We woke up very late that Sunday. And was out of the house around 3PM to tour the city on our own. We haven’t had our lunch yet. Breakfast that morning was at the nearby hawker center with Len having a roti prata with curry, while I feasted on nasi goreng.  By the time we rode the bus going to Bugis, Len & I were both very hungry.

I was excited to find out what Nando’s has to offer. Michelle, my niece described it as “sort of Mang Inasal chicken”.   Imagine my  surprise when I found it out it was peri peri chicken!

Written in their menu’s side of flame grilled chicken… “in life there are moments when it’s hard to make a choice. This is one of them” It was funny yet so true. I didn’t know what to order.

Len & I ordered & shared classic meal of half chicken with 2 sidelines (S$22.90). And since we’re both not quite adventurous when it comes to the amount of heat in our food, we got the mildest lemon & herb sauce.  For the side dishes, we opted for the spicy rice and grilled veggies.

We ordered another side dish of sweet potato mash (no photo as we were busy eating already), a coarsely mashed boiled sweet potatoes flavored with cinnamon, which I immensely enjoyed.  Len said, “parang dessert na rin!”

The chicken meat was indeed flavorful, complemented by the mild spicy sauce. The skin was perfectly charred with no bitter taste.

Though not part of Singaporean cuisine (it’s Portuguese), Nando’s was the perfect meal to cap our Singapore trip. I wish someone would bring Nando’s franchise here in the Philippines.

Nando’s

Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street

Singapore 188021

Tel No. 63386555

http://www.nandos.com.sg

Poco Deli's Artisanal sausages

I once tried to make my own homemade sausages.  It was one of our favorite food items to buy. I reckoned, why not make my own. I bought a meat grinder and a sausage stuffer attachments for my KitchenAid mixer.  I first tried making the English bangers.  I gave some samples to my cousin and she loved it and bugged me endlessly to make a large batch and sell it. Mom-in-law even sent me those casings she used for her longanisa. That was my first foray into artisanal sausage making.  

Fast forward to 2009, when I first heard about Mickey’s deli along Jupiter  Street. Sadly, it closed down even before I had the chance to try it.

Then last year, I heard about Poco Deli thru my friend Len.  She bought these Poco Deli vouchers and asked me to go with her. The vouchers expired and we weren’t able to use them.  Next my sister-in-law invited me to have lunch, but our respective schedules didn’t match.

Finally, today, I was able to go to Poco Deli.  It was a mom-daughter date with Pipay.  After a tiring errand at Gateway Mall, (and resisting the urge to have a pre-Poco Deli snack at Taco Bell) off we went to Barangay Kapitolyo. 

Poco Deli is a small shop with an intimate, homey  vibe  where one can enjoy a bottle of wine with sausages  and cheese. One wall has a floor to ceiling shelf of various wines.  I didn’t pay much attention to their wine selection though.

Except for some bottles of Merlot behind my seat.

A glass chiller display contains homemade sausages and cheeses.   Their sausages were made using techniques and skills learned when the owner was still working for Mickey’s deli.  This I can relate to, remembering the nights spent  grinding, mixing, stuffing the meat into casings. But mine was more on the experimental stage.

Their cheese selection.

A closer look at the sausages.

They have bottled homemade sauerkraut. 

And different kinds of imported drinks.

But I had their house iced tea.

Pipay told me, “I am so hungry I could die!” (my little drama princess). All the walking we did looking for a food photography book made her so hungry.  Predictably, she asked me to order the cheese pizza.  But later changed her mind and opted for the US sliced steak on NY bagel sandwich.  It has melted mozzarella cheese that’s why. I was afraid she wouldn’t like the heavy, dense texture of the bagel. But she liked it.

I had the German sausage platter. I was asked to pick three kinds of sausages (one large and two small varieties) from the glass chiller.  I chose the Florentina, Nuernbufger, and a small sausage whose name I can’t remember.  It was a disappointment the wait staff  didn’t know much about the difference among the varieties of sausages.  The sausage platter came with their homemade sauerkraut, black olives and NY bagel chips. The sauerkraut was very good.  I just had to bring home a bottle (Medium size, P250).  And so was the Nuernbufger (bought a pack too!) and the other sausage. The Florentina, I find a bit dry.  I like my sausages with mustard, it was lacking. Maybe I should have asked for one.

Sausage 101: How to cook sausage should you opt to take them home frozen.

My date... :)

What I like Pipay to tell me when she grows up and remember the times I would drag her for food trips with me (with bribes of course) ^___^

I would like to come back and order their famous, must try  Bacon Slabs with Eggs and Bacon Rice. It’s time to have that sister bonding moment with my SIL or maybe I can persuade M to go with me.  Since it’s near our home (nearer than Santi’s deli along Amber Ave) I’ll definitely be back to buy their frozen meats for my pasta, breakfasts and evening snacking.

Or maybe one day, I could have spare time and try my hand at sausage making again.

An Aria celebration

Time flies so quickly. I still remember cradling him in my arms rocking him to sleep at 2AM, Phil Collin’s You’ll be in my heart”  softly lulling him to sleep.  Gabby is now 12 and about to start high school.  No longer a child, thought not yet a man. One more year and he’ll be a teenager.  He is still in that awkward stage where his voice would sometimes croak.  The “ma, please don’t tag me in your picture” phase.  Becoming conscious of his physical appearance, “ma, do you think I have dandruff?”  or “pa, I like a formal hair this time?”.  He is physically changing.  But some things never change, he is still the very gentle and sweet boy.  

After Gabby’s grade school graduation rites last March, we went to celebrate in Boni High Street Central. 

I let Gabby decide where to eat.  My kids (as you all know by now) loves Italian cuisine – pizza and pasta.  As predicted, he chose Aria.

Aria Cucina Italia was brought here to Manila from Boracay, thus the airy and homey feel of its light beige colored interior.  

A large wooden web-like screen in the center is the focal point and functions as divider, giving diners an open yet intimate dining experience. Aria serves authentic Italian dishes.  A bit pricey though.     

There were a lot of diners when we arrived. We were led to a table at the back near the kitchen.  My kids were starving and restless.

As soon as Gabby saw the giant rectangular pizza on the menu, he immediately said, “I want the Pizza Al Metro!”  (P1300) a sampler of 3 pizza flavors – Quattro formaggi (pecorino, feta, Parmesan and mozzarella), Salsiccia (Italian sausage, tomato sauce and mozzarella), and Capricciosa (Fresh cherry tomatoes, artichokes, farmers ham, mushroom, kalamata olives and mozzarella).  We ordered this for take out for the kids’ evening snack.

Notice the burnt marks on the crust?  Their pizzas were baked in wood fired ovens which imparts a smokey flavor. 

Pipay, as always, predictably ordered the Pasta Carbonara (P360), creamy and yummy. 

Gabby, whose palate is slowly getting adventurous, chose the Al Fume (P420), spaghetti noodles with creamy tomato sauce with bacon, brandy & emmenthal cheese.

M, had the Tagliatelle con Tartufo Asparagi e Prosciutto di Parma (P460), homemade pasta with white truffle, asparagus and parma ham, pretty presentation, but I didn’t had the chance to taste.

As I peruse the menu, I simply can’t make up my mind on what to eat.  I wanted to try the gnocchi but I was craving for risotto.  Eventually, I settled for the familiar (I know, I wasn’t that adventurous that night),  the Risotto allo Scoglio (seafood risotto, P650).  The rice, creamy with just the right bite, had shrimps, mussels, clams,  scallops, cooked in a seafood broth comforted my hungry tummy and satiated my craving.  Next time, I’ll try the gnocchi.

Jelo’s choice, which I got to taste and I think is a hands down winner for me, is Ravioli di  Branzino, handmade dough stuffed with seafood, covered in a light sauce of braised tomatoes and dill.

For dessert, the kids had the Mousse ai Due Ciococolati (Chocolate mousse, P190) and Tiramisu.

While I had the Crema Catalana (their version of crème brulee)

It was raining by the time we finished dinner. As we were walking towards Serendra on Boni High Street, I thought I forgot my eyeglasses.  Gabby volunteered to walk back with me to Aria. We didn’t have an umbrella. He used his polo shirt to cover our heads while we walked in the rain. I have the sweetest boy a mom could ever want, don’t you think so?

Oh, by the way, my eyeglasses were inside a pouch in my big bag. Talk about senior moments! LOL!