McGriddling

I woke up and for some reasons felt like getting one of these - which was a good idea (imho) since I never get beyond one or two of them before they disappear on the limited runs on McD's menu. Not exactly the healthiest thing but that being said, was health usually a criteria we dwell on while deciding on something that's....yummy? It was as tasty as it has always been. More satisfying than my sandwich yesterday.

ONDA by Park Bench Deli, Lorong Telok

According to the website from these folks, ONDA by Park Bench Deli (21 Lorong Telok) is the first in a series of smaller shops from PBD celebrating the incredible food cultures behind the star sandwiches from the Deli. This one is for the Cubano. I'm also assuming 'the Deli' refers to Park Bench Deli.

Anyways, the thing to get there is obviously their Cubano. The only other food they have on menu are finger food and a hot dog. They have in their sandwich ham, lechon, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard in a pressed roll - tasted all of it except maybe the mustard. Tastier than the one at Mmmunch. Sandwich looked neat and it was also kinda small. It's not bad but the experience didn't leave a deep impression. Don't think I would go out of the way for this.

Al Dawood Kambing Soup, Tiong Bahru Food Centre

I noticed this stall (#02-36 Tiong Bahru Food Centre, 30 Seng Poh Road) recently and didn't recall having seen them before. What caught my attention was that they had lamb tongue and brains for their kambing soup.

So one bowl of lamb tongue and brains to go with some of the stale-ish porous bread that was good for sponging up all the soup. Portion was pretty big and might feed two. $13.20 in total with bread and takeaway containers.

Was pretty good. That soup was well spiced and appropriately salted (which meant I shouldn't be eating this with regularity) - a much better rendition than what I've previously had at Habib's Power Mee Stall. The tongue came in larger chunks if I had to compare with what was served at Bahrakath Mutton Soup King. Assuming I were to have my eyes closed and asked to describe the chunky (also) pieces of brain, I'd say it tasted very similar to meaty metallic fish eggs. Just the flavour, not so much the texture. 

Tiong Bahru Hainanese Curry Rice (中峇鲁海南咖喱饭), Tiong Bahru Food Centre

I've never eaten from this stall (#02-78 Tiong Bahru Food Centre, 30 Seng Poh Road) previously as there always seemed to be a queue that was long enough that I didn't care for them. I don't know if it is because of the current dining out restrictions or that I was early today but there wasn't a queue so I decided to try.

Let's navigate this - for a start, their curry was a little bland. A little viscous with some curry flavour but not satisfyingly savoury. Stewed cabbage I asked for consisted of mostly tau kee (dried bean curd sheets) and tung hoon, not much cabbage. Am sure many are excited about the verdict on the pork chop. It's not bad per se - detected a very light flavour from five spice and unexpectedly, vinegar. So it's a little sour as well which wasn't what I had imagined. It was also one of those that was mostly flour and little meat.

There's a few of these Hainanese styled curry rice in the vicinity. I'd rank all of them above Tiong Bahru Hainanese Curry Rice. From my old favourite defunct Block 38 Curry Rice, to Beo Crescent Curry Rice to Loo's or even Hong Seng and Traditional Hainanese Curry Rice at Redhill. For an overall curry rice experience I'd pick them over this. They definitely have better tasting curry. Notice that the fried egg didn't even have a drizzle of dark soya sauce as well. Little things count.

山, Havelock Road Food Centre

The name from the signage just says 山 (#01-18 Havelock Road Cooked Food Centre, 22A/B Havelock Road). They're the only duck rice stall in this food centre. I'm usually inclined towards the Teochew styled braised duck but I needed to get lunch in the vicinity.

It was okay. Nothing particularly special about them. I was given some pretty standard dry-ish slices of duck breast meat and rice that was somewhat beady. That being said, it didn't taste bad.

A couple of pies from Swisslink Bakery & Cafe

We've had pies from Swisslink Bakery & Cafe from Sunset Way (#01-07, 109 Clementi Street 11, tel : +65 6778 7858) a couple of times previously so here's blogging it. They could be considered a neighbourhood bakery which is known for their pies and puffs. Has been around for a couple of decades or so. 

This was part of a take out dinner of pies with curry fish head from Springleaf Prata Place just around the corner.

We were shooting for the regular chicken pie which were sold out so we ended up with the chicken sherpard's pie. Stuffings under the mashed potato were pretty generous but here's a couple thoughts. I couldn't tell that the minced meat was chicken and the stuffing was a little too sweet. I didn't dislike it but I don't think I'll get them again.

But it did pair well with the tamarind based fish head curry which we got from Springleaf. 

I like their apple pie and it was the main reason I wanted to come here. It's made with a buttery pastry crust encasing sweet tangy chunks of tender apple fillings that are infused thoroughly with cinnamon. Raisins too. Don't know if there were any other spices though. If one were to be looking for a simple well made apple pie minus frills, this would be it.