More Nanjing Impressions (南京大牌檔)

Been a while since we were last here at Nanjing Impressions. Do I sense some of the enthusiasm from their staff ebbing?

That's bitter gourd lime tea. Couldn't taste any bitter gourd in it.

Salted duck porridge with baby fennel. I loved how the dill-ish fennel leaves and vinegar paired with the appropriately salted porridge. This has got to be the most delicious duck porridge I've had.

One of the oldies is their tofu with shrimp sauce (虾酱豆腐). Didn't taste like those we've had previously. This was was less shrimpy and more garlicky. A little disappointing.

Another oldie was their julienned bean curd (麻油素干丝) which was as good as we remembered them.

Madam Chiang's Beauty Porridge (民国美龄粥) is understatedly good like a non-complicated sweet oatmeal. Tasted like that as well. At least for us it was and did. I don't think we've ever not ordered it.

Trying their Jiangnan Seafood Bucket for the first time. The fishballs in it were intriguing with their super soft texture. Prawns were fresh and in general, seafood quality was good. Broth needs a bit more salt methinks.

Sautéed beef tendons (京葱爆牛筋) which we've had previously. Good with rice but we didn't get any rice today.

We got these lamb and fish dumplings because it sounded like it might be good. While it didn't taste bad, one also couldn't get much lamb or fish out of the meat paste stuffings in them.

First time getting their Jingling roast duck (金陵烤鸭). Meat was more tender than it looked and there was a think layer of fat beneath the skin for flavour. Not bad.

Trying their Huaiyang sweet strata cake (淮扬千层油糕) for the first time also. Texture's like bao or hua juan (花卷). Know what's crazy about this? There's a layer of oil in the middle of the cake that tasted like it came from lup cheong. Hell yeah! 👍🏼

Black sesame coffee from Coffee Break

This from the shop at Hong Lim. Notice the mottle surface on the coffee and the black specks along the rim of the cup. Instructions from them were to stir before drinking. Yes it does have black sesame flavour. Did not taste bad. Seems like there's toast on the menu these days.

Matcha soy milk with mochi from Chinese Tofu Magician (半仙豆夫)

This matcha flavour from Chinese Tofu Magician had less matcha flavour than the taro one had taro flavour.

Niu Bi, Amoy Street Food Centre

I came across Niu Bi (#02-98 Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road) by chance because once again, I've failed at getting my bowl at Teochew Beef Kway Teow. What intrigued me was their Teochew chilli dry bowl. What's interesting here from what I've read, was that the laddie in the kitchen was also previously involved in Gubak Kia. 

This wasn't bad at all. Chilli's not a killer with the default portions and perhaps I could have asked for more peanuts. Otherwise, this was a very decent bowl. Loved the slurpy kuey teow and tofu tender beef tendons. The slices of beef were pleasantly marinated and tender. Will come back another time.

There's a sly reference on their signboard referencing their niu tradition since 1921 - the year when Hock Lam Beef Noodles was set up. So if you understood the linkages that ran all the way back, it's this stall -> Gubak Kia -> Empress Place Teochew Beef Kway Teow -> Hock Lam.

忘不了萝卜糕 (Unforgettable Carrot Cake), Bukit Merah View Hawker Centre

Pretty unforgettable name. 😂 I can't fathom why they thought having 'Lontong Goreng' on their signboard would make a difference though since pretty much no one associates radish cakes with those. (#01-30 Bukit Merah View Hawker Centre, 115 Bukit Merah View) 

Anyways, there was a queue which I discovered was moving slowly after we've committed to getting a plate. This was the $5 portion. The kuey was chunky and had a nice taste. I think there were four eggs in this plate and some cai por was hidden inside. As a whole, it was lightly salted and I do not believe I tasted any fish sauce in it.

Ah Fong Noodle (亞峯), Holland Village Food Centre

This unit (#01-14 Holland Village Food Centre, 1 Lorong Mambong) used to be Ming Fa. Don't know when Ah Fong Noodle took over. Tried their bak chor mee. It's edible.

Noodles were kinda soft rather than firm with a nice bite. I'm not enthused by it. Chilli and vinegar were pretty generic tasting. All these simply coalesced into a bowl that lacked character if you catch my drift. Doesn't suck but I'm also not looking forward to it again.