The Munchies

On the hunt for hidden gems in Tampines, I was recommended 家传之包 HOME by a friend. The name was familiar so a little Googling and I realised it was run by the wife of the chef of Restaurant Home. I recall having lunch at Restaurant Home and their heart and belly warming Chinese dishes many moons ago. Sadly the chef has since passed.
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The business has since pivoted to become a bao shop. Their buns are freshly made daily and the quality shows. Novel items such as this XO Prawn Bun ensures I’ll be coming back to try even more. The spicily moreish “hae bee hiam” was a tad dry, but packed with umami.
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Taste: 3/5

A coop-ful of drummettes doused in Happy Ending’s version of buffalo sauce is an easy enough appetiser to get into, but needed to be punchier in terms of heat and the sour tang one would normally associate with this dish.

Thanks @burpple for the invite and @happyendingpizza for the hospitality!

Taste: 2.5/5

A savoury baked cake, it's not often you see this "kueh", so I jump at the chance to get a few pieces every time I'm at Oleh Oleh, even though the texture can best be described as slightly clumpy Chinese carrot cake. The version here is stained an enticing bright yellow from cumin and speckled with minced chicken and chilli slices, but these can be made with other types of meat or even just vegetables.

Taste: 2.5/5

This spicy coconut floss usually served with meat in Malay or Indonesian dishes is like furry crack - I can't get enough of it. I've fond memories of Oleh Oleh at Parkway Parade from my childhood and I mostly just visit for nostalgic reasons now, but this glutinous rice with serunding I do like alot.

Taste: 3.5/5

Although this isn’t even Tex-Mex, it definitely does the job. Tortilla chips are fully loaded with rich braised beef, guacamole, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, stewed black beans and salsa, making for a crunchy, moreish accompaniment to a tall, cool pint of Archipelago.

Taste: 3/5

This proved to be the perfect accompaniment to BeGin’s spice-infused cocktails – bite-sized morsels of plump prawns slathered in a buttery curry sauce, sat conveniently on a crisp pappadum, ready to be easily popped into your mouth.

<< Invited Tasting >>

Taste: 3/5

Pani-puri filled with a crab curry that tasted rather muddled. The pani-puri was thicker than usual so as to be able to hold in the curry without breaking apart.

<< Invited Tasting >>

Taste: 2.5/5

We adored the buttery, flaky pastry shell, but the filling of sauteed meat and Tandoori masala curry sauce tasted like the spices needed more cooking down. A little tweaking and I can see this easily being a hot favourite.

<< Invited Tasting >>

Taste: 2.5/5

The pictures of soft thick-cut brioche generously stuffed with one of my favourite foods of all time – eggs – proved too tempting to resist, so I finally succumbed to ordering what could easily be made at home.

Kudos to Egg Stop for preparing the fluffy scrambled eggs a la minute, as these were fresh and very well-cooked. I also liked the subtly spicy signature sauce slathered on the insides of the bread. The sandwiches here make great snacks, and though they’re a little costly for their size, still pack much more value than many an overpriced brunch plate at any trendy cafe you could throw a stone at.

Taste: 3/5

The sweet and unctuous bbq pork filling is roasted on premises before being wrapped in a fluffy, soft bun skin that pulls apart easily.

I'm no expert on pau but I definitely like these and mornings here are always packed with the breakfast crowd.

Taste: 3.5/5

Sometimes while passing a Malay food stall at the hawker centre I give in to temptation and get these deep fried delights if I happen to spot them. These vegetable fritters containing julienned carrot and cabbage were satisfylingly crunchy and not too doughy, and served with a sweet and spicy Thai chilli-esque sauce. Great for a light afternoon snack or whenever you're feeling peckish.

Seah Im Food Centre, Dapur Minang - Dapur Melayu #01-36

Taste: 3/5

An enticingly burnished bun, in its center, a caldera of molten, liquid gold. A little too fluid to take a bite out of and risk spillage, I instead resorted to sipping from the bread itself. Satisfyingly eggy and salty, if but only it were more set.

Chef Hong H.K. Bakery #01-79

Taste: 3.5/5