Showing posts with label 8 Geylang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 8 Geylang. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 June 2024

Hey Kee – HK Style Seafood in Singapore

Hey Kee HK Seafood (“Hey Kee”) is a Retro HK Dai Pai Dong-style live seafood restaurant located in Guillemard Village in Geylang. Hey Kee occupied the ground floor of the main building, setting a lively retro Hong Kong theme complete with fish tanks filled with live seafood such as lobsters, crabs, prawns, clams and fish.

Hey Kee
The restaurant dining area is divided into “Indoor” and outdoor. Although you are seated indoors, it is decorated like you are seated outdoors, just like a Dai Pai Dong in Hong Kong. Filled with bright lights, signboard and they even include a barber shop for the fun of it. The outdoor seating is simpler, filled with round tables and red foldable chairs. There are huge air conditioners and retractable awnings to the diners cool and dry.

Outdoor Dining Area
This review is based on our two visits to Hey Kee.

Menu P1
Menu P2
Double Boiled Pig Stomach Chicken Soup with White Pepper [$36.80]. Hongkongers are known for their love of the soup. Therefore, we decided to order one to start our meal. The pig stomach soup is robust, sweet and with a hint of pepper. Unlike the Singapore version, the pepper taste is very mild, it is more soothing than spicy awakening. Meanwhile, the pig stomach is soft with a bit of chewiness.

Double Boiled Pig Stomach Chicken Soup with White Pepper 
Live Clam Black Bean Sauce [$25]. The clams are fresh, plump and juicy, while the medley of cut chilli, onion and a generous dollop of black bean sauce infused a familiar flavour in this dish.

Live Clam Black Bean Sauce 
Deep Fried Cuttlefish with Salt & Pepper [$20.80]. This is probably the dish that I associated closely with Hong Kong’s style of food. The cuttlefish is tender, brownish, and coated with aromatic salt and pepper that almost looks like a curry powder. The version here is very good

Deep Fried Cuttlefish with Salt & Pepper 
HK Street Style Shark Fin [$12.80]. A very generous portion of the HK Street Style Shark Fin. Don’t expect to be served real shark fin here, but the robust and gooey soup is very comforting. LD enjoyed this dish.

HK Street Style Shark Fin 
Signature Braised Lamb Stew with Beancurd Skin [$42.80]. A dish commonly served during the cold season in HK. The lamb is tender, not gamy and fork tender. I like the fermented taste in the gravy, the aroma and it blends nicely with thick cuts of radish. This beancurd stick is still a bit though, it needs more braising time to soften it and absorb the gravy.

Signature Braised Lamb Stew with Beancurd Skin
Temple Street Crispy Roast Chicken (L) [$39.80]. It is one of the dishes that you need to pre-order during reservations. The skin is paper thin, super crispy and coated with crispy garlic. The flesh is tender and succulent, even for the breast. It is one of the yummiest roast chickens I ever tried.

Temple Street Crispy Roast Chicken (L)
Steamed Fish with Chopped Yellow Chilli - Turbot [$108]. This is the first time I have a turbot for steamed fish. The fish is very fat and covered with the chopped yellow chilli. Surprisingly, the yellow chilli tasted sweet and tangy, almost pickled-like. Together with soy sauce, it infused sweet, savoury and umami flavour to the fish.

Steamed Fish with Chopped Yellow Chilli - Turbot 
Red Grouper – Steamed Hong Kong Style. The red grouper is different compared to the turbot. The flesh is firm and bouncy and it did not absorb much of the superior soy sauce.

Red Grouper – Steamed Hong Kong Style
HK Style Sauteed Chives with Dried Shrimp [$23.80] & Sizzling Kai Lan with Dried Prawns in Claypot [$23.80]. Two types of vegetables we tried at Hey Kee. They both have the same characteristics, crunchy and a bit oily. The dried prawns were supposed to add more flavour, but it seemed to be an overkill for me.

HK Style Sauteed Chives with Dried Shrimp 
Sizzling Kai Lan with Dried Prawns in Claypot 
Stir-Fried Lobster with Potato Noodles in Superior Broth – Australia Lobster [$148/kg]. This was a treat from our Thai Friends. The noodle is smooth, silky coated in rich and creamy superior stock. The lobster flesh is firm and bouncy. Well, I enjoy the noodle and the gravy, instead of the flesh of the lobster.

Stir-Fried Lobster with Potato Noodles in Superior Broth –
Australia Lobster
 
To the carbs, we tried Supreme Soy Sauce Fried HK Noodles (S) [$12.80] and Signature “Wok Hei” Hor Fun with Beef [$12.80]. Both of them are excellent. The fried HK noodles are thin, silky and loaded with umami flavours from the Supreme Soy Sauce.

Supreme Soy Sauce Fried HK Noodles (S) 
The Hor Fun is just heavenly. Solid “Wok Hei”, yummy seasoning, while the egg, beansprout and sliced beef complement the silky rice sheets nicely.

Signature “Wok Hei” Hor Fun with Beef
Signature Claypot Seafood Porridge [Market Price]. A signature Hong Kong Congee. The porridge is smooth, silky and infused with the sweetness of the seafood. The prawns and clams are fresh. It is a very comforting dish, though it is missing the you tiao.

Signature Claypot Seafood Porridge 
Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple [$22.80 Large]. We ordered this as the finale during our second visit. The deep-fried pork is crispy, while the sauce is sweet and tangy. The use of hawthorn in the sauce shows that they are not messing around with this dish.

Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple 
Service is good, friendly and efficient. However, once all your dishes are served, it can be difficult to get their attention. The boss also comes out to check on the quality of the food and to get feedback from the customers.

Menu P3
CBK verdict: Hey Key serves solid Hong Kong Dai Pai Dong dishes, plus the overall quality of the food is very good and very close to the taste that we get in Hong Kong. Don’t miss out on their Signature Claypot Seafood Porridge, Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple, Steamed Fish with Chopped Yellow Chilli, Temple Street Roast Chicken and the Supreme Soy Sauce Fried HK Noodles. Kanpai!! Cheers!!

Menu P4

Food & Drink: 8.25/10
Value: 7.5/10
Service: 7/10
Ambiance: 7.5/10
Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80

Hey Kee HK Seafood
102 Guillemard Road
#01-01, Guillemard Village
Singapore 399719

T: +65 9891 0950
OH:
Daily 11.30 – 15.00; 17.30 – 22.30

Sunday, 13 August 2023

Kwong Cheong Thye x Celebrity Chef Heman Tan [MEDIA INVITE]

Asian Sauce Manufacturer Kwong Cheong Thye (“KCT”) unveil its latest line of specialty Western Paste and Sauce, Aglio Olio Chilli Paste & Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce. This project is spearheaded by Mr. Alvin Choo, the 5th generation co-owner of KCT in collaboration with Celebrity Chef Heman, Winner of World Gourmet Awards 2022 (Western Cuisine Chef of the Year).

Signature Soya Sauce by Kwong Cheong Thye
Kwong Cheong Thye Products
The Aglio Olio Chilli Paste, a harmonious blend of zesty garlic and fragrant herbs, promises to transport your taste buds to the South of Italy, delivering an explosion of flavours that will leave you craving more. Meanwhile, the Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce, infused with the smoky allure of the finest hickory wood, will likely transport you to a sizzling barbecue haven of South Carolina, where every bite is a revelation.

Aglio Olio Chilli Paste & Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce

During the launch of Aglio Olio Chilli Paste & Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce, we were treated to a scrumptious meal by Chef Heman and the team at KCT. The meal showcases the usage of both Aglio Olio Chilli Paste and Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce in various dishes.

It started with bread platter; sourdough served with butter infused with Paprika Hickory BBQ sauce. The hickory sauce adds spice and smoky aroma to the smooth and creamy butter.

Sourdough Bread
Butter infused with Paprika Hickory BBQ sauce
For Amuse Bouche, we had Pulled Lamb Leg En Croute, Prawn Dumpling, Crispy Squid Dumpling and Cold Tofu. The pulled lamb leg is slow-cooked over 24 hours with Paprika Hickory BBQ sauce. The result is a fork-tender leg of lamb infused with lovely smoked paprika and hickory wood aroma inside the crispy pastry. The flavour of the BBQ sauce is less prominent in the crispy squid dumpling and cold tofu dishes. It is more subtle, but it adds another layer of flavour to both dishes.

Pulled Lamb Leg En Croute
Crispy Squid Dumpling
Cold Tofu
The prawn dumplings dish is similar to the spicy sour prawn dumplings version in Asian cuisine. The aglio olio chilli paste is added to the mix; however, it is overshadowed by the strength of the vinegar and chilli padi.

Prawn Dumplings
Amuse Bouche
The next dish is seafood bisque. Initially, we were served the Crab Timbale, a mixed of crab meat with prawns. Chef Heman and his team then bring in the hot soup (bisque) and pour it on the bowl tableside, till it covered the crab timbale. The bisque is thick and robust bisque, paired beautifully with the crab timbale. Chef Heman uses the oil from the paste to add a fragrant and spicy flavour that cuts through the robustness of the bisque. Yummy.

Seafood Bisque
Seafood Bisque
We had two main dishes Coral Cod Fillet and Aglio E Olio KCT Ramen. The Coral Cod is lightly seasoned and plated on top of tosaka and black fungi salad. At the bottom, the sauce is a mix of hollandaise sauce with Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce. I like how the flavours interact, with the moist and crispy cod. The creamy hollandaise sauce absorbs the unique paprika and the lovely hickory sauce, at the same time tempering the strong flavour from the sauce so it paired well with the fish.

Coral Cod Fillet
For the Aglio E Olio KCT Ramen, Chef Heman takes a liberal approach with the paste. Each strand of KCT ramen is filled with the explosive flavour of Aglio Olio Chilli Paste. It was an explosion of flavour in each slurp. Very spicy!

Aglio E Olio KCT Ramen
Aglio E Olio KCT Ramen
Dessert is Spicy Chocolate Lava Cake with Lime Sorbet Crumble. This is not your ordinary Chocolate Lava Cake. The Aglio Olio Chilli Paste is folded in with the chocolate lava. I have tried chilli chocolate cake before, but this is at another level. Level 10. Though the lime sorbet supposed to cool down the fire, I was still unable to finish the chocolate lava cake, but LD did.

Spicy Chocolate Lava Cake with Lime Sorbet Crumble
Overall, Celebrity Chef Heman and the team at KCT have demonstrated the application of Aglio Olio Chilli Paste and Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce creatively into these delicious dishes. With the availability of Aglio Olio Chilli Paste and Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce, it is easier for us to recreate the restaurant flavours in our home. Hopefully, they can provide some interesting recipes in the future, so it is easier to guide the consumers on how to use KCT western sauce and paste. Cheers!!

Kwong Cheong Thye x Celebrity Chef Heman Tan
Speciality Western Paste and Sauce

Available flavours:
- Aglio Olio Chilli Paste ($5.95)
- Paprika Hickory BBQ Sauce ($5.95)

Both these paste and sauce are available at
- Kwong Cheong Thye online shop (www.kct.sg)
- Kwong Cheong Thye factory: 12 Senoko Ave, S758302
- Kwong Cheong Thye retail outlet: 61 Lorong 27 Geylang, S388187.

Thank you very much CQ Works, Kwong Cheong Thye and Chef Heman for hosting us.

Sunday, 30 October 2022

Durian SG Prime – Durians From The Mountains [MEDIA INVITE]

Durian SG Prime is the latest durian shop and durian delivery that enter the Singapore market. Its operations started in June 2022, located in Lor 24A Geylang, just opposite the popular Yong He Dou Jiang. Durian SG Prime offer Pahang durians from exclusive mountain plantations that have never been seen before in Singapore. Durian SG Prime slogan is Cheapest – Quality – Guaranteed.

Durian SG Prime shop
Durian lovers in SG will know that the best Malaysian durians sold in Singapore comes from Pahang. Pahang itself is a very big state, with its mountainous terrain, it is a perfect place to grow and produce the best durian. Durian SG Prime durians come from three locations in Pahang. The Famous Tiger Mountain, Indigo Hill Mountain and Cold White Leaf Mountain.

The Famous Tiger Mountain, Sungai Klau, Pahang. Famous for its Ah Gong tree, dated over 103 years, while the rest of the 250 natural trees in the region are more than 40 years old. This area is known to produce Mao Shan Wang / Musang King Grade A durians and D24. With the MSW Grade A, you can expect a condensed and throat-sticking meat texture, with a bitter and sweet taste. The ultimate durian experience for durian lovers.

Black Gold from The Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree
Indigo Hill Mountain is a short drive away from Indigo Hill Resort, East of Raub, Tras Pahang. This area is known for its red colour soil that is very fertile. Most of the durian trees are above 45 years old. This region is home to newly discovered durian plantations and it houses over 200 mature durians. This area is known to produce MSW Grade A & B. The MSW will have a thick flesh that will stick to your mouth and a small seed. The flavour is strong, with a bitter-sweet flavour.

Cold White Leaf Mountain, Klau River Pahang. The age of durian trees here are between 20 to 60 years old. This plantation near Klau River is also a fertile grown to grow durians, as the soil contains a lot of minerals. This area produces D24, Tekka, Classic MSW and award-winning MSW. For the MSW Grade A, you can expect a creamy texture of durian, with the signature MSW bitter-sweet taste.

When we visited their shop, they have 3 types of durians available. The first one is a regular MSW. On that day, it was priced at $18/kg. The shape of the durian is not whole round, but with an odd shape look. It is creamy and bitter with a sweet aftertaste. The flesh is thick, while the seeds are mostly thin and flat.

Regular MSW 
Mini Seeds from Regular MSW
The second one that we tasted is the Black Gold MSW from the Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree ($38/kg). The shape of the durian is round, plump and without blemish. The colour of the pulp is an inviting dark yellow colour, almost like gold. When we bit into the flesh, it was dense and easily stick to our throat. It tasted bitter, with an alcohol tinge and ended with a sweet flavour. This is the taste that durian lovers search for in a durian. In other words, the taste is just awesome. Yummy, die die must try!! It was so good that LD insisted on buying one for her BFF, in which she also give her thumbs up.

Black Gold MSW from The Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree
The seed, regular size
The Price
The third durian available that day is Old Tree MSW ($28/kg). We did not try it as we are too full, however, from the shape, it looks like a high-grade MSW.

Old Tree MSW
Durian SG Prime gets its supply directly from the plantations and bypasses the agent / middleman. With these cost savings, they can offer the price lowest price in the market when comparing the same grade of durians. Their grand vision is to Bring Durian’s Price in Singapore Back to 1980.

Durian SG Prime is committed to delivering the best durian to you. They deliver island-wide base on a two-hour time slot and also offer express island-wide delivery. If the durians are not up to standard or damaged, you are eligible for a free replacement within 24 hours of receiving your order. Free Delivery for orders above $99.

Durian SG Prime Delivery Packaging
Check out their Youtube clips on their website on the source of their durians and some tips to identify Durian SG Prime Grade A MSW or different grades of MSW.

CBK Verdict: One of the best durians that I tried this year. The Black Gold MSW from the Famous Tiger Mountain Old Tree is an experience to behold and you will have durian lovers salivating for it. Die Die Must Try!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Durian SG Prime for hosting us and the yummy durians.

24A 456 Geylang Road
Singapore 389415

OH: Daily 10.00 – 01.00

Information on the origin of the durians extracted from Durian SG Prime website

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