Dignity Kitchen – Good Food for Good Cause

Fish'N'Chips

During this stabilisation period, I saw frequent posts in FB Group calling for support of this makan place. Dignity Kitchen by Project Dignity is a food court run by people with disabilities (physical and intellectual) and disadvantaged (social and mental).

Dignity Kitchen

Project Dignity has a mission to restore dignity to different-abled and disadvantaged through vocation with passion. Project Dignity provides sponsored training for unemployed adults with special needs and places them with our employment partners within the F&B, hospitality and retail sectors. Some of the graduates will be hired in their food court (Dignity Kitchen) and book retail stores (Dignity Mama). For more information on Project Dignity, you can check them out here.

Stalls 1

Dignity Kitchen is a food court concept, with the following stalls Nasi Lemak, Chicken Rice, Claypot Rice, Rojak, Noodle, Western, Bakery, Fruits and Nanyang Kopi. When you enter the food court, you just place all your orders at the cashier and wait for your number to be called on the screen. Afterwards, proceed to the designated stall for collection. All the stalls and cashier are manned by the differently-abled and disadvantaged crew.

Stalls 2

On my first visit to Dignity Kitchen with my regular makan kaki “K”. We ordered Signature Rojak ($4) to share. The portion is very generous, consisting of fruits, vegetables, youtiao, coated evenly with the rojak sauce and sprinkle with ground peanuts. The ingredients are fresh, the sauce is thick, however, it can be better if fermented prawn paste is stronger to give the sauce more OMPH.

Signature Rojak

Fish’N’Chips ($6.50). A huge place of fish and chips. The batter is crispy and the fish is flaky. I found out later that they use a higher-grade dory fish for the fish and chips. The crinkle fries are crisp externally and moist internally. There is fresh salad, lemon wedge on the side and mayonnaise as a dipping sauce instead of tartar sauce. The fish and chips here have the same standard as those in bistros or gastropubs.

Fish'N'Chips

Flaky Dory Fish

K decided to have Chicken Chop ($6.50). Since he is watching his carbo intake, he only has protein and vegs. I tried a bite of the chicken chop, it is juicy, succulent, with a touch of crispiness externally.

Chicken Chop

We also tried their Muffins ($2.50 each). There are moist, light and packs with flavour, especially the Oreo Chocolate Flavour Muffin.

Muffins

On the second visit, I had Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang ($4). Looking at the portion, you are likely to pay more outside. The rice is rich and fragrant, while the beef rendang is tasty and succulent. The achar is a bit spicy, yet refreshing.

Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang

LD ordered Prawn Laksa ($5). According to her, the broth is rich, lemak and packs a good spicy kick. The portion is generous and the prawns are fresh. A very good serving indeed.

Prawn Laksa

The environment at Dignity Kitchen is clean, tidy with simple furnishing and air-conditioned. While dining at Dignity Kitchen, you can also see the two training classes use to Train-and-Place programme for adults with special needs seeking employment; and for WSQ and SkillsFuture eligible hawker culinary courses for the public.

Menu 1

CBK Verdict: Although Dignity Kitchen main mission is a social enterprise, the food serves here are of a good standard. They are also tasty and generous with their portion. What better way to support a social cause with a happy tummy. Cheers!

Menu 2

Here are some ways you can contribute to the operation cost of the Dignity Project:

- Dine or Take Away on food from Dignity Kitchen

- Take a course at Dignity Learn. An inclusive training centre that provides WSQ and SkillsFuture eligible hawker culinary courses for the public. LD and I attended a Food Hygiene course, coinciding with our second visit to Dignity Kitchen.

- Purchase items from Dignity Mama stores, located in local hospitals.

- Dignity Outreach combines team bonding with impact, offering corporate and government entities an avenue to engage in corporate citizenship while achieving team building objectives.

For more details, visit https://projectdignity.sg/

Public Training Courses

Food & Drinks: 7.5/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Self Service)

Ambiance: 6.5/10

Budget per Person: $0 - $10

Dignity Kitchen 

(by Project Dignity)

69 Boon Keng Road

Singapore 339772

T: +65 8189 7678

W: https://projectdignity.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/proj.dignity

IG: https://www.instagram.com/projectdignitysg/

OH:

Mon – Fri: 08.00 – 19.00

Sat & Sun: 08.00 – 14.00

King's Laksa Steamboat – Unique Laksa Steamboat [MEDIA INVITE]

King's Laksa Steamboat - Our Spread

King's Laksa Steamboat ('KLS') is a steamboat buffet restaurant renowned for its Signature Laksa soup base. Founded in 2010, KLS has been around for a while and has their own loyal patrons.

King's Laksa Steamboat

Buffet Price

Once seated, you can see a white laminated order sheet, where you can choose some of their specialities. Soup base, finger food, noodles, meat, seafood and dumpling.

The Menu

For the soup base, KLS also offer chicken, herbal and ma-la. We choose their signature dual soup Laksa and chicken. The Laksa soup base is rich, lemak and packs of flavour. You can even see the top grade of dried prawn they use on the bottom of their stock. Simply put, the Laksa soup base is top notch. The chicken soup base is milky, robust with a touch of soothing effect in contrast to the laksa soup base.

Signature Laksa Soup Base (Top) and Chicken

The Premium Dried Prawn in the Laksa soup base

KLS also offer triple soup base for those who want more options. You just have to top up $8.

The Sauces & Condiments

Other than the ingredients mention on the order paper, they have 35 more steamboat ingredients for you to choose from. Check out the pictures below. This part is self-service, including the sauces and garnishes.

Ingredients - Part 1

Ingredients - Part 2

Ingredients - Part 3

The meat is sliced thinly and the portion will depend on the number of people ordering. My personal pick is their pork and sliced mutton because of their fattiness. For healthy diners, they also have chicken breast, beef and lean pork.

Seafood: Cockles, Clams and Prawns
Meat: Lean Pork, Mutton, Chicken and Pork Belly

For the seafood, our personal pick is the prawns and crabs. The prawns are fresh, bouncy and crunchy, while the flower crabs tasted fresh and sweet. Of course, there are cockles that you can choose to have with the laksa soup base, however as it is served with its shell, it becomes messy when you want to scoop the meat out.

Flower Carb, Fish Dumpling and Beef

Ingredients from Self Service section

Another reason that you must visit KLS is their cooked food. Their prawn paste chicken wings really got standard. Well marinated with prawn paste, fried upon order, you sure will get piping hot chicken wings on the table. Taste-wise, it is crispy, aromatic and succulent internally. Even our fellow har cheong gai addict gave her two thumbs up for this. We actually order the har cheong gai a couple of times.

Prawn Paste Chicken - Check out the Size

Fried Tofu - Accidental Order - tasted like fried fermented tofu

The same applies to other cooked food such as Fried Fish Balls, Luncheon Meat, Fried Tofu and Mini Mantou. I enjoy the fried mantou with the solid laksa broth, something that you never try but you can't deny its deliciousness.

Fried Fishballs, Fried Prawn Paste Chicken & Fried Luncheon Meat

Fried Mantou

The rest of the ingredients are as enticing, with such extensive selections I am sure that everyone can find something that they like. Not in the picture are beancurd skin and Nissin instant noodles, that are must-have ingredients in steamboat.

On top of the mention above, the buffet price included free flow of drinks, dessert and ice cream as well.

Free Flow of Drinks

Free Flow of Ice Cream

Ice Cream

Chubby Botak Koala's Creation - Mantou Ice Cream

Dessert - Beancurd Pudding

The décor of this place is bright and spacious. However, as you are eating steamboat in the air-conditioned room, expect to come out a bit smelly.

Part of the dining area

Overall, King's Laksa Steamboat buffet is definitely value for money. Their signature laksa soup base is definitely unique, while most of their ingredients have a certain standard. So if you are looking for a yummy steamboat place, consider King's Laksa Steamboat. Cheers!!

Thank you very much, Ivan Teh @The Running Man and King's Laksa Steamboat Team for the tasting invitation.

Food & Drinks: 7.25/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.25/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

King's Laksa Steamboat

17 Teck Chye Terrace

Singapore 545724

T: +65 6287 8010

W: https://kinglaksa.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/kingslaksa/

IG:

OH: Daily 11.00 – 23.00

Price:

Lunch (11.00 – 14.59), Mon – Fri: Adult $21.80++, Child $16.80++

Lunch (11.00 – 14.59), Sat, Sun, Eve PH & PH: Adult $26.80++, Child $16.80++

Dinner (15.00 – 23.00), Daily: Adult $26.80++, Child $16.80++

Dining Duration 120 mins

*Child 6 – 11 years old.

[CLOSED] Gu Cheng – Penang's Food Family Recipe [MEDIA INVITE]

Gu Cheng Singapore

Penang, Malaysia, a heritage city renowned for its delicious local food. When you ask the local where to “jiak” in Penang, the list will more likely to be a mile long. My multiple visits to Penang also never absent of a good chow there. So when there is a tasting of Penang Food, I did not hesitate to say YES.

Prawn Paste Chicken

Gu Cheng is a new family cafe serving Penang food recently open at Crawford Lane, across Textile Centre. The recipes are based on the Cindy's (the owner) family recipe. To ensure the kitchen churned out the home flavours, Cindy's Mother is the appointed Chief Quality Controller.

Crispy Tofu

We started with Penang Laksa ($7.80) & Penang Hokkien Mee ($8.80). Penang Laksa is also known as Asam Laksa. It is a combination of tangy and spicy flavours that perk up this dish. The broth of the laksa has that touch of spiciness and tanginess, which entice your appetite. Gu Cheng's recipe uses combination of mackerel and sardine, so you can taste two different flavours in the fish. They are not stingy with the fish, so you can taste it in every scoop of the broth. I only wish that there is more “heh ko sauce” (sweetened prawn paste) to give it more Omph!!

Penang Laksa

Penang Laksa
Hand Model: Purple Taste

[CLOSED] Kwan Inn Vegetarian – Delicious Vegetarian in Tanjong Katong [MEDIA INVITE]

Kwan Inn Vegetarian, a renowned brand name in Singapore vegetarian food scene. Originally started in 1990 in Geylang East by Madam Choo Hong Eng (“the Jackpot Auntie”) whom are well known for her boundless charity contribution to the society. By December 2015, the Kwan Inn Vegetarian food has grown into 6 stalls and 1 restaurant. The restaurant is set up to promote a more innovative and extensive vegetarian cuisine to the market.

Innovative Salted Fish Fried Rice

In June 2016, Kwan Inn Vegetarian and Jus Delish Group enter into a collaboration to further promote the vegetarian lifestyle and cuisine in Singapore. Moving forward, Jus Delish Group will be the managing partner of this collaboration while Madam Kwan will continue to impart her skills in the kitchen, chief quality controller as well as the brand ambassador.

Pickle to tease your palate

Kopi Tiam Singapore Restaurant – Premium Singapore Cuisine [MEDIA INVITE]

Kopi Tiam Singapore Restaurant

Kopi Tiam Singapore Restaurant in Swissotel The Stamford is a perfect place to savour Singapore cuisine in air-conditioned comfort and settings. Popular Singapore dishes such as Fried Carrot Cake, Laksa, Mee Goreng, Nasi Lemak are readily available using premium ingredients to boost up the flavour of the food.

Kicking off this tasting session was Rojak ($16) and Satay ($16). The ingredients such as pineapple, cucumber, you tiao (fried dough) and water spinach in the rojak are fresh and contributed different flavours to the dish. The chilli is on the mild side which was good for me, it provide a subtle kick to the delicious fermented prawn paste that coated the ingredients. Satay was tender and succulent. It is well seasoned, with a hint of charred aroma. I personally like the mutton and beef, which was absent of any gamey taste. The peanut sauce was a bit too diluted for my liking, so I just ate the satay without it.

Rojak

Satay - Chicken, Mutton and Beef

Orchard Cafe – Straits Cuisine Buffet

Introducing the newly launch Straits Cuisine Buffet by Orchard Hotel. Straits Cuisine Buffet consist of Peranakan cuisine, traditional roast and seafood items and other all time local favourites dishes. Complementing the selections above, look forward to their live stations and a la minute highlights.