PUTIEN – Live Eels from Fujian [MEDIA INVITE]

Live Eel Cooked in Natural Spring Water

Following the successful DUOTOU Clam season where 130 tons were sold worldwide, PUTIEN introduces another seasonal ingredient – live eel. Famously known as a delicacy in Japan, these plump, live eels are best enjoyed in Midsummer (between August and October).

Live Eel

With the high demand for live eels from the Japanese market, China has taken the lead to cultivate eel agriculture concentrated in Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces to fulfil the demand of the Japanese market.

Master Chefs at PUTIEN will be showcasing 2 different way on live eel preparation in PUTIEN, in a minimalist way.

Live Eel Cooked in Natural Spring Water

Live Eel Cooked in Natural Spring Water ($29.90). The eel is cooked in natural spring water with ginger, goji berries and sea salt. The result is springy and bouncy texture of the eel, with subtle sweet and savoury taste at the same time. The spring water broth is light and sweet. Yummy!!

Live Eel Cooked in Natural Spring Water

Pan-fried Live Eel on Hot Plate ($26.90 for small, $40.30 for medium). It is grilled on the hot plate with only a pinch of sea salt. The eel is plump and juicy, with a hint of crispiness on the exterior. The flavour is very light, it might need additional salt and lemon to lift the taste.

Pan-fried Live Eel on Hot Plate

I find the taste and texture of the eel are different from those normally served in a Japanese restaurant. Instead of the sweet flavour followed with delicate texture, the eel in PUTIEN is plump and springy. I really enjoy it and was hoping for more. Yum Yum. 

Pan-fried Live Eel on Hot Plate

PUTIEN Live Eel Promotion

When: 9^th August to 31^st October 2019.

Where: 13 PUTIEN outlets, island-wide

Although the live eel is seasonal items, you can enjoy the dishes below are the mainstay in PUTIEN menu.

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker - Sambal

PUTIEN Bian Rou Soup ($4.90). This Fujianese speciality with more than 500 years of history. The dumpling wrapper is made from pork meat, filled with more pork feelings. It is meaty, springy and swimming in robust tangy broth filled with seaweed.

PUTIEN Bian Rou Soup 

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker $14.90 – Original, Tomato & Sambal. It comes in different flavour but my pick still the original and tomato flavour. No matter which version you choose, you can be sure that each croaker is perfectly cooked.

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker - Original

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker - Tomato

Shredded Pork with Sesame Bun ($4.90 / pc, min 2 pcs). The shredded pork is succulent, well coated with a sweet and savoury sauce. The fried sesame bun has a crispy exterior and fluffy interior provided an irresistible pillow to savour this delicious pork.

Shredded Pork with Sesame Bun

Shredded Pork with Sesame Bun

Sambal White Water Snowflakes ($14.90 for small). The white water snowflakes vegetable is commonly found in Taiwan. It has a nice crisp and crunchy texture.  In PUTIEN, this vegetable is fried with the fragrant sambal resulting in an aromatic and crunchy vegetable dish.

Sambal White Water Snowflakes

PUTIEN Style Pork Ribs ($6.50 / pc, min 2 pcs). Tender and succulent pork ribs braised with gooey sweet sauce. Keep a lookout for the surprise ingredient at the bottom of the ribs, Wai San. This root vegetable helps to thicken the gravy and balance the fattiness of the ribs.

PUTIEN Style Pork Ribs

Stir-fried Yam ($14.90). One of 10 PUTIEN Signature dish. Caramelised externally, yet soft and moist internally plus filled with the delicious flavour of the yam. This time around, the plating just go up another notch with the dry ice.

Stir-fried Yam

PUTIEN Lor Mee ($10.90 for small). Signature PUTIEN dish. The silky noodle, cooked with pork belly, prawn and clam and braised with the superb pork stock. I never miss ordering this whenever I am dining at PUTIEN. 

PUTIEN Lor Mee

PUTIEN Lor Mee

Overall, it was a unique experience to try the minimalist preparation of live eels in PUTIEN. I like both ways, though I would prefer if the portion is bigger. Cheers!!

Thank you very much for Relish PR and PUTIEN for hosting the media tasting.

***Congratulations to PUTIEN at Kitchener Road on receiving its 4^th consecutive Michelin One-Star Restaurant.***

Food: 7.75/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.75/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

PUTIEN

127 Kitchener Road

Singapore 208514

T: +65 6295 6358

W: http://www.putien.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/PUTIEN.RESTAURANT/

IG: @putien_sg

OH: Daily, 11.30 – 15.00 (LO 14.30), 17.30 – 22.00 (LO 21.30)

Menu and Branch Location available online

PUTIEN at Kitchener Road – Award Winning Fujian Cuisine [MEDIA INVITE]

Deep Fried Pork Trotters with Salt and Pepper

PUTIEN is a Singapore restaurant with its roots traced back to the city of Putian, a coastal suburb in Fujian, CHINA. Currently, one of the most well-known Fujian restaurants in ASIA, it currently has more than 53 outlets and growing.

In Singapore, the jewel of the restaurant is the outlet at Kitchener Road. It has won numerous prestigious awards, including Michelin One-Star Restaurant in 2016, 2017 and 2018.  Personally, I have visited other branch of PUTIEN, however, this is the first time I ever tried the food in Kitchener Road.

PUTIEN Lor Mee ($9.80 for Small, $19.50 for Medium and $28.80 for Large). A must order dish when you dine in PUTIEN. The noodle is cooked in a rich milky stock, together with the fresh clams. You will also find dried shrimp (Hae Bee) and small scallops that gave the broth its umami flavour.

PUTIEN Lor Mee (Individual Serving)

Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon ($9.80) is a very popular dish for a Heng Hwa restaurant in Singapore. The bee hoon is smooth with a touch of springiness, bursting with flavours from the broth it is cooked with. Simple looking, yet delicious.

Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon (Individual Serving)

PUTIEN Bian Rou Soup ($4.80 per pax). The first time I tried this soup. Looks like a mini wanton, however, the wrapper is made of pork meat. It is good, but pork flavour in the skin is very delicate not recognisable at first. After a few bites, you will notice the uniqueness of the wrapper.

PUTIEN Bian Rou Soup 

Seaweed with Mini Shrimps Dressed with Sauce ($7.90) and Stir-fried Yam ($13.90). The seaweed is an appetizing starter, as the chilled seaweed is tossed mini shrimps and vinegar dressing. While the stir-fried yum, is a fusion between sweet and savoury with crispy and crunchy.

Seaweed with Mini Shrimps Dressed with Sauce 

Stir-fried Yam

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker ($13.80). The yellow croaker fish, butterfly, and steamed in a claypot for 100 seconds. The result is  a perfectly cooked fish with tender and almost boneless flesh. The broth can be drink as a soup as well, without worrying about the fishy aroma. Yum Yum.

‘100-Second’ Stewed Yellow Croaker

Deep Fried Pork Trotters with Salt and Pepper ($6.50 per piece, min order 2 pcs). This dish only uses the front hind trotters. The skin is crispy, while there is not much meat on the hind, you will be sinking your teeth into the tendon and collagen.

Deep Fried Pork Trotters with Salt and Pepper

PUTIEN Sweet & Sour Pork with Lychees ($13.90 for Small, $20.90 for Medium). Tender and succulent sweet and sour pork. The sweetness added a different type of sweetness to this dish.

PUTIEN Sweet & Sour Pork with Lychees

Spinach in Supreme Stock ($13.90 for Small, $20.90 for Medium). Spinach cooked in the egg infused broth with salted egg and century egg. While this is a common dish in most of the restaurant, I have to admit the blend of the egg in the broth gave this dish in PUTIEN a slight edge. A flavour bomb vegetable dish indeed.

Spinach in Supreme Stock

Overall, dining at PUTIEN Kitchener Road is definitely different from other PUTIEN outlet. I visited the outlet at Parkway Parade a few times, however, it seems the dishes at the Kitchener branch is another level higher. Not only the food is delicious, but the price is pocket-friendly as well. If you like PUTIEN, give this branch a try.

Food: 7.75/10

Value: 9/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.75/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25, $26 - $50

Madam Leng Mooncakes at PUTIEN

During the Mid-Autumn Celebration, PUTIEN sale Madam Leng Mooncakes. Founded by Madam Leng Ah Eng, the longest-serving stalwart in PUTIEN, she has been making her Teochew style mooncakes for almost two decades. It comes in two flavours: Yam and Purple Sweet Potato (with/without single salted egg yolk). The fillings are made using Thailand’s Premium Taro and Japan’s First Grade Purple Sweet Potato respectively.

Madam Leng Mooncakes at PUTIEN

These mooncakes are in demand during the Mid-Autumn Celebration and this year, it sold out one week before the actual day of Mid-Autumn Festival. As no preservative is used in the mooncakes, it is best consumed within 3 days of purchase. So, keep this in mind and try out Madam Leng Ah Leng mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Celebration 2019.

 

Madam Leng Mooncakes

Purple Sweet Potato (with single salted egg yolk)

PUTIEN

127 Kitchener Road

Singapore 208514

T: +65 6295 6358

W: http://www.putien.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/PUTIEN.RESTAURANT/

IG: @putien_sg

OH: Daily, 11.30 – 15.00 (LO 14.30), 17.30 – 22.00 (LO 21.30)

[CLOSED] Jalan Petaling – Famous Malaysian Street Food in Singapore

KL Seafood Hokkien Mee

Jalan Petaling Famous Malaysian Street Food (“JP”) in Serangoon Garden is another culinary showcase by Long Jiang Culinary. JP is inspired by the famous Petaling Street, popular for its food heaven and shopping in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Jalan Petaling Famous Malaysian Street Food

A must try here, of course, their KL Seafood Hokkien Mee ($8.80). A signature dish of Jalan Petaling in Kuala Lumpur. The version here definitely comparable to the famous joint in KL. The unique thick yellow noodle absorbs the sweet, thick dark soya sauce gravy. You can taste the “Wok Hei” plus a generous portion of crispy and fragrant pork lard gave a nice burst flavour between bites. The seafood is fresh, complement the noodle nicely.

KL Seafood Hokkien Mee

KL Seafood Hokkien Mee

Claypot Stir-Fried Silver Noodle (Mee Tai Mak- $6.80). One of the most common dish found in “Chee Cheong Kai”, a popular nickname of Jalan Petaling given by the local. The Mee Tai Mak, cook in the similar dark gravy and served with a raw egg. The raw egg added the smooth silkiness in this dish. I find this dish a little too sweet and the Mee Tai Mak feels slightly mushy to my liking. I like it when the silver noodle is harder as it got more bits to it.

Claypot Stir-Fried Silver Noodle (Mee Tai Mak)

Seafood Lor Mee ($8.80). A dish that I was particularly fond of during my frequent visits to a Malaysian restaurant in Clayton, Victoria. I loved this dish because of the thick, silky robust broth that is filled with egg. In JP, the noodle used is the same as the KL Hokkien Mee. The broth is tasty but a bit more diluted and missing the OMPH. I know it is not fair to compare, however, I prefer a thick gooey Lor Mee style gravy and more punch in it.

Seafood Lor Mee

Seafood Lor Mee

Steamed Rice Roll with Yong Tofu and Curry Gravy ($6.80). The rice roll served in different ways, but the one with curry and yong tofu seems to be the more appetizing. Nothing much to say about the rice roll as it is factory made, while the curry is spicy and aromatic. Not a lot of coconut milk is used in the curry, as it has a lighter texture.

Steamed Rice Roll with Yong Tofu and Curry Gravy

The yong tofu are homemade with a good bounce and it is delicious. JP used minced pork and salted fish fillings, instead of the regular fish fillings. The Yong Tofu also served per piece at $1 each. You can choose from Stuffed beancurd, Stuffed Eggplant, Stuffed Bitter Gourd, Stuffed Chilli, Stuffed Beancurd Skin.

Yong Tofu

Rice Roll with Sweet Sauce

During our multiple visits, we found that Hakka Soy Sauce Chicken (SGD $16 Half, $30 Whole) is highly recommended. The braising sauce is robust and aromatic, while the chicken is braised just nice. The skin of the chicken is silky, smooth and springy. The meat is just succulent even for the breast part. At the cuts closer to the bone you can see some trace of blood. This is common and it shows that the chicken is cooked just right. The braising sauce is also a perfect companion for the white rice. Yum Yum.

Hakka Soy Sauce Chicken - Half

The Bak Kut Teh ($8) here is definitely the JB style. Herbal with a slight hint of pepper. The pork ribs are on the thinner side or less fat, resulting some of them tasted dry.

Bak Kut Teh

Located on the second floor of myVillage, the restaurant is filled with lots of natural light and nice outdoor scenery. The décor simple, following the current trend of industrial vibe. Service is a combination of self-service with the sauce and chillies, plates and cutleries while there are always service staff to take and serve your orders.

Part of Dining Area

Overall, Jalan Petaling is definitely a place worth a visit. LD and I have returned here several times and the food is easily likeable. Their signature KL Hokkien Mee and Hakka Soy Sauce Chicken are definitely on top of my recommendation. Cheers!!

Food & Drinks: 7.75/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: 7.25/10

Ambiance: 7.7510

Budget per Person: $11 - $25, $26 - $50

Jalan Petaling

Famous Malaysian Food Street 茨廠街美食

1 Maju Avenue

#02-01/02, myVillage

Singapore 556679

T: +65 6634 2288

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

IG: @JalanPetaling

OH: Daily 10.30 – 22.30

Tiong Bahru Lor Mee – Delicious But Not My Kind of Food

Tiong Bahru Lor Mee

Singapore Lor Mee originated from South Chinese Hokkien Dish. A bowl of thick yellow noodle, covered in thickened seafood soup. Normal toppings will include braised pork belly, ngoh hiang, fried fish, grated garlic and a dash of black vinegar.