Le Cheng – Authentic Hainanese Flavour [MEDIA INVITE]

Le Cheng Hainanese Chicken Rice is a concept by Ah Seng, a Hainanese and the boss / founder of Gu Zao Ren, renowned for its homely Hainanese and Taiwanese cuisine. Le Cheng is named after a town in Hainan where Ah Seng grew up. The opening of Le Cheng signifies a celebration of 25-years family tradition and the years of Ah Seng’s dedication to mastering Hainanese dishes.

Le Cheng Hainanese Chicken

Gu Zao Ren

One of the most renowned Hainanese dishes, also known as the Singapore National dish is Chicken Rice. Le Cheng Kampong Chicken [$21.80 half / $41.80 whole]. Le Cheng uses Kampong Chicken as it delivers more flavours. We had half portion because we wanted to try the breast and thigh meat.

Le Cheng Kampong Chicken - Half

The thigh meat is juicy and succulent. The meat is packed with flavour and the chicken skin is also bouncy. While Kampong chicken breast meat is usually dry and though, Le Cheng cooked their chicken spot on. It is juicy and bursting with flavour.

Le Cheng Kampong Chicken - Half

For the chicken rice [$1], it is aromatic and infused with chicken broth. Each grain of rice is plump and not mushy. LD also approve their thick and rich chilli sauce plus the zesty ginger.

Chicken Rice with Chicken Breast

White Pepper Claypot Chicken Soup [$28 / $48], another Le Cheng Signature dish. Crafted with a secret blend of spices that includes ginger, black fungus, wolfberries and chicken oil. The broth is robust, creamy and followed by a mild pepper kick. Yes, LD and I find the pepper is mild, it can be better if it increases by 30%. The chicken has a pleasant chewiness, yet very tasty.

White Pepper Claypot Chicken Soup

To enjoy the flavour of the White Pepper Claypot Chicken Soup, you can order some Add Ons [$4 each]. We decided on White Tofu, Chinese Cabbage and Enoki Mushrooms. Other options available are Vermicelli, Bee Hoon, Thick Bee Hoon, Lettuce, Spinach, Seaweed and Yam.

White Tofu, Chinese Cabbage and Enoki Mushrooms

Accompanying our chicken rice meal are some popular dishes in Gu Zao Ren. Yes, Le Cheng is located beside Gu Zao Ren and they share the same kitchen. Therefore, you can still order dishes from Gu Zao Ren.

Le Cheng Menu 1

Le Cheng Menu 2

Gu Zao Ren Menu

Fried Fermented Pork [$14 / $16]. A dish that I always order when I go to Gu Zao Ren. Perfectly marinated, the exterior is crispy and the meat is so juicy, that just melts in your mouth.

Fried Fermented Pork

Fried Sotong with Ginger & Onions [$14 / $16]. A nicely executed zi char dish. The sotong is tender and bouncy, coated and infused with the sauce from the ginger and onion.

Fried Sotong with Ginger & Onions 

Green Dragon Vegetables with Mushroom [$12 /$14]. Fresh, tasty and we can taste the natural flavour of the green dragon vegetables. Fried Bean Sprout with Salted Fish [$10 / $12]. LD & I love the crunchy texture of the bean spouts and we can taste the salted fish in the background. However, we wish there is more salted fish bits.

Green Dragon Vegetables with Mushroom 

Fried Bean Sprout with Salted Fish

The décor of Le Cheng is kept to the minimum. The place is clean, bright and air-conditioned. The focus here is solely on the food.

Part of the Dining Area

Overall, LD and I like the Le Cheng chicken rice. It is well-executed, tasty and very comforting. The White Pepper Claypot Chicken Soup is good communal and comforting hotpot dish that bring people together. While the other zi char dishes are good, the Fried Fermented Pork stands out among the rest. A must-order dish here. Do visit Le Cheng for their Kampong Chicken Rice and their homely dishes. Cheers!!

Jumbo Iced Lemon Tea - Super SHIOK!!

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and Le Cheng team for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 7.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 6.5/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

Le Cheng

389 Changi Road

Singapore 419838

T: +65 9022 7789

W: https://lechenghainanesechickenrice.oddle.me/en_SG/

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

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

OH:

Mon – Fri: 10.00 – Midnight

Sat & Sun: 09.00 – Midnight

SPRMRKT After Hours x ENJOY Eating House and Bar [MEDIA INVITE]

From Jalan Besar to Dempsey Hill, SPRMRKT teams up with Enjoy Eating House and Bar to Bring Authentic Singapore Cuisine to Dempsey. Known as a lifestyle destination, SPRMRKT united its loves for food, retail and art during the day. These “after-hours” collaborations will celebrate Modern Singapore cuisine and leave diners with nostalgic happy memories and “SHIOK” feeling.

SPRMRKT

The Window to
SPRMRKT After Hours x Enjoy Eating House and Bar

We kick off the meal this evening with Kueh Pie Tee [$18]. A traditional Peranakan appetiser, the “atas” version. Jicama braised in prawn and conpoy stock, handmade pastry shells and fresh prawns Paired with shredded egg, sweet soy and house garlic chilli. For me, this crispy mini cup is always a welcome starter. It is a “flavour bomb” that delivers exciting flavours and textures, especially when the ingredients are upgraded, especially the fresh prawns and the thick cut of jicama. I like mine without chilli, opposite to LD.

Kueh Pie Tee

My Creation

Chonky Chicken Satay [$20]. Juicy and succulent spice marinated jumbo size chicken thigh, served with homemade ketupat (rice cake). A restaurant standard of satay, each bite of the satay is bursting with spices marinates, accompanied by ketupat dip in coconut milk for that umami richness. Though the satay is already very nice on its own, the creamy peanut sauce increases the “Shiokness” to this dish and the pineapple puree balances the rich creamy flavour nicely.

Chonky Chicken Satay

Enjoy Hokkien Mee [$34]. Masterfully created by Chef Joel, infused with Wok Hei (Breath of Wok). Lots of ingredients such as Wild-caught “Ang Kar” prawns, pork belly, squid, pork lard and secret rich prawn broth. For those who like things spicy, don’t forget their housemade chilli. Yummy!

Enjoy Hokkien Mee

Crispy Local Barramundi in Chef Joel’s Red Curry [$29]. A thick slice of deep-fried sustainable sea-farmed local barramundi fillet, house coconut curry sauce and sauteed local vegetables. I like the deep-fried fish as it has crispy exterior, followed by soft and flaky flesh. The red curry is rich, fragrant and spicy, however, due to the plating style, the red curry and the fish seem distant. You have to scoop the red curry sauce to the fish, to ensure you get the right taste, unlike the traditional curry dish.

Crispy Local Barramundi in Chef Joel’s Red Curry

The Flesh

To accompany the meal, we had Pandan Negroni Cocktail [$14] and Milo Dinosaur Mocktail [$14]. The cocktail is refreshing with a twist of local flavour, while the Milo Dinosaur is enhanced with Vanilla infused syrup.

Pandan Negroni Cocktail

Milo Dinosaur Mocktail

Overall, it is an exciting project for SPRMRKT After Hours, where the diners can enjoy Modern Singapore cuisine with Chef Joel’s signatures. The Enjoy Hokkien Mee is a die die must try!! Cheers!!

The Bar

Outdoor Dining Area

SPRMRKT After Hours x Enjoy Eating House and Bar

When: Every Thursday – Sunday

Time: 17.00 – 22.00

Location: SPRMRKT Dempsey

Thank you very much Chef Joel & SPRMRKT Team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7/10

Service: N/A (Media Invite)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26-$50; $51 – 80

SPRMRKT x ENJOY

8 Dempsey Road

#01-15a

Singapore 247696

T: +65 8129 8166 (WA for Orders & Reservations)

W: https://sprmrkt.com.sg/

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

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

OH:

SPRMRKT After Hours:

Thu – Sun: 17.00 – 22.00

Menu available online

Zhup Zhup by One Prawn & Co – The Ultimate Comfort Food [MEDIA INVITE]

One Prawn & Co, known for its Japanese Tonkotsu-style broth prawn noodles and earned a Bib Gourmand spot in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2022 and 2023, is rebranding to Zhup Zhup by One Prawn & Co (“Zhup Zhup”)

Zhup Zhup Store

Their famous Gao-Gao prawn broth has brought enjoyment to many diners and turned them into loyal customers. Executive Chef / Owner Gwyneth Ang and her team have expanded the menu at Zhup Zhup to include the ultimate comfort food.

The Menu

Claypot Lobster Paofan ($58), An entire lobster, prawns, Asari clams and Japanese rice poached in their umami-packed prawn broth. Topped with egg floss and Japanese rice that has been specially dehydrated (not fried) in-house for a lovely textural contrast.

Claypot Lobster Paofan 

The overall dish is so comforting, LD and I cleaned the whole claypot till the last drop.

Claypot Lobster Paofan - Individual Serving 

The Lobster

The Last Drop

The Paofan also come in the seafood version ($16). Poached in Zhup Zhup’s signature prawn broth, loaded with prawns and Asari clams.

Claypot Hokkien Mee ($14). Chef's recommendation, the yummy ingredients include prawns, Asari clams, thick vermicelli, yellow noodle, plus Zhup Zhup umami prawn broth.

Claypot Hokkien Mee 

It is an amazing Hokkien Mee. Pack with flavours and loaded with hips of ingredients. The ingredients are about the same as the cards, I wish they have the option of adding extra noodles.

Claypot Hokkien Mee 

Not forgetting, Singapore’s favourite Zi Char dish, Har Cheong Gai ($9). Crispy externally and the mid-wing fresh is juicy, succulent and bursting with prawn paste marinate. Yummy.

Har Cheong Gai

Overall, Executive Chef / Owner Gwyneth Ang and her team have created a delicious comfort food to add to their menu. Using their Signature prawn broth, the paofan and claypot Hokkien mee are amazing. The same can be said with their Har Cheong Gai. There are more reasons to visit Zhup Zhup as they are now open from 11.00AM to 09.00PM. Cheers!!

A full review of their Tonkotsu Prawn Noodles is available here.

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy, Chef Gwyneth and Zhup Zhup Team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 6.5/10

Service: N/A (Media Invite)

Ambiance: 6.5/10

Budget per Person: $11 – 25; $26 - $50

Zhup Zhup by One Prawn & Co

458 Macpherson Road

Singapore 368176

T: +65 9878 8897

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

IG: @Zhupzhup_by_oneprawnnco

OH: Tue – Sun: 11.00 – 21.00

Closed on Sundays

Boon Kee Kway Teow Noodle – Since 1976

Boon Kee Kway Teow Noodle. Huh? That is my first reaction. I never heard of that name before, although I am a regular patron of the handmade fishball noodle shop at Chia Chee Drive. I spotted a post in one of the Food Group and it proudly posted that Boon Kee Kway Teow Noodle (“Boon Kee”) has been operating since 1976.

Hidden in Jalan Senang, the secluded part of Kembangan, the coffee shop catered mainly for the surrounding residents. It is very easy to spot outsiders like LD and I, when we enter the coffee shop.

When I went to the stall to order, Ah Guan, the first generation is busy changing the water for cooking the noodle. I was served by the son, Ah Poh. I ordered Mee Kia, dry and non-spicy ($4). He then asked me if I wanted ketchup or black sauce. I decided on the black sauce.

Mee Kia, Dry, Black Sauce

For $4, the portion is very generous. The toppings of bak chor (minced pork), sliced fish cakes, fishballs and meatball covered the noodles. The black sauce and pork oil are perfectly tossed to cover the al-dente noodles. Luckily, I did not order the $5 version, if not I will be having a hard time finishing it.

Mee Kia with Dark Sauce (Malaysian Style)

LD ordered the Mee Kia, spicy ($4). Usually, she will ask to add ketchup to the noodles, however, in Boon Kee this is the standard style. They called it the classic. The noodle is al-dente and the portion is generous as well. Although the chilli is good, LD says it is missing a bit of OMPH!!.

Mee Pok, Dry with Chilli (Ketchup + Chilli)

I also ordered Fishball Soup ($4). We got around 12 pcs of fishballs. The fishballs are soft and bouncy, plus you can see some pork lard swimming in the soup. I personally like the meatball better than the fishballs.

Fishball Soup

The drink stalls seem to be run by the same team, as they all wear the red colour Boon Kee Kway Teow Noodle shirt.

Overall, it was a fruitful journey to Jalan Senang. Boon Kee version of fishball noodle is indeed the classic version. We will return to try their Laksa and White fishball noodle (pork lard + light soy sauce version) as well. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 9.5/10

Service: N/A (Self Service)

Ambiance: N/A (Coffee Shop)

Budget per Person: $0 – $10

Boon Kee Kway Teow Noodle

(Since 1976)

92 Jalan Senang

Singapore 418464

T: +65 9362 8578

IG: @Boonkeekwayteownoodle

OH:

Mon – Sat: 06.15 – 15.30

Closed on Sundays