Bowl Chap - 5-Spice Apple Braised Pork Belly Don @ Ayer Rajah Hawker Centre [Singapore]

Last Sunday, my friend sent a 8-days-magazine link on Facebook about a new stall that recently opened for business at Ayer Rajah food centre; a place we occasionally visit for lunch. 

Bowl Chap - a cheeky play of word for a local slang that's translated to "can't be bothered"; the stall name might not be exactly comforting for diners as i believe we would prefer to have a chef who CAN be bothered with what was served to us! Anyway, it can also refer to a chap who loves his bowls! 

Whatever the case, it's easy to remember (just like my favourite Waa Cow) although the play of word can be a double-edged sword. For example, my friends would joke "Waa Cow, so expensive!" and if food at bowl chap fails to impress, the joke would be "the chef really bochup sia". 

Guess that's why i am here; to ascertain if the operator couldn't be bothered. Oh well, i don't think a bochup chef would take the trouble to serve you koshihikari rice; said to super premium short grain Japanese rice. 

And miso soup was also provided for free (self service) from the pot next to the collection point. My personal grouch is that the soup pot was a bit too high for shorties like me. 

5-Spice Apple Braised Pork Belly Don - it's important to read the ingredients (if available) before ordering as i didn't and regretted my choice! Reason being i don't enjoy black fungus (often leave them untouched) and this don was filled with black fungus! Imagine the look on my face when i collected my order. Thankfully, my colleague was more than happy to take most of the black fungus! 

Other than the black fungus, i was impressed with the overall appearance of the don that has a local twist; a serving of braised pork belly, a portion of black fungus with carrots and hijiki, a cluster of paprika-spiced crispy popiah skin, a perfect onsen egg in the middle and a bed of koshihikari rice drenched with braised sauce! 

For a meat-lover, the main star was obviously the 5-spice apple braised pork belly and it sure didn't disappoint with a tender texture (said to be marinated overnight) and an appetising flavour that wasn't as sweet as expected. 

The chef could have been more generous with the meat as i cleaned up the bowl feeling a little less than satisfying. Nonetheless, there's an option to add extra braised pork belly, at a charge if you are in need of more fats and protein. 

I was given a piece of chicken from my colleague's chicken karaage with tonkatsu mayo don and thought it's really good with moist and juicy insides topped with a delish unique mayo-sauce dressing! 

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Location

503 West Coast Drive,

#01-80, Ayer Rajah Food Centre,  

Singapore 120503.

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/bowlchap/

Menu

As above.

Pricing
5-Spice Apple Braised Pork Belly Don - S$5.80

Baking Traditional Mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival

I can never understand the exorbitant pricing tagged to mooncakes and took up the task of baking the festive delicacies myself ever since i moved to my own place. 

It's honestly rather easy to make; so long you don't have to make the filling. I got mine from Phoon Huat with a wide variety of choices like the standard lotus paste to the more interesting green tea / milk tea lotus paste! 

For recipe, i followed the one by Jeannie Tay and didn't change much except for the following; 325 grams of golden syrup and instead of the 50 grams dough / 130 grams filling ratio, i used 125 grams filling instead. 

Problem is that you tend to have small little quantity of each filling lying around and since i paid good money for them, i am not going to waste by dumping them into the trash!  Hence, i combined the remainder of lotus paste, white lotus paste, red bean paste and salted egg yolk into the above mooncake.

Turned out to be scrumptious with Alex eating more than half in one sitting! I think this would likely be the standard flavour for next year's mid-autumn festival and if i happen to be jobless, orders shall be welcome! 

Before i end the post, i would like to wish everyone a happy mid autumn festival! p.s. eat in moderation as the calorie-count for traditional mooncakes are scarily high! 

Windmill Viewpoint - Overlooking Nai Harn and Yanui Beaches in Rawai @ Phuket Island [Thailand]

As a popular tourist destination blessed with a hilly terrain, there are a number of scenic viewpoints in Phuket and i conquered no less than 3 in my day trip with a private driver! This one (above) is known simply as windmill viewpoint. 

Just in case you are thinking of the traditional looking windmills from Amsterdam, it's actually the more modern ones known as wind turbines that are designed specifically to generate electricity! 

A picture of dad with the wind turbine.

However, we were there for the view and let me present to you the panoramic photo taken with my iPhone. Overlooking the Andaman Sea, i was more in awe of the turquoise green-blue water that eluded us the previous day at Phang Nga Bay. 

The water was clear even from where i stood and i was green with envy as i was hoping to bring my dad to check out the beautiful underwater world in this Phuket trip.

I was thinking if that nice structure on the right were a condominium and the residents were given exclusive right to park their yachts not too far away (albeit still requiring a swim or a boat ride). Turned out it was a 5-star hotel known as The Nai Harn! 

Anyway, good backdrop for another photo of my dad.

Island on the right of the photo is called Ko Man. Ko is Thai for island whereas i am drawing a blank on man. Can't be that the island is manly or filled with men or has one man right?

The left side appeared more happening even though the beach length of Yanui beach was shorter compared to the Nai Harn beach in front of the The Nai Harn.

Personally, having a large rocky outcrop is as important as crystal clear water since the former is usually teeming with corals, fishes and other sea creatures! Yes, i regretted not bringing along my easybreath snorkeling mask as i didn't expect to swim and snorkel for this day tour! :(

Dad again! 

I didn't think too much about the road and path on top of the hill until i was there after the Windmill Viewpoint. Hint: it's the place to check out Phuket's southernmost point. 

There's a simple pavilion at the viewpoint and if you wish to get some drinks / snacks, there's a kiosk nearby. You can also find a toilet (charges apply). Other than photo-taking, there's really nothing much to do. I think i will be better off snorkeling off Yanui beach. 

Last pic of another wind turbine in the compound of the energy station where it appeared to guard the spirit house. 

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Location Map

As above.

Private Driver Arrangement

If you are interested to engage Mr Daj for your day trip, you may whatsapp him at +66 86 274 9195 or email him at ded.chatha@gmail.com.

Want to see what else i did in Phuket? 

Check out my 5-day Phuket itinerary here! 

The Elephant Shrine (Honouring Brahma) at Promthep Cape in Phuket [Thailand]

Situated at the southernmost point of Phuket Island, Promthep Cape was said to be a must-go but sadly, i didn't find it as fascinating as the shrine i chanced upon (as above) in its vicinity.

There were literally hundreds of elephant statues surrounding the small shrine which would have caught your immediate attention from far, as it did for us! 

The shrine didn't appear any different from the famous Erawan shrine in Bangkok (四面佛) and upon further checks, the deity honoured within is the same Hindu God of Creation; Brahma. Just a little trivia here; the cape was named after Brahma too (Phra Phrom is the Thai name of Brahma).

Even though there were statues of elephant in varying sizes, one of the biggest would be the above; which i probably think would be about the size of a baby elephant. 

Nonetheless, signs were put up to determine visitors to sit on top of the statue. Aside from disrespect to the culturally revered animal, it's a safety issue since the statues are not built to withstand the weight of humans. 

From the biggest to the smallest; these statues placed around the shrine were about palm-sized. From my understanding (according to this webpage), you can buy and bring the carved elephants as offerings to the deity. 

Flower garlands were hung over the bigger elephants, together with sugar canes; said to be a favourite among the gigantic animals. Despite the supposed respect given, i find it strange to read and hear of stories about elephant abuse in Thailand. 

That's why i didn't plan for any tours to the elephant sanctuaries in Phuket since i can't be too sure if it's just a front for profitable enterprises. Anyway, entry to sanctuaries doesn't come cheap. 

Last few pictures of the elephant statues; lined up in circles around the shrine, all of them faced outwards as if to proclaim to the public, the arrival of the deity! Imagine the racket if they were real. 

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Location

Within the vicinity of Promthep Cape,

Rawai, Phuket Island, Thailand

Map

As above. 

Do click here for my 5-day Phuket itinerary!

Jerald's Birthday 2018

Moving into an executive condominium (or any condominium for that matter) means a wider array of facilities that is literally at your doorstep and my sister's kick-started the use of the common facility by booking the teppanyaki BBQ pavilion! 

As versus to charcoal, teppanyaki is so much quicker even though there's always the joy of lighting up the charcoal (okay, admit it's a double-edged sword), and food barbecued over charcoal does have a better, richer flavour. 

Anyway, i am not complaining since i am not the designated chef for the evening. Furthermore, the occasion was to celebrate the birthday of my beloved nephew; Jerald! 

Time flies, especially after you step into adulthood, and i can't imagine that he is now 11 years old! Another few more years and he would get into a growth spurt whereas his dear uncle me would start to shrink. 

Thankfully, birthday songs were belted out in only two languages. Compared that to their younger days when there were three languages and a Christian version! In addition, no competition between the kids to blow out the candles; it's rightfully reserved only for the birthday boy / girl.

But Jovyn still loves the action of being able to partake in the cake-cutting and being a nice brother he has always been, Jerald kindly allowed her. Apology for the picture quality; they were taken using a DSLR but i think i might have used the wrong setting. :(

And no, i didn't bake that professional looking cake! Frankly, i don't really have much time with my current workload at work and the baking of mooncakes for the mid-autumn festival. It doesn't help that i have not had the luxury of time to practice on baking a chocolate cake! 

Nevertheless, what's most important is that Jerald enjoyed the celebration and his cake! Happy birthday, Jerald and as your uncle, i wish you a fun-filled life that's also full of laughter and good health! 

Thai Style Pancake? More Like A Crepe! @ Phuket [Thailand]

I highlighted in Day Two of my Phuket trip that there were many places selling pancakes / crepes and most were street hawkers like the above. Honestly, i am keen to buy as the one i had a long time ago at either Krabi or Bangkok had a prata like texture, drenched with condensed milk and tasted super good.

However, i did notice that the supposedly pancake had a different appearance and thought it's best to check out its "cooking" process before i order. And thank god i did.

It was literally a crepe and even though i am not against crepes in general; i don't quite enjoy them as much i do for our local pancakes and even pratas. 

The end product was similar to the prata-like pancake i had before yet nothing like it once you tear them apart. Is it just the case in Phuket? I ran a check on Google and it seemed that the Thai pancake was indeed the kind i tasted eons ago! Guess i would have to do more homework in my next Thailand trip! 

Click here for my 5-day Phuket itinerary!