Uncle's Kitchen @ Bugis Junction

Located at basement of Bugis Junction. It was a weekday evening and was searching for a place to rest and have dinner when chanced upon this open-spaced shop. It's a no frills joint, but still employs friendly service staff to take your orders, serve the food and accept payment. Nice.

table and seats

menu

Does anyone remembers "Tea Shake Hut"? =)

To reminisce, ordered the Uncle's Kitchen Chicken Wing Fried Rice (@$6.90) and a green tea peach (@$3.90) drink.

green tea peach drink

chicken wings fried rice

mixed vege (peas, corn, carrots) and diced luncheon meat

The chicken wings tasted just like last time (probably around 8-9 years ago?) while the fried rice was alright. Spotty with the salt though.

Just so you know, there's really an uncle frying up the dishes!

Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery @ Bedok North

Located at Blk 84, Bedok North Street 4. It's just right next to Blk 85 (Fengshan Market and Food Centre). If travelling from the far west, one option is to take the MRT till Bedok station. Then walk towards Bedok Central bus stop and take #222. Alight opposite of Blk 85.

Lek Lim is a traditional nonya kueh shop that was founded in the late '80s and has been in its current location for 32 years. It is also halal certified.

32 years, same location

humble family business that believes delicious kueh can bring joy to anyone who tastes them

Fast forward to current; the baton has now been passed to the third-generation of the family, Gavan.

Gavan, sharing the history of Lek Lim

Gavan has shared that throughout the years, the recipe for the kuehs had seen some tweaking, in particularly to cater to the healthier crowd. Which means that currently they're using less coconut, and no eggs.

delectable ang ku kuehs

pulut inti, lovely ambons

popiah, curry puffs

fried yam cake

However, in a surprising twist, it is the fried items that's the current crowd favourite (!?).

As this was an invited session, we got to try our hands on some kueh makings. Nothing too complicated. It's more like kueh assembling rather than kueh making. It's absolutely beginner-proofed!

Ang Ku Kueh Session

pre-prepped ingredients: kueh fillings (peanut, green bean and coconut) and ang ku kueh skins

The only tools that one need for this; a plastic mould and deft hands. Ok, maybe the deft hands belonged to Gavan and the other masters in the shop. But we had fun, and the steps are really simple.


Steps:

1. Wash hands and wipe dry
2. Pinch a good amount of skin flour. The amount to pinch depends on the size of the filling
3. Roll gently to form a ball, before flattening it out
4. Make a gentle depression in the middle of the flattened skin
5. Place the filling into the depressed area
6. Roll up the skin and form a ball
7. Dip it into dry flour and roll abit
8. Dip it a second time and place the flour-ed surface into the mould
9. Press down gently (not too much, otherwise the flour ball might get stuck in the mould)
10. Knock the kueh out of the mould

rolling and rolling

red (sifu's version), black and green are the novices' version

off to the steamer, to sauna for about 25 minutes~

ready-to-sell version looks like this

If you think ang ku kueh session was simple, then the how to wrap pulut inti session would be a piece of...err.. kueh? =P


Pulut Inti Session

banana leaves, the inti (coconut filling) and the pulut

Steps:

1. Take one piece of banana leaf
2. Place one square piece of pulut onto the leaf
3. Pinch some coconut fillings
4. Wrap: Fold the leaf into half (vertical half), then tuck in one end downwards. For the other end, cross the leaf edge and tuck in downwards

tucking in progress

ta-dah~

Amah was the one that showed us how to fold the pulut inti, so I asked her how did I fare. She said, "Passed. 100%." Keke.

To appreciate the handmade tradition of Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionary, let's take a glimpse at how the experts do it.

lots and lots of ku chai

busy chopping, fillings for ku chai kueh

delicious savoury fillings (imagine the amount of work that had gone into this)

experts making soon kuehs

waiting to enter the steamer

moulding the peng kueh

almost ready

handmade kueh

Here's a look at completed products (sans packaging):

ang ku kuehs (boys and girls version)

 

ondeh-ondeh sans coconut coating

kueh bengka (tapioca kueh)

customers mulling over which kuehs to buy

One can't help but to feel a little more appreciative of the work that has gone through for these handmade goodies.

at home with colourful kuehs

just needa re-steam prior to eating

yummy soon kueh

fragrantly light ku chai kueh

peng kueh

For the savoury types, Lek Lim's Ku Chai (菇菜) kueh (@$0.70 per piece), has become my personal favourite. Had it right off the steamer, and its skin was super thin. In fact, I think it has the best skin! If you like the fragrance of ku chai, then this kueh will not disappoint. It gave an overall light taste. If you want this, better be there before 4pm as the kueh may be sold out by then!

In terms of stronger flavour and texture, the Soon (筍) kueh's (@$0.70 per piece) filling was the best amongst the three savouries. A multitude of ingredients including mushrooms, turnip, bamboo shoots and dried shrimps. Also liked that it wasn't overly peppery!

Lek Lim has an online presence, and one can order and have it delivered right up to the doorstep (delivery charges applies). How convenient is that!

Special thanks to Gavan and family (especially the elders!), for giving us a chance to take a peek into the traditional nonya kueh making processes. While I have not eaten enough kuehs to be able to compare between handmade and factory-made versions, I do know that I've enjoyed most of Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery's especially the ku chai kueh, ambon and the green and black ku kueh (with coconut and green bean fillings respectively).

Do remember to drop by and try some of these delectable kuehs when you're around the neighbourhood.

Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery

Location: Blk 84, Bedok North Street 4, #01-21, Singapore 460084
Tel: 64490815     Fax: 64424958
Email: enquiry@kuehkueh.com.sg
Website: www.kuehkueh.com.sg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LekLimNonyaCake

Kith Cafe @ Park Mall

Visited on a Friday evening and the place was bustling after 7pm. Chose to sit at the alfresco dining area.

menu, with Today's Specials

The service staff are dressed in blue checkered shirts, and service was brisk since the place got rather busy towards the later part of the evening.

Asahi draft

For warm evenings, have a glass of Grapefruit Asahi (@$10++) to cool. Pleasant tasting and luckily the grapefruit wasn't too sour.

Grapefruit Asahi

Beer sipping and watching the world goes by while waiting for friends to arrive.

outdoor seats

Ordered Truffle Fries and Grilled Chicken Salad for starters. Not many pieces of grilled chicken though, but still likeable. The julienned green apples was sweet sourish and was a good complement to the salad.

Grilled Chicken Salad (@$15++)

grilled chicken, wild rocket, julienned green apple, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts with vinaigrette dressing

Fries (@$9.50++) straight cut fries, parmesan cheese with truffle oil

The fries were served piping hot, and aromatic with truffle oil. Was feeling quite full after finishing the starters. So we ordered just two mains to share. The ravioli looked pretty. In terms of taste, I'd prefer the spaghetti as am not a fan of doughy ravioli. The tenderloin cubes could do with a little bit more tenderness but it was still tasty. Polished these dishes in no time.

Ravioli (@$22++)

ravioli, spinach ricotta, tomato sauce

Spaghetti with beef tenderloin cubes (@$20++)

tenderloin cubes, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes

Also tried the tiramisu and piccolo latte. Tiramisu was not overly sweet but seemed like there wasn't any alcohol taste either. The piccolo latte was thick and can be enjoyed without any sugar.

tiramisu (@$8++)

piccolo latte (@$4++)

The food above was enough to feed four ladies. In fact, was feeling super full after dinner. Last order was around 9.15pm as the place closes at 10pm.