what's for lunch?

On a cold and rainy day,

there was nothing we wanted more than bak kut teh.

But alas,

lunch at Founder was not to be.

For they were closed. :(

Whampoa Market then.

Still gotta queue even at 3pm in the afternoon.

For a delicious mess.

The sauce was more than ample.

And I loved my healthy mix of vegetables.

And of course we needed some comfort food.

These oysters were bigger than I expected.

Crispy egg and just enough gluten.

Pick a main.

Duck rice.

No question.

Their orh peng (Black Rice)

was savoury.

Duck meat was firm and braising liquids were clearly infused.

For the first time,

I didn't actually mind the gravy.

It was a good compliment.

And their chilli?

Mmmm.

And a mandatory stop at my favourite tau sar piah shop. It's an iconic neon lit signage, first shop at the start of the row of TSPs.

Flaky.

That pastry is to die for.

And I always only ever like the salty ones.

You just can't stop at one.

*Gobbles.

Whampoa Market at 92 Whampoa Drive

With a text message like that, i was worried. Was my friend by any chance pregnant?!

(She's single so being preggers would be a disaster.)

Thankfully, it was just a craving.

Where could be a place that would have everything she wanted? Oh but of course, at Whampoa Market. Out of the way, but when a craving strikes, the call must be answered before it manifests itself in different ways. Oh the hazards of humans.

So taking trains, cabs and walks, we individually made our way over to Whampoa Market at 92 Whampoa Drive. Just a side note, typing the name made me wonder how an American would pronounce it (wham-po-ah?) and how ridiculous a word it seems. Almost as if it were a nonsense word.

But anyway, here we go with dinner tonight.

BBQ chicken wings. Hot off the charcoal grills. Juicy. Tender. With a dip into that sour spicy garlic chilli concoction. Immense satisfaction for an appetizer.

Hokkien Mee. I'm hokkien. And I love my MEE! :)

Today's version was a little drier. I probably got the first/last batch off the wok. With the peanut chilli sambal that never seems to be enough.

Oh yum. Hainanese chicken. Skin with that bit of bite. Fragrant chicken oil mixed with light soy sauce. And a non typical chilli dip. I liked this more than I thought I would!

A measly portion of stingray and a miserable excuse for sambal kangkong. They definitely won't be seeing me again.

And because so many people were making orders for cockles. We needed to have a hand in the blood war. Indulgences. In moderation. Keep these away from me for the next half a year please!

All that for dinner. Dinner for just two.

A false alarm of pregnancy.

An enjoyment of local fare at hawker centre prices.

Just before we leave. Another order for a takeout of half a dozen chicken wings please. Two to have on the spot just because it was irresistable, leaving four to go. Mmmyum!

Satay would've completed our meal. Some rojak?

Or maybe some local dessert.

And maybe we need to exercise a little bit of moderation.

A sense of achievement for having kept our KOI drinks, skipping the satay, rojak and dessert.

All that for next time!

That's moderation, innit? :)