Crazy Ang Mo: He really is a little Crazy

With PowerAunty

Crazy Burger $7.90

Khim was the first to tell me about this new Ang Moh Hawker in Bishan when they first opened months ago. A few days after she raved about the food, she went back again and reported that her second visit wasn't as rosy. So I kept it on the shelf for a while. Then the reviews started coming in the forums comparing them with the other Ang Moh Hawker, Botak Jones -- and Crazy Ang Moh came up short. So I thought that that was the end of the line and that this Ang Moh in the Heartlands was not going to appear in the blog.

But then I heard a bit more about this "Crazy" Ang Moh going around with a loud hailer, organizing ice cream eating competitions for the kids and even praying for one particular old man with a frozen shoulder. (The old man apparently came back the next day exuberant that his shoulder was healed!) On top of that, I heard they actually served true blue Aussie tucker (food). So I thought it was interesting enough to go see just how crazy this particular Ang Moh really is.

When I was a medical student in Sydney, my favourite Aussie food were meat pies, fish and chips and Burgers. What makes an Aussie Burger different is that they add a slice of Beetroot to the burger to give it that tangy sweet taste. Takes a bit of getting used to, but it actually does grow on you. So I was really happy to find that Crazy Ang Moh served up an Aussie Burger with the Beetroot as well as a slice of pineapple, sunny side up egg and cheese for $7.90.

The pineapple and beetroot gave the burger a sweetish tingle which I really enjoy. (Same reason why I like Sweet and Sour Pork), though I felt that the meat was ground too fine and was a little over spiced with Oregano. I reckon with a bit of tweaking with the pattie and this burger could be one of the really good and cheap burgers in town. (But you'll have to learn to appreciate beetroot) 4/5


Fish and Chips $6.50

Now, the Burger was close to a Fair Dinkum (true blue) Aussie Burger but I can't say the same for the fish and chips. I have never seen bits of herb in the batter anywhere in Australia. They use cream dory here which sometimes can taste a little muddy. There are lots of very competent hawker fish and chips around and this one just fails to stand out amongst all of them. I guess by using a fish that is more traditionally Aussie like Hake would drive the price up, but at least it would differentiate them from the rest of the local hawker western food. I for one would love to eat a fish and chips that does not have any kind of Dory in it! 3.5/5


Banana Pudding 4/5

The man behind the fryer is Tennis Coach and Wollongong boy, Paul Crinis who came to Singapore on a whim to teach Tennis. He then met one of our lovely Singaporean girls and decided to stay a little longer. When she brought him home to meet Mom, he was so loud that by the end of the visit, she started calling him the Crazy Ang Moh. Now she has a Crazy Ang Moh as a son-in-law and even a half Ang Moh granddaughter.

Conclusion

I must admit that I was not really expecting the food to be first class after reading the reviews. But I think that Crazy Ang Moh does have some saving grace, one being that it is the only joint that serves up an Aussie Burger and I also heard that he does a Roast Leg of Lamb for Weekend lunches for $15.90. (I think that is worth checking out) Plus, I think it is heartening to see an Aussie Bloke in the Singapore heartlands really trying to spread some Aussie culture amongts us more conservative Singaporeans.

Crazy Ang Moh
Bishan St 24
Block 279 Food Court
#01-62/64
Mon to Thur 11am to 10pm,
Fri 11am to 11pm
Sat 8am to midnight
Sun 8am to 9pm

Astons Prime: Wagyu Tenderloin!

Wagyu Tenderloin 250gm $79.95

When it comes to steak, I usually order Ribeye, T-bone or Sirloin. I avoid Tenderloin because it lacks the robust beefy flavour due to the lack of fat. Because of this, lots of places serve tenderloin wrapped with a piece of bacon to give it a bit more flavour. Furthermore, the serving of tenderloin is usually quite small so it never really satisfies a Beefeater. It would be safe to say that a lot of ladies go for tenderloin because of its tenderness, lack of fat and the smaller servings. Right ladies?

Anyway, when Astons told me that he just got hold of this Grade 7 Wagyu Tenderloin at "Fell off the back of a truck" prices, I just could not resist. The truth was that I was a bit skeptical. A Tenderloin is a Tenderloin even if it was a Wagyu Tenderloin..... or so I thought.

It is quite amazing to see the extent of marbling on a Wagyu Steak, but even more amazing to see it on a Tenderloin which is usually very lean. The marbling on the Tenderloin is more intricate and reticular (net like) then that of Ribeye, so pound for pound there is still less fat on the Tenderloin.



A delicate piece of meat like this needs to be treated royally and Astons got it just right for me. Conventional wisdom says that Wagyu should be cut thinner and quickly seared on the outside so that the fats won't all melt during the cooking process, leaving a piece of cardboard-like steak. But have a look for yourself.... this is a thick steak that is beautifully charred on the outside but still juicy pink on the inside.

Taste wise, this is the BEST Tenderloin I have ever tasted. The meat is tender and the wonderful beefy juices are released with every bite. Truly a wondrous piece of meat which will satisfy the most fastidious of carnivores. 4.6/5

Conclusion

You have got to see it and taste it to believe it!

Link to previous Wagyu Article

Astons Prime
467 Joo Chiat Road
Open 11.30 to 11pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Call 63442447 for reservations
astonsspecialties.blogspot.com

Hong Mei Western Food: Hainanese Biscuit Crumb Pork Chops!

With iwatch_ueat and liverpool


I have decided to create a special label for our very unique style of "Hawker" Western Food which I think should be considered a very special style of hawker food rather than simply "Western" food. You know what I mean? "Hawker" Western Food has Hainanese roots and is typically served with Baked Beans and Chips. In addition, the meats are marinated with a mix of local as well as western sauces.

There are many Western Food Stalls around and sometimes it is hard to differentiate between them. But I have found this little stall in the HDB heartland that serves up quality stuff that is cheap and they have a few special points that really makes them special.

Firstly, the batter here is your traditional Hainaese style batter which is made from biscuit rather then bread crumbs. This results in a very light, yet crispy batter which has just that extra crunch to it. The fish and chips here at $4.50 is probably one of the cheapest around, and you don't get the usual Cream Dory which can sometimes taste a little muddy. The owner Jeffrey tells us that there are 3 categories of Dory: Cream, Pacific and White Dory of which he uses the best one which is White Dory. Now I can't get any info about White Dory, so if any readers out there know anything, please share with us.

Anyway the Fish is perfectly fried. The batter is super crisp and light and the fish is juicy. The only complain I have is that it is served with mayonnaise rather than tartare sauce. But at $4.50 for White Dory Fish and Chips, I won't complain too much. 4.25/5



The second thing that differentiates this stall apart is their 40 year old BBQ sauce which is made from 13 ingredients. This sauce has been passed down from his father-in-law who started selling Western Food in Geylang Bahru. The little "bits" that you see in the sauce is fried garlic and onions, then there is Leas and Perrin, HP sauce, Bay leaves and Maggi Seasoning. The rest of the ingredients are kept secret. I must say that I really enjoyed this very unique sauce. Its sweet and a little bit tangy and it has that Asian taste about it. Quite unlike any BBQ sauce that I have tasted.


Pork Chops $4.50

If you enjoy Hainanese Style Pork Chops then you should really pay this little stall a visit. For $4.50, you gett 2 slices or "proper" Pork Chops with the bones still attached. A lot of places give Pork Loin that do not have the bit of bone with which all the nice tender and juicy flesh is attached. The same biscuit batter is used and it is served with the BBQ sauce. This is the cheapest Hainanese Pork Chops in Town and its pretty darn good too! 4.25/5

Conclusion

Good and cheap Hainanese style western food. It is not easy to find this type of biscuit crumb batter anymore, so this is a real gem of a find!

Hong Mei Western Delight
Blk 515 Bedok North Ave 2
#01-181
Jeffrey 90275437
1.30pm to 11pm daily

Recommended by Steven Wong

Wow Wow West: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree!

Chicken Chop $4

Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been three long years
Do ya still want me (still want me)
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree

This song was based on an actual incident in 1973 where a recently released convict was on the bus home after serving a prison term. He wasn't quite sure if his wife still wanted him back after three long years. He said in his letter that if she had chosen to move on with her life, he would understand. But if she wanted him back, she should tie a yellow ribbon round the Old Oak Tree as a sign that he should get off the bus and come home.

As, the bus approached his home town, he was so afraid of disappointment that he asked the bus driver to look out for the yellow ribbon for him instead. When they finally saw the Oak Tree, it didn't just have a single ribbon, the tree was full of yellow ribbons! His wife wanted him to know, without the shadow of a doubt that he had been forgiven and he had a family to come home to!

We all know about the power of forgiveness. How many times have we done something wrong and needed to seek forgiveness from someone? Remember the sense of relief when the person you wronged eventually smiles and accepts your apology?

But here we are talking about a bigger wrong. Someone who has committed a crime against society and has been put in Prison for a period of time. Having paid the price for his transgressions, is he now accepted back into society?

So what does all this have to do with a Wow Wow West? Well, quite a lot really.

Eric Ng (that's his car on the right), the owner of Wow Wow West wasn't an quite an ex-convict himself, but he did spend some time at Boys Town when he was younger. He started attending Church after Boy's Town and began his career in the food and beverage industry working at places like the Raffles Hotel. He still does catering for the Istana (I was told that his honey baked ham was a favourite dish amongst the big wigs there). But he recalls that there was a time in his life when he was not serious about his faith and his family life was not exactly smooth sailing.


Pork Chop $5

Things came to a head one day when his eldest daughter ran away from home. It was at this time of trouble that he realized he really needed to get right with God. He made a deal with God that if his daughter would return home, he would dedicate his life to serving him as a counselor with the halfway house.

Well, you can guess what happened. His daughter did come home, so Eric made good his promise to God.

Now he employs ex-offenders (fully salaried) who work daily at his Western Food Shop up till 11pm. He then sits down with them and counsels them, sometimes till 2am in the morning. Although most of these men have already turned their backs on their previous lives, it still takes time to work out some of the issues which still haunt them.

It was such a joy to talk to Eric who tells me that though it can be very trying at times to work with the ex-offenders, he feels that his rewards have been bountiful. His whole family now helps out at the stall whenever possible and the business is brisk. His stall is easily one of the busiest at the Food Center, a testament to God's Blessings, says Eric.


Fish and Chips $5

I realise that there are really two styles of Hawker "Western" Food nowadays. The traditional ones have that local flavour as most of them would incorporate Asian ingredients like MSG and soy sauce in their marinade. However, there are those like Wow Wow West whose food taste more "Western" as they use mostly herbs like basil and tarragon and avoid the use of MSG.

The thing that struck me most about the food was the generous amount you get for the price. The first dish we were served was the Fish n Chips which was HUGE for only $5. Seriously, it was the size of a Ping Pong bat and it was thick! The bread crumb crust was also executed well so it was crisp but not oily. Now the only thing is that they use Cream Dory which can sometimes taste a bit muddy. I was impressed with the homemade coleslaw here which is cold and crisp and easily better than KFC's. The tartare sauce could be a little more tangy and have more pickles, but hey at $5, one should not complain too much. 4/5

The other best selling items here are the Chicken Chop and Pork Chops. Both are seasoned with western herbs which was alright for me. But you know, sometimes I still like the more traditional marinade with the MSG oomph. Again the portions are generous. For $5, you get 2 thick slices of pork loin the size of your hand (lady's) and a whole Chicken Maryland only costs $4. I like the way the meat is pan fried till there is a nice crust on the outside. 4/5

Conclusion

Value for money, "Western" Style western food with a great story to boot! Their foot long Pork Cheese sausage is just $3 and $5 if you get the set. They sell Beef Steaks here for $5 (did not try). The food is well executed and pretty decent. Definitely one for those looking to satisfy a big appetite for a few bucks!

Update: May 2008

The owner Eric has moved over to ABC brickworks food centre and given the ownership of the original stall at Bukit Merah View to the former inmate that he helped to train. I haven't got the number of the stall but it is just a few stalls away from the Pao store that I recommended.

Wow Wow West
#01-301 Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre,
Block 115 Bukit Merah View
Open 10am to 11pm
Catering available: Call 93808571
Link to Breakthrough Missions Website