Yong’s Teochew Kueh

I woke up early to buy popular Yong’s Teochew kueh at Upper Serangoon road since my friend wanted to go there to buy many kuehs. There were people queuing at about 7.45 am already. I thought it would be great to buy too since my mother likes Gu Chye kueh (garlic chives kueh) and Png kueh (rice kueh). I also love their Soon kueh with generous serving of shredded turnip wrapped inside the thin smooth skin. 

We enjoyed the delectable kuehs. I also enjoyed their unique yam kueh, soon kueh and also yam paste. My friend told me she brought many kueh as she can freeze and enjoy it for the next few weeks. They only have two shops, the other is at East Coast road. Definitely one of the best Teochew kueh in Singapore as they are generous with the tasty kueh filling.

Gu Chye kueh (garlic chives) and png kueh (rice kueh)

Yam paste Orh nee, my favourite dessert.

Soon kueh 

Soon kueh and yam kueh

                                                           Yam kueh

Early Reunion Dinner at Di Wei Teochew Restaurant

I went to Di Wei Teochew restaurant located at Hyde Park for early reunion dinner last Saturday for the first time. This year, there are two new family members namely my niece and nephew who are about 8 and 4 months old respectively. I spent most of the time taking photos of them while waiting for the food. 

I am grateful to my elder brother who generously treated the family. He is an example that  you do not need a degree to be successful if you are looking in terms of wealth which is commonly used as a gauge for success. He is really good in business negotiation. 

Hmm, as for me, though I don't earn as much as him, but because of my hard work for the past two decades, disciplined saving and simple investment, I am financially comfortable and independent woman. I am not a fan of branded expensive goods thus I can save for early financial freedom. To me financial freedom is more important than impressing strangers. I am not very rich. Please don't scam me.  Just financially comfortable as I only buy what is necessary and occasionally indulge in good meal and stationery. 

Anyway back to the early reunion dinner, we had traditional Teochew dishes that my elder brother ordered. I liked the pomfret fish, vegetable, yam and pumpkin paste orh nee  and noodles. 

For the first time in my life, I saw private and business planes that belong to the Super rich at Seletar airport. Quite happy that I went to this Teochew restaurant for the first time to try something new. 

Braised peanut

Cold platter dish with pig trotter jelly.

Seletar Airport

Tonight Dinner

I just had a simple dinner of honey yogurt with dragonfruit, honey pecan and some nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds. I also had a small piece of yam mooncake. I'm a typical Teochew who loves everything yam- Orh nee or yam paste and yam mooncake. I do hope my future spouse can cook yam paste for me, the not so sweet type for healthier option. 

I don't feel so well with menstrual cramp so I had afternoon nap after washing clothes and bag. 

I'm happy with what I done in the morning. Washing my clothes and also my bag. Today weather is great for drying clothes and bag with bright sunny day. 

Tomorrow I will clean my room and organise my bookshelves and desk. Time to clear my messy room.

I love the honey pecan from camel brand. 

I had a small piece of yam mooncake, Teochew style. 

Dessert Today: Yam Paste

If you had attended Teochew wedding, you most probably had yam paste or orh nee for dessert. Yam paste is nutritious with vitamins c and b5 and minerals. When I first had yam paste at my aunty's wedding decades ago, I told myself that if I'm going to be married, I must have yam paste for my wedding dessert. A great yam paste should be silky smooth with pumpkin. 

Today my mum just prepared simple yam paste for us. Although it's not silky smooth, it is quite delicious. It is healthy version with no oil. As I also like honey macadamia nut, I just added some to my yam paste. 

I added some honey coated macadamia to my yam paste

The Story of Singapore Teochew

Both my maternal and paternal grandfathers came to Singapore in the 1940s from China, Chaozhou 潮州, and both married local Chinese Teochew women. 

My grandfathers never return to China after settling down in Singapore. They had worked hard to support their many children and wives. 

My maternal grandfather was a handsome man when he was young. Many female neighbours liked to admire him from afar. My mum is also very pretty especially in her youth. I was wondering how did my maternal grandparents raise up 12 children in poverty in a small flat? 

My maternal grandparents really contributed to Singapore birth rate by producing 6 sons and 7 daughters (1 daughter was given away for adoption). Somewhere out there, I still have a aunty I never met and I wonder if I recognise her if I meet her one day. My paternal grandparents had 9 children. 

After observing my father, grandfathers and my uncles, I think most Teochew men are very faithful and pamper their wives. They also help to do house chores.

My father went to visit my grandfather's birth place a few years back and he enjoyed the ancestral visit. Once the coronavirus end, I plan to visit Chaozhou too in cooler weather like November. I just want to explore the land where my grandfathers spent their childhood and youth there.

Recently I came across an ebook on The Story of Singapore Teochew here. I find these Teochew nan amazing for successfully overcoming difficulties and later establishing successful businesses in competitive Singapore. Unlike them I have no business acumen and great aspiration and only like to read books, love art and sharing my knowledge.

Anyway I find their stories inspiring and hope it will inspire you too.

                  The Story of Singapore Teochew here. 

Teochew Tradition Popiah at Ngee Ann City 潮州传统薄饼

If you love Teochew Traditional Popiah, I highly recommend the stall at Ngee Ann City near Orchard Road MRT. It is slightly expensive in Orchard Road costing $3.40 per roll.  I brought some home and my mum love it. The popiah is filled with stir-fried turnips, lettuce, beancurd, chopped peanut, garlic and egg.

Visiting Our Ancestral Home in China Chaozhou 潮州

My father recently went to our ancestral home in Chaozhou Jieyang  (潮州揭阳) with his cousin to visit their relatives. My late paternal grandfather left Chaozhou Jieyang for Singapore with his parents when he was a teenager. 

To read more, click my travel blog here.

Birthday Vermicelli Mian Xian

On my birthday, my mum prepared a bowl of delicious mian xian aka vermicelli with pork balls and hard boiled egg. My father brought me a slide of black forest cake. I enjoyed the delicious mian xian lovingly prepared by my mum! 

Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year Eve 2017

How time flies. Today is finally Chinese New Year eve, the day we have reunion dinner together as a family. Prior to the dinner, I spent the day spring cleaning my bedroom, cleaning the windows, some bookshelves and changing the curtain and finally sweeping the floor because we don't sweep the floor on the first day of Chinese New Year. 

Reunion dinner is very important to us as we don't normally have dinner together as a family as we reach home at different time. Sometimes my brothers work late. So on Chinese New Year eve, everyone of us will have a lavish sumptuous dinner together. 

While I was cleaning my room, my elder brother who is a great cook helped my mother to prepare reunion dinner. Well, my elder brother used to work at a restaurant as a cook. Together they prepared 12 delicious dishes which include abalone and vegetables, tasty soup filled with quail eggs, pork and fish balls, pig skin, sea cucumber, vegetables, fried egg, fried chicken wings, fried prawns, steamed prawns, steamed fish, braised pork, fried squid balls and ngio hiang or five spiced pork roll, a typical Teochew dish. Wow, I felt really full after the dinner. I also treasure the time we eat together as a family with my parents and my 3 brothers at home. 

After dinner, we'll watch China CCTV Chinese New year show and maybe later watch channel 8 new year countdown. Later in the night, I watch Stephen Chow comedy movies. Today my brothers and I will stay up late maybe till 3am to 5am to 守岁 shou sui with the hope our parents can enjoy longevity. My youngest brother will be going overseas today.

I had a great dinner tonight, I hope you too.

To all the Chinese and fellow Teochew nang around the world, I wish you a Prosperous and Happy Rooster New Year 2017. 恭喜发财 Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Wow we had 12 sumptuous dishes for reunion dinner this year! What a spread!

We had steamed fish topped with ginger, tomatoe and chili, fried chicken wings, fried egg with vegetable.

We also had a bowl of shark fin soup, fried prawns and steamed prawns.

Vegetables with abalone and ngoh hiang or five spice pork roll

My elder brother prepared most of the delicious dishes like the awesome soup with quail eggs, abalone, pork and fish balls, dumpling and vegetables.

Steamed prawns with huatiao wine and ginger.

Steamed fish and fried chicken wings.

Vegetables with abalone and ngoh hiang.

We'll watch China CCTV show which features popular artists from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan singers.My father like the program.

Teochew Fishball Dry Noodles at Bugis Shopping Mall

Yesterday I planned to go to ArtScience museum to view some arts exhibitions. Alas, I left my wallet at home. Luckily I had $10.00 with me in another key pouch. 

So yesterday I had Teochew Fishball dry mee pok (flat noodles) set which comes with delicious and fresh fishcake and fishball and porkball soup.I was happy with the cheap and delicious dry mee pok. The Teochew Fishball noodle set only cost $6.00 at Bugis shopping mall at basement 1. 

 Teochew Fishball Dry with fresh yummy fish cake on top of smooth mee pok.

 A bowl of light refreshing soup with fishballs and meatballs.

This Teochew Fishball noodles set only costs $6.00.