The KEY factor which sets aside a mediocre taste and a great one is the 'wok hei'. Direct translation....intensity of the flame from the fire which is used to cook the noodles. A good hot fire produces a good plate of hokkien noodles because with each bite you can really taste the flavour of the flame or wok!! So usually, we are not able to recreate such flavour in normal kitchens - unless you have one commercial or stronger burner!!
The noodles wok-ked by Ah-B is pretty good by my standards and is my family favourite place for good hokkien char. He's pretty cool too and can accommodate any reasonable request such as less oil, more vegetables, less/more seafood, etc.
This is a new favourite of mine, kuey teow char served with a raw egg. Doesn't it look pretty?
Don't turn your nose up before you try this!!!
As soon as the dish arrives at your table, don't wait....mix it all up, ensuring the noodles are well coated. With the heat of the food which full of 'wok hei', the egg gets partially cooked, adding an awesome flavour to the dish. Of course if you are all squeamish or impartial with the egg, you can omit it but the taste will be different.
The star of our noodles...hokkien char aka hokkien noodles, with plenty of ju-yu cha please. Of course if your are health conscious, you can omit them completely. Again the taste will be different. Alternatively you can do what most people do, just leave them for the flavour but don't eat them - aiyah what a waste, but then your health comes first, ya.
We usually order a small serving of fried vermicelli noodles as I just love to mix the 'fat' noodles with the 'thin' noodles. It somehow lightens the dish and taste. How much of each mix is up to you, depending what you like - more fat or thin noodles or neither!! Ha haBtw, it does not yield the same result or taste if you order a yin-yong combination or 2 in one since the ratio proportion varies from plate to plate.
That night we also ordered marmite chicken for Master Prince. But as usual with children...when you order something you think the like, they suddenly don't want any and vice versa!! Go figure.
To top our dinner, we also order ikan panggang aka pan fried fish from a nearby stall well seasoned with a light curry spice.

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