Photos: Passport & Plate - Bugis Street Noodles

captaineddy — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 10:19:00 GMT

Ingredients
Shanghai noodles (thick)
Chilies -2 -3
Garlic - 2 cloves crushed
4-5 medium shrimp or 1/4 cup - coarse chopped
Ginger - 1 teaspoon
Bamboo shoots - 250 ml can or handful
2-3 coarse chopped green onions
Chinese BBQ pork - 450 grams
Mushrooms - coarse chopped
Canola oil
Ketjap manis (indonesian soy sauce)

Options: bean sprouts garnish. Serve with Basmati rice

How to prepare this recipe
Remove noodles from pack and soak in warm water for 2 minutes to remove packing oil. Break up compaction. Remove from water & drain
Heat up wok/deep fry pan until sizzling.
Part 1: Stir fry garlic, shrimp, chilies and ginger for 1 to 1 and a 1/2 minutes until shrimp turns white
Remove from pan/wok
Part 2:
Squirt in canola oil.
Stir fry bamboo shoots, green onions, and mushrooms.
Add BBQ pork stirring until warm then toss in noodles.
Add part 1 ingredients and toss well with noodles and pork.
Add ketjak manis and mix everything well.
Stir in chili oil to taste if required and serve with garnish of bean sprouts on top

The story behind this recipe
The smell of this dish approaching Bugis St. in Singapore lured us over. This friendly chef was one of the first carts to set up in the early evening, just before sunset. He had everything chopped and ready to roll and we were eating it five or six minutes later. We returned later that night and paid attention to what he was putting in and how he cooked it. And had another dish, of course. The smells of this dish takes me back to Asia and the warm nights of eating street food. I also find discovering street food an adventure.
I try to cook this as fast at home but the kitchen gets very messy. It does take me twenty minutes including chopping. It's quick, simple, easy and delicious. It is one of my signature dishes. Everyone loves it. I hope you try it out.

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life

captaineddy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:26:53 GMT

My difficulties in Bali began with inadvertantly displaying the soles of my feet to the locals. Hostility ensued. Culture clashes seemed to be my forte.After a sweltering bus ride up a dusty road to Ubud, I dashed to a losmen under a powerful downpour that ripped at fronds and leaves. I craved a bath. Josi, the golden-skinned Balinese houseboy, directed me to a stand-up tub in the washroom, its water murky from the rain. We argued about 'good' water and 'dirty' water. My anxiety of catching some weird tropical disease drove me to pull the plug, draining the tub, shocking the houseboy. He fled and didn't return with a hose. No taps were in the room.The hard rain stopped abruptly, leaving an echo of the torrent. The sun burst out to steam the earth like a million small cooking fires and bathe me in sweat again. After biding my time on the veranda, an ancient man appeared with a pole across his shoulders and a pail of water suspended from each end. He traversed the veranda before me heading to the washroom.
My water, for my bath.I discreetly followed him along a path, thinking I'd see a water faucet. I went as far as the edge of a ravine. A slippery trail wound down to a stream where the old man filled the buckets. No taps here. Time after time after time, the buckets splashed into the tub, angering me. Most old men in Bali sat under trees drinking hot tea or congregated at cockfights. I couldn't imagine my grandfather doing this. I'd probably fall flat on my face.I sought Josi, berating him for forcing the old man to work so hard and told him I'd help get the water. My offer irritated him. He told me it was the man's job and "he always does it." I gave up arguing and watched as my bath filled, pail after pail, regretting pulling the plug. I was just another stupid bloody tourist. Finally, Josi called me to check the water quality. I grabbed my towel. Josi smiled, pleased that harmony and balance were restored, and offered a tray of tea and bananas.

Riding with Garuda

Photos: Passport & Plate - Bugis Street Noodles

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life