Baikouken Ramen

This week's featured: Char Siew Ramen（チャシューメン）

Call me prejudiced to start off with my paternal side of the bloodline in terms of food choices. Well allow me to explain myself on this one. I'm currently serving the army on mandatory 2 years of service thus my only time to blog would leave me with weekends but I think that's fair enough. On a count of why I chose to feast on a Japanese Delicacy such as this, was my itching tongue for a nice bowl of steaming Ramen.

A little place I found about a year back while with my parents, "Baikouken" serves ramen of exceptional standard. This bowl you see above is the Shoyu base Char Siew Ramen. There are a total of 3 main soup bases that ramen is cooked in Japan.

1) Shoyu Base: Japanese Soy Sauce base. It is the base in which many would call balanced. Not too salty and overbearing nor is it too light, a perfect taste for one who's a novice to tasting ramen.

2) Shio Base: This base is the salt base and many would think it would bring about an extremely salty flavour to the whole concoction. On the contrary, this is the lightest of the 3 flavours and has only a mild salty taste to it along with an olive oil like finish. Best to have this piping hot, once it cools... it wouldn't taste as good. Trust me.

3) Miso Base: The famous fermented beans of Japan, Natto（なっとう／納豆）are crushed and made into paste. Said paste has many uses such as coupling with cucumbers and in this case, your ramen soup base. Although fermented beans on one hand may sound frighteningly hard to digest, they are extremely healthy and are widely used in Japan. However, the miso base ramen is saltiest of the three.

Now, as you all know... Singapore is famous for having restaurants that boast many different food groups and where they hail from different continents of the world. However, the restaurants don't often have the same taste or standard as that of the Mother nation the food originally came from. It wasn't without effort that I managed to find this restaurant though. It wasn't long ago that I chanced upon this one run by actual Japanese from the Hokkaido region of Japan, Sapporo to be exact. The main branch around Boat Quay was where I first tasted this awesome bowl of piping hot ramen.

In ramen, many local Japanese look for the flavour of the soup base and also the texture of the ramen(the noodles itself) whereby in union the 2 would blend and satisfy. The soup base here boasts excellent brewing and the noodles were just the right texture. As commented by friends of mine, this restaurant is also generous with their portion of the bamboo shoots and char siew. The char siew as you can see comes in a huge volume and would definitely leave you full to the brim. What better way to drown it down with a Sapporo beer after. A good way to enjoy the ramen even more, would be the addition of a plate of well-made Gyoza(dumplings). They also offer other additions to your ramen such as extra char siew, bamboo shoots, sweet corn and also the famous Japanese ramen eggs.

Definitely a satisfying meal and a great place to hang out. If you're short on time though, a quick bite out of this bowl at its secondary branch in town would satisfy your growling tummy. Be careful of the queue there though, it's become quite popular and the limited space they have at their town's branch means long waiting time(though it's worth it for sure). A quick way to get in touch with Japan while on your weekend shopping. Otherwise, a very good joint before a chill out session around Boat Quay and somewhere near clubbing places... isn't it just Convenient?!
So be sure to not miss this joint and its delicious ramen on your way to a club or a weekend trip down bustling town.

The locations of the Ramen Stores...


North Canal Branch
7 North Canal Road, Singapore 048820
Tel/Fax: +65 6534 3808
Opening hours: 11.00 - 15.00 & 17.00 - 22.00 (Mon-Sat)
Last Order: 21.30
Link to StreetDirectory:
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_39173/travel_site_265/


Takashimaya Branch
Ngee Ann City Tower A
391 Orchard Road, B2 Takashimaya Food Hall
Unit B201-4, Singapore 238873
Tel/Fax: +65 62353483
Opening Hours: 10.00 - 21.30 (Mon-Sun)
Last Order: 21.00
Link to StreetDirectory: http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_28735/travel_site_142832/

Well, till next time;

"wash your hands before you eat!"

Insight.

Well here comes my first post of my food blog…

As many of you may know, I live in a very small country called Singapore. A country that prides its independence of close to 50 years. A country only found independent after the the 2 World Wars and in that process, learned to step up and progressively become what it is today. A secure enough country to provide many with a safe place to stay and definitely one to be commended in the battle against terrorism(yes, you have to admit… it’s pretty safeguarded against the threat).

Such a country has attracted the eyes of many foreigners to settle down in this small part of the world. Thus over the years, Singapore has flourished with different foreign influences in technology, etc. Most importantly why you’re reading this blog would be… because Singapore is popular for its wide variety of food! From the fine French tables to the heartwarming Chinese hotpot, sashimi platters from Japan to wraps of Mexican descent… Singapore holds all sorts of food choices for any traveler curious for something new to taste without having to worry about transferring on the next flight across another border.

Without further ado, let’s just move on to the first post of food introductions I have for you readers… What can we really find in Singapore to suit everyone’s tastes… hmmm. Food Globalization, let’s GO!

Until Next Time, 

"wash your hands before you eat!"

The Move!

Hey Guys, I've made the move from "myfoodrights.tumblr.com" to this one here.

Tumblr wasn't very user-friendly in my opinion, so I decided to make the move. Hope you guys enjoy this better!
Improvements will always come!

Here's how it all began previously! History should not be thrown away, so we can look back at it and laugh at the moments of love we have for them. :D


HOW IT ALL BEGAN:
A great idea struck me as I was having a passing conversation with a very good friend of mine. To start a food blog. Why you say I should be the read you will want to come back to and trust with thy tongues you say? well, I say … because I can and I will. I’ve always loved being in the kitchen myself, experimenting and playing around with food and well… cooking. Having been brought up in a mix of Japanese and Chinese culture(along with the other cultures you can find dominating this small isle country, called Singapore that is.), I have grown to learn cooking in many different ways.

From the preparation of raw sashimi to the frying of the chinese vegetables, I have long since understood how many of the little garnishes can change a little or even the whole flavour of the plates set on the meal tables. So without more chatter, I say this blog is open!! Though, I would say… I should update it later since it’s already 2:05am on a Sunday Morning… So later it shall. If there are readers now… HELLO and SEE YOU LATER!! for the very first of … “myfoodrights.tumblr.com".


Till next time,  

"wash your hands before you eat!"