Old Airport Road delights

In Singapore, every day is a food festival, but we still need to be reminded of our rich culinary heritage.

This year's Singapore Food Festival has an event that does just that - it celebrates one great hawker centre and introduces a host of discounts and special offers at the Old Airport Road Food Centre.

Here are five of my favourites there:

SOON KUEH

Fu Xin Cooked Food

#01-142

10am-3pm Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10am-8pm Thursdays to Sundays

The soon kueh has a soft and not so gummy skin that holds stewed turnips and dried shrimps. I love the chive kueh. You can see them packing in spoonfuls of the chive and tofu bit stuffings before it goes to the steamer.

SOURSOP SLUSH

Lim Hin Fresh Fruit Juice

#01-36

9am-10pm daily

You can see owner James Fun zipping around on his scooter at the hawker centre. He lost his a leg some years back, but it has not stopped him from delivering the best soupsop (regular, slush or lime and prune infused) drink around.

BBQ CHICKEN

Chong Pang Huat

#01-90

4pm-9pm daily

The skin is shiny and roasty with a distinct aroma of lime, soy sauce, sugar, honey and a touch of Chinese wine (among other secret ingredients). They grill for doneness, then let it settle before they grill it again for shine and texture.

BANANA FRITTERS

Geylang Lor 20, #01-57

10.30am-9pm (or till sold out) daily

My favourite item here, tee kueh, is often in short supply. A slice of nian kao (sweet gummy brown sugar glutinous rice cake) is sandwiched between two slices of mashed tapioca. The hawker batters and fries it till it comes out gummy and gooey.

CURRY PUFF

Wang Wang Crispy Curry Puff

#01-126

9.30am-9.30pm, 
closed on Mondays

One reason that the curry puff here is so moist is the extra ladles of curry the owner pours over the potatoes before he fills and fries the puff. The flaky, crusty and layered buttery crust is adorable.

Old Airport Road Food Centre

19 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390019

MAKANSUTRA, FOUNDED BY 
KF SEETOH, IS A COMPANY THAT CELEBRATES ASIAN FOOD CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE. IT PUBLISHES FOOD GUIDES IN AND AROUND THE REGION, PRODUCES A FOOD SERIES, DEVELOPS INTERACTIVE MOBILE CONTENT AND SERVICES, OPERATES FOODCOURTS AND EATERIES, ORGANISES FOOD TOURS AND EVENTS, AND CONSULTS ON CULINARY CONCEPTS.