shallots: 2009

Radio 1003

Managed to get a broadcasting over the Radio FM1003 on last friday morning in the segment "Mana Pergi". This is the segment where listener could called in and recommend a shop or stall where they found it worth while to recommend it to the other listener. The DJ Wen Hong, Li Mei and Jian Wen was kind enough to let me recommend my stall and my food. I have recommended Buah Keluak Babi,Red Curry Chicken and Green curry pork. Once after the radio broadcasting i got the first customer, coming to my stall to try my food at 11:15 that very day, and he came over 3 consecutive day and Sunday he brought the whole family to join him, i was very touch by his action. Some of the listener do identified themselves but i guess some did not. Thanks to those who came over to give the support to me and talking to a few know that some came a long way such as from paris ris, bedok, bukit pangjang etc.

Guess media do play an important part in doing business, the dessert stall that appear in the TV show have a fair share of attention where you will see long queue for the dessert, well do hope one day i would be getting this kind of queue for eating at my stall.

Peranakan Food Fair-Actual Day

It was a busy weekend on Saturday and Sunday reason need to prepare food for both the fair as well as food for the stall. Had prepare extra portion of sweet potato durian oneh oneh to be sold at the fair, having an impression that people would like to have finger food while walking around. Lucky for our stall we manage to finish our durian oneh oneh as guess that was something special that you see in the market. Food wise was not too bad as well. The show have also educate the visitors about the different dishes such as buah keluak and Babi ponteh and even have cooking demonstration teaching them how the two dishes was made. As this may have created some interest in trying out this dishes.

There are stage performance, food and craft for the visitor, as deciding in participating in such a fair was not a wrong one. Thanks to my sister, brother in law and brother in tending the stall for both days. I have also distributed quite a bit of my card and hoping those who had like my food would really find the way to the stall.

The humble little stall at the fair.

Craft display at the fair

Performance at the fair.

Peranakan Food fair

Taken a stall at SMU for the peranakan fair, thanks to glann who relate this message to me when he saw it in the classified. Think this would be a chance for me to sell my stall to more people hopping that would come in and look for my stall. We will be serving some of the food that i served at the stall such as curry chicken, buah keluak, babi pongtay,ayam sio and the sweet potato durian oneh oneh. Hopping this new flavor will attract some attention. Well if you have the time do visit us at the craft and food section on 28 and 29 Nov 09.

Rainy day

Rainy day for some of us will be flavored day as it will be a nice time to sleep, for me it seem to be the worst day, as it is more difficult to travel to open the stall and sale for the day will be falling into the drain. This particular food center or market that the stall is in, is a very unique block as it don't have a block number to it. The market is surrounded by three other block so for stranger to this area might have difficulty in locating the market. There are not connecting shelter from the surrounding three block. From the main road there are also no connecting shelter as well. As this is a aged district where there are a lot of elderly around, why they don't have a shelter for them so that they could travel around even in the raining season and don't have to get wet, which could cause them a bomb if they happened to get sick. Well had read the paper indicating that the raining season will still continue to the month of January. If this still goes on, don't know how the business is going to survive.

Food Catering

Food Catering:Family gathering and party.

Choose any 6 items from the main menu, 1 item from the noodles/Rice + 1 dessert. (Min 20 pax)
Per head cost $15 (Self Collection )

Package A (20 pax)
6 main dishes + Rice or noodles + 1 dessert - $450 nett
(include transportation,setup,2 x table,food warmer, disposal crockery,1 fruit cordial drinks)

Package B (30 pax)
6 main dishes + Rice or noodles + 1 dessert - $630 nett
(include transportation,setup,2 x table,food warmer, disposal crockery,1 fruit cordial drinks)

Package C (40 pax)
7 main dishes + Rice or noodles + 2 dessert - $800 nett

(include transportation,setup,2 x table,food warmer, disposal crockery,1 fruit cordial drinks)

Above 40pax please call for quotation. Number:98411071

Main dishes
1. Buah Keluak Babi
2. Rendang Mutton
3. Assam Pedus Stingray
4. Green Curry Pork
5. Red curry Chicken
6. Ayam Sio
7. Babi Pongtay
8. Sambal Sotong
9. Chap Chai
10.Fried Mid chicken wings
11.Spicy prawn with tomato and corn sauce
12.Hew peow Soup
13 Fried Gongoh Hiang
14.Baked turmeric Chicken

Noodle/Rice
1. Turmeric rice
2. Fried Mee Siam
3. Fried Mee Gorang
4. Belacan fried rice with salted fish

Dessert
1. Durian Sego
2. Durian Agar Agar
3. Sweet potato during oneh oneh
4. Durian Tapioca cake
5. Almond Longan.

Today Special

My sister brought for me a white board, she see that i have been creating impromptu items such as the durian sego,durian cheese swiss roll as mention in the dessert posting. The white board is for me to write these impromptu items so that customer can see what i have to offer and don't have to really ask every single customer. Today i have made beef rendang lasagna for my today special menu, two of my very supporting customer come back for it, after i have mentioned to them that i will be having that. One of the customer who had never taken lasagna before also find it nice and tasty. Another one requested that i made chicken one as she and the family don't take beef but do love lasagna, since there is such request will made lasagna chicken the next round.

Chili.

There are so many kind of chili, those sweet chili sauce which are used in fast food restaurant which the youngster are very familiar about it. The very hot chili which is the chili padi, the big red chili which has a nice fragrant but not as hot,the green chili which is used for pickled. There so many kinds and species that is unknown to this part of the world. Those chili that have their ends pointing to the sun are the hottest then those pointing to the ground. Was having this idea that Singaporean are people who are able to take spicy food, but seem like i was wrong. There seem to have a majority of them who don't take spicy or chili hot food. This is true especially for the younger generation, even my niece and nephew don't take chili. They are more keen to fried food or fast food. But i have come across a young boy who was very fond of chili the parent told me that they had trained him to eat chili since he was a baby so he had no problem with the hottest chili around. i'm just glad there are still people like him that still like and eat chili.

Desserts.

I have tried some new dessert which most don't really find it in the market. The first was the durian sego. some of the customer really like it, some find that the durian is not strong enough although the smell of durian is there but they can't really taste the durian. Well did put a fair amount of durian in it guess while cooking it the durian have dissolve into the liquid itself. This is only sold at $0.50 to customers who purchase the set menu from me. The second one is the durian cheese swiss roll, some have like it many don't take durian guess if they take it at lunch time they might have he durian smell when they go back to the office. Guess this combination have some problem cause after one day of storing the durian tend to turn sour, guess cheese and durian does not might well although the initial taste was good. but the cream chesee that i used will react with the durian.So my dream of doing a durian cheese log cake during christmas will not be there. Just yesterday tried the durian agar agar. Feedback not sweet enough, another feedback durian not strong enough cause she is a durian lover.

A Special Day..

Everyone have their birthday, most of us will usually take a day off on our birthday itself, unless there are some project that you need to rush for. Out of so many birthdays i guess this is the toughest one but also a very touching one that i have ever had. As usual i will need to be in my stall at 630am and try to rush out everything before 1130am so that the stall could be operational. First touching moment, one of the customer came to me and told me that he had went thru my entire blog site. Thinking that someone which i don't really know had taken time to look thru my blog really touches my heart. His appreciation of the food that i prepare also touches my heart. 2nd touching moment, may and her daughter visit. It has been for awhile since the last time i see her and yet she remembered my birthday and specially came over and send her greeting. It really came a surprise to see her.3rd touching moment my brother-in-law, brought over my niece and nephew to send their wishes and even help out in cleaning the dishes. The final touching moment, the group of previous colleague came over to taste my food and at the same time brought me a birthday cake and sang a birthday song for me in the hawker centre infront of my stall, this is something that i wont' be able to forget. A big thank you to Mellisa,Aunt Lum,Chua,Ferty,Yen Ting, Yen Khim,Nicholas and "Yan Tao" You guy have made this day a very special day that i won't forget.

Choice of food.

Today going to revise the price of the menu... Seem like over the area there is a lot of people don't understand the food preparation and ingredient you put in as long as it is cheap and that will be good enough for them. I' glad that there are few still know how to appreciate it. You alway happy to talk to these people and exchanging their experience with you. I also felt that most youngster now a day also don't really like spicy stuff, even my own nephew and niece also don't take those thing i sell and cook, unless i do some fried chicken nuggets, chicken wings or fries for them.Guess also partially my fault cause i like to bring them to either mcdonalds or KFC for dinner and lunch. Guess they have make the fries and Fried chicken so tasty that make people wanting to go back to them. The friendly and warm environment make people wanting to stay there.

More Business opportunity

Have been talking to quite a few customer who like my food, they were asking if i do catering. I said only cooking for family. This afternoon another lady came asking if i do food packing and delivery. This evening another gentleman suggested that i should take corporate order especially for those doing roadshow where they will pack for their staff. This will required the vendor to delivery the food to them and the packaging of the food must be presentable. Guess there are lots of opportunity out there, many way to increase the business but now think how to revent my prices, without lossing to much and having more people to try my food.

Birthday.....

The month of October, seem like lots of people i know birthday fall on this month. I even thought that one of my previous colleague birthday fall on this month and so i SMS her birthday wishes and just to found out that it actually fall on December. Yen Khim birthday fall on Oct as well and so am I. Thank you for celebrating your birthday at my stall having my food. I'm glad that all your friend love my food. And once again Happy birthday and wishing you having a wonderful year ahead.

The Cleaners....

Most of the hawker center have some cleaner help to clear your table after you have finished your meal. These cleaner are usually quite lowly paid. So people who take up this job could be some old folk or some handicap. I was very touch to see one of customer who folk out money for one of the older cleaner lady to buy food as she know she cannot afford it. When i mention handicap, they could be having problem with their limb or mentally they are not well and they could be on medication. Allowing them to work give them a chance that allow them to return to the society and live together with the rest of the people, so please do give them a chance as sometime they might make mistake easily or might be slower. They are trying their best to do the best. Be kind and be nice.

Stall operating for three days..

After the whole all the hip-cup that i got from my first day and second day. I took a break on Monday. Guess of the sudden load, the environment, wanting to make thing right, the extended hours make me suddenly wanted to break down. Those things that make me feel better is talking to some of the customers and found that they really like my food and that was a console. There was even one of the foreigner who came by and i introduce him to buah keluak and my complimentary durian sago and to my surprise he actually like the taste of buah keluak. There is still quite alot of them don't know buah keluak or not even heard of it. Well guess i will try as much as possible to promote this buah keluak, i really like the taste of it, find it very nice and addictive. Hope they will get addicted and come to my stall more. Just kidding....

Opening Day.

After the long or short wait Shallots is officially opened today. A very great thanks to all that have send in your wishes and those who had send me the flowers and wine. It was like a very rush day and extremely busy as cooking is only done by me. Great thanks to my sister, Belinda, my brother in law, thomas and my best friend edcent for their help. Without them i don't think i would be able to make it thru. So much has happen, first of all is the rice cooker which give me half past six cooking cause i was not able to get the rice cook properly, so got to waste all the rice. Later came by the power trip which i had to work in darkness for hour and the past, lucky was able to get the electrician down to fixed it. Guess this is one of the stresses time i have had. And guess i have plan too much menu to cook as i was not able to produce everything on time. We also had to push away customers as we ran out of rice. When the rice is cooked found that the same problem come back were the rice is not properly done. Well this is the first day of stall opening. I hope with the experience gain we could do much better and hope time and customers permit us to changed.....

Stall really opening.

After all the hustle of getting contractor, moving around getting equipment and places to get the raw products and now finally going to open the stall tomorrow or consider today or later. Have been trying to do my prep for the pass two days, there seem to have tons of thing to be done and yet the time running so fast which leave me very little time to work. Wow.. few more hours will be going back to stall again and do all my cooking and really serving the customer at my stall. My mate were telling me that i have prepared too little food for my big day. Do hope that i will have a big hit. Wish me luck.

More installation

The date of the stall opening is getting nearer and nearer. There seem to have tons of things to be done. Today have the kitchen equipment delivered and the contractor came in to fixed up more of the fixes and in the evening at last they brought in the bain marie but not the completed one as the top and glass is not fixed yet. Do think the bain marie is too tall so might have some problem passing food to the customer. Well got to start first and see how it go, will have to see if i could use other alternative to improve or any other way to rearrange. The signboard contractor also had installed the top signage and side menu board. Almost ready for business......

Side menu board

Rack to hold the oven over the freezer.

Overhead cabinet

Working table and bottom cabinet.

installing and placing more fixtures but not complete.

Dealing with the contractor is always a big headache. They tend to promise able to complete but till the last minutes they will give you stupid reason saying time given too short and all sort of reasons. I should have draft up a document on my own to indicate that if they are not able to complete on the given date and they will need to compensate the loss time like the big organization does. We usually the consumer are always at the losing end. Any way they still put up some of the fixtures for me.

4 Door Chiller

Top open Freezer

Sink

Rice Cooker and table.

Stove and cooking table

Gas meter

Overhead stand for storage.

Purchasing of Kitchen utensil

When planning to start my purchase of the kitchen utensil, i did went around a few of them that were specialize in kitchen ware.

1. Sia Huat (7 Temple Street)
2. Lau Choy Seng(23 Temple Street)
3. 5B Pte Ltd (42 Joo Chiat Road)
4. Guan Huat Lee Trading (58, Joo Chiat Road)
5. Some other neighborhood kitchen utensil store which might not have the full range of utensil needed.

I did try to compare prices, but holding a list of more than sixty over items and wanted to compare prices was a bit tough. There will be time when this outlet certain item is cheaper but another would be more expensive. Some of the outlet will not have price tag labeled and if you check too much price and buying nothing, the sales person won't show you a good face. So in the end i have to settle down to one outlet to make the purchase, they could gather most of the thing in one stop and let them delivery to your stall. Guan Huat Lee Trading could be a better choice as they don't charge GST but the rest does, but i brought most of my stuff from Lau choy seng as they have a wider range of variety of products. I think should have do a much better planning the next round as i could have split more of my items as i could save some money on the purchase. Well just a lesson learned and that is the school fee that i have to pay.

Power point and light installation

Today was at the stall waiting for the lights and extra power point installation. The whole installation took around 5hrs to complete. It was just a small stall with 2 locations of power point, some down lights, extra light for the side roller shutter and changing of all the tube for the display signboard. I was expecting a much shorter time to complete but guess i was wrong. Today at last i saw the stall opposite mine was opened. This was the stall that i previously wanted to get but was not able to get it. The owner said they are selling "Teo Chew Porridge". They are opening a hawker stall for the first time, well that is same like me.

Extra power point installed

Hanged over downlight for the stall.

One of the stall owner commented that the downlights look like tomato. He also suggested that i put some green color stuff over the like which will make it even more tomato.

Joining Facebook Shallots Group.

Hi all, i have created a shallots group in facebook. you are welcome to join this group. I will use that to broadcast some of the update i have in my stall. Thank you for your support.

Just click on below link and sign on to join the group.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=149704858960

Stall opening

Opening of a hawker stall seem easy but when you actually go thru the whole process, it did not seem easy for me. First of all, need to do bidding of stall. so constantly need to look out for new stall available. Once the bidding process is over, you will signed for the tendency agreement and get the key. They let you have a grace period of 2 week to do the necessary preparation before they start to charge you the rental. These seem fair to me. After that, you will need to start to look for contractor to do up all your bain marie,shelves,fridge etc. As most know the hawker stall are usually very small take mine for instance is only eight meter sq. I do find it a challenge to place in all the equipment and fixtures and need to make more space for storage. All installation will need to be drafted out and send in for approval by NEA. Need to liase with electrician and the signboard maker. The following are some picture that i have taken when i got the key and checking the stall for the first time.

Hook area with gas piping

wash basin area

Store front which need signboard display.

Another side with roller shutter.

Information-Peranakan Cuisine

Peranakan Cuisine

Peranakan, Baba-Nonya or also known as straits chinese are descendants of late 15th and 16th century Chinese immigrants. They have adopted partially or in full customs to be somewhat assimilated into local communities. They could be found in Malaka, Penang, Singapore and Indonesia. Perankan cooking is the result of blending chinese ingredients and wok cooking techniques with spices used by malay/indonesia/asia community. The food is tangy, aromatic,sweet,salty,spicy and herbal. The key ingredients include coconut milk, galangal,tamarind juice, lemongrass, pandan leaves,belachan, kaffir lime, turmeric etc.

Promotions.

Don't have promotion running at this moment.

Information-Chap Chye

Chap Chye means mixed vegetables. This dish is prepared with fresh vegetables, fungus, bean produce and others. Mushrooms and beans had been known for its health benefits and nutritional values. The blending of these flavors made it a wonderful dish.

Some of the raw ingredient are cabbage, carrots, bean stick, mushroom and fungus and others.

Chap Chye

Information - Acar

Acar Awak (Spicy mixed vegetable pickle). This is a homemade pickle from more than 7 kind of vegetables and more then 7 kind of aromatic, herbs and spices. So it have some sweet,salty,spicy and sourly taste.

Some of the vegetables like cabbage,cucumber, cauliflower,french beans, long bean,carrots,turnips etc. Others that flavor the pickle are chili, lemon grass,shallots,garlic,gelangal etc.

Finished product where all vegetables is cut and mixed.

Information-Buah Keluak

Buah Keluak, sometime known as black gold is a Indonesian black nuts from the kepayang tree. The fresh of the nuts is dug out to cook with either chicken, pork or beef. The empty shell of the nuts is used to stuffed in mined meat. The fresh give the dish cooked it very unique aroma and taste.

These are the nuts which are raw and not soaked yet.

These nuts have been soaked and cut to dug out the fresh in it.

Locations

We are located at:

Commonwealth Crescent Market, (near blk 117)
commonwealth crescent,
#02-90,
Singapore 140000.
Email : shallots.sg@gmail.com
Mobile: 98411071
Operating Hours: 11:30-20:30
(Stall Closed every Monday)
Website: shallots-sg.blogspot.com
Join us in facebook grouping Shallots, click on link below to join.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=149704858960

Bus Service: 93, 105, 123, 153, 186,195 alight at the bus stop in front of Blk 97, this is opposite the Ridout Tea Garden which have a Mcdonald's Rest in it. The walking distance is just 5 mins away

The commonwealth MRT station is just 10mins walking distance away from the hawker center. The bus services at the station are : 32,100,105,111,145,147,195,196,198 and 970.

Information-Green Curry

The Green curry paste is made from numerous herb and spices, especially green chilies which composite the color of this dish.

The following are some of the herb and spices that are add to made the paste.

Alacarte Order

1. Mutton Rendang - $3.50
2. Buah Kalauk Babi - $4.50
3. Assam Padas Sting ray - $3.00
4. Green Curry Pork - $3.00
5. Red Curry Chicken - $3.00
6. Ayam Sio - $3.00
7. Rice - $0.50
8. Acar - $0.70
9. Mixed Veg (chap chai) - $0.70
10. Extra buah kalauk Nuts - $1.00
11. Babi Pongtay - $3.00
12. Take away box - $0.20