On Old Neighborhood Chinese Restaurants
We went to Chin Lee Restaurant for Cristina's sister Rosalie's Birthday. Chin Lee is one of the few neighborhood Chinese restaurants in Singapore that have survived the onslaught of modernization, fast food, and the changing gastronomic inclinations of the younger generation. Indeed, judging from the crowd on the day of our visit, it is thriving. Old neighbood restaurantsin the public housing estates of heartland Singapore, where 85% of Singaporeans live, are a focus point for birthday celebrations, and community gatherings, especialy for the older generation. The food at Chin Lee is old-style Teochew. Like the Hokkiens and Cantonese, the Teochew Chinese hailed from Southern China. Their food is known for its fresh clean taste, with less oil and salt, and more use of steaming and braising instead of stir-frying What we ate (see pics below). 1. Pig Trotter in Jelly 2. Birthday Buns with Lotus Paste fillings. 3. Braised Duck with Intestine and Bean Curd sheets. 4. ...