If you've been following my food blogs, then you probably noticed that I spend a lot of time eating outside, especially at hawker food centers. Aside from the fact that hawker food is affordable, I simply enjoy the experience of discovering good food prepared by hardworking local stall owners.
I seldom go for fast food nowadays because, personally, I would rather spend my money supporting these small local businesses. There is also something different about hawker food. You can see the people preparing the dishes, cooking them in batches, and putting their own care and experience into every meal. For me, that makes the food feel a little more special.
Over the years, cycling has also brought me to so many hawker centers around the city. Sometimes I don't even have a specific food destination in mind. I simply cycle somewhere, explore the neighborhood, and eventually let my hungry stomach decide where I'm going to eat LOL.
Today, however, I decided to do things a little differently.
Instead of eating at the hawker center, I cycled to a nearby one, bought my lunch, and brought everything back home so I could enjoy an early lunch in my backyard.
And I have to say, this turned out to be a really relaxing idea!
The weather was nice and warm, the garden was looking beautifully green, and there were flowers blooming around me. It almost felt like having my own little outdoor café, except that my meal came inside the familiar takeaway box from a hawker stall, hahaha.
For lunch, I got myself freshly cooked chicken curry together with steamed egg with minced meat and rice. This combination is something that I really enjoy. The chicken curry had that rich, savory sauce that slowly soaked into the rice, while the steamed egg provided a much softer and milder flavor in between bites.
I especially love steamed egg because of its delicate texture. It's soft, smooth, and comforting, while the minced meat gives it just enough extra flavor and substance. Combined with the curry chicken, it made the entire meal feel hearty and satisfying without needing too many different dishes.
What made this lunch even better was how fresh everything was.
The mixed vegetable rice stall where I bought my food wasn't officially open yet! But the stall owners already know me since I've bought food from them many times, and they were happy to serve me anyway. One advantage of arriving this early is that some of the dishes had literally been cooked only a few minutes earlier.
Even after cycling back home, my chicken curry was still steaming when I opened the box. You can't really ask for anything fresher than that!
And since it was a warm day, I also bought myself a cold Nescafé Cappuccino together with a bottle of cold water. The chilled coffee was such a nice companion to the warm and savory meal.
Probably the best part of eating in my backyard was that there was absolutely no need to rush. I could sit there, enjoy the greenery, admire the flowers, take my photos, sip my cold coffee, and slowly finish my lunch at my own pace.
Sometimes a good food experience doesn't require an expensive restaurant or anything fancy. Give me freshly cooked hawker food, a quiet backyard, nice weather, and enough time to enjoy everything slowly, and I'm already very happy.
