Monday 26 March 2012

Food scene in Shantou

After I booked our flight to Shantou, I started having doubts about the trip. I like to be well prepared before I travel but I just couldn't find enough information (in English) about Shantou. It was frustrating. It didn't help that the airport in Shantou is a newly opened one, so the lack of travel tips made planning the itinerary so difficult.

So we landed in the spanking new JieYang Airport last Wednesday with an open mind. The airport turned out to be impressively clean and efficient, with hourly buses running to different parts of Shantou City. Unfortunately, we missed the Airport Express bus by a whisker and didn't want to wait for the next one as the sun was setting really quickly. After some haggling (in Teochew no less), the taxi fare to Golden Gulf Hotel in the city cost us RMB250 (around S$50). Incidentally, the Express bus ride is only RMB10 per person!

We made the right decision to stay at the Golden Gulf Hotel. The hotel is grand, clean and comfortable. The best thing is, we could walk to the nearby mall (Walmart and Parksons are in there), many food places and attractions like Zhong San Park and to the ferry terminal to board a ferry to Que Shi Island.

Being surrounded by Teochew speaking people, I felt quite at home in Shantou. The whole reason why I picked Shantou was because my grandparents were from there. They endured a long, dangerous and torturous journey by sea to Singapore some 100 years ago and I was curious to see where they came from. Only when I was in Shantou then I realise that I had no clue which province or village they were from. It's a big place afterall.

The food scene is also quite eye opening. In Singapore, Teochew food is associated with steamed fish, rice porridge and orh nee. During the 4 days we were there, we did not eat any of that. We managed to eat some familiar Teochew favourites though, like oyster omelette, carrot cake and kuey chap.

The oyster omelette at a streetside stall was chockful of plump oysters but a tad too oily.

The fried radish cake was served with seafood and a large spoonful of icing sugar. Quite puzzling.

Caramalised sweet potato and yam is something I grew up eating frequently, so I was glad to find it here.

One cold night, we ordered claypot crab porridge for dinner. This was perhaps the best dish we ate during the trip. The dark soy sauce chicken with chestnut was another winner. I didn't take any photos of that dish.

On most days, we ate oodles of noodles for breakfast. This is China afterall. We had noodles spilling out of our ears and I'm not such a big fan of carbs.

The rice noodles was on the sweet side. Teochews are known to have a sweet tooth and they happily add sugar to everything and on anything at every opportunity.

There was a shop operated by Muslim Chinese near our hotel. We were intrigued by the flat fluffy scallion pancakes and ended up there for breakfast one morning. The pancake was rather bland.

We also ordered the hand-cut noodles topped with a mysterious gravy and minced dried radish. It turned out to be a disappointment.

The Teochews are fond of using salted radish (top photo, left dish) in their food. These were served with the claypot crab porridge.

Salted minced radish is also featured in this street food - panfried tofu topped with spring onions, chilli powder and radish.

We came across this restaurant endorsed by a TV personality from Singapore.

The kway chap here is loaded with ingredients and the gravy is thick and flavourful.

Kway chap sheets (made with rice flour) before being cut into smaller pieces.

One of the more memorable dishes we had was at a dumpling shop near our hotel. The minced meat and chopped chives filling made the dumplings very tasty.

They were cooked and served with fish and meat balls.

We saw several Teochew piah shops in Shantou.

When we tried the tau sar piah at this little shop, we couldn't stop thinking about it and made our way back on the last day to buy some home.

The mung bean filling was so silky smooth, I couldn't help but ask if lard was used. The owner said they only use vegetable oil. I have never tasted anything that good in Singapore.

The shop also produces other traditional Teochew cakes. This mould looks like something my granny had back in those days.

I was tempted to buy some kong tng (brittle nut candy) too but had no room in my luggage.

This trip proved to be quite a culinary treat for us. We were constantly on the lookout for interesting food places. When we saw a beancurd shop, we knew we had to try some.

I ended up choosing beancurd topped with sweet green bean and red beans. If I were to let CH choose the topping, we might end up with something bizarre like 'smelly tofu'. He is not a Teochew you see.

35 comments:

Open Kitchen Concept said...

Wow.. Everything looks good. I love the look of the caramalised sweet potato and yam... YUMZ

Blur Ting said...

I make this at home sometimes. My best friend, who is Hokkien, loves it.

Chee Hoew said...

I would never order the exotic flavours of tauhuay because while I like to try exotic food, I prefer them made traditionally.

Wen-ai said...

TAU SAR PIAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *drool*

My Sinfonia said...

i drool on everything here. Never been to Shantou. Worth it to go just for food?

My Sinfonia said...

i drool on everything here. Never been to Shantou. Worth it to go just for food?

Blur Ting said...

Well, I got a bit tired of eating noodles everyday. The salty food made me bloat up, and I craved for coffee. Three days is just nice.

It's worth a visit if you're traveling from Singapore (4 hours away) but if you're coming all the way from Tasmania, I would say don't take the trouble.

Malar said...

Never been to Shantou too. The food look good! Another travelling experience!

Petunia Lee said...

Right ho! Now I know where you disappeared to for a while...

Anonymous said...

You are so interesting! I do not suppose I've truly read through a single thing like this before. So wonderful to find someone with some genuine thoughts on this issue. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is one thing that's needed on the web, someone
with some originality!

Feel free to visit my weblog; www.slideshare.net

Anonymous said...

I got this website from my buddy who told me on the topic of this
website and at the moment this time I am visiting this web page and
reading very informative articles here.

Feel free to surf to my blog post :: phaser 8560 solid ink

Anonymous said...

Sites we Like......

My web page :: ,Cheap Pretty Earrings

Anonymous said...

An admirable settle of trainers, it may be not quite mayhap the most gorgeous, not the most costly, neither is the logo name, just requires consumers to walkabout the everyone, Christian Louboutin UK
clarify these questions . procure pleasure in happiness shoes for the most part do not change, perchance sought-after,nonetheless the injured indeed.Asics Australia
A least situation you need encountered, walked directory working on the showcases in countless sorts shoes patently overwhelming, not a approach to supreme. The set someone back is perfect has not been superb, like costly, self-satisfied foresee the fad, perceive good-looking individuals think old-fashioned ... so that they are completely enchanted past unaffectedly difficult. Pick to pick, finally opted fit twosome, wear a duo of days only to recognize foot sport, or fully be congruous their clothes,Christian Louboutin Shoes
how joined can give rise to it happen time? To distribute up'd rather nociceptive to begin to wear?

Anonymous said...

It keeps for a few days within your refrigerator, And you could use all you could have just about fresh seafood, Zucchini, Cleaning vegetables, Grated carrot, pears, As an example carryout a healthy aspect pan. Put on natural remedies which [url=http://www.chloesunny.com/]クロエ バッグ[/url] eastagan1234533 and http://www.chloesunny.com you decide and one drizzle more virgin mobile olive and season that includes fresh green brown spice up. Exquisite,
$3^4 equals 3\times 3\times 3\times 3$. Can you imagine if problems are participating? What to express this $x$ definitely typically has always been increased via $x$, In a way that $x$ looks $y$ cycles? In the future, We simply cannot pen the development way up on the grounds that $y$ not necessarily a concrete saw faq selection. For the $x^y$ notation manages this case,
This became an outstanding dream. A ridiculous tale. Yet me have a pity party relating to Rene, It is definitely a upsetting and consequently tramatic scenario your darling had, You can't simply put doing this fault during Chloe. Yr after, Relating to an effective dispatch to the regional.99 dime website and acquiring several can lids of british lychee harvest (Pre-installed learn how to syrup), A crazy trend came into [url=http://www.chloecity.com/]クロエ 通販[/url] eastagu112233 and http://www.chloecity.com being. They appear eyes. Slimy, Disemboweled readers.
Wearing the eu, If you'd like your waist line pierced baby 12 actually 13 with your folks special,What the fogeys are deciding upon is on the grounds that however goes completely wrong maybe it is far from the piercers defect. The few piercers are going claim the fact which will as you grow older your ultimate tummy extention forcing telephone to go up into not less than bar/ins substantial in excess 2. In the event the not certain about the difference stretch max the go to your physician, That can be what i am taking.


Anonymous said...

Ohh hopefully much so it wasn"t past too far to do...
Please.... :/

My weblog :: Silver Jewellery manufacturer

Anonymous said...

It operates !!! Thank you a lot !!!

my homepage - xerox phaser 8560 ink

Anonymous said...

Its likе уοu read my mind!

You appеаr to κnow so much about
thіѕ, lіke you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you coulԁ do with some ρics to drive thе mesѕage home a little bit, but іnstеaԁ of that,
this іs excellent blog. A greаt reаd.

I will certainly bе back.

Also visit my web blog ... reputation management

Anonymous said...

After looking over a number of the blog articles on your
web page, I truly appreciate your way of writing a blog.
I added it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon.

Take a look at my web site as well and tell me what you think.



my weblog :: best hosting companies

Anonymous said...

Just what about publishing index cards?
Gary.

My webpage: Xerox phaser 8560dn

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I еnjoy reading аll of уouг article.
I ωаnteԁ to wгite а
littlе commеnt to ѕuppοrt you.


my web-sitе :: sign up for facebook mobile

Anonymous said...

Hi there to every body, it's my first pay a quick visit of this weblog; this webpage carries awesome and really good information in favor of visitors.

Feel free to surf to my blog ... xerox 8560 cyan

Anonymous said...

My pc (home window 7) doesnot except the CD vehicle drivers to install.



Feel free to surf to my blog feedmetothefish.blogspot.co.uk

Anonymous said...

exactly how can i do this on a mac.

Feel free to visit my page: xerox phaser 8560 solid ink

Anonymous said...

Please let me know if you're looking for a article author for your weblog. You have some really good posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'd love to write some articles for your blog
in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
Kudos!

My site; http://lg42ls5600.blogspot.co.uk/

Anonymous said...

Hello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures
aren't loading correctly. I'm not sure why but I think
its a linking issue. I've tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

Feel free to visit my homepage: xerox 8560 maintenance kit

Anonymous said...

Attractive section of content. I simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital
to claim that I get in fact enjoyed account your weblog posts.
Any way I will be subscribing on your augment or even
I achievement you get admission to consistently rapidly.

Check out my homepage: xerox 8560 ink

Anonymous said...

best of luck! give it a try.

My page ... xerox phaser 8560 review ()

Anonymous said...

Utilizing Sunriver Lease Homes All through the year

Here is my web page ... online video converter to mp3 (www.fromvideotomp3.com)

Anonymous said...

I was curious if you ever considered changing the structure of your website?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe
you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 images.

Maybe you could space it out better?

Review my blog: pilgrim jewellery wholesale

Anonymous said...

Hey there,
I am aiming to print brochures in color
and was asking yourself exactly how it would certainly be for 200.

I am a little bit baffled with the structure
over, a buddy of mine deliver it to me and I was questioning if you prefer deliver me more information on copy prices
and all that you do.
Sev.

my web blog; xerox phaser 8560dn [peopleprobe.info]

Anonymous said...

On the net Shopping Indian – Recent Kid's Games From Homeshop18

Check out my site: Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 3020e best price

Anonymous said...

Athleanx workout review The Panasonic Tx-p50s10

my webpage - eurocasino

Anonymous said...

Spectacular. This acquired my Lexmark e210
working. It is always an obstacle in Windows to obtain this printer
working, this is the 3rd driver I've had to use over the years.

My site :: xerox phaser 8560 manual

Anonymous said...

What about the shade printing. You ask which is less expensive in B&W
however what regarding basic usage. My inkjet smears every colour I try
to print. So is laser better for all around quality at
an acceptable cost.

My homepage :: xerox phaser 8560 maintenance kit ()

Anonymous said...

I appreciate your bright opinions within this prescription article.

Great work!

My homepage ... danon jewellery online ()

Chowmahalla Palace

During our week in Hyderabad, some of the places we visited include the Mecca Mosque, the Charminar (the icon of Hyderabad), Sufi Shrine, Bi...