Ivins Nyonya Specialties

Since we're house-sitting for Pops, going to Ivins to eat has become a lot more convenient due to the proximity of the location to Pop's home. The food at Ivins is authentically good, the prices are cheap (no GST or service charge here), and the restaurant, though basic in design, is comfortably air-conditioned.

We ordered the Duan Keledek Lemak ($6.50), sweet potato leaves and sweet potato in coconut gravy, which was surprisingly delicious. We loved how the mild sweet potato leaves complemented the creamy mildness of the coconut milk and slight spiced flavour of the gravy.


Of course we got our favourite Peranakan dish, Babi Pongteh ($8.90), stewed pork belly in soy bean gravy. The BF says that Ivins version is as good as his aunt's, which is saying a lot, because his Peranakan aunt is an amazing cook.


The Sotong Sambal ($7.50) was disappointingly mild. There was no "kick" in the sambal, and it was more piquant than spicy.


The Pulot Hitam with Vanilla Ice Cream ($3.50) was very good and authentic (longans are added to the black glutinous rice dessert, the way most traditional Peranakans cook it), though I prefer the non-vanilla ice-cream version. This was like the Peranakan version of American root beer float.



Update 31 Dec 2011: Ivins has been replaced by Irvins Seafood, a cze char restaurant previously located at River Valley Road

Ivins Nyonya Specialties
Peranakan Casual Dining
No. 4 Jalan Leban
Upper Thomson Road
Tel: 6451 4622
Open daily from 11am to 3pm for lunch and 6pm to 10pm for dinner. Closed every Thursday.
Website: www.ivins.com.sg/

Comments

Wen said…
Oh next time you should try the durian chendol dessert if you take durian. It's really good...
19.5.10
Bern said…
Thanks for the tip, will leave the durian version of chendol to the bf, I'm not a fan of it. I'll probably stick to the normal chendol instead (believe it or not, I'm known to be a horrendously picky eater)
:)
19.5.10
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ABC Brickworks Food Centre

Image
싱가포르에 호커 센터 중에서 에이비씨 브릭워케 호커 센터를 우리가 제일 좋아해요. 실제로 싱가포르에서 가장 크고 유명한 호커 센터 중 하나예요. 가끔 외국인 여행자들이 이 호커 센터에서 식사하고 관광도 해요.  호커 음식은 내가 우리 나라 싱가포르에서 제일 사랑하는 것이에요. 호커 푸드는 내 컴포트 푸드여서 내 마음에 들어와요. 음식도 싸고 맛있고 종류도 많아요. 해외여행 가면 그리운 음식이 호커푸드인데 싱가포르에 돌아와서 가장 먼저 먹는 음식이 박초미예요.  박초미은 아마도 내가 제일 좋아하는 호커푸드예요. 나는 식초맛을 좋아하고 버섯볶음이 제일 맛있고 용기가 제일 맛있어요.   =========================   ABC Brickworks is one of the more well-known, and beloved, hawker centres in SG. The fact that tourists can sometimes be seen traipsing down the rows of neon-lit stalls is testament to its fame.  We hit up ABC a couple times a month, at least; the hawker centre is central enough that satisfying a local food craving here doesn't require an hour+-long round trip (unlike with Fengshan Bedok); there's ample enough lots that parking doesn't require the patience of a saint (unlike with Serangoon Gardens); seats are plentiful enough that large groups are able to find a table fairly easily, and ...
Read more

The People vs Cheapo Food Bloggers and Bad English

This is a mini rant. Friends know that my one guilty indulgence is reading food blogs ("flogs"). ("guilty" because I read them at work...yes, my boss reads this flog too) And Singapore, despite its little size, has a very developed food blogging scene. A quick surf on the internet will prove that there is an inordinate number of flogs for a country as tiny as ours. I suppose it's really due to the connectivity of our island, its technologically savvy netizens and their insatiable appetite and love for food. But lately, I've noticed a worrying trend. There is a growing number of flogs that I've stopped reading entirely, simply because almost 90% of their posts are all based on invited tastings. Don't these cheapos ever pay for their meals anymore?!? I've always thought that the ( one of the primary ) purpose( s ) of writing a flog is to introduce to the good people of Singapore the various culinary treasures on our little island. An invited ...
Read more

Janggut Laksa vs 328 Katong Laksa, Queensway Shopping Centre

Image
Queensway Shopping Centre , where locals flock to for all things sports and optical-related, is also known for good laksa. There are 2 laksa stalls, within a stone's throw of each other, both claiming to serve up the best. Both tout to be affiliates of world-famous Katong ones, and the accolades, writeups and publicity plastered all the utilitarian facades will attest to the fierce competition. Seating at both eateries is cramped and constrained, so dining is really a touch-and-go affair. Both are manned by efficient, if a little curt, bevy of staff, and so turnover is high. Good news for the 5-minute-on-average long line of diners waiting their turn. The menu is similarly limited, with laksa being the primary dish of choice, and its fixins' like otah and lime juice as regular side orders. Curry chicken, Chinese-style, is also a popular option. Janggut Laksa  The Laksa ($3.50 for small) here was disappointingly lackluster. It was insipid, and the milk had obviously cur...
Read more