With quite a few of my colleagues at work showing flu-like symptoms lately, I suddenly felt more motivated to pay attention to what I eat. I know that one meal isn't magically going to stop me from getting sick, but eating something warm, balanced, and nutritious definitely sounded much better than having fried or overly heavy food tonight.
Besides, I really don't want to end up taking medical leave if I can avoid it. Sure, it's part of our privilege at work, but the problem is that my tasks aren't going anywhere LOL. If I'm away for a few days, I'll probably return to an even bigger mountain of things to finish. So I'd rather stay healthy, go to work, and keep making progress with my tasks.
And so, tonight's mission was simple: find myself a nice and healthy dinner!
I decided to head over to Geylang Bahru Food Centre, and since I was craving both soup and seafood, one particular dish immediately caught my attention.
Steamboat!
What surprised me even more was the price. The mini steamboat costs only SGD 7.00, while a bowl of rice is just SGD 0.50. For SGD 7.50 in total, I think this is one of those hawker meals where the value becomes obvious the moment the food arrives.
The steamboat came inside a classic metal pot with the chimney in the center, and the portion was more generous than I expected. There were chunky slices of fish, two big prawns, soft tofu, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, and other ingredients swimming inside the steaming broth.
It looked simple, but it was exactly the kind of food that I wanted tonight.
The soup itself was light but surprisingly tasty. I really appreciate this type of broth because it doesn't need to be overly salty or oily to have flavor. I could just slowly sip the warm soup while enjoying all the different ingredients inside the pot.
My favorite part was probably the fish.
I believe they used Batang fish, which is commonly found in fish soup dishes here. It might not be as premium as grouper or red snapper, but in terms of flavor, I honestly think Batang fish can compete with more expensive varieties.
The texture is different, of course. Batang fish has a firmer and slightly flaky texture rather than that very smooth and delicate texture you sometimes get from premium fish. But taste-wise? I really enjoy it.
And the slices they gave me were chunky too!
The vegetables were another nice addition because they gave the dish some freshness and texture. I also really liked the soft tofu. It soaked up some of that flavorful broth while adding even more substance to the meal.
I also enjoyed the atmosphere of Geylang Bahru Food Centre tonight. The warm decorative lights hanging from the ceiling made the hawker center feel lively and cozy at the same time. Sometimes ambiance doesn't have to be fancy. A comfortable seat, warm lights, good food, and people enjoying their dinner around you are already enough.
Before heading home, I stopped by a nearby fruit stall and bought myself some freshly cut fruits for dessert. After a warm steamboat dinner, something cold, juicy, and naturally sweet felt like the perfect way to finish the evening.
Overall, this was a simple dinner, but definitely a satisfying one. Affordable, comforting, filling, and exactly what I was looking for tonight.
Bon Appétit! 😋
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