Location: The Roxy Arcade, 71 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Taste-Type: Malaysian/Singaporean
Price: Chai Tow Kuih $18.00
How to get there: Drive to George St and park there or in the little car-park behind the restaurant. Temasek is hidden in a small alleyway near Roxy Arcade but just follow the sea of black hair.
Contact: 02-96339926
Early on in my reviewing days, I swore an oath not to review this restaurant until my training was complete. I have eaten here ever since I was a ninja-let with soft plastic shurikens and a wooden daito training-sword that my elders bought for $2.50 at Charlie Chan’s Samurai Bargains. As I have grown so has Temasek, blossoming out into the shop next door and bringing in more and more ardent disciples each year. It is a shrine to the Malaysian and Singaporean Hawker food of yesteryear, with the clamouring hubbub and helter-skelter service to match, and it is closer to my stainless-steel heart than any other restaurant. I am not yet ready for a full review, but instead shall provide a glimpse of what makes this humble establishment so special to so many stomachs.
When the call came, I packed my sidearm and headed out without hesitation. Chai tow kuih is a rare offering at Temasek, a weekend special that is quick to vanish like good sense in a karaoke bar. This hawker-store staple is often dubbed “carrot-cake” but is in fact based around fried radish garnished with egg omelette and prawns. Temasek’s “white” version is delectably crispy on the outside yet melts to a smooth buttery sensation when fully chewed, with lashings of chilli flakes sending frissons of pleasure through my nervous system. The radish cake resembles potato but is less bland and lacks the ponderous weightiness of its cousin. The prawns and egg are excellent in their own right, but merely serve to highlight the creamy tenderness of the radish.
Two plates arrive and the ritual begins. I feel the prickly warmth of the chill singing in my belly, goading me to feats of excellence. Thoughts of supple-hot island states and sunsets across the causeway spin around in my head, a delirium of ecstasy enough to defeat any person from Porlock. I take another mouthful, and another.
As we leave with bliss smeared across our faces, a band of hoodlums pulls up in a set of expensive cars and threatens us with murder. They are mere thugs, easy enough to ignore, but the food has set off my creative impulses and I cannot resist. As the clouds rumble in the distance, I slowly walk up to the cars. A fork appears in one hand. A plastic shuriken, scratched and adorned with “You’re a Star!” stickers, appears in the other.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Once again great work! The owner of the black merc can’t park…
“soft plastic shurikens and a wooden daito training-sword” – lol
love the way you are goaded to feats of excellence
entertaining as always. and relieved to be an ally of yours (thanks!) – never mess with an ninja!
clean the katana and sharpen those lenses because i smell a full review of temasek in the not too distant future.
@The Non-Rogue: Good thing you didn’t criticise the BMW’s parking ; )
@Helen: For some reason trouble seems to be attracted to balaclavas. I’m still investigating how this process works. And you are always an ally : D
@freddiii: Feats of excellence? Relentless pursuit?
Surely the Merc was just posturing for attack.
Clearly, being the non-rogue means you haven’t been through the necessary training.
You MUST drag me along for any future Temasek food safari! That is only, like, my favourite times gazillion restaurant in the whole world! <3
You must show us this star-covered shuriken sometime
@Rach: yes ma’am.
@Ichiban: be careful what you wish for heh heh
I haven’t found a restaurant in Sydney that serves good Chai Tow Kuih. Didn’t know they have a sunday special!! Thanks ninja for showing da way!
@Ellie: My duty, my pleasure. Also, it’s a weekend (not Sunday only) special. But it’s rare.
See when you said carrot-cake I thought cake, like white-gold mud-cake, or ricotta cheesecake. Confusion aside, I think I would definitely be able to appreciate this rare special next time you get pinged!