Although there are days when I love to surround my arms around a bowl of comforting ramen, there are days when I am on a hunt for something new! Having tried Medanese cuisine is definitely a refreshing change. But you may be thinking... what is Medanese food? (Medan Town!) And where in Singapore can you try Medanese food? (Tanjong Katong!) I'll introduce this restaurant, Medan Town, to you in this post at a self-paid food tasting attended by other passionate food bloggers.
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| Photo credits: andrinasution |
Where is Medan?
Medan is an Indonesian province, and also the fourth largest city in Indonesia. Medan is the marketing, commercial, and transportation center of a rich agricultural area containing tobacco, rubber, and palm oil. Medan industries include the machinery and tile production, and automobile assembly. Said to be the gateway to the beautiful Lake Toba region, Medan is a tourist center with an international airport and cultural attractions.
Medan Town: Famous Medanese Food
Helmed by Medanese natives, Harianto Teh and his wife, Madam Choo, Medan Town is the first Medanese restaurant launched in Singapore. Although this casual dining eatery opened its doors in September 2012, it is beginning to garner greater recognition in the local foodie scene. Go get your share before it gets swarmed in its 50-seater space!
All the Rendang at Medan
We began the tasting with a plate of Nasi Rendang Ayam ($6.80) which struck me as being very generous with their flavours - everything had so much kick! The sambal potatoes were the most outstanding with its full-bodied spicy aftertaste that had me teary-eyed after a while - I'm not very used to spicy food - but it is not too overpowering. The chicken rendang also maintained a characteristically tender texture in its meat. One point to note is that this dish would perfectly satisfy tinier appetites, but be ready to order appetizers and desserts. The beef rendang (Nasi Rendang Sapi) version is also available, though the rendang sauce is essentially the same... so it depends on which texture you prefer.
Medanese Curry or Soto Medan?
At Medan Town, they have two types of soup bases that you can choose from to put your bihun/rice/beef or chicken: the Medanese Curry or the Soto Medan ($5.80 for chicken, $6.80 for beef). No pictures for the Soto Medan because everyone was very excited about trying it with its aromatic fragrance wafting about. They are also not the most photogenic dishes around, but hey, taste is still the most important! Let me tell you in words anyway. For an average stomach space, you might only be able to try either the curry or the soto medan... so which one should you pick? The curry is excellently spiced and piquantly thick, and probably impossible to finish the whole bowl if you do not have a high threshold for spiciness. I definitely couldn't, though it was really addictive. Luckily, I had their refreshing Tangy Orange drink on the side which allowed me to enjoy a few more spoonfuls! If you are the sort that derives joy from a lot of spicy food, you definitely cannot skip this. The Soto Medan is a friendlier and overall, more enjoyable option for me because I love coconut milk and all things lemak like that... it is very, very fragrant. The taupoks and vegetables soak up the broth very well too. The chefs at Medan Town really do not skimp on giving you a concentrated experience of Medanese flavours.
Tahu Goreng
The Tahu Goreng ($4.50) is one of those side dishes that would delight food photographers with its colourful ensemble. It comprises fried tofu, peanuts and keropok scattered on a thick bed of beansprouts. While I felt that it was more enticing to the eyes than to my tastebuds, it makes for an easy sharing dish across the table. They could have been more generous with the sweet and spicy sauce too.
Sam Chan Bak
If I can only recommend one side dish, the Sam Chan Bak ($4.80) would be it. It is also known as pork belly. Not only is it easy to photograph (always a plus point), its skin is very crunchy, fresh and did not give me the feeling of being oily at all. The meaty part is also consistently easy to chew and the savoury flavours are well distributed throughout. This is also a dish that were clean swept off its platter very quickly - always a good indication!
Sate Kerang Medan
This satay also left quite a deep impression on me. Unlike the usual chicken, beef or mutton satay, you will probably not be able to guess what it is without a closer look... this are sticks of skewered cockles! Unlike the rendang sauce which may be overpowering for these satays, it is a slightly more muted version that allowed the original flavour of fresh cockles to exude through nicely. Go for this if you're looking for a more extraordinary dining experience.
Es Sekoteng
And then we have the desserts! This is always the part of meals that I look forward most to because sweet endings always make me feel really happy... an instant mood booster. The Es Sekoteng ($3.50) was the first one we tried, which I felt that it was very sugary and missing something. There was barley, pink and green jelly, lychee, nata de coco, and Medanese orange peel mixed in one. It felt like eating all the toppings in a bubble tea drink without the drink itself. I probably wouldn't get this for myself but I know a few people who absolutely love those toppings and may be interested.
Es Cendol Medan
Well, well, look what we have here! I love chendol, but the ones I'm used to are the Melaka ones. The Medan version is definitely different and has its own selling points. The first thing you might notice is how naturally green the rice flour jelly is, and then the fat juicy attap seeds (which I had). The coconut base is much lighter than the Melaka ones... I like to have coconut milk in its full glory, so this did not hit a full score from me either.
Ongol Ongol
The ongol ongol ($1.50) is Indonesian sweet cake made from palm sugar and grated coconut. This reminded me of the street kueh snacks in Malaysia and is pretty decent. It makes for a good simple ending to a hearty meal.
Klepon ($2.50)
I'm obviously saving the best for the last... and I'm seriously telling you should never underestimate these little green round things which are pretty stellar. It is similar to ondeh ondeh, but these are wayyy better. They burst explosively in the mouth and then luscious, sweet and warm palm sugar syrup ooze across the tongue as if they are trying to give you an award-winning massage. If ever you walk past Medan Town and don't have time to sit down for a full meal, at least try their Klepon for takeaway or something. Dessert time? Klepon it is.
Medan Town works as a really helpful starting point if you want to have a comprehensive idea of authentic Medanese food. It is also a break from the mundane dining options in Singapore. And try the Klepon.Medan Town
253 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437041
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