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5 best porridge buffets

by Jacqueline Tan

inSing.com - 1 September 2011 10:57 AM | Updated 01 Sep 2011

When it comes to comfort food, a bowl of plain or sweet potato porridge accompanied by the humblest of dishes like chye poh omelette, ranks high up there as one of the most soothing dishes. For those who grew up eating the dish at home, savouring it now could spark off an Anton Ego moment, zapping us back to our childhood when simple meals were satisfying and memorable.

Eateries serving plain porridge with an array of side dishes range from coffee shops to hotel establishments. Quite a few places also offer a Taiwan porridge buffet spread (Taiwan because they also serve porridge with sweet potato, which is the way the Taiwanese cook it). The standard ranges from mediocre C you’ll be better off opening your own can of black bean dace fish and making your own porridge C to close to a five-star feast. We single out five of the best here to cater to different budgets.

Coffee Lounge EDITOR’S PICK!

Goodwood Park Hotel

22 Scotts Road

Tel: 67301746

Available: 12pm-2:30pm (lunch); 6pm-10:30pm (dinner)

The buzz: A signature Goodwood Park restaurant, the Coffee Lounge has been serving Taiwan porridge since it opened in 1984. It offers, for both lunch and dinner, porridge a la carte buffet ($38) with unlimited servings of over 20 items including appetisers and hot dishes.

What’s special: Dishes are cooked a la minute, so they arrive piping hot at your table. Order the appetiser, beancurd in Japanese soya sauce & pork floss C it opens up your palate as you enjoy it with the first few mouthfuls of the sweet potato porridge. All the staples of any porridge meal C braised pork belly, mui choy (preserved mustard) with pork, salted egg and braised peanuts C are also on the menu. Among the traditional side dishes, our favourite is the fried omelette with chye poh (preserved radish). It's perfectly round and crisp around the edges with a light, fluffy centre.

There are also the must-try tze char-style dishes that go surprisingly well with porridge. We are hooked to the crispy baby squids in sweet oyster sauce and deep-fried pomfret swathed in black soya sauce. There's even wok-fried beef with black pepper and an impressive selection of vegetable dishes. Go for the stir-fried kang kong with its piquant sambal sauce. If you prefer non-spicy, there’s lettuce with fermented bean paste and eggplant with minced pork. Another big draw of this porridge feast is the decadent desserts from the buffet table tempting you (even after a full meal) with Movenpick ice cream, bread & butter pudding and an array of pastries.