Two Chefs Eating Place

The Moonberry Blog

When my creative associates suggested one day that we hold our meeting and pow-wow session at Two Chefs Eating Place, I was very excited to go as I had heard so many people raving about this joint. Two Chefs Eating Place is located at 116 Commonwealth Crescent and it’s tucked somewhere amongst a cluster of HDB flats. It’s a tze char (spelling?) which is kinda ….. hmm, the best way I can describe such an eatery would be an open-air restaurant serving relatively affordable food meant to be shared family-style. Uhm, I know it’s not an accurate description but it’s sorta something like that.

When words fail, best to use a visual aid. ;) Here’s what it looks like.

Newspaper coverage of Two Chefs Eating Place as a testimony that this place is legit. (Oh, and I guess that’s how you spell “zi char” eh?)

If I understand zi char places correctly, there’s usually a standard menu printed on laminated, two-sided A4 paper with a list of what they can cook and serve. But there are other items that are NOT on the menu and you have to be “in the know” prior to going. This is tricky because how does one be “in the know” if one’s never been there before?!? I guess you have to do homework and read up online on what other people have eaten there before, or every time you go look at what other people are ordering.

In an earlier meeting, one of my creative associates – a passionate foodie – had been raving about the Drunken Cold Cockles and described it with such gastronomical euphoria that we all decided there and then the next meeting had to be at Two Chefs Eating Place. And we *must* order the Drunken Cold Cockles no matter what. FYI, it is not on the menu so if you are reading this blog, congratulations! You’ve done your homework and now “in the know”. ;)

Drunken Cold Cockles.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, let me tell you…. this was absolutely outta this world delicious as fuuuuuuuuuuxk!!! Cold and garlicky, the cockles were served semi-raw swimming in a pool of aromatic rice wine and topped with chopped scallions + bird eye chilies. I was initially concerned by the bird eye chilies but turned out this dish wasn’t all that spicy; in fact the chilies gave it a really nice kick which I appreciated very much. At only $6/plate, we ordered three plates and inhaled everything because it was so irresistibly yummy. And the best part is, I didn’t even get a tummyache or get sick the next day (one can never be too careful when eating semi-raw cockles).

This dish is DEFINITELY awesome. I’d totally go back to Two Chefs Eating Place just to have this again and again. I’m salivating just at the thought of it already. *slurps*

Honey Chicken.

Salted Egg Yolk-coated Prawns.

Steamed Fish with Black Bean Sauce.

Spinach with Trio Eggs. That’s regular egg, salted egg and century egg if you’re wondering what the three eggs are.

Milk Powder Pork Chops.

Say what? Yes, pork chops with a generous sprinkling of milk powder. You read right. Milk powder. How creative, right? I enjoyed this dish tremendously because the milk powder was so fine and creamy-sweet. I even swept the remaining milk powder with the lettuce garnish (garnish!!!) because I couldn’t get enough of the milk powder. Again, this dish is NOT on the menu. Definitely must try! I’d also go back to Two Chefs Eating Place to have this again.

My creative associates and I. We are gonna rule the world one of these days… heh, just kidding. Our brainstorming sessions generally involve beer and we killed off a dozen large bottles that evening (not shown). Beer is essential to keep our creative juices flowing, hur hur.

Oh, and I managed to recruit my buddy Jacob from Cook Snap Eat Love blog to join us for dinner. I’m secretly hoping that he’d identify the milk powder used on those pork chops and clue me in, so that maybe one day I can prepare a similar dish at home. ;P

We ate a lot that evening and the final food bill only amounted to S$85!!!!! I wanted to cry because it was such a good meal and crazy affordable. And the Drunken Cold Cockles…. goshdangit. Must.Eat.Again.Soon.Arrrggghhh.

Check out the Two Chefs Eating Place Facebook page, if you need directions and business hours. It is crucial to arrive early otherwise be prepared to wait for a table. This place doesn’t mess around and it gets packed solid. We had our meeting on a weeknight, we got there as early as 5:45 pm and place got filled up really fast.