Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Solace of the Slaves at Sin Kee, Brickfields

Some weekday evenings, I step out of the office and blend right into the parade of the battered and soiled, having clocked another day of being a functioning, serving member of society. On these nights, I can turn only to food that takes me back to age 7, when being functional was considered a precocious trait, not a prerequisite.

Sin Kee, an establishment as old as Conformity itself, reaches out to derelict, empty souls pining for our weekends, our secret projects and predilections. Fat Tulip and I arrive on Tuesday evening to a near full house of hungry folks with that haunting vacant stare, made even more unrelenting by the stark fluorescent lighting.

The Mun Fan (Stewed Pork Rice) comforts as the worn bowl is lifted, unveiling rice laced with the goodness of pork, Chinese sausages, egg and lettuce. On any other night, I would have turned my nose at this because this isn't a spectacular dish by any means, but it's a brand of soothing therapy to the bitter working class like no other.

I can't remember the last time the Sweet & Sour Pork made an appearance on my plate but I order it instinctively, assailed by the memory of the same dish being lovingly prepared by Mom for us three pesky, picky kids. While this revives us somewhat, we struggle to finish the huge portion of battered meat.

The Chicken Chop is a delight, boneless tenderness doused in brown gravy and baked beans and home fried potatoes. The weekend doesn't feel THAT far away now, we think.



We finish with a perfunctory vegetable dish, Long Beans & Brinjal in Sambal. This is too oily and too robust for our liking for by this time, we have too many different flavours on the table confusing our humble palates.

Fat Tulip pays his respects as we depart to seek solace in our fitful sleep. It won't be the last time that we will need Sin Kee's nourishing, almost parental embrace.

21 comments:

Kenny Mah said...

It's comfort food, that's what it is, my dear. It's comfort food that we turn for solace in times we're weary and worn out.

It's a good thing this is something we can always return to, eh? :)

Sean said...

the scary thing is, we might still have another two to three decades of our lives chained to jobs that suck the life out of us! i'm too risk-averse to break free of these fetters, so i've learned to accept them. i think a more untameable spirit (like you sometimes seem to be) might take a different route =)
i've only been to sin kee once, drawn by the myth of the magical mun fan. i liked it, but i kept thinking that it was missing a few more key ingredients that i just couldn't put my finger on...

J2Kfm said...

Confusing your humble palates? Hahaha, not de-sensitized from all the booze? :)

Seriously, I'd order sweet and sour pork in ANY restaurant. Provided that I saw some other patrons ordering the same thing.

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

totally agree with kenny, comfort food, thats what the mun fan is. after digging in, the perfect remedy is to have a nap or just doze off..

time to brave the sun and the skin cancer and walk over for lunch.

qwazymonkey said...

Aren't we a lucky bunch to have such good food to comfort ourselves with?

Sin Kee's a favourite of mine too. :)

Ciki said...

wa.. so poetic you.. on a mon morn, just what I need to kickstart my day.. THAT, and maybe some food from sin kee! wanna go..? LOL

J said...

I so need a big plate of carby comfort food now...

(Hmmm.. what's the address of this place/ how do I get there ah? Any landmarks?)

PureGlutton said...

That mun-fan looked like a giant loh-mai-kai, at 1st glance! Comfort food indeed, but i can't remember when the last time was that I had such comfort food!

Rebecca Saw said...

The mun fan didnt impress, but i think the chic chop looks more promising...hmm..

ck lam said...

Indeed a nice place to venture to, with Chinese and Western choices of Mun Fan and Chop.

superwilson said...

Looks impressive. I think i passed by the shop b4

Julian Si said...

Droooooooooool, you ordered my THREE FAVE DISHES at one of my FAVOURITE ever makan places, Sin Kee.

I love items 1 - 3 :-)

Cheers from Abu Dhabi!

worldwindows said...

Food looks delicious. Slaves and masters do eat here!

Kongnichiiwa said...

this is one of my all time favorite and it helps when I am live around the corner. Have you ever noticed the old guy who takes your order - he is always in smart collar T Shirt tucked in neatly and his gold watch

thebaDderMen said...

The shiny dishes do look very appetising and fulfilling

iamthewitch said...

I love sweet and sour pork! The mun fan is something new to me though.. first time seeing it. I guess that gives me a reason to go visit this place one day.

thebaDderMen said...

Those are emperors' dishes for deserving slaves
haha

tigerfish said...

I cannot remember seeing Mun Fun in such a serving. Usually, similar presentation is seen in Loh Mai Kai but always in dainty bowls, then served upside down on a plate.

Unknown said...

It is really a comfort foods and bring back many memories ya! ^-^

Big Boys Oven said...

tasty with delightful, simplicity the most! :) will catch up with u soon!

fatboybakes said...

oooh, i went here last with julian si actually!!! love it, must go back soon.