Curry Chicken and Egg Puff from Rolina Traditional Hainanese Curry Puff.
Operating in Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market and Food Centre for almost 20 years, this shop has come a long way since its opening over 50 years ago as a roadside stall outside Novena Church, apparently getting its name from the mispronunciation of that location. Selling only two flavours, sardine the other, it is one of the famous brands of curry puffs, being recognised in the Michelin Bib Gourmand List in 2018. An amazing achievement, I needed to taste how the simple treat could achieve such a feat.
Puff: 9/10. The puff pastry is much thinner compared to those I had before, but still had good layers for a nice crisp texture. The objective was to bring focus to the filling, but I still marvelled at its ability to maintain its structure well in this tight package. Its mild buttery note added to the richness, and fried to a beautiful golden brown exterior. Given its size, I personally preferred a bit more puff, but I also appreciated that they kept to tradition
Filling: 9.5/10. This small puff was packed full of potato cubes, chicken and a slice of hard boiled egg, covered with their special spicy curry made with rempah chili paste, made fresh every day using a variety of spices and chilli. This unique characteristic of the Hainanese curry puff sets them apart from the rest, as I got hit by a whiff of its strong aroma as I cut into it. Flavourful with good levels of heat for that kick, the ingredients also had layers of texture in a good ratio, making each bite so satisfying
Overall: 9.3/10. A Hainanese myself, I am quite ashamed of not being knowledgeable about my roots before, so the least I could do is to make the effort through food. Glad that this shop is still around and handed over to the next generation, to allow people like myself the chance to experience our tradition and history. I would love to visit again to try their sardine puff, best enjoyed in the early morning when they are fresh.
The prices and opening hours may vary.
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