SINGAPORE — When Chef Eric Neo isn’t busy coming up with new menus for InterContinental Singapore and overseeing the hotel’s culinary operations, he regularly appears on television as a guest chef or judge in various food programmes, such as Sizzling Woks or Feast Fight. This year, he popped up on MediaCorp TV Channel 5’s Wok Stars as food consultant and guest judge.

But don’t be surprised if you don’t find Chef Neo slaving over a stove these days. “Actually as an Executive Chef, I hardly cook, not even for myself,” he admitted. “The closest thing to me cooking at home is Maggie Mee. But I have a certain way of cooking it, with minced meat and fish meatball, no egg — or poached if I want it — and I can see how hard or soft I want the noodles to be.”

BREAKFAST: Wanton mee @ Rong Hua Wanton Mee, 448 Changi Road (Price: S$3.50)

“I’ve had Rong Hua Wanton Mee ever since I was 15 years old — so it’s been a good 20 years now. This is done by the current owner’s father, who roasts his own char siew and everything. I like that their wanton noodles are very traditional, and they still use melamine plates. The noodles are springy, and the sauce they use is very traditional — with soya sauce and ketchup — and the broth for the wanton uses ikan bilis and yellow beans, while the wanton has mince pork and dry sole fish. It’s very flavorful and fragrant.”

LUNCH: Katong Laksa @ 1 Telok Kurau (Price: S$3.50)

“Compared to 328 Katong Laksa, I think the Katong Laksa here is much better. The gravy is not too spicy, you can taste the flavors — the herbs and spices — and you can drink its gravy together with the noodles. This one is just nice. I believe it’s something he did to the stock, making it sweeter than any other laska I’ve tasted before. Plus, they are generous with their ingredients — the cockles are very big, you can’t even compare it to your average laksa.”

Dinner: Chicken rice @ Five Star Chicken or Boon Tong Kee (Price: S$3.50 and up)

“At the Five Star (www.fivestarchickenrice.com) the rice is very fragrant, you can see each and every rice grain and it’s not too oily. The sauce that goes with the chicken is also just nice, but the chilli is a bit too hot. Another stall I like is Boon Tong Kee (www.boontongkee.com.sg), as their roast chicken is different from others’: It is a Cantonese-styled fried chicken. When I order their chicken rice, I have to wait, and that’s when I realise they do it a la minute, just like the roasted chicken that we have in Chinese or Cantonese restaurants. The chicken and rice is fantastic, it’s very juicy and flavourful. What’s more, Boon Tong Kee has more choices, so you can order other things to complete your meal.”  

Catch Wok Stars on Wednesdays, 8pm on MediaCorp Channel 5.