Chinese New Year is about a month away, so it is time to gear up for the festive snack attack. This year, besides the usual Chinese New Year goodies of pineapple tarts and bak kwa, expect salted egg yolk fish skin and potato chips to be a mainstay on the tidbit platter. Snack manufacturers, restaurants and home businesses are rolling out these salty and slightly spicy treats, which have become popular with locals and tourists.
As more brands enter the competition, The Sunday Times decided to conduct a blind tasting of the salted egg yolk potato chips and fish skin to see which ones stand out.
In total, 17 brands – 13 for fish skin and 10 for potato chips – were tasted by a panel of four judges consisting of food experts and editors: The Straits Times Life editor Tan Hsueh Yun; food critic Wong Ah Yoke; Aitor Jeronimo Orive, head chef of the one-Michelin-starred Iggy’s; and chef-owner Kenjiro Hashida of Hashida Sushi Singapore. Here’s their verdict:
TOP PICKS FOR SALTED EGG YOLK FISH SKIN
https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/food/cooking-tips/the-best-salted-egg-yolk-potato-chips-and-fish-skin-in-singapore/
Top Picks For Salted Egg Yolk Fish Skin - The Sunday Times
1. East Ocean Teochew Restaurant Crispy Fish Skin With Salted Egg Yolk
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Verdict: A clear winner for the fish skin category as all the judges noted the “well-balanced” flavour of the salted egg yolk. After tasting it, Chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive said: “It is not too sweet. This one is way ahead of the rest and in another league. You can really taste the salted egg yolk.” The Straits Times Life editor Tan Hsueh Yun added that the fish skin has “just the right amount of spice”.
Score: 67 out of 80
Price: $19 for 200 g │ Where: 05-08 Ngee Ann City, 391A Orchard Road, open: 11.30 am to 3 pm (weekdays), 10 am to 3 pm (weekends and public holidays), 6 to 11 pm daily │Info: Call 6235 9088 or visit www.eastocean.com.sg
2. Irvins Salted Egg Salted Egg Fish Skin
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Verdict: The salted egg yolk flavour also shone through with Irvins Salted Egg Fish Skin, although Hsueh Yun would prefer it to be less sweet and more spicy. She said: “I can see the curry leaves and chilli, but the flavours need to come through more.” Ah Yoke commented: “This tastes good, but I wish that the skin was thinner.”
Score: 54½ out of 80
Price: $8 for 105 g, $16 for 230 g │Where: Outlets include 02-K3 Westgate, B1-59 Raffles Xchange and L1-K3 Orchardgateway, various opening hours, but best to go by 10 am │Info: Visit irvinsaltedegg.com
3. Pacific Crispy Fish Skin
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Verdict: All four judges found this fish skin to be too sweet. Ah Yoke said: “The sweetness hits you first, then the other flavours come out.” Chef Kenjiro Hashida found the chip “slightly spicy”, but moreish. Hsueh Yun said: “While it is too sweet, it still has a good salted egg yolk flavour. A little less sugar and it will be perfect.”
Score: 53 out of 80
Price: $6.95 or $7 for 60 g (price varies depending on location) │Where: People’s Garden, 40 Lorong 1 Realty Park (open 9am to 4pm, Mondays to Saturdays, closed on Sundays); Caltex and SPC petrol stations, Sheng Siong supermarkets and online at Qoo10 │Info: Visit www.causewaypacific.com
TOP PICKS FOR SALTED EGG YOLK POTATO CHIPS
https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/food/cooking-tips/the-best-salted-egg-yolk-potato-chips-and-fish-skin-in-singapore/
Top Picks For Salted Egg Yolk Potato Chips- The Sunday Times
1. Aunty Esther's Salted Egg
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Verdict: This was the unanimous winner. Chefs Hashida and Orive noted the “good balance” of flavours. Hsueh Yun said: “You definitely get the salted egg yolk flavour, and there’s just the right amount of salt.” Ah Yoke and Chef Orive agreed that there could be more flavour from the curry leaves. Also, the packet had a small ball of salted egg yolk inside – a major plus point.
Score: 62½ out of 80
Price: $8.80 for a 100 g packet (promotion price: $8), $16.80 for a 200 g jar (promotion price: $16) │Where: Until Tuesday at Level B2 Takashimaya Department Store, Food Hall; Thursday to February 14 at Level B2 Takashimaya Square (Chinese New Year Festive Celebrations fair) │Info: Call 6222 4779 or order online at auntyesthers.com
2. Irvins Salted Egg Salted Egg Potato Chips
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Verdict: A close runner-up, the judges all applauded the chips’ texture. Ah Yoke added: “I like the texture, but the salted egg yolk flavour is a bit mild.”
Score: 60 out of 80
Price: $8 for 105 g, $16 for 230 g │Where: Outlets include 02-K3 Westgate, B1-59 Raffles Xchange and L1-K3 Orchardgateway, various opening hours, but best to go by 10 am │Info: Visit irvinsaltedegg.com
3. Yolkalicious Salted Egg Yolk Chips
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Verdict: Compared with the rest of the chips, this one looks like a “normal” chip, pointed out chef Orive, as it does not seem to have the orange tinge of the salted egg yolk on many other chips. However, the judges were pleasantly surprised that the salted egg yolk flavour was still prominent. Mr Wong said: “There is a good balance of sweet and spicy flavours, although it is not very crispy. You can taste the egg yolk, as well as the potato.” Chef Hashida found it a tad spicy, but added that “the chips make you want to eat more”.
Score: 52 out of 80
Price: $4.50 for a 65 g packet │Where: Order online at www.yolkalicious.com and visit www.facebook.com/yolkalicious for updates on pre-orders. Order two days in advance.
MORE SALTED EGG YOLK SNACKS TO TRY
https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/food/cooking-tips/the-best-salted-egg-yolk-potato-chips-and-fish-skin-in-singapore/
More Salted Egg Yolk Snacks To Try – The Sunday Times
1. Tiny Red Dot Salted Egg Yolk Potato Chips
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Where: Locations at HarbourFront Centre, 1 Maritime Square; Velocity, 238 Thomson Road; and IMM, 2 Jurong East Street 21; or order online at www.tinyreddot.com.sg
2. Blu-Duck Salted Egg Yolk Potato Chips
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Where: Available at Giant supermarkets, visit giant.sg for the full list of outlets.
3. D'Bun Crispy Salted Egg Fish Skin
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4. The Golden Duck Salted Egg Yolk Potato Chips and Fish Skin Crisps
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5. Say What?! Thick Cut Salted Egg Potato Chips from Tip Top Curry Puff
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Where: All Tip Top outlets and Sticky Wings at 02-05 Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive.
6. Fragrance Bak Kwa Salted Egg Fish Skin
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7. Hosay's Salted Egg Butter Fish Skin packed for Bee Cheng Hiang Hup Chong Foodstuff
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8. Yolky Chips Salted Egg Yolk from Redmart
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Text: Eunice Quek/The Straits Times / Additional Reporting: Sean Tan / Photos: The Straits Times
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