Sunday, January 20, 2013

Koh Brother Pig's Organ Soup, Tiong Bahru Food Centre

Koh Brothers Pig's Organ Soup, Tiong Bahru Food Centre

I remember a stall that sold pig organ soup back from the days of the old dingy Tiong Bahru market when the food centre was but a single story and had stood side by side with the market. I was but a child. Grimy floors, stone tilings that were in the process of being uprooted by tree roots and when rainy weather didn't make eating the best of experiences. But hey, it had that charm that can no longer be found anywhere in this country today.

Since then, I've been told that the mentioned pig organ soup is Koh Brother (30 Seng Poh Road, #02-29 Tiong Bahru Market). I don't recall having eaten at their stall since the current food centre was in operation so I guess this visit was a clean slate. These guys are even on the most inescapable social media space of our time today.

Koh Brothers Pig's Organ Soup, Tiong Bahru Food Centre

What I do remember vividly was the tangy broth flavoured by the pickled mustard greens with a base of clean porcine aroma that simmered just beneath the surface. What went into the soup were slices of lean pork, stomach, liver, meatball and was that heart or tongue there? I'm guessing that in the past, the steaming bowl would have included cubes of pig blood as well. 

Koh Brothers Pig's Organ Soup, Tiong Bahru Food Centre

Those glutinous rice with chestnuts stuffed in intestines what-you-call them were pretty interesting. A food craft from yesteryears fading away as the decades move along.

Koh Brothers Pig's Organ Soup, Tiong Bahru Food Centre

1 comment:

red fir said...

It's pig's heart. Love the kiam chye.