Madras New Woodlands had always been my go-to spot for South Indian vegetarian breakfasts ever since a colleague from the then-Singapore Broadcasting Corporation brought me there for lunch one day back in 1989. I still remembered what we had for lunch that day: a thali where steamed white rice was served with a selection of spiced and curried vegetables contained in little metal open pots or katoris on a silver tray.
I liked the meal so much that I went back there for dinner that very same day - on my own. And I enjoyed it so much, I returned for breakfast the next day. At the end of 10 days, I’d been to the restaurant 20 times - either for breakfast, lunch or dinner! And it was here at Madras New Woodlands that I was introduced to the delicious upma - delicately spiced, thick semolina porridge which I can never get enough of.
And it was also at this restaurant that I first came across the crisp, golden-brown oversized masala dosa - luscious crepes made of rice & lentils, folded over a delicate potato-and-onion filling, and served with chutneys and dhal curry.
Madras New Woodlands also inducted me into the pleasures of dipping idlis - delicate little ivory-white spongey discs into coconut chutney, or drenched in sambhar, a delicious spicy-sour vegetable-dhal curry.
I was back at Madras New Woodlands for breakfast last weekend. My friends had all of the above, plus puri - crisp, unleavened fried bread, puffs of pure scrumptiousness. I could never stop at one puri, which is maddening as there are always so many other things to eat whence one is in a South Indian eatery. But puris at Madras New Woodlands are always a must-order.
We had two orders of palappam - dense, spongey pancakes (more like crumpets) with a moist, coconut creme-infused little bump in the centre. We eat these with orange-tinted sugar (it’s a Singapore thang, don’t ask me why - I’ve had it like this growing up. In Malaysia, palm sugar is used), and more thick, sweetened coconut milk, for dipping or to be spooned over the pancakes.
Madras New Woodlands is much more crowded these days, compared to back in 1989 when I was first acquainted with it. There were 2.9 million people living in Singapore back then. Today, Singapore has 5.8 million, and with a very large Indian expat population as well, most of whom are vegetarians.
Madras New Woodlands was founded in 1983 by Mr A Dinakaran. He’d named his restaurant after New Woodlands Hotel in Chennai (formerly Madras), although there was no relationship between the two, other than that both served South Indian vegetarian food.
After 30 years, am so happy that nothing seemed to have changed - and the kitchen still churned out the dishes just the way I liked them.
Address
Madras New Woodlands
14 Upper Dickson Rd, Singapore 207474
Tel: +65 62971594
Opening hours: 7.30am-10.30pm daily