I wasn’t feeling my best today. It’s only mid-week but my energy level already felt like it was Friday night after overtime LOL. Whenever I get into this tired, slightly under-the-weather mood, my brain automatically searches for one thing: soup! And if I want something that feels both comforting and “power up” at the same time, that means spinach soup.
Blame it on childhood cartoons. I grew up watching Popeye squeeze open a can of spinach and instantly become strong enough to defeat any enemy. I honestly don’t remember much of the storyline, but that visual stuck with me. Somewhere in my subconscious, spinach = instant strength, and that belief happily followed me into adulthood.
So after work I headed to Food Republic, hoping a warm bowl would fix my mood. I ended up at a stall called Spinach Chef Spinach Soup & Ban Mian, which already sounded like the solution I needed. The queue wasn’t too crazy, just a steady stream of people looking for a comforting meal. I like that the stall has clear photos of each dish, even if you arrive feeling half awake, you can still point at a picture and survive.
I went straight for the Seafood Spinach Soup because if I’m going to recharge, I might as well have prawns join the party. The auntie at the counter worked quickly, scooping noodles into the bowl, layering on a generous handful of spinach, then topping it with prawns, tomato, tofu and bits of minced meat. Watching the hot, milky broth being poured over everything already made me feel better.
When I brought my bowl at my table, it looked like a little hot spring of vitamins. The spinach portion was huge, long green strands taking over almost half the bowl. I love that they didn’t hold back, if you’re calling yourself Spinach Chef, you better commit to the greens, and they did.
First sip of the broth: light, clean and just slightly sweet from the seafood. It doesn’t feel oily or heavy, which is exactly what I needed tonight. It’s the kind of soup you can happily finish to the last drop without feeling guilty.
The prawns were a pleasant surprise too. They were a decent size, nicely cooked and naturally sweet. I always appreciate when hawker or food court stalls don’t treat the seafood like an afterthought. Here, the prawns actually felt like a key part of the dish, not just decoration for the photo.
The spinach itself was soft but still had a bit of bite. You know that satisfying moment when you pick up a whole tangle of greens with your chopsticks and it’s almost too much for one mouthful? That happened a lot with this bowl. Together with the noodles, each bite felt simple, homely and nourishing.
By the time I reached the bottom of the bowl, my body felt a little warmer, my mind calmer, and my mid week tiredness slightly less dramatic. Of course, spinach soup isn’t a magic fix for all problems, but there’s something comforting about having a “go to” meal you believe will help you recharge.
I’ll definitely keep this stall in my mental list of recovery food. Next time I might try their ban mian version, but tonight, this seafood spinach soup did exactly what I needed, a gentle, tasty reminder to slow down, eat something warm, and take care of myself, even in the middle of a busy week.
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