SPICE TEST

On air, Joakim Gomez and Sonia Chew are wacky, funny and irreverent.

Over lunch last Thursday, they brought all of that to the dining table, topped off with a dollop of fearlessness.

I met the deejay partners - who host 987FM's morning show The Wake Up Call on weekdays - at casual eatery Bistro Kai, located on the ground level of new boutique hotel Hotel Kai at Purvis Street.

Not only were Gomez, 25, and Chew, 22, peckish - between them, they wolfed down a beef burger, a chicken burger, two sets of buffalo wings, plus a pint of golden ale - they jumped at the opportunity for a spontaneous spice test.

Bistro Kai's buffalo wings come in different levels of spiciness and the radio jocks deliberately ordered one set of "Insane Buffalo Wings", the hottest on the menu.

By virtue of their heritage, they were confident of their ability to handle the heat. Chew is half-Peranakan, half-Hokkien and Gomez is half-Indian, half-Korean.

Still, there was a bit of trepidation before the first bite.

"I don't know why we're 'torturing' ourselves, but here we go," exclaimed Chew before chewing on her chicken wing.

She needn't have worried; she won the spice challenge hands down.

A couple of minutes later, Gomez, who can currently be seen on okto co-hosting the latest season of kids' programme Mat Yoyo and on the Channel 5 comedy series Rules Of Tham, quickly grabbed a glass of water. His nose was running.

Chew, on the other hand, remained unperturbed.

"It's actually all right," she mused.

So what are your favourite hawker haunts?

Gomez: I'm a Bishan boy, and I must say that Ming Kee Chicken Rice at 511 Bishan Street 13 is fantastic. The queue is perpetually long, but the good thing is, the stall is right next to the bus interchange, so it's very convenient and accessible. When the boss is there, he cuts the chicken meat into thin slices, which makes it really easy to chew.

I'm a huge fan of chicken breast. And I'm talking about chicken only. (Laughs)

Chew: For me, it's Seng Kee Eating House in Kembangan. It's a zi char place, and one of their signature dishes is black herbal chicken soup. Another star dish is their mee sua, which is a must-try.

Food-wise, what's on the top of your list?

Gomez: Besides chicken rice, I like whatever my mum cooks. She's Korean, and sometimes she'd do Korean dishes such as kimchi, bibimbap (mixed rice) and bulgogi (marinated beef). She's such a good cook, she should be on (the Channel 5 reality cooking show) Wok Stars.

Chew: I love steamboat, as I love soup-based stuff. That's my jam. Japanese food too, especially sushi and ramen. The best ramen I've tasted in Singapore is at Hide Yamamoto at Marina Bay Sands.

Gomez: Oh, I love ramen too. I used to frequent Keisuke Tokyo at Parco Marina Bay. It's a pity that it has closed down. No more free bean sprouts.

Where would you go for a romantic date?

Chew: I would still say Hide Yamamoto, as it serves truffled edamame beans. It's a unique dish. Guys, if you want to impress girls, please take them there! Another lovely place would be The Wine Company at the Sentosa Boardwalk.

Gomez: Gentlemen, bring your wallets. (Laughs)

Chew: Pasta Brava at Craig Road is quite romantic too. And all their pastas are handmade, they're really yummy.

Gomez: Wild Honey at Mandarin Gallery is cosy, quiet and the all-day breakfast fills you up any time of the day. I'm a huge meat lover, so Brazil Churrasco at Sixth Avenue is a favourite of mine too.

Do both of you cook?

Chew: I've tried making dinner for my family. It's not too bad, Michelin star standard in my books. (Laughs) I made a Western fish dish with garlic rice. I'll admit I'm not a domestic goddess, but I'm getting there. Give me time.

Gomez: Can you picture Sonia with an auntie-looking apron? Cannot lah.

Chew: Hey, I don't put on an apron when I cook okay. You can still look glamorous in the kitchen.

Gomez: As for me, I'm more a mum's assistant. I can't cook, but I can follow instructions. If she asks me to put in two teaspoons of salt, I'll do it. I help her bake too. I'm quite happy at how well my muffins have turned out.