Joanna James
Singapore's multi-cultural community add loads of variety and exotic flavours to the category of culinary delights. A huge variety of dishes await the foodie and here are some you must try.
No discerning traveller to Singapore should leave the nation without a taste of traditional Singapore chilli crab. Hitting the spot every time the tasty crab and its exotic gravy will leave your taste-buds hankering for more; the gravy tends to infuse the sweet flesh with its spicy flavours making it a firm favourite amongst all crab lovers. Best accompanied with mantou, a bun that's either fried or steamed, the crab gravy is the most flavoursome part of the dish. So, go ahead and leave those utensils alone, wash your hands and dig into one of the heartiest meals you will enjoy in Singapore. Hotels in the Asia Pacific such as the properties offered by Park Hotel Group will serve up the traditional version of this crab curry as well as other variants of the popular shellfish.
Before you turn up your nose and skip to the next item you should know that Frog Porridge will be one of the tastiest dishes you will sample in Singapore. It is not a horrible looking dish of frog parts; instead, this delectably sweet and succulent dish is created by first marinating the frog parts in soy sauce, wine, spring onions, mild ginger and exotically spicy chilli. The tender meat is full of flavour and comes with a good dollop of porridge and delicious green onion sauce. The best Frog Porridge and other frog dishes are available at the Eminent Frog Porridge restaurant on Geylang Road.
This dish has no carrot in it, and it is not the icing covered dessert many associates with the name carrot cake. Instead, the Singaporean fried carrot cake is made with rice flour and white radish sometimes referred to as 'white carrot'. It is a mix of these ingredients which are steamed, cubed and stir-fried with garlic, spices, eggs, prawns and oysters, as well as lashings of black soy sauce. Available at most street food stalls, the savoury dish a pretty hearty meal to enjoy.
An invention by Chinese immigrants from Hainan Island in China this flavoursome dish is another staple amongst Singapore's everyday food. It has even gained mileage over been voted the best dish in Singapore. Preparation includes a fat juicy chicken cooked in a broth of pork and chicken bones which is later sliced and served on a bed of rice cooked separately in an equally delicious broth.
A sweet and crunchy treat, Kaya Toast is best enjoyed with a cup of local kopi. The thin slivers of toast are covered in butter and kaya, a type of traditional jam made with coconut and egg. A favourite for breakfast or tea, the toast is considered a treat when paired with boiled eggs and runny yellow yolks.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
