Joanna James
Not only when it comes to food is Singapore a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities. But it is one of the best ways to get to know the city-state. Singapore's hawker centres recently became very famous in the western world following Crazy Rich Asians. Here's what to try in Singapore.
Bak Kut Teh is something very uniquely Singaporean. It is a dish that has a legend to boot, one version of it tells of a poor beggar who came to a noodle shop to beg for a meal. The shop owner was poor too but didn't want to turn the beggar away so he got the leftover pork bones and whatever spices he could find and dumped it all into a pot to create the rich dark soup. That was how Bak Kut Teh which also translates to Pork Tea Soup was born. It is considered a humble dish that serves the taste of home. You can find it at many hawker centres. And if you'd like to go gourmet, you can always ask the chef at one of the hotels in Little India Singapore to make it for you.
Wanton Mee is a Singaporean take on wanton noodles that probably hails from Hong Kong. Unlike the other versions, the Singaporean one is served dry with sweet sauce, char siew and wanton pork dumplings with soup on the side. When you visit a hawker centre the auntie running the booth will ask you if you want it spicy or mild. The original sauce is made from chillies and can be quite spicy. There is a kids version of the sauce that is mixed with ketchup. So, if you can't handle your spice, tell Auntie you want it mild. The wanton pork dumplings will either be fried or served in a mildly coloured broth.
There is no carrot in fried carrot cake. The Singaporean dish is made of chai poh – preserved radish – white radish flour and eggs and it is the white radish that gives it the name "carrot cake." It is mostly served with a sweet molasses sauce and can be found at any hawker centre. You can even try a rather gourmet creation at restaurants in hotels the likes of PARK ROYAL On Kitchener Road Singapore.
Dim Sum comes from Hong Kong and is called Dian Xin in Singapore. The basic Chinese dishes such as Xiao Long Bao, BBQ Pork Buns, Chee Cheong Fun and Siew Mai are available as well as a wide assortment of dim sum dishes.
The only traditional Singaporean breakfast worth mentioning is Kaya toast with soft boiled eggs and Singaporean coffee. Classic kaya toast is made from French baguette toasted on a grill slathered generously from a coconut and egg concoction that is the titular kaya. It is also slicked thickly with butter. You will also get soft boiled eggs on the side, steaming hot with pepper and soy sauce to taste.
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.
