Hi, Jan & Fred
As promised, here are suggestions for eating in Singapore. Renowned as a food lover’s paradise, this city-state's array of food choices and cuisines is mind-blowing. Coincidentally, The NY Times ran a story today (Oct. 1, 2006) on dining here. To quote the writer: Singapore is “a nation where good eating is a national pastime.†The story describes several restaurants offering inventive fine dining. Another coincidence, the first restaurant mentioned is in the Singapore Regent Hotel!
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/travel/01next.html?ref=travel As one born and raised in Singapore, I have a more modest objective: to introduce you to some local favorites. Two dishes that most Singaporeans will agree must be tasted are Hainanese Chicken Rice, and Chili Crab. You should also try Peranakan food, a unique cuisine that marries Malay and Chinese elements. It has a rich heritage and is difficult to find anywhere else in the world.
(Free tourist maps & printed guides are readily available at major shopping centers and hotels in Singapore. However, if you would like to scout the area online, the following site has lots of visitor info and maps.)
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/singapore/tourist_guide/ PRINCESS TERRACE CAFÉ at King’s Hotel 403 Havelock Road Singapore 169632 Tel: 6318 3168 Lunch: Noon - 2:30pm Dinner: 6:30 – 10pm The nearest MRT station (Outram Park Stn) is a long walk away, so I suggest a taxi to this destination. The restaurant will be to your right as you enter the hotel lobby. The buffet here offers a chance to sample Penang food. The Malaysian island of Penang is a bastion of Peranakan culture. My favorite drink in Singapore is Calamansi lime juice. Unlike the lime juice we’re used to in the West, the Calamansi variety is mild and incredibly flavorful. Definitely try it!
http://www.copthornekings.com.sg/MCIL.nsf/LU_RES/775$$?OpenDocument&de
JUMBO SEAFOOD GALLERY at The Riverwalk 20 Upper Circular Road #B1-48, The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416 Tel: 6534-3435 Lunch: Noon - 2.30pm Dinner: 6.00pm - Midnight This restaurant is along the Singapore River, near Clarke Quay MRT station (just 3 stops away on the NE Line from Harbourfront Stn, next to where Mariner docks), and the Merchant Court Hotel. This restaurant is very popular, so if you have friends joining you, reservations are definitely recommended for dinner. If it’s just the two of you, you should not have a problem getting a table. Lunch is usually less busy. My family’s favorite dishes here are steamed fish, and the following:
Jumbo Chili Crab : Live Sri Lankan crab stir-fried in rich, savory chili gravy. Best eaten with steamed or deep-fried buns called “Man-Tou.â€
Fried Prawns with Cereal : Fresh Tiger prawns deep-fried with a special blend of oat cereal, curry leaves and chili.
Donut with Seafood Paste : Flour fritters stuffed with cuttlefish paste, coated with sesame seeds, deep-fried till crispy, served with sweet peanut-prawn paste.
Don’t let the name of the last dish put you off – it tastes fabulous!
www.jumboseafood.com.sg/ FOOD COURTS & HAWKER CENTERS These can be found all over and offer a variety of the tastiest food at bargain prices. Nearly everyone understands English, even if they may not speak it, so order with confidence. Most stalls have pictures of the food they sell, as well as prices listed. Unless you have an especially particular palate, it is highly unlikely that you will be disappointed by any choice you make. Favorites include:
Hainanese Chicken Rice, poached chicken served with rice cooked in chicken broth, is delicious and unofficially the national dish. It is eaten with ginger and/or red chili-garlic dipping sauces. A dribble of DARK soy sauce enhances the flavor for some.
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice , Stall #10 Maxwell Road Food Center (near Pagoda St exit of Chinatown MRT Stn, 2 stops away on the NE Line from Harbourfront Stn). Often picked as serving the best Chicken Rice.
Indian Mee Goreng is a spicy fried noodle dish.
Roti Prata, a flaky Indian pancake cooked on the griddle, is an extremely popular snack. Available plain or with a beaten egg mixed in. It is generally dipped in the accompanying curry sauce. Those with a sweet tooth skip the curry and eat it with a sprinkle of sugar. Not my preference.
Chendol (or tjendol) is my favorite dessert. It combines shaved ice with creamy coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, sweet red beans and green squiggles made of pea flour.
NOTE: Have no fear – frequent inspections by the authorities keep standards of sanitation & hygiene high at food courts and hawker centers.
