One of the major driving forces in Singapore tourism is their food. Singaporean cuisine ranks number 3 next to shopping and accommodations. On my second day here, I got a sampling of mind-boggling array of dishes from various ethnic groups like the Indian, Arab, Peranakan, and Chinese. I admit that every time I go to Singapore, I shop or eat at the Hawker Centers but never took the time to venture to other eating places that are specific to an ethnic group. I am running out of adjectives to describe each dish I tasted on my second day here at the Singapore Food Festival 2009. I just have one word, and that word is delicious. I mean, what more can I say?
I will just have to show you the photos and let your imagination describe it for you. Oh, and a few videos to see the action and hear sounds of Singapore! Click on the thumbnails for the larger image.
Little India
I skipped breakfast at the hotel when I discovered that my second day involved a lot of eating. Not that I find hotel food boring but I wanted the sights and sounds of these ethnic communities. Our first stop is Little India, the district where many ethnic Indians eventually settled and developed commercial areas like the Tekka Centre and Mustafa Centre. Anything specific to Indian culture, be it saris or Indian cuisine, can be found in Little India. In fact, rice shops in Little India are often frequented by Chinese parents with babies because they have machinery meant to grind rice for congee.
Wee Toon Hee (my ever reliable and friendly tourist guide) brought me to the Tekka temporary market which will be there until July 31. They will move back to the Tekka Centre (Blk 665, Buffalo Road) on August 1.
This is one of their ‘wet’ markets, where the water from melting ice and regularly sprinkled vegetables consistently keeps the floors wet, and discover what food really means to Singaporeans. It reminds me of the wet market in the Philippines. I decided to try the “Roti Prata”, the Singaporean evolution of the Pakistani and Indian paratha, a pancake bread made of dough composed of fat, egg, flour and water. I dipped my Roti Prata with the curry sauce in a separate plate with a cup of warm Milk Tea.
Arab Street
Time to head off for lunch at the Islamic Restaurant at 745 North Bridge Road. The Islamic Restaurant Established since 1921 is run by Third Generation and managed under Mr. Kalil grandson. I loved the vintage look of the restaurant, strewn with old sepia photos, movie reels, cameras. It makes you feel you were eating sometime in the 1920’s.
Toon Hee recommended me the Beryani Set (sometimes I see it spelled as Briyani) which had a selection of chicken, mutton or fish. I chose the chicken which came with an extra bowl of the sauce. The amount of rice was just too much for me to finish but I ate the fragrant saffron rice, chicken and the sauce with gusto.
I washed down my meal with 2 orders of coconut water.
Recent Comments