From Singapore With Love

Some people eat to live while others live to eat! This is all about those who live to eat and what better place could there be, better than Singapore. Eating with passion is a national pastime and on an average a Singaporean eats out nine to ten times a week which by statistical record would beat any place in the world. A myriad of foods can be flavored on the streets of Singapore ranging from Mexican, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Thai, and Lebanese and from every part of the world. The hawkers with delightful array of food to the upmarket restaurants are crowded with people at any time of the day. Don’t be surprised to see the serpentine queues at shops selling just the frozen yogurts like Ilao Ilao near Plaza Singapura  to ones selling Korean BBQ in CBD! It is a truly international destination for the food lovers.

Singapore boasts of one of the best cuisines that have been prepared by fusion of cultures by scores of people who have settled here from all parts of the world! ‘Fish Head Curry’ first introduced in 1950’s by an Indian, Gomez are as popular as ‘Chilli Crab’ or the local ‘Chicken Rice! They come from mild flavor liked by Europeans to tangy and spicy flavors loved by Asians! The best thing about Singapore is that while one walks along the spick and span streets enjoying the city sight -seeing delights, food is never a worry! Just walk along the River Valley Road to Clark Quay and Robertson Quay and you would be surprised to find some of the strangest dishes like Bak Kut Teh a Pork Bone Tea which is very popular and considered to be an energy drink! Equally popular is 'Laksa' - vermicelli and curry of coconut milk, spices and prawns! ’ Satay’ prepared by different kinds of meat and tofu on skewers  grilled over the low heat of charcoal marinated with tangy herbs and spices and dressed in peanut sauce is a hot favorite!

'Nasi Padang' a Malay and Indonesian spicy dish is loved by Singaporeans and are sold in every part of the city from Jurong to Tampines. It is listed as one of the forty dishes without which Singaporeans cannot live without. Hokkien Mee, another Malay and Singaporean fusion food preparation of prawn, noodles, and eggs prepared in huge woks is a very popular street food. The way the locals prepare it by tossing the food in woks is almost an art!

In Singapore one can get stuffed Parata, Naan, Chicken curry or even Idli and Dosa better than one can ever imagine. The dessert choices range from Pandan and Durian chiffon cakes, to the best of puddings, ice creams, and baked products.

 'Killiney Kopitam’ at Kimberly Street is a haunt recommended for Kopi(Coffee) lovers. The aroma of Robusto beans, roasted with corn, butter and sugar and a dash of condensed milk, along with a toast grilled over charcoal and a slow melting frozen butter attracts customers  like opposite poles of a magnet! ‘Kopi and Kaya’ toast is worth dying for! There are flavors of sweet Kaya available too!

Singaporeans take pride in the food that they eat! They prefer local cuisines,Hawker food is far more popular than any other option. The love for technology and food in Singapore is unmatched elsewhere. The stalls at Woodgrove Food Centre to fine dining at Raffles Hotel offer  a range  that will spoil any tourist or the local alike! According to celebrity American cook and TV host of CNN , Anthony Bourdain

‘Nobody in Singapore drinks Singapore Slings. It's one of the first things you find out there. What you do in Singapore is eat. It's a really food-crazy culture, where all of this great food is available in a kind of hawker-stand environment.’

 PS : 1.This post is my entry for Indiblogger/ Takeaway Level: Singapore sponsored contest http://discover.stayfareast.com/

2. Image kind courtesy Memegenerator .net