Singapore cuisine – The delectable signature dishes
A country blessed with bountiful fresh seafood, vegetables, meat and fruits found in numerous wet markets throughout the island will naturally be able to dish up delicious meals to grace tables in every household, restaurant and food court. Singapore cuisine is often declared as a prime example of the unifying cultural thread and the cultural diversity of the nation, making any visitor to Singapore be involved in an unforgettable gastronomic experience in the most exotic and sumptuous manner. The Chinese, Arabs, Malays, Indians and Armenians who came into Singapore during ancient times to settle down, brought along with them the food of their own lands. This has heavily influenced the food culture of Singapore. This phenomenon has made Singapore cuisine a rich cultural attraction encouraging a consumer base from all around the world. Ingredients such as tamarind, chili, ginger, turmeric and ghee were mixed in different quantities by the enthusiastic chefs of the time giving birth to culinary hybrids or new food items based on traditional Indian, Chinese, and Malay cuisine. Fish head curry has been introduced by the Malayalee community of Singapore based on an Indian recipe. Spicy Kangkung, Kari Debal and Laksa are also unique Singaporean dishes. Barbecued Stringrey smothered in sambal, served on a banana leaf is a popular seafood item; fried oyster and crabs cooked in black pepper sauce are also some of the appetizing seafood dishes. The wide range of tropical fruits available includes durian, rambutan, longan, and pineapple, available all year round. Red Rubies, Ah Balling and Italian ice-cream are among the large variety of deserts found in every hawker center of food court. Main Chinese dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice and Popiah are very popular among tourists as well as local residents. Extremely delicious spring rolls with sausage, lettuce and shrimp fillings will make one instantly hungry. Mee Goring is also a perfect addition to a table of snacks which is a popular Malay dish. Among the many multi-ethnic food items available in Singapore, there is also a wide variety of spicy Indian snacks which are favourites of gourmands. Appom, Indian Roja, Achar,Parata are a few only of them. The diversity doesn’t end there; the multicultural cuisine of Singapore varies from traditional noodle rice soup to an American beef steak. The fact that food itself has promoted Singapore as an attraction for tourists is proved by the innumerable hawker centers, coffee shops, restaurants, food courts and cafes as well as snack shops available in the city and suburbs. Visitors can also look forward to the Singapore Food Festival 2009 happening from the 17th to 26th of July, at Read Bridge, Raffles City, serving food from about 30 food stalls. Celebrating the tempting dining treats of Singapore, many other events such as culinary workshops, voucher giveaways, and parades have also been organized. Riverdale Residence , located at River Valley Road, is the ideal Singapore serviced apartment with ample accessibility to food and shopping venues such as the Grand Garden Seafood Restaurant, Orchard Grand Court, Great World Shopping Centre and Ntuc Fairprice.
About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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