Weekend eats in Singapore

Back in Singapore for another weekend getaway.  This time around I was introducing the city to a couple of my closest friends.  We stayed at my friend's hotel in the Central Business District, the Westin Hotel, as she was in town for work.  It's a quieter area to stay, but like almost everything in Singapore, it's clean and safe.

CBD is walking distance to Chinatown and the Marina Bay areas.  Over the course of the weekend, we enjoyed bites all around the districts of the city - Marina Bay, Clarke Quay, Chinatown, and Orchard Road - the usual areas that first timers should check out.  We tasted a mix of local and Western dishes.  Tiger beers, chicken wings, chili crabs, and oyster omelettes for the local side; and fries, pizzas, and wine for the Western side of the plate (more on that in my next posts).  For now, here are some of the local bites and neighborhood treats from the weekend.

Friday afternoon beer

Feasting in Singapore

The sights, architecture, museums, culture, and nature.  That's a lot to take in for a short getaway to Singapore.  And the highlight of it all is the food.  You can eat cheaply or luxuriously; the choice is up to you and your wallet.  Either way you go, you're guaranteed to end the day with a happy stomach.

Hawker centers and food courts are the way to go for cheap meals.  In the better areas, the price is slightly higher because the quality and cleanliness is what you pay for.  (We actually ate satay in an outdoor hawker center which was really nice, but unfortunately food poisoning was a result.  So you should still be careful of what you eat and the handling of it even if you're in Singapore where the standards for street food are supposed to be better.)  There are so many classic dishes to choose, so it's best to go with hungry stomachs and share everything.

On the other end of the budget spectrum, there are also many choices for big splurges as well as mid-ranged meals from international celebrity chefs.  From Australia, Luke Mangan has his Salt tapas & bar which is a fun restaurant for refreshing sangrias and small plates to share.  From the states by way to France, there's also the iconic Daniel Boulud and his db Bistro Moderne.  There you can enjoy his signature burger decadently filled with short rib and foie gras.  You can have a meal from these reknown chefs from all over the world in just one small city.

In Singapore, there's so much great food for every budget and for any craving.

First stop, hawker centers
Chicken wings and carrot cake

 Nasi Lemak at 1983 Taste of Nanyang

Satay by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay would not be a Singapore destination with out having a hawker stall.  It's a cool combination of outdoor-indoor.  This is a cleaner hawker centre with a great variety of food choices.

The setting is a nice break from walking around the Gardens.  There are many tables for all sizes and for all families.  If it's not too hot out, it's great to sit along the outdoor area, with the tiny chairs for kids, and enjoy the water scenery.

Find the longest lines and that's sure to be a winner.  In particular look for the longest satay line.  Those satay sticks were some of my most memorable bites of the whole trip.   It's definitely worth the wait!

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Singapore Satay by the Bay

My first taste of Singapore

Singapore is one city I've been eagerly waiting to explore.  So when my best friend sends me a message that he's flying there for work with 2 full days in the city, of course I'm going to say "YES!" to his offer to tag along.

This city lives up to it's reputation, it's hype, and all the expectations as a food city.  Singapore itself is pretty isolated in its little bubble.  But, wow, it's a bubble bursting with great food.  And the best part, you barely break the bank when it comes to eating amazing food.  The hawker centers are the place to go for some of your most memorable meals.

There are so many iconic dishes that it's almost impossible to eat it all in one trip.  Yup, that means I'm definitely going back to eat some more!

Here's a sampling of some dishes that filled my weekend trip in Singapore.  Coming up, a look into the various tourist destinations around the city.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Singapore Food

Hainanese Chicken Rice in Manila

When I write, "Singaporean cuisine," what dish comes to mind? One common answer is sure to be Hainanese Chicken Rice. If the chicken is cooked right, it is the most succulent poultry you can ever savor.

Wee Nam Kee brings flocks of their succulent birds over to Manila. The selections range from deliciously repeatable to a bit disappointing in taste and execution.

The disappointing selections tend to be everything but the Hainanese Chickens. I found the foods to be a bit too overcooked, dull, and oily.

But it is the chicken that keeps bringing me back. The chicken comes with chicken soup, and make sure to order the chicken rice. A complete, satisfying meal. This may not be the highest quality, but it's far better than other Hainanese Chickens you can find around Manila.

The Roasted Hainanese Chicken holds a great roasted taste, while retaining the tenderness. And the star, the Hainanese Chicken, is consistently tender, succulent, and juicy. I could eat a chicken prepared like this everyday.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Wee Nam Kee