Having read Fiona Chan's entry in Sunday Times today, I can't help but think that any Singaporean who brings foreign visitors to food courts (as a first resort) must be utterly clueless.
What's wrong with food from food courts?
Let me count the ways ...
1. Open-air cooking beats cooking in air-conditioned enclosed space.
I have to admit though that so far, Japanese food town haven't done too badly, but again, their type of cooking differs from tropical cooking.
2. Prices - enough said.
3. Quantity - pathetic
The first place, if in Orchard Road, I'd offer to bring a foreign visitor, is Lucky Chicken Rice in Lucky Plaza.
There's a few other outlets in that old building that are not too bad either.
Killiney Road also offer some interest delights.
Sad day for Singapore when Cuppage Hawker Centre was demolished.
Okay, so I do fancy myself a gourmand when it comes to food.
Tiong Bahru food court is not bad.. many stalls there were previously from the good old Tiong Bahru food market...
ReplyDeleteActually, my mother-in-law lived across the street from Tiong Bahru hawker centre ... unfortunately, many stalls are no longer there.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Tiong Bahru.. Boon Tiong road to be precise.. u know those 4-storey flats along the road..now my parents are living in one of those tall flats behind.. true, I remember that was this very popular crytal bao stall.. I couldn't find it in the new market..
ReplyDeleteFood court is actually a good place to get to eat all the local Singaporean food. I wouldn't mind bringing a foreigner to a food court. Besides, it's not expensive and the environment is relatively comfortable.
ReplyDeleteHey, that's exactly where my in-laws are!
ReplyDeleteToo bad your old block had been converted to hostels. I heard the owners were told the blocks were going to be demolished, but after they moved, something else happened. I wonder if the original owners were upset at being "tricked".
WRT to the hawker centre, I was thinking more of the BBQ seafood stalls in the old market ...
Well, cost is relative, but as for comfort, my personal preference (as a tourist) is to eat-as-locals-do, on the assumption that locals go to where the best authentic local fares are.
ReplyDeleteThe only food courts that I deemed that offered good fares were
(1) Scotts Picnic (actually, only Hwa Heng Beef Noodles), and
(2) pre-renovation Marina Square, near where JL is located now.
Both defunct now.
Gyozas at Cuppage and chicken rice at Katong Mall...steamboat along Tanjong Katong Road or the basement of Roxy Shopping Centre...
ReplyDeleteWhy not try those? ;-)
Zion Road is still fairly decent. I love the laksa there and my friends like the big prawn mee. The char kway teow and carrot cake are good too.
ReplyDeleteOh and Katong laksa!!!
ReplyDeleteYou can tell I love my food... :p
Mmmh, I think I've been brought to such food court and not only the food was good but I really liked to eat with the local people, I like the authentic places and people even if it was quite noisy to me ! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLiu, you have no idea of all the good food you missed out on because you were stuck with me! I am very bad with food! haha
ReplyDeleteQuite the opposite of a Gourmand. (I had to look up the meaning!)
But...but...I liked to be stuck with you ! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeing stuck with Ur is good for the waistline in the long run ... :P
ReplyDeletelol!!! And the pocket too..
ReplyDeleteNaaaah, I do not eat that much so it was perfect for me ! And I appreciated not to spend so much time around the table for eating. Your meals are shorter than in France, that's good !
ReplyDelete