Food: The soul of Singaporean life

Ask any Singaporean and he’d probably tell you that there are two things they love to do every day: Shop and eat, and eat and shop. Food is perhaps the soul of the Singaporean life. It is not just something taken for nourishment. Rather, food for Singaporeans is something to celebrate with, to enjoy, savor. Singaporean food is usually rooted in tradition, thereby making a meal a way of honoring ancestors as well. Which is why the way food is cooked and prepared is something that is passed from generation to generation.

Located in the heart of Clarke Quay is what appears to be an old Chinese temple. Actually, it really is ... only that the interiors have been transformed. The place is now known as Forbidden City, a modern Chinese dining establishment owned by the Indochine Group of Restaurants. You take a brief trip to the past as you are suddenly surrounded by a row of Chinese guard stone statues at the entrance.

As you enter the two-storey building, a sizable aquarium welcomes you. Then, you are led up to the brown wooden staircase that leads to the restaurant known as Madame Butterfly, with deep red walls and dark wooden Oriental-style tables and chairs. It’s got a theatrically relaxing atmosphere. It didn’t take long before our show began – a delectable meal in three acts. Our server appeared carrying a variety of samplers: The restaurant’s healthier version of Pecking Duck, serving slices of duck meat along with some scallions, hoisin sauce, and Chinese crepes. The duck meat was nice and tender, and it was nice to have this dish without all the oily mess you usually find in it. Then, there were some lovely golden brown pastries topped with a dollop of mayonnaise and some salmon roe. Inside were some prawns and lychee with a light touch of mayonnaise.

For the main course, we were served slices of delicate garoupa fillet cooked with some fresh mushrooms, a medley of stir-fried Chinese vegetables, sesame-coated chicken and some char siew (slices of pork asado) with a hint of chili. The garoupa fish melts in your mouth and the fresh mushrooms go with it excellently. Meanwhile, the assortment of Chinese broccoli and mushrooms definitely tastes fresh and crisp. The sesame seeds give the chicken an added crunch on the outside while the meat itself is nice, lean, and tender. Meanwhile, the chili gives the Chinese favorite char siew a nice spicy twist.

Just like the previous courses, the dessert still reflected the art of putting a new sumptuous twist into Chinese food. We were served two equally interesting desserts. The first was black sesame seed ice cream served with some yellow beans and delicate slices of sweetened coconut. The flavor of black sesame seed makes for a uniquely good ice cream, creamy but not too rich or overwhelming. There was also the crème brulee cooked with some lemongrass and served with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Still haven’t had enough of the three courses? Don’t worry, I’ve got one more. This time, we’re going Thai style and the place is Restaurant 1827 Thai. The restaurant is tucked inside the Old Parliament House, which stands near the infamous Singapore River.

Should you like to take in a little of the outdoors during your meal, the resto has an al fresco dining area. Here, you will see the beloved bronze elephant statue that was said to be a gift from King Chulalongkorn of Siam during his visit to Singapore back in 1871. The place’s other attraction is executive chef Ivan Yeo. He’s the guy behind the resto’s bestsellers like home-cured salmon with coriander, deep fried minced prawn and chicken in beancurd skin, grilled satay with curry peanut sauce, curry scented fish patty and a vermicelli salad.

The restaurant’s myriad offerings also include steamed black cod with lemongrass and lime juice, roast duck curry with caramelized grapes and honey pineapples, seared scallops and slipper lobster curry and braised vegetables with beancurd.

Al fresco dining by the beach sounds just as lovely and that’s exactly what we’re doing next. I ventured into Sentosa Island for my next gourmet escapade. The place is Rasa Sentosa Resort and the restaurant, Trapizza. This al fresco restaurant is very colorful, playfully blending shades of blue, red, and yellow. For those who want something light, Trapizza offers eight equally tantalizing salads that are so healthy you’d still look good in your two-piece after having some. My personal recommendations are the Fruity Siloso Beach Salad, a blend of greens, vegetables, apples, and nuts in light vinaigrette; the Rasa Chef’s Salad, a hearty mix of greens, cheese, ham served with some slices of bread and dressed in vinaigrette. Of course, a Trapizza dining experience will not be complete without trying some of its crisp thin pizza creations. Its pizza crust has a nice distinct flavor imparted by the wood oven that they use. What’s more, they use only the finest ingredients.

For a more refreshing experience, take a sip of Trapizza’s Flying Trapeze, a citrus blend of juices. But if you want something with a bit more kick, I highly recommend Rasa Sentosa’s Singapore Sling, made with a twist by outlet manager and drink connoisseur Glenn Matthew himself.

While a typical Singapore Sling is made of an ounce each of gin, Benedictine herbal liqeur, cherry brandy with four ounces of club soda, Glenn gives his take on this classic drink a special touch with some lime, it sure is worth going all the way to Sentosa Island for! The taste is pleasurably intense with a nice cherry sensation. If Singapore Sling is your thing, you’ve got to try this.

While the body usually gets enough of its gastronomic delights in Singapore, Singaporeans also know it’s just as important to enrich the mind and soul.

Singaporeans respect their heritage. They proudly honor it any way they can. Hence, it is no wonder that Singapore has become home to a number of exhibitions that is sure to take you to a trip down memory lane.

Paying homage to this city-state’s early beginnings is the Images of Singapore. You begin your tour with the Four Winds of Singapore, built in honor of the Singaporean people who have come from all parts of Asia to make Singapore their home. This part begins with a brief light and sound show, giving you an idea of what to expect in the museum itself. The next is about the beginnings of Singapore itself with the room covered with trees and connected by wooden bridges. Then, it moves on to the time when Singapore became a victim of World War 2. What follows is a showcase of the people inhabiting Singapore today with their respective traditions and special occasions.

Meanwhile, honoring the great Chinese explorer Zheng He is an exhibition that will run from June to September at the Marina Promenade. Entitled "1421-The Exhibition: The Year China Sailed the World," the exhibition was organized by Pico Art International and author Gavin Menzies who wrote the best-seller 1421: The Year China Discovered the World. For those who may not know, Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho as he is also called) was a great Muslim mariner who served the Ming Dynasty and lived from 1371- 1435. Recent studies show that this eunuch may well be the world’s first explorer. This also points out one even more startling implication: The Chinese are possibly the first explorers to ever circumnavigate the globe. You want supporting facts? The exhibit has got it all.

While Asian history is a very interesting subject, so is the history of the Christian faith. The Asian Civilizations Museum’s exhibition entitled "Journey of Faith: Art and History from the Vatican Collections" is on view until Oct. 9. Feast your eyes on more than 140 artifacts along with paintings by renowned artists such as Raphael and Veronese.

Personally, I enjoyed going through this exhibit as I saw with my very own eyes some of the most fascinating artifacts in the history of Christianity. There’s an 18th century crucifix, two framed fragments of the Qumran Scrolls that date back to 2nd century BCE-1st century BCE, and a plaque depicting the consignment of the keys, which was a gift to Pope Leo XIII back in 1887. I also took notice of a wooden 15th century triptych adorned with the crucifixion and saints that greatly reminded me of the Notre Dame Cathedral. There’s also a sarcophagus (stone coffin) fragment that dates back to circa 325-350 CE and a number illustrations of the development of various monuments built over the burial place of St. Peter. Other amazing artifacts include the pulley and handle used in the Basilica of St. Peter during the 19th century, circa 1888 gold and silver papal keys by an engraver at Poce Goldsmith, the very tiara of Pope Pius IX and Pope John XXIII and the throne that Pope Pius the IX sat on from Paris. Meanwhile, from Asia come the 2oth century crab with crucifix from India, 19th century Chinese enameled cross with lotus flower, and 20th century gilded teak altar sideboard from the Peranakan culture of Singapore. This whole exhibit ends with a divine portrait of the late great Pope John Paul II, which was done by Natalia Tsarkova in May 2000. Beside the painting is a quote from the artist herself, saying: "Here, His Holiness is portrayed in a pose that expresses fully his spiritual strength and his suffering for the wrongs of humanity."

Haven’t had your fill of cultural richness yet? I know just the thing for you, a trip to two culturally exciting places in Singapore: Chinatown and Little India. Walk into Chinatown and see for yourself a number of preserved historic shophouses, which have long been home to a number of family business and clan associations. It’s also likely that you’d be witnessing a mahjong game or a traditional opera as you stroll along. Make sure to pass by the Pagoda Street where (ironically) the first Hindu temple called Sri Mariamman Temple stands proud. You can leave your shoes by the door as you go inside to witness a Hindu ceremony in this temple that was built way back in 1827. Afterwards, visit the nearby market and go on a shopping spree of cheongsams, silk paintings, and calligraphy name cards. If the whole trip suddenly makes you hungry, feel free to sample a wide variety of dim sum and other local Chinese fare.

Little India is just as colorful and great to visit as Chinatown. Your senses are heightened as you walk around this area. Everything about it is so unique, you almost feel like you’ve left Singapore. Colorful buildings stand side-by-side on the road and you can hear both modern and traditional Indian songs serenading you as you walk by. Smell the unique fragrance of Indian spices along with those coming from incense sticks. Then you savor the sight of fresh fruits and vegetables lying on the side of the road. What I loved so much about this place though are the colorful flower garlands as well as the finest saris and silk fabric. I still can’t get over the array of colors and patterns that greeted me when I walked in.

Taking a break from your stroll, you can always enjoy some prata, naan, chapati, which you can wash down with some lassi, a yoghurt drink that can be served fruit-flavored.

In the mood for shopping? Check out the Mustafa Centre, which stays open 24 hours a day. Now, can you beat that?

Singaporeans know that Singapore can be enjoyed in many ways, some of which need no thinking at all. It really doesn’t matter whether you choose to stay within the city or visit its smaller islands. Should your time only allow you to stay in the city though, don’t despair. There are still a couple of things you can do to make your visit to Singapore memorable.

The first is to have an unforgettable city tour with the Hop On — Hop Off HIPPOtours. This takes you around Singapore City in one big and incredibly spacious 55-seater open-top bus. Originating from Scania, Sweden, this tour has also become well-loved in Paris, New York, and London. The best part about this tour is unlike others, you can choose to tour the city at your own time through a two-day pass. The tour follows two routes, the City and Heritage, combining 22 stops. Just hop off if you want to explore a certain stop further and hop back on! To start your tour, just proceed to their counter at the Suntec City.

Another fantastic way to enjoy your limited time in Singapore is to take the Singapore River Cruise. Get in one of those small boats and find yourself delighting some of Singapore’s most attractive sights such as the Fullerton, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, the Esplanade, Riverside Mall, and the majestic Merlion statue as you pass under a number of impressive newly-built bridges.

Think you have time to go island-hopping? Then, Sentosa Island is just for you. Begin your Sentosa adventure by going up the Carlsberg Sky Tower, which is reportedly Asia’s tallest observation offer. The tower offers the most breathtaking view of Singapore-Sentosa Island, the smaller islands, and the main island itself. At just S$9.90 for adults and S$ 4.90 for children, you can see it all from above.

Yet another way to get a bird’s-eye view of Singapore is by standing on the head of the Merlion himself. Before going up though, be sure to check out an amusing brief show about Singapore’s favorite creature.

Looking for something more exhilarating? No doubt, you have got to try the Luge. This is sure to be a hit among thrill-seekers and racing enthusiasts. With these small carts, you can speed your way down the wonderfully designed race course that leads all the way down to Siloso Beach. I was there just two weeks shy of the Luge’s opening and I got to give this ride a go myself. As parts of the course are still under construction, me and my media friends invited by the Singapore Tourism Board made the most of a brief portion of it, only to find ourselves wanting to ride down over and over again. According to course director, a fast rider can complete the course at an average of one minute while a slower one would take about three minutes.

If you’re not a thrill-seeker or a fan of breathtaking views, I would suppose that you love nature, more so the sea. In that case, head right to Underwater World. Established in 1991 and costing S$27 million, this 2.5-hectare leisure attraction is home to over 2,500 marine animals of more than 250 species. In 2000, it also built a S$3-million dolphin lagoon. There are a lot of things about marine life in Underwater World that will fascinate you and surely leave you in awe. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to update your marine life knowledge either.

Begin with the Turtle Pool and try to identify the hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle, green turtle, and olive ridley turtle. Inside, enjoy feeling some of the sea creatures out at the Touch Pool, which features some bamboo sharks along with the starfish, porcupine fish, and archerfish. Around this area, you will also notice the Vertical Tube, a cylindrical tank, six meters deep, that houses some of the most exotic fishes in the world. If you love corals, you’ll definitely love the Reef Flat. From here, you can proceed to check out some fossils including the nautilus, sponges, mangrove and horseshoe crabs, African and Australian lungfishes, flower ray, arapaima and bichir.

No visit to the Underwater World will ever be complete without checking out their 83-meter-long acrylic tunnel. Housing a number of some of the sea’s greatest creatures, this tunnel certainly makes you feel as if you’re under the sea. As you go through this tunnel via a lengthy travelator, you will be able to spot some piranha, cuttlefish, moray eels, blowfish, surgeon fish, eagle rays, batfish sea dragons along with some of the most dangerous shark species including bull sharks, leopard sharks, black tip and whitetip reef sharks, nurse sharks, and sawfish. Spend as much time as you want. These creatures aren’t going anywhere!

And once the day ends and the night kicks in, you just have to keep doing what the Singaporeans do: Chill out.

When the sun goes down, it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop … especially in Singapore! Personally, there are two places that I think no one can ever go wrong with for an ultimate night out. My first stop gives new meaning to the expression "chill out." Aptly named Eski Bar, it’s the one place in tropical Singapore that can possibly give you the chills, literally.

The place makes for a pretty intimate setting at only 750 square feet, but the cold temperature in the room can still make one shudder. Established only last February 2005, The Eski Bar was a vision-come-to-life by good friends Elaine Teh and Andy Lim. It certainly feels great to beat the heat once in a while and it doesn’t hurt to do it in style either.

Walking in the Eski Bar, you will first find yourself in the Freezer Area with a freezing temperature of -5 degrees Celsius. Here you will find an impressive bar table made entirely of ice with same frosty motif running around the bar itself. It gets a bit more manageable though once you move into the Chiller Area that registers 5 degrees Celsius in temperature. The same frosty white motif runs along this section of the bar, complemented by a wide array of colors coming from the bar area itself. There are some stools and couches that you can choose to sit on and if you’re starting to feel a little too cold, Eski Bar would be more than happy to lend you one of their big warming jackets. Better yet, fight the chills by warming up your body with two of the bar’s signature cocktails. My drink of choice is the Eski Blue, which is a mixture of Blue Curacao, lychee vodka and grapefruit juice that’s served in a martini glass with a cherry on the side. Also worth trying is the Sleeping Polar Bear, which is similar to a piña colada, only made even better with some Cacao White. Trust me, it doesn’t get any cooler than this.

Whenever I like to have a nice relaxing evening in Singapore, I usually prefer a place that allows me to get a good look of the city and I know of only one place that affords me this view: New Asia Bar. It’s eclectic with chairs and couches scattered all around and shades of deep red and purple as the bar’s main theme. Located at the 71st and 72nd floor of the Swisshotel Stamford, New Asia Bar has been a popular hang-out among both local and foreign guests. The atmosphere here is a casual party mood. Some take on the dance floor, others just chat with friends while there are those who just love to sit in one corner and take in the breathtaking view that the bar’s glass mirrors give.

On top of that, New Asia Bar has a wide range of great cocktails to choose from, along with some finger food. Personally, I like to have the Metropolis, a refreshing blend of Citron vodka, Currant vodka, Triple Sec, and cranberry juice. This lovely drink is served in an innovative-looking martini glass with a piece of cherry. It’s a true metropolitan drink, befitting this booming metropolitan country.

Cheers!

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E-mail the author at ice_wave_42@yahoo.com.