Singapore Culinary Chronicles... Part I

I landed in Singapore yesterday with a lot of expectation of trying out some great stuff that I had been reading about on the internet ever since we had planned our trip.

My first meal in Singapore was rather special - I was tired, I was famished, I was pissed off with the delay in getting my hotel room, I was sweaty from the flight, I was drenched in the rain and I had blocked ears from flight....

In short, I needed tender loving care (TLC)....

Then came manna from heaven.... I discovered paradise - the Balestier Food Market. And I got loads of tender loving from the lady at the pork stall at Balestier Food Market who dished up the legendary Bak Kut Teh (肉骨茶) for me....

The Bak Kut Teh was earthy and brothy with a rich umami after-taste to it, it was the perfect cure to all my woes of last morning. Bak Kut Teh instantly uplifted my spirits and gave me the energy to explore and gallivant through the Downtown....

For me, the first meal in a city is the Holy Grail.... The first meal prophetically tells me a lot about the place - it was the street food dinner we had at Ada, at Wan Chai, Hong Kong or the Bak Kwa at Macau, or Pandi Roast at Coorg or poached eggs with toast at Leh... and yesterday, the Bak Kut Teh at Balestier...

I followed up the Bak Kut Teh with traditional Chinese tea. It was a cup full of therapeutic goodness..... My blocked respiratory system instantly cleared up…

My next meal was a good 9-hours later, again at Balestier Food Market....

Unlike the morning, it was a festive atmosphere there in the evening - families were out there enjoying moments of togetherness over a hearty meal. Friends were having a great time over beer. The atmosphere was absolutely electric...

I went by Kapil's recommendation - I wanted something light. And chicken rice was perfect for dinner. This classic Singaporean dish is a variant of Hainanese chicken rice - boiled chicken, rice, a thick chicken broth, steamed spinach and caramelised onions with a thick soya and chilli sauce on the side. I enjoyed this meal to the fullest....

I had cracked it - I found my Nirvana at Balestier...., I never knew one had to travel to Balestier for that!