Eating In Translation

Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly

On its own the jelly isn't all that sweet.

Fried-food stall

Fish sticks, after a fashion: Keropok lekor, a specialty of the northeastern Malaysian state of Terengganu, are a blend of fish paste and sago. Traditionally they're hand-rolled, though these have a mass-produced, extruded look, then tossed in the deep fryer. My fellow Ramadan bazaar browsers and I got a half-and-half order (S$2.00, about US$1.50 at the time) — four chewy, four crispy.

Fried-food stall
At a Ramadan bazaar on Geylang Road near the Joo Chiat Complex, Singapore
(From a summer 2010 visit)

Indian fritter stall

Prawn vadai (three for S$2.00, about US$1.50 at the time) were soft-bodied yet chewy, and laced with bits of hot green pepper.

Indian fritter stall
At a Ramadan bazaar on Geylang Road near the Joo Chiat Complex, Singapore
(From a summer 2010 visit)

Grilled otah stall

Consider yourself cautioned.

Sweets stall

Most of the wares at this Malay-run stall reflected the owners' heritage. I'd only recently arrived from Kuala Lumpur, where I'd had my fill of Malaysian sweets (if you can believe it), but I let myself be tempted by this Middle Eastern style custard. Very eggy; decorated with raisins and slivered cashews.

Sweets stall
At a Ramadan bazaar near Sultan Mosque, vicinity of Muscat St., Singapore
(From a summer 2010 visit)

Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring

It's like the old shell game, except they all turn up winners.

Toa Payoh Rojak

Hey, bud.

115 Tang Shui

"I hate factory-made food."

"Hotplate deer meat"

No matter how many times I visit Singapore or how long I stay, there's never enough time to hunt down every dish. The last time I was out in this neck of the woods, the shutters were down and the hotplates were cold.

"Hotplate deer meat"
Old Airport Road Cooked Food Centre, Singapore
(From a summer 2010 visit)

"This mess is not okay..."

"...please return your dirty tray." The message, posted at one of Singapore's government-run hawker centers, can also be adapted to New York's public dining spaces, on the street or otherwise.

"This mess is not okay..."
Zion Riverside Food Centre, Singapore
(From a summer 2010 visit)