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Singapore, July 20, 2010 - SINGAPORE has always been a country of migrants. MAI TRINH A good squeeze of lime was vital because it gave it an extra
So why not quit complaining about overcrowding and lack of work opportunities and look on the bright side?
For me, the upside is that we are exposed to food from different cultures.
Food is a great comforter and it bridges souls, so there is a social factor.
For a foodie, the tastebuds get amazing experiences.
One of the most popular types of cuisine in Singapore seems to be Vietnamese. There is a Vietnamese food outlet in every other mall.
The best thing is that they suit a variety of budgets:
Address: #02-11 Shenton House
Opens Mon to Sat 10.30am to 3.30pm
This is housed in such a quiet building that I almost missed it.
But once you’re seated, it’s authentically Vietnamese. Vietnamese pop music is played, and the servers and cooks all speak their native language.
I decided to try the beef pho, which is as Vietnamese as it gets.
At $8.90, it’s not cheap.
But the pho has a nice bite to it, although the beef was overcooked. (For your information, I like my beef so rare that I expect to hear “moos” when it’s served.)
What is great, though, is the friendly service.
I arrived past lunchtime when the staff were having their own lunches. But the server kept disrupting his own meal to ensure that I was all right.
When I paid my bill, the entire kitchen appeared magically to say goodbye.
Maybe they were relieved to get rid of me, but I felt so loved that I want to go back again.
MADAM SAIGON
Address: #01-26 Millenia Walk
Tel: 6338 3831
Opens daily 11.30am to 10pm
I turned up here on a quiet Sunday afternoon and the first impression wasn’t good.
The person who served me was hesitant about his recommendations and couldn’t answer my questions.
Also, the menu was not extensive and heavy on beef.
In the end, I just ordered the better-known Vietnamese fare.
But the experience was better once the food arrived.
I ordered the Saigon spring roll set at $15.90 for two and that was nice.
It’s a substantial serving of chicken summer roll, fried spring roll and net prawn roll.
All the items were tasty and had I been on a budget, that set with a coffee would have sufficed.
The Vietnamese pancake ($10.90) was interesting. It was like a layer of dough-like omelette with prawn and beansprouts, which provided a welcome contrast of texture.
But I liked the special beef noodle soup the most.
At $8.90, it has a variety of beef parts soaking in a delicate but flavourful stock.
My only gripe was that the pho could have been more firm.
kick.
My partner had the grilled chicken noodle soup ($8.90) but I wouldn’t recommend it: It was bland and strangely sweet.
NUOC
Address: #12-01 Orchard Central
Tel: 6884 6808
Open noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on weekdays, and noon to 11pm on weekends and public holidays
This is the most posh of the three Vietnamese eateries I visited.
It is a very modern restaurant with a stunning view of Orchard Road. The best way to enjoy that is sipping Vietnamese coffee ($4.50).
My favourite dish here is the coconut steamed clam ($14).
This is delicious to the tongue and the nose.
The delicate sweet fragrance of coconut greets your nose and the sweet juices follow. I think it’s heavenly.
Dip the clams in the pepper salt lime mix for added omph.
I also liked the pork dishes.
The grilled pork (above, $21) is tasty, with a mellow caramel smell and taste while the stewed pork is suitably moist and savoury.
My only problem was with the fried spring roll ($12). The filling was fresh and tasty but the skin was a bit tough.
