Aromatic air, the hustle and bustle of men and women working furiously to churn out local, authentic and traditional meals at food counters and proudly exhibiting an array of mouth-watering delicacies. The buzz and the energy of those who cook and those who love to eat . I am not just talking about food, but a food paradise.
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This is Singapore. It is the early hours of morning. Merely a walk down the streets or a stroll around the food junctions to savour some of the food or simply to get a whiff or a peek of the food will be mind-boggling. It will give you a culinary shock. People here enjoy food at all times of the day. Each food counter beckons you, tempts you and catches your attention. It is not just a visual but a gastronomic treat as well. As you hop from one stall to the other, it gets very difficult as you are spoilt for choice. With such a wide array of food on display, you cannot make up your mind which food stall to settle for. One is greeted with hot pots, Singapore chilli crabs, sambal stingray, the fish head curry for the adventurous and Hainanese chicken rice, roti prata, murtabak, Mee Siam, Nasi Lemak , Popiah, curry puffs, melt in the mouth savoury buns, Kaya toast and satays.
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Then there are cupcakes,moon cakes, Padang cakes, ice kachangs and endless sweet treats. The assortment of food and fresh fruit juices especially sugarcane juice, the Singapore sling and bubble tea, will warm your heart and fill up your stomach. On a trip to Singapore, one of the grand local dishes one ought to include on their ‘to chomp’ list is the Laksa. It is one of my personal favourites. It is a rich and creamy coconut based, fiery, curried noodle soup; an extremely well liked culinary indulgence that one must not miss. Laksa can be eaten at any time of the day-at the end of your shopping when you are exhausted and famished and want a quick, filling meal or it can be had as a perfect start to your day! One of the excellent times to ‘experience’ Laksa is when it’s pouring outside. The thunder, the flashes of lightning, and the cool breeze are so welcome after the heat and humidity in Singapore.
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One needs to look out for the Yong tau foo stalls and they are easy to locate because they look like salad bars. The name means ‘stuffed tofu’. It is one of the healthier food options because it has fresh vegetables and tofu. There are many variations of Laksa. I personally prefer and would recommend the curry. To order, grab a bowl and tongs, which are tidily piled on the counter. You can choose up to seven items to customise your Laksa bowl- deep fried tofu puffs , delicious looking tofu stuffed with chillies, sweet peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, okra and bitter melon, vegetables like Bok Choy, Chinese cabbage and broccoli, bean sprouts, fish balls, crab sticks, sausage, boiled egg and a lot more.
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Once you have opted for your seven items, you entrust your bowl and tongs to the gracious and obliging attending woman/ man at the counter who will cut these into bite-sized pieces and cook them for you. Thick rice noodles are cut and then cooked in simmering water. The bowl is then given back to you with your freshly cooked noodles and tofu in piping hot curry. You assemble your fork, spoons or chopsticks and make your way back cautiously with the dish and are comfortably seated. Spicy, curried, steaming, lip smacking and generous portions of curry, noodles, vegetables, and floating tofu are ready to be demolished .
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Every sip, every mouthful will take you on the ultimate comfort food journey of your life. You relish it; you watch the pouring rain and savour it until the last drop. The experience stays with you forever and every time it drizzles, you long for this delicacy. Laksa curry is the ultimate comfort food indeed.