If you are a fan of the Hollywood smash-hit movie, Crazy Rich Asians, but you're also a crazy not-so-rich foodie like me, I'm sure you remember the scene where the protagonist Rachel and her boyfriend Nick meet up with some friends for dinner after they land in Singapore. I was drooling at the montage of the lip-smacking street food prepared at the various hawker stalls, especially when the couple was collecting Satays and bowls of Laksa. Ever since then, Singaporean cuisine has been on my radar.
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So, I was quite thrilled to try authentic Singaporean dishes when I was invited to a Singapore Food Festival hosted by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and DLF Malls in Delhi. Participating restaurants including Le Cantine, Mamagoto, SAZ, Andreas Bistro and Café Delhi Heights in DLF Promenade, Cha Shi in DLF Emporio, MKT in DLF The Chanakya and Mai Bao in DLF Avenue, Saket are offering festival exclusive Singaporean dishes from 27th August to 11th September 2022.
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I spent an evening indulging in some flavourful Singaporean dishes at one of the participating restaurants- Café Delhi Heights. As I was sipping my refreshing Lychee Lime Fizz drink, I was scanning through their festival menu and was confused when I saw Vadai, a South Indian snack on the list. But I got a clear picture when Mr. Raymond Lim, Area Director, STB, explained to us that Singapore is an immigrant country, and a mixture of surrounding cultures inspires their cuisine. Singapore food amalgamates Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian dishes, creating its own distinct style. The taste will be similar to other Asian food but has a local twist.
The first item served on the table was Chicken Satay with a crunchy peanut sauce. I could feel the sweet, salty and citrusy flavour from my first bite. Next, I tried Laksa - rice noodles in a coconut curry gravy with boiled eggs. The noodle was quite chewy and blended well with the creamy and sweet flavour of the gravy. However, what really delighted my palate was the Chilli Prawn. Tender prawns doused in the sticky and spicy sauce had my lips smacking in pure satisfaction. Som Tam Salad was lightly flavoured making it a good pair with the spicy chilli prawn. A must-try dish from the menu is Nasi Goreng, which is stir-fried rice with meat and veggies topped with egg. It is served with sweet and spicy sauce.
If you want to taste the goodness of authentic Singaporean cuisine with some refreshing mocktails, then do visit the festival before it ends.
What: Singapore Food Festival
Where: Le Cantine, Mamagoto, SAZ, Andreas Bistro and Café Delhi Heights in DLF Promenade, Cha Shi in DLF Emporio, MKT in DLF The Chanakya and Mai Bao in DLF Avenue, Saket
When: 27th August-11th September 2022