Sunday, March 11, 2012

Random Eats, Singapore

When The Boy and I weren't busy gorging ourselves at Singapore's amazing Hakwer Centers we were busy...snacking!

Singapore is a HOT HOT and really humid place. We couldn't walk 5 meters without stopping somewhere for a drink - especially if that somewhere had an overhead ceiling fan. The Boy drank more beer on this trip than I've seen him drink in the whole time we've been together. I stuck to lemon juice or sugarcane juice when my beloved Soursop wasn't to be found.


On our first morning out and about I noticed the smell of something slightly...whiffy, but a bit sweet.  Ah ha I thought that HAS got to be Durian, and you know what? It was. We had stumbled upon a stall selling Durian Pancakes. Now I know there are a lot of people out there who love Durian and a lot of them read this blog (you might not want to read this next paragraph or so if you're one of those people...okay? just so we remain friends). I can confirm after this horrendous experience that I am not, nor shall I ever be, one of these Durian loving people. EVER EVER EVER!!!!


This has, without a doubt, got be the worst thing I have ever tasted in my life.  EVER! Worse than boiled Brussel Sprouts! There's a reason Durian banned in so many public places people - it's terrible.  The first bite was OK as I mainly got just pancake. I was feeling brave after this initial bite so took a HUGE bite - OMG. The taste gave me an instant headache and I felt totally nauseous. The sight of two tubby Westerns gagging and trying to wipe their tongues clean whilst desperately searching for anything ANYTHING to take the taste of death out of their mouths has got to be an amusing sight for a Durian lover.

Why is there no fine for brining Durian onto the train? Do they just push you out of the moving train as punishment?
So how about we move on to the BEST thing I ate during my entire trip - Kaya Toast.  If Durian is the spawn of the Devil then Kaya Toast is manna from heaven.  I'm kicking myself though that I didn't try it until our last night in Singers. I was so desperate for more than I gorged myself at the airport at the only Kaya Toast stall I could find. Looking at this picture makes me sad...sad that the Kaya Toast is in Singapore and I'm in stupid Sydney.


I have to tell you people that I was pretty happy with a discovered Soursop juice IN A CAN! I wonder if we can get this at home? Surely they have it in Cabramatta, right?  Not sure what this orange jelly/cake/dessert thing is called.  There was a bit of a Lost in Translation moment when ordering this as we were quite taken with the green cake, but eventually found it was DURIAN flavoured - talk about a close call.


Fellow blogger Citrus and Candy has such a fondness for Bak Kwa (Pork Jerky) that she makes her own at home and that convinced me to give it a whirl whilst we were in Singapore.  I have to say it's pretty bloody good. We bought a small bag of the round jerky which called "Golden Coins". The "coin" is quite thick, unlike the paper-thin Nobby's jerky I'm addicted to (and it is not as "dry"), and is also quite charred.  The jerky is slightly oily and really quite sticky with a sweet flavour as honey is one of the ingredients.


Oh Singapore, I miss you already!

19 comments:

  1. Um, I think that's a picture of a jackfruit or cempedak?

    But otherwise, how good is kaya with asian toast? The bread is so different here! That and the half boiled egg...I feel so homesick!

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    1. Those big lumpy fruits are hard to tell apart - LOL. Don't be homesick...I reckon we could make Kaya Toast here with Wonderwhite (I'm going to give it a whirl anyway!)

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  2. How interesting Mel...I am pleased you recovered from the Durian experience!

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  3. I have seen Soursop juice in a can in Sydney :)

    asian grocery shop in blacktown. if you're ever desperate, im sure a number of asian supermarkets here have them... if not, i'll forward you the address of this one!

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  4. Great to see that you enjoyed kaya toast so much! i'm okay to be still friends even though you didn't like durian. :)

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  5. Don't worry I'm totally with you about Durian!!! I've only had it once and already that was enough for me! I know my friends and family who love it but I just had stand it... i can't even stand it when they eat durian ice-cream near me!!!

    So glad you found and had some amazing Kaya toast!!! Sighh i miss Singapore too :) I really miss all the food and shopping!!! I really want to go!!! At least they have Bee Cheng Hiang in Hk i'm gonna have go to get some Bak Kwa ;)

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  6. LOL durian is definitely not for everyone but i LOVE IT!!!! seriously cant get enough of it thats for sure :)
    Bee Cheng Hiang is one of my fave! every time i go to HK i buy some bak kwa and eat it on my own! lol

    glad you had a great time in Singapore - its been a while since my last visit!

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    1. I was thinking of you when I bought this damn pancake and then when I was spitting it out I thought of you...LOL.

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  7. zong Pork Jerky!!! NOM! I tried Druian chips in Thailand and they were fab but I didnt try the actual fruit. I wonder if I'd like it. I must say, you're not selling it for me LMOA ;)

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  8. Hahhahaa laughing at you and your durian experience. At least you tried!!! Kudos for that! Just FYI - that picture you have next to the no durian sign... that is actually a jackfruit, not a durian. Durians have bigger spikes.

    And YAY for kaya toast :D

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    Replies
    1. Ah...pesky Jackfruit prentending to be Durian! Even typing the word Durian makes me shudder!

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  9. I'm so glad that you said that about durian. I feel like I'm the only one that doesn't like it! :P Kaya and pork jerky however are fantastic! :D

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  10. Feeling a Singaporean snack attack coming on after reading that post. I was there last July. Too long. Must get me back. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  11. Never tried Durian, but there was some at my local Woolies yesterday so I gave it a whiff... and almost gagged. Yuck!

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  12. haha never tried durian and cannot bring myself to do so! mum was given one as a gift and she put in the fridge... when our guests left a few hours later, mum threw it out right away lols. the boy LOVES durian, but he is never allowed to eat it again unless im not seeing him for the week :) ..he surprised me with some in the car once; had it in a container under a cushion, i sat in and i thought someone vomited in the car! my sister said the same thing when she got in as well lol. i feel so sorry for you >< cant imagine how horrible that bite would have been!

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  13. Durian really is the pits, isn't it? Almost as bad as evil coriander! My hubby loves these durian lollies he gets at the Asian grocer in the city - it smells like an open garbage bin when he eats them.

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  14. Wow...u tried durian. I am singaporean and i hate the stuff. Next time you are in Singapore again, let me take you to a good Bak Kwa place. Bee Cheng Hiang is not the best. A good bak kwa can make you go weak! hahah.
    Oh kaya and toast and half-boiled eggs...my comfort food. Love that stuff. I have to have it at least once a week. Took Shawn and Allison to one of the founding stalls when they were in Singapore. =) Good stuff.

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  15. The orange jelly dessert that you had is actually called agar agar. My favorite one would be the purple one you should try that the next time!
    The kaya is really lovely isn't it? :) there are actually those that are packed in a jar for you to bring home from Ya Kun! You should have packed some back home! :)

    I really enjoy reading your blog! Keep up the good work!

    Cheers!

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  16. Soursop juice in a can?! OMG I NEED THIS....have you been able to find it in Sydney? If you do (or anyone else does) PLEASE PLEASE let me know !! :)

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