Posts

Showing posts from August, 2014

Roti John and Ramly Burger - Staples of Pasar Malam

Image
You can find Roti John at many hawker centres and pasar malam (night markets). They are french bread coated with eggs and butter and chilli and mayonaise sauce and fried on hot plate. You can get them for around $3 to $4. The name John is English and roti is bread. So maybe during the early days this omelette sandwich is the equivalent of hamburgers! You can find Roti John usually being sold at Malay stalls. At some hawker centres such as at Bedok Corner , the stall owners are getting creative. You can find Roti John Steak, Chicken or Sardine and Roti John Power! Grilling Roti John (front) and Ramly Burger Ramly Burger is that ubiquitous delicious and juicy meat local burger wrapped in egg and splashed with plenty of colourful sauces of tomato sauce, mayonnaise and mustard that you can only get at Pasar Malam . And it only cost about $3. The meat can be beef or chicken. Of course you can get value burgers at some fast-food outlets but nothing beats the original kampong (village) style...

Pasar malam (night market)

Image
At Pasar Malam, you can find many stalls selling the familiar and perennial crowd favourites of deep-fried street snacks or food such as 'Ramly' burger, roti john , Indian vadai or wadai, banana and tapioca fritters, fried fish crackers, otak-otak (ground fish meat with spices wrapped in palm or attap leaves) steamed buns and peanuts, kebabs, coconut juices and ice-creams, fried noodles, nasi lemak, chendols and roasted chestnuts. And of course, knick-knacks like smartphone accessories and clothes. The flea-market style pasar malam or night market opens during broad daylight too. 'Pasar' is a Malay word which means market. Maybe during the olden days, they used to only operate in the evenings when it is a bit cooler given the tropical weather here, that is why they called it Pasar Malam. The vibe in the evenings tend to be better too. During the festive season such as during the fasting month of Ramadan, pasar malam is turned into bazaar such as at Geylang Serai. Pasa...

Roti prata and murtabak

Image
One of Singapore's favourite breakfast that you can find all over Singapore. Many have it for late supper too as many roti prata shops open 24 hours. We are a nation that cannot stop eating. The good old roti prata or Indian pancakes. Roti means bread. And prata means flat. Literally it means flat bread. Our Malaysian neighbours call it Roti Canai. The origin could be from Chennai, India. Prata can be plain or may come with fillings, depending on customers preference, eggs being the most common. You can also have a combo of egg and onion. Crispy roti prata with curry There are also cheese, banana and chocolate pratas. And prata topped with ice-cream! Similar to the French crepes. Prata is a bit greasy, though the crispier ones taste better and probably less greasy too. You dip the prata into the vegetable, fish or meat curry sauce. Prata typically cost between 80 cents to $2 each depending on whether it's plain or with eggs and other fillings. Price also varies depending on i...

Singapore fried bee hoon and mee goreng

Image
Singapore fried noodles or bee hoon is well known all over the world. In many cities you will find a restaurant or a stall selling the famous Singapore fried noodles. You can find a stall in London airport selling this popular Singapore noodles. Rice vermicelli cooked in garlicky white or the spicier reddish version. Bee (mee) hoon Ingredients may include seafood such as prawns or slices of fish, eggs, chicken and vegetables. Not forgetting cut limau kasturi or small limes for that added zest. Small lime squeezed to noodles is similar to squeezing lemon to salmon. A plate of fried bee hoon or noodles typically cost $3 to $4.50 depending on if you get them at hawker cntres or air-conditioned food-courts. In some stalls you can even get them for only $2 like at pasar malam. Bee hoon is sometimes also called mee hoon . Mee Goreng, Indian Style Another variant is mee goreng . Goreng is a Malay word for fried. And mee stands for noodles. It is usually sold at Indian or Malay stalls. The...