Singapore's TidbiTs

Kampong Glam is one of the oldest settlements in Singapore, whose history dated before Raffles. This area was to become the home of Sultan Hussein Shah, whom Sir Stamford Raffles recognised as a legitimate successor to the Johor empire and, who in 1819 signed a treaty with the British East India Company, to establish a trading post in Singapore. Gazette in 1989, Kampong Glam is now a conservation area near Bugis with art-deco, early, first and second transitional and late-style shophouses. Raffles zoned Kampong Glam as a Malay area, as part of his town plan as one of the ethnic areas or quarters, the other being Chinatown and European town. Bugis was named after the Buginese people from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, who settled there during the 1800s. There were already Buginese living around the palace area, but they moved further up closer to Rochor area once Sultan Hussein Shah with his entourage from Riau settled there. The palace, Istana Kampong Glam, was built by Sultan Ali, his so...

The calories rich but tasty teh tarik (or teh tarek) or pulled tea is a unique milk or 'sarabat' tea found in Malaysia and Singapore. It is made of black tea in combination with condensed milk (or evaporated milk for less sweetness), and tossing or dragging (tarik) the tea from one container to another at a height. This tea is usually drank while having roti prata . Well you can drink it with about any snacks or dishes or you can just sip it on its own. There is also teh masala or spice tea, but for the locals here we tend to stick with either teh tarik or teh halia. These teh tarek stalls are traditionally owned or operated by Indians. A glass or a cup of teh tarik usually cost between $1.20 to $2.00 depending if you get them at hawker centres or air-conditioned food-courts. Teh tarik seller You can get a fix of teh-tarik not only in Little India but all over Singapore. Obviously it is cheaper and tastes better at the road-side stalls or at hawker centres . We locals like to...

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...