Food District in Singapore - Essay Example

? Food District In the olden days there the concept of hawker food was not common and the picture of a roving hawker was familiar in the neighborhood. The roving hawker used to clack a bamboo stick against a wooden wall or that of chant of mua chee man selling stick naughty candy would drive the children and their parents from the homes in order to satisfy their taste buds with their favorite snacks in the street. After this the concept of roadside hawker evolved who set up their makeshift stalls at dark by the parking lots when the cars were emptied. They set up wooden tables and stools as well as of the pushcarts which multiplied the concept of mobile kitchen. By the year 1987, the infusion of rapid urbanization and great urge for cleanliness globally the roadside hawkers were cleared and they struggled in their existence and sustenance and are vigorously substituted by food courts within the big shopping malls which can be represented as the product of globalization (Local food and drinks in Singapore, 2012).But still today they highly pre dominate the Asian market and Singapore is one of the countries where its existence is very high and will be the central theme of discussion in the paper. Hawker centers in Singapore- Cost effective yet satisfying Hawker Centres are an outdoor version of food courts and the difference between two of them is that food courts are not air conditioned and the prices of the food in the hawker center is lower than the price of the foods in the food courts. But they both maintain standard hygienic rules and non smoking ban rule. The hawker center of Singapore offers multi ethnic cooking at its best. Whether it is a dish of noodles which costs around $ 3 or $ 20 for a three course meal of barbequed fish, chilli prawns and fried rice with vegetables the price is much lower than the restaurant. Apart from the cost effective food the atmosphere of the hawker provides a great reminder of city with its food crazy ambience. The celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain who stated about the street foods that, “I love the hawker centers. The whole style of casual eating here is sensational”(Local food and drinks in Singapore, 2012). Exploration into the Singapore hawker centers The system of ordering the meal in the hawker centers is unique. If the persons ordering be in a group then one person has to sit at a table to chope which means reserving seats for the party. It is also a fact that anybody might not get surprised if they see seats covered with bags or pockets of tissue paper placed on them. The sign indicates that the seats have been already reserved. The persons who notice the table numbers must be ordering their food and shall tell the stall owner the table number in which they will be seated. If a person is single then he or she can share a table with the strangers. One of the most popular hawker food centers in Singapore is China Town Food Street. The stalls in this area offer a wide array of Chinese favorites ranging from wonton noodles to that of roasted meals. The basement of area is highly famous for producing a market which is highly worth exploring. The area also includes live fish, poultry as well as all manners of Asian vegetables. One of the busiest stalls in the area is Xian restaurant. The stall is known for its magnificent mutton kebab cooked in Xi’an style with cumin and chilli powder. I have personally interviewed the customers of the place about the food and the consulted with the hawkers. The interview with the customers state that the flat cut noodles are so so. Interviews also reveal that the noodles are exceptionally long and are highly difficult in handling. Some people say that the roast rack of lambs is disappointing and the stir fried potatoes with green chillies are good but they are not exceptional. From the overall estimations of the interview process with the customers’ state that the place is famous for its honest cooking and the special mutton kebabs is the most unique extravaganza. The hawkers here are trying heart out in satisfying the taste buds of thousands of domestic and international customers visiting this place. For the improvement of the place, the public and the hawkers intersect in their common feelings that the street has to be distinguished from the other well known food destinations and it can be done by creating lively outdoor dining experience and serving the cuisine that is highly authentic and is resonant with the heritage of China Town. Another busy hawker food center in Singapore is that of the Tekka center. The center sells Malay, Chinese as well as Indian food which draws a massive crowd here for breakfast. The products of Tekka are highly fresh with amazing list of fresh produce which are seldom found in Singapore. The place is majorly famous for its cheap and excellent Indian and Muslim dishes. The pungent smell and overcrowding of this place can act as a lit bit of hindrance but one might find a wholesome dish at the rate of S $ 3. The hawkers are catering a large number of customers at a small period of time and they operate in a strict regime and they are subjected to a multitude of laws as well as legislation and codes. Conclusion The hawker market can be represented as an iconic symbol of the developing nations and Singapore is one of them which exhibit a unique variety in its food market. Although within the realms of globalization with the development of large food courts tremendous urge for cleanliness the hawker food market in Singapore is highly booming. A large section of the people domestic or international is highly attracted by the street food culture of Singapore. The responses from the hawkers as well as the customers are highly positive and it can be concluded that if hygiene standards and recycling processes are maintained properly then the hawker food market must continue and fully develop with its legacy amalgamating various cultures. Reference Local food and drinks in Singapore, (2012), Retrieved on October 8, 2012, from: http://www.foodmonster.nl/tag/food-and-drinks-in-singapore Read More