Eating In Singapore

I have been in Singapore for 4 years now and I have been settling and getting use to eating in Singapore but recently a fresh wound was opened. Overall, I feel that I have it pretty good here being a Chinese American. My assimulation to Singaporean Cuisine was rather simple compared to other westerns.

Anyways, I ran out of Ranch and Italian dressing lately. I know that it is hard to find Ranch except for a few grocery stores, but at least most stores carried Italian. I went to the local grocery store(NTUC) and they had 3 types of salad dressing. Two were called "Salad Dressing" and the other was Thousand Island. Good greif, Thousand Island is like Salad Dressing 101. I haven't used Thousand Island since I first went to the US. Thousand Island is a dressing that my dad would order.

I proceeded to a store that I thought would have Ranch and Italian for sure. I call this store a moderate store because they do cater to a lot of foriegners, the Cold Storage at Great World. To my horror, not only do they not have Ranch or Italian, too only carried the famous "Salad Dressing" and Thousand Island. My last option was Jason's Market Place. This place is like Obi Wan Kenobi, my last hope. I did find both Ranch and Italian but it was not Wishbone, Kraft of Hidden Valley, it was Paul Newmans Own, which is always slightly differant. Anyways, beggers can't be choosers, I bought both.

I thought I put togather a Top Ten List of things that other Expats needs to be aware of.

1. Singapore Food Seems Cheap - But beware. I thought the same thing when I came to Singapore, but after every meal, I was still hungry. I have a Chinese Body but an American stomach. Singapore portions are small. I have to either order an upsize or get two orders.

2. When you go to a resteraunt and order Salad, expect that the only dressing available is Thousand Island

3. When you go to a resteraunt and order the Soup of The Day, expect the only soup will be Cream of Mushroom

4. When you got to a bar/resteraunt and order a beer, expect the only beer to be Heiniken, Tiger, Carlsberg, or Guiness and expect to pay USD10 for 1 glass.

5. Western Food is Expensive!!!! $$$$$

6. Want a steak? Beef is expensive. It is 3 to 4 times more expensive and the cuts are always so thin. You will never get a thick juicy steak

7. Hawker Centers or Food Courts - They are everywhere, but they all serve the same thing.

8. Buy vegetables at a Grocery Store - You have to weigh it at a weigh station before you go to the register.

9. Don't try Mexican Food! I have never met a Mexican in Singapore.

10. Lastly - BYON - Bring Your Own Napkins. A lot of resteraunts don't supply and so you will have to supply your own tissue. Most Singaporeans carry it where ever they go.(Strange that Simple Girl is not one of these). I have not taken up this habit either and so every time I eat, I end up buying a new packet for .30 Cents. So at home, I have a draw full of tissue packets.