food Archives | Rambling Feet

A Guide to Dining Out in Singapore for Food Allergy Sufferers

I had a close call with a food allergy abroad recently. I was craving a pork chop bun in Macau and managed to get hold of one in a neighbourhood shop. V, who was with me, saw how much I enjoyed it and got one for herself too.

I didn’t think about the eggs that could have been in the batter, and V was allergic to eggs. By the time I realised my mistake, she had already taken three bites. She spotted the look of horror on my face.

‘Don’t worry; I’ve already taken a pill for that.’ I breathed a sigh of relief.

I penned this post with that episode in mind. Asian cities are great for their street food, but the ingredients that go into these delicacies and their condiments may contain allergens that diners aren’t aware of. For visitors with food allergies, staying satiated, comfortable and alive requires extra research and planning. I’m focusing on Singaporean dishes since I’m familiar with them. Hopefully, the knowledge translates into a less painful experience in the city-state for you and your guests. [Read on]

The Secrets of Torun Gingerbread

Few Polish delicacies are as synonymous with a city as Torun gingerbread. Pierniki toruńskie is sold everywhere in the old town in every imaginable form – pre-packaged, freshly baked, chocolate-coated, with a jam core, topped with icing, heart-shaped, six-lobed (‘Katarzynki‘), the list goes on.

Over the centuries, kings, visiting dignitaries and even a pontiff were served pierniki. It’s hard to imagine that such an esteemed craft nearly died in the 19th century. Thankfully, the Industrial Age and mass production brought it back into the public conscience and international popularity. [Read on]

What to Expect in a Lesehan in Yogyakarta

It’s really easy to dine among and like the locals in Indonesia; just pop into one of the lesehan for a meal. Lesehan simply refers to trading or dining on a woven straw mat. It’s a common practice on the island of Java and in Bali. There are no special rules:

Take off sandals (why would you wear any other footwear in this country?)
Sit cross-legged on the mat
Order a local speciality, like bebek goreng (fried duck) or a simple mie goreng (fried noodles)
Wait for food to arrive. Chit chat, smoke, do as you and your friends please
Eat (photo taking is optional)
Remember to pay

Pop-up lesehan

If one is in Yogyakarta, as I was a few weeks ago, finding one is a piece of cake. Plenty of lesehan stalls pop up along Jalan Malioboro, the main shopping boulevard, in the evenings. It’s dirt cheap and very casual. Observing locals catch up over street food and rough tobacco was a nice break from navigating the sweaty mass of batik shoppers, motor vehicles and horses.

Malioboro lesehan — Lesehan along Jalan Malioboro

Despite the number of hotels along that stretch, one hardly ever sees tourists under those tents. The lack of air-conditioning may be a factor; perhaps the Asian acquiescence to doing things on the floor also makes outsiders uncomfortable. All over the continent, we sit, eat, conduct business and sleep on it like it’s second nature to us. It may even be healthier. I’d say that from a minimalist point of view, it’s nice to not have to buy and pack up chairs.

Admittedly some stalls look sketchy, and there are so many along the entire street that it’s difficult to pick one. Placed in that position, I’d pick the most popular-looking joint. According to locals there is no difference in quality among the stalls anyway.

Lesehan elsewhere in Yogyakarta

For those willing to venture further for something that looks less dodgy, there are permanent lesehan along Jalan Wijilan, close to Yogyakarta’s keraton. The best part is that these stores specialise in gudeg (stewed jackfruit). I followed the wisdom of the crowd and went where the most scooters were gathered.

After a good walk to get there from the hostel, I was mindful of the grime that was on my feet and ankles. At home I can rinse myself if I feel the need to, but not here. It took a few seconds to forget about it and ease myself at the table.

No such worries when the food arrived on the rattan tray. The sweet jackfruit, spicy beef chicharon and tofu platter tasted like home-cooked food from another mother. There was no lack of sweet drinks to provide relief from the heat. This complete meal cost less than US$2.

While you’re in Yogyakarta, you should definitely visit Borobudur, especially at sunrise.

The Flavours of Ghent You Have to Try

The city of Ghent doesn’t disappoint when it comes to tasty, calorie-dense food. That is good news; even the best of us need fuel to last a 10-day festival like Gentse Feesten and the student party nights throughout the year. The usual Belgian waffles, fries, chocolate and beer are all available, but some of them have been given a wicked twist. These Ghent food tips constitute my favourites: [Read on]

Polish Food: A Quick Introduction

Foodies need not approach Poland with fear, even after sampling the culinary delights of France, Spain and Italy and the beers of Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany. Polish cuisine has a history just as long as its counterparts elsewhere. It shows its Slavic and thanks to the innovation of cooks and homemakers around the country, it survived the difficult days of the People’s Republic. (Here’s an article that offers an insight into what meals were like in Communist Poland)

There is a more exhaustive list on this TripAdvisor thread, so instead, I’ve put together a list of the delicacies that I have tried and enjoyed (sometimes unexpectedly), the places I found them and their (hopefully correct) pronunciations. For the less adventurous, there are also plenty of Italian and fast food restaurants, but I can’t see why anyone else would choose them when the local food is tastier and often cheaper too! [Read on]

5 Singapore GP Tips No One Talks About

The Formula 1 in my home city is just three days away! Tickets collected, ear plugs packed, you’ve read the suggestions on the Singapore GP web page and you’re ready for the weather. What could go wrong?

Having attended all the Singapore GP’s held thus far, I’d like to offer my favourite tips to those race fans who are looking to maximise their enjoyment of the race and minimise the frustration (and one for those who want to avoid the event entirely). Do comment if you’d like my advice on other matters related to attending the race! [Read on]