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Uniquely ours?

Last week, CNA had this bit of news about some American experts (in something to do with food but can't remember exactly what) advising Singapore on what can be marketed in their part of the world as uniquely Singaporean food. Today, Colin Goh wrote a nice piece reflecting on 'What's so unique about Singaporeans?' My last post was partly about our eating habits. So let me just put a bit of all this here.

First, the American guy thought that Hainanese chicken rice and kaya can be 'developed' into recognisably Singaporean food, in the same way sushi is Japanese, kimchi is Korean and tom yam is Thai. Hmmm... wouldn't Hainanese chicken rice be a more suitable choice for Hainan? As for kaya, perhaps not kaya itself but kaya toast (click link for source of pic and info)? Maybe that's what he meant, but he said kaya.


Next, Colin Goh, I'm glad, pointed out that:
1. We consider a number of things 'uniquely Singaporean', 'but are Singaporeans really recognisable abroad, except by other Singaporeans?'
2. Many characteristics we identify as 'Singaporean' are 'qualities that many other countries have as well.'

Sometime last week, our MICA minister also said that we needn't be in such a hurry to create a Singapore identity because such things 'evolve'. I agree with him that identity 'evolves', but I also think that a nation needs to consciously preserve, and perhaps even nurture and document certain things which are part of its heritage.

So back to food, certainly a cultural marker, what else can make it as unique?

Chilli crab and black pepper crab? (click links for picture source and recipes!)



Roti john?

Soya bean curd (tau huey)?

What about eating everything with chilli sauce? For example, chicken wing with chilli sauce, hamburger with chilli sauce, french fries with chilli sauce, fried rice with chilli sauce, etc?

Very hard to actually come up with something because most of the stuff here can be found elsewhere (as Colin Goh says), especially Malaysia.

Non-food options off the top of my head:
1. COE
2. ERP gantries deducting from your cashcard
3. Singapore-Idol-cum-make-everyone-stay-together-type-reality-show
4. PSLE
5. If-you-don't-have-TV-set-better-report-or-esle-must-pay-licence-fee
6. Many-years-of-courtesy-campaign-already-still-must-have-some-more-and-be-reminded-to-smile
7. being uniquely unhappy (Sorry, haven't got Wormie's permission to link and I hope he doesn't mind)
8. legal football betting booths
9. Singlish
10. Standard Singaporean English

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Comments

Anonymous said…
i certainly agree more with your choice of unqiue sg food! definitely chilli/pepper crab. think it was long beach seafood that invented either the sg's chilli or pepper (can't rmemeber which) crab dish?
dee
11:26 pm
Anonymous said…
Hi Dee
I don't know either but I believe many people say that Long Beach's chilli AND pepper crab can't be replicated!
11:30 am
fuzzoo said…
The MICA minister said that our identity will "evolve"? I thot our Gahmen is in the business of social engineering. I'm surprised they would let anything evolve around here. Look at the Merlion - made up by the STB rather than the result of any evolution.
9:18 pm
Anonymous said…
Hi Fuzzoo,
Ya, he did say 'evolve':-)

Oh well, some things you just have to leave be, I suppose...
7:48 pm
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