Livingston Singapore

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Feel like staying in for the evening?

* Dabao.sg will pick up orders from a selection of restaurants and well-loved hawker stalls, for a flat $3-5 charge.
* Familiar fast-food places deliver too. McDonald's delivers 24 hours a day (6777 3777), with breakfast deliveries available from 4 AM to 10:45 AM. Pizza Hut (62 35 35 35) often has promotional offers - check their web site for the latest deals. KFC's phone number is 6222 6111.
* Did you know that Starbucks delivers? Strangely enough, they don’t seem to mention it on their website - but Starbucks stores distribute handy delivery menus listing all the usual drinks plus a few sets that include pastry or sandwiches. They’ll deliver with a minimum spend of $20; delivery services may not be available during peak hours. To place an order, call your nearest Starbucks store and ask if they’ll deliver to your location.

Looking for somewhere to eat after a late night at work or a long night of clubbing? These restaurants and eateries are open 24 hours - or at least until early morning.

* Spize (River Valley, 6 pm - 6 am). 409 River Valley Road. Near popular nightspots and often packed with clubbers.
* Swensen's (Orchard, 24 hours). 270 Orchard Road, #01-06, Park Hotel Orchard.
* Coffee Club (Orchard, 24 hours). 323 Orchard Road.
* McDonald's (multiple outlets, 24 hours). They deliver 24 hours a day, too.
* The Roti Prata House on Upper Thomson (Central North, 24 hours). 246M Upper Thomson Road. Crispy prata, yum.
* Fong Seng Nasi Lemak (West, 6 am - 4 am). 22 Clementi Road (near Kent Ridge Bus Terminal / Pasir Panjang road). Both Fong Seng and the Cheese Prata Shop, below, are popular with students from nearby NUS.
* The Cheese Prata Shop (West, 24 hours). 18 Clementi Road (near Kent Ridge Bus Terminal / Pasir Panjang road).

Food in Singapore

Curious about Singapore cuisine? Try some of these local dishes.

* Cereal Prawns. You're probably thinking, what the heck? Yes, these are prawns crusted with oatmeal or bran flakes - it sounds funny but tastes great. Try the classic version complete with shells (yes, they’re edible) at No Signboard or have the prawns pre-shelled for you at Fatty's at Burlington Square, 175 Bencoolen Street.

* Chicken Rice, or Hainanese Chicken Rice as it's sometimes known. Roasted or steamed chicken, accompanied by a flavorful serving of rice cooked in chicken broth. Chicken rice is traditionally served with three sauces - chilli sauce, pounded ginger, and a thick dark soy sauce. It's served with a bowl of soup, and sometimes includes a pile of sliced cucumber. Wee Nam Kee at 275 Thomson Road (across the street from Novena Church) is a popular place for chicken rice. Tian Tian Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown is another good choice.

* Chilli Crab and Black Pepper Crab - no first-time visit to Singapore is complete without trying these huge Sri Lankan crabs. Don't miss the yummy Chinese buns, called mantou, that traditionally accompany chilli crab. We like the crab at Jumbo and No Signboard.

* Durian. It's impossible to be ambivalent about this fruit, you either love it or you hate it. As one tourist described it - "tastes like heaven, smells like hell." The durian smell is so strong, it's banned in hotels and on public transport. And don't even think about taking one on a plane! Most Singaporeans are crazy about durian, though, and will happily take you to try some if you mention you've never tasted it. For the less adventurous, you can also try durian in less potent forms - in durian cakes, tarts, puffs, candy, and ice cream. The Geylang area is known for durian stalls (and, well, for other things too...)