Fried hard-boiled eggs seems a weird concept, don't you think? Even I think so, and I grew up eating a dish made with fried hard-boiled eggs! Called telor belado in Indonesian, hard-boiled eggs are fried in oil until golden-brown and blistered, then doused in a thick...
Oof, I’ve just finished the last of my turnips! Yay! For the last two to three months, it’s been raining turnips at my house. Every Saturday, I’d pray that the CSA Gods would be kind to me and replace the turnips with something more versatile, say...
Before I discovered coconut milk in a can, there was the coconut auntie at the wet market. One whiff of coconut and I'll be transported to the neighborhood wet market where I grew up in Singapore. Once a week, usually a Saturday, I'd accompany my mom...
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about the food traditions of other Asian cultures, especially during Lunar or Chinese New Year. The Vietnamese, who celebrate Tet, celebrate with a host of different foods like banh chung, thit kho, candied fruit and lots of pickles. In Singapore,...
Roti John could be considered the bánh mì, aka the ubiquitous Vietnamese sandwich, of Singapore (or Malaysia, or Brunei). Its components are similar—bread, protein--and is a blend of East and West and just as delicious. Basically, roti John is a savory French toast—baguette slices soaked with...
The Smithsonian Institution's Museum Day Live! 2016 event may be over but my series, "Inspiring APA Women in Food," continues to celebrate and empower women and girls of color with the third and final profile. ~~~ When I first met Keo Choulaphan, I was instantly captivated by her elegant features...
One morning last week, my husband came back inside the house after loading the car and declared," It feels like fall outside!" My heart sank, then rebounded. My mixed feelings were understandable: I was sad that the end of summer, as well as warm, sunny weather,...
Early Monday morning, March 23, 2015, Singapore’s former prime minster, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away. You may not recognize his name but know this: Singapore wouldn’t be the affluent metropolis and economic heavyweight it is today without this great man. Under Mr. Lee's 31-year leadership, this island...
Two weeks ago, I attended an event to celebrate Singapore’s 47th birthday that fell on August 9th. By some strange turn of events, I was roped in to lead a few songs in the requisite sing-a-long sessions. We sang popular folk songs like "Burung Kakak Tua,"...
