The Fork & Chopstick

The Fork and Chopstick

hIGHLIGHTING OFF THE BEATEN PATH, HERITAGE OR JUST PLAIN FUN CHOMPING GROUNDS

Start Your Day the Singaporean Way

In the US, we frequently enjoy breakfast at a local diner with bottomless coffee, eggs over easy, pancakes, corned beef hash, and bacon. Here, you can try the Singapore equivalent of the diner at a hawker centre or food court near you, the kopitiam. Typical kopitiam breakfast with toast, eggs and coffee The kopitiam equivalent of the diner pancake special might be the classic toast set ($4-6 for a drink, toast and eggs), which combines the great food trinity of salty, sweet and fat, with caffeine - A fresh bowl of laksa all anyone needs to start their day. Let's start with caffeine, which comes in the form of local coffee or tea. These two beverages are huge subjects on their own, and just as you would in that large international coffee chain from the northwestern United States, you will need to master a new vocabulary here.

Written by Jenni & Eric Lee

Order kopi which automatically comes with sweet condensed milk. Our preference is black coffee, or kopi-o kosong; but sometimes we feel like adding evaporated milk, so kopi-c-kosong it is. (C means evaporated milk and kosong means empty, as in, no sugar.) If you want it iced, just add peng

to the end of your order. There’s a whole language

Poster explaining coffee flavors provided by Fun Toast of weaker coffee, less sugar, much less sugar, etc., but we suggest you befriend one coffee to start. The same terminology variations apply to tea, or teh. At least, you have no tall, grande, or venti to worry about in the kopitiam. Now for toast: the topping choices may include peanut butter, butter and sugar, cheese with ham... but please try the traditional kaya and butter. Kaya? If Nutella had a Singaporean cousin, then perhaps Kaya would be that kin. It’s made from coconut milk simmered slowly with egg, sugar and pandan leaf, and then reduced to a spreadable jam/ custard consistency. Kaya toast is slathered with a thick layer of kaya with frozen butter, sandwiched between two pieces of perfectly toasted bread. It’s crunchy, sweet, coconutty and very rich. As for the eggs, these soft-boiled versions may be a bit of a challenge for some and an acquired taste. Whites are barely set and yolks are runny, with the intention that these eggs are for dipping. Season the eggs with white pepper and soy sauce. Sip coffee. Dip toast in egg. Devour. Repeat. Alternative breakfast options? The range of savory foods is very different from the typical Western diet. Perhaps laksa (spicy curry coconut soup with noodles), chicken curry, or nasi lemak (local fragrant rice with fried chicken, egg, and sambal chili). Happy Chomping!

Jenni & Eric Lee live to eat and explore local eateries and bars. Originally from New York, they have lived in Singapore since 2012.