I think my favorite evening since we arrived in Singapore a month a half ago was spent with our Singaporean friend, Charlene. She invited us to her family’s home to barbecue some delicious satays and otah which she picked up at a Hawker Center, a designated place for street vendors to sell their food – and a great place to experience the breadth of Singapore’s local flavors.
Otah refers to a minced fish patty seasoned with local herbs, wrapped in a coconut leaf and then grilled. Charlene had picked out two kinds for us to try: those that were child friendly or non-spicy, noted by the red toothpick holding together the small parcel and those that contained chilies. Elisa adored the ones intended for her, and the spicy otah were a real treat for me and Erik – and left us wanting more, soon.
Charlene had also picked out a mix of satays – pork, chicken, and beef – all of which were mouth-wateringly delicious and served with a yummy peanut sauce. To avoid the vexing problem of extra sauce after a meal, Charlene had prepared a platter of quartered rice balls, sliced cucumber, and chopped onions for dipping.
If this were not enough, Charlene’s brother-in-law, Lang, prepared to perfection his own crispy pork. This dish, made from pork belly, takes hours to prepare to ensure the outer layer receives the proper amount of drying, heating, and salting so that it crackles as you bite into it. The combination of tender pork, a thin layer of fat (that tastes better than it sounds) and crackling skin is truly one of the best taste and texture sensations one can experience. Needless to say, we were in food heaven.
To show our appreciation, two weeks later we returned with all the supplies for an American barbecue, which included cheeseburgers, corn-on-the-cob, and brownies. It was good (and lots of fun), but somehow the otah still lingers.
Here’s where Charlene purchased these delicious Singaporean treats:
Old Airport Road Block 51 Market & Food Centre , 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore
Read about other food adventures at Wanderfood Wednesday.