One fine Smith Street dining

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If you want to experience street yet fine dining then you should try the food street at Chinatown in Singapore. It is a real street dining experience which I would describe as fine dining because of the high prices of food. I actually did not know that until I mentioned it to my boss. I will tell the story about it on my next post.

I was walking along New Bridge Road in Chinatown when I came across this marker pointing to a food street.

The marker was pointing into Smith Street which I followed but did not see street dining. I thought it could be farther into the street but I did not go on because it was still early for dinner. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon so I continued my walk through New Bridge Road up to The Pinnacle.

I came back along Smith Street at pass seven o'clock in the evening (and the sun is still up and bright). I went farther into the street and that was when I confirmed that the street dining is indeed further inside. From New Bridge Road, the other half of Smith Street is closed for dining. That was cool!

With the many stalls and with much more options to choose from each stall, it was really hard to choose what to order. That was more so with me who is not familiar with their dishes. All I know is that most of the dishes are spicy so I had to be careful with what I order.

I stood there in the middle of the street watching people either pass by or order their own. I felt it funny when I did not need a menu because the dishes they serve are all on their display.

I do not recall how long I have been going through the dishes on the stall. I guess I have been obviously having a hard time because a woman who was in queue to pay for her order eventually motioned to me and pointed on chili crab on the display.

Few days before my flight, colleagues were telling me to try chili crab when I get to Singapore because it is really good. That did not convince me. This woman will not convince me now. Sorry...

"Oh no. That's spicy. I don't eat spicy." I said.

She shook her head and raised her thumb to say "It's okay." Then she motioned something huge, chop her left palm with her right arm and pointed to both of us.

Okay, I'm learning sign language. She said the serving is very big so we can share. I think she was offering that we share the one she ordered. That was very kind of her but I still have to decline. I do not like spicy food.

I spotted Thai pineapple fried rice on the display and I thought it may feel near home. I never heard of pineapple being added to fried rice but at least fried rice and pineapple are not "stranger foods" to me so that is what I ordered.

The crew asked what size do I order and I was surprised.

"What size?" I asked back because there was nothing mentioned on the display.

"Big or small?"

I don't know how big is big or how small is small. I just answered, "Small. How much?"

"Twelve dollars."

My lunch earlier was eleven dollars with drinks and wet tissue paper. This is certainly is more expensive without the drink and table napkin.

"Ten to fifteen minutes, okay?" He added. That is a bit long waiting time but it is okay if you are not in a hurry specially for dinner. I actually found it cool dining outside while waiting for my food.

The cashier-con-crew handed me a sheet of paper with acronym of my order and the amount. I took it as my claim stub later on.

After I placed my order, I was not sure where to sit. One of the crew motioned me to the one in front of their stall but was nearer to the restaurant on the other side of the street.

"You can sit anywhere," he said.

From my seat I have to keep watching the counter because it is self-service which means my order will not be served. I have to go back to get it. When I saw fried rice waiting on the counter, I thought it was mine so I went to claim it. However, the cashier motioned that it is not yet mine. He pointed to the other guy who was hidden while preparing something. I thought he meant, "yours is still being prepared."

"Okay," I thought and went back to my seat.

When I finally got my order, I gave my "claim stub" and the cashier crossed out what he wrote. I asked for a receipt and the cashier shook his head. He pointed to the sheet of paper that he just crossed out.

"This is already your receipt?" I asked and he said yes. Now, that is my problem if I can claim the meal for my travel expenses without an official receipt.

Okay, so how is my pineapple fried rice? It was good! There is nothing fancy except for the fact that it is my first time having such. I actually thought it is the same as the common yang chow in the Philippines except of course of the pineapple ingredients. What I like better about pineapple fried rice is the lesser flavorings. It is much less salty and oily. Add to that the sweet and sour taste of the pineapple.

While I was enjoying my pineapple fried rice, a woman approached from the back. I heard her statement even before she appeared in front of me.

"Would you like to have drinks, ma'am?" She was wearing the Tiger beer uniform shirt. She actually have a very good timing because I am starting to look for drinks.

"Oh yes, please. What do you have?"

"Take a look at the list." She handed me a small sheet with the list of drinks she offers.

"Ice tea, please." I said.

"Okay, one moment." She said as she also took the order of a Caucasian lady to my left on the same table. Geeesss... someone occupied the other end of the table and I did not notice.

When the woman came back with our drinks, I teased her.

"You're very clever to be going around and spotting diners without drinks, yeah?"

She smiled. "Oh yes, that is what we do."

When the woman left, this man took over after few minutes. He was offering table napkins. That is because in Singapore, very few restaurants provide tissue paper for free. Most of them do not give tissue paper so if you do not have one, bear with your mess until you can buy somewhere else. This man is also clever to take that as an opportunity for his business. He was going from one table to another offering table napkins to diners. I did not buy from him though. I have my stock in my bag.

Did I mention that the serving of my pineapple fried rice was huge? And that was small size serving that I ordered. How much more if I ordered for the big one? I was taking time with it so I had a lot of time observing people come and go. There are many foreigners speaking different languages that I do not understand. And, there are certainly Filipinos talking around. I can't help smiling alone.

After my dinner I took a walk back to New Bridge Road and was a little amused by the street life at night. This other half of Smith Street is so clear and very pleasant for evening walk.

Aside from just taking a walk, foreigners can also shop on this nearby duty free store for gift souvenirs. I wondered about the prices though as I did not take a look. I finally felt my fatigue from my very early flight until tonight. Time to retire for the day because tomorrow will be my first day to thrive into business.