Taste of Singapore

Every country (obviously) has its own food, and looking at the continent of Asia, it really is a melting pot of many different and distinct flavours. One particular country in our region known for offering a uniquely different experience when it comes to food, is, of course, Singapore!

Singapore's location on the map of the world – strategically in the middle of Asia, and the fact that it is a tropical island plays a part in its food. It has also resulted in the country's phenomenal growth and its importance as a major trading point, as well as a premier city for transportation and communications. Early immigrants from China, Europe, the Malay Peninsula and the Indian sub-continent, travelled here and brought with them their rich cultures and traditions, which has influenced Singaporean cuisine.

If you've had the chance to visit Singapore you'd have been able to taste the many varieties of food available at both the high-end restaurants as well as with its ubiquitous street hawkers. The Prima Taste Restaurant, in Rajagiriya opened in September 2007, offers this smorgasbord of flavours right here in Colombo.

The restaurant maintains the same standards found in their restaurants in Singapore, Bandung, Beijing, Hangzhou, Jakarta, Manila, San Jose, Shanghai, Surabaya, Taiwan and Vancouver, in terms of the ambience, décor and of course the food and you will notice the motif of the national flower of Singapore, the orchid, adding to the atmosphere.

From the time you walk in, you feel like you are in Singapore. The décor is sleek and the restaurant is brightly lit. You have the option of either sitting downstairs – giving you the chance of viewing the 'show kitchen,' or upstairs – here the sitting area features a photomontage of old and modern Singapore, all this making you feel a few steps closer to Singapore.

Now for the food… Sitting at the table my friend and I wondered what to order because there are a number of dishes to choose from but with a bit of help we manage to sort ourselves out and sample the varied fare.

There are a number of dishes from soups to appetizers and meat, fish, rice and noodles, as well as a set of dishes, dubbed the 'Top 10 Signature Dishes.' These include, Laksa with Prawns, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Bak Kut, Teh, Roti Parata with Singapore Curry, Singapore Satay, Seafood Char Kway Teow, Singapore Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab, Prawn Noodle and Mee Goreng with Seafood ‘Punggol Style.’ The Hainanese Chicken Rice with its succulent chicken, delicious chicken flavoured rice and light soup was just delicious. The Laksa Fried Rice with the mouth watering crunchy but succulent Chicken Bawanga and Fish Indonesia were quite awesome too and, the traditional Singaporean Mee Goreng and the Singaporean Satay, a must.

The dishes prepared by a Singaporean trained Sri Lankan chef aren't oily and certainly leave you thinking about the food long after you've savoured it. And if you fancy trying out some of them at home, the paste is available at the restaurant and the helpful chef will tell you how to prepare them. They also have a range of fresh fruit juices, beers and wines.

Singaporean cuisine is different to Chinese cuisine and each dish is a meal in itself. So you don't really need to order a number of dishes to have your fill. Remember to leave room for the very unusual desserts they have, made from crushed ice, and flavoured with syrups and fruits. Of these, we can certainly recommend the massive Ice Kachang with Seasonal Fruits.

Most dishes are served within 10 minutes so you don't have to wait for ages to have your meal. So if you want to have a quick meal during your lunch break, this might just be the right option. During weekdays, there's a 10% discount during lunch time! And from Monday to Friday, you can enjoy their Happy Hour, between 7 and 8 p.m.

The atmosphere is casual and as Mohan De Silva, General Manager, Prima Taste Restaurant, having had 30 years experience in the trade said, they always use fresh ingredients. Nothing is frozen as they order only what is necessary for the day, he says, adding that high standards of hygiene are also maintained.

"We're between a fast food and five star restaurant," smiles Mr. De Silva. "It's a place where you don't have to dress up or worry about children running around." Ideal to take your family to or just to have a casual evening out with friends. The prices are quite reasonable if you order the correct combination of dishes and as Mr. De Silva said, "the staff is trained to help you, order the correct combination of dishes."

So for the tastes of Singapore – Prima Taste Restaurant is bound to be a good choice.