5 Singapore Local Foods That Can Make You Happy

Singapore is a food paradise with wide range of cuisines and tantalising food from hawker centres to restaurant that satisfy our food craving at any time of the day. With busy work schedules like juggling appointments, meetings and generating reports; I am sure everyone is looking forward for some mood-lifting food to perk-up the tiring day. No matter how challenging your days are, it is easier to face it when your spirits are high than moody and feeling hungry.

For me I am easily satisfied with either a plate of fried rice with sunny-side-up egg, fish soup or fried oyster omelette together with an ice-cold Coke® to end my hectic day. In this article I would like to share five of my mood booster foods which I hope they will help to brighten up your mood in a way.

EGG
(Braised Egg, Fried Carrot Cake, Egg Omelette)

Bittergourd Omelette

From articles I read on WebMD, eggs are a good choice for a healthy diet, nutrient-rich, and a source of protein. Just thinking about the benefits of this ingredient boosts my mood already!

Fried Carrot Cake

This nutritious ingredient is commonly used in Asian dishes to enhance the flavour of the dish or serve as accompany side dish. Some of the popular egg dishes are egg foo young (芙蓉蛋), prawn or bitter gourd omelette plus Singaporean all-time favourite, fried carrot cake. Besides those mentioned, egg is also a common side dish like braised hard-boiled egg, steamed egg, sunny-side up egg and more.

Recommending:
- Fu Ming Carrot Cake’s (Redhill Food Centre)
- Chey Sua Carrot Cake (Toa Payoh West Market)
- Song Zhou Luo Bo Gao (Bedok Interchange Food Centre)

FISH
(Fish Curry)

San Lau Hor Fun (aka Fish Hor Fun)

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, fish is the primary source of omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, this website goes on to say that a study has found that people with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly those found in fish, such as DHA, are more likely to have memory problems. Researchers say the results suggest that diets lacking in omega-3 acids may cause the brain to age faster.

Fish Soup Noodles

Doesn’t that make you feel happy eating fish, knowing you’re taking care of yourself? I often order fish soup or noodles for a “lighter” meal but when there are days that I need a power-up for my mood I will always get the fish head curry and drown the steamed rice with lots of curry gravy. With that a can of ice-cold Coke can immediately lift my spirits and helps me to unwind and take a short break from work.

Recommending:
- Han Kee Fish Soup (Amoy Street Food Centre
- Fan Ji Bittergourd Fish Soup (Hong Lim Food Centre)
- XO Fish Head Bee Hoon (19A Dover Crescent)

MEAT
(Western Food & Bak Kut Teh)

Usually on Friday night we always look forward to eat with friends or family whereby we order a table of food; grab a few cans of Coke or Coke light® then enjoy our food and conversation with gulps of sparkling ice-cold Coke.

Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh (肉骨茶) is another good option to enjoy with friends or family. You can have it for any meals of the day such as; breakfast, lunch, dinner or even supper. The peppery soup that had been cooked for hours with ingredients like fresh pork ribs, garlic, peppercorn and herbs (depending on the version) will help to recharge our body energy especially after a long day at work or during cold weather. What’s even better is that research has found garlic to help with relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow!

Recommending:
- Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (11 New Bridge Road)
- Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup (208 Rangoon Rd)
- Uno Beef House (51 Lor 6 Toa Payoh)

OYSTER
(Fried Oyster Omelette)

According to WebMD, oysters “contain all 9 essential amino acids; they’re rich in protein minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. All these things will keep you strong – and keep your immune system charged.”

Fried Oyster Omelette

In Singapore many people as well as tourists enjoy this Fried Oyster Omelette (耗煎) where the oysters are fried together with mixture of eggs and tapioca flour to form an egg omelette which is served together with a vinegar taste like chilli sauce. In fact I love this dish with gulps of fizzy Coke for a refreshing hit where it helps to cleanse our palate and get ready to enjoy the next bite.

Oyster Omelette (耗蛋)

Here is another version of oyster omelette that use only eggs and oyster without the gluey tapioca flour mixture.

Recommending:
- Ah Chuan Fried Oyster Omelette (Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre)
- Ah Hock Fried Oyster Hougang (90 Whampoa Drive)
- Ah Sa Lee Fried Oyster (Chomp Chomp Food Centre)

SPICY FOOD
(Laksa)

The aromas and bright colours of spicy foods help to lift my moods. I wonder if that could also be a reason why spicy food like chilli, curry and hot sauce are enjoyed by many all over the world, other than the fact that spices add an incredible flavour to the food.

Laksa, another popular Singapore hawker dish which with either yellow noodles or rice vermicelli (thick or thin) together with ingredients like fish cake, hard-boiled egg, beancurd puff, beansprout and cockle serve in spicy coconut soup. We prefer our laksa with coconut base curry soup which is flavoured by chilli, dried shrimp, spices, coconut milk and decent amount of chopped laksa leaves.

Often when eating spicy food like laksa, curry or tom yum soup I will pair it with a can of ice-cold Coke or Coke light. I love how the spiciness of the soup is balance perfectly by the sweetness of the Coke making me feel rejuvenated before continuing my work for the rest of the day. After all, Coca-Cola and food are better together.

Recommending:
- 328 Katong Laksa (51 East Coast Road)
- 928 Yishun Laksa (928 Yishun Central 1)
- Janggut Laksa (Queensway Shopping Centre)

*This article is brought to you by Coca-Cola®.