Without a doubt, the last few decades have seen Singapore become one of the world's most coveted and exciting culinary destinations. There are many reasons for this. The small island-nation affords easy access from both the East and the West, and that it is a centre of global commerce and industry certainly doesn't hurt. From French fine dining to delicately crafted Japanese morsels, just about every nations’ cookery is well represented in the country, but Other Cuisines are also available. These are often sought by those who are looking for something outside of the expected.
Enjoying the geographic location it does, Singapore is hot-spot for Asian cookery of every kind. Those attuned to the rich and varied menu which Asia boasts, will certainly find their way to Chinese, Thai, Indian and Japanese eateries, but Asia has many other countries and regions within them, so Other Cuisines are always available. While they many not number as many, you’ll find the very special and rare delights from Korea, Nepal and Turkey, to name but a few. Many seek out the restaurants of lesser known ethnic cookery for the sheer curiosity factor, but others do so for health reasons. In Asian and African cookery, the ingredients which are used are often highly desirable for vegans and vegetarians. Even though you’re likely to find a vegetarian option on most menus, no matter which type of cookery it is, there are certain countries and regions which are known for their facility with curious flavours and ingredients. From Ethiopia to Lebanon, there are delightful flavours to be had which will have any carnivore forgetting that there is no meat in the dish.
But the Other Cuisines which find their way into the restaurants of Singapore are not all from lesser known and sometimes obscure parts of the world. Those who love the fresh, pungent aromas and rich flavours of the Mediterranean will find Spanish cookery to rival any in the world. If a cold, spicy gazpacho is for you exactly the right introduction to a succulent paella, then you won't have to search too hard to find a celebrated Spanish chef hard at work over the flame, with flare and flair, creating morsels which nourish and inspire. Mediterranean cookery has become famous for its use of fresh herbs, vegetables and seafood, so if you’re in the mood for something succulent from the sea and are tired of the standard grilled fish of the day, then seek out the vibrant flavours and specific methods of a Mediterranean kitchen.
As you might expect from a nation which has a long love affair with food and entertaining people from across the globe, many of the local eateries defy classification, at least when it comes to the kind of food they serve. The country attracts many of the world's most exciting and innovative chefs, typically known for their ability to take a little bit from cooking disciplines around the globe and make them work in some new and unexpected way. The term ‘fusion food’ is often thrown about, but in Singapore some of the most celebrated chefs are extremely adept at creating dishes which take their cue from myriad styles and techniques to make them something unique. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself enjoying a meal which contains seemingly disparate elements, perhaps one which borrows in an old Russian method and makes use of the available seafood with a dash of spice from Asia. Even if you just stop in for a sampling of the local Malay and Chinese fusion food from a street vendor, there are few better countries for the adventurous gourmet than Singapore.
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