Hawkers Banned:-(, But They Are OK!:-)
The backpacker food scene in Singapore and the East Indies when I went in 82, was dominated by street hawkers with a few centralised locations with many hawkers working out of fixed booths serving a tables which enable food to brought from any one or a mix of stalls. Despite this concept being common then, in the UK it seems to be a relatively recent concept at shopping centres such as Meadowhall, or "The Roundabout" motorway service stations such as Cambridge Services on the M11. In Singapore the hierarchy of food eating centres is as follows:
Coffee Shops - Not places such as Starbucks or Costa Coffee, but an un-air-conditioned area, often at the base of a housing block that has traders selling drinks and simple food.
Hawker Centre - The centralised location of the traditional street hawkers where there are many stalls selling food. Often stalls will sell drinks only and other stalls sell cooked food only, so for a full meal it may mean dealing with a selection of stalls. These may be open air with basic rain cover or under a building with open sides.
Food Court - Posh by comparison, often found in shopping Malls - an indoor hawker centre but with the luxury of air conditioning
There are western style coffee shops, burger bars and restaurants, but since I believe in "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", they are of no interest to me. I was taken to a Coffee Shop close to where I was working, where I noticed the left hand sign above, on the wall which reminded me of the days gone by when I first came, and the tourist guides advised against hawker food and most worked from a cycle based cart. But I made use of them and had no problems. The sign had not been noticed by my SG work Colleagues. The left hand sign I noticed when I went back to the Newton Food Centre for some daylight photos. Singapore does encourage/enforces good hygiene practices so that you can eat safely anywhere in Singapore, not just the Tourist centres.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-16-44984 (L) and 2011-12-18-45249 (R)
Newton Food Centre
During my first visit for work I was accommodated at the Sheraton Towers Hotel for 4 weeks. The nearest Food Centre was the Newton Food Centre, at Newton Circus a short walk from the Newton MRT stop. This is what I class as a Hawker Centre. By comparison as it is on the mainstream tourist trial it is slightly more expensive then others, especially those in nether regions of Singapore, eg a Tiger beer at Newton was $6.50 or $7.00, but one in the Sengkang area was $5.40. The food sold at Newton is dominated by seafood. The Newton Food Centre became my second home for evening meals, I only eat in hotel three times and regretted that, it was the atmosphere it made a Night out in Shepshed seem exciting:-) and the few other times I did not eat there was due to being entertained via work.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-06-44247
Newton Food Centre
A busy night at the Newton Food Centre. When it is busy you are expected to share your table with others. Note front table middle, on most tables there are signs advising about checking cost before its too late!
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-17-45196
Newton Food Centre
Sign on table warning people to check prices. The same message can be seen in poster form as well. The bit where this is import is certain foods are sold by the 100g, so a good trader will weigh the crab, lobster, etc and let you know the price as it is based on the gross weight of the fish.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-18-45259
Newton Food Centre
Even on a busy night providing it is not raining cats and dogs, its possible to find an intimate table for two.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-07-44253
Coffee Shop - Yishun Avenue 6 Blk 285
Whilst working in Singapore I was based at a site on the comer of Yishun Avenue 6. Opposite, there are housing blocks, and at the base of block 285, is a coffee shop, it is dark area on the corner and extends along Yishun Ave 6.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-09-44272
Coffee Shop - Yishun Avenue 6 Blk 285
A busy lunch time at Yishun Avenue 6, Blk 285 Coffee Shop
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-09-44275
Coffee Shop - Yishun Avenue 6 Blk 285
A few of the stalls at Yishun Ave 6 Block 285 Coffee Shop. How many transport Cafes in the UK or Relais in France, can you remember this clean! Whilst this is a coffee shop, due to the range of stalls. I originally thought it was a Hawker Centre.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-09-44276
Silverspoon Coffee Shop - Yishun Street 22 Blk 292
A bit further from where I was working, but only a 5 minute walk, are the Coffee Shops at Yishun Street Blk 22. I originally thought this was a Hawker Centre, but there are two Coffee Shops side by side, with a sign halfway along stating you are not allowed to take food from one coffee shop into the other. This side is the "Silverspoon" Coffee Shop.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-16-44982
Silverspoon Coffee ShopYishun Street 22 Blk 292
The Silverspoon Coffee shop, at Yishun Street 22 Blk 292. On the left can be the sign which is partly obscured telling people not to take food into the Coffee Shop next door. On the other side of the block there are loads more coffee shops and market stalls.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-16-44983
Holland Village Food Centre
Holland Village is a centre for the expatiate community where most of them, judging by the shops at the new MRT stop, travelled out port side and are planning to go back on the starboard side:-)
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-17-45020
Holland Village Food Centre
Despite the Port Out Starboard Home feel of Holland Village, the food centre is down to earth. But there are numerous restaurants outside which probably cater for the expats.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-17-45020
Tekka Food Court
Despite being called a Food Court, this is very much a un air-conditioned hawker centre. Tekka court is in Little India, and on the floors above are numerous stalls, mainly selling clothing, dominated by the Indian community. However the food stalls are predominately Chinese. Depending on when you go, you will find some stalls only open part the day, and many have a day off, hence a number of closed shutters.
©Stephen Dee
ID 2011-12-17-45150